The Franklin: Feb. 13, 2015

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Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 • TheFranklinNews.com

Franklin College announces next president, focused on alumni relations, branding

By Ashley Shuler

ashley.shuler@franklincollege.edu

Thomas Minar, who was announced as Franklin College’s 16th president on Jan. 23, said he plans to focus his presidency on alumni relations and branding the college.

“I want our students to have a traditional liberal arts education,” Minar said. “But I also want them to maximize outside engaged learning opportunities through alumni.”

Minar said successful institutions maximize alumni relations.

“Alumni provide internships and jobs,” he said. “But they also educate in more casual ways, like short-term experiences and conversations. I want our alumni to reach back with open arms to students to maximize outside student opportunity.”

Minar said taking a look at how the college connects with alumni through social media and alumni events will help build this relationship.

The president-elect said he wants Franklin College’s new brand to come from a strategic planning process that involves the community.

“Branding is figuring out how we talk about Franklin College,” Minar said. “There needs to be a brand understanding that invites students in.”

Minar has nearly 30 years of leadership experience in total including strategic planning, alumni engagement, fund development, student

recruitment and faculty collaboration.

He was chosen as Franklin’s president-elect after four months of searching.

Jim Due, presidential search committee chair and a board member of the college, said Minar “clearly stood out” in the selection process.

“We are confident that Dr. Minar is well prepared to lead Franklin College with foresight and finesse into the complex future facing all of higher education,” said Christi Fields, Board of Ttrustees chair.

Minar’s speech on Jan. 23 focused on the future of the college, saying he hopes to help others see “what distinguishes Franklin College” and work with alumni to create a “deeper sense of life-long engagement.”

“It’s interesting to me to hear what he said today,” said Jay Moseley, current president, after the announcement. “Thirteen years ago, when I was inaugurated here, the theme was the spirit of the liberal arts. And that’s what he was talking about, too.”

Since 2008, Minar has worked as vice president of development and alumni relations at American University in Washington, D.C. He previously was vice president for institutional advancement at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, vice See “New president” on page 6

Caitlin Soard: The Franklin

Thomas Minar, president-elect of Franklin College, speaks at a press conference on Jan. 23. Minar officially will begin his position July 1 but said he will come to Franklin beforehand to move and become acquainted.

“Branding is figuring out how we talk about Franklin College. There needs to be a brand understanding that invites students in.”

Thomas Minar,

president-elect of Franklin College

Go to TheFranklinNews.com to see a video clip of our interview with Minar.

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Ellie Price: The Franklin

Despite claims from Food Service Director Les Petroff that he displays nearly all submitted comment cards, students argue that the comments posted in Sodexo do not accurately represent the students’ opinions regarding the company.

Sodexo Behind the Glass: Comment Cards

By Ellie Price

ellen.price@franklincollege.edu

Although some students feel like Sodexo displays only positive submitted comments, Les Petroff, food service director, said he displays nearly all the cards he receives on the feedback board in the dining hall.

Petroff said he hangs up the comment cards that do not target specific employees or use profanity.

But freshman Kassy Smith said she believes otherwise.

“They only put the comment cards with good things up,” she said. “They never put anything slightly bad up.”

Comments range from cleanliness complaints to appreciation for new meal options.

Students Speak

Petroff said he addresses concerns with the day and night crews after he receives negative or constructive comments.

For example, when students complain about dirty bowls or silverware, Petroff said he tells the crews to make sure to check the cereal bowls and silverware before they stack them or put them in cups.

If a comment card addresses a specific employee, Petroff said he will not repost it. He said he instead talks to the employee individually, instead of embarrassing him or her.

Students can leave comments on blank cards in the serving area. While some students turn in completed

“I’ve filled out multiple comment cards and I’ve received no feedback. Nothing that I’ve commented about has seemed to be changed.”

Nate Bryan, senior

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“I left a positive comment.

One of the meals they had I really liked. They said they appreciated my comment and they will try to have that meal more often. But I don’t think we’ve had it since.”

cards in the blank card container, Petroff asks students to leave completed cards in one of the three frames.

Petroff gathers the completed cards.

He said he then either responds on the actual cards and displays them on the board or emails students his response, as long as they left contact information on their comment card.

“If they have a complaint, I’ll try to respond within 24 hours, especially if it’s one I don’t hang back up,” Petroff said. “But less than 50 percent of cards have a name.”

Petroff estimated that he receives two or three comment cards per week. But he said he receives most of the feedback from talking to stu-

“I write comments for things people say that need to be changed. I feel like I actually have a say in what we eat.”

dents in person or by receiving email responses when he notifies students about Late Night on Thursdays.

Mary Harvey, director of operations, said students also can submit feedback on the customer service page of the Franklin College Dining Services website.

“We need feedback,” Petroff said.

“We need the positive. We need the negative. We need suggestions.

We’re trying to be open to new ideas and present new food items. Not everybody’s going to like it, but when we’re feeding 800, I want to make sure we hit all the areas.”

Sodexo Behind the Scenes examines an issue in the cafeteria.

Have an idea for an upcoming story?

Email thefranklin@franklincollege.edu.

Jess Ayers, senior

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FC graduate finalist, not winner, in Super Bowl commercial competition

By Ellie Price

ellen.price@franklincollege.edu

Even with support from the Franklin College community, Travis Braun, an FC alumnus, did not receive enough votes for his Doritos commercial to air during the Super Bowl.

Braun, who graduated from Franklin College in 2010 with a journalism degree, created a commercial called “Baby’s First Word” for Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl” contest.

Selected from nearly 4,900 submissions, “Baby’s First Word” was one of 10 finalist ads that competed for $1 million, a job at Universal Pictures and Super Bowl XLIX airtime.

Braun said he felt like he had already won before the competition ended due to the support he received on campus. The college even sent Franklin College t-shirts to the baby in his commercial.

“I feel like the luckiest guy in the world,” Braun said. “What did I do to get all of this support?”

This was Braun’s third year entering Doritos’ Super Bowl ad contest. He didn’t make the semi-finals or finals his first two years.

“When you enter a contest, you cross your fingers,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, you don’t hear anything back. But this was one of those exceptions.”

Doritos aired two ads during the Super Bowl broadcast – one chosen from online votes, the other decided by Doritos. The creator of “Middle Seat,” the ad with the most votes won the top cash prize and an opportunity to work as a contractor at Universal Pictures in Hollywood, California, for one year.

The runner-up whose ad aired, but did not receive the most fan votes, won $50,000. The eight finalists whose commercials didn’t air during the broadcast won $25,000 each.

Doritos invited the 10 finalists to the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 to

watch the game and winning commercials from a private suite.

The morning of the game, the finalists listened to former professional football players Archie Manning and Joe Montana and current Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning discuss their picks for the Super Bowl game.

As the finalists watched the game from a private suite in the stadium, NBC let them know when a Doritos contest commercial was about to air.

Braun said his heart was racing while he was waiting. He just wanted the ads to air so the anticipation would end, he said.

“It was unfortunate that our ad didn’t air,” Braun said. “But you can’t be too disappointed when the level of competition is that good.”

Because of Doritos’ contest rules, Braun does not know where Doritos ranked his commercial among the other finalist ads, or how many votes his commercial received.

“Baby’s First Word” shows the struggles parents face as they wait for their child’s first word. Instead of saying “Daddy,” the baby in Braun’s commercial says “Doritos.”

Braun said his commercial is personal to him because his parents were not sure what his first word was.

“I’m left to wonder what amazing thing I might have said first,” Braun said. “That’s the premise behind this commercial. I can only hope my first word was as cool as baby Landon’s.”

While Braun uses humor in his commercial, Ray Begovich, professor of journalism, said he appreciated the commercial’s simplicity.

Begovich said Doritos is a product individuals buy on impulse in grocery stories based on brand recognition. Braun’s commercial is memorable, yet simple, he said.

Photo provided by Doritos

Franklin College alumnus Travis Braun’s commercial “Baby’s First Word” was chosen as one of 10 finalists in the Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl” contest. Braun did not win the competition but received $25,000 and a trip to the Super Bowl.

“He associates the physical product – that bag of chips – with family fun and good times,” Begovich said. “It’s a fun product. It’s a social product. It’s a product you use.”

Braun created his commercial using $350 he received from his sister-inlaw. He used that money to bring on a director of photography and casting director and to pay for batteries and meals at California Pizza Kitchen.

“It’s crazy to think that you spend $350 and a few months later, you’re in contention to win $1 million,” Braun said.

The winning commercials – “Middle Seat” and “When Pigs Fly” – operated on budgets of $2,000 and $1,200 respectively.

With more than 40 individuals involved in the production of Braun’s ad, ranging from make-up to editing, and many working without pay, Braun said it would have meant so much to him to have their work aired during the Super Bowl and to be able to give them some of his prize money.

“I’m working my butt off to give those guys the recognition they deserve,” Braun said.

After graduating from Franklin College in 2010, Braun moved to Hollywood, California, to work as a writer for “Criminal Minds.”

He credits getting to learn from the show’s talented screenwriters as a springboard for his career.

He later wrote a pilot for Nickelodeon in the company’s talent devel-

opment writing program and now works as a writer at DreamWorks.

Professors asked Braun to meet with students when he returned to campus in November. He said he felt intimidated, as he had just recently graduated from Franklin. But he decided to speak about why students shouldn’t be afraid to pursue their dreams.

“I never thought I’d be living in Los Angeles and having the successes I’ve had,” Braun said. “I attribute all of it to not being afraid to put myself out there and to be fearless with what I want to do in this world.”

Begovich taught Braun in one of his classes at Franklin College and asked Braun to speak with his students.

He said Braun has “creative toughness” – a quality that allows him to develop and execute strong ideas.

“He has the ability not just to come up with a creative spark of an idea,” Begovich said. “But he also has the toughness to see that idea through the finished product with revisions and tweaking.”

Before entering Doritos’ ad contest, Braun did not have experience writing commercials. But since then, Virgin America has hired Braun and his director to shoot and produce a commercial.

“This process has opened a lot of opportunities for both the director and me,” Braun said. “We’re excited for where these opportunities lead us.”

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news Winter Term experiences take students across the globe

By Leigh Durphey

leigh.durphey@franklincollege.edu

One Franklin College student used his month of January to see his family for the first time in almost two years.

Sophomore Sunday Okello is one of about 1.8 million people who were displaced in the war in northern Uganda. Joseph Kony led a rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army through Okello’s home, which separated families and sent many to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, which are crowded and have a lack of sufficient medical care, food or water.

After seeing the documentary Okello starred in to raise awareness of Invisible Children like Okello, Franklin College students wanted to meet him as part of their winter term trip to Uganda in 2011.

While visiting with Okello and learning more about his story, Doug Grant, service learning coordinator for the college, and many other faculty members helped Okello apply for admission to the college. This included applying for passports, setting up an English proficiency test, applying for scholarships and examining Okello’s high school grades.

Okello now attends Franklin College, but due to financial conflicts and difficulty, he does not have the ability to see his family in Uganda as often as he’d like. This Winter Term, however, Okello flew to his hometown of Atanga, Uganda, and spent time with his siblings and grandparents.

“I kind of felt blessed that I was able to spend time with them,” Okello said. “It’s something that is really refreshing, because I was really homesick before going home.”

After not being home for almost two years, Okello said that many changes had been made to the town where he was raised.

“Things changed within two years,” Okello said. “Almost everything was different. Where I was living they didn’t have electricity.

They didn’t have paved roads. And right now they have electricity, and they’re paving the roads, and a lot of construction is going on.”

Witnessing these changes and spending time with his family after his absence brought Okello joy, but it also made him long for more time with them.

Photo submitted by Dylan Reyher

Photo submitted by Taylor Carlton

England/Ireland

Franklin College athletic training students had the opportunity to travel to England and Ireland during their January term.

Sophomore Dylan Reyher said that he took this Winter Term course in order to expand his knowledge of athletic training and broaden his perspective of his major field.

By gaining this experience studying their interests on another cultural level, students involved in this program can use the knowledge gained from this trip in their future careers in the athletic training field.

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France

Two different classes took Winter Term trips to France this January in order to experience the French culture in a personal way.

Senior Taylor Carlton took the class focusing on comparing French and American cultures and analyzing the experience.

“One of the main things I was able to take away from it was a sense of confidence within a new space and being able to overcome language barriers or transportation barriers,” said Carlton, who spoke little French before the trip.

“It was important just being comfortable in a foreign country.”

“I wish I could go home every year like that, but it’s not easy that way,” Okello said. “It was kind of like home, but I’m going away again. I felt like I wasn’t ready to come back.”

A Franklin College class visited Uganda for their Winter Term experience, and Okello was able to take Photo submitted by Keri Ellington time away from his family to meet Students from the Uganda Winter Term class visit with Franklin College student Sunday Okello and his friends. Okello returned to his home in Uganda for the with the class first time in two years. and show them around Atanga. was able to spend with his famOkello said he took the class shopily in a very short time. ping to show the differences between “I just got to spend time with markets in the United States and them,” Okello said. “I didn’t do so Uganda. Many of the Ugandan mermuch because I haven’t been with chants sell crafts and other trinkets them for quite a long time, so the as their only source of income. best thing I could do was spend Above everything else, Okelmore and more time with them.” lo said he valued the time he To read the rest of these stories, visit TheFranklinNews.com.

Guatemala

Photo submitted by Sarah Ramon

Another Winter Term experience took students to Guatemala in order to learn more about the Fair Trade process for citizens of the country.

Sophomore Sarah Ramon traveled with several of her peers to get a first-hand experience of how farmers and merchants survive because of the fair trade arrangement.

Ramon said the experience was one that “you just can’t explain.”

Being immersed into the culture so quickly and powerfully caused great culture shock, but the experience was one that helped her expand her foreign language skills.

Uganda

Photo submitted by Brandy Ramaj

A class focus on servant leadership in not-for profit organizations took students in a winter term class to travel to Uganda in January.

By placing emphasis on the experimental learning cycle, students such as senior Brandy Ramaj were able to fully immerse themselves into their education regarding servant leaders and reflect on their own personal attributes.

“Experiencing is a higher form of learning,” Ramaj said. “Experiences stay with you and in some cases affect the heart, which remembers more than the brain ever could.”

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Obama’s proposal to reduce college costs for students

By Caitlin Soard

caitlin.soard@franklincollege.edu

President Barack Obama hosted a town hall at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis last Friday that focused around a new plan to help students get their educations at a lower price.

Sophomore Hannah Tanksley said the President’s plan shorts students who have already paid money for school.

“Students attending four-year colleges are already paying more money due to financial aid,” she said.

“And now there’s an even further gap.”

Obama’s plan is to make two years of community college free for students who maintain a 2.5 GPA. “There’s no such thing as a completely free lunch,” he said. “We Alec Gray: The Statehouse File want to reward people President Barack Obama’s Feb. 6 town hall at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis location addressed his new plan to make two years of community college free for students “who are making an effort.” who are making This plan will allow all students who maintain a 2.5 GPA to earn an associate degrees at no cost to them. an effort.”

The plan doesn’t just aim to with a GPA at or above 2.5, not just Obama said this program wasn’t things they already learned how make college more cost effecstudents needing financial aid. the only thing that needed to change to do while they were serving. tive. The President wants to inWhen asked if this would make in order to help students succeed in The President ended the town crease graduation rates and work the value of an associate’s degree higher education: State legislators hall by saying his priorities for his with companies to help students go down, Obama said, “Absolutewould need to be aware of rising last two years in office were, “to find apprenticeships and jobs afly not. ... Don’t think paying more college costs when allocating money make sure that the American peoter completing their degrees. is better. Paying less is better.” to state institutions. The President ple’s income and wages are going “We’re not just working to make Students planning on getting an said a big reason why college tuiup,” because the stock market and community colleges free; we’re associate degree will be able to do so tion has raised so much is to cover businesses have been doing well. working to make our community for free and can continue on to get inflation that state funding did not. colleges more effective,” Obama said. a bachelor’s degree if they choose Schools also need to be more upJunior Conner McNeely said a colto do so. Obama said a student front with students about what lege education is becoming as neceswithout a lot of financial resources college actually costs, Obama said. sary as a high school diploma, and could get some of their schooling The new program, according the President’s plan to help students done for free, and then go on to a to the President, will not affect get that education is a good one. university such as Notre Dame or the 529 accounts that are cur“Making college affordable for Indiana University if they choose. rently being used to save for fueveryone is a necessity,” McNeely Ivy Tech is planning on making it ture college student’s tuition. said. “And making community even easier for students to get more Obama said another goal with the college free for those that are secredits by implementing more proprogram is to work with community rious and willing to work hard is grams that allow high school students colleges to help veterans who may the first step in the direction we to earn some college credit before already have some skills get their need to be headed as a nation.” they graduate, cutting down on the degrees quicker and more efficientThe plan for free community colamount of time they would need ly, rather than retaking classes in lege would be for every student to spend at a community college.

Conner McNeely, junior

“Making college affordable for everyone is a necessity, and making community college free for those that are serious and willing to work hard is the first step in the direction we need to be heading as a nation.”

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>> New president

George Chandler 184 3 – 184 9

Continued from page 1

president for development and external affairs at Chicago Theological Seminary, director of development for the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and associate dean for external affairs and chief development officer for the University of Illinois College of Commerce and Business Administration.

Early in his career, he taught political science and management strategy as a professor at Northwestern University.

Minar received his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, where he is a past alumni association president. He received both his master’s and his Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern.

He is married to Dr. Frank S. Becker, an academic physician at Northwestern University and director of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.

American University President, Cornelius M. Kerwin, was present for the announcement.

“Tom has been a transformative leader for American University,” Kerwin said in a statement. “I am very sorry to lose this exceptional colleague and good friend but happy that Tom is moving to a position that will benefit greatly from his commitment and talent.”

Minar will replace Moseley, who has been president since 2002, at the end of this school year. Moseley announced his retirement in May 2014.

“My overriding goal (for my last semester) is to do what I can to help the college and its new president meet each other and come together,” Moseley said.

Minar officially will begin his position July 1 but said he will come to Franklin frequently beforehand to move and become acquainted.

“I have a lot to learn about Franklin College,” Minar said. “I want to get to know the college by getting to know the people.”

William Gear Spencer 1933 – 1947

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Caitlin Soard: The Franklin

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James Moseley 20 02 – 2015

Charles Elmer Goodell 1917 – 19 2 6

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Paul B. Marion 1997 – 2002

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Elijah Andrew Hanley 1911 – 1917

College Presidents

William Bryan Martin 1983 – 1997

J an. 3 , 1983

Elmer Burritt Bryan 19 0 5 – 19 0 9

William Taylor Scott 187 2 – 19 0 5

4

John Logan (interim)

1976 – D ec. 31, 1982

Heman Wayland 187 0 – 187 2

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Edwin Allen Penn

Wesley Haines 1965 – 1975

Harold Richardson 1949 – 1964

2 Silas Bailey 18 5 2 – 18 6 2

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Homer Price Rainey 19 27 – 19 31

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Information and photos from Franklin College Archives, design by Kiley Lipps

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opinion

editorial Emily Metheny

Photographer raises funds for scholars

If you want your faith restored in humanity, I would highly recommend following and liking Humans of New York on Facebook.

Seriously. Do it.

In case you haven’t seen any of his very sharable photos and stories, photographer Brandon Stanton snaps portraits of strangers in New York City and asks them questions that can be as simple as “How’s the day going?” to “Who inspires you the most?” The latter question is what launched HONY’s recent newsworthiness.

On Jan. 19, Stanton took Vidal Chastanet’s photo in Brooklyn and asked him who influenced him the most. Ms. Lopez, the principal from Mott Bridges Academy, was the scholar’s answer. (The academy refers to its students as “scholars.”)

From there, the story spread on social media like wildfire until Stanton ended up doing a photo series with the teachers and students of the school, including Ms. Lopez.

Because the HONY community wanted to rally around the school, Stanton and Lopez started an Indiegogo campaign to create a fund to take sixth graders on a visit to Harvard every year. The original goal was $700,000, but followers of HONY responded by raising $1.25 million during the entire campaign. Every dollar earned after $700,000 goes towards a scholarship fund for the scholars.

To see all of the photos from that series and read more about the impact that one young man made on his community, check out Stanton’s blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr. You won’t regret liking and following.

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Creating good habits early in the semester increase chances for personal success Getting back into the swing of things after a school break is not always easy, but how much effort you put toward your education when you return to classes can set the tone for the rest of the semester.

Most students did something during Winter Term, whether it was on campus or not. But even if you took a class, your schedule was much different than that of a typical semester. You probably had one class a few times a week and way more free time than you knew what to do with. Other students spent time studying abroad, working, or doing an internship. A few of you may have just chilled at home, and there’s no shame in that. But how do you get back into full-semester mode after taking a month-long “break?” (If you can even call it that.)

Though it takes substantial effort and drive, starting off the semester strong is the best way to ensure that the rest of your semester will follow suit. Think of it like a basketball game or a choral concert: The amount of energy you start out with almost always dictates your performance for the rest of the event.

This shouldn’t be news to most; after all, we have been starting new semesters after a Christmas break since elementary school. But it counts now, in college, more than ever.

Starting out with good habits makes you more likely to continue with them. If, for example, you have the dreaded 8 a.m. Monday class, go to bed and get up early. It sounds horrible; it really does. But think of how productive you can be if you get into the habit of getting up early every day with adequate sleep.

After a while, it wouldn’t even seem

like that disgusting of a thought.

Getting up and moving earlier can help you be more awake and alert during the day, and few things are better than not being tired in class.

It doesn’t have to stop there. Start writing down assignments in a planner or write your daily schedule on your mirror in dry-erase marker.

Do your homework early. The possibilities for success are endless.

Something else to consider, especially with this cold and dreary winter weather, is staying healthy. There are few worse ways to start off a semester than being sick. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll feel miserable, which will make you unlikely to be motivated to do more than nap for as long as possible. Just drinking water or washing your hands more frequently can be substantial changes you make in attempt to stay healthy. And if you are feeling super ambitious, you can create an exercise routine, eat more fruits and vegetables or start going to yoga. Figure out what works best for you and your schedule without causing you too much stress.

On the flip side, the earlier you create bad habits, the more likely they are to become your norm, too.

Sleeping in late, procrastinating on homework or other responsibilities and eating a lot of junk food are good ways to make sure your semester isn’t as smooth as you’d probably like it to be.

To be fair, there’s no one standard for what qualifies as “real” effort or success, and everyone has to figure out a personal definition. But the fact remains that you should have some kind of a plan,

Our Position:

The Franklin editorial board believes Franklin College students should make an effort to be productive early on in the spring semester.

either physically or mentally, that will help you have a successful semester by your own standards.

And, yes, there are always the outliers who manage to scrape by just fine with minimal effort. But it’s better not to expect to be an outlier, because it’s more likely that you’ll just end up exhausted and overtaken by homework. No one’s stopping you from taking that risk, of course, but it’s on you. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Students of Franklin College, there is still time to establish good habits. Make use of this opportunity to get on the right track to meet your idea of a successful semester.

The editorial board represents the opinion of The Franklin and its staff members. The board meets once a week to discuss pressing issues relevant to Franklin College students.

Meetings are moderated by Ann Gilly, the opinion editor.

Board members are senior Emily Metheny and juniors Caitlin Soard and Gabrielle Sully. Ellie Price, the executive editor, sits on the editorial board. If you have an issue you would like the editorial board to consider, please feel free to email Ann Gilly at ann.gilly@franklincollege.edu.

opinion

Gabrielle Sully

‘American Sniper’ muddles fact and fiction

write for

It seems most people want to tattoo a flag on their rear end after watching “American Sniper,” but I am calling it: This movie is as farfetched as it gets.

“American Sniper” is set to reach $360 million, according to boxoffice. com analysts. The popular movie shows the story of the late “American Hero” Chris Kyle, a sniper in the Navy SEALs. Clint Eastwood directed the film beautifully.

I have no problem with the scenes depicting gruesome warfare. I have a problem with the validity of saying it’s “based on a true story.”

The majority of people on social media have blindly accepted this movie as a documentary of actual accounts. They have also shown their support of Kyle passionately.

The movie is based on Kyle’s autobiography, which I read when it came out. It is a book that got him into lawsuits for defamation before his tragic death. Much of Kyle’s book was proven untrue.

In his autobiography, Kyle says he killed two carjackers in Texas, sniped looters during Hurricane Katrina,

punched Jesse Ventura in the face and found weapons of mass destruction from France and Germany in Iraq. All of these claims were lies, according to multiple sources. The Kyle family also stated that all proceeds from the book went to helping veterans. In reality, only about 2 percent has been donated, according to the National Review Online.

The film depicts Kyle as a southern gentleman who wants to protect his country because he believes it is the greatest country on Earth. It tells of his struggle with killing people across enemy lines and follows his feud with an enemy sniper named Mustafa. But none of it is true.

In his book, Kyle uses a multitude of racial slurs and derogatory terms to describe the people he fought against. He spoke of his love for killing and how he would do it again in a heartbeat if it weren’t for his family obligations. Kyle protected our country, yes. However, he showed no remorse or internal conflict about his duties abroad as the movie depicts.

As for the enemy sniper, Mustafa, he is real. Kyle did not kill him. This part was not Kyle’s lie, it was Hollywood’s. Kyle devoted a single paragraph in his book to this entity of the film: “From the reports we heard, Mustafa was an Olympics marksman who was using his skills against Americans and Iraqi police and soldiers.

Several videos had been made and posted, boasting of his ability. I never saw him, but other snipers later killed an Iraqi sniper we think was him.”

After all these lies, how much of this was based on a true story?

A name and profession? If Kyle is really considered an “American hero” by the public, what does that say about our nation? Personally, I don’t consider someone who has been proven a consistent liar and who speaks with such malice toward a whole race of people a hero.

The film was directed beautifully and it truly is a great story, but it isn’t true. I like the movie, but I detest the misrepresentation of truth.

the

franklin Reporters and columnists needed. No journalism experience necessary!

Email Ellie Price, executive editor, at ellen.price@franklincollege.edu.

franklin Issue 13, Volume 111

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.

Ellie Price Executive Editor Ann Gilly Opinion Editor Caitlin Soard News Editor

Ben Brown Sports Editor Leigh Durphey Copy Chief Kiley Lipps Photo Editor

Ashley Shuler Web Editor Jay Siskin Sports Web Editor Morgan Whitaker Ads Manager

Lesley Weidenbener Adviser John Krull Publisher

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sports

Seth Morin

The Final Lap... Maybe The date was Nov. 15, 1992. I was just four months old. Alan Kulwicki was the champion of the NASCAR world. Richard Petty, “The King” of NASCAR, competed in his final race, which was also Jeff Gordon’s first.

Now, fast-forward nearly 23 years. This year marks the end of a major part in both Gordon’s life and mine. He will retire from full-time racing at the end of this NASCAR season in November, and my swimming career might have already come to an end by the time you are reading this.

Hopefully not, as swimming nationals are coming up in March.

Either way, this year and beyond will mark the beginning of new journeys for us both.

He will continue to race every now and then, but focus mainly on raising his two kids, partaking in other business ventures and continuing the fight against pediatric cancer through his own foundation.

I, on the other hand, will be stepping out into the unknown, along with all of my fellow seniors.

It will be weird not having to go to school. It will be weird not having to jump into a pool at 6 a.m. It will be weird not seeing my teammates, friends and classmates that I have had the pleasure of getting to know these past four years.

But no matter how weird it will be, I am looking forward to what the rest of my life has to offer, just like Gordon is looking forward to his.

I think Gordon’s stepfather, John Bickford, put the moment into perspective when he said, “I don’t know how you smile and be sad at the same time.”

Well, John, we’re about to find out.

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TheFranklinNews.com

Zoie Richey: The Franklin

The Franklin men and women’s swimming and diving teams prepare for the Liberal Arts Championships that kicked off Thursday. The championships will conclude on Saturday.

Men’s swimming and diving team tries to defend championship title

By Ben Brown

benjamin.brown@franklincollege.edu

Instead of letting last season’s high finishes psyche them out, Head Coach Andrew Hendricks believes the success does not put any additional pressure on the swimming and diving team.

Last year’s Liberal Arts Championship ended with a first place finish for the men’s team. The women’s side also had a strong showing, finishing second.

“On the contrary, I think it supports the pride, passion and perseverance we have as a team,” Hendricks said.

“We welcome the challenges. We search for the challenges because those challenges make us better.”

Going into the four-day competition, the men’s side held a national ranking. Hendricks said the women’s team is 23-1 in dual meets over the past two seasons.

“We want to defend our championship from last season,” Hendricks said. “We hope to break all of our school records over the

four-day competition and go after the combined team title as well.”

Hendricks’ confidence comes from his schedule. Hendricks said he designs the schedule in order to prepare the team for multi-day events. Doing so also prepares the team both mentally and physically.

Hendricks said this meet will also be very bittersweet for him.

With swimming and diving being such a young program, the senior group on the team makes up the first recruiting class for Hendricks.

Hendricks said he is also always excited to see how the freshmen perform after going through their first college season.

Last season Franklin had a total of 18 members earn All-Liberal Arts Championships honors in the meet.

On the men’s side, there were 10 different winners, and the women’s side had eight. The swimmer of the meet was Franklin College junior

Artur Schneider. Hendricks won Coach of the Year for the second time.

“My parting words in our final team meeting reiterated the importance of soaking up these little moments in life, for they are finite moments,” Hendricks said. “Their duty is to make them infinitely unforgettable.”

The 2015 Liberal Arts Championship takes place Feb. 12 through Feb. 14 in Coe, Iowa.

“We want to defend our championship from last season We hope to break all of our school records over the fourday competition and go after the team title as well.”

Head Swimming and Diving Coach, Andrew Hendricks

sports Weekly Recap Feb. 7 Men’s Basketball Franklin vs. Bluffton L, 76-64

Women’s Basketball

Franklin vs. Bluffton L, 67-61

Feb. 11 Men’s Basketball Franklin vs. Transylvania L, 78-71

Women’s Basketball

Franklin vs. Transylvania L, 74-59

Kiley Lipps: The Franklin

The men’s basketball team hopes to end its losing season on a high note with three games left to play. The team’s next game will be Saturday against Earlham College.

Men’s basketball team hopes to make conference tournament

By Ben Brown

benjamin.brown@franklincollege.edu

The Franklin College men’s basketball team started this season with a losing streak. The team lost its first nine games before finally picking up a victory.

The team currently sits 5-16 on the season and 4-10 in conference play with a total of three games left to play.

The team has one junior on the team and the rest is composed of freshmen and sophomores.

Sophomore Robbie Prather chalks up part of the team’s troubles to be because it’s such a young team.

“Our youth and inexperience has caused us to be inconsistent at times through out the season,” Prather said. “As the season has progressed, us underclassmen are really starting to grow into our roles and the upperclassmen have proven to be experienced and reliable players and leaders.”

Despite the rocky season, Prather said the team is looking to close this season as strong as possible.

“This stretch will be a great and valuable challenge for all of us as we work our way into conference tournament contention,” Prather said.

As of now, the team sits in eighth place in the conference standings.

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship consists of the top six teams of the conference. Last season Franklin was able to grab the sixth and final seed in the championship.

They finished conference play with a 7-11 record overall. The team did not make it past the first round after losing to rival Hanover College.

By winning the remainder of its games, the team would also finish with a 7-11 record. Prather said they had a shot at making the tournament.

“Once the conference tournament comes around, it’s a completely new season with an empty slate,” Prather said. “We’re looking forward to having a chance to prove some people wrong.”

Overall this season has been a learning experience for the young team, and Prather said that this would ultimately help them in the years to come.

The team’s last three games of the season will be against Earlham College, Rose-Hulman, and Defiance College.

“All of us have really learned, grown and progressed as players,” he said. “Our experience and knowledge will bring much success to this program in years to come. Very good things are ahead and we couldn’t possibly be more excited about it.”

“We’re looking forward to having a chance to prove some people wrong.”

Men’s HCAC Conference Standings

1. Mount St. Joseph, 12-3 2. Anderson, 11-4 3. Defiance, 11-4 4. Rose-Hulman, 9-6 5. Transylvania, 9-6 6. Hanover, 8-7 7. Bluffton, 7-8 8. Franklin, 4-11 9. Manchester, 4-11 10. Earlham, 0-15 The top six teams make the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

Robbie Prather, sophomore TheFranklinNews.com

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friends of franklin

Who influences you the most?

“My grandfather. Because he made me realize that no matter how rough life can get, you can still laugh at it.

He was a jokester, just like me.”

Ken Wray, Jazzman’s employee

Emily Metheny: The Franklin

Friends of Franklin is a photography project inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York.

Our version focuses on the friends of Franklin College while providing a glimpse into their unique lives.

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TheFranklinNews.com