T&C- Fall 2011, Week 1

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tan cardinal

otterbein university wednesday, aug. 31, 2011 vol. 93, issue 1 www.otterbein360.com

Freshman class stats are in 3 Mysterious wall writings confound campus 4 moving boxes and test scores:

Campus concerts get amped up 7

YouTube star boogies his way to Cowan 6 photo by alyssa cook-alexander

Students from the freshman class, which scored higher average ACT scores than previous classes, lug boxes into their rooms during First Flight.

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news

Tan & Cardinal

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wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

t&c editorial staff

Lindsey Hobbs Josh Adkins Kaity Vorbroker Leah Driscoll

Editor-in-Chief News Editor Assistant News Editor

assistant editors Monica Begazo Alyssa Cook-Alexander Kathleen Quigley Laina Thompson Hannah Ullom contributing staff Dominic Porretta Holly Takach contact us 614-823-1159 tanandcardinal@yahoo.com Tan & Cardinal Otterbein University Westerville, OH 43081

main street, Usa:

Local mascots, cheerleaders and citizens move the blockade that divided the city of Westerville for over a year.

City celebrates completion of bridge

Community members gathered on the Main Street Bridge after one year of construction

BY JOSH ADKINS News Editor

“Move those barrels! Move those barrels!”

Those were the shouts advertising heard on Aug. 18 from citizens For advertising information, of Westerville and Otterbein contact Anna Schiffbauer at 614students at a celebration for the 823-1159 or by email at opening of the new Main Street tanandcardinaladvertising@ yahoo.com Bridge, just west of campus.

While a DJ spun current radio hits, Westerville Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi led the cavalpolicies The views expressed on this page cade of children, school mascots and cheerleaders as they do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty and administration of removed the blockade of orange Otterbein University. barrels.

Opinions expressed in signed The bridge, which officially columns are those of the writer and not of the newspaper staff. Positions opened on Aug. 19, had been in unsigned editorials represent a consensus of the editorial staff.

The first copy of the Tan & Cardinal is free to the public. Each additional copy is $0.50, and payment can be made at the office at 33 Collegeview, Westerville, OH 43081.

Offenders will be prosecuted.

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 Tan & Cardinal 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.

photo by Josh adkins

Opinion Editor Steven Collins Arts & Entertainment Editor Jordan LaBatte Sports Editor Mike Cirelli Copy Editor Kristen Sapp Photography Editor Anna Schiffbauer Business Manager

under construction for over a year and cut off the direct route into Uptown Westerville.

Cocuzzi said the bridge is a connector between both sides of the city.

“Westerville is whole again,” Cocuzzi said. “You don’t realize how much people use (the bridge) until everyone’s asking when it’s opening again.”

The project cost $5.8 million and was funded by the Federal Highway Administration, Franklin County and the city, according to Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle.

It was built by the Kokosing Construction Company of Columbus.

Cocuzzi said a bike path is being constructed underneath the bridge, and a “green opening” will be held at the end of September to celebrate it.

Local business owners were excited for the increase in traffic the new bridge will bring after a drop over the last year.

Debbie Mitchell, owner of Serendipity, said, “We did see a huge drop this summer in people that live on the other side of the bridge being able to come over and visit us at the store Uptown, but we’re very happy that it is now open.”

Kris Michel, owner of Chocolaterie Stam, also said it was a hassle for people to take

&WHERE’S

BY JOSH ADKINS News Editor

trimming toWers:

photo by lindsey hobbs

The spruce tree, along with others, were cut down at the end of July.

The spruce tree that once occupied the Towers Hall lawn will be replaced in time for the winter tree lighting ceremony, according to Vice President for Business Affairs Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings.

The hallmark, along with other trees, were cut down last July after

the detour to reach Uptown Westerville.

“Just the foot traffic during certain months seemed to be impacted,” Michel said. “I do know many people avoided it.”

For Otterbein students, reaching the Art and Communication Building and other places of interest will no longer be a hassle.

Senior international studies major Ashley Bruehl said she is glad the construction is finally complete. “(Central Ohio Transit Authority) is literally right on the other side of the bridge, so if you needed to use public transportation it was bad,” Bruehl said. t&c

THE CHRISTMAS TREE?

“disease, age and storms have changed the look of the lawn for decades,” according to an email announcement.

New trees and plants will be planted to replace the old ones.

President Kathy Krendl said costs are still up in the air.

According to VazquezSkillings, a master plan-

ning process is being developed over the next month, including planning of the university’s landscape and cost estimates.

The planning process will involve the campus community over the next six-nine months.

She said a variety of focus groups will be engaged to ensure a “thorough and thoughtful process.” t&c

news 3 Otterbein welcomes brainy freshman class of 2015 www.otterbein360.com

vol. 93, issue 1

Brittney Oiler freshman, early childhood Spencer said one of the biggest things she is nervous about for her semester at Otterbein is the culture difference. “I don’t want to offend anyone if I’m too blunt,” she said.

Spencer said she chose to study at Otterbein because it was a small school and similar to the types of universities near her home.

NUMBERS 653 26+ The number of incoming freshmen

The ACT score of 30% of the freshman class

61% : 39%

The ratio of women to men in the freshman class

100 75

t&c

80 76 72 62

50 25

business administration, accounting and economics

”

CLASS OF 2015

health and sports science

“

I visited Otterbein and really liked the small campus.

Like Spencer, Brittney Oiler, a freshman early childhood education major, chose Otterbein for its small campus.

“I visited Otterbein and really liked the small campus. Plus, it really seemed like a school where people cared,” Oiler said.

Freshman theatre major Zach Paugh was attracted to Otterbein for the feeling of the campus community.

“There was just this feeling that everyone was caring and supportive of each other.”

He said, “I chose Otterbein because the theatre program is really awesome.”

Bridget Bickers, a freshman equine pre-vet major, picked Otterbein for the academic programs.

“The majors here seemed like the best choice to follow my career path.”

This year’s freshman class is diverse in its choices in majors.

The top four majors chosen by the 2011 freshman class are undecided, with 80 students enrolled; nursing, with 76 students; health and sports science, with 72 students; and business administration, accounting and economics, with 62 students.

nursing

As the new school year begins, Otterbein’s freshman class of 2015 arrives with promise.

This year’s freshman class brings with it 653 first-time freshman students, of which 61 percent are female and 39 percent are male.

According to Barbara Wharton, the assistant vice president for institutional planning, the preliminary numbers show that this incoming class is strong academically.

“The median ACT (score) of our freshman class is 24, compared to 23 last year.,” Wharton said in an email interview.

Wharton also said that 30 percent of the incoming freshman class has an ACT score of 26 or higher, as compared to last year’s 23 percent.

These are preliminary numbers until an official report is made during week three of classes, but Wharton said it is likely an accurate picture of the academics of the freshman class.

Thirty-one different states are represented within the freshman class of 2015, from Maine all the way to Hawaii.

There are also a few students from other countries studying abroad at Otterbein.

Josephine Spencer is a freshman theater major and media minor from England studying here for a semester.

Otterbein was one of five schools to pick from through her study abroad program.

undecided

BY KAITY VORBROKER Assistant News Editor

BY THE

Preliminary numbers show incoming students’ test scores are up

0

24 31 The top four majors among the freshman class

John hancock:

photo by Josh adkins

The incoming freshman class of 2015 participated in the annual Otterbein tradition of signing the rock in front of the Center for Student Success last Wednesday during New Student Week.

The median ACT score of the freshman class

The number of states represented by the freshman class

inFormation compiled by kaity vorbroker and graphic by Josh adkins

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SECURITY REPORT

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8/9

wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

bandit strikes campus

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Culprit could face fines and jail time if charged with misdemeanor

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news

BY JOSH ADKINS News Editor

Cryptic tagging greeted the campus last week when students began moving back to campus.

The reported graffiti was located on campus on a bench near Roush Hall, a wall near Cowan Hall, on a wall of the Campus Center, on a golf cart located near the Campus Center and on a wall outside of the library.

Some of the messages read things such as “Was it the bee or the sting?” and “The theater is … yours to define.”

A penis and more text were reported to have been drawn on

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According to the Otterbein University Police Daily Crime Log, the following has been reported from Aug. 9-18.

the fence surrounding the Church of the Messiah on North State Street, according to a report filed with the Westerville Police Division.

The WPD report noted younger people were spotted loitering around the church near an alley between midnight and 2 a.m.

There are no suspects thus far for the case and “there are no video captures yet,” according to Otterbein Sgt. Robert Reffitt.

If a suspect is apprehended, he or she could be charged with criminal damaging, a second degree misdemeanor punishable with a $750 fine and 90 days of incarceration, Reffitt said.

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“An Otterbein student could also face judicial charges in addition to the criminal charges,” Reffitt said.

According to Otterbein painter Steven Phillips, the paint was easily removed with a spray and power washed away.

Each can of spray cost less than $10, and several cans were used in the removal process.

Sophomore art major Haley Amicon said that graffiti is a good way of expressing yourself, but not when it’s harmful to someone else’s property.

“Permanently tagging stuff that isn’t yours isn’t right,” Amicon said. t&c

s

kin sh ad

by Jo photo

tagged:

There were four reported incidents of graffiti on Otterbein’s campus and one reported off campus.

photo b y Josh a dkins

Rike Center

Davis Hall

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graphic by kristen sapp

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2

A theft was reported in Towers Hall.

8/10, 8/11, 8/15, 8/16

Four reports of cash stolen from wallets in Rike Center.

The case is pending investigation.

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Clements Hall

3.

8/12 A vending machine in Clements Hall was reported damaged during a theft.

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4.

8/13 A golf cart was reported stolen from the Campus Center and was recovered at Park and Knox Street.

5. 8/13 At 6:12 a.m., a subject was found passed out on the Barlow Hall lawn and was transported to Mount Carmel St. Ann’s for evaluation.

The subject was then charged with a judicial offense of disorderly conduct.

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8/18 A coaxial cable was reported to have been broken off a TV in a Davis Hall lounge. inFormation compiled by kaity vorbroker

Campus Center

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Towers Hall

5 Barlow Hall

news Walmart petition falls short vol. 93, issue 1

Too few signatures gathered by opponents of the chain store

BY LINDSEY HOBBS Editor-in-Chief

The petition efforts against the Westerville Square Walmart fell short, according to the Franklin County Board of Elections.

In a letter to Westerville’s Director of Finance Lee Ann Shortland, the board said that it certified 1,643 signatures — 36 short of the needed amount for a referendum to be placed on the November 2012 ballot.

Ben Piscitelli, the public information officer for the board of elections, said that the signatures had to be from those registered voters who live at the specific address they listed on the petition and live in the Westerville corporation district.

“I respect the several ladies that developed the signature movement and I admire their passion,” said George Hadler, president of The Hadler Cos. and the developer of Westerville Square. “But I don’t agree with their premise. You simply have to look at the whole project.”

tailoring toWers:

Hadler said the contracts with builders have already been signed and he is ready to “move forward at full speed” with the redevelopment of a 108,000-square-foot Walmart store.

“

It’s a very worthwhile project for the community and it’s going to be beautiful.

”

George Hadler President, The Hadler Cos. “We believe that it’s a very worthwhile project for the community and it’s going to be very beautiful,” said Hadler, who added, “It was never supposed to be about Walmart.”

Hadler estimates the store and renovation of Westerville Square at the corner of State Street and Schrock Road should take about 12 months to complete.

The fight to stop the redevelopment of Westerville Square began after council approved Hadler’s plans 6-1 on July 5 after a public hearing where sworn in residents both for and against the plan pled their cases.

Those for the redevelopment claim that the aging shopping center is in need of something new.

Those against the project claim that the store will increase traffic congestion in the area, increase crime and police presence in the area and run out neighboring small businesses who cannot compete with the chain’s pricing.

Hadler Cos. developed the existing shopping center after council approval in 1966.

Development plans also include modification to the intersection of State Street and Schrock Road in anticipation of increased traffic flow.

Hadler said he planned to meet with Otterbein’s Art Department to discuss how students could help with the “quasi-public pedestrian plaza” that he plans to put in Westerville Square. t&c

photo by Josh adkins

The summer-long project of replacing the Towers Hall roof cost approximately $450,000 and should be completed by this Friday, according to Special Projects Manager Frank Rydzewski. The original roof lasted 40 years, and the new clay tile roof is expected to last 100 years.

www.otterbein360.com

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Were you personally affected by

September 11?

The T&C would like to feature Otterbein students whose lives were changed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in an upcoming issue.

If you would like to be included, please email us at

tanandcardinal@yahoo.com

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arts & entertainment

Tan & Cardinal

wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

Motivational speaker dances for laughs Judson Laipply, known for the viral video “Evolution of Dance,” is actually an inspirational speaker by trade

through their thought process really helped me see the world in the way that I do now.

BY STEVEN COLLINS Arts & Entertainment Editor

Judson Laipply, the motivational speaker and creator of viral video “The Evolution of Dance,” chatted with A&E editor Steven Collins about speaking in public, the “Evolution of Dance” and the effect the Roman Empire has had on modern social media. Laipply, who performed at Cowan Hall last Wednesday, is married with children, resides in Lakewood, Ohio, and attended Bowling Green State University and Bluffton University.

Do you ever get recognized in public? If so what’s that like?

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It really comes later on when somebody will send a Facebook message or an email and it just says, “I just remember what you said. I just went through something.” Instant gratification is always fun and people being excited, but the best part is later on when somebody said, “Hey, I still remember what you said. It really helped me through this. I remember that particular point,” and knowing you helped someone later on.

If someone could come up to you after the show and give you one piece of feedback that let you know you did a good job, what would it be?

Everybody says things differently. They maybe start off (crossing their arms) especially when audiences aren’t there by choice. A little bit later you can see them a little looser and you can see their arms are falling (because they are) laughing. You can watch that transition from “I don’t want to be here” to “That wasn’t so bad” to “It was all right” to “It was pretty good” when it’s all said and done. It’s not so much what people say but it’s seeing that transition.

A lot of people know you as the “Evolution of Dance” guy. Can you explain what is important for people to get when you’re speaking?

It’s one of those things where it’s a two-edged sword. The very

the strUggle bUs:

photo by mattheW d’oyly

In his performances, Laipply calls having a bad day “riding the struggle bus.”

thing that I’m known for and helped propel me to a new level and give me some credibility and some notoriety also can be something that hinders me sometimes because people don’t realize that there is more to it than just the dance.

The message changes depending on who my audience is, but the two biggest things that I talk about are choice and change.

Understanding that life is change and that things are always going to be changing and then remembering your power of choice, learning to make choices instead of excuses to go after the things that you want to go after the life that you want.

What part of the dance was most difficult to learn?

None of them were really that difficult to learn. I knew a lot of them before. Once the music plays the dance sort of just falls into place.

Probably the hardest part of the actual dance itself is the typewriter part of the MC Hammer one where you go back and forth and you’re moving your feet and rolling your shoulders.

But I knew that one from when I was younger because I practiced when I was younger.

I’ve done programs where I’ve taught people parts of the dance and that is always the one

you can see people having the hardest time with.

You’re from Ohio. Is there anything different about performing here in Ohio than other places?

Every part of the country is a little bit different. I love Ohio.

The nice thing about being in Ohio, there are a lot of references that I understand completely. ... Like euchre, it’s only played in about four or five states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and that’s about it. If you go somewhere in the East Coast, they are like, “What? What is that? Jacks are what? Bauer? What kind of stupid game is this?” Everyone here is like, “Wanna play euchre?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Then there are other games that people play around the country. Every area has its good points and things that make it great. It is wonderful to come back to Ohio and I still live in Ohio so it’s good to drive home and sleep in my own bed.

Dan Millman and another author, Richard Bach, who wrote books that I read in my late teens and early twenties that really kind of help set my own foundation for my belief system and my own life, which is a lot of what I do when I speak. I try to take those ideas and make them make sense for the people sitting in the audience. They are not people that I’ve really gotten to sit down with and talk to, but through their writing and

I’ve been recognized in public maybe four or five times at the most. It’s always different because people aren’t really sure. I’ve maybe had one person flat-out say, “Can I have your autograph?” That was in Cleveland and I had done some local television and I was around for that.

The only other time that I get recognized is when people know I’m coming. Like if I’m coming to a campus or going to a conference. Very rarely do people come up to me and say, “Are you the ‘Evolution of Dance’ guy?”

What is the one question you wish I would have asked you, but didn’t?

You probably should have asked me about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and the effect on modern-day electronics and continuing change in social media because of that. But that’s not something we really should get into right now. t&c

Who’s been the biggest influence on you and your work and why?

My biggest influences are probably two individuals and a lot of authors: Og Mandino and Zig Ziglar, who’s an old-school motivational speaker, and author

JUst dance:

Laipply performs the YMCA dance.

photo by mattheW d’oyly

vol. 93, issue 1

arts & entertainment

www.otterbein360.com

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photo by mike cirelli

backstage:

(From left) Eric Van Wagner, Mike Johnson, Ryan Rini and Shohei Toyoda perform behind the Campus Center during their set at the first Cardinal Launch Concert last Friday during First Flight.

Launching the year with music

Otterbein’s chapter of MEISA hosted and provided high-quality audio equipment for the first annual Cardinal Launch Concert

BY STEVEN COLLINS Arts & Entertainment Editor

Otterbein’s chapter of The Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA) hosted the first Cardinal Launch Concert on the lawn behind the Campus Center Aug. 27.

Performances included current Otterbein students and Otterbein alumni.

JT Hillier, The Blinds, Ryan Rini, Off the Beaten Path, Shohei Toyoda, The Suicide Ghouls and LxE for the Uncool performed at the event, which was paid for mostly by donations from MEISA’s partners, including Sweetwater Sound and Limelight Productions.

Rini and The Suicide Ghouls have already released two of the three albums under MEISA’s music label, Red Grove Entertainment. Another one is scheduled for release this semester.

This first-time concert was the brainchild of junior music business major Leondra James, a member of MEISA, and was under the supervision of Eric Van Wagner, the program’s adviser and an Otterbein professor.

James conceived the event after some artists complained that events hosted by people with less training lacked a certain quality.

MEISA, which is in its fifth year at Otterbein, was able to provide experienced audio technicians and professional experience.

Otterbein graduate Cody Boyce, who recorded with and played alongside Rini, said, “The event sounds fantastic. I’ve run sound with Eric before and he certainly knows what he is doing.

During soundchecks I could hear all five of us on stage.”

This time around it seemed that everyone was in agreement that the event sounded better than similar ones before.

Van Wagner, also an alumnus, said, “We never got involved with music events on campus before. I went to the Center for Student Involvement and I said, ‘My students need the experience of running these events,’ and to put it bluntly a lot of technical qualities of other events have been subpar, just not that good.

[Having poor event quality] reflects poorly on the college, and I know some of the bands who have performed at these events personally who said they did it once and would never do it again because of the sound/technical aspects of it.”

Rini said, “I’ve played so many shows where I cannot hear

myself come out of the PA, but today I totally could. It’s nice because I don’t even have to worry about it tonight.”

James said, “We are all music majors, and we take the production seriously. If it’s, say, a biology major who wants to put on a show, it might not be as good of a quality because we study this and this is what they will be doing once they get out of college, if they aren’t doing it already.”

Not only did the performers and the production team enjoy the event, but students seemed to enjoy the performances as well.

Freshman art major Rachel Hill said, “I think the event was pretty cool. The audio quality was good, very good.”

Freshman undecided major Taylor Lehotay said, “This is a great event. I love the music. I’m surprised at how clear the audio quality was.”

With the success of the event, members of MEISA want to do more events like it in the future.

James said, “We needed a back-to-school event like this with music that everyone listens to featuring Otterbein talent that not everybody knows about. I hope that we can do more in the future.”

t&c

After school care needed:

Student needed to meet my middle school aged children at the bus stop and stay with them from 3-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Will need to assist the children with their homework, provide guidance and supervision as needed. The individual must have their own transportation and submit to a background check. $100 a week; non-smokers only; approximately three miles from Otterbein. If interested, please call Valerie at 614898-8477 or email at vlb122@yahoo.com.

O360 Editor’s Note

For the full Q&A with Judson Laipply, a review of “Madden NFL 12” and a guide to all the “Otterplaces” on campus for freshmen, please visit www. otterbein360.com.

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calendar

Tan & Cardinal

September Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

Wednesday

Thursday 1

Welcome back 5

4

Labor Day No classes Sept. 5 11

Patriot Day

12

7

6

CD Releases

▪ “Let Them Talk” Hugh Laurie ▪ “Major/Minor” Thrice ▪ “Nothing But the Beat” David Guetta

Campus Events

CD Releases

Campus Event

3

▪ First Friday Festival, Campus Center, 3-6 p.m.

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Movie Releases

10

◄◄◄

15

▪ “Panic of Girls” Blondie ▪ “Junk of the Hearts” The Kooks ▪ “Staind” Staind ▪“Own the Night” Lady Antebellum

Sept 11

2

Saturday

▪ “Contagion” ▪ “Warrior” ▪ “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star”

▪ Diversity Open House Science Foyer 4-6

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13

8

Friday

16

Campus Events

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▪ Cap-Otter Homecoming bloodmobile drive. Campus Center west parking lot. 1-7 p.m.

◄◄◄

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19

20

Game Releases

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▪ “F1 2011” ▪ “Gears of War 3” ▪ “Children of Eden” ▪ “Harvest Moon: A Tale of Two Towns” ◄◄◄

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Campus Events

▪ Sorority Recruitment Kickoff, Campus Center, 8 p.m.

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CD Releases

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Movie Releases

▪ “Abduction” ▪ “Moneyball” ▪ “Killer Elite” ▪ “Dolphin Tale” ◄◄◄

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Campus Events ▪ Homecoming parade, 10 a.m.

▪ Homecoming game, Otterbein vs. Heidelberg, 2 p.m.

HOMECOMING

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▪ “Neighborhoods” Blink-182 ▪ “The Hunter” Mastadon ▪ “Music Is Better Than Words” Seth MacFarlane

Share your information: Want to announce an event in the T&C? Just email us at tanandcardinal@yahoo.com, and we’ll put it in the monthly calendar.

Send it to us by the 25th of the previous month.

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Campus Event

▪ “August: Osage County,” Fritsche Theatre, 7 p.m.

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Movie Releases

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▪ “50/50” ▪ “What’s Your Number?”

▪ “Dream House” ◄◄◄

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

opinion

vol. 93, issue 1

www.otterbein360.com

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New semester, new year, fresh new start T&C’s editor-in-chief offers words of wisdom and welcome to Otterbein students

trending topic:

photo by kristen sapp

During the early-August London riots, Twitter was held to blame for helping rioters meet.

Student protests potential restrictive social media laws Even flash mobs are not safe from being oppressed by legislation Riots in Cleveland hardly seem out of the norm after the summer my hometown faced.

There was a lot of flooding, a shooting and the infamous “flash mob” riot on Coventry Road.

The flash mob was initially defined in the ALYSSA Oxford World COOKEnglish DictionALEXANDER ary in 2004 as “a public gathering of complete strangers, organized via the Internet or mobile phone, who perform a pointless act and then disperse again.”

Well I hate to say, Oxford Dictionary, but the thousands of Coventry Street Fair attendees and David Cameron, prime minister of the United Kingdom, would disagree. For Cleveland and London this summer, a flash mob is defined as a group of people using social networks with the intent to start violence or riot.

In attempts to curb the riots of Coventry or the riots of London, which included multiple days of rioting and clean-up as

opposed to Cleveland’s measly nine arrests, social media is taking the blame.

Shortly following the riots, Cleveland councilman Zachary Reed proposed a legislation prohibiting improper use of social media, specifically, the “improper use of social media to violate ordinances on disorderly conduct, public intoxication and unlawful congregation by promoting illegal flash mob activity.”

Thankfully, Mayor Frank Jackson vetoed this bill after calling it too vague. That is the problem: The legislation is too vague. The council was prepared to start handing out misdemeanors for organizing “flash mob” activity. This extends from the rioting to flash mobs seen on YouTube.

It’s not just Cleveland that is looking to limit social media.

Following the protests, London looked at restricting, but they too turned from putting any sort of law into effect.

Meanwhile in Missouri, teachers are being told they legally can’t be friends with students under 18 years old in some effort to control sexual predators in schools.

Why is the government so eager to put restrictions on the Internet? Gathering a group to have a flash mob uses the same technology to gather a group for a donut run.

Restricting our speech online is a violation of our First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Our rights extend from common conversation to online forums. The American Civil Liberties Union has been the biggest advocate of preventing these types of laws in Cleveland and in Missouri, they are going so far as to sue the state over the restrictive social media law for teachers.

Restricting our speech online is so imperfect and would take resources that I’m positive our country can’t handle right now.

In Cleveland, the people monitoring social media for shenanigans are the same people who are responsible for monitoring terrorism in Cleveland. Cut the budget for the people waiting for al-Qaida to bomb Tower City or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

It’s not going to happen.

What’s worse, these systems have been wholly ineffective in Cleveland. Just last week, Cleveland rapper Machine Gun

Do you feel it? Feels promising, no? That’s what a new year feels like — and boy is this a new year for Otterbein.

We’ve completely changed the way we do things around here. (See ya, quarters.) We’ve LINDSEY got a fancy new HOBBS bridge, a bunch of new administrators, a whole gaggle of fresh-faced first-years and heck, even our familiar treelighting ceremony tree is gone (although our president assures us that a new one will take its place).

To some, this wave of change may bring about a little anxiety (who am I kidding? I’m stressing out already), but for these folks I am hopeful that you will find a silver lining in all of this and take the optimistic approach.

We should all start fresh with a little pep in our steps. We should whistle while we walk and wave to people on bikes. We’re a musically centric school, why not a little choreographed dance in the CC to get us through those wonderful meals, or some theme music to and from classes?

You’re never fully dressed without a smile — unless you’re taking ochem this fall. In that case, please feel free to pull your hair out.

And let’s be kind to the freshmen. Sure, college is old hat now, but if you think back, your freshmen year wasn’t exactly the easiest thing you’ve ever done.

Wouldn’t it have been nice if someone told you during freshman year that the theatre kids always sit to the right of the Cardinal’s Nest and the football guys in the left front?

Or that the doors to the registrar’s office and the mailroom in Towers are incredibly heavy and you will, in fact, look like a fool trying to open up the one on the left?

Or that you could have taken exercise walking as your HPES class instead of struggling through the massive amount of work that is actually “Surviving College the Healthy Way”?

Keep your karma in check and lend a hand. The freshmen will be easy to spot — the boys will be visible because they won’t have undergone the drastic change that happens to them between freshman and sophomore year, and the girls will be identifiable because they will still be wearing cute clothes to class and to “social endeavors.”

Here’s to a new year, from our organization to yours. Let’s make it count. t&c

Kelly was arrested for organizing a flash mob through Twitter at a mall. His tweets weren’t even subtle. They specified the time, place and the trigger for the flash mob. Cleveland police had no idea.

This new propaganda surrounding the dangers of social media is undermining the revolutions in Libya and Egypt, which used social media to get awareness all around the world.

Every time some sort of technology advances, there is someone trying to find a way to

restrict it. Usually it’s people who stand to gain something out of the deal who want to enforce the laws. The people of Coventry got a 6 p.m. curfew for anyone under 18.

Unless you want me knocking on your doors asking about your personal life — and we all know how terribly that goes — stay away from my Facebook page, politicians. t&c ALYSSA COOK-ALEXANDER IS A

LINDSEY HOBBS IS A JUNIOR JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR AND THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE t&c.

SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE t&c.

10

opinion

Tan & Cardinal

wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

Sophomore prepares for 2012 election

With the presidential election coming up next year, one student explains her criteria for the U.S.’s next leader

As we approach the final year of President Obama’s first term in office, it’s time for candidates to start announcing their intent to run, claim nominations, raise campaign funds and start building their political platforms.

It’s also time for me to HOLLY start looking at TAKACH what exactly I’m looking for in our future leader.

As this is the first presidential election that I can vote in, I’m both excited and fearful about the results.

I am one person, one voice, one vote in a state that has given its electoral votes to the Democratic nominee for the past five

presidential elections. So, really, does my vote even count? But what if everyone in my party thinks that, and then my vote actually does count? It’s only autumn of 2011 … isn’t it a little early to start thinking about this?

I mean, so much will change between now and then; it’s way too early to start stressing. Why is this so confusing?

It’s not personal, it’s politics.

But to me, politics is personal.

It’s made up of my opinions, values and beliefs. There are many factors when it comes to a candidate, and I think it’s important to look at some that will often come into play over the next year.

Let’s start with political parties. In all honesty, I hate political parties because they’re biased and lead into gridlock. Unfortu-

nately, that’s how candidates get funding for campaigns and votes, so it cannot be avoided. But looking at a candidate’s willingness to step outside of his party’s agenda and compromise will help me decide whether or not he is fit to run this country.

You may have noticed that I’ve been using male pronouns when discussing the future president. This is because of a warranted bias when it comes to women in politics. I mean, look at Michele “History Writer” Bachmann, Christine “Not a Witch” O’Donnell and, you betcha, Sarah “Maverick” Palin.

But I’m looking for someone who has experience in politics, but hasn’t been in them long enough to get jaded. After a while, I find that the man-eatman world of politics can affect

a candidate’s ability to see both sides of an issue and he will remain less likely to compromise and step outside of the comfort zone of his political affiliation.

I’m also looking for someone that I can relate to. Why would I want a president who is completely out of touch with my lifestyle? Or someone who doesn’t share a single one of my values or has a horrid personality? I’d much rather vote for the guy who doesn’t look like a sleazeball who’s ready to screw me over. I’d choose the nice guy any day.

This probably sounds superficial, but physical appearance is important to me. I’m not saying that the president has to be an 11 on a low-to-high scale of 1-10, but I’d like to be able to stand seeing his face on TV, in the newspaper and on the Internet.

Mitt Romney I think this guy has a serious shot. I mean, this guy fulfills four out of my five criteria; he’s been accused of being moderate, and he’ll be trying hard to prove that he’s a true red, white-not-blue Republican.

Herman Cain As a capitalistic society in the midst of financial ruin, perhaps we could use a slice of this guy … but his complete lack of experience as a politician shows he won’t deliver.

t&c.

Michele Bachmann Who

cares about incorrect facts when you have a strong campaigner who will make promises to change from a history that never actually happened?

You can’t blame the man for trying to make change that never happened because we had/ have a gridlocked Congress who won’t pass bills out of spite for one another.

in the race, but “you betcha” she’s going to run because no one else is maverick-y enough to be president, and she’s just like you. gage skidmore/Flickr.com

brUce tUten/commons.Wikimedia

HOLLY TAKACH IS A SOPHOMORE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE

President Barack Obama

Sarah Palin Not officially

gage skidmore/Flickr.com

Additionally, the way that someone presents himself physically says a lot about his personality.

For example, if he is physically fit, it shows that he supports a healthy lifestyle, which is important because of the rising obesity rates in the USA. Below, I’ve broken down some of my favorite potential presidential candidates (in no particular order).

So, yes, the President will have some flaws. But is it truly that hard to find someone who’s a perfect balance between liberal and conservative, has the country’s best interest at heart and a charisma that’s warmer than the sun? t&c

United states congress/senate.gov

United states congress/hoUse.gov

sports

vol. 93, issue 1

&Women’s Soccer 2010 results: 20-0-4, 9-0 in the OAC, 2010 OAC

Key returners: Adrienne Novak, Alyssa Hale, Emily

Bates, Molly Kroger, Chelsea DeLay, Rachel Denz, Abby Misch, Jessica Yaney and Molly Newhouse

one toUch:

Senior Alyssa Hale keeps the ball moving.

Notable match: Sept. 11 vs. Denison at home photo by kristen sapp

&Volleyball Head coach: Monica McDonald

2010 results: 26-7 overall, 8-1 in OAC, OAC semifinal appearance and appeared in first NCAA tournment

Key returners: Lindsey Russell, Ally Nagle, Renee Willke, Michelle Gernert, Kristen Bennett, Liz Palmer and Annie Juenger Notable match: Sept. 24 vs.

Heidelberg at home bring it in:

Volleyball is ranked second in the OAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

photo by kristen sapp

&Men’s Soccer Head coach: Gerry D’Arcy

2010 results: 3-14-2 overall, 1-6-2 in OAC

Key returners: JP Lococo, Seth Holland, Brandon Shepherd, Dusty Kiaski, Evan Fallon, Kurt Gallant, Adam Brown, Justin Cox, Alex Kamphaus and Kyle Ripma Notable match:

Oct. 29 vs. Mount

Union at home

heads Up:

Senior forward JP Lococo will look to help a struggling men’s soccer team.

11

Welcome back, Otterbein! For the latest in alternative rock, tune in to “The Wildcard”! Do you want to do something fun and interesting with your spare time?

Come join our practicum class, regardless of your major, Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in our Communication Building, room 116. We hope to see you there and we hope you have a great first week of classes!

Head coach: Brandon Koons

Champs, Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four appearances

www.otterbein360.com

photo by kristen sapp

Stay tuned to this space for information about upcoming shows and events!

sports 12 Cardinals ready to hit the field

wednesday, aug. 31, 2011

Tan & Cardinal

Otterbein football brings experience to tackle season expectations

Returning starters in senior Will Brown and junior Joey Whitehead are back on the defensive line. Sophomore Patrick Seesholtz, who started the last four games of last year, is back as well.

The linebacking positions also return starters in seniors Chad Pepper and Shane Centers.

The backfield brings back starters in seniors Matt Ross and Anthony Korpieski and junior Shea Brintlinger.

Special teams

The Cardinals lost first-team All-OAC kicker David Brewer to graduation. The leading candidate to take his spot is junior Aaric Milligan. Kingcade will take over punting duties after starting the first half of last season before Brewer took over as punter.

Season opening trip

on the line:

photo by kristen sapp

Otterbein’s four returning offensive linemen will be important to the Cardinals’ success this fall.

BY DOM PORRETTA Staff Writer

It’s remarkable how quickly expectations can change. For the Otterbein University football team, expectations have changed for the better.

The Cardinals are coming off three straight winning seasons, which hasn’t happened at Otterbein since the program had four straight from 1979-82.

“I think the nice thing about our program right now is our kids expect to win,” said head coach Joe Loth, who is entering his ninth year at the helm. “The ability to expect to win is important. I think our kids understand what it takes to prepare to win.”

Last season, Otterbein finished 6-4 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

The Cards started the season 3-1 before losing three of their next four games.

One big factor in creating expectations is experience, which isn’t hard to find in this year’s team.

“One of our strengths is experience,” Loth said. “Last year, we really had to replace more than half the team with new starts, and this year we have most of the team back. We have good team speed on offense and defensively, our front six is very competitive and as good as anyone at this level.”

However, the team lost a few key players from last year’s squad, including the school’s all-time leading rusher Colton Coy and first-team All-American Dominic Jones, who served as a kick returner and defensive back.

Offense

Senior and two-year starter Austin Schlosser is back to take over the offense at quarterback.

But he might not be the only quarterback seeing significant time.

“Austin will start the game for us, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we play more than one quarterback at times this year,” Loth said. “Austin’s our starter and has experience as a good quarterback, but sometimes you can get a second quarterback in there and give the defenses a different look.”

Loth said it’s a two-man battle for the second spot between junior Aaron Kingcade and transfer Rocco Pentello, who has junior eligibility.

The offensive line will have to replace Matt Hochberg, but return starters in seniors Nick Houk, Kenny Collmar and Kevin Murphy and junior Jonathon Smith.

“We have depth at offensive line and quarterback, the two most crucial positions in football,” the coach added.

Looking to replace Coy’s shoes at running back is junior Cody Green.

“He was banged up in camp a little bit,” Loth said. “Hopefully he plays in the first game; we’re not sure yet, but he should be back for the season.”

Green had only 19 carries last year behind Coy, but he did see action in all 10 games.

Also back is the Cards’ starting fullback in junior Sean Haines.

The receiving corps will pick right up where it left off, returning its top three receivers in graduate student Steve Kuzyk and senior Trey Fairchild, as well as senior tight end Gabe Shively.

Also back is senior receiver Fortin Faustin, who served as a dual threat last year, getting touches on the ground and through the air.

Defense

The defense loses the aforementioned Jones, as well as defensive lineman Chaz Horsley, safety Justin Hochstetler and linebacker Wil Longsdorf.

“We feel like we have some pretty good guys to replace them,” Loth said. “Once again, we have seven or eight starters on defense so we feel that the core of our defense is back and it can build off last year.”

The Cardinals, who are heading out of state to start the season for the third straight year, will face Gallaudet, a university specifically for deaf and hardof-hearing students.

“It’s a unique institution,” Loth said. “So besides the challenges of going on the road and spending the night, we have to prepare our kids for the uniqueness of the university and some of the unique things about their program and their kids.”

The Cardinals should be ready for surprises when they hit the gridiron for the first time.

“Well, we’re not as prepared as we’d like to because their coach didn’t want to exchange film,” Loth said. “We will be extremely prepared but you’re never as prepared for that first game as any other game of the year. The first game you can never be as prepared as you want to.”

The Bison were picked fifth out

of eight teams in the preseason Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Coaches Poll. Gallaudet finished last year 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ECFC. It’s nothing strange to think of the University of Mount Union when talking Ohio Athletic Conference football. After all, the Purple Raiders have won 19 consecutive OAC championships and haven’t lost a league game since 2005.

But this year could be a break from the norm. The league has three teams represented in Lindy’s Preseason Top 25. The Purple Raiders are ranked second and are joined by Baldwin-Wallace College (13th) and Ohio Northern University (19th). D3football.com’s Preseason Top 25 has Mount Union second, Ohio Northern 14th and Baldwin-Wallace receiving votes putting them at 32nd.

However, Loth isn’t putting too much stock in the rankings.

“Preseason rankings mean zero, especially at this level.”

The Cardinals went 0-3 last year against these teams.

It seems every year Otterbein’s marquee game is the Capital rivalry.

However, this year’s biggest game in Westerville will come Oct. 8, when B-W rolls into town for the only night game of the season.

In our conference, and this may sound like a cliché, but every game is a big game,” Loth said.

“We feel as a program we try and take it one day at a time, then one week at a time, so every game is a big game for us.” t&c go long:

photo by kristen sapp

Quarterback Austin Schlosser had 14 touchdown passes in 2010.