The Oakland Post 3.9.16 by The Oakland Post

THE OAKLAND POST OAKLAND UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MARCH

2016

AN INSPIRING TALE

SECRETARY OF STATE RUTH JOHNSON MOTIVATES STUDENTS THROUGH HER LIFE STORY PAGE 7 Photo by Rachel Williams / The Oakland Post

SEASON IN REVIEW.

SILENCING STIGMAS.

PAGE 10-11

PAGE 12

Men’s basketball loses semifinal game, Transgender student talks about breaking NCAA tournament hopes diminish barriers, importance of understanding

SWEEP COMPLETE.

Women’s basketball defeats leagueleading Phoenix on senior night PAGE 18

thisweek M a rch 9 , 2 01 6 / / Vo l u m e 4 1. I s s u e 2 2

POLL OF THE WEEK Is Spring in the air? A

Yes! And it smells like teen spirit!

Yes, my allergies have alerted me to its presence

Who knows? It’s Michigan

No.

Vote at www.oaklandpostonline.com

LAST WEEK’S POLL Will you be watching the GOP debate being held on OU’s campus? A) Yes, I follow politics closely 19 votes | 35% B) Yes, but I know little about the candidates 18 votes | 33%

PHOTO OF THE WEEK BATTLE WITH BLANKETS // Theta Chi of Oakland University partnered with Fleece & Thank You on Wednesday, March 2 to create nearly a dozen blankets for children admitted in hospitals. This non-profit organization’s goal is to provide a blanket to every child “warrior” battling against an illness to have a colorful fleece blanket.

C) Maybe, I haven’t decided 11 votes | 6% D) No, I’m not interested 12 votes | 22%

Bohdanna Cherstylo // The Oakland Post

Submit a photo to editor@oaklandpostonline.com for a chance to be featured. View all submissions at oaklandpostonline.com

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY March 12, 1992 Sandra Packard was named Oakland University’s president after a five-month search.

LOVE YOURSELF Oakland hosted an event called Body Monologues in which students performed pieces by people who had struggled with body image or an eating disorder.

March 13, 1996 The Board of Trustees approved a new Meadow Brook Hall entrance, renovations to North Foundation and Vandenberg Halls, an addition of 1,000 parking spaces and a new Honors College facility.

JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) look to spread awareness about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

A FASCINATING FINALE The women’s basketball team won its last home game against No. 1 seed Green Bay on Oakland’s senior night on March 5.

March 11, 1998 Student Congress passed a resolution 12-2 to give students a voice in deciding whether they wanted to pay an additional three dollars for their Student Activities Fee (SAF). Their SAF would increase from $15 to $18 for the fall and winter semesters. — Compiled by Cheyanne Kramer, web editor

BY THE NUMBERS OU’s women’s history month statistics

58%

of students at OU are women

29.6%

of tenured/tenured track positions in the engineering department are women

programs are scheduled for Women’s Month at OU

4th

place in the country of percentage of women working in the engineering program

Perspectives

The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

COLUMN

THE OAKLAND POST

Political focus: Conflict over replacement of Justice Scalia Melissa Deatsch Staff Reporter

What’s the Issue? n February 13, Supreme Court of the United States Justice Antonin Scalia passed away at 79 years old. His passing leaves a vacancy in the Supreme Court calling for a replacement to bring the number of Justices back to an odd nine. It sounds simple. But in the weeks Melissa Deatsch that Staff Reporter have passed since Scalia’s death, discussions on his replacement have been anything but simple. The Constitution doesn’t give too much guidance on the handling of the Supreme Court. On the topic of appointments it says, “(The president) shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint… Judges of the Supreme Court.” With President Obama in his last year, Senate Republicans have made it their mission to delay the nomination until after the election, infuriating the Obama administration.

What are the sides? Another liberal-leaning Justice on the Supreme Court would be bad news for Republicans. The Senate has been very vocal and de-

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termined to do everything in their power to delay a nomination. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has argued that by waiting until after the election, they would be giving the American people a say in the decision. “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” McConnell said in a statement. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” However, Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid has countered this with a statement saying there are too many important issues pending in the Supreme Court right now to wait on filling the vacancy. “The president can and should send the Senate a nominee right away,” Reid said. “With so many important issues pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible… Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional responsibilities.” The Republicans have also made mention of a “Thurmond Rule” that, according to the American Constitution Society, should be called the “Thurmond Myth.” The Thurmond Rule is an unwritten rule that no judicial nominations should take place in the last six months of a presidency. Senate Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, have dismissed this rule in

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editorial board

the past when Democrats had tried to use it in their favor during the Bush Administration.

“...But in the weeks that have passed since Scalia’s death, discussions on his replacement have been anything but simple.” Why should you care? If the Senate Republicans are successful in their mission to delay the nomination until the next presidency, there will be even more riding on the 2016 election. Looking at the ages of the members currently serving on the Supreme Court, the next president could have the responsibility of filling two or three additional positions on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). The New York Times pegs Scalia as the Supreme Court’s third-most conservative Justice. A Democratic nomination would bring the total number of Democratic judges up to five making the SCOTUS swing democratic for the first time in decades. The Supreme Court has major decisions still pending that need to be made this term, including cases over public sector unions, abortion, and the Affordable Care Act. If no nomination takes place, the court will be split 4-4 causing the lower court’s decision to stand.

Kristen Davis

Editor-in-Chief editor@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-4268

Scott Davis

Managing Editor managing@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-2537

Nowshin Chowdhury

Photo Editor photos@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-4266

sections

copy & visual

Rachel Williams Campus Editor rlwillia@oakland.edu

Megan Carson Chief Copy Editor Morgan Dean Copy Editor Nicholas Kim Copy Editor Faith Brody Copy Editor Brian Curtin Copy Intern

Grace Turner Life Editor gmturner@oakland.edu Cheyanne Kramer Web Editor ckkramer@oakland.edu Sam Schlenner Sports Editor swschlen@oakland.edu

Erika Barker Photographer Dongfu Han Photographer Bohdanna Cherstylo Photographer Elyse Gregory Photo intern Kylie Wichtner Photo Intern

writers

Jason Bombaci Multimedia intern

Ally Racey Staff Reporter Katlynn Emaus Staff Reporter Shelby Tankersley Staff Reporter Alexus Bomar Staff Reporter Sarah Lawrence Staff Reporter Melissa Deatsch Staff Reporter

Olivia Krafft Web designer

Jake Smith Intern Amy Swanson Intern Hannah Gorosh Intern

distribution Parker Simmons Distribution Director Jacob Chessrown Senior Distributor Christian Hiltz Distributor Maria Juarez Distributor Drake Dawson Distributor Lauren Osgood Distributor Nicholson Reed Distributor Jana Alj Distributor Kristen Grattan Distributor Adam Ortyl Distributor

advertising Hailee Mika Ads Director ads@oaklandpostonline.com 248.370.4269 Alvin Pitris Assistant Advertising Manager Amanda Bibi Ads Assistant

advising Holly Gilbert Editorial Adviser 248.370.4138 Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser 248.370.2533

The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Perspectives

The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

Grizzlies on the Prowl “What campus issues would you like the Student Body presidential candidates to address?”

Marissa Dutton Freshman, Human Resource Development “I would like the new president to request more Greek housing on campus. I would also like to see a better parking situation.”

Mina Sitto Sophomore, Biochemistry & Spanish “I would like different chairs in the classrooms. I like the long tables opposed to the single desks.”

Jason Licatn Sophomore, Economics

Jalen Parker Sophomore, Exercise Science

“I would like more free prints per semester. My major prints more than other majors and I would like to get a better value for what I pay.”

“There isn’t enough parking at OU. The new president should see if another parking structure can be built.” — Compiled by Erika Barker and Elyse Gregory, Staff Photographer and Staff Intern

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March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

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Term of Office:

 July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 or 2018  Must have at least a 2.5 GPA  Must have earned 56 undergraduate or 18 graduate credit hours (of which 28 are at Oakland University)  Must not hold any other major elected campus office

Applications are available at:

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Applications are due in the Student Affairs Office by March 31, 2016 www.oaklandpostonline.com For questions, please call: 248-370-4200

Perspectives

POLICE FILES Stolen property in Kresge Library

On Feb. 29, a student went into the OUPD office with their mother to report some prescription drugs missing. The student believed they were stolen from their backpack on Feb. 24. The backpack was left on the fourth floor unattended in a study room for two hours. When the student returned, the prescription was gone. OUPD currently has no leads on where the prescription is.

Student turns self in

On March 1, a student walked into the OUPD office to inform officers that they had been using marijuana and other substances. The student was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor. OUPD took their fingerprints and brought the student before a judge to decide the consequences of the charges. The student was then released into the custody of their parents. —Compiled by Shelby Tankersley, Staff Reporter

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The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Perspectives

The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

President’s Report H

Photo courtesy of Zachary Thomas & Anders Engnell

Zach Thomas and Anders Engnell are running for OU Student Body President and Vice President for the 2016-17 school year.

The Real Deal: We need fighters Ryan Fox Contributor

n Monday, March 7, COO Scott Kunselman will finally appear before Student Congress to answer questions from the legislature. As a part of that legislature, I’ve had a number of questions prepped for weeks. These questions range from his history at Chrysler, to the controversy surrounding his hiring and his high salary. All of my fellow legislators have similar questions on a number of different issues and many of us are disgruntled. Kunselman is just one part of a serious issue on our campus, and that is administration’s utter disregard for student opinion when it comes to decisions that govern our lives. With every major change on campus that they have instituted, they have given students minimal time to prepare. When the tuition hike happened, student representatives were not present and the news of the hike was spread suddenly. When Kunselman was hired and no national search was conducted, students often learned of it through angry faculty. And they certainly didn’t know immediately that Kunselman was on the board of trustees and had helped to make the position that now pays him over $300,000 a

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

year of student money. The latest outrage was just a few weeks ago when students learned that multiple administrators and six board of trustee members used even more student money to stay at a hotel in Florida so they could fundraise. And many students don’t know that the sole fundraiser for the university is meant to be President George Hynd, and Kunselman went even though he is meant to stay at the university and actually run the show. On top of all of these slaps in the face, administration has now decided to move up the due date for tuition to two weeks before classes start. And they seem to have made little effort to notify students, other than to inform Student Body President Nick Walter. These constant hits have to stop. And to stop them, we need fighters. We need student leaders that are willing to fight for student representation. We need student leaders that are working to serve students first. We need student leaders that will fight to make sure that student voices are not silenced. And that is why as a legislator on Student Congress, I’ve chosen to endorse Zack Thomas and Anders Engnell for Student Body President and Vice President.

Thomas is currently the legislative affairs director for Student Congress and has been fighting for the best interests of students since he first got involved. Thomas has instituted a program to help students get registered to vote at Oakland.turbovote.org. Thomas has helped make sure Student Congress continues to hand out free scantrons at their office. And as a member of the Accessibility Committee, he has fought to help make campus more accessible for injured and disabled students. Engnell is the diversity and inclusion director for Student Congress. He has organized events celebrating the history of African Americans in this country, helping students understand the spectrum of gender identity and is currently working to host a massive event celebrating cultures around the world at this year’s International Night. Not only has he helped put on these events, but he has also fought passionately for policies such as Preferred Name and Tuition Equality. We need fighters like Thomas and Engnell in our corner. Both have been committed to making sure that student voices are not drowned out since the beginning. I encourage all students to check out their campaign site at ServingStudentsFirst.com and make sure to vote during election week: March 14 to 18. Make sure your voice is heard.

ello Oakland, It feels strange to say, but this is the penultimate report that I will be writing you. On April 4 the new president will be sworn in. I will write a final update the preceding Wednesday as an overview of the entire year. Regarding the Big 4, there are only a few updates to give. As you may have seen, the OC (big shoutout to Mr. Fekel, the director of the OC, for his work) recently installed new tables in the food court. The administration is also planning to install more outlets in new buildings and expansions to existing ones. At the last board of trustees meeting, the board approved the next step in the expansion of the OC: the architectural and engineering firm that will design it. On that subject, there was some discussion about the approval. Rumors floated around that it had been delayed. To put an end to rumors that the board approved the firm, conditional on OU not finding any errors with previous work it had done. Put another way, the firm is approved, but if OU discovers that they did shoddy work on a previous building, the contract is cancelled. The final shipments of the SWAG campaign will be here soon. We still have a few of our Finally Famous shirts and sweatshirts left as well. For months, I have been saying things like “Work is proceeding” or “We’ve had good discussions about the grading scale”. My friends, I have a new phrase to tell you: The grading scale is getting fixed. Not being discussed, but actually getting fixed. As President, I am required to give a State of the University address. Grand title aside, it’s an in-person overview of the year at Student Congress: what we said we’d do, and what we actually did, including the unparalleled goals and successes of the Executive Board, the tireless work of the legislature and an overview of the Big 4. The event will be Monday, March 21 from 5-6 p.m. in the Banquet Rooms. President Hynd will also be speaking. Please RSVP as soon as possible to nwalter@oakland.edu (if you forget the RSVP, no worries; it’s open to all). Thank you, and hope to see you all there, Nick www.oaklandpostonline.com

Campus

Secretary of State speaks at leadership event Rachel Williams Campus Editor

ichigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and her Chief of Staff Mike Senyko visited Oakland University to present for the Leadership OU organization. On March 3, the two shared their stories about how they came into their leadership roles and about the initiatives they had set in place while in office. Leadership OU is an organization that works with the Alumni Association, pairing up certain Oakland students with an alumni mentor. The students apply to be a part of the organization and meet with successful alumni throughout the year to learn about their different fields of study. Johnson has been an active Oakland alumna, speaking at OU Day in the past and coming out for events like the one with Leadership OU.

Senyko is also an Oakland alumna, receiving his master’s in public administration here. Johnson started the program sharing about her childhood and path to office. She grew up in Waterford and her father passed away when she was 13, so she and her siblings had to get jobs at a young age to help support the household. Johnson’s first job was delivering papers around the neighborhood. She bought a motorcycle and would fill in for the paper boy. She understood the need for higher education and went on to attend Oakland Community College for two years then came to Oakland. Senyko grew up in Saginaw and first attended Saginaw Valley State University, then Michigan State. After he graduated, he was still unsure of what he wanted to do. He went from being an assistant manager at a drug store to

the Springport village manager. He found his passion in public administration before coming to Oakland for his Master’s degree. The two outlined some of the initiatives they had put in place, such as the launch of ExpressSOS.com, which aims to shorten lines at the Secretary of State and allow people to handle some transactions online. Johnson advocates for motorcycle safety, riding a Harley every May around the state to educate citizens. She has also worked has with the SOS, Gift of Life Michigan and Oversight Michigan to add Rachel Williams / The Oakland Post two million Michigan citizens to Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson informed Leadership OU and the organ donor list since 2011. other students about her accomplishments and plans. Beyond these initiatives, Johnson’s team works for trans- ally think we need to go back to you choose to do, you have a parency in government. Co- more transparency. That’s what passion for,” Johnson said. workers call her the FOIA (Free- makes this country strong, in Ending the presentation, she dom of Information Act) queen. part.” encouraged everyone to go out “Since the day I got in office, She told the students present and vote this election season. which was 27 or 28 years ago, I to find their passion and make She mentioned the SOS’s webhave been on a mission for more things happen. site, michigan.gov/vote where disclosure,” Johnson said. “I re“I recommend that whatever people can find information.

Students challenge body image standards during Eating Disorder Awareness Week Melissa Deatsch Staff Reporter

akland University participated in National Eating Disorder Awareness week, with a variety of events around campus. On Thursday, Mar. 3, five performers took part in an event called Body Monologues. Each performer shared a monologue written by someone struggling with body image or an eating disorder. Here are three quotes from the performances and insight following them. “Makeover” “It is our action and our thinking that need to be made over.” — “Makeover” performed by Charlie Rinehart. In the performance “Makeover”, Rinehart expressed anger and detest at the world in which the author is raising a child. He stated that “54 percent of women would rather be hit by a truck than be fat.”

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It is that sort of self-talk that the author think needs a makeover. It is not our appearance. It is not our hair or our fingernails or our face that needs the makeover. The change needs to happen in our minds. Negative self-talk will always stand in the way of living up to our full potential. We can’t stand in our own way. “Confrontation” “I’m tired of having to apologize for the way that I naturally look.” — “Confrontation” performed by Courtney Stockman. In “Confrontation” Stockman conveyed the author’s discovery of her own voice. She realized she had spent too much of her life keeping the way she felt to herself because of a fear of being disliked. All too often people forget to use the voice they are given. When people make negative comments about our appearance it tends to generate an inward action and change the way we think about ourselves. It should be directed outward back at them.

We don’t have to stay silent when someone points at our flaws. In those moments, it is okay to find that voice and use it to express what we feel. “For My Own Good” “I thought that if he wanted me I could get him to act the way I wanted him to.” — “For My Own Good”performed by Alysa Piering. This performer spoke a lot about a series of experiences the author had with a boy. A boy whose words she let dictate the way she felt about her body. When he complimented her, she was pleased with herself, but spent most of her time trying to figure out a way to earn more compliments from him. Too often, people look to the person they have feelings for to give them approval. It leaves them feeling like they aren’t good enough unless that one specific person says they are. We cannot let anyone define our own self-worth. We should decide on a significant other based on who agrees with

Dongfu Han / The Oakland Post

At the Body Monologues event, a display showed what students at OU love about their bodies.

us on how awesome we are. The performances were followed by a discussion. Audience members learned about the most common eating disorders and the signs someone might exhibit if they are struggling with an eating disorder. If you or someone you know needs help with an eating disorder, call the OU Counseling Center at 248-370-3465 to schedule an appointment or to ask questions and seek advice on how to handle the situation. The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Campus

Closer look at the truth behind the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Photo courtesy of Mekkel Richards

SJP leader Tamara Mabrouk shows her Palestinian pride with a sticker on her smartphone.

Mekkel Richards Contributor

thnic cleansing. Demolition of homes. Erasure of a people and culture. A humanitarian crisis. These are all descriptions of the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Sarah Abunada and Tamara Mabrouk, Palestinian student leaders of the Students for Justice in Palestine Oakland University Chapter (SJP), hope to raise awareness among students about the conflict. “Our main mission is to, firstly, raise awareness,” Abunada said. “This is a humanitarian issue and students have the right to know and should know about it.” The conflict has been an international talking point for over 60 years. In 1967’s Six-Day War, Israel illegally annexed the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. Since then, the United Nations and much of the world have consistently condemned the takeovers, while Israel has maintained its viewpoint that the land was won from the war and that many settlements are military necessities. In recent years, Israel, the occupying power, has continued to attack Palestinian settlements at a disproportionate rate, leaving thousands dead. Peace talks between the groups have mostly failed while US military aid to Israel has increased.

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

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“Oakland is a growing university and the students needs to be educated on this issue,” Mabrouk said. “Lots of students don’t know anything about it or they have just blindly followed what the mainstream news says.” The first step for the group is to educate and raise awareness on campus. “You can’t fight something that you do not know about,” Mabrouk said. The new org is hosting a “Palestine 101 Panel” on March 7 at 12 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge. Representatives from the group will be providing an introduction to the history of the humanitarian crisis and taking questions from the audience. The event will be catered. Later this fall, SJP will be hosting “Dabke (dab-kih) Cultural Night” in the Oakland Center. “This event will be about taking a step back from conflict and exploring the fact that Palestinians are real humans with an interesting and complex culture,” Mabrouk said. The group stresses that they are a humanitarian organization and aim to educate students in being politically and socially aware. “As a college student, you cannot be ignorant,” Mabrouk said. For more information on the conflict, visit YouTube and search “5 minute history of Israel Palestine conflict.” Keep up to date with future SJP meetings and news by following their Facebook page.

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Campus

a e ent! m o ud c e B t @ MACOMB st e u WHILE @ G

SUMMER

Student Congress elections approach Presidential candidates to share platforms at debate this Thursday Sarah Lawrence Staff Reporter

ow is the perfect time to learn about what our student body presidential and vice presidential candidates have in store for the upcoming year. March 14 marks the beginning of the voting period for 2016-17 Oakland University Student Congress officer elections. Each year, Student Congress elects a new set of officers to act as a liaison and voice that will effectively communicate the needs and concerns of the student body to the administration. It is important for students to be informed about each candidate’s ideals before they become the chief representative of our opinions. Just two tickets will be on the ballot this year — presidential candidates are Tim Brown and Zachary Thomas, with vice presidential candidates Griffin DiMaggio and Anders Engnell. Each of these pairs have worked to create a thorough platform for their plans if elected. A look at Brown and DiMaggio: Brown and DiMaggio have worked to develop a four-pillar plan based on hashtags that encompasses various initiatives that they are looking to complete if elected as next year’s leaders of the student body. These include #WTBW (Wear The Bear Wednesday), #RenewOU, #GrizzlySafety and #PassTheTorch. Each of these hashtags will work to accomplish a set of goals related to increasing attendance at OU home sporting events and support renovations for on-campus facilities including Varner Hall, Kresge Library and the Oakland Center. Additionally, Brown and DiMaggio are working to implement better lighting and accessibility for disabled students on campus through their #GrizzSafety campaign. They promise to move forward with their initiatives through #PassTheTorch.

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A look at Thomas and Engnell: Thomas and Engnell have organized their campaign into five main goals. These include finding a realistic solution to parking at Oakland University and supporting the effort to promote administrative transparency and accountability on campus.

“Each year, Student Congress elects a new set of officers to act as a liaison and voice that will communicate the needs of the student body to the administration.”

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With this, they are dedicated to fighting for social justice for OU’s underrepresented communities and will work to amplify student voices through reinventing OUSC operations. Additionally, Thomas and Engnell are looking to partner with organizations such as SOPE and LEAP to increase environmental friendliness on-campus as well as the promotion of mental health in relations with GHC and provide widespread opportunities for SAFE trainings. From here they are also looking to advocate for a stronger Greek living-learning community in the on-campus apartments as well. Keep an eye out for upcoming election events before casting your vote. The presidential debates are scheduled to take place Thursday, March 10 from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. in Banquet Room A. Online voting runs from Monday, March 14 to 18 online at oakland.edu/voting. For a closer look at each team’s campaign, visit their websites: Brown and DiMagglio: allinforou2016.com/index.html Thomas and Engnell: servingstudentsfirst.com/ For more information about how to become involved with OUSC, their initiatives, elections and events, visit wwwp.oakland.edu/ ousc/ or stop into the office at 62 Oakland Center for any questions. The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

SUNSET ON THE HORIZON:

WRIGHT STATE CHOKES OAKLAND Sam Schlenner Sports Editor

akland men’s basketball (21-11) felt the grip of a Wright State (22-12) team in their prime Monday night, losing 5955 in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship at Joe Louis Arena on Monday, March 7. “Obviously at this time of the year, when you lose, it’s as disappointing as could be,” Oakland head coach Greg Kampe said in the postgame press conference. “I’m really proud of my team.” Kay Felder scored 18, shooting an off-kilter 5-for-19 from the field and 2-for-9 behind the arc. Jalen Hayes piped in 14 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Max Hooper shot 3-for-5 on the three. He scored nine. Martez Walker shot 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-3 behind the arc, scoring 5. Percy Gibson scored 4, shooting 1-for-4 from the field. He grabbed five rebounds. “We’re going to keep playing,” Kampe said. “Max wants to keep playing. We’re going to keep playing. Our young guys like [Hayes] need more games. We had a great year. We’re going to celebrate that year and we’re going to play.” Read the full story at oaklandpostonline.com TOP Kay Felder shot an uncharacteristic 5-for-19 from the field and 2-for-9 behind the arc. He finished with 18 points, four assists and four turnovers. BOTTOM Jalen Hayes saves a ball from going out of bounds. The redshirt sophomore finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

10 March 9, 2016

// The Oakland Post

www.oaklandpostonline.com

Photos by Bohdanna Cherstylo

TOP LEFT The Grizz Gang holds up a sign in honor of Chip Hooper, Max Hooper’s father, who died the Saturday before the game. BOTTOM LEFT Oakland players wrote “#PLAY4CHIP” in gold marker on their shoes. RIGHT Max Hooper shot 3-for-5 behind the arc to monstruous applause. The redshirt senior scored nine points and played 29 minutes. He’d flown in from his home in California to play.

REMEMBERING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES’ RISE After tournament defeat, don’t forget how Team 49 got there Sam Schlenner Sports Editor

n the postgame press conference the night of Jan. 19, Oakland head coach Greg Kampe kept his usual contrasting calm. Whatever heat he makes during the game — sometimes so much you wonder what virulent evil he is fighting in the struggle — it vacates after. “It’s like it was handed to us,” he said. “It was handed to us. It was really a good schedule. And we’ve screwed it up.” He’d put his forearms on the table. Even if he’d slid his elbows up there, they wouldn’t have been able to bare the weight of raw disappointment. ***** Oakland promised a lot before league play. On Oct. 18, 2015, Kristen Davis published this in the Post: It’s the most talented team he’s ever coached. Just one week into practice, head coach Greg Kampe already made that statement about this year’s men’s basketball team. This was Kampe’s 32nd season at Oakland. You best be taking note when tenure talks like that. Then they lose 99-93 in overtime to then-No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 22. The loss was like a win. And the bar was high.

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***** “We have to look at ourselves,” he said. “What we’re looking at right now is not good. I’ll open the floor to questions for the players.” Those players were Jalen Hayes and Kay Felder, who looked uneasy at best. But what else are you supposed to be after what had just gone down? ***** Here’s how it was supposed to happen: Oakland heads into Horizon League play with an 8-5 record and sweeps the first two against Cleveland State and Youngstown State, who were ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, to Oakland’s second spot in the conference preseason poll. Oakland goes up against Valparaiso. Hard, as the Crusaders were the preseason No.1, but possible. Then No.8 University of Illinois at Chicago, No.4 Detroit and No.10 Northern Kentucky, Detroit being the only road game of the six, and the only real challenge. You begin conference play 5-1, 6-0 at best, but surely 4-2 at worst. And everything’s all right. ***** The press asked Hayes and Felder questions. Kampe fiddled with his papers, probably stat sheets, maybe halflistening to the questions. Soon the press was finished with the players. “Does somebody have something I

could write with?” Kampe said. Got to figure it out. How did it happen? ***** Here’s how it happened: Oakland beat Cleveland State 86-68. No surprise. Youngstown State put a hundred on the Golden Grizzlies and beat ‘em by two. What? Then Valpo comes in and holds this 87-a-game team to 67 and sends the Oakland crowd home on a Friday night. They’re 1-2. Beat UIC handily, but what’s the story there? Great win at Calihan Hall. Defeat Detroit by four. Now something’s cooking. And then… ***** “Here’s what I just wrote down,” Kampe said, “and I’m going to throw this at you, and then you can tell me what you think it means. We’re 3-3. … In our three wins, the teams are 12for-51 from the three against us. In our three losses — I just added tonight — the teams are 36 of 77.” “But the scary number there,” he said, “is in the three wins, they’re 12for-51. In the three losses, they’re 36for-77. That’s 25 threes a game they’re getting, and in the losses, they’re getting 16.

He made it sound simple: When the Golden Grizzlies came to play, they did. When they didn’t, they didn’t. Not an overnight fix, he said. Can’t do it in a day. ***** And he was right. It took four. They slapped Green Bay that Saturday. After the 90-73 Northern Kentucky loss that Tuesday night in January, Oakland men’s basketball won 10 of their next 12. The streak began with six wins in a row, five of those on the road. Simply improbable. And exactly what was supposed to happen. The team got a spot straight into the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship with a double-bye from being the No.2 seed. But the narrative changed. Chip Hooper, Max’s father, was battling cancer. He won the hearts of Oakland fans by making it out from California to see Max play his final home game on Feb. 26. He died Saturday, March 5. “#PLAY4CHIP” showed up scrawled across black shoes in gold marker. Team 49 was writing the next chapter in Oakland history. The memorial script only got action on the court for one Horizon League Championship game. An end too fast for such a fight. The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Life

Breaking free of a negative stigma Student talks about the process, transformation, misunderstanding that comes with being transgender Amy Swanson Staff Reporter

n second grade, Morgan received a Barbie doll as a birthday gift. After going through the polite thankyou routine, Morgan found some safety scissors and tried to give it short hair. In fact, a different toy altogether would have been better, maybe a G.I. Joe or a Bionicle. It was moments like this that showed the inner conflict Morgan was facing. Now 21 years old, Morgan Shaw-Andrade, a junior biology major with a concentration in pre-medical studies, officially identifies as a transgender man.

What is Being Transgender? Transgender people feel that the sex they were assigned at birth and their own internal gender identity do not match, according to GLAAD, an organization that seeks to accelerate acceptance for the LGBT community. Someone’s gender identity is their “internal, personal sense of being a man or a woman (or someone outside of that gender binary)”. There are many different identities included under the transgender umbrella, including agender, genderfluid, and genderqueer. Morgan likes to use the term “trans*” in discussion, as it fits all forms and explained that the asterisk acknowledges them. According to his family, he started vocalizing his gender at age 4, even cutting his hair behind his mom’s back. He stopped a few years later when it occurred to him that not everyone felt this way. However, things started to click at age 9 when he met someone who was transgender and realized he wasn’t alone. He came out to his parents at 19, then publically shortly after. “My parents experienced a little depression at first because they felt like they were grieving the loss of their daughter,” he said. Later, they realized that nothing was changing. He had always been this way. The process Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to change their bodies to match their gender identity. Morgan has been taking testosterone for a little over a year. There are different ways to get testosterone, such as topical cream or a patch, but Morgan does it by injection as it has the fastest results and most change because the hormones are put directly in the body instead of absorbing through the skin. “The biggest thing for me was to be able to gain a lot of muscular growth because I’m an athlete and work out very frequently,” he said. He is now looking into sexual reassignment surgery but has hit a speed bump. He thought his insurance company would cover top surgery, which creates a contoured, male-looking chest, according to FTM Guide, a resource guide on topics about female-to-male (FTM) transgender men. However, he was recently informed that it isn’t covered because it’s not necessary for his physical health. While he can understand this, it still limits him.

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

“I can’t change in front of people in the locker rooms or go swimming, which I’d like to be able to do.” On a Facebook post about the issue, he stated that he shares this so others can see the obstacles trans* people sometimes face just to feel comfortable in their own skin. Despite this challenge, Morgan is still trying to go through with the surgery. To raise money, he has a shirt for sale through Support the T, an organization dedicated to assisting transgender people in funding procedures. Morgan liked the idea of this campaign, and said people can get something out of donating their money. While getting the surgery is very important to Morgan, he said it’s not mandatory for the transition and depends on the individual. They should only seek surgery if they feel it need.

Elyse Gregory / The Oakland Post

Morgan Shaw-Andrade, a junior biology major with a concentration in pre-medical studies, officially identifies as a transgender man.

Overcoming obstacles Morgan has been on the men’s rugby team for a little over a year, switching from the women’s team once he started hormones. The reception was mixed at first, as some people would misgender him or doubt his abilities. Things have gotten much better. “I think they had to see the process of getting the hormones to realize this is a real thing,” he said. “And getting to know me helped them a lot because they could nor-

malize it and see I’m like any other guy.” He’s also been a part of the LGBT Media Club since freshman year and is the vice president. The club has done projects to help deter people from stereotyping. Of these is the Faces of OU, where students can submit photos and biographies of themselves in order to erase stigmas around the different parts of the LGBT acronym. He has also faced challenges in the workplace, as he said trans* people often do. “I had to leave one job because they tried to force me to wear women’s clothes.” At another job, the manager refused to use correct pronouns, laughing while calling him things like “heshe.”

Moving forward Morgan feels that a lot of people are against the transgender community because they don’t understand it. There are big misconceptions, like that the person is a pedophile or mentally ill. He joked, “I’m pretty level-headed compared to some people I’ve seen.” One reason may be the media. “The news will use scare tactics, saying things like trans* people just want to be able to go to the bathroom to look at people’s junk.” He referred to how other groups in the past were marginalized based off of misunderstandings. “When being gay was considered a medical disease, it was because people didn’t understand it,” he said. “I think people fear the unknown. They are afraid or against it instead of just learning about it.” One issue that may seem minor is the use of pronouns. However, they are a big deal. “To use the improper pronouns is to disrespect who I am as an individual,” he said. However, he thinks that people are becoming more comfortable with the idea, especially with the younger generations. “It’s a process and it’s going to take time, but I think compared to before when people didn’t know it existed or used the derogatory terms ‘tranny’ or ‘transvestite,’ it’s getting better.” Morgan said that while it will always be nerve-wracking, he has gotten more confident talking about his experiences. He thinks the best way to reduce prejudice is to give people positive contact. “I know that by sharing my experience, it will help more than it will hurt,” he said. Looking to the future, he’s thinking of being an endocrinologist, someone who studies hormones or hormone-related conditions, or a plastic surgeon that specializes in transgender individuals. “Understanding their experiences, having previously gone through it and not just seeing it from the outside, will make it easier,” he said. Ultimately, he wants people to know that transgender people are just like everyone else. And while it’s good to ask questions, make sure they’re not too invasive. And if there’s one takeaway, always think before you speak. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Life

Golden Grizzly hones nursing skills in Dominican Republic Nursing student gains experience, global perspective working abroad through volunteer organization Grace Turner Life Editor

ome people have a summer internship, and some people go to Latin America. But Elizabeth Bauman’s trip was no vacation. A junior nursing student, Bauman spent July 18 to 25 in the Dominican Republic to volunteer at a clinic. The trip was organized by Missions. Me, a nongovernmental organization that sets up mission trips.

“Volunteers of all ability levels were welcome and given a job. Bauman had only completed one semester of nursing school before going on the trip and learned a lot because she got to work with one of the doctors.” Bauman was one of about 2,000 volunteers who went on the trip. She was part of the medical team, registering patients and taking vital signs at the entrance of a sportsstadium-turned-clinic. The clinic offered everything from check ups to medical attention for patients with specific complaints. There were also dentists and a pharmacy. Volunteers of all ability levels were welcomed and given a job. Bauman had only completed one semester of nursing school before going on the trip and learned a lot because she got to work with one of the doctors.

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“He was very engaged in my learning and the patient,” she said. The most rewarding part was how appreciative everyone was, Bauman said. The clinic also had a relaxed atmosphere — people didn’t complain about the long lines. One of Bauman’s favorite memories was when a 7-year-old boy found out that it was her birthday on July 22. He got everyone in the waiting area to sing “Happy Birthday” in English and Spanish, whichever the patients knew. Bauman made connections for her future career and found a new passion. “I definitely want to try traveling with nursing,” she said, adding that she has been researching her options. Bauman said she would recommend a trip like this to anyone. She said it made her appreciate the small things she has. The mission that Bauman was involved in was called 1Nation1Day. Volunteers could work for the medical clinic as missionaries or on the media team. According to the 1Nation1Day website, they built homes, dug wells, donated shoes, provided medical care and trained community leaders. The first 1Nation1Day mission was in Honduras in 2013. Another one is planned for 2017, but the location has not yet been chosen. In the off-years, Missions. Me organized smaller missions in different countries. This year, volunteers will go to Honduras to host an event

for women, set up a medical clinic in Nicaragua and build homes in India and Nepal for orphanages and human trafficking victims, Gabe Bahlhorn, chief communications officer at Missions.Me, said. According to its website, “Missions.Me empowers people to change the world.” While a couple thousand volunteers can’t change an entire country, they can instill hope, Bahlhorn said. “There are moments that we believe will change the trajectory of your life,” he said. Missions.Me hopes to foster those moments. “In the very bedrock of everyone, there’s a desire to help people,” Bahlhorn said. “There’s something that changes the heart.” Rachel Taylor works on the media relations team at Missions.Me and went on the trip to the Dominican Republic. She was on the missions team, working to bring hope to citizens. Law enforcement and translators were with the volunteers at all times. Participants stayed in a hotel and received three daily meals. Taylor keeps in touch with the translators and found the experience fulfilling. “Even though we’re a team of 2,000 people, we were able to reach nearly half a million people in one week,” she said. Missions.Me was founded in 2004. It has hosted missions in countries across the globe, according to its website. It is a religion-based organization, but anyone can volunteer. For ways to get involved, visit the website missions.me.

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The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Campus

Marriage at the mansion Meadow Brook hosts extravagant, expensive weddings Alexus Bomar Staff Reporter

etroit is ranked No. 18 on a list of the 25 most expensive cities to hire wedding service providers in the U.S., based on prices quoted on Thumbtack, a website designed to find qualified professionals. An average cost to have a wedding in Detroit, excluding items such as venue, dress and rings, is $11,819, with an average of $3,426 on catering, $135 on makeup and $885 on wedding planning. According to their website, The Knot is the nation’s largest source for wedding news and inspiration, and currently there are 544 wedding reception venues in or near Detroit. According to its website, Meadow Brook Hall’s historic setting, distinct gardens and four-star service and cuisine have made them an awardwinning venue. In regards to planning a wedding at Meadow Brook Hall, Shannon O’Berski, director of marketing and community relations, said you first meet with your event manager to plan a menu, timeline and to determine

your vendors to coordinate the “day of” details. According to Meadow Brook Hall’s website, no matter the wedding theme, the wedding party and guests will enjoy the unique features of the hall and its service. O’Berski said the majority of the wedding ceremonies take place in the Pegasus Garden with a reception in the Garden Tent. Also, the cocktail hour portion will take place on the Loggia Terrace if weather permits. “A Meadow Brook wedding is truly like no other,” O’Berski said. “The bride and groom have exclusive use of the hall for the evening, which makes the experience quite unique.” “The evening also includes self-guided tours of the hall during cocktail hours,” she said. “Indoor weddings during the holidays are also gaining popularity and are quite beautiful.” The cost of a wedding at Meadow Brook Hall varies based on number of guests, time of year and other factors. It doesn’t offer packages like most places, so it’s hard to provide an estimate. However, OU alumni receive 10 percent off the museum rental fee. In June 2012, Kaniqua Daniel-Welch and Stefen Welch took advantage of being OU alumni by getting married in the Pegasus Garden. “We met at Oakland Uni-

versity and our very first class together was Music 100,” Daniel-Welch said via email. “And we’ve been great friends (and fellow lovers of great music) ever since.” Because they met here, it was important to them to have their ceremony and reception here. The reception was the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms. “We planned for 18 months starting with monthly meetings, then we transitioned to weekly meetings with our wedding planner closer to the date,” she said. “Think of planning the most exciting event of your life! Well, this is the one. So there’s lots of attention to detail with this exciting process.” According to Daniel-Welch, costs can vary depending on the size of the wedding. The most expensive things at their wedding were food, photography and videography. “The photos and videos capture all of those precious moments and are the most valuable keepsakes you’ll have to remember your special day,” she said. “It was the best day of our lives. One that we wish we could replay over and over and over again. We had so much fun planning and enjoying the day and we had a great team of people around us to make sure it was awesome.”

Rental of Meadow Brook Hall includes: According to the Meadow Brook Hall website, a museum rental includes: • A unique setting that allows your guests to stroll all public areas of the estate and gardens • Complimentary services of the wedding coordinator, including a private consultation • Exceptional dining and four-star, concierge-style management • One-hour rehearsal for those having their ceremony at the hall • For outdoor weddings, each vendor will have access to the tent and gardens 1-2 hours before the ceremony or reception begins to allow ample time for individual deliveries and setup • An optional tour during the cocktail hour to answer questions and offer interesting details about the rooms, art and architecture of Meadow Brook Hall • White linen napkins, tablecloths (mid-length) and table skirting • China, flatware and glass stemware • Setup, breakdown and cleanup of all Meadow Brook Hall equipment

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

Detroit health director speaks on complexities of public health Amy Swanson Staff Reporter

he predicted snow storm on March 1 held off long enough for the Center for Religious Understanding (CRU) to put on their event with speaker Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed is the executive director of public health and health officer for the City of Detroit. The event was held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gold Rooms and was open to all OU students, faculty, staff and the public. Presenting in a relatable yet eloquent way, he tackled the difficult topic of ethical challenges in public health, connecting them to Detroit. As the concept of public health is often misunderstood, he began with the definition. “Public health is what we, as a society, do collectively to ensure the conditions for people to be healthy.” This means that it’s about health promotion as opposed to curing disease. Public health endeavors include the Click It or Ticket policy, smoking bans and bicycle helmet laws. An important idea brought up was paternalism, which is when the attitudes and actions of people or an organization protect others, but don’t give any freedom in the matter. Central to the discussion was whether people should force others to live in a safer way, or respect their right to make their own decisions even if it means putting themselves and others at risk. Regarding Detroit, a lot of what effects people in the city is determined by people outside of it. Residents are on the receiving end without being able to control what happens to them. One concern is obesity. To help, there could be a public health initiative for a 20 percent increase in soda tax. While this may be beneficial for the obese, it could put employees out of a job as Detroit is home to Faygo, Vernors and Pepsi manufacturers. There is also the issue of infant mortality. It could be lowered with the Tobacco 21 policy that would make the smoking age 21,

which might limit the nicotine ingestion of young moms. El-Sayed asked if this paternalism is justified, as we would allow people to go to war but not smoke. Alan Epstein, director of CRU, agrees with the intricacy of public health. “It’s a multidimensional thing, not just about losing weight or being safe. It also involves questions of power. A lot is determined by who can make key decisions,” he said. Epstein felt El-Sayed did a great job in the daunting task of addressing these serious problems. “At the same time he really left a positive impression about the prospects,” Epstein said. “And his own story and dedication to the matter was very inspiring.” Overall, he hopes that after this event people have a better understanding of what public health is and know that it affects us all. This was the first CRU event Mary Joseph, a senior in social work, has attended. She is very interested in Detroit and its incredible disparities in health and the access to it. “From a social work perspective, the injustices of the world affect OU just as drastically as Detroit, even if they’re not as noticeable. It’s so important for students to pursue knowledge in that area,” she said. Epstein connected this discussion back to CRU. “Events like this show the ways in which ethics and reality transcend religion,” he said. “I think above all, even if we have different religions and worship in different places, ultimately we are a part of the same human family.” CRU was created in fall 2015. It promotes religious literacy and understanding of identity on campus, as well as serves as a forum for public issues. So far it has organized 10 events, starting off the year with the World Religion Showcase. Representatives of different religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism, gave presentations and conducted discussions. If interested in getting involved, CRU just started a religion studies club. Check out the CRU website or Facebook page for more information. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Life

MTD seniors perform showcase in New York

FAST ON OUR

Courtesy of Jacob Daley

The senior showcase was perfomed once at OU and twice at the Beckett Theatre in NYC.

Shelby Tankesley Staff Reporter

ine OU seniors packed their bags and headed to New York City last Saturday, and will remain there until March 11, to perform their showcase for talent agents in hopes of getting their first jobs. The senior showcase that the students recently performed for the OU community is what the agents got to see. Each part is the same, with the exception of a farewell video that was shown to the audience here. Olivia Griffin, one of the seniors, said that this is a taste of what their lives will be like as professionals. “I want to use this trip to start being a working actor,” Griffin said. “If you’re an actress living in New York, it’s your job to go to auditions.” Musical theater majors focus on acting, singing and dancing. Griffin said that as they progress through their degree, each takes on a specialty or two. For example, Griffin said that she doesn’t really sell herself through dancing, but one of her peers focuses on dance more so than acting and singing. Once they enter their senior year, the students get to choose some electives within their major that stray from their core classes and they audition to be part of the senior showcase. “You have to audition for showcase. Not everyone gets to go. It’s a privilege, not a given, especially since the school

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pays for us to go,” Griffin said. The students who make the cut travel to New York along with students from Western Michigan University. On top of that, OU covers most of the cost for its own students. The students get to attend several workshops during the week that they’re in the Big Apple in addition to performing. Griffin said they’ll be attending a film workshop along with a workshop with Duncan Casting. She said that the group planned to see a show together while they’re there as well. Griffin said that aside from the showcase and workshops, she plans to attend a few auditions to get some practice. “I’m hoping to experience New York as a working actress,” she said. “Even if I don’t get a lot of callbacks, I want to take time to go to auditions.” She said that this trip can make connections more than anything. In the event that she doesn’t get any callbacks from showcase, she said that she at least wants her name out there. Griffin said that she’s been working to improve her auditioning skills this year so that she’ll be well prepared when she graduates. “You learn how to audition at OU and any other school, but you don’t really understand what it’s like until you go to a real one,” she said. “You can’t get the real experience without going into a room full of people you don’t know. That’s what this is really about.”

FEET (NOT ON THE STREET)

SERIOUS DELIVERY!

★ JIMMYJOHNS.COM ★

The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Puzzles Across

1: Doohickey 6: Gather on a surface 10: Not very likely 14: Take out or in 15: Type of arch 16: Cold duck guzzler 17: Andes pack animal 18: Spoken 19: ___ mater 20: BIG DIPPER 23: PC bailout 25: ‘My ___’ (Mary Wells classic) 26: ‘We hold ___ truths...’ 27: Head circlet 29: ‘Flee, fly!’ 32: Avg. 33: Repetitive routine 34: Apt 36: Flowering shrub of the four-o’clock family 41: It’s treated in a plant 42: Piecrust ingredient 44: Actress Ryan 47: Withered 48: Tenant 50: Bodybuilder Charles 52: Churchill’s title 53: Fancy marble 54: Professionals who might

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

get your back up? 59: ‘You ___?’ (Lurch’s query) 60: ___ Gauche 61: Freshness symbol 64: Not fooled by 65: Harbinger 66: Provide with a trait 67: Digs of twigs 68: Used to be 69: Shooting game

Down

1: Hoedown honey 2: Hardly hale 3: Broken off, musically 4: In-box item 5: Syracuse players 6: Like many chimneys 7: Shrek, e.g. 8: Down-to-earth 9: Telephony pioneer 10: Mowed strip 11: ‘’___ of the Field’’ (Poitier classic) 12: Deepest 13: Bellyached 21: Full amount 22: Coral reef 23: Van Gogh’s love offering 24: ‘I’m better than you’ sort

28: ‘___ ex machina’ 29: Barely burn 30: Give birth to 31: ‘Shogun’ sash 34: False witness 35: Silly pair? 37: Artist’s plaster 38: Electrify 39: Upper or Lower, in New York 40: Bailiwick 43: Condensation phenomenon 44: Diacritic for a long vowel sound 45: Flammable gas 46: Lusters 48: Like cherries jubilee 49: Undermines 51: Professional slang 52: ‘Daphne’ division 55: Forepart of a boat 56: Frost’s frost 57: State peremptorily 58: Wine of Bordeaux 62: Take to court 63: In the time left

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themix TOP TUNES

TOP 8 TWITTER ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW 1. Big Ben (@big_ben_clock) - You won’t know what time it is until you follow this account. It’s like being in London, only not… 2. Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) - The baddie from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is an emotional wreck apparently. It’s fun to laugh at his pain. 3. NOT Sportscenter (@NOTSportsCenter) - This account points out all of the mistakes sports broadcasts make while also delivering false breaking news. A must follow for any sports fan. 4. Baby Animals (@BabyAnimalPics) - It’s impossible to be angry when your feed is full of baby animals. 5. The Onion (@TheOnion) - Sometimes fake news is better than real news. 6. Drake & Josh (@DrakeJoshQuotez) - You should follow this account. “Don’t tell me what to do.” 7. Jimmy John’s (@jimmyjohns) - Their subs might be fresh, fast and tasty, but their account is pun heaven. 8. The Oakland Post (@theoaklandpost) - Shameless plug. Follow to keep up on all things Oakland University related! — Compiled by the Oakland Post staff

YAKS of the WEEK

1. “Leo wins an Oscar. OU housing site crashes. The apocalypse is upon us.”

Yik Yak: The voice of the people

2. “It’s always nice getting acupuncture to the face. Compliments of the snow.” 3. “Imagine falling in love with someone and finding out they wear

their Oakland ID on a lanyard around their neck.” 4. “Question for vegetarians: how can you have your pudding if you don’t eat your meat?” 5. “Let’s play a game called how long can I sit in my car until it’s absolutely necessary to get to class.” 6. “Hopefully my professor got lost in the snow.” 7. “If I can’t live in Oak View I don’t want to live at all.”

8. “Welcome back from break! Anyone have an extra casket I can use? Thanks in advance.” 9. “My grandma gave me a $50 bill for my birthday so I decided to be smart with my money and buy $50 worth of Girl Scout cookies.” 10. “Instead of reading the Oakland Post I get most of my OU news from Yik Yak.” – Compiled by Shelby Tankersley, Staff Reporter

wxou albums of the week

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

RATBOYS “AOID” MONEY – “Suicide Songs” JAMES HUNTER SIX – “Hold On!” MARLON WILLIAMS – “Marlon Williams” CIAN NUGENT – “Night Fiction” BENJI HUGHES – “Songs in the Key of Animals” CHRIS BATHGATE – “Old Factory” MASS GOTHIC– “Mass Gothic” SUNFLOWER BEAN – “Human Ceremony” HOLY ESQUE – “At Hope’s Ravine”

ALBUM SPOTLIGHT #4. Ratboys — “AOID” (Topshelf Records) On Marlon Williams’ new self-titled album, this rustic crooner proves he’s the coolest thing to come from New Zealand since Unknown Mortal Orchestra and those roving landscape shots from “The Lord of the Rings.” Williams draws influence from The Band and Gram Parsons, American country-rockers whose sound informs his singing and strumming. These Americana moods, paired with ghostly vocal layering and sprawling slide guitars, help to transform otherwise ordinary folk ditties into darker and more atmospheric songs. You can almost see the tumbleweeds rolling by on “Hello Miss Lonesome,” the album’s jumpstart opener. “After All” sounds like a forgotten Rolling Stones song from the band’s “Exile On Main Street” album. All of these elements come together to form a record that is a cooler, grittier take on the Americana and folk revival of recent years than those by mainstream artists like Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers. Start with: “Hello Miss Lonesome,” “After All,” “Dark Child” Recommended if you like: The Band, Frontier Ruckus, Mumford and Sons – Anthony Spak, WXOU Music Director

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The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Sports Erin Kownacki: A story of success and perserverance Softball player excited to return to field after surviving blood clot Hannah Gorosh Staff Intern

Bodhanna Cherstylo / The Oakland Post

Oakland women’s basketball defeated Green Bay 77-69 at the O’rena during their last home game of the season.

Women’s basketball defeats league-leading Phoenix Popkey, Nash get big win in last home game Ally Racey Staff Reporter

akland women’s basketball (15-14, 7-11) broke conference-leader Green Bay’s (26-4, 16-2) ninegame win streak with a 77-69 victory on Saturday afternoon in the O’rena. Seniors Olivia Nash and Elena Popkey were honored before their final home game for senior night. It was Oakland’s thirdstraight win on senior night. “We feel great,” Popkey said. “The one thing we talked about in the locker room yesterday was we want to go out as a family, as a unit playing together. And this was probably the game where everything started to click for us as a team,” she said. The duo became the first pair of Golden Grizzlies to surpass 1,000 career points each in over a decade. Jayme Wilson and Anne Hafeli were the most recent, in 2004-05.

“I’m really happy for Olivia, really happy for Elena,” head coach Jeff Tungate said. “Tonight it wasn’t about who we played, it wasn’t about the last game of the year. It was about our two seniors. It’s just a memorable time, being able to sweep the best team in the league.” Freshman Taylor Jones led the Golden Grizzlies with 22 points, followed by Nola Anderson with 15 off the bench. Taylor Gleason added 14 points, while Nash and Popkey each collected nine. Popkey recorded a gamehigh six assists. She is just four shy of becoming Oakland’s alltime assist leader. Nash needed one extra point to record a double-double. She grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. “When I first got the job here the first thing I did was get as much Green Bay film as I could to watch because the way they play, they’re so unselfish and they play hard,” Tungate said. Oakland plays Youngstown State in the 2016 Horizon League Championship at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 10 in Green Bay, Wisc.

March 9, 2016 // The Oakland Post

“You never know what’s going to happen in March,” Tungate said. “That’s what makes March Madness March Madness, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

WHAT’S NEXT Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship

WHEN 8:30 p.m. ET on March 10, with possible games at 8:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. on March 11-13, respecitvely.

WATCH ESPN3 for all games except the final, which is on ESPNU.

fter surviving a blood clot in her brain and promptly returning to athletics, senior pitcher Erin Kownacki will redshirt the 2016 season and return next year. Kownacki started 29 games and appeared in 31 last season, while attaining an ERA of 2.85 and striking out 101. She was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team and given the Pitcher Award after a helping Oakland win its first-ever Horizon League Championship. She has won a couple of Horizon League Pitcher of the Week awards and the College Sports Madness 2015 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year. Kownacki was selected for the All-Horizon League FirstTeam last season. But come last fall, her world would be thrown for a whirl. Kownacki had an unsuspected blood clot in her brain discovered in October. “I was looking forward to my senior year, coming back and picking up right where I left off,” Kownacki said. “So, when they told me I couldn’t play, I kind of teared up a little bit. But I know that I should be back by the end of this season.” Kownacki said the clot has not affected her drastically in the long run. “I still get some headaches, but other than that, I’m fine,” Kownacki said. “At first, it was hard for me to concentrate and I basically slept a lot. After I got home, I pretty much slept for at least half of the day. But now I’m completely fine. I’m still on the medication, the blood thinners. Just until they find out why it happened.” The blood thinners are what keeps Kownacki from actively performing in games and in practices, where she is not al-

lowed to pitch to live batters. Kownacki felt a lot of love after her hospitalization and during her recovery, including some humorous support from her family. “My little sister got sick my freshman year [of college]. She was in the hospital for about a week in and out, so my mom was like ‘Really, you’re doing this to me again. Like, c’mon,’” Kownacki said. “But my family [has] gotten a lot closer. My mom and my fiancée actually stayed with me in the hospital all ten days.” She said university personnel gave some support, as well. “I wasn’t coherent the first night that I went in [the hospital], but I know that Holly [Kerstner, associate athletic director], Jeff Konya [athletic director], and Marshall [Foley, associate AD] were there,” Kownacki said. “My coaches came almost every day. A lot of my teammates came. Coach kind of gave them a lot of days off of practice so they could come see me. Anytime I walk by anyone in the office they always ask how I’m doing and what’s going on. Coach had said a lot of people were contacting her. A lot of people that I don’t even know were asking her what’s going on.” Kownacki still plays a position from the sidelines. When she is not keeping track of scores, she gives advice to the younger players who are new to collegiate sports. “I can’t wait to come back. I know we’re a young team. A lot of people have been saying that,” she said. “I’m excited to really get to know a lot of the freshman and sophomores better.” Kownacki is practicing with the team, traveling and working with them every step. Until Kownacki’s return, keep an eye out for Oakland’s softball squad as they take on the 2016 spring season. The team’s next games are March 11-12 at the Elon Softball Tournament in Elon, NC. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Sports

Hovland goes down in history Swim coach inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of fame after decades of legendary coaching Ally Racey Staff Reporter

rom coaching Oakland men’s swimming and diving to its 38thstraight league title and the women to their 23rd-straight league title, to being named to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016, Oakland swimming and diving head coach Pete Hovland has had a successful week. Hovland will join some of Michigan’s most respected sports icons in the Hall of Fame class including Derek Jeter, Ben Wallace, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Osgood. “I was really surprised when I got the call from the Hall of Fame,” Hovland said. “There was kind of a [pause] and [the man on the phone] said, ‘Are you still there?’” Hovland is humbled and honored by this recognition. “I never thought that when I came here that something like this could possibly ever happen in my lifetime,” he said. “It hasn’t totally sunk in yet.”

West Coast beginnings Hovland grew up in sunny California, where he joined a YMCA swim team. The program eventually merged with the Santa Clara Swim Club. “At one time, we probably had eight or 10 Olympians coming from the Santa Clara Swim Club, so I was influenced very heavily,” Hovland said. Hovland was recruited by Dr. Ernest Maglischo to swim at California State University, Chico, aka Chico State. Maglischo coached swim for 35 years and coached 13 NCAA Division II national championship teams. “We won four NCAA team championships while I was there. We were one of the best of the best,” Hovland said. Hovland said Maglischo is the reason he has been so consistent over the years. “I was fortunate to have an opportunity to swim for him,” Hovland said. “I learned a lot from him. It wasn’t just your typical coach/athlete relationship. He really taught all of us a lot about the sport.” Hovland said it was almost like taking a class on swim theory. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Nowshin Chowdhury / The Oakland Post

Hovland coached the men’s swim and dive team to its 28th consecutive conference title and the women’s to its 23rd straight.

Maglischo’s influence helped Hovland become a 23-time All-American conference coach of the year. “He’s the main reason I decided to pursue a career in college coaching,” he said.

The leap Maglischo became an Oakland swimming coach for the 1979-80 season, and needed an assistant coach. He called Hovland, who was finishing up his graduate work at the University of Northern Iowa. “I said, ‘When do you need me?’” Hovland said. “And he said, ‘I needed you yesterday.’” Present Hovland closed out his 37th year as Oakland University’s head swimming and diving coach on a good note. On the final day of the Horizon League swimming and diving championship,

Feb. 27, the men’s team claimed its 38th consecutive league title and the women recorded their 23rd-straight league title. Hovland said he tried to emulate a lot of things that Maglischo does. “I don’t profess to be nearly as smart as he is, but he did instill in me a lot of things about the sport and I try to instill that in my athletes to give them an advantage,” he said. “It’s more than just training them,” Hovland said. “It’s teaching them and educating them.” He said the program has been fortunate over the years. “We’ve found some really, really amazing individuals and some really highly motivated and some really bright and talented individuals,” Hovland said. The team trains all year round. They even have a countdown to the next Horizon League Championship, which ended a little over a week ago. As the team prepares for the NCAA

Zone C Diving meet on March 10-12, Hovland reflected on his past and present years at Oakland. “[The team] is a big part of my life personally and professionally,” he said. “They’ve become part of my family.” “My wife and I don’t have kids of our own,” Hovland said, “but when people ask I say, ‘No, but I have 57 18-to-22year-olds.’” Hovland’s number-one goal as a coach is to help the student athletes become all-around successful people. He said it’s more than just the four hours spent at practice. It’s also about trying to help the athletes become better students and citizens. Not only does the team represent the swimming and diving program, Hovland said, but they also represent Oakland University as a whole. “The swimming might be the hook that brings you to Oakland,” he said, “but Oakland is going to be the big prize.” The Oakland Post // March 9, 2016

Sports

Nowshin Chowdhury / The Oakland Post

The unique black top basketball court emphasizes Oakland’s recent branding efforts.

How it’s done: The branding of Oakland University Athletics Katlynn Emaus Staff Reporter

Oakland athletics has gotten a lot of publicity this year. Men’s basketball player Kay Felder basically lives on the set of SportsCenter, and according to athletic director Jeff Konya, the new Blacktop at the O’rena was voted best basketball court design in a national magazine. “The format became formalized in spring 2015,” Konya said. “Our Athletics [sic] Communications staff produces video clips of game action and highlighted individual plays after each contest for both internal and external use. It is distributed to national outlets when we believe the content is extraordinary such that it may qualify for a Top 10 ‘play of the day’ or a game we believe could be featured.” Konya is referring to the SportsCenter packages, which get Oakland’s name out. “Being on such a mainstream show exposes the university to a nationwide audience that would otherwise be inaccessible to Oakland University,” said Neal Ruhl, Oakland’s coordinator of broadcasting and social media. The university doesn’t pay anything for the SportsCenter airtime. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pay back. “Based on what it would cost to buy the exposure that Kay Felder has generated for Oakland University, I would be comfortable to estimate that figure in the $15

20 The Oakland Post

// March 9, 2016

million range conservatively,” Ruhl said. “Those are eye popping numbers.” Along with men’s and women’s basketball, Oakland athletics has sent game segments of baseball and softball to ESPN. Another change Konya focused on was the use of social media. Hashtags such as #WEARtheBEAR and #OUrstory have been posted all over Twitter and Instagram by the Golden Grizzly family. With the recent dismissal of the block O, students have really taken a liking to the bear head, Konya said. “We try to use [the bear head] as much as we can,” he said. “If you notice, we are one of the few schools in the mid-major athletics world that does not have the university name or the athletics nickname incorporated with our primary mark. We have the ‘bear head’ and it stand alone like the block M or the Fighting Irish.” However, Konya has more than just the Blacktop, the Golden Grizzly head and the SportsCenter packages to thank for the success of the branding of Oakland athletics. “The brand is only as good as the people willing to invest in it,” Konya said, “and that’s why I always trumpet and say kudos to our fans, our campus personnel, our [students] and student organizations, the band, the spirit squads and the list goes on because our brand is only as good as their belief in it.”

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