The Franklin: Nov. 8, 2019

NOV. 8, 2019 | THEFRANKLINNEWS.COM

LIFE on the ROAD COMMUTERS SHARE STORIES FROM DAYS IN MOTION PG. 6

RECORD STORE OPENS PG. 8

DIAMOND IN THE DRAFT PG. 14

NEWS

“THE Q:

What is one thing you would invent if you could invent anything?

“

// OUR TEAM

WHO MAKES THE FRANKLIN?

Gauge Creech Reporter “A machine that writes essays.”

Jalen Davis Photographer “The perfect renewable fuel.”

Quinn Fitzgerald Photo editor “Zero-calorie junk food.”

Tabby Fitzgerald Reporter “Endless supply of notebooks.”

Executive editor Erica Irish erica.irish@franklincollege.edu Executive editor Emily Ketterer emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu Opinion editor Carolina Puga Mendoza carolina.pugamendoza@franklincollege.edu

Emily Hales Design editor “Self-folding laundry.”

Erica Irish Executive editor “Bottomless pens.”

Emily Ketterer Executive editor “Teleportation device.”

Bridget Lindstrom Photographer “Smart house.”

News editor Victoria Ratliff victoria.ratliff@franklincollege.edu Sports editor Hope Shrum hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu Copy chief Abrahm Hurt abrahm.hurt@franklincollege.edu

Ariana Lovitt Columnist “A laptop that never dies.”

Haley Pritchett Reporter “Gum that doesn’t run out of flavor.”

Carolina Puga Mendoza Opinion editor “Free green card.”

Victoria Ratliff News editor “The perfect boyfriend.”

Photo editor Quinn Fitzgerald elizabeth.fitzgerald@franklincollege.edu Web editor Lacey Watt lacey.watt@franklincollege.edu Design editor Emily Hales emily.hales@franklincollege.edu

Rebekah Reeves Reporter “Glasses windshield wipers.”

Zach Roberts Reporter “Cure for cancer.”

Hope Shrum Sports editor “Cloak of invisibility.”

Taylor Wooten Reporter “Waterproof books.”

GETTING IT RIGHT // OCT. 11 ISSUE •

In the editorial on page 10, Head Men’s Soccer Coach Cody Graman was misidentified as Cody Graham.

Publisher John Krull jkrull@franklincollege.edu Adviser Ryan Gunterman rgunterman@franklincollege.edu The Franklin aims for accuracy and clarity in all articles. We take errors seriously and regret any mistakes. If you find an error, please send an email to thefranklin@franklincollege.edu.

Submit letters to the editor to thefranklin@franklincollege.edu.

3

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER CONCERT CANCELED First concert of the semester canceled after a faculty member injury VICTORIA RATLIFF | STORY victoria.ratliff@franklincollege.edu

?

Sophomore Christina Weller and sophomore Abigail Davis tune their violins before string ensemble started. JALEN DAVIS | PHOTO

The second instrumental chamber concert of the semester was supposed to be held on Nov. 5, but was canceled the week prior.

This is the first time this concert has had a cancellation out of the three years since the program started.

The concert had to be canceled after one faculty member working on the show was injured and unable to be on the college’s campus.

Along with this, two faculty members are new and in their first semester at Franklin and are trying to get adjusted to teaching at Franklin. This all made the concert more difficult to put together.

“It just became, logistically, not a good fit,” said Michael Black, assistant professor of music.

Senior Payton Kittaka said while he wishes he could perform in the concert, he is slightly relieved by the cancellation.

“Canceling is just a better idea and helps us focus more on getting our pieces ready for our next concert,” Kittaka said.

The music that the students were going to play, however, will not go to waste. The music will be used at the next instrumental chamber concert held in the spring semester.

Black, who was hired four years ago, helped separate the vocal chamber and

INBRIEF

instrumental chamber concerts into two separate concerts. Before his arrival to Franklin, they were packed into one.

“Over the past four years it’s grown pretty aggressively, and there was a need to have separate concerts,” he said.

The instrumental chamber has seen exponential growth in the past few years.

Black credits this to there being dedicated full-time faculty who oversees the program.

Before, adjunct professors were in charge of the instrumental chamber.

“Not to their discredit, but they weren’t that invested,” he said. “As a full-time faculty member, I’m out and recruiting and bringing students in.”

The instrumental chamber concert, in comparison to a regular orchestra or band concert, puts musicians into small groups, such as trios or quartets.

Black said these small orchestras are beneficial for student musicians.

He said these smaller groups are especially helpful for musicians who have only ever played in large groups like what many high schools offer. “[Students] have often not taken the opportunity to play in a small group or to perform a solo, because its scary,” Black said.

“Because you are very exposed, you can’t hide.”

These small, intimate concerts also benefit the musicians even in their daily life.

Although this chamber concert was canceled, the vocal chamber concert will still be held on its scheduled date of Nov. 12.

THEATRE DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT PLAY ‘MACHINAL’

PROFESSOR PUBLISHES FIRST POETRY COLLECTION

The second production of the semester is the real-life based drama from playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell.

It details a young woman who is victimized and dehumanized by everyone around her. Only females auditioned for the play, changing the show’s typical cast.

The performances will take place in Theatre Margot at 8 p.m.

Nov. 14 through Nov. 16 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17. The cost is free for Franklin College students, $8 for students and $12 for adults.

Creative writing and english professor Callista Buchen’s first poetry collection was recently published. She describes the book about her early motherhood days and their challenges.

The book, “Look Look Look,” was a collection of prose and poems after eight years of research and reflection. Buchen was also the third speaker in the 2019-2020 Carlson-Stauffer Visiting Writer series.

Buchen has previously published two chapbooks in 2016 and 2015 and has been published in multiple literary journals.

4

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN’S BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN 2021 Published work will dissect higher education, societal issues HALEY PRITCHETT | STORY haley.pritchett@franklincollege.edu

There’s a faculty member on campus who’s debuting her first-ever book.

And it’s not an English professor.

Chaplain Hannah Adams Ingram remembers the day she was told she was a bad writer.

When Ingram was in her master’s program, she refrained from publishing a piece she was proud of because a peer disliked her work. He told her because her writing had stories and was engaging, it would not be looked at as academic.

Her book, “The Myth of the Saving Power of Education,” however, is set to come out in 2021. Ingram describes the book as a

dissection on how the U.S. perceives higher education as a solution for solving societal issues like poverty.

“Maybe this book will challenge some people, comfort some people, or make some people mad,” she said.

Ingram said she offers a religious perspective to the subject that other books about education may not include.

Ingram has a love for education. She has a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University, a master’s degree from Emory University, and a doctorate from University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology.

Ingram did not grow up knowing the ins

Hananh Adams Ingram works in her office on the second floor of Richardson Chapel.

TABBY FITZGERALD | PHOTO

&ABOUT:

OUT

11/21 EVENING WITH MIKE ROWE Come and meet author Mike Rowe at the Historic Artcraft Theatre Nov. 21 at 6pm as he celebrates his new book “The Way I Heard It.” This is a moderated Q&A, audience Q&A and photo line event.

Tickets are $32.

and outs of education, however. She was a first-generation college student.

When she entered college, she didn’t even know what a Ph.D. stood for. Now she holds one herself. She said when she was in school, she had to learn to understand the “unspoken code of college”.

She was nervous to push back from the roadblocks of feeling underqualified to write a book, especially after being told that she wasn’t a good writer by her peer. But she perservered, and succeeded.

“I really felt like I had something I wanted to say to the world, so I wanted to get it published,” Ingram said.

One of the greatest motivations to write a book was the experience she has gone through. She was also motivated by what she has witnessed throughout her career in education. Ingram wants to challenge people to evaluate their educational experiences more deeply and pay closer attention to what is going on in their surroundings.

Ingram’s novel is inspired by her dissertation she wrote as her final project for her Ph.D. program in 2014 and 2015.

“This is original research, I’m adding to my field, I’m contributing, and that’s how you prove you can get a Ph.D. You should be able to contribute to the field, and take it one step further,” Ingram said.

While academic writing has not always been easy for her, Ingram is going against the advice of the peer in her master’s program while writing her book.

“My favorite type of writing would be writing that people can read. Writing that makes sense, that pulls you in, and makes you go I see myself in that story,” she said.

11/23 COOKIE WALK & CRAFTS

11/26 - 12/31 CHRISTMAS ACRES

Greenwood United Methodist Church is hosting an event to get a headstart on seasonal shopping.

There will be gifts, fudge, homemade cookies and other sweet treats. Crafts will also be available for sale at the event.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23.

Enjoy over 30,000 Christmas lights with your family at Crhistmas Acres.

Payton Bohler “Griswold” displays the lights open for the public at his family’s five acre proerty.

The display is at 6211 N. 500 East, Franklin, Indiana, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m.

5

PHI DELTA THETA RETURNS WITH RENEWED VISION Fraternity wants to establish Greek leaders on campus EMILY KETTERER | STORY emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu

Phi Delta Theta is back on campus, and its members are looking to create a new image.

Phi Delta Theta was suspended in 2016 for a “history of failing to adhere to organizational standards”–– including their alcohol-free housing policy and chapter size requirements, according to a statement from the fraternity headquarters.

Fraternity representatives arrived on campus at the beginning of the semester to begin the recruitment process to recolonize the chapter with new members.

Junior Brandon Eades is the new president of Phi Delt, and he said in terms of “organizational standards,” the past fraternity members failed to recruit new brothers and were also not hosting philanthropy events. He added this in contrast to the rumors spread around campus about Phi Delt’s departure.

“It was not necessarily just because of drugs or alcohol … it has a lot to do with what we expect from fraternities,” he said.

Eades is looking to turn around the reputation of Phi Delt so people don’t see the group as “the fraternity that was kicked off campus.” They currently have 14 members and are hoping to recruit more.

“When people see a Phi Delt on campus, we want them to see a leader,” Eades said.

Phi Delt headquarters originally told The Franklin in the spring that the Franklin

The Phi Delta Theta house is currently being rented out by Tau Kappa Epsilon.

AJ PROHASKA | PHOTO

Brandon Eades discusses potential new recruits during a meeting in JCFA Nov. 5.

QUINN FITZGERALD | PHOTO

College chapter needed 25 members to recolonize on campus. However, the University of Central Oklahoma, with a student population of 12,000, recently colonized with 18 members, so the headquarters has since scaled 25 minimum back to meet Franklin’s size. Only Eades, and a few people on the fraternity’s executive board, know the number needed to officially colonize.

“I can’t disclose that number, but we’re close,” Eades said.

Phi Delta Theta has a long history as the first fraternity established on campus in 1860. Eades said the alumni want to be heavily involved with the colonization process, but he explained the fraternity wants to focus on creating their own story and mission this time.

“We’d be happy to have that once we’re more established,” he said. “But right now, we have to work on the small steps … creating a unique environment that is different than what it was 20 years ago.”

Right now, Phi Delt has weekly meetings with the fraternity members in JCFA 103.

The fraternity currently has a house that is rented to Tau Kappa Epsilon until the end of the spring semester, Eades said.

“We know we have a house, so it’s not embarrassing for us [to meet in a classroom].

We have to start somewhere,” Eades said.

But he added that Phi Delt was not using

the house as recruitment tool. Since the house runs on a year-to-year lease, it remains unclear whether Phi Delt will live in there after TKE’s lease ends, Eades said.

The Greek community has mostly welcomed Phi Delt back with open arms, Eades said. The other fraternities expressed excitement about the return, and members are invited to participate in Interfraternity Council Meetings, he said.

Taylor Dwyer, director of Greek Life, said his job is to help the fraternity in their return to the community. He does this by sending them IFC updates, promoting Phi Delt on social media and helping them learn about Greek life at Franklin in general.

“When a new chapter comes, they start off with zero members. All the people joining are essentially new members,” Dwyer said.

“My job is to make sure they know what it means to be a chapter on campus.”

Up next, Phi Delt will have its colonization ceremony Dec. 6. They will then be officially recognized as the Indiana Delta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta.

In the spring, the fraternity plans to have a couple of philanthropy events to raise funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. The group will also be teaching the brothers Phi Delt history to prepare for initiation by the end of the semester.

F

rerouting Commuters express concern over campus experience HALEY PRITCHETT + REBEKAH REEVES | STORY EMILY HALES | DESIGN QUINN FITZGERALD | PHOTO

THE RISE OF INCOMING COMMUTERS ON CAMPUS Residential

Off-Campus

Number of Students

400

F

ranklin College is a residential campus.

Jacob Knight, Director of Residence Life, said he thinks the college is intentional about identifying itself as such.

“If you’re not living on campus, you’re missing out on some of the college experience,” Knight said.

Knight said 29.45% of Franklin students are commuters. Over the past decade, commuter numbers haven’t fluctuated much.

The highest number of commuters was 294 in the fall semester 2017. The fall semester in 2013 reported the lowest, with 200 commuter students.

This fall, 258 students commute to campus. Some commuter students feel like an afterthought compared to residential students.

Elizabeth Bearden, the Student Congress Commuter Representative, spends over three hours every week driving to and from Franklin College. She is currently a junior, and has been a commuter since her freshman year.

Bearden was hopeful about her experience as a commuter the first semester of her freshman year, especially by the community she found in the commuter lounge. She said projects would be posted on bulletin boards as well as positive comments and activities specifically for commuter students.

Year

Fall 2010

Fall 2011

Fall 2012

Fall 2013

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

Fall 2016

Fall 2017

Fall 2018

Fall 2019

0

Source: Franklin College Residence Life

After her first semester, however, things went downhill for Bearden. The room currently has two tables and two couches.

Bearden does not feel there is enough room for many commuter students in the lounge.

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Hornett, said the commuter lounge was not meant to be the only place commuters could hang out.

“It is our fervent hope that commuters fully utilize all of the common areas of the campus and do not isolate themselves to the commuter lounge,” he said in an email.

Knight said being a commuter brings more challenges.

“When I do student registration, I always talk about how residential students have it a little easier. When you are a commuter student you have to work to make friendships,” Knight said.

Amanda Meek, a sophomore commuter, says she does not spend a lot of time on campus when she is not in class. She recommended the campus offer more commuter events because of the social barriers from living off campus brings.

Knight recognizes the rising cost of education, but says that is something students have to weigh when deciding to live on or off campus.

“If I had the ways and opportunities

I would live on campus. It’s just really expensive,” Meek said.

Hornett said a resident student brings $42,574 while a commuter student brings $32,770. He also said commuter students don’t result in the college losing money, and that the college does not make revenue from room and board Knight also notes the positive impact the extra money from residential students has on the college.

“The more residential students that we have it definitely means there’s more income to the institution. When there’s more income there’s more things they can spend that income toward,” Knight said.

Meek also said there is not enough commuter parking. She has to arrive on campus 20 minutes before her classes start to ensure she has a spot, and even then it is hard for her to secure a place. She doesn’t feel the amount of parking is fair to the ratio of students.

Franklin College officials, however, say they have no intention for commuters to feel that way.

Hornett said Franklin College was founded as a residential campus and puts value on the experience of residential life.

That does not mean, however, they do not value the commuter students.

Scratching the

Surface

R

Record shop opens new store front with a unique sound LACEY WATT | STORY & PHOTOS

R

ows upon rows of some new, but mostly refurbished, vinyl records line the walls of Electric Key Records waiting to be sifted through and listened to as soon as a customer walks in the new store front.

For Franklin resident Cory O’Sullivan, what once was an obsessive collection of post punk music with his wife is now a business that they hope to continue to grow, including multiple genres of music, and a place for people to come and express their love for all music.

Cory met his wife, Erin O’Sullivan, when they both discovered their love for music and joined a band together from 2000 to 2001, playing covers of post-punk songs. Cory O’Sullivan played the drums while his wife played the bass guitar. From there, they spent their time growing their joy for music together.

At first it was just their own smaller collection, but then they started buying giant collections, some holding up to as many as 2,000 records.

“It’s a lot of fun for us. It connects us together,” Erin O’Sullivan said.

Once they started getting more involved with collecting vinyl records, they then realized the trend of record stores making a comeback.

“One of our favorite things to do was go and flip through the racks, and that was getting taken away from some of the big box retailers,” Cory O’Sullivan said.

TABBY FITZGERALD | DESIGN

The couple decided to open a place to call their own and provide the sensation of going to look at and sort records.

At first, they toyed with the idea of opening a booth at an antique mall, but after talking to the owners of 1823 Bakehouse in downtown Franklin, Electric Key Records became a small section in the front of the coffee shop located on the square in downtown Franklin.

“We had 10 days to get everything that we were going to have out cleaned, packaged and priced,” Cory O’Sullivan said. “We had to put a point of sale together, build the racks and then have the big grand ribbon cutting.”

This allowed them to get their foot in the door of owning a business for about a year, until they were finally able to own their own storefront.

Eventually the pair decided to expand the store, and open up their own store at 154 E. Jefferson St. on Oct. 19. They said they now have plenty of room to expand their store, while also avoiding the confusion of being a small section at 1823 Bakehouse.

The couple is also in the process of building a lounge area in the back of the store where there will be listening stations with chairs so people will be able play a record before a purchase.

“I hope to see a lot of new faces.

Meeting all kinds of people, customers,

and tastes of music,” Erin O’Sullivan said.

They imagine this: listening parties, where people will bring their own drink choice, pick a record, and sit together to listen and enjoy the sound of a record front to back, then discuss the music and overall have a good time.

They aim for the lounge to be open for Black Friday, and plan to have a ribbon cutting with the city around the same time.

Besides making sales like any other business, one of the main goals for The O’Sullivans is to tie in the movie culture of the town with the Artcraft Theatre, creating the store’s own niche.

“A big focus of what we like are soundtracks, and we would like to have movie screenings of maybe some movies that don’t get played at the Artcraft in the lounge,” Cory said.

Another main goal is to create an environment for everyone and anyone to be able to come in and just discuss the common love they share: music.

“When you think of a retail store, you think you have to go into a place and look for something to purchase,” Cory said.

“But I feel a day is just as successful when people come in just to talk about music.

It’s someplace to come and discuss, talk.

That’s why there’s a couch here.”

OPINION

EDITORIAL | NEED FOR COMMUNICATION PERSISTS Students and faculty need to commit to open forums to improve campus life check their emails as often.

“I think is really important for students to get involved so they can make the campus the way they want it to be,” List said.

Sophomore Anissa Edwards said that because she is a commuter, it makes things THE FRANKLIN EDITORIAL BOARD more difficult for her to be involved.

“It’s a lot harder for me to be involved A strong relationship relies on teamwork around here because I work in my and good, active communication between hometown in Columbus,” Edwards said. both parties.

“When I commute for class I have to leave While Franklin College staff has reassured again for work and it’s hard to get back to us they try the best they can to be open campus because it’s almost a 30 minute about their future plans, there is a drive.” noticeable lapse in campus dialogue Student Congress is a and intentional planning around resource for everyone on central issues. campus–and off-campus– to For example, after fall break, use when there’s an issue at Keri Alioto Ellington the college invited consultants from Dean of Student hand. Some students are not Successs and Retention the firm Isaacson, Miller to campus aware that congress members to solicit student feedback as to have representatives who are what they want to see in the new open to speak to anyone who president. However, students did has something to say. They not receive word of this opportunity are here to facilitate issues to Katie Wehner Tom Patz until Oct. 15, which was two days facilities and staff and find the Dean of Academic Assistant Vice President before fall break and less than a best way to fix the issue.

Success of Physical Facilities week before the consultant visit.

Everyone knows the As a result, no students — ongoing complaints when besides reporters from The Franklin it comes to the food, the and FCTV — attended the forum. parking and facilities.

Although college officials Andrew Jones Professors Ostendorf pointed out that WHO CAN I ASK admitted the date wasn’t ideal, Vice President for staff and facilities are willing FOR HELP? Campus Life and the problem may stem from a lack to work with anyone who Dean of Students of student interest as well. It’s no has something to say. It question the student body does not is important to also try to participate in regularly scheduled come up with a solution for “campus chats” held monthly by Student Congress a problem rather than just Catherine DeCleene Members Student Congress. The purpose Coordinator of Student letting the same complaint Health Center of the forum is for the college to grow any bigger. remain transparent with students, Parkhurst has an including those who are not a part suggestion box next to where of Student Congress leadership. the dishes are left. This is Sarah Kinder While Beth Ostendorf, staff a way to provide insight Counselor adviser to Student Congress and on what could be changed.

Franklin College’s coordinator of Whether it’s a complaint or a student involvement, did not disclose specific praise, they are there to listen.

“I think attendance of open chats is details about attendance, she noted the Yet, students need to understand that not always a challenge depending on the day and organization does not track participation every single issue can be solved. There’s a time. With classes, sporting events, Greek life because so few students attend. limit to what the school can fix. and other campus events, it is tough to find a Still, Ostendorf noted that she and “I think it’s important for students to time when everyone can attend,” Patz said.

Student Congress leaders value the student realize– for students to voice those concerns That’s a point where Student Congress’ body’s right to get their voice out on a public and continue voicing them– but to realize president, senior Jackie List, agrees on platform. what’s with the power of the people that they improving.

“I think students do have the power to think would be able to make those changes,” She said it’s better to give students time pursue change and make changes on their Ostendorf said. to prepare when an important event is campus, but those changes are not going to What makes this college great is the trust coming up so they can plan accordingly. List happen if faculty, staff and administration between students and staff Strengthening said there should also be other mediums of don’t know what students are concerned that bond will help campus thrive. communications since some students don’t

Student forums are key to promoting a successful campus environment. They give the opportunity to use one’s voice.

about,” Ostendorf said.

If the school wants students to be more involved, they need to accommodate our busy schedules. It’s understandable that students can’t attend meetings if we are receiving emails so close to an event.

Assistant Vice President of Physical Facilities, Tom Patz, understands people are busy and can’t attend every meeting. Yet, he wants to reassure students that his team is there to help and hear out anyone who needs it.

11

UP ON THE HILL | AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CARRIED OUT

The question about race in college applications brings inequality to students We have all been through college applications and checked the box for our nationality without thinking about what that ALEXA SHRAKE meant.

For Harvard University, that box can be one of the main deciding factors for admissions. According to National Public Radio, a federal district court judge did not see Harvard at fault for taking race into consideration but that doesn’t mean it should be factor to whether a student can be admitted.

The plaintiff, Students for Fair Admissions, has filed an appeal against Harvard University for their race-conscious admissions process according to the New York Times. They said Harvard discriminates against their Asian-American applicants. Not only has the university been questioned for this approach of admission, but also Stanford, Princeton and the University of California at Berkeley have faced intense scrutiny.

The original case of University of California v. Bakke on June 28, 1978, led the

U.S. Supreme Court to declare affirmative action constitutional. At the same time, it invalidated the use of racial quotas which allows admitting a certain amount of individuals of a specific race. Affirmative action is meant to prevent overrepresentation in higher education. Cases like Harvard’s have been rising for the past 40 years.

Sophomore Jada Gaskins said she has also noticed racial bias when working as a diversity advocate on campus and as a student of color herself.

“In the classroom there are professors who either pick on the minority students because they don’t want to make them feel left out,” Gaskins said. “But in doing that you’re always calling them out because their skin color.”

Race should not be a factor in the classroom, nor should it rule admissions.

Our race is not what makes us succeed in academics. Students whom have earned their way academically should be allowed to attend their dream school without having to worry about affirmative action stepping over that work or campus identities.

Sophomore Annaleah Urton works as a diversity advocate and has talked with her peers about diversity. Her job is based

on teaching students and staff to look past color and ethnicity and see everyone as equal. Affirmative action tries to separate individuals. It’s equality that matters.

“We’ll go into a classroom if a professor asks, and we’ll talk about certain aspects of diversity,” Urton said. “During welcome week, we did an activity with the freshmen where they were exposed to ways of thinking that probably didn’t happen during high school.”

Higher education gives students a chance to learn and evolve outside their bubbles. It should not be controlled. Although Harvard is trying to improve the diversity of their student body, it’s just breaking a fundamental human right to equality.

Many are worried that affirmative action will continue to grow into other universities’ admissions. Affirmative action in Harvard maintains a racial balance to keep racial groups in specific amounts, according to The New York Times. Vox, a news website, pointed out the fact students of black and Hispanic heritage could drop from Harvard if the admissions system is changed.

All institutions need to end admissions based on looks. We can control our GPA; we cannot control our ethnicity.

GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT | CATALONIA ON EDGE AGAIN

Ever-present regionalist sentiments resurface in Spain at expense of citizens “I will always be a Catalan.”

That is what Albert Vidal, father of Franklin College senior ISAAC GLEITZ Andrew Vidal, said. Albert grew up in Puigdelfí, in Catalonia, Spain. A town nine kilometers outside Tarragona, which is a sizeable city on the Mediterranean Coast.

Albert was born into a dictatorship. After the spanish civil war between 1936 and 1939, BBC News found that the province lost a significant amount of autonomy under the dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, who took power after the war.

The Washington Post reported that Franco held a zero-tolerance policy on separatism during his 40 year reign, targeting language and regional customs.

Catalan was Vidal’s first and primary language, although it was prohibited in public spaces. Only Spanish was taught in schools. His parents named him Albert,

but it was written as Alberto on his birth certificate and other official documents, as this was the Spanish variant of the name.

Cindy Vidal, Albert’s wife, said the late Franco regime also targeted staples of Catalan culture. Her husband was on a team that constructed human towers, which is a regional tradition in the hometown, but the practice was disallowed.

The current situation echoes the past.

According to The New York Times, 750 people were hurt on Oct. 1, 2017, during a provincial vote for independence in the province where Vidal lived.

Catalan authorities found that 90% of voters backed secession from Spain.

The Atlantic, a long-standing D.C. magazine, found that Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled voting to be illegal. BBC reported that some prospective voters were kicked by police forces. Some women were pulled out of polling stations by their hair.

More recently, Catalan’s independence movement has resurfaced. The New York Times reported that the Spanish Supreme Court issued prison sentences to 12 of

the movement’s leaders on Oct. 14, 2019.

Nine face sedition charges, and three face disobedience charges.

Opponents of the rulings have made their positions clear, by swarming the streets in protest in cities around the region.

Vidal said his family in Catalonia keeps him updated on the climate in his homeland.

He said all Catalans want to do is talk about independence. In response, the Spanish government oppresses the people.

“There’s got to be a way to listen to those people. Otherwise, to me, it’s more dictatorial,” Vidal said.

Others have expressed similar views.

Parliament Speaker Roger Torrent said the court’s ruling “establishes a worrisome precedent” that “criminalizes” the expression of rights, according to Catalannews.com, which covers Catalan politics, business and culture in English.

This is a reasonable view. Democracies find strength in the questioning of power.

Peaceful bids for discussion should not be met with punishment.

12

TUNE IN | ENJOY CONCERTS, AVOID CHAOS

Learning how to stay safe at concerts without ruining the fun for yourself The movement of the crowd invites you to sway and hop. When you open your eyes, you see the PIPER GAUL performer on stage having the time of their life right along with you. There is nothing quite like being at a concert.

Concerts are the physical manifestation of the connection between an artist and the audience. This is the place where music develops like pictures in a dark room. In this moment, the musician can see how impactful their art is.

Concerts turn into memories that last a lifetime. At them, I’ve felt free to be bold and loud. I know I can be whoever I want because I won’t see 99% of the people around me ever again.

In that moment it’s about me and the music. After my first concert, I thought to myself, “I’m going to become a concert junkie. All of my money is going toward this experience.”

Though concerts are a lifetime experience, it can be a dangerous place if the basic precautions are not taken seriously.

An important example is Ariana Grande’s concert on May 22, 2017 in Manchester, England where, according to NBC News, 22 people were killed and 59 were wounded by a suicide bomber in an act of terrorism. When this happened, it put into perspective for me just how vulnerable I am while at crowded venues. It felt inconceivable. I wondered how to stay safe, even from smaller threats.

Freshman Lillian Benefiel, who estimates she has gone to at least 20 concerts in her lifetime, knows about how to stay as safe as possible when she goes to a venue.

She mentioned that her number one safety rule is to “stay with the people you came with.” The more people you go with and trust, the more secure you are.

Another good tip is to always have an exit plan. Make sure when you enter a venue

you know where the closest exit is and the quickest path to it. Freshman Peighton Zebrowski, who has also experienced concerts, has seen them go bad before.

“There will be points in time when security will not be able to hear you,” Zebrowski said. “I’ve seen so many people almost die from asthma, from being crushed by people.”

Always have your phone on you and charged. I know it’s tempting to film the entire concert and put it on Snapchat, but don’t risk your safety for it.

If you are in a position where you feel safe and you see someone struggling, ask if they need assistance. The people around you want to enjoy themselves but that shouldn’t always be the priority. Help if you are able to do so.

From the opening act to the encore, I just want to experience it all without fear.

Hopefully, one day we can live in a world where something as simple as a concert doesn’t bring up any unwanted anxiety.

FRESH AIR WHEN IT FEELS SUFFOCATING How to identify a toxic relationship and how to proceed to safety It is hard to know what fresh air is when you are surrounded by toxins.

According HALEY to The National Domestic Violence PRITCHETT Hotline, a main reason people choose to stay in abusive and toxic relationships is because they think what they are experiencing is normal.

So, how exactly can we define a normal, healthy relationship?

The National Domestic Violence Hotline explains this with their relationship spectrum, which has nine categories: communication, respect, trust, honesty, equality, enjoying personal time, making mutual sexual choices, economic and financial partners and engaging in supportive parenting. The spectrum shows what a healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationship is. This is a great resource to use if you have questions about the nature of your relationship.

It is important to watch for the signs.

It is a lot harder to identify an unhealthy

relationship when you are involved and not just watching from afar.

Freshman Emma Higginbotham said when she and her mother used to watch movies together and saw women being abused in movies, she always asked her mom why the victim did not just leave. She said she never understood how hard it was to leave until she was in that position herself.

Friends and family are often like the audience in our lives. They notice when things are wrong and may try to approach us about the situation. Sometimes it is hard for victims to appreciate their loved ones’ concerns in the moment.

“Having other people notice it and come up to me was embarrassing,” Higginbotham said. “You’re so vulnerable.”

Not only is it hard for the victim to handle these conversations, but it’s also difficult for the concerned loved one. Freshman Mara Wilson says it’s hard to tell someone is in a toxic relationship because it usually hurts the other person’s feelings and most of the time, they will reject what you are saying.

“Sometimes people don’t understand that they have people who care for them other

than their girlfriend or their boyfriend when they are in those situations,” Wilson said.

When a victim in a relationship decides it is time to leave, she or he must be careful.

Franklin College counselor Sara Kinder says if they evaluate what is going on in the relationship and decide that it is time to leave, she or he must communicate with others and create a safety plan for leaving the relationship. Leaving an abusive or toxic relationship can sometimes be the most dangerous part of the relationship. Doing so may upset the abuser and initiate reckless, violent or other dangerous behavior.

Even if someone knows they are in an abusive relationship, they should not feel bad for not leaving right away.

“They shouldn’t be judged or feel like they’re doing something wrong if they don’t leave the relationship immediately,” Kinder said.

Resources for identifying an abusive relationship are available at https://www. thehotline.org/healthy-relationships/ communication/. There is also help available on campus in the Health and Wellness center.

SPORTS

GAMES IN REVIEW VOLLEYBALL vs. Earlham College L, 3-1

HOPE SHRUM | PHOTO

STRONG BOND DRIVES SUCCESS FOR WOMEN’S GOLF Grizzlies earn fourth place at conference; Sharp, French earn all-conference titles TAYLOR WOOTEN | STORY taylor.wooten@franklincollege.edu

Junior Gabi Sharp and sophomore Maci French made history for Franklin College Women’s Golf.

They were the first All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament top ten finishes since 2015. French had the highest finish of any Franklin College women’s golfer since 2012.

While the conference tournament went well for the pair, who finished in a tie for second (French) and in sixth place (Sharp), Roger Lundy, head women’s golf coach, said the efforts of the entire team are what made the season great for the Grizzlies.

Lundy said that while these two got the awards, they wouldn’t be there without their teammates.

“Everything is based on their team, and it’s based on the four players that didn’t get to go play [at the HCAC Tournament],” he said. “You know, those four players still had to prepare like they were going to play in the tournament.”

The Grizzlies tied for fourth place with Hanover out of nine conference teams. This showed growth from the 2018 results, where they finished seventh.

“The team’s biggest challenge, I think, was getting over the fact that we were playing with really good teams and that would get to their heads,” French said.

Of the success of the team, Lundy said, “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I encourage them, bring them snacks, water.

Drive the van there.”

Lundy said that his golfers’ individual

goals are what drove them to their fourthplace finish.

“They’re good players,” Lundy said.

“They do what they’re supposed to do. And our sport is one of those sports where if you believe in what you’re doing, you’re probably going to do pretty good in it.”

The tournament was the first HCAC tournament for the all-conference pair, who both transferred to Franklin College from previous schools.

“We both were transfers, so to come here and make all-conference, and to do that for the first time since 2015, or me have the highest placing since 2012 was really rewarding because it’s stuff I didn’t know ‘til after the fact,” said French, who went to Indiana University for her freshman year. “So, it’s just the cherry on top of everything.”

Sharp, who transferred from Regis University in Denver, also expressed content with the outcome of the season.

“I’m pretty proud of us as a team and happy with how I did on my own,” Sharp said. “But I really see potential with us.”

Lundy emphasized the importance of golf beyond the results and stats.

“There’s a lot bigger things in life than hitting a stupid little white ball into a hole,” Lundy said. “A lot bigger things that happen that are far more important. But the one thing that brings us all together is that silly game called golf. And I’m happy, I love these guys. They’re like my kids, they’re like my daughters. I have a lot of daughters.”

WOMEN’S SOCCER @ Hanover College L, 3-0 MEN’S SOCCER @ Mount St. Joseph University W, 2-1 FOOTBALL vs. Defiance College W, 28-0 MEN’S SWIMMING @ Illinois College W, 130-52 WOMEN’S SWIMMING @ Illinois College W, 123-63

UPCOMING GAMES MEN’S SWIMMING 11/08 @ Manchester University WOMEN’S SWIMMING 11/08 @ Manchester University FOOTBALL 11/09 @ Bluffton University MEN’S BASKETBALL 11/09 @ Otterbein University MEN’S & WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 11/16 @ Calvin College WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 11/22 @ Wilmington College

A

A DIAMOND in the DRAFT A

Franklin College Senior Quarterback Braden Smith featured on NFL draft website

dream of becoming a professional football player could come true for Franklin College senior Braden Smith.

Smith was recently featured in an article on the NFL Draft Diamonds, which is a website featuring prospective draft picks.

The article was set up as a question-andanswer session to allow NFL teams to get insight into Smith as not only a player, but as a person as well.

Smith didn’t always feel this was a possibility, and he said the idea of being a professional football player back in high school was “far-fetched.”

Despite thinking this, Smith had a very successful high school career, earning allconference honors at Mattoon High School and playing in the Wabash Valley Coaches Association All-Star Game.

“I was super tall and super lanky,” he said.

He added that coming out of high school, he was 6 feet’ 6 inches tall and 190 pounds.

He is now listed at the same height but has gained 55 pounds.

Smith doesn’t only credit his increased size and weight as an indicator of his success, however. He said his mental side of the game is even more important.

As he gained game experience throughout his years at Franklin College, along with reps during practice, it has built his confidence and allowed him to adjust to the higher

speed of the game at the college level.

Smith said he felt humbled and excited by his professional football recruiting recognition in the Draft Diamonds article.

He admitted he was worried some of the questions were there to “try to get him to say a certain thing,” but he thought he should just be as honest as he could.

Some of the questions, he said, were very interesting. Questions such as, “If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?” Smith said he struggled with this question but had to be honest about saving the family member. He has a deep connection with, his brother.

Preparing for professional football will come down to his work ethic, training and making connections. He has already put out a film that has helped him get noticed.

After limited playing time in his freshmen and sophomore years, he started all 10 games for Franklin College last year.

In these games he threw 3,226 yards and 28 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.6%, while only throwing six interceptions. Along with this, he had 284 yards rushing and eight rushing touchdowns.

Smith said he can’t take all the credit for his success and he wanted to thank all his past and present coaches and teammates.

ZACH ROBERTS | STORY

He also wasn’t the only one excited about his potential professional football career.

Senior football player Tre Akers has been the starting center who blocked for Smith the past two seasons. He shared his excitement for his teammate.

Akers was a key to protecting Smith, but he said as an offensive lineman, he and the other four guys are a subunit inside the offense.

“I’m only as good as the people next to me,” Akers said.

Although he didn’t get the same chance as Smith, Akers said it is awesome to see players from a small school like Franklin get recognition in professional football.

He jokingly added that Smith is a taller John Elway, who is a former NFL quarterback. With his athleticism, football IQ and long arm.

His teammates aren’t the only ones cheering Smith on. Head Football Coach Mike Leonard said that Smith’s film was the biggest factor of getting an NFL Pro Day look.

Leonard acknowledged many of the Grizzlies’ past quarterbacks played overseas, but none of them had the size Smith has.

“Braden is a great guy and young man with the height, size and arm to play at the next level,” Leonard said.

As the football season wraps up, keep an eye on Braden Smith as he finishes his collegiate career and begins his next step.

“I’m excited to see what’s to come,” Smith said.

BRIDGET LINDSTROM | DESIGN & PHOTOS

LAST LOOK JAYCIE BLANFORD, SENIOR

After discovering Zeta Tau Alpha raised more than $10,000 during Big Man On Campus (BMOC), Blanford hugs senior Taylor Lucid on stage. “I knew all of our hard work would pay off, but once that envelope opened, my feelings were indescribable,” Blanford said. “I felt so much love, gratitude, joy and accomplishment.” BMOC is the sorority’s philanthropy event, which raises money for breast cancer education and awareness.

QUINN FITZGERALD | COVER & BACK PHOTO