FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 2017 | THEFRANKLINNEWS.COM
MAKING AN
EXIT DEPARTURE OF SEVERAL ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS SHOWS THE REAL COST OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER PG. 8
STUDENT HOMECOMING ARREST PG. 4
UP ‘TIL DAWN PRESIDENT FINDS PASSION PG. 6
NEWS
“THE Q:
If you designed a Thanksgiving parade float, what would it be?
// OUR TEAM
“ WHO MAKES THE FRANKLIN? Executive editor Ashley Shuler ashley.shuler@franklincollege.edu
Brandon Barger Reporter “A single red balloon.”
Matthew Brown Columnist “Bigfoot walking in a forest with lumberjacks.”
Leigh Durphey Copy chief “The Muppets singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’”
Quinn Fitzgerald Lead reporter “A swimming float with floaties.”
Opinion editor Christina Ramey christina.ramey@franklincollege.edu News editor Shelby Mullis shelby.mullis@franklincollege.edu Sports editor Ashley Steeb ashley.steeb@franklincollege.edu
Nicole Hernandez Web editor “One Direction reunion.”
Jada Jones Reporter “Half-Thanksgiving, half-Christmas.”
Emily Ketterer Reporter, photographer “Food Network theme.”
Thomas Maxwell Reporter, photographer “Harry Potter with a giant Hagrid balloon.”
Copy chief Leigh Durphey leigh.durphey@franklincollege.edu Photo editor Zoie Richey zoie.richey@franklincollege.edu Web editor Nicole Hernandez nicole.hernandez@franklincollege.edu
Jessie McClain Reporter “Gilmore Girls. Rory and Lorelai would be on it.”
Shelby Mullis News editor “Potatoes.”
Christina Ramey Opinion editor “Dedication to the old, good Disney shows.”
Zoie Richey Photography editor “Rick and Morty performing ‘Get Schwifty.’”
Advertising manager Matt Thomas matthew.thomas@franklincollege.edu Publisher John Krull jkrull@franklincollege.edu
Ashley Shuler Executive editor “A memorial to all the Vines I like.”
Ashley Steeb Sports editor “Denny Hamlin. Just so I could hang out with him.”
Shelby Tays Reporter, designer “Cereal-themed with cereal for everyone.”
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Bryan Wells Photographer “A root beer float.”
Adviser Ryan Gunterman pgunterman@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.
MONTHLY MINAR UPDATE: INDY CONNECTIONS President talks emphasis on Indianapolis relationship
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BRYNNA SENTEL | STORY brynna.sentel@franklincollege.edu
THEATRE DEPARTMENT PERFORMS ‘THE GROWN-UP’
Because the major metropolitan area is a 30-minute drive from Franklin, President Thomas Minar is using Indianapolis to the college’s advantage. “Part of my objective when thinking about the future of the college is recognizing most of the greatest educational institutions of the United States are in major metropolitan areas,” Minar said. “It’s important for us to own Indianapolis and own our presence here.” Aside from a change in scenery, Indianapolis has much to offer the college. The state’s capital city is home to some of the nation’s top corporations and organizations, including Anthem and Eli Lilly. “We are a place that has, for 183 years, had Indianapolis in our backyard, and my objective is to turn the place around 180 degrees and have Indianapolis be our front yard,” Minar said. “That maximizes the opportunities for our students and our alumni and our faculty in terms of internship research, externship, summer, job placement and social and cultural opportunities.” Having Indianapolis at the college’s disposal also has the potential to improve other aspects of college life, he said. “For faculty, it means a quality of life, but it also means scholarly opportunities because they are all looking for research and learning opportunities like students are as well,” Minar said. These include opportunities that will support academia and student advocacy. Minar said he also plans to benefit the city of Franklin as a whole. “The area needs to have a unified approach in the way we represent ourselves to
In its second production of the semester, the Franklin College Theatre Department will perform Jordan Harrison’s “The Grown-Up” Nov. 15 through Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. When Kai, played by junior Troy Bridges, receives a magical crystal doorknob from his grandfather, he travels through time and space to view future events in his life. As Kai moves further through the future, he feels as though he’s living life too quickly. Audience discretion is advised. All performances of “The Grown-Up” will be in the Theatre Margot in the Johnson Center for Fine Arts. General admission is $12 or $8 for non-Franklin-College students and seniors. Franklin College students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a Franklin College ID.
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OUT ABOUT:
11/8 – 11/12 CHRISTMAS GIFT AND HOBBY SHOW Head out to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the annual Christmas Gift and Hobby Show. The event opens at 10 a.m. today.
President Thomas Minar said Indianapolis has the potential to produce a signifianct impact on the life of the college, as well as the city of Franklin. THOMAS MAXWELL | PHOTO
the rest of the world,” Minar said. “Likewise, if Franklin is trying to attract a business here from say, Japan, which we do a lot of, we don’t go and talk about Franklin, Indiana. We go and talk about, ‘Come be in this great place in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.’” Minar is not the first Franklin College president to place an emphasis on Indianapolis’ role as a resource for the campus community. “I think everyone takes this on in their own way. My way is about aggressive economic development and how important that is to the college, but also what the college offers.”
11/13 FC CHAMBER CONCERT Listen to the sounds of fall at the Franklin College Music Department’s annual fall chamber concert Monday in Custer Theatre in Old Main. The concert will showcase students enrolled in voice and music classes. Performances start at 7 p.m. The show is free to the public.
COLLEGE LAUNCHES GRIZ GEAR APPAREL SITE As the holiday season approaches, Grizzlies have a new place to shop for gifts. Athletic Director Kerry Prather announced the arrival of a new Franklin College apparel site in a campus-wide email last week. The college partnered with Follett, an educational product company, to provide students, alumni and the larger college community with an outlet to purchase Franklin College apparel. Customers can choose from items with the primary athletic logo, which features “FC” with a Grizzly bear, or one of the sport-specific logos. A small percentage of the income will be donated to the college’s athletic department.
11/17 – 11/19 ‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’ AT ARTCRAFT Get in the Christmas spirit with a showing of the classic “Miracle on 34th Street” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. The movie will show Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $4.25 for college students.
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WILLIAMS: SUPPORT IS ‘WHY I’M IN THIS POSITION’ Student Congress president shares organization updates, future events EMILY KETTERER | STORY emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu
Senior Taylor Williams is currently serving her second term as Student Congress president. She spoke to The Franklin about her experiences as president and what students can expect to see from the organization for the remainder of the academic year. Answers have been edited for space and clarity. Q: What are you doing differently this year as president? Williams: This year, I’m working on broadening the community feel, which is reflected in our meetings. It’s more of a time for us to hear from all members of Student Congress to speak instead of just several cabinet members like it was last year, or just a few select people who only talked. Now, it’s a pretty nice flow of discussion between everyone. Q: Overall, how has this year been different from last? Williams: Overall, this year’s been different, and I think the branding has a big thing to do with that. I also think since last year, we were low on quota for students. We had a lot of budget cuts last year and a lot of budget mishaps. We also had limited resources, whereas this year, we are full on
our resources. We are about to help start up another new organization on campus and allocate them a new budget once they get that requested. That’s pretty awesome. Q: What challenges have come along with being president? Williams: There have been quite a few challenges. With me being the face of basically all students, that’s a lot of pressure, and I feel like I have always had a lot of pressure from the faculty. At the same time, I do get a lot of support from faculty, and I get a lot of support from students, which I really appreciate because that’s why I do it. That’s why I’m in this position. Q: Is there anything for students to look forward to between now and the end of the year?
Williams: As far as the end of the year goes, we’re looking to implement some more structures on Dame Mall, like tables and hammocks for rent. We’re still getting feedback from students to figure out what we’re going to put on campus. We’re trying to implement some type of fundraising event, but I don’t really know what that’s going to look like yet. We will definitely be doing some type of big event where all students can be involved. Q: How can students become more aware of what Congress is doing on a weekly basis? Williams: They can attend meetings. They can go ahead and feel free to come up to any Congress member and ask them how the meeting went, ask them what we’re doing.
CRIME LOG A student arrested for underage drinking and an intoxicated male make this issue’s crime log, detailing the top security and Franklin Police Department reports from Homecoming weekend, Oct. 23-29. JESSIE MCCLAIN | REPORTS SHELBY TAYS | GRAPHIC
FORSYTHE STREET
SAE
MONROE ST
CHAPEL LOT
MONROE STREET AND HENRY STREET
On Oct. 29 at 1:15 a.m., Franklin police responded to the area of Monroe Street and Henry Street to assist college security. An unidentified intoxicated male ran from security. Security officers found him soon after and were able to handle the situation.
FORSYTHE LOT
JOHNSON-DIETZ HALL
BARNES HALL
*Four additional incidents of underage possession of alcohol were reported by security Oct. 29.
FORSYTHE ST
HENRY LOT
HOUGHAM ST
2
CHAPEL
2
JEFFERSON ST EDWARDS ST
On Oct. 28 at 9:43 p.m., Franklin police were notified of an intoxicated male student near Elsey Hall walking north on Forsythe Street. Officers reported the 20-year-old male was “uncooperative.” The responding officer arrested the student for underage consumption of alcohol and transported him to the Johnson County Jail.
HENRY ST
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CURRICULUM, REBRANDING THEME IN ANNUAL ADDRESS Minar uses State of the College for thanks, gratitude EMILY KETTERER | STORY emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu
The implementation of a new curriculum and rebranding efforts were key points in President Thomas Minar’s State of the College address Tuesday. However, Minar spent the majority of the hour-long address thanking and acknowledging those who have made the college successful. “It’s hard to believe it’s already November. … When I stop and think about all that’s been accomplished since move-in day and welcome week, I realize it ought to be November,” Minar said. “It is truly time for thanksgiving and for gratitude.” TIME FOR CHANGE In response to new branding efforts, the college is updating the curriculum, which Minar said is necessary to attract academically-prepared students. “This portion of the plan asks that we create a new curricular structure that delivers a nationally-recognized, innovative curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences through immersive, engaged learning,” Minar said. The curriculum calls for a distinctive approach to a liberal arts and sciences
program, he added. A task force—Strategic Planning Around Reorganization of the Curriculum, also known as SPARC—was created in 2016 to achieve this goal. “Our objective also was a tall order: Develop and deliver a model of teaching and learning, which through the curriculum and co-curriculum, aligns with a truly distinctive Franklin College approach to the liberal arts and science,” Minar said. “SPARC has given the opportunity for faculty to consider the next generation of curriculum, and to continue doing what we have done so well as an institution for 183 years.” Minar said the college is emphasizing STEM learning, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He repeatedly noted that Franklin College is both a liberal arts and science school. TYING IT ALL TOGETHER It’s easy to spot the biggest change in the college since last year: the rebranding. The rebranding was a 16-month process working with Ologie, a Columbus, Ohiobased firm. The process resulted in graffi-
ERICA IRISH | PHOTO
ti-style, two-word “pursue” messaging on signs around campus. “We worked with our partners to connect the realism of what we learned with our aspirations, giving us a blueprint to articulate what we are as a college,” Minar said. He thanked Marketing Director Theresa Lehman for her contributions to the new brand. “It’s a visible reminder to seek the best in ourselves and in everyone we meet,” Minar said. “Through the new brand, we’re emphasizing our attributes and connecting to the students who want to be part of a small college community that’s highly personalized and steeped in career-focused liberal arts.”
COURSE SCHEDULE ADJUSTED, GOING VIRTUAL Provost works with faculty to avoid cancelations, promote alternative learning ERICA IRISH | STORY erica.irish@franklincollege.edu
On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, Hamilton Auditorium will sit empty for the majority of November after Fine Arts Professor Gordon Strain revised his public speaking course’s schedule. Strain—a freelance designer and production design manager for “The Good Catholic,” an independent film released in September—changed the class’s schedule to co-produce a new movie, “Miss White Light.” However, Strain said his classes are “adjusted,” not canceled. His public speaking students will complete coursework online and submit their speeches in video format in November, rather than meeting during the scheduled class time. “Public speaking is a vital, crucial skill,” Strain said. “But, it’s changed. Submitting a speech online is a very relevant skill.” Strain said the move was approved after making arrangements with Provost and Dean of the College Lori Schroeder.
Schroeder, who says she met with Strain over the summer, approved the plan on the grounds that students still receive a quality learning experience. She said the college does everything possible to prevent a course from being canceled outright in these situations, from finding an adjunct professor to methods that resemble Strain’s online assignments. The college does this because it is difficult to compensate students for their time and academic credit if a course is canceled indefinitely, Schroeder said. Franklin College’s Faculty Handbook outlines its policy on these types of absences. “The faculty member will not unavoidably miss or regularly abbreviate classes and will notify his/her students and the office of the Provost as far in advance as possible,” the policy reads. While only his theatre students are required to visit set, Strain invited his public speaking students to do the same if they
choose. He also offered internships to select students. “This is a huge educational learning opportunity,” he said. “The movie serves everyone.” Sophomore Amber Antczak, a student in Strain’s public speaking class, said she was “shocked” by the move. “I was kind of shocked at first that a professor would cancel like an entire month of class,” she said. “But then I realized that it would give me more time.” Antczak also described the online format as Strain’s “only solution.” Schroeder emphasized the importance of Strain’s work as students consider his absence. “I’m hopeful that students do also understand that this isn’t a frivolous absence that Professor Strain is engaged in,” she said. “What he’s doing is highly important work to him and, by extension, the students who benefit from a Franklin education.”
creating
CHANGE
Up ‘til Dawn president finds passion, future in philanthropic work
QUINN FITZGERALD | STORY & PHOTOS
lot can happen in just four years. Senior Brooke Kistler went from having no knowledge of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Up ‘til Dawn philanthropy event to finding a possible future in children’s research hospitals. “I didn’t know what a philanthropist was before I came here, and now I am proud to say I am one,” she said. Kistler, president of Delta Delta Delta, had never heard of the event, which is held annually in November from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to raise money for St. Jude. After joining the sorority, Kistler’s passion for St. Jude grew each year. Now as president of the committee, Kistler has become the driving force behind the college’s Up ‘til Dawn event. Even though the event is Tri Delta’s philanthropy, Kistler initially discovered Up ‘til Dawn through a St. Jude patient. “She’s like, ‘Oh, I’m on my way to an Up ‘til Dawn meeting,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, what’s that?’ Kistler said. “And I got a phone interview the next day with the St. Jude representative, and I got involved with that, too.”
LEIGH DURPHEY | DESIGN
Kistler has visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital twice, and she said the overall experience is always amazing but also surprising because of the reactions she receives from people.
I think it just means to me that a little town like Franklin can raise thousands of dollars for kids with cancer, and we have fun while doing it. B R OOKE KI S T L ER
UP ‘TIL DAWN PRESIDENT
“It’s crazy saying I loved going to a hospital,” Kistler said. “I wore my Tri Delta letters and people were acting like we were rock stars. It was weird. They were like, ‘Thank you for everything you do. You guys were so awesome.’ I’m like, ‘You guys are the rock stars.’” Kistler has always wanted to be a teacher, but her visit to the hospital during her sophomore year solidified her desire and
even sparked an interest in her to work at children’s hospitals. Her future plans aren’t concrete. Kistler said her dream job would be working at Riley Children’s Hospital at its school in Indianapolis, but she is also considering fundraising for St. Jude instead of teaching. She does know her future will involve philanthropic work. The organization’s goal is to raise $15,000 at the Nov. 17 event. Kistler said her personal goal for the organization is to increase awareness about the hospital. “I just want people to know they don’t charge the patients or families for anything,” Kistler said. “It’s completely free medical care. That’s just a big thing. It’s a big goal of mine.” She also wants people to know that Up ’til Dawn, a collegiate event, raises money for St. Jude research that goes out to hospitals everywhere, including nearby Riley Children’s Hospital. “That research part is really the key thing, because they research all kinds of stuff and they send it out for free,” she said. “So kids at Riley get saved on St. Jude protocols.”
I didn’t know what a philanthropist was before I came here, and now I am proud to say I am one. This non-profit aspect of St. Jude is what made Kistler fall in love with the philanthropy, molding her into the philanthropist she is today. “I’ve always wanted to give back to people, but it’s given me a cause that I absolutely love,” she said. Up ‘til Dawn specifically has taught Kistler that anything is possible, no matter the size. “I think it just means to me that a little town like Franklin can raise thousands of dollars for kids with cancer, and we have fun while doing it,” Kistler said. “That just holds a special place in my heart. I’ll always donate to people I know who do Up ‘til Dawn here because it’s just so special.” After discovering her passion, Kistler wants others to know that being passionate about something should be the reason to pursue anything. “The biggest thing is you just need to believe in whatever it is. So if you believe in it, then you’ll be able to spread that passion. If your heart’s not in it, then you need to find something else, or you won’t ever be passionate.”
B R OOK E K I STLER UP ‘TIL DAWN PRESIDENT
IF YOU GO UP ‘TIL DAWN 2017 WHEN
Nov. 17 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
WHERE
Old Main, Branigin Room and Napolitan Student Center atrium
WHAT
A celebratory event for students who have fundraised for the hospital throughout the year. Teams stay “up ‘til dawn” in the hopes that one day no child will die in the dawn of life.
LEAVING COMMENTS
Former admissions employees share their stories in reaction to The Franklin’s college turnover story QUINN FITZGERALD | STORY JORDAN BRODNER | PHOTO
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n the Oct. 13 issue of The Franklin, Dan Schluge, vice president of finance and interim human resources director, said he was unable to comment on the departure of more than 20 employees in the last year. A number of former employees voiced their opinions under The Franklin’s article on Facebook. “A lot of the people that I used to work with were all kind of messaging one another and talking about it,” said Travis Gabehart, former admissions counselor. “I can see where some people were kind of upset. Kind of the way it came out from Dan Schluge, it sounded like [the college wasn’t] really
appreciative.” Gabehart, who left Franklin this September after about a year at the school, was one of the former employees who took to Facebook to express his input on the turnover. He said he didn’t take Schluge’s comments in the story personally. “I mean, it’s a business,” he said. “I definitely see why some people were offended by it. For me, I left on my own terms.” Tamara Hoffmann, former coordinator of campus visits, said she left the college after being told by Kate Coffman, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, that she and President Thomas Minar decided
to “eliminate” Hoffmann’s position “to restructure the office.” That position is currently filled by Hannah Abraham, according to MyFC. “[I] was very hurt at first, then realized it was a blessing in disguise,” Hoffmann said. While Hoffmann agrees with Schluge’s comment in the Oct. 13 story on the need for competitive salaries, she said she is still upset by his comment that the turnover didn’t make an impact. “[It] is the same as saying that our jobs didn’t matter,” Hoffmann said. Coffman said she understands why there was reaction toward the story, but she does
9 not feel Schluge meant what he said in the story. In the Oct. 13 story, Schluge said, “Turnover is normal in any setting. The college is not concerned by it.” Coffman echoed this statement, saying she does not believe turnover has a direct impact on students or enrollment because the college tries to minimize the effect as much as possible. “I think that anytime there is turnover, we obviously have to work to gain that institutional knowledge back,” Coffman said. “But I think, in general, it doesn’t have a direct impact on students.” President Thomas Minar acknowledged the costs that turnover creates for the college in a statement. “Some of the costs are realized in recruiting and training new employees,” Minar said. “The opportunities gained include allowing the college to hire employees who bring skill sets and career experiences that are new to Franklin, generating renewed energy and fresh ideas on campus.” Minar said the college has many staff retention efforts, including “strong benefits, professional development opportunities and a great working environment in a wonderful community.” In response to The Franklin’s tweet previewing the Oct. 13 story, alumnus Cody Warren said turnover costs organizations 1.5x the annual salary of the employee who turns over. “Turnover is never ‘normal’ and should always be a concern,” he said in the tweet. A January article from The Huffington Post supports Warren’s statement. “Slightly more conservatively, [Human Resources Professional] Josh Bersin of Deloitte believes the cost of losing an employee can range from tens of thousands of dollars to 1.5–2.0x the employee’s annual salary,” the article reads. “These costs include hiring, onboarding, training, ramp time to peak productivity, the loss of engagement from others due to high turnover, higher business error rates, and general culture impacts. Employees, Bersin explains, are appreciating assets that produce more and more value to the organization over time, which helps explain why losing them is so costly.” Coffman said each time an employee leaves the college, college officials decide whether the position must be filled immediately and what the potential impact is on students. Nine of the admissions office’s 20 employees left this past year, but every spot has since been replaced. Coffman said the reasons behind leaving the admissions office could simply include a change in heart about the work required.
“I think historically admissions is a high turnover field,” Coffman said. “People tend to think it’s going to be one thing—meeting with families and sharing with them a love they have for the college—and it actually turns out to be a lot of data, a lot of sales. It tends to be a lot of untraditional hours. A lot of evenings, a lot of weekends.” Gabehart, who now works as an admissions counselor at Transylvania University, said he left to pursue a master’s degree to eventually move up the ladder. He noticed that Franklin College looks “outside” for hiring rather than promoting within. While it doesn’t bother him, he said he wanted to look elsewhere where he could find help in advancing his education while working as an admissions counselor. “One thing [Transylvania does] offer is providing almost full assistance Former admissions employees voiced their with my master’s degree that I can start reactions on Facebook to a story in the Oct. 27 issue of The Franklin about college turnover. pursuing here in about a year or so,” The comments specifically focused on Dan Gabehart said. “I was looking to get Schluge’s quote about the turnover having my master’s and looking to have them minimal impact on the college. help pay for it, which Franklin didn’t have DIGGING DEEPER anything like that.” Coffman said it’s This chart shows the percentage of the 21 employees across nine departments not uncommon for who left the college in the last year. people who enjoy This data is gathered from the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Franklin College Academic Course Catalogs, available on MyFC. The catalogs list working in admissions each departments’ teaching faculty and does not include department adjuncts. to do exactly what Percentages were rounded to the nearest tenth. Gabehart did and change schools in EMILY KETTERER | GRAPHIC order to advance their Religious degree. Ed 4.7% “There’s not 9.5 ucat T I % ion always a lot of op% 19 portunity to move gy iolo in one particular Soc % 4.7 office,” Coffman said. hip Art Leaders She said she 4.7% 4.7% believes every Human Resources person who voiced gy 4.7% Psycholo % their concerns on 4.7 Facebook added value to the college when they worked here, which is why she was disheartened to hear about it, knowing Admissions 42.9% the impact they had on students with whom they interacted. the new staff.” “I appreciate, and I think the rest of the Dan Schluge was “not available” to participate campus appreciates what they did when they in this story, Director of Communications Deidra were employees here,” Coffman said. “But Baumgardner said. I also think those things will continue under
OPINION
ZOIE RICHEY | PHOTO
EDITORIAL REP. LUCAS IS IN OVER HIS HEAD Bill drafted requiring journalists’ licensing absurd, against First Amendment Alternative facts. Fake news. Liars. Every day the war on media grows. Whether it’s our president tweeting about how every report on him or his policies is “fake news,” or somebody getting mad at the facts that are reported, the media generally isn’t well received. Most recently, Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, has taken the war on media to a new level. As a guest on “No Limits,” a radio talk show hosted by Director of the Pulliam School of Journalism John Krull, Lucas talked about a bill he drafted that would require journalists to be licensed. The drafted bill, if passed, would require professional journalists to submit an application to the Indiana State Police. They would be fingerprinted and would have to pay a fee of $75 for a lifetime license. Journalists with a felony or domestic battery conviction would be prohibited from receiving a license. “This proposal is potentially more dangerous because it would allow the government to choose who can and cannot be journalists, and that’s unconstitutional,” senior and multimedia journalism major Makenna Mays said. The wording of this bill is almost an exact copy of Indiana’s law that requires having a license to carry a handgun—a law Lucas has tried on several occasions to get repealed. As journalism students, hearing that a house representative wants to put a license on our career brings pause and worry about what could happen if something like this were to go into effect. Would the money we spent on college be a waste if we didn’t get the license? Would we be allowed to practice journalism in other states? Would anyone be able to get a job as a journalist? It’s not a logical bill. It doesn’t do anything
but make Lucas look like he has something to hide and that he has bought into Trump’s rhetoric of fake news. Lucas’s aim for this bill is to make a point about the licensing of gun laws more so than making journalists have a license. He asked The Indianapolis Star, if it’s OK to put licenses on the Second Amendment, why shouldn’t others get the same treatment? “Making a valid point about gun licensing and restrictions on constitutional rights is one thing, but doing that by equating our First and Second Amendment rights is missing the mark,” Mays said. Though Lucas wants to make a point, he’s forgetting journalists already have copy rights and libel laws they must follow. These laws are in place to make sure that journalists are telling the truth and reporting the facts. While the words of a journalist can be powerful and could potentially ruin someone’s reputation—even if they are accurate—it’s important to see a major distinction: Those words can’t kill anyone. “I think it is important to recognize that words coming from an irresponsible journalist, while potentially causing a lot of
The Franklin staff believes the regulations in place that journalists follow are enough, so they shouldn’t be licensed. THE FRANKLIN OPINION BOARD
damage, are never going to kill someone,” Mays said. “However, a gun in the hand of an irresponsible person can and has killed people.” This drafted bill may just exist to make a point, but the thoughts behind it are dangerous. If we start putting laws on the freedom of press, what’s next? The freedom of speech? Of course it is, and Lucas already proved that by drafting a second, broader journalism bill that would license things such as religious expression, speech and the right to vote. Journalists keep the public informed on everything. If you take away their ability to do that, then you are taking away the public’s resource to know what is happening. People in positions of power would get away with more, and nobody would know until it is too late.
#FRANKLINVOICES The Franklin’s poll board in the Student Center atrium gives students, faculty, staff and the larger Franklin community a chance to voice their opinion. SHOULD STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE THE POWER TO LIMIT FREEDOM OF PRESS?
61 PEOPLE SAID YES 150 PEOPLE SAID NO
211 people participated in this poll. The Franklin’s polls are illustrative and not scientific. They are a way to get the college community involved.
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#METOO MOVEMENT RAISES AWARENESS Columnist looks at what happens next after campaign
For nearly two weeks following the allegations of sexual assault against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, people couldn’t scroll NICOLEHERNANDEZ through their social media feeds without seeing the phrase, “me too.” The dialogue on sexual assault was reignited in Hollywood after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged survivors of sexual assault to reply to a post where she revealed that she’d been sexually assaulted with the phrase, “me too.” After her tweet, many credited Milano for the movement, but what people may not know is that the “Me Too” movement actually began 10 years ago by a black activist named Tarana Burke. Burke created the movement to unify those who have been victimized by sexual violence, particularly those of color or underprivileged communities who are often left out of the conversation. The goal of the “Me Too” campaign is to give people a sense of magnitude of the problem. About a week after the movement took over social media, Twitter confirmed that more than 1.7 million tweets—by women and men—used the hashtag #MeToo. It’s even more astonishing when we take into consideration the people who are victims but who didn’t feel comfortable posting the hashtag #MeToo. Many Franklin College students, such as sophmore Kendall Hovis, posted in participation of the movement.
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I think that in order to really make an impact we need to start with younger generations and teach them, first of all, sex and healthy sex education. SARA KINDER, COUNSELOR
“It just broke my heart, and it made me feel so small compared to other people because so many people were posting it, and it made me realize that it happens to everyone,” Hovis said. “It doesn’t happen to just one person.” In Franklin College’s annual report, we saw sexual assault numbers rise from five
to nine reported incidents, but this is only this larger issue is the misunderstanding of a fraction of the number of incidents that what is considered sexual assault or sexual actually occur on campus, according to violence. Dean of Students Ellis Hall. Many more go “I think one of the hardest things is that unreported. it’s something that’s so important, but we Just like the increase in reports, it’s good don’t always necessarily have a space to talk that more people are speaking up. But what about it openly,” Kinder said. “So even for should happen next? people that might be confused about consent Unfortunately to Hovis and many others or different components of it that might not scrolling through social media, it feels as if be malicious can have a really big impact on #MeToo was once everywhere and then someone.” suddenly it fell silent again. We need to be open. We need to look out “I think if people see the ‘Me Too’ thing, for one another. We need to better educate they should step up if they see something young people about safe sex. We need to happen like at a party. They should step in speak up. and say something or if they talk to a friend “I think there’s so many things that are and reach out to them if they posted ‘me just causing harm to our society as a whole, too,’” Hovis said. I think the ‘Me Too’ was a and it just starts at our culture and how that good start but the second step would be just perpetuates it,” Kinder said. physically doing something like if you saw something happening.” SEXUAL ASSAULTS In our society, this and other personal topics tend to fall through the cracks on campus because they aren’t often talked about. As 9 6 2016 a result, we don’t know how to go about 2014 these conversations and keep them going. “I think that, in order to really make an impact, we need to start with younger 5 2 2 generations and teach them, first of all, 2015 2010 2012 sex and healthy sex education, but then also talk very openly about these kinds of conversations and how to respect one 1 1 another in a relationship,” Counselor Sara 2009 2013 0 Kinder said. 2011 For there to really be a change, our 2010–2017 ANNUAL CAMPUS SECURITY AND culture and society need to change. FIRE SAFETY REPORTS | SOURCE Another problem that contributes to
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FEAR OF FLU VACCINES UNNEEDED Students should consider vaccination benefits over risks
While historians would say we are living in the information age, some items on the internet would beg to differ. Misinformation is ERICAIRISH a real issue. When it invades sectors as important as public health, the people must demand change. Perhaps the most targeted public health measure by these sources of information is vaccines. “Our mission is very simple. Vaccines are drugs,” the Indiana Coalition for Vaccine Choice’s mission statement reads. “They are known to have serious adverse effects such as lifelong disability and even death.” In the next entry, one can see a fake magazine cover designed with fear-mongering and untrue claims such as, “Against forced vaccinations? There’s a FEMA camp for that!” According to a 2015 study by Pew Research Center, this ideology is hardly the norm. In the study, roughly 82 percent of Americans reported children should be vaccinated. Now that it is flu season, and that our own
on-campus health clinic will be offering FLUARIX the quadrivalent vaccine by injection, it’s important to talk to healthcare professionals and, at the very least, unWhat you need derstand our daily sources to know about the FLUARIX of information. vaccine In our college community, we owe it to ourselves and 1.4% each other to dispel this Experience a fever after vaccine sensationalizing of a common and important medical 1.7% service. Experience pain after vaccine Student Health Center Coordinator Cathe De0.6% Cleene couldn’t agree more. Experience drowsi“The number one myth is ness after vaccine that I’ll get the flu if I take the flu vaccine. This simply isn’t true,” she said. “You can get some side effects, but those take anywhere SUSPENSION FOR INTRAMUSCULAR from seven to 10 days to INJECTION 2017-2018 kick in. Don’t look on the FORMULA | SOURCE internet for health advice.” DeCleene, who has been involved in health practices her entire career,
said other myths include that receiving a flu shot guarantees a person will not get the flu or, if one does contract it, the symptoms will not be as bad. DeCleene, who administered 126 flu shots to faculty and students in 2016, said a fairly consistent number of patients visit the Student Health Center to receive their flu shot. “The benefits far outweigh the risks,” DeCleene said. “That’s the nature of medicine in general.” While doing your homework on sources isn’t always fun, contracting the flu—particularly at this point of the semester—is worse. Vet your sources. Your body and our community deserve transparency in health.
TWITTER POLL
We asked Franklin College students: Do you think flu shots are safe?
74% 26% YES NO *61 people participated in this poll. The Franklin’s polls are illustrative and not scientific. They are a way to get the college community involved.
BEING A CHRISTIAN ON CAMPUS LEADS TO SOME DISCRIMINATION Columnist explains why notes shouldn’t be seen as ‘pushing her religion’ onto people My biggest fear about being a Christian on campus is having other students feel like I am pushing my religion on them. Sadly, that fear TIFFANYCRITES came true. I wanted to help other women on my floor through hardships by writing encouraging notes that pertained to their situations and adding a Bible verse at the end of it. I first asked my resident assistant if I could put the notes underneath the residents’ doors. Before she could answer, she had to talk to the Russ Norris, the residence hall coordinator of Elsey Hall. He told her about a policy that is laid out in The Key, the college’s student handbook. According The Key, students can post fliers and posters on their room door but must have permission to post anywhere else in the residence halls. “The policy on page 71 of The Key is content-neutral and applies to any posting, religious and non-religious in nature,” Norris
said. Norris also said that he could not give permission for me to put notes under people’s doors. Instead, Jacob Knight, director of residence life, is the person who gives that permission. My RA explained that, because I would be putting the note underneath someone else’s door, that would be considered their property. The Bible verse, she said, would be a way of forcing my religion onto them. I don’t see the correlation between writing a note and putting it under someone’s door and posting a flyer in the residence hall. Intervarsity, the college’s student ministry, is allowed to write Bible verses on the sidewalks of campus where everyone can see them, but as an individual I have to go through an unclear process just to give encouraging notes to people. “You are an individual student who has been provided with a process for posting within a residence hall,” Norris said. “Intervarsity is a registered student organization that is subject to a different posting policy for posting outside of a residence hall.” Just because I am not involved in an
organization, I can’t put notes underneath students’ doors? These notes were for individual people— not the whole building. Only individuals would see the notes, not like the public Bible verses Intervarsity writes on the sidewalks. I felt as if, in a way, I was discriminated against because of my religion. This is not the first time a Christian has faced discrimination on this campus. “I had a few teammates who didn’t like what I believed in and both of them actually at the same time attacked me one day at lunch telling me I was an idiot, that I was a fool,” said Jackson Freed, senior and Intervarsity large group speaker. For the college to have a policy against putting a positive note under someone’s door is strange. I should be able to spread my faith in a non-intruding way. “For you to publicly display it and show people Christ, I think that you should be able to do that,” Freed said. “We should be allowed to spread our faith and Christ tells us to. We have to be witnesses and we have to be bold for him and be lights on this campus.”
SPORTS
GAMES IN REVIEW WOMEN’S SOCCER Mt. St. Joseph University W, 2-0 WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY HCAC Championships 5th of 9
Football players in seven-on-seven intramural flag football play for a chance to compete in the intramural championship. Franklin College offers five intramural sports. CLAIRE CASTILLO | PHOTO
FRANKLIN OFFERS OTHER OPTIONS TO COMPETE Intramurals give all students chance to play BRANDON BARGER | STORY brandon.barger@franklincollege.edu
It was a cold, mostly deserted night on campus Oct. 24. But in the former soccer field behind Elsey Hall, an intramural football game was heating up. Down to the final minute on the clock, the Mean Machine team was trying to score. A score would have sealed the game for them. But the Tau Kappa Epsilon players were having none of it. As the final seconds ticked away, the Mean Machine tried a last second Hail Mary, but the defense was too strong and the team from TKE nabbed a victory. To students walking by, it may have looked like a bunch of guys having some fun. But to those players, the game was another step toward their Super Bowl. There are many different sports offered at the college—19 between men and women. But Franklin also has a very competitive intramural sports program. Craig Yeast, offensive coordinator for the football team, has been the main coordinator of the program for two years. He said intramurals are a very popular part of college life besides collegiate sports. “I think for the most part it is pretty popular,” Yeast said. “I think the most popular time for intramurals is during basketball. Everybody plays basketball, of course we are in the Hoosier State, and basketball is big.”
Yeast said most people might think intramural sports have a very laid-back environment, but most of the sports are fairly competitive. “They are serious,” Yeast said. “They are out there to have fun, but they’re also out there to win. So they go out there and get after it, and it is pretty serious.” Yeast said there are as many great moments in intramural sports as there are in collegiate sports. “Obviously, there is not any tackling, but just the other day, we had an epic finish to one of the games where a young man caught a pass, made someone miss and dove to touch the line to score the game winning touchdown,” he said. RJ Turner, a freshman and member of the Mean Machine football team, joined intramural sports to hang out with friends and do something outside of school work. The intramural program offers seven-on-seven flag football and co-ed volleyball during the fall, and basketball, co-ed bowling and Grizzly Airball during the winter. Yeast is hoping to add ultimate frisbee and softball during the spring. Anyone interested in joining an intramural sport can find information on team registration on the Franklin College Athletics website franklingrizzlies.com.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY HCAC Championships 7th of 9 FOOTBALL vs. Anderson University W, 63-17 MEN’S SWIMMING vs. Millikin University W, 177-21 WOMEN’S SWIMMING vs. Millikin University W, 154-41
UPCOMING GAMES WOMEN’S SOCCER 11/11 vs. Arcadia University
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 11/11 Great Lakes Championship
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 11/11 Great Lakes Championship
FOOTBALL 11/11 @ Hanover College
MEN’S SWIMMING 11/11 vs. Indiana Wesleyan
WOMEN’S SWIMMING 11/11 vs. Indiana Wesleyan
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WOMEN’S TENNIS PLACES SECOND IN HCAC CHAMPIONSHIP Players say team’s success this season not surprising, will carry over to next season JUSTIN PENNINGTON | STORY justin.pennington@franklincollege.edu
Junior women’s tennis player Rachel Rose said she learned a valuable lesson this season. She said no matter how good your opposition may seem, anything is possible if you go in with a positive mindset. “Anyone can win on a given day, so carrying a positive attitude into next season is important,” she said. The women’s tennis team finished second in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference after losing to Hanover College in the HCAC tournament championship. In a pre-season coaches poll released by the conference in August, the Grizzlies were predicted to finish third. Junior Holyn Eldridge, who entered this season after an arm injury, said she is not surprised by the team’s success because of their work ethic and support for one other. “The heart of the team played a huge role
Junior Holyn Eldridge warms up before match with Oakland City University. The team finished second this season. QUINN FITZGERALD | PHOTO
this season,” Eldridge said. “With our coach always telling us to push ourselves, it helped us remember that as long as you’re giving your all, the team will be there to support you.” After her injury, Eldridge said one of the biggest things she had to do was regain focus and push through hardships. Rose said the team can improve and make another attempt to win the championship by gaining confidence and improving their focus. “I think everyone on the team at one point or another is guilty of not taking a practice or a match seriously,” Rose said. “If we can work on that and try to get something out of every practice and every match while still having fun, I believe we will improve immensely.”
COLUMN ARE CO-ED SPORTS TEAMS FEASIBLE? Study shows physical gap between male and female student athletes JARED SCHOEN | STORY jared.schoen@franklincollege.edu
The NCAA has 90 national championships yearly, with 41 men’s sports and 46 women’s sports. JARED SCHOEN About 460,000 athletes compete across Division I, II and III yearly. Even with all of these sports and athletes, some feel it is not enough. This poses the question: Should all sports be co-ed? Or, alternatively, should an alternate division be opened for co-ed teams while maintaining the current championship structure? The answer is not simple. While it is easy to put onto paper a plan to add more teams and tournaments, it might not be financially feasible. A 2012 USA Today article states expenses for the NCAA were $800 million. Most of these expenses were spent on distributing funds amongst members throughout the divisions, while others were used for standard association upkeep. Of
these expenses, over $100 million was spent on championships, including payment for travel, overnight stays, feeding teams and celebrations. The financial strain of adding multiple championships at once might be hard to handle, especially for sports that don’t generate enough revenue to be profitable. Another issue this presents is interest. The NCAA currently hosts three different co-ed teams, fencing, rifle and skiing. Except for football and wrestling, each sport has both a male and female affiliate. Stretching out players across an extra team might not be feasible for schools, especially smaller liberal art colleges like Franklin College. The biggest issue with co-ed sports is the physical gap. Harvard Medical School published an article in 2015 detailing the differences between gender-based injuries. It found females are more prone to injuries such as ankle sprains, knee injuries, shoulder problems and stress fractures. When considering the reasons for the
increase in female injuries, it was found it was most likely caused by a combination of factors like higher estrogen levels, wider pelvis, higher flexibility leading to looser ligaments and greater likelihood for vitamin D deficiency. Junior forward basket ball player Gunnar Dittrich likes the idea of adding a co-ed team at the college but is unsure of its practicality. “It would be a fun idea to have an integrated team at Franklin,” he said. “The only problem would be the physical differences that are present when playing the sport. Ultimately, it’s up to the NCAA to decide what would be fair for everyone that would want to be involved.” It is generally accepted that men are bigger and physically stronger than women on average. This is not to say women are inferior or less capable of playing a sport than men, but separate teams based on biological gender are in place to ensure a competitive environment for all athletes.
IN BRIEF
FRANKLIN COLLEGE SENDS MULTIPLE TEAMS TO HCAC CHAMPIONSHIPS Two Franklin College athletic teams have qualified for post-season NCAA tournaments. The women’s soccer team won its first-ever Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship on Nov. 4 against Mt. St. Joseph University. The win cemented a spot for the Grizzlies in the NCAA Division III women’s soccer tournament. The team will face Arcadia University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the first round of the tournament. The football team also won its ninth HCAC title Saturday against Anderson University. Details on who the team will face in the NCAA tournament will be released Sunday.
FOOTBALL TEAM HONORS FORMER TEAMMATE IN 5K RUN AND WALK
FRANKLIN COLLEGE GRIZZLIES | SOURCE
The third annual Big Heart 5K Run/Walk raised enough money to buy another automated external defibrillator for the campus. Former offensive coordinator Matt Theobald proposed the idea of buying another
AED for the school. Head football coach Mike Leonard said 110 people participated in the Nov. 4 event at Grizzly Park. It was held prior to the Senior Day football game against Anderson University. The event has no registration fee, and all of the money raised is from donations. Registrations are completed on the college’s athletic website. Over the course of the three events, more than $1,800 was donated to buy the new AED, a portable electronic device that treats life-threatening irregular heartbeats and other heart problems. The 5K event was created by the football team to honor former football player Wes Shambaugh and raise awareness of undetected heart issues. Shambaugh died at 23 years old from an undetected heart problem. Next year’s event is scheduled for Nov. 10.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM PREPARES FOR A NEW SEASON HCAC coaches pre-season poll predicts Franklin to finish fifth this season JADA JONES | STORY jada.jones@franklincollege.edu
Junior shooting guard Maddie O’Day has However, O’Day said they have a treplayed basketball for 11 years. mendously talented freshmen class that will Her most memorable game was during hopefully give them an advantage over their her freshman year at Franklin College in the competition. second quarter against Bluffton University. Transylvania University was selected as The team knew it was going to be a tough the pre-season conference favorite by the game, but O’Day said they weren’t going HCAC, earning 94 points and five first-place down without a fight. O’Day said she came votes. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology up off the bench and was hitting shots left was right on their heels with 90 points and and right and scored four first-place votes. 15 points in 17 minTransylvania and utes. Rose-Hulman are Franklin “We all played so College’s biggest competiwell together as a team, tion this year, O’Day said. too, and I couldn’t have “My dad always told played such a great me, anyone could be beatgame without them,” en on any given day, so O’Day said. “I only redon’t count anybody out,” member my teammates she said. getting super hype for Poston said she and each other, which was Head Coach Dana Hagan awesome feeling.” genjos are hoping their These teammates players compete at the must work together to Junior Kelsey Smith practices for highest level each game, be the upcoming season. The team was meet predictions this the best version of thempredicted to finish fifth in a recent season. selves each and every day HCAC coaches poll. A Heartland Colle- BRYAN WELLS | PHOTO on and off the court, make giate Athletic Conferamazing memories with ence coaches’ pre-season poll predicted the one another and have fun while doing so. women’s basketball team will finish fifth out “We are grateful for the opportunity to of 10 teams in the conference this season. represent Franklin College and are humbled The team finished last season with a 14-12 and blessed to have the privilege to play record. the sport we love with the people we love,” Assistant Coach Chantel Poston said the Poston said. team doesn’t focus on rankings or numbers; it focuses on things they can control like PAST HCAC PREDICTIONS worrying about bettering themselves. “The only people we focus on proving a 2013 Predicted to finish point to is one another each day by holding second each other accountable for getting better and being the best we can be day in and day 2014 Predicted to finish third out,” Poston said. 2015 Predicted to finish fifth The team is young this year, welcoming back only nine players from the previous 2016 Predicted to finish season. They are led by four upperclassmen: seniors Riley Achenbach and Mallory Cast fourth and juniors Maddie O’Day and Kelsey 2017 Predicted to finish fifth Smith.
JORDAN BRODNER | COVER PHOTO ZOIE RICHEY | BACK PHOTO
LAST LOOK
RANDALL SMITH, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
Stress-relief oil is placed on Smith’s forehead during a yoga class offered every Tuesday and Thursday. “In academia, we spend a lot of time focusing on our head and not our body,” he said. “Here, we get the opportunity to be mindful about both.”