FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 | THEFRANKLINNEWS.COM
CAMPUS ON
ALERT
Investigations follow reports of unescorted guests in college residence halls PG. 6
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED PG. 3
CONFERENCE SEASON PG. 14
NEWS
“THE Q:
Who would you switch roles with for one day?
// OUR TEAM
“ WHO MAKES THE FRANKLIN?
Alivia Brewer Reporter “David Dobrik.”
Taylor Brown Reporter “Blaine Fuhs TBH.”
Claire Castillo Photographer “Brian May’s wife”
Quinn Fitzgerald Photo editor “Gemma Chan.”
Executive editor Shelby Mullis shelby.mullis@franklincollege.edu Opinion editor Erica Irish erica.irish@franklincollege.edu News editor Emily Ketterer emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu Sports editor Hope Shrum hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu
Emily Hales Designer “Audrey Roloff.”
Erica Irish Opinion editor “Mike Pence.”
Emily Ketterer News editor “Kate Middleton.”
Abigail Larken Copy chief “The Queen of England.”
Copy chief Abigail Larken abigail.larken@franklincollege.edu Photo editor Quinn Fitzgerald elizabeth.fitzgerald@franklincollege.edu Web editor Matt Thomas matthew.thomas@franklincollege.edu
Ariana Lovitt Columnist “Jack White.”
Peytan Mills Photograher “Scarlett Johnansson.”
Shelby Mullis Executive editor “Hank Nuwer.”
Danielle Nuckols Photographer “Taylor Swift.”
Advertising manager Tara Ricke tara.ricke@franklincollege.edu Publisher John Krull jkrull@franklincollege.edu Adviser Ryan Gunterman rgunterman@franklincollege.edu
AJ Prohaska Photographer “Seth Rogen.”
Carolina Puga Mendoza Reporter “Dwayne Johnson.”
Victoria Ratliff Reporter “Taylor Swift.”
Tara Ricke Ads manager “Carrie Underwood.”
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.
Hope Shrum Sports editor “Ellen DeGeneres.”
Matt Thomas Web editor “Chris Pratt.”
Lacey Watt Reporter “Blake Lively.”
Taylor Wooten Reporter “Bill Gates.”
COLLEGE ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS Keynote, senior speakers selected for 2019 ceremony ALIVIA BREWER | STORY alivia.brewer@franklincollege.edu
The countdown to graduation has begun, and Franklin College has announced its commencement and baccalaureate speakers. This year’s commencement keynote speaker is Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and Cook Medical in Bloomington. Yonkman will also receive an honorary doctor of humane letters from the college. Yonkman is a graduate of Indiana University where he received a bachelor’s in psychology and philosophy, followed by a J.D. from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University. Within a few years of joining Cook’s corporate counsel team in 2001, Yonkman was quickly introduced to new roles with even more responsibility. Before stepping into the role as president of Cook Medical in 2013, Yonkman previously served as vice president of Asian operations, chief legal officer and president of Cook Urological. The Rev. Teresa “Terry” Hord Owens, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will give the baccalaureate address and receive an honorary doctorate of divinity. Hord Owens is the first person of color and second woman to lead the denomination. She spent more than 20 years in corporate America where she led diverse data management teams in health care and other industries before entering seminary. Senior Gabrielle Arthur was selected by members of the class of 2019 to deliver a speech during the commencement ceremony as the final send-off to the graduates. Arthur
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OUT ABOUT:
5/4 COLOR WALK/RUN Strive to Make an Impact is hosting a color run to raise awareness for sexual abuse and raise money for a nonprofit designed to build safer communities. When: 9 a.m. - noon Where: Franklin Parks & Recreation, 396 Branigin Blvd.
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INBRIEF MODEL UNITED NATIONS TEAM WINS AWARDS AT CONFERENCE
Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and Cook Medical, will speak at the 2019 graduation. | SUBMITTED PHOTO
is an economics major and plans to continue her studies at law school in the fall. She was also elected by her peers as a “Top 10 Senior” and is the recipient of the 2019 Sorority Woman of the Year award for her active involvement in Pi Beta Phi, where she served as chapter president in 2018. “It is an exciting time for all of us to celebrate the past four years at Franklin, and I’m ecstatic to reflect on those memories on graduation day,” Arthur said. Baccalaureate will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the Spurlock Center Gymnasium. The commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 18 in the Spurlock Center Gymnasium at 10 a.m.
5/4 - 5/5 KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY AT THE MINT For those 21 and older, enjoy the Kentucky Derby while drinking bourbon or a mint julep at downtown Franklin’s Kentucky bourbon and cocktail bar, The Mint. When: 11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. Where: The Mint, 40 N. Water St., Franklin.
The Franklin College Model United Nations team was awarded international honors at the National Model UN Conference in New York City. The team, made up of 13 members, represented the Republic of Kiribati Together, they designed a communications and technological improvement program to foster adaptation to climate change. Their work earned them “Distinguished Delegation” recognition, the second-highest award given by the conference. Other awards included “Outstanding Position Paper” presented to sophomores Erica Irish and Blaine Conners, and “Outstanding Delegate” to junior Kyle Harmening and sophomore Kirsten Nielsen. GIVE TO GRIZ SETS NEW RECORD FOR DONATIONS The college’s seventh annual one-day giving challenge was the most successful to date. On April 18, the #GivetoGriz campaign raised a total of $165,288 with 1,012 donors, surpassing the goal of $145,000. This amount of donations broke last year’s record of $134,245. “It’s truly incredible to watch the difference made on our campus through philanthropy on this special day. The entire Grizzly Nation came together this year, and we are grateful,” said Dana Cummings, vice president for development and alumni engagement.
5/26 THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 33 drivers. 500 miles. Head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 103rd Indianapolis 500––the “greatest spectacle in racing.” Tickets are still available at indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/ indy500. Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St., Indianapolis
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THE FRANKLIN WINS AWARDS IN STATE CONTEST Society of Professional Journalists presents 5 accolades to newspaper STAFF REPORT thefranklinstories@gmail.com
Six members of The Franklin staff were recognized with five accolades, including a Society of Professional Journalists college journalism scholarship, at the 40th annual Society of Professional Journalists “Best of Indiana” gala April 26. Executive editor Shelby Mullis, columnist and reporter Carolina Puga Mendoza, sports editor Hope Shrum, photo editor Quinn Fitzgerald and opinion editor Erica Irish produced the works, which competed in the print and digital student division. Mullis, Shrum and Puga Mendoza claimed a third-place award in the “Best Design Other Than Page One or Cover” category. Irish was honored with a second-place award in the “Best Editorial Writing” category. Fitzgerald received a second-place award in the “Best Feature Photography” category. Puga Mendoza also won a third-place award
Erica Irish (left), Emily Ketterer and Carolina Puga Mendoza attended the SPJ awards dinner on behalf of The Franklin. JANET WILLIAMS, THESTATEHOUSEFILE.COM | PHOTO
in the “Column Writing” category. News editor Emily Ketterer was one of two recipients in Indiana to recieve the Society of Professional Journalists College Journalism Scholarship.
“These honors are a testament to the hard work this team of young journalists puts in to create a publication that people look forward to reading,” Mullis said. “I’m proud of each member of The Franklin staff for their dedication to the advancement of journalism.” She said the recognition confirms what she already knew about Pulliam School of Journalism students. The Franklin adviser Ryan Gunterman said the recognition is well-earned. “I’m so proud of everyone at The Franklin because these awards represent a commitment to the publication by the entire staff,” Gunterman said. “It makes The Franklin an extraordinary learning lab that prepares each student for the world of professional journalism. This recognition from SPJ simply confirms this.” For the full list of awards visit: thefranklinnews.com
STUDENT TEACHERS REFLECT ON STATUS OF FIELD Seniors talk about careers as teacher pay is debated in state EMILY KETTERER | STORY emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu
With low teacher pay being a recent hot-button issue in the state, education majors remain worried about the future, but they aren’t letting that stop them from following their passion to teach others. Lawmakers at the Indiana Statehouse drafted the state budget for the next two years during the 2019 legislative session. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the $34.6 billion budget into law Monday and half of the money is going to K-12 education, which lawmakers said is a feat they have not accomplished before. But, there is no mandated teacher pay increase, a highly-debated issue in the Statehouse this year. Across the state, teachers, along with the Indiana State Teacher’s Association have been protesting and asking lawmakers to create a salary increase. Indiana ranks 37th on the list of states who pay teachers the most, with the average school teacher salary sitting just below $50,000. The Indiana Department of Education revealed almost 15 academic areas
are experiencing teacher shortages in the state. Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, the top educator in the state, blamed these shortages on the lack of substantial teacher pay increases. At a teacher rally at the Statehouse, she told educators in attendance, “We can do better,” and called the promises for pay increases false. Senior Holyn Eldridge will soon face the excitement of getting her own classroom as an elementary teacher, but something she said always bothered her was the low pay for Indiana teachers. “That has been a huge worry of mine,” Eldridge said. “But the passion I have for teaching and the impact it makes in my life and others is what motivates me to look past the pay and continue in the career.” Even though she remains passionate for her career, she is still frustrated that the state isn’t doing much to increase pay. “If [lawmakers] say something, I want to see them try to put it into action instead of getting the hopes up of teachers all over,”
Eldridge said. The budget puts extra money aside for the teacher appreciation grants for younger teachers, which 50 percent can be awarded as a stipend to the teacher’s salary. The budget also calls for a one-time payment of $150 million from surplus funds to pay off school districts’ teacher pension liabilities. Holcomb said ideally, schools should use the money to increase teacher pay, but that remains up to local school boards. The lack of pay isn’t stopping other college students like Eldridge who want to be a teacher. Senior elementary education major Brooke Hughes said people tried to change her mind on her career choice, but she knew she wanted to stick to her passion. “We all are aware of what we are getting into, and we want to do it anyway,” she said. She said she still has hope for teachers. “I have hope. A lot of people don’t, but I’m a hopeful person,” Hughes said. “Eventually something will happen. Teacher pay needs to be raised, before we lose the quality of education.”
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COLLEGE ‘LAUNCHES’ INTO THE NEW CURRICULUM New first-year program announced, more curriculum changes coming in fall LACEY WATT | STORY lacey.watt@franklincollege.edu
Changes are coming to the academic curriculum, and the college recently announced its first step to “launch” a new program as part of the transition. The newest program for first-year students is called “Launch.” The year-long freshman seminar is just one aspect of the college’s new curriculum. The main goal of Launch, said Dean of Student Success and Retention Keri Ellington, is to prepare students into the transition of college and everything it includes: personal, social and academic growth. It also has support systems built in for first-year students. Launch will be composed of different components throughout the year. The new program is incorporated into registration day, welcome week, Immersive Term and will stand as a replacement for the first-year seminar, LA100. It will also be a part of Pivot, a new requirement for underclassmen to complete during January. A number of new elements will be also be added as Launch develops, including the Launch Lab, Launch Team and Hamilton One in the library. Similar to LA 100, Launch Lab is where incoming freshman will meet three times through the semester to topics like transitioning to college, taking care of yourself and valuing others. Launch has been in the works for three years. The idea was created during President Thomas Minar’s first year at the college. Over the last three years, a plan was estab-
lished called “Goal One A.” That morphed into Launch, Ellington said, and current students were notified of the new program in April. “[Students] overwhelmingly loved the new effort, Launch, and all of the components,” Ellington said. “It was a really great energizing day to see the work that we’ve been doing get to be presented.” The college has yet to announce other changes to the liberal arts curriculum, but students should expect to see updates in the fall semester. “It’s healthy for any intuition to reinvigorate its curriculum from time-to-time,” Provost and Dean of the college Lori Schroeder said. “So, it doesn’t get tired and it’s what students need and in pace with the market place and student needs.” Schroeder noted that a new focus of the curriculum will be on preparing students for graduate school. But the content will also continue to place a greater emphasis on skills that employers are looking for, such as collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication. Individual departments outside of the liberal arts are also changing their curriculum. The education department transformed its secondary education major into a minor at the beginning of the fall semester. And, in the spring, the Franklin College Pulliam School of Journalism announced some curriculum changes students need
in order to graduate with a journalism or public relations degree, but the school also announced a new major pathway – sports communication. The new major was added in order to expand the program. There had been conversations for a number of years about adding the major, but once the Supreme Court finally legalized sports gambling in the United States, now seemed like the time to add the major for more opportunities, said Joel Cramer, journalism division head. The major will add four new classes to the journalism and public relations curriculum already required. These classes will focus on sports, including game coverage, covering lifestyle and outdoor sports and sports public relations. No new professors will be hired to teach the new classes at this time. “This might be the right time for us to begin thinking about training journalists in sports,” Cramer said. “To behave ethically, and to report accurately. To have a sense of how to use a variety of media to distribute information.” More new curriculum changes and majors are to come. Each department will submit a plan on how their major programs will help students reach professional development in the field, Schroeder said. “Everybody within a major is going to see what their professors in that major think they should know to launch into that field,” Schroeder said.
INCREASING
AWA R E N E S S
Officials urge students to secure rooms amid disturbances in residence buildings STORY | ERICA IRISH PHOTO | QUINN FITZGERALD DESIGN | EMILY HALES
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uddy footprints. A mess of candy wrappers on a stairwell. Tampered bedrooms. That’s what junior Danielle Cosby and her roommate, sophomore Jaley Schlosser, said waited for them in their four-person suite in Section C of the Johnson-Dietz center over Easter weekend. And those small details, they say, are part of a troubling trend in Franklin College residence halls that is challenging college staff to step up monitoring and security in a normally tight-knit community. Cosby, who had spent the evening of Saturday, April 20, at a formal dance with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, said when she returned Sunday morning, the first warning came from a pile of used candy wrappers trailing up the Section C stairwell. Then, when she opened the door to her suite, an even graver warning awaited: the lights in her room were on, and muddy footprints caked the floor in a line toward the suite bathroom. “Everything was in its place, fine and normal,” Cosby said about the room before she departed for the Saturday evening event. “At first I thought it was the girls across the hall playing a prank on us.” Cosby soon realized, however, that her neighbors across the hall also had signs of a tampered room, so she texted her suite mates who were away for the holiday weekend. Cosby’s roommate Oakleigh Collier, a senior, then messaged the section’s GroupMe and residence assistant Levi Spaniolo. In the following days, residence leadership pieced together a timeline for the students. Late on April 20, an intoxicated male found his way into Section C and, because students left their doors unlocked, entered several suites before passing out in a room on the second floor, Cosby said. Director of Security Steve Leonard confirmed the student found does not attend Franklin College. Leonard said security staff attended to the student while he was unresponsive in the second-floor suite before calling the Franklin Fire Department for medical assistance. No residents were in the suite at this time. “We weren’t notified immediately,” Cosby said. “I’m sure if we hadn’t asked, they wouldn’t have told us anything. And that’s
what we were most upset about. We pay a lot of money to live here, and we want to know when things like this happen.” Now, Cosby, her suite mates and other Franklin College residents are demanding answers and action. And so far, they said, the college has been more than willing to give them a response.
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We pay a lot of money to live here, and we want to know when things like this happen. JUNIOR DANIELLE COSBY
Director of Residence Life Jacob Knight said the event in Section C follows a series of separate incidents reported in Elsey Hall, the college’s largest residence for first-year students. In the fall, Knight and Russ Norris, the area coordinator for Elsey, said female students on the third floor of the building began telling residence officials about late night disturbances. Allegations referred to unknown visitors tapping on doors, jiggling door handles and, in a case reported at the end of Immersive Term 2019, a group of men attempting to open doors in the all-female halls on the third floor. While the two staff members do not believe the events are directly related, each incident has prompted new attention from residence life leadership and security. After reviewing individual reports and holding special meetings with students, for example, Knight, Norris and Johnson-Dietz area coordinator Veronica Roberts took a second look at how the unescorted guests gained entry. In Elsey, Norris examined each locked door leading into the hall’s four floors using a master key set. He determined none of the locks were faulty. However, when he investigated the hall’s elevator, he found that certain keys would unlock the elevator door on floors they were not designed to unlock. And in Section C, Knight said Roberts examined reports that suggested the front door to the structure was not closing properly,
allowing entry without a student ID. But residence life officials and Leonard said the most likely cause of unauthorized entry comes from students holding doors open for unknown visitors. Knight noted several policies in the student handbook as what residents should use to guide their security habits when welcoming guests into a campus building, such as a reminder that students should always lock their room “regardless of how long they will be away.” The handbook also says “any damage or malfunction of a lock or key should be immediately reported to Residence Life, Security, or Facilities,” a recommendation that students said they followed. Cosby and her suite mates said residents in Section C had repeatedly submitted work orders about the malfunctioning front door, particularly when the top of the door started leaking hydraulic fluid. But when Knight went to the facilities department to confirm this, he and maintenance staff only found two work orders submitted on the issue – one from a security guard, filed on April 9, and one from Roberts submitted the week the unauthorized visitor was found. Knight, who previously worked at Eastern Illinois University, said colleges and universities with larger populations tend to have even stricter guest policies. Residence assistants might patrol with more frequency and stop unattended guests, for example, or the hall might include an around-the-clock desk at the front entrance to check-in visitors. But Knight, Norris and Leonard said that, even with these recent situations, they do not see a need for a radical shift in guest policy or security. If anything, each is hopeful the disturbances will remind students to be more cautious and take initiative to protect themselves and others. “If students are being mindful of their own safety, it goes a long way toward building that sense of security in your spaces,” Knight said. “I watch [Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)], and that’s the golden rule: Listen to my commands at all times, but protect yourself at all times. That’s a very good mantra to have in our residence halls.”
time
well-spent STORY | VICTORIA RATLIFF
SUBMITTED PHOTO
DESIGN | EMILY HALES
Faculty, students reflect on
retired Dean Ellis Hall’s career at Franklin
aculty on campus remember Dean Ellis Hall by his contagious passion for his job. Hall retired from his position as vice president of student affairs and dean of students on April 17. President Thomas Minar announced Hall’s retirement in an email to Franklin College students on April 15. Hall had been an employee of the college since 2001. But Hall didn’t treat his position like a job, many said. He was always present – acting in an unrehearsed Christmas show put on by Religious Life every year; serving breakfast to students at the final late night of the year; and chaperoning trips to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada time and time again. Director of Religious Life and Chaplin Hannah Adams Ingram said Hall was always willing to participate and wanted to be involved in students’ academics and extracurriculars. “He would show up to have fun for religious life events, because he knew that was meaningful for students,” Ingram said. Ingram said his participation encouraged other faculty and students to follow suit. This, Ingram said, is one of the many reasons why Hall was a great asset for Franklin College. “I hope people remember him and his example and model to care for people, and to support people and to really keep students
at the forefront of the school,” she said. Student Affairs secretary Marti Schrock described Hall as someone who loved every student on campus. Although he and his wife, education professor Sherri Hall, didn’t have children, when asked if he had kids, he’d respond, “Yes, I have 1,000.” “If there were students there, he wanted to be there,” she said. “It was a great way to show them that he does care and wanted to be a part of it and celebrate their accomplishments.” Schrock also said his involvement with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Parent Association, Canada trips, and the Student Affairs Office will leave an impact on the campus for years to come. Junior Kauaii Canada said Hall is someone who impacted her time at Franklin. She recalls a time where she sat down with him after a racial incident on campus, and he helped her through the incident. “It felt nice to hear someone tell me that it’s all OK,” Canada said. She said that during their conversation, they bonded over a common interest in theatre. Canada felt warmth in the fact that she had started a conversation with Hall about a negative incident but ended up finding a bond with that person she never knew existed. Canada also said Hall’s presence on campus was calming. She found Hall to be kind but also realistic when he needed to be.
OPINION
EDITORIAL | DIVERSITY NEEDS INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT College cares about inclusion, but should strive to expand full-time staff
Franklin College should consider offering more institutional support to the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. THE FRANKLIN EDITORIAL BOARD
Two years after the Center for Diversity and Inclusion moved into its new home in what was the quiet lounge in the Napolitan Student Center – a process that offered much-needed visibility to a department critical to Franklin College’s minority populations – it’s time for the college to consider the next great advancement for campus diversity and inclusion. In an interview with The Franklin in February, while speaking about her role as co-adviser to Franklin College’s Black Student Union, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Terri Roberts-Leonard said a key way to solving obstacles to inclusion on campus is to expand the services made available through the CDI. To do that, Roberts-Leonard said the college would need to fund at least one more additional staff member, such as an assistant director of diversity and inclusion, to provide a second person to guide day-to-day operations in the office. “Franklin College’s commitment to cultivating a diverse campus culture prepares graduates to lead in today’s global and multicultural workplace and equips underrepresented students with professional skills and resources to build thriving careers,”
reads a handout about the CDI posted to the college’s website. While Roberts-Leonard noted she receives daily help from student diversity advocates and from other faculty and staff members who care enough about diversity and inclusion to volunteer additional time to its advancement – Residence Hall Coordinator Russ Norris, for example, mentors the diversity advocates – Roberts-Leonard is the only staff member working full-time toward this high ideal. In addition, while the President’s Council on Diversity Inclusion, a 14-person “group of students, faculty and staff who meet on a monthly basis to discuss various issues of diversity on campus and work towards solutions,” is key to identifying areas worth improving to college leadership, it does not provide daily support to the CDI. Again, according to the CDI handout, the office oversees several major campus events, many of which involve extensive community relations and inter-organization collaboration within the college. The brochure lists eight examples: The Building Opportunities through Support and Structure (B.O.S.S.) Mentoring Program; Brother to Brother and Sister to Sister; Building Our Leaders through Diversity (B.O.L.D.) Living-Learning Community, now located in the Johnson-Dietz Residence Hall; the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Celebration; the Power of Diversity Lecture Series; the Drag Show; and the Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast. While The Franklin is aware that
the college’s main financial project – the advancement of Franklin College’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs through the renovation and expansion of Barnes Hall into the Franklin College Science Center, a $17 million effort – was a much-needed investment for student success, the needs of other departments are worth noting as college officials apportion capital for additional long-term innovation campaigns. And, as the college broadens the prominence of diversity in recruitment and admissions strategies, as noted by The Franklin in two separate articles, it will become even more important to showcase what the college is doing to accommodate students from all walks of life. “We want the place to be diverse and welcoming because the real world is diverse,” said Kate Coffman, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, in a September 2018 interview with The Franklin. “Students are going to have to interact in their jobs, in their communities with a diverse community. If Franklin isn’t teaching them how to navigate that, they’re not going to be successful when they leave Franklin.” Such a reality is best achieved by hiring new support staff to refine existing programs and to pursue new events. In the coming years, the college should consider how it can structurally update and support the needs of the CDI, a process that will allow the office to even better craft “a college community that doesn’t just support difference but celebrates it.”
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SENIOR FAREWELL | ‘THANKS A BUNCH, PSJ’
Executive editor leaves a parting thank you to school that changed her life When I first met the Pulliam School of Journalism faculty, they asked me where I saw myself in 10 years. I’m a dreamer, SHELBY MULLIS so of course I told them my one true dream: To work on the Today Show. Sounds crazy, right? But John Krull said five words that continue to resonate with me even four years later. “We can make that happen.” I’ve still got six years to prove John right, but that’s beside the fact. The point is, John and the other faculty members believed in me from the moment we met. They didn’t laugh at me when I told them that crazy dream of mine. They shared in that dream with me. It is that same confidence that these professors still have in me that has kept me going for the last four years. My time in the Pulliam School of Journalism has been special. I’ve covered presidential debates, a national convention and interviewed presidential-hopefuls. I’ve met countless national leaders, explored
areas of journalism I never thought I’d have an interest in and interned for leading news organizations that dedicated themselves to telling the stories of people. But what really got me to where I am today are the four years I spent as a reporter and editor for The Franklin. Through The Franklin, I met friends who became family. Through The Franklin, I held campus officials accountable and kept the college community informed. Through The Franklin, I found myself. I started my career as a young reporter who forgot to ask now-retired Dean Ellis Hall if I could record our interview – my first as a collegiate reporter. Now, I end my career saying goodbye to the paper that challenged me, taught me and shaped me. My sophomore year, I stepped into my first editorial role, serving as copy chief. From there, I advanced to news editor. Lo and behold, I became the executive editor, filling the footsteps of my two preceding executive editors and very best friends, Leigh Durphey and Ashley Shuler. I owe a lot of what I’ve learned to them. They taught me what it means to be fierce. To be a woman in leadership.
But it’s not just those who came before me who taught me what I know. This year’s team of editors, reporters, photographers and designers have shown me that anything is possible. We went into this year with an entirely new editorial team and a fresh group of young reporters and photographers, many of whom had never served on a school newspaper before this year. To see their growth over the last year has been so rewarding. The Franklin would not be what it is today without each and every one of them. When I first met the Pulliam School of Journalism faculty four years ago, they asked me where I saw myself in 10 years. I wish they would’ve asked me where I saw myself just four years from that day, because I would’ve had the perfect answer. “I will be happy,” I’d tell them. They would ask me why (because they’re journalism professors and they don’t stop asking questions, ever) and I’d tell them this: “Because this school gave me everything I need to stand on my own. That’s all I could ever ask for.” Thanks a bunch, PSJ. And Ann.
REALITY CHECK | LIVING UP TO MY STEREOTYPE Understanding one’s identity might not be as simple as nationality I am Mexican. No, I don’t like spicy food. I don’t wear sombreros or eat tacos all the time. CAROLINA do I? PUGA MENDOZA Or, When I was growing up, I never thought much about how much I identified with being Mexican. At the time, I didn’t have to compare how Mexican I was to my classmates. But in recent years, I’ve tried to do what the world expects of me as a Mexican woman. Indiana is not a very diverse state. There are only 400,450 Hispanics out of a population of 6.5 million residents, according to the Indiana University journalism department. Because of this, the pool of people like me is small and insulated. Cheryl Crane, a sociology professor at Franklin College, said tight-knit communities
like this often facilitate stereotypes. “You are exposed to the same sort of messaging,” Crane said. “When it comes to smaller or marginalized populations, we reduce a whole population down to this stereotype.” In high school, I always tried my best to act like other Latinos because many of them had moved to the United States more recently than my family. From my perspective, that made them a more authentic kind of Latino. But as I tried to live up to my idea of what a Latina was, I forgot my actual preferences. “Mexicans like spicy,” is one of the most common sentences I hear, and I would always respond with something like, “Duh, I’m Mexican. I obviously can handle spicy.” Deep down, I knew I couldn’t. “When you personally don’t care for spicy food, but you feel like you are supposed to be fulfilling this expectation, it creates a lot of tension,” Crane said. “It creates
disharmony.” I want to be accepted, and I believe acting the way “I’m supposed to” will get me there. If people say Mexicans are loud, party too much or anything that resembles what a Mexican should be, then so be it. I don’t have the luxury to be who I really am because I’m torn between what I want and what I should want. I find myself constantly agreeing with the stereotypes even if they don’t truly reflect who I am. And if I dare to go against the stereotypes, I’m told that I’m weird or odd. Standing up to expectation often means people will question if I’m even Mexican, making me doubt who I am despite the fact I was born and raised in Mexico. Being Mexican is being me, but who am I? Though I’m still unsure about my identity, Crane knows the best place to start: “Recognizing that we are not stereotypes,” she said, “can be a very powerful first step.”
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TO DO | ANYONE IS AN ARTIST AT LOCAL STUDIO
Professor highlights vision, mission of the Franklin Department of Public Art The story of the Franklin Department of Public Art begins in Cincinnati, Ohio, where artist Gordon Strain flexed his ARIANA LOVITT creative muscles by crafting sculptures and painting murals in the city. In 2016, Strain relocated to Franklin and established a personal art studio. Initially created for Strain and his wife, Dianne Moneypenny, the studio later expanded into a brick building on 100 S. Jefferson St. The operation soon evolved to offer local studio space, classes, galleries and pop-up shops for local artists. Strain, who is also chair of the Franklin College theater department, said the primary mission of the Franklin Department of Public Art is to better support local businesses and artists with their creative pursuits. “What I love about art is what it can bring to a community,” Strain said. As an active participant in local art himself – he’s responsible for the Ben Franklin
mural at 351 E. Jefferson St., for example – he said he knows the power of creative expression on a personal level. However, the department faced opposition from the city of Franklin, with officials citing zoning restrictions for murals to restrict art installations in town. Fortunately, the dispute was cleared in July 2017, allowing Strain and his team to continue spreading murals and other artwork throughout the downtown area. “The city is currently trying to become a cultural arts district,” he said. “Our push for public art, I hope, has helped the government and the public realize that we can have great art around, and that can be a tourist attraction to the city.” Now, Strain is applying to receive a nonprofit designation for the department and shares space with Middle Davids Artisan Candles, another local business benefiting local artists. The Franklin Department of Public Art also offers internships to students who demonstrate an interest in public art. “We’ve never been in this for the profit,” Strain said. “We’ve always been in this to give money to artists.”
The Franklin Department of Public Art offers art classes to the local community. PEYTAN MILLS | PHOTO
The Franklin Department of Public Art also offers art classes, open to anyone who might want to learn something new. Over the summer, for example, the department will offer quilting classes. Strain stressed the importance in offering opportunities to the community through which they can build their artistic skills. “I’ve had countless people tell me all the time, ‘I’m not an artist,’ or ‘I can’t do this,’” he said. “I would argue that anyone is an artist. You just have to try it and see how it goes.”
BEYOND THE BEAT | EXPRESS YOURSELF
Individuals should foster open expression to overcome modern “cancel culture” Musicians have merged art and politics for decades. Artists such as Bob Dylan and Ray Charles, for KARA SIMON example, used their platforms to express civic engagement and to support social movements against the world’s injustices, such as war and racism. But when musicians show their explicit support or outrage toward political topics today, they are often viewed as risky. Our generation’s tendency to support a “cancel culture” doesn’t help, either, as artists can lose their reputation to a single unpopular perspective. As outlined by The New York Times in a 2018 article, “cancel culture” is the tendency to shun celebrities or concepts for negative behavior or even one mistake. Sometimes, the article explains, a cancellation comes from the masses, such as when rap artist
Kanye West supported President Donald Trump and labeled slavery as a choice. “But not all cancellations are the result of transgressing fans’ expectations,” the article continues. “Sometimes they happen for no stated reason.”
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Part of creating the best future for our country and for individual lives involves practicing our freedom of expression. COLUMNIST KARA SIMON
How did we get here? The rise of social media as a platform by which anyone can express and denounce beliefs in a public forum is a catalyst for mob mentalities that can end careers. Even so, younger artists continue to find ways to vocalize polarizing beliefs. Janelle Monae, for example, has made activism a main focus of much of her career, composing pieces to express her support for women’s rights, voting and the LGBTQ
community. And Jared Leath, a local musician in the Indianapolis area, may have a small following, but he is still working to use his art to promote political messages. “If you have the ability to share something you are passionate about, whether that be through music or some other form of expression, you should take that opportunity,” Leath said. “If you know people will listen, then go for it.” Part of creating the best future for our country and for individual lives involves practicing our freedom of expression. Democracy depends on people willing to develop and implement policy to the benefit of all citizens, and music plays a leading role in the early stages of that process. As we grow older and settle into our careers, we are bound to interact with people with different opinions. Rather than “cancelling” them, we should listen to each other with civility and appreciation.
SPORTS
MEN’S GOLF ENTERS HCAC CHAMPIONSHIP Coach, players reflect on season, prepare for conference HOPE SHRUM | STORY hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu
The Franklin College men’s golf regular season has come to an end, and the team is looking to finish out the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships on a high note. The Grizzlies travelled to the University Club of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 27 and 28 for the first two rounds of the conference championship. They finished No. 5 out of 10 at the end of day one, but advanced to fourth place on the second day of the competition. Before the conference championships started, senior Jacob Hash said the team needed to start off on a good note. “We can’t win on the first day, but we can lose it,” Hash said. Looking forward to conference, head men’s golf coach Curt Holcroft said the team has come a long way. “We were trying to find the right stride, and then we found it,” Holcroft said. “We’ve developed into a really solid golf team.” Going into the conference championships, the Grizzlies were seeded second. Holcroft said this is one of the most tight-grouped conference tournaments they’ve been a part
of in several years. “It’s anybody’s ball game if we can all chase [Transylvania] down,” Holcroft said. Although conference is the biggest tournament of the year, the players don’t do anything different when it comes to preparing. Junior Jackson Williams said he is trying to stay relaxed before the tournament. “Sticking to the same routine has been key for me,” Williams said. “Prepare like it’s any other tournament.” Hash agreed with Williams and said the team started preparing early by setting goals at the beginning of the season. “The first couple of weeks we spent a lot of time in the classroom, just kind of going over our goals and what we need to do to achieve those goals,” Hash said. “Our last, and our main, goal is to go to conference and perform well.” While the team has remained in the middle of the pack for the majority of their tournaments, they had a couple of strong finishes this season, too – one of these being the inaugural Battle at Belterra in Florence, Indiana, April 6 and 7. The team finished in first place, with
Williams snagging the individual win. Holcroft said winning the Battle at Belterra and getting additional strong scores has boosted the players’ confidence. Williams is the No. 1 golfer on the men’s team, but that’s not what matters to him. It’s all about the team in his eyes. “Individually, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t win as a team,” Williams said. “It’s not as fun if you don’t win as a team.” The Grizzlies will advance to rounds three and four on Saturday and Sunday at Anderson Country Club in Anderson, Indiana.
Going into the final two rounds of conference: Jackson Willliams, junior, is tied for No. 11. Jacob Hash, senior, is No. 14. Robert Turner, sophomore, is tied for No. 15.
NEW COACH, YOUNG TEAM HOLD THEIR OWN Men’s tennis team enters conference tournament as underdog TAYLOR WOOTEN | STORY taylor.wooten@franklincollege.edu
The Franklin College men’s tennis season is winding down as the conference tournament approaches. The Grizzlies wrapped up their regular season in a 9-0 loss against Earlham College April 27. Although the last game of the regular season did not end well for the team, players have higher hopes for their first round against Transylvania University in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championship tournament. Led by new head coach and Franklin College alum Justin Moran, the team is fairly young with only one senior, Dean Elrod. Moran replaced former head coach Rusty Hughes, who retired from the men’s head coach position in 2018. “My favorite part of tennis is the competition aspect,” Moran said. “I love the sport so much and wanted to be a part of it after
graduating in 2011.” The players had no issues adjusting to a new coach because they got to know Moran through his time as an assistant coach. “The transition wasn’t difficult because he played tennis here at Franklin and knows the culture we have,” Elrod said. “Rusty is still a huge part of the program ... but Justin is fully capable of fulfilling the shoes as Rusty has stepped back.” The season was highlighted by a fivematch win streak in the fall when Franklin defeated Alma College, Mount St. Joseph University, Defiance College, Manchester University and Anderson University. “In terms of the whole season, I am very impressed with how we have played as a team, and every player battling in their matches, even if we are expected to lose,” junior Josh Stewart said.
The team currently holds a 7-10 record and is 4-4 in the HCAC. The team has been boosted by the unexpected talent of its doubles teams. “In my opinion, the most unexpected thing about this season is how competitive our doubles lineup is,” Stewart said. “Coming into the season, I did not expect many wins or close matches from our doubles lineup, but we actually are exceeding my expectations, no matter what lineup choice we choose.” The continuation of their season is hanging on the hope of an upset at the opening round against Transylvania, set for Friday, May 3 at 4 p.m. Franklin is ranked No. 5 in the tournament, and Transylvania is ranked No. 4. The tournament is set to take place at West Indy Racquet Club in Indianapolis.
TOP LEFT Junior Quenton Wellington runs to first base after hitting the ball. The Grizzlies won 19-7 against Bluffton University. BOTTOM LEFT Freshman Karlee Welding dribbles the ball past the opposing defense during a game Nov. 11, 2018. BOTTOM MIDDLE Senior Taylor Bounin sets up to receive a ground ball from a teammate during warm-up. TOP MIDDLE Senior Will Combs dives during the swimming and diving meet Nov. 18, 2018 at Franklin Community High School. TOP RIGHT Freshman Colin York shoots a three-pointer during a game Nov. 11, 2018. MIDDLE Sophomore Haley Ash looks to pass the ball up the field. The Grizzlies won their first game of the season April 17 against Thomas More University BOTTOM RIGHT Sophomore Charlie Hill competes in the breast stroke during a meet Nov. 18, 2018.
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS These photos are from some of the winter and spring season sports. DESIGN I QUINN FITZGERALD PHOTOS I QUINN FITZGERALD + DANIELLE NUCKOLS
LAST LOOK
JUSTIN WHEATLEY + GRANT SCHRACK, SENIORS Wheatley and Schrack, interns for United Health, sell baked goods in the atrium of the Napolitan Student Center. “The money goes to Independence Park for new playground equipment,” Schrack said.
QUINN FITZGERALD I COVER PHOTO DANIELLE NUCKOLS I BACK PHOTO