T&C - Fall Semester 2012, Week 6

& Riding up

tan cardinal

otterbein university wednesday, oct. 3, 2012 vol. 94, issue 6 www.otterbein360.com

the ranks Otterbein student places first on national leader board 8

lord of the rings:

Junior Julia Spatt schools Nebo over fences at Otterbein’s Austin E. Knowlton Center for Equine Studies.

photo by lindsay paulsen

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Tan & Cardinal

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t&c editorial staff

Mike Cirelli Lindsay Paulsen Katie Taggart Dennison Sleeper

Editor-in-Chief News Editor Assistant News Editor

Opinion Editor Laina Thompson Arts & Entertainment Editor Ally Nagle Sports Editor Chelsea Coleman Copy Editor Josh Park Copy Editor Kristen Davis Photography Editor Blythe Malone Photography Editor Anna Schiffbauer Business Manager Danielle Lanning Assistant Business Manager Lindsey Hobbs Web Editor assistant editors Maura Breen contributing staff Jon Bozeka Olivia Delahunty Jazmyne Flowe Paul Griffin Turp Ricketts Emmy Wells contact us 614-823-1159 TCeditor@otterbein360.com Tan & Cardinal Otterbein University Westerville, OH 43081 advertising For advertising information, contact Anna Schiffbauer at 614-823-1159 or by email at sales@otterbein360.com policies The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty and administration of Otterbein University.

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The T&C staff would love to hear from you. Write a letter to the editor and tell us what you’re thinking. Letters to the editor are letters responding to a writer or an article published in the Tan & Cardinal.

Please keep your letter to 300 words or less. It is at the discretion of the T&C staff as to whether or not the letter will be published. Letters attacking an individual will not be accepted. Letters must include the author’s first and last name, signature, phone number, address and affiliation to Otterbein University.

news

wednesday, oct. 3, 2012

Food for thought

Bon Appetit’s contract will expire in 2014

BY EMMY WELLS Contributing Writer

When Bon Appetit’s contract with Otterbein expires June 30, 2014, it will come up for bid.

Bob Gatti, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, said it is possible that Otterbein will renew its contract with Bon Appetit, but nothing has been decided.

The current dining service has been providing meals to Otterbein students, faculty and staff since July 1, 2004. According to Gatti, a dining service typically works for the university under a five-year contract. The company’s contract is usually renewed once, and after that, a new contract goes up for bid, he said. Even though a contract may go up for bid, that doesn’t necessarily mean the company will be replaced.

Gatti said that choosing a company to provide food for campus is not a simple process.

After a company’s contract expires, a request for proposal is performed. During the bidding process, Otterbein’s Housing and Dining subcommittee of the Student Life Committee meets to choose the new company.

The committee meets with the various bidders to see what they have to offer. It then travels to different colleges that already

use the dining companies the committee is considering. After testing the food out, a decision is made.

Bon Appetit provides food for the Cardinal’s Nest, the OtterBean, the OtterDen and the Roost Express, along with some school events. Otterbein’s contract with Bon Appetit requires that the food offered in each setting is different.

Gatti said Bon Appetit was chosen because the company offered several appealing incentives.

Many of Bon Appetit’s products are purchased locally.

Additionally, the company does not have a set corporate menu.

Gatti said the dining service has a strong commitment to sustainability as well.

“They allow their chefs the autonomy to cook meals rather than opening cans and pouring them in big vats,” he said.

Though Otterbein’s contract does not require that the company serve gluten-free food in the Cardinal’s Nest, the company chose to implement a gluten-free menu on its own.

Freshman art major Jennifer Hall has a positive outlook on the food options on campus.

“I think that our food is good and that people should be more

What’s CooKin’:

photo by blythe Malone

Bon Appetit provides students with a gluten-free menu.

optimistic about the healthy and fresh options that we have, rather than fretting over what they don’t like,” she said.

Sophomore physics major Evan Heintz said he would like to see a pasta bar in the Cardinal’s Nest.

“As a picky eater, I obviously find my options limited, but I believe that a regular pasta bar would be a healthy option that all would enjoy,” he said.

Students who have comments regarding dining options can fill out comment cards or email Bon

Appetit directly at www.cafe bonappetit.com. For example, the food station that serves “breakfast for dinner” and rotates other food options daily was a response to suggestions made by students.

“This year, we have a whole new management team,” Gatti said. “We ask people to be patient with them.”

t&c

Census shows slight decrease in enrollment

This year’s report also shows slight increases in other areas, including graduate students

BY JON BOZEKA Staff Writer

An annual census report released by the university shows that student numbers, in some areas, remain relatively steady, while in other areas, show change.

Otterbein University has exactly 2,984 students on campus.

That is 13 fewer students than last year and 33 fewer than in 2007, when Otterbein had 3,017 students.

This number is composed of undergraduate students, graduate students and nontraditional undergraduate students.

This data was compiled two weeks ago when the Otterbein

census report was published.

Both Barbara Wharton, assistant vice president of institutional effectiveness and planning, and Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, vice president of enrollment management, said they use this report to examine trends and build strategies to bring in new students.

With approximately 2,300 undergraduate students, Otterbein has remained relatively steady in its amount of undergraduate students, at about 2,300, plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Almost every other number has changed in some way, although not by much.

Otterbein has gained 25 graduate students and lost 38 undergraduate students. Both

transfer students and the Otterbein Collegiate Institute for high school students have gained 28 new students.

One noticeable change is that the freshman class is about 80 students smaller than it was last year, as reported in the Tan & Cardinal earlier this semester.

Blackburn-Smith said that lower high school graduation levels have caused the decline.

He also said there was a change in state graduation rates and that 2008-2009 was a peak year of high school graduates. Wharton said that this was expected.

Despite these shifts, the science and math programs grow every year, and athletics draw in a number of students.

“We have lots of reasons to be happy ... we are doing very well,” Wharton said. “With the value of attention at Otterbein and level of opportunities, students get firsthand experiences with faculty. … Undergraduates get great opportunities.” t&c

&

Student stats

There

are currently 2,984 students enrolled. The freshmen class has 80 fewer students than last year. Otterbein’s number of undergraduate students has remained steady at 2,300.

news

vol. 94, issue 6

“

www.otterbein360.com

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(My kids) make me courageous and resilient because they display courage and resilience by facing and

listen up:

Vasiloff wrote the album “Heroes” to raise awareness about the challenges his kids have overcome.

”

overcoming challenges daily that are greater than mine.

Professor turns the challenges of life into creative opportunities

Jeff Vasiloff has produced an album on iTunes as well as a medical mystery novel

Jeff Vasiloff ends every email with the same quote by Maya Angelou: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

The Otterbein professor said he feels this is a great motto for life and tends to live by it.

“If you want a happy life, you have to take action – either to change something or change your attitude,” he said. “Angelou’s advice is such a true compass for life, at least to me.”

Vasiloff is from Wadsworth, Ohio, and graduated from the College of Wooster and Ohio State University medical school.

Now a professor of anatomy and physiology in the Department of Biology and Earth Science, he is involved in several other projects outside his Otterbein work.

Though he has faced a number of challenges in recent years, he has found ways to turn these challenges into opportunities for creativity.

&

CRIME LOG

A few examples of this are the album that he made in dedication to the Special Olympics and by writing a medical mystery novel.

Vasiloff ’s album has been on iTunes for a year and is called “Heroes,” a title inspired by his children and the challenges they have overcome. Vasiloff said that “Heroes” was an appropriate title for the album because he considers his children to be heroes.

“They make me courageous and resilient because they display courage and resilience by facing and overcoming challenges daily that are greater than mine” “My son, Jake, 13, is in the Special Olympics,” he said. “It’s a wonderful program. He has a disease called Prader-Willi, which is not inherited, but one in 10,000 people get it.”

Though the disease causes weakness in Jake’s muscles, he is strong enough to participate in the Special Olympics. Vasiloff said that his son is also an excellent musician and plays the drum set and hand drum on the album.

His 15-year-old daughter, Jenna, suffered a stroke early in her life. She sings a duet with her father on the album called “Scrubby Scrubby.” The song was inspired by the times she played with her rubber duck toy in the bathtub when she was a small child.

He said that Jake bravely endures the hardships brought on by a muscular disease, while Jenna has fought an uphill battle her whole life after having a stroke at a young age.

Vasiloff has written songs as a hobby since college, but he didn’t start to work on his album until more recent years.

“Back in college, (I) took a year of classical guitar, but I’ve never had any other training. ... I like music.”

He started to work on his album after he needed a distraction from other areas of his life.

“A few years ago, my wife filed for divorce,” he said. “Not having the kids as much, I figured I’d make (a) CD to get my mind off the heartbreak.”

According to the Otterbein University Police Daily Crime Log, the following has been reported Sept. 25

Vasiloff is currently working on a second album. “(I am) making another album of folk and folk-rock songs, (a more) serious and sober CD than ‘Heroes.’ ... (I will) probably perform folk songs a few times a year. ... Our band ‘Red Wheel Barrow’ (titled after the poem by William Carlos Williams) will take a world tour of Hilliard and Westerville.”

Vasiloff said he also wrote a medical mystery novel, “Of Angels and Madness,” because he wanted to see if he could do it. “(It’s a) good mystery, but (it has) lots of controversy: religion,

photo by blythe Malone

HIV and more.”

He said he loves to write and has finished two novels so far.

He said he didn’t expect to write a bestseller and encourages input from readers to point out the flaws.

Vasiloff has goals for Otterbein as well, hoping to start a public health program. He also wants to continue teaching. “(I want to) become the best teacher I can. ... I want my students to have fun (and) learn a lot.”

t&c

Wanted: Recreation Leaders Care After School in Worthington is looking for Recreation Leaders.

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Campus Center west lot

2

1.

9/25 A wallet was stolen from a car at the Cowan north parking lot.

The car was reported to be unlocked.

2.

9/25 Drug paraphernalia was reported at the Campus Center west parking lot.

Cowan north

1 parking lot inforMation CoMpiled by Katie taggart

graphiC by Kristen sapp

BY JON BOZEKA Staff Writer

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arts & entertainment

Tan & Cardinal

o360

Poll

wednesday, oct. 3, 2012

If you voted for President Barack Obama in 2008, will you vote for him again in November?

A. Yes, I will.

B. No, I will be voting for Gov. Mitt Romney.

C. I did not vote for President Obama in 2008, but I will be voting for him in November.

D. I did not vote for President Obama in 2008, and I will not be voting for him in November.

Visit the bottom of the www.otterbein360.com home page to: answer.

stiCKy:

If you want to hear the best music and stay updated on Otterbein sports, then keep your radio locked on 97.5 WOBN FM!

photo by blythe Malone

Emily Edwards keeps her days in order by surrounding herself with Post-it reminders.

Rising and shining

Students, faculty and staff share how they prepare for the day

BY PAUL GRIFFIN Staff Writer

Make sure to check out some of our new showcases including The Alternative Hour Mondays at 7 p.m. and Campus Country Thursdays at 5 p.m.!

Dusty Kiaski hears his alarm clock go off at 9 a.m. and jumps out of bed. It is game day for the soccer captain, so he has gotten at least eight hours of sleep. He gulps down a protein shake.

“My first thoughts every game day is about the team,” said Kiaski, a senior accounting major. “I think about the things we went over and about the team we will be playing.”

On game day mornings, he likes to listen to music.

“I usually listen to either Taking Back Sunday or the Dangerous Summer to get myself psyched for the game.”

Kiaski has a 9:45 class on game days and a class at 1 p.m. that is right before his game. Despite the pressure of the upcoming game, he is still able to focus on his class work and the lecture.

Like Kiaski, other successful students, staff and faculty at Otterbein have morning routines that help them start their days on the right foot.

Emily Edwards

Emily Edwards, junior organizational communication major and Campus Programming Board president, said her morning rou-

tine starts the previous evening.

“Every night before I go to bed, I write Post-it notes of things I have to do tomorrow,” Edwards said.

Doing so helps motivate her in the morning because it gives her something to work toward, she said.

Edwards gets up at about 7:30 — two hours before her first class — to make sure she has time to do her morning checklist.

The first thing she does every morning is check her Facebook, Otterbein inbox, and other email inboxes. She then watches some of “The Today Show” to know what is happening in the world.

Kathy Krendl

Otterbein President Kathy Krendl likes to walk the bike trail near her home on weekend mornings, especially during fall when the leaves are changing color.

“I walk the bike path because I really do enjoy the scenery as I walk the path,” Krendl said.

Another thing Krendl likes to do during her weekend mornings is spend time with her kids or go kayaking.

During the week, Krendl usually wakes up at 5:30 a.m. so she can fit in her morning exercise or

take a walk. She then checks her lecture notes for the day.

Before heading off to Otterbein, Krendl checks her email to make sure she didn’t receive any updates throughout the night.

John Kengla

Otterbein professor John Kengla is a leader in the Ubuntu program, which helps high school students prepare for college by having them partner with student volunteers.

Kengla wakes up at around 5 in the morning to finish the work he was unable to finish the night before. He checks notes and handouts he will use in his lectures for the day to make sure the information he is covering in his class will be new information to his students.

The last thing he does before he eats breakfast is check his Otterbein email for any updates he might have.

He then takes his dog out for a walk.

“He is a really good dog, so sometimes he gets to go on a walk without the leash,” he said.

After he and his dog have gotten their morning exercise, Kengla heads to Otterbein to teach.

t&c

calendar

vol. 94, issue 6

October

www.otterbein360.com

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123456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Campus Event

Campus Event

Fall Break

Fall Break

Campus Event

Campus Event

▪ Sorority Recruitment Bid Day, 2 p.m., Campus Center ▪ Westerville Symphony Concert, 7 p.m., Cowan Hall

▪ Basketball cheerleading and mascot clinic, 4-6 p.m., Rike Center dance room

Campus Event

Campus Event

▪ Collage Concert, ▪ Women’s volley7 p.m., Cowan Hall ball vs. Denison, 7 p.m.

▪ Men’s soccer vs.

Wilmington, 4 p.m.

CD Releases

▪ “Red” – Taylor Swift ▪ “Dethalbum III” – Dethklok

Campus Event

▪ Women’s soccer vs. Marietta, 3:30 p.m.

▪ “Noises Off,” 8 p.m., Cowan Hall

▪ “Taken 2” ▪ “Frankenweenie” ▪ “Pitch Perfect”

▪ Concert: The Red Noise, 2 p.m., Riley Auditorium ▪ Guest Artist Recital: Wes Baldwin, cello, 7 p.m., Riley Auditorium

Video Game Releases

▪ “Assassin’s Creed III” ▪ “LEGO Lord of the Rings” ▪ “Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2”

Movie Releases

Campus Event

▪ “Argo” ▪ “Sinister” ▪ “Here Comes the Boom” ▪ “Seven Psychopaths” ▪ “Middle of Nowhere”

▪ Women’s volleyball vs. Ohio Northern, 7 p.m.

Fall Break

Campus Event

Campus Event

▪ Basketball cheerleading tryouts, 4-6 p.m., Rike Center dance room ▪Choral Concert, noon-12:50 p.m., Church of the Master

Campus Event

▪ Men’s soccer vs.

Marietta, 4 p.m.

▪ “Take Me Home” – One Direction



Campus Event

▪ “Noises Off,” 8 p.m., Cowan Hall

Movie Releases

CD Releases

Family weekend

Campus Event



Fall Break

Friday

Campus Event

▪ Open house for new Women’s and Gender Resource Center, 3-4 p.m., 25 W. Home St. ▪ Latin @ Identity, 6-8 p.m., Chapel

Last day to register to vote in 2012 presidential election

Thursday



Sunday

▪ Women’s volleyball vs. Mount Union, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Campus Event

▪ “Noises Off,” 8 p.m., Cowan Hall ▪ Women’s volleyball vs. Hiram, 2:30 p.m.

▪ Football vs.

Muskingum, 7 p.m.

Campus Event

▪ “Noises Off,” 8 p.m., Cowan Hall ▪ Guest Artist Recital: The Early Interval, 8 p.m., Riley Auditorium ▪ Women’s soccer vs. Heidelberg, 1

Campus Event

▪ Bonfire ▪ Football vs.

Mount Union, 1:30 p.m.

Family weekend

Campus Event

▪ “Spring Awakening,” 7:30 p.m., Campus Center Theatre ▪ Jazz Concert, 8 p.m., Old Bag of Nails

Campus Event

▪ “Spring Awakening,” 8 p.m., Campus Center Theatre ▪ Slam and Jam, 8 p.m., OtterDen

Campus Event

▪ Heart Chase, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

▪ “Spring Awakening,” 8 p.m., Campus Center Theatre ▪ Women’s soccer vs. Capital, 1 p.m.

Campus Event

▪ Faculty Recital: Ben Huntoon, trumpet, 8 p.m., Riley Auditorium

Share your information: Want to announce an event in the T&C? Just email us at arts@

otterbein360.com, and we’ll put it in the monthly calendar. Send it to us by the 25th of the previous month. You can also submit events to the calendar on www.otterbein360.com.

photo by blythe Malone

Information compiled by Laina Thompson. Information from amazon.com, imdb.com and otterbein.edu.

6

opinion

Tan & Cardinal

wednesday, oct. 3, 2012

Feminism still a relevant cause & With women still earning less than men, feminism remains a cause worth fighting for

When I told a number of people I was writing an article about feminism, I found that many people’s image of a feminist is a man-hating hippie with body hair, no bra and a minimal interest in the OLIVIA feminine hygiene DELAHUNTY aisle.

The feminist movement sparked a collection of ideologies that believe in equal social, economic and political rights for women. It advocates the need for equal opportunities for women in education, employment, voting, property and contract law.

In the 18th century, Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer and advocate for women’s rights, responded to Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man” with “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” a book that sparked the first wave of feminism.

In the late 19th century, when women were still considered men’s property and were unable to vote, the first women’s rights convention took place in 1848 in New York.

Historically, women have been strong, but this movement

Important moments in women’s rights

gave women a voice. It was the first steppingstone in having the confidence to take control of their lives, decisions, education and relationships.

It is now 2012 and things have changed drastically. More women expect and receive an education, hold positions of power and authority and have the choice to work and be a mother.

In many ways, women’s roles have changed — and most people in the United States think that women and men have equal rights. But sadly, that is still not the case, at least from an earnings perspective. According to TIME Magazine, “women earned less than men in all 20 industries and 25 occupation groups surveyed by the Census Bureau in 2007.” And today, women make 77 cents for each man’s dollar.

“I think the average person probably thinks of feminism as something that isn’t needed anymore, and they think that women already have equal rights,” junior women’s, gender and sexuality studies major Sarah James said.

“I call myself a feminist because I believe in the ideas that are coming up in our current times,” she said. “Feminism is about trying to create a better society where everyone has

1848, first women’s rights convention held

Held in Seneca Falls, N.Y, the event lasted two days. Participants signed a Declaration of Sentiments, a list of 12 resolutions that called for equal human and voting rights.

1792, Mary Wollstonecraft vs. the European Enlightenment

Wollstonecraft wrote her novel, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” in response to her male counterparts writing about the “Rights of Man.”

Information compiled by Dennison Sleeper from www.infoplease.com.

opportunities and choices on how they want to live their life.

To me, a feminist is someone who wants a better world for everyone. It’s something that is for everybody. You don’t have to fit the perceived stereotype of a feminist.”

Senior sustainability studies major Lucy Pierce said that to her, feminism is “about advocating feminist theory through art, literature, music and other cultural forms that allow girls to feel and act the way they want to and not how society wants them to. Feminism is not having to apologize for being who you are, no matter your sex. And it is being as ‘girly’ as I want to be because, damn it, I am a girl.”

The face of feminism is continually expanding and becoming more diverse, and men around the world are speaking out to show their support for equal rights, too. Feministmen.tumblr. com is one of many Tumblr sites that are full of men supporting feminist ideals.

“Dating as a feminist,” a YouTube video that really made an impact on me, focused on a girl with brightly colored hair sharing her thoughts about a question that she had received more than once regarding the subject of body hair. She explained that,

subconsciously, men are trained to believe that women having little to no body hair is natural, correct and attractive. She believes the media are responsible for this perception.

“Your boyfriends’ preferences shouldn’t be dictating decisions you make about your body,” James said. “At least, in my opinion, if your partner is going to be that turned off that they would compromise your relationship over something that is naturally on you … in that case, no matter how close you are with your boyfriend, your body is always yours and it’s only yours.”

Feminists seek equality for women in the home, workplace, education, society and law. They encourage women to make their own decisions about their body, health and contraceptive methods. Society has come a long way since that small meeting of 1,000 women in 1850. However, the feminist movement recognizes that work still needs to be done.

Women need to feel safe enough and strong enough to make their own decisions and voice their opinions. We have a long way to go. t&c OLIVIA DELAHUNTY IS A JUNIOR ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR AND A STAFF WRITER FOR THE T&C.

1920, Women’s Department of Labor and the right to vote

The Women’s Department of Labor was designed to protect and monitor the safety of women in the workplace. Later in the 1920s, the 19th Amendment was signed, granting all women the right to vote.

1963, “The Feminine Mystique” and fair wages

Betty Friedan released the Feminine Mystique, detailing discrimination women felt at the time and galvanizing the women’s rights movement.

Later that year, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, raising women’s wages.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing today in response to the comments I’ve seen on Otterbein360.com and the various Otterbein360.com Twitter and Facebook accounts.

I’m responding to the Otterbein Police Department and anyone on campus who agrees about withholding information from the media.

First off, I should probably give some background. I was a student at Otterbein from fall 2008 until my graduation last May. During those four years, I was a member of the Tan & Cardinal in some capacity.

I must say that I think it’s a terrible move to not share any information with the student media. I agree with the points made in the article about distinguishing between a drunk student who locked himself out of his room and a 50-person parking-lot brawl.

What I can address is the lack of trust that the university has with the students. I have firsthand experience in that newsroom, and I know that those who represent the paper aren’t a bunch of wild, godless heathens out to cause anarchy, pain and mass amounts of suffering. It’s part of the journalistic code of ethics to minimize harm. I can remember on more than one occasion we held the name of a person because it was harmful to that person to publish it.

Also, how can you expect your students to be safe and informed when you refuse to share information with not only the T&C but with its readers? I can’t count the number of times that a tweet or Facebook post beat a Red Alert, which often came well after the fact.

Lastly, when you don’t share information, it makes you look like you have something to hide and very bad reasons to do it.

Signed, Steven Collins Class of 2012

To find out more about the Otterbein Police Department withholding information from the T&C, vist otterbein360.com.

sports

vol. 94, issue 6

www.otterbein360.com

Turf on director’s to-do list

7

Stewart aims to fund turf field and increase community involvement

BY TURP RICKETTS Staff Writer

Taking over a job at your alma mater comes with excitement as well as the pressure of knowing exactly who you are taking over for. For Athletic Director Dawn Stewart, it has been a wild ride already.

After a busy summer and transition period for Stewart, things are not slowing down, but that’s how she wants it to be.

“The summer flew by, but with classes well underway, that means athletic seasons are as well, and that’s always a fun time around here,” she said.

One of Stewart’s first goals is to solicit corporate sponsorship to fund a turf field and new running track for Memorial Stadium. She said the department is working to find possible donors and make sure everything is done properly.

“Building corporate partnerships are about building relationships with the community,” Stewart explained. “Not only does it benefit us financially, but it strengthens the image of Westerville and businesses in the area.”

Otterbein men’s lacrosse head coach Colin Hartnett is helping Stewart with new marketing and public relations activities and said he really likes the emphasis on community relations.

“Dawn is putting an emphasis on involvement in the community and how that will help us with some big projects and undertakings we have here in the Athletic Department,” Hartnett said.

Stewart is putting an emphasis on the turf and track project because of the benefit it will have for the entire student population. Not only would it

be a practice space for multiple teams, but it would also be able to handle intramurals and general traffic. That is why she sees this as a schoolwide funding project.

“The new facilities will also be a big draw for recruits and make us more appealing on a national level and will allow a better overall student-athlete experience,” Stewart said.

So far, Stewart has been nothing but impressed with new football head coach Tim Doup and the new basketball coaching staff, led by head coach Todd Adrian.

She describes Doup as a highintegrity person who is trying to create a positive experience for his players and help them mature as men.

“I believe Coach Adrian and his staff will deliver results and build this program the right way,” she said.

“Long term, my vision is for

Crossing into a new realm Men’s and women’s cross country outrunning the competition

BY GRAHAM SHIPPY Staff Writer

Led by senior Rebekah Reese, the women’s cross country team ran away with the win at the Otterbein Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 22.

The Lady Cardinals outran 11 other teams to take home their first invitational win at home.

The men’s team ran in similar form, finishing in second place overall out of nine teams.

Reese, a three-time Ohio Athletic Conference Runner of the Week, finished first with a commanding 10-second lead over the second-place finisher out of a 129-runner field. She finished with a new personal best time of 18:24 for the 5,000meter distance.

“Since I’ve been at Otterbein, we have never won this meet, and it was just a great feeling knowing we raced our best and came out with the win,” Reese said. “Individually, this was the first invitational I’ve won in cross country. I never expected to win, but I did my best to run smart and work my way up to the front.”

The Lady Cards had four runners finish in the top 25, which lead them to a 12-point win over Ohio Dominican University, which finished second with 91 points. Junior Kaila Cramer held the second spot for the Cardinals with a 12th place finish, and freshman Victoria Konkle placed 15th.

“Rebekah has set an excellent example through her work ethic and passion for running,” said David Lehman, head coach of the women’s team. “The girls are fairly close-knit and they encourage each other in practice and in meets.”

The men’s team also put on an impressive performance in the 8-kilometer race with freshman Phillip Cochran leading the way for the Cardinals with a fifthplace overall finish in 27:20. The Cards had two other runners finish in the top 15, with sophomore Joseph Montoya finishing 12th and junior Andrew Mantell taking 15th place.

“Phillip Cochran is a great addition to our program,” head coach Scott Alpeter said. “He works hard and is a pleasure to

coach. Overall, the team ran well on Saturday, but we do have a sizable gap between our No. 4 and 5 spots, so we’ll need to reduce that gap in the coming weeks.”

Cochran, a freshman from Lynn Haven, Fla., showed that adapting to the 8-kilometer distance was not a challenge for him.

“Finishing fifth individually for me was an awesome experience, but I’m also pretty excited about the team’s second-place finish,” Cochran said. “I enjoy longer races, so the more 8K’s I run, the more I’ll improve my strategy.”

Both the men and women’s teams are preparing for their next test at the All-Ohio meet on Saturday, Oct. 29th. The meet will be at Cedarville University and includes more than 40 teams.

“The All-Ohio is a totally different type of meet with Division I, II and III teams all running together, so it’s hard to compare,” Lehman said. “We will just try to go out and compete well with no letups and see where it puts us.” t&c

fast-paCed:

photo by Kristen daVis

Community relationships are important to Dawn Stewart.

Otterbein to be one of the best programs in the country. Moving forward, we will have to closely evaluate our resources and how we can best utilize all of them.”

Hartnett said, “With Dawn’s fresh energy and ideas, the sky’s the limit for the Athletic Depart-

ment. Right now, it’s not about making big fixes — nothing was broken — but about making little changes and improvements here and there to move the Athletic Department where it needs to be.”

t&c

8

Tan & Cardinal

Galloping ahead

sports

wednesday, oct. 3, 2012

Junior Julia Spatt and Otterbein-owned horse Rico jump to top of division

BY JAZMYNE FLOWE Staff Writer

It takes a moment for riders’ eyes to adjust when walking into the barn. People rushing in every direction, coaches and riders discussing strategy — it’s a whole different world. But for junior business major Julia Spatt, it’s everyday life.

Spatt holds the first place spot on the Official United States Eventing Association Training 2012 Leaderboard in the Young Adult Rider division.

The USEA is a nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to advance the sport through education of riders, trainers, officials and organizers, with the health of the horse being of paramount importance.

“It feels very rewarding to be top ranked,” Spatt said. “Also surprising seeing as I’ve really only ridden this horse since June. We’ve been able to forge a partnership in a short amount of time, and he continues to surprise me with what he can do.

I’ve been on the national leader board before, but I’ve never been leading it, so it’s sort of ironic to me that I got to the top of it on the horse I’ve ridden least. “ Spatt competed with Rico, an Otterbein-owned horse.

liVing in the galloping lane:

“Honestly, I’m mostly just grateful to have the opportunity to ride the horse and succeed,” Spatt said. “It’s just a bonus that we’ve happened to do so well together.”

Like most prospective students, Spatt looked for a specific major when selecting a college — but she also looked for an outlet for her passion of equestrian.

“I wanted a school where I could pursue an equine major without being pre-vet, as well as somewhere that I could continue to compete in the sport of eventing,” Spatt said. “Otterbein offered an equine business major and an eventing team, so I was hooked. Another bonus was that I could bring my horse, which I did, although I ended up selling him near the end of my freshman year, and I am now riding an Otterbein-owned horse.”

Before Spatt is able to compete in the horse shows with Rico, she has to practice to reach her goals.

“Practice can vary day to day,” Spatt said. “It all depends on what we’re working on. Usually we are working on improvements to make showing better, so just adding a little finesse. Things are

Cooling out:

photo by Kristen daVis

Spatt takes a moment after her ride to “cool out” Nebo before heading back into the barn.

usually tough when you just start working on them and get easier the more you do them. Each horse has specific problems, though, so even if you perfect something on one horse, you can get on another and have a completely different ride.”

With all the practicing that Spatt puts in, she is ready for the competitions.

“All competitions vary, and they all depend on how big they are. If it’s a smaller show, it’s usually pretty low-key and relaxed ...

Spatt is schooling Nebo so her usual competition horse, Rico, can rest.

whereas with big shows, it can be easy to get caught up in being excited, and it can make the nerves a lot worse. The most important thing that myself and my teammates have to remember is that it’s about the riding and to focus on your horse and what you’ve been working on.”

The next show for the eventing team will be near the end of October at the Kentucky Horse Park. The riders have a little

over three weeks until the show but are optimistic about their chances.

“The quality of the horses at this school is also incredible.

They have some of the nicest school horses I’ve seen at any program, and they take great care of them. All of the horses couldn’t have found a better program to be donated to.”

t&c

photo by Kristen daVis