FRIDAY, NOV. 30, 2018 | THEFRANKLINNEWS.COM
EYES
ON THE
PRIZE COLLEGE PRIORITIZES STUDENT SUCCESS AS KEY TO RETENTION PG. 6
FEATURE: A PASSION FOR POETRY PG. 8
NEW SEASON, NEW FACES PG. 13
NEWS
“THE Q:
What is the worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
// OUR TEAM
“ WHO MAKES THE FRANKLIN?
Alivia Brewer Reporter “New tires.”
Quinn Fitzgerald Photo editor “The same book I received the previous year... from Santa.”
Emily Hales Designer “An ugly necklace from my great aunt.”
Erica Irish Opinion editor “A chartreuse and red Vera Bradley wallet.”
Executive editor Shelby Mullis shelby.mullis@franklincollege.edu Opinion editor Erica Irish erica.irish@franklincollege.edu News editor Emily Ketterer emily.ketterer@franklincollege.edu Sports editor Hope Shrum hope.shrum@franklincollege.edu
Emily Ketterer News editor “A thong from my great-grandma.”
Abigail Larken Copy chief “Tweezers.”
Ariana Lovitt Columnist “A shirt from my grandma, two sizes too small.”
Jessie McClain Reporter “Nothing!”
Copy chief Abigail Larken abigail.larken@franklincollege.edu Photo editor Quinn Fitzgerald elizabeth.fitzgerald@franklincollege.edu Web editor Matt Thomas matthew.thomas@franklincollege.edu
Peytan Mills Photographer “An ugly skull shirt.”
Shelby Mullis Executive editor “A broken Valentine’s Day photo frame.”
AJ Prohaska Photographer “A pair of polyester cotton-blend socks. I wanted wool.”
Carolina Puga Mendoza Reporter “Reindeer glasses.”
Advertising manager Tara Ricke tara.ricke@franklincollege.edu Publisher John Krull jkrull@franklincollege.edu Adviser Ryan Gunterman rgunterman@franklincollege.edu
Tara Ricke Ads manager “An ice scraper.”
Hope Shrum Sports editor “A dog sweater than didn’t fit my dog.”
Matt Thomas Web editor “Anything from Shelby.”
Bryan Wells Photographer “A pair of shoes two sizes too small.”
GETTING IT RIGHT // NOV. 9 ISSUE •
On page 4, Kate Coffman, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, described previous efforts to repair the old website as “frankensteining.”
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On page 5, the cost of class sessions at Peace through Yoga was misidentified. Students can receive unlimited classes for $69 a month. Each individual session is $10.
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.
SCOOTERS MAKE SURPRISE DEBUT ON CAMPUS, AROUND CITY Company says scooters brought for ‘personal use’
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INBRIEF
ALIVIA BREWER | STORY alivia.brewer@franklincollege.edu
HISTORY STUDENTS TO PRESENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
The electric scooters that created a buzz students. Sophomore Shelby Tays rode the across Indianapolis this summer are popping scooters to and from her friends’ residences up in Franklin, but not intentionally. and says she hopes Lime will implement Lime, an electric them permanently. dockless scooter com“They are the best pany, has launched its thing I’ve experienced services in cities across all year,” Tays said. “I the country, includlove them.” ing Indianapolis and But they’ve caused Bloomington. Franklin, some controversy across however, is not one. the nation. When Lime Lime representative and Bird, another elecLara Beck told The tric scooter company, Franklin the scooters made their overnight have not launched in debut in Indianapolis in Franklin despite the June, the city immedicompany’s app showing ately raised concerns more than 20 placed over safety, both for throughout the city in riders and pedestriearly November. ans. The companies “It appears that temporarily pulled their someone from Indiservices off the streets anapolis may have while city officials creatbrought them to Franked regulations. lin for personal use,” The college is reviewJunior Austin Kitchen rides a Lime Beck said. ing its policy on electric scooter. The scooters appeared in This isn’t the first scooters. Still, there Franklin overnight Nov. 7. occurrence when some- AJ PROHASKA | PHOTO are also safety issues one has picked up the involved associated with scooters from a nearby city and moved them the electric scooters. to a new location, Beck said. The company Director of Security Steve Leonard said told The Franklin on Nov. 7 it planned to current college policy prohibits the use of remove the scooters from Franklin. electric scooters on campus. However, the As of Nov. 27, at least one scooter on college is looking to possibly amend that polcampus and several more in the area still icy and add regulations if the scooters were appeared on the Lime app. The scooters cost to remain in the area. $1 to start and 15 cents per minute. To launch Lime in Franklin, Beck said city Since making their debut on campus, the officials must work with Lime to provide the scooters have been well-received by several scooters and charging hubs, free of cost.
Six seniors will present their individual senior research projects in December. As part of their senior seminar for the history department, the students worked on research at the Johnson County Museum of History and the Indiana Historical Society over the semester. The theme is “Community and Conflict: Aspects of Nineteenth and TwentiethCentury Indiana History.” The projects range from an Indiana boy’s experience in the Civil War to the relationship between Americans, Germans and Italians at Camp Atterbury in the 1940s. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in the Dietz Center for Professional Development.
OUT ABOUT:
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12/1 FRANKLIN HOLIDAY LIGHTING Visit downtown Franklin for the annual holiday lighting and winter market. Festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. For a complete schedule, visit discoverdowntownfranklin.com
MEGAN’S FUND ACCEPTING FAMILY SPONSORS, DONATIONS Thirteen years after Johnson County resident Megan Williams was killed in a car accident, friends and family of the Greenwood teenager continue to honor her memory by helping local children during the holidays. Megan’s Fund collects sponsors to shop for Christmas gifts for children each year. Last year, they helped 250 children, and this year, they are still looking for volunteers to sponsor more than 150 children. “We’ve helped hundreds and hundreds of kids year after year so it’s amazing to see her legacy does continue to live on,” said Rachel Cline, program organizer and a former friend of Williams. Cash donations are also accepted at all Chase Bank locations. To become a sponsor, email megansfund@yahoo.com.
12/1 - 12/24 HOLIDAY HOUSE
12/7 - 12/16 HOLIDAZZLE!
A Greenwood family is opening their home to the public for their annual Holiday House. The house, located at 632 Locust Grove Ln. in Greenwood, features many holiday decorations, including 70 Christmas trees and a 212-piece Christmas village.
As part of its Cabaret series, Stage to Screen Studios in Greenwood presents an original production telling the story of the night before Christmas through song and dance.
Entrance is free, but donations are accepted for Riley Hospital for Children.
For showtimes and tickets, visit stagetoscreenstudios.com/cabaret-info/.
Want your event featured? Send information to thefranklin@franklincollege.edu.
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REGISTRATION OPENS FOR COLLEGE’S FIRST ‘PIVOT’ Administrators say pilot program will expand into several days ERICA IRISH | STORY erica.irish@franklincollege.edu
College leaders are laying the foundation for The Pursuit, Franklin College’s new curriculum, with a one-day program the final week of Immersive Term in January. This year, students under the new curriculum — including members of the class of 2022, new transfers and any student that has individually adopted the new curriculum — are required to complete a one-day pilot experience on Jan. 29 named “Pivot.” Dean of Student Success and Retention Keri Ellington served as a member of the Strategic Planning Around Reorganization of the Curriculum (SPARC) taskforce. This group was responsible for assessing and determining changes to be made to the learning experience at Franklin College. Pivot, Ellington said, is inspired by a similar program at Agnes Scott College, an all-women’s, private school in Decatur, Georgia. Her and other members of SPARC toured the campus, alongside others nationwide, to see what other small, private colleges’ programs could contribute to Franklin College’s changing curriculum. Each March, Agnes Scott College hosts a “Peak Week” for upperclassmen students, a four-day experience during which students do not have traditional classes. Instead they take a series of workshops designed to increase a student’s problem-solving skills and prepare for life after college. Similarly, Pivot will include a series of workshops that touch on every part of a student’s professional development, physical and mental wellness and personal life, framed in an event similar to a conference, including a keynote speaker and opening reception. While Pivot will only be a one-day event this January, it will expand into a multi-day program in future years, Ellington said. “We’re also looking for ways to expand the workshops to maybe get off campus,” Ellington said. “We’re trying to be really intentional with all of the efforts.” Registration for Pivot opened Nov. 12 for first-year students and any student who has adopted the new curriculum’s catalog. It will close during finals week Dec. 13. Courses are weighted in one-, two- and three-unit segments, with each unit representing one hour. Fifty-five sections of Pivot were made available to students.
Dean of Student Success and Retention Keri Ellington talks to The Franklin about Pivot, a one-day pilot program the final week of Immersive Term in January. Pivot will include a series of workshops designed to increase a student’s problem-solving skills and prepare for life after college. BRYAN WELLS | PHOTO
With only 34 students left to register as of Nov. 20, Ellington said most are opting for more variety. Many students are choosing three one-unit workshops, instead one threeunit or two-unit program. A variety of people are teaching the courses, from President Thomas Minar, who is hosting a formal discussion over tea at his home, to a handful of college staff and alumni. Ellington said an invitation was extended to all relevant members of the college community last spring to propose and, if chosen, teach a course. With an open-ended invitation came a variety of course topics. This year alone, Pivot offers sessions on stress and time management, job interviews, cooking, outdoor hobbies and social issues, among other themes. Freshman Anna Urton, who plans on majoring in psychology and philosophy, said she is looking forward to Pivot, where she will attend sessions on stress management, discussing politics and religion, and navigating fake news. “I really like the concept behind it,” Urton said. “It’s kind of a break from the regular classes we take, so if anything I think it
would have drawn me to Franklin more.” Another first-year student, Timber Falin, said she is pleased with the many options available for her Pivot experience. She will be taking courses in everything from beverage mixology to professional networking, but she wishes the program leaders had communicated the program to students earlier. “I just don’t think anyone knew exactly what it was,” Falin said. Until Ellington sent out a campus-wide email Nov. 1, Falin said her and other firstyear students in her LA 100 class had never heard of the program. Ellington, however, said the college made an effort to promote Pivot during the most recent spring and summer registration days, where incoming students would have first learned about graduation requirements and scheduled classes for fall semester. With only two months before Pivot launches, Ellington said there is much to look forward to and plenty to consider when the pilot program concludes. “I often say to folks that we’re building the boat while we’re sailing it,” Ellington said.
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BAND CONCERT TO HONOR SANDY HOOK TRAGEDY Group will be one of first in nation to play honorary music piece TAYLOR BROWN | STORY taylor.brown@franklincollege.edu
The Franklin College Band will be one of the first groups in the country to honor Sandy Hook Elementary School with an exclusive music piece. Michael Black, the college’s director of instrumental music, was attending the University of Connecticut in 2012 when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, killing 27 students and staff, including himself. “I felt kind of connected to it,” said Black, who lived about 75 miles away from Newtown at the time. “It was really close to home.” Six years later, and Black’s connection to the tragedy at Sandy Hook continues to follow him. Black wrote his master’s dissertation over composer Steve Danyew, who attended Sandy Hook Elementary as a child. When writing his dissertation, Black suggested Danyew to write a piece in memory of the tragic event. Danyew did just that, and last year, he reached out to Black asking if he would be a
The band rehearses “Into the Silent Land,” a piece composed by composer Steve Danyew in memory of victims to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. ANDREW LONGSTRETH | PHOTO
part of the group that funded the piece. The Franklin College Wind Ensemble is one of 36 bands across the nation that received premier playing rights to the piece titled, “Into the Silent Land.” The band
has the privilege to play the song before it is released to the public later in December. “The piece is really emotional,” sophomore Michjah Rippy said. “It isn’t always pretty like you want music to be, but this wasn’t a pretty time in America. There are parts that are intense and pull at your heartstrings.” Black said this piece has offered him an outlet for his own emotions. Immediately after the mass shooting occurred, Black said he felt like he needed to do something, but the only thing he could do was be sad. “This has really, in a selfish way, given me an opportunity to feel like I’ve done something,” Black said. The band will perform “Into the Silent Land” in a private concert Dec. 5 and a public concert Dec. 6 at 7 p.m in Custer Theater, located in Old Main. “I hope people will pause and think about how they fell and what they might do to stop things like this from happening again,” Black said. “Whatever that may be.”
WOMEN FIND PURPOSE IN MONTHLY GATHERINGS ‘Top Floor Women’ gives businesswomen a space to network, share ideas JESSIE MCCLAIN | STORY jessie.mcclain@franklincollege.edu
Local business owner Mindi Epstein envisioned a space where successful businesswomen could meet with one another and “rise together.” That’s the purpose of Top Floor Women, a community of women who meet once a month to network, share ideas and stories. “You hear how women can be each other’s own worst enemy, but there’s this whole other side to them that is supportive and uplifting,” Epstein said. “That’s what this is all about – lifting each other up.” Since its establishment in June, the group meets once a month at The Elevator, Franklin’s new co-working space at 26 E. Jefferson St. Each monthly meeting is aimed toward inspiring and encouraging women through hearing about other women’s successes, failures and vulnerabilities. Angie Stocklin, co-founder of One Click Ventures in Greenwood, attends Top Floor Women every month. Stocklin said com-
munities south of Indianapolis lack groups like this one, which is why she appreciates its location and purpose. Top Floor Women brings guest speakers to each gathering from across the country to share an address. Past speakers have included podcast producer and mentor Jen Edds and Cassie Stockcamp, president of the Athenaeum Foundation and founder of Monumental Yoga. “We have speakers of very diverse backgrounds,” Stocklin said. Epstein, owner of Franklin’s Peace through Yoga studio, said her mission is to inspire women to achieve their personal best through connection. The idea of a “personal best” is different for every individual, Epstein said, so in coming together, the women can help one another. “When one rises, we all rise together,” Epstein said. That one sentence captures the meaning
behind the name, “Top Floor Women,” defined on the group’s Facebook page as a name “to represent strength, encouragement and achievement.” When The Elevator agreed to host the monthly meeting, the group thought of being on the top floor. “Although ‘top floor’ has a very literal meaning,” the page reads, “it also represents all of our attendees finding what it means to reach their own personal top floor, whether in their career or personal life.” Alicia Tisdale, owner of Moxy Salon in Franklin and regular attendee, said the best part of joining this community is being able to help other women just like her. “I love to help people,” Tisdale said. “It’s part of my personality at its best; at its heart source.” Top Floor Women meetings are open to all women, including college students who want to network and share ideas – all for free. Meetings resume Jan. 30 at 8 a.m.
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hen freshman Avery Setser arrived on Franklin College’s campus for a visit, she knew she was supposed to be here. “It sounds cheesy when I say it, but I literally stepped foot on the campus and said, ‘This is where I want to be,’” Setser said, recalling the moment she knew Franklin would be her new home. Setser, a Danville native, never had her heart set on one college. Coming from a family of Big 10 sports fans, Setser loved Purdue University. At the same time, she also wanted to follow her mom’s footsteps at Western Colorado University, a small liberal arts college in Gunnison, Colorado. So many options loomed around her, and finding the right college didn’t come easy. That was until she visited Franklin, where her grandfather, uncle and other family members attended. The one-on-one attention she received from the admissions office, accompanied by the small community atmosphere, is what set Franklin apart from other schools. “People care about you here,” she said. But just a week into her first semester, however, Setser felt entirely different. “I didn’t really expect the college experience — just the first couple weeks — to be as wild and crazy as they were,” Setser said. “I struggled for a little bit. There was a two-week period where I got in a big slump.
I didn’t go to class. I got involved in a friend group that wasn’t good for me.” Setser sought help from Keri Ellington, who stepped into a new role this summer as dean of student success and retention. After meeting with Ellington one-on-one in mid-September, Setser was reminded of why she was at Franklin. The fear dissipated, and she no longer wanted to drop out. With a renewed focus on student success, Ellington said the college is doing all it can to help students be successful and stay enrolled at Franklin College. “Statistically, at Franklin College and across the country, the biggest retention issue is between a student’s first year and second year,” Ellington said. “The more an institution can do on the front end and throughout a student’s first year, the more likely they are to persist into their second year, and if a student comes back to Franklin College their second year, they’re very likely to finish up those next three years and graduate.” The college created Ellington’s new position with this in mind. If they can identify barriers to success early on, they may in turn
increase the college’s overall retention rate. “We’ve always been concerned about students being successful here,” Ellington said. “We’re just thinking of a new way to package that together in the role that I have.” Ellington listed four key areas that affect retention: engagement, academic preparedness, affordability and baggage. 1 ENGAGEMENT With about 50 student organizations and extracurricular activities on campus, students have an array of options to get involved with. Ellington said involvement is one of the key elements to ensuring student success. “Students are multifaceted so there’s a variety of things going on in their lives,” she said. “Looking for ways for students to be connected to the institution is a huge thing.” The college referenced University of California distinguished professor Alexander Astin’s Theory of Involvement to learn how involvement affects a student’s experience. A critical piece for students to be successful is that they feel a connection and engagement to the institution they attend, according to Astin.
For this reason, Ellington said the college knows students who participate in co-curricular events, work study or internships are more likely to be successful. 2 AFFORDABILITY Franklin College ranks No. 143 among 233 schools on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best national liberal arts colleges. The score takes into account affordability, among other factors. Tuition for the 2018-19 academic year costs $31,810, and room and board charges amount to about $10,000 depending on a meal plan. “College is expensive,” Ellington said. “But we believe in the product that Franklin College provides and the experience that we provide students to find their passions and be amazing when they graduate as Franklin College alumni.” She said some students know affording college is going to be a challenge. Even so, other students may face challenges in college that make tuition harder to pay for. 3 ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS The transition from the high school classroom to the college classroom can be difficult for several students, Ellington said. That’s why she also tries to find ways to ease that transition. Through a partnership with Katie Wehner, dean of academic success, Ellington
82% 80% 78% 76% 74% 72% 70% 68%
can pair students with the right academic resources, like an appointment with a Write Place or Math Study Center tutor. 4 BAGGAGE Moving to a new, unfamiliar city takes time to adjust to. Ellington said students come to college with their hardships, which can be difficult depending on the student’s situation. Freshman Chris Steeb said he wasn’t ready to face a new normal when he moved to Franklin two weeks early for football training camp. It was especially hard when he remembered all his family was home and he was the only one away. “My semester started out rough,” Steeb said. “I wasn’t used to being away from home and I got injured during the first week of training camp. I didn’t want to be here.” His father reached out to counselor John Shafer, who then connected Steeb with Ellington. Steeb met with Ellington the Thursday before the first day of classes. He said all it took was one sentence from Ellington to keep him at Franklin. “She said if I didn’t come to school, then I’d just be a statistic and wouldn’t want to come back,” Steeb said. “That stuck with me. I didn’t want to just be a statistic.”
FINDING SOLUTIONS Since the start of the school year, Ellington said she has had 117 one-on-one meetings with STUDENT RETENTION students. She said THROUGH THE YEARS this doesn’t necessarily mean 117 students have considered leaving, instead, Ellington tries to reach out to students before the thought enters their mind. She and a team of nine 2008- 2009- 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013- 2014- 2015- 2016- 2017other faculty and 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 staff members
Source: Tim Garner, Associate Vice President for Institutional Analytics and Special Projects
meet weekly to discuss resources available to students and identify how they can help students who have been recognized to be struggling in some way. Professors, resident assistants, staff, coaches and student leaders can file a “barrier to success” form that alerts Ellington and college administration of a student whose success may be endangered. The Student Success Team, which Ellington said has existed for a handful of years, consists of members of the admissions team and different faculty leaders on campus including counselor Sara Kinder and James Vincent Dunn, director of financial aid. When the team meets, Ellington said it can determine who should reach out to the student and what resources may be available. “If we hear from somebody that a student is struggling with anxiety or depression or homesickness, I might say to Dr. Shafer or Sara Kinder, ‘Hey, can you reach out to this person?’” Ellington said. “If I have information about somebody and it says they’re really struggling with financial aid, I say, ‘Hey Vinny, can you reach out to this student and see what’s happening with their financial aid package or are there any loans or scholarships or things we might be able to do?’” Tall strips of white paper line the hall leading to the Hamilton Auditorium in the Hamilton Library asking questions like, “How do you define success?” and “Who’s a successful role model you have?” Under the questions are post-it notes with student responses. Ellington said this is another effort to help students articulate what student success really means. “Students don’t necessarily need to know what ‘retention’ means,” she said. “The definition is helping students be successful and doing all we can to make sure they get to experience all the amazing things that are a part of Franklin College and ultimately cross that stage on graduation day knowing their future will be more successful because of the experience they’ve had here and the degree they’ve earned.”
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a new
PERSPECTIVE Junior Samantha Fain hopes her poetry can help society gain empathy VICTORIA RATLIFF | STORY
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EMILY HALES | DESIGN
amantha Fain sits down and thinks about the long day behind her. Suddenly, a line gets stuck in her head. She repeats the line over and over, until eventually, an entire poem is flowing through her fingers. She always had an interest in human behavior, language and communication. When Fain, a junior, enrolled at Franklin College, she intended to major in psychology and minor in creative writing and Spanish. Since then, she has decided to also pursue creative writing as a major and has had her poetry published in six different national publications. In 2017, Fain’s work was accepted for the Indianapolis Review, a national poetry and art publication. This moment changed her perspective on how valuable her work is. “It made me realize that this might be something that I can turn into a career,” Fain said. At first, Fain felt as though the publications pitied her work and published her just so she wouldn’t feel bad about her abilities. But, after her fifth publication, she realized maybe she was better than she gave herself credit for. When Fain decided to add on creative writing as a major, she knew she wanted to keep pursing psychology and Spanish as well, she said. Fain values communication,
ABIGAIL LARKEN | PHOTOS
which she said makes her work stronger. With her psychology major, Fain’s knowledge of the mind helped her understand why poetry is important to the world. “I think [empathy] is the gateway to creating communication and better relationships and more understanding,” she said. However, Fain’s passion for writing didn’t start at Franklin College. Her love for poetry began in middle school, she said. Poetry was especially enticing to Fain because of its less-structured storytelling. “I just needed an outlet for my emotions,” Fain said. She finds inspiration from her everyday life to express her emotions, especially her relationship with her mom. Fain said she used her writing to let out feelings about their complex relationship over the years. “My mom and I’s relationship is good now, but it’s been complicated in the past,” she said. Fain has found other ways of venting her emotions, such as through embroidery. Now, she uses poetry as a way for others to better understand the world around them. “The poet’s role in the world is to help build empathy and build a new perspective for other people to understand,” she said. Callista Buchen, assistant professor of English, has helped Fain throughout her three years at Franklin College. She has pushed Fain to submit her works for
publication and has worked closely to help hone her skills. “She has always had a really exciting and innovative command of language and imagery,” Buchen said. Throughout her time at Franklin, Buchen has watched Fain’s dedication for her poetry grow. She said the reason Fain has seen the amount of success she has, is because of her hard work and value of improvement and growth. “Franklin as an institution has been great for Sam, for her to learn and grow in multiple fields, and in order to be a good writer you need to be in tune with all of those things,” Buchen said. Still, Fain isn’t certain of what career she wants to pursue after graduation. Ideally, she wants to attend graduate school to pass down her knowledge and love for human behavior and language to become either an English professor or a counselor. Fain uses poetry as a way to help others better their comprehension of society on a human level. She hopes her work will make an impact on people’s understanding of their world, since a better understanding of others begins with exposure to other ways of thinking. “With how diverse the world is today, it’s really important to have some foundation for bettering our perspectives,” she said.
OPINION
EDITORIAL | FRANKLIN COMMUNITY NEEDS STUDENTS The relationship between campus and city warrants improvement Where Branigin Boulevard and Jefferson Street intersect, it’s easy to see how close Franklin College’s campus is to the Franklin, Indiana community. The 207-acre campus, some might think, exists in partnership with the city of Franklin. In many ways, the two entities do work together. At the beginning of each academic year, a key event in the first-year orientation experience includes a day of service — Franklin Offering the Community Unselfish Service (FOCUS) Day — during which new students volunteer for organizations and businesses like the Historic Artcraft Theatre and Access Johnson County. But there remains a culture at Franklin College where few of its students actively and honestly engage with the community in which they live, work and learn. Though FOCUS Day might offer a tangible introduction to the city of Franklin, its longevity is limited. Some students, for example, might spend their four years at Franklin College never eating at one of Franklin’s downtown restaurants or never attending one its many public celebrations. As The Franklin reported in an article last March, sources from a group of the 15 locally owned businesses within a mile of the college said that student spending often shows little to no effect on overall profits. One man interviewed in this case — Jason Tapp, owner of Greek’s Pizzeria and Tapp Room, located at 18 E. Jefferson St. and the selected outing for a recent FC on
the Town event on Nov. 16 — speculated that the distance of his business from campus could contribute to the lack of student interest and patronage. Greek’s Pizzeria and Tapp Room is just 0.5 miles from campus, which is equivalent of a one-minute drive, according to directions provided by MapQuest. If a student doesn’t have access to a car, this is a small distance to walk to contribute to the city’s economy and to understand how local life contributes to the history of Franklin College. Many businesses in the downtown Franklin area also offer student discounts or comparable deals to incentivize students to visit their establishments. But students should also remember that authentic involvement is about more than spending money. Steve Barnett, mayor of the city of Franklin since January 2017 and a citynative, said college students can make an impact by their presence alone. In a phone call with The Franklin, the mayor recalled times when he would see dozens of fliers dotting business windows in downtown Franklin advertising sports and arts events, most of which were student-designed posters. Though Barnett said he meets with Franklin College President Thomas Minar each month to discuss how their institutions can continue to drive joint efforts, the mayor said much has changed on the student front. “There was positive involvement for sev-
Franklin College students should make an authentic effort to involve themselves in the larger Franklin, Indiana community. THE FRANKLIN EDITORIAL BOARD
eral years, and then several years of silence,” Barnett said. “You can be a part of the community by just voicing your opinion.” Conversely, making a positive difference takes about as much effort as visiting city council meetings or engaging with local businesses. Involvement in the community means walking through town and the neighborhoods adjacent to campus, to simply get a larger sense of the college’s place in the city. Contributing to Franklin is as easy as going to free academic events at the Johnson County Public Library and author meetand-greets at Wild Geese Bookshop, even when it’s not offered for extra credit. Being present means volunteering with Discover Downtown Franklin during the city’s festivals, such as the upcoming Holiday Lighting on Dec. 1. Most of Franklin College’s students only have four years in this community. Learn to make the most of it by seeking active participation in a city that wants, and needs, input from young people. “The city is grateful for the college. We’re not only the county seat, we’re a college town,” Barnett said. “And we want college students to help shape Franklin’s future.”
STUDENT DISCOUNTS AROUND TOWN Historic Artcraft Theatre: 57 N. Main St. | $1 off regular movie ticket price [excludes shows part of the Brew & View and Women & Wine series] Wild Geese Bookshop: 107 S. Water St. | 10% off purchase with student ID Brick Street Boutique: 34 E. Jefferson St. | Offers regular sales exclusive to Franklin College students. Check brickstreetboutique.com for more information. Salon 33: 33 N. Main St. | 20% off visit with student ID Benjamin's Coffeehouse: 49 E. Court St. | $1 off purchase with student ID Gigi's Sugar Shack Cafe: 377 E. Jefferson St. Suite B | 10% off purchase with student ID The listing above features a small sampling of the many student discounts local Franklin businesses have to offer. Check out these businesses in person for more information and new deals. EMILY HALES | GRAPHIC
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REALITY CHECK | IN SEARCH OF A TRUE HOME
Even across borders and time, the weight of culture and tradition remains Moving to a different country is hard enough but losing your culture — sometimes without even CAROLINA knowing it — is PUGA MENDOZA even harder. My only family that lives in the United States today are my parents and my brother, my uncle, his wife and his two children. We are Mexican. We have big families. Out of the 40 people I grew up with, I now only see seven on a regular basis. Over the years, too, my parents stopped celebrating many of our old traditions. There are no more big birthday parties, where I would sit and giggle alongside my cousins. There are no family gatherings to make tamales for Día de los Muertos alongside the warm smell of hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon consuming the house. There is no kitchen crowded with people trying to organize everyone’s job for dinner. I hear people complaining they don’t want to go home for the holidays. They talk about how it’s going to be annoying to see
their relatives during the holidays. At least they have a family living close enough to enjoy. Lourdes Hurtado, Franklin College history professor, also copes with a life away from her relatives, most of whom live 3,500 miles away in Peru. She values every opportunity to visit her home and remember her family traditions. “Participating in these popular celebrations of the small towns is a way to reconnect with your roots,” Hurtado said. “Going to these village parties, for me it is a way to reconnect with my grandparents and my great-grandparents who lived there.” During big celebrations such as Christmas or New Year’s Eve, my family would play a traditional “Loteria” game — like bingo, but with pictures — and get mad when it was time to pay up. All of the screaming, laugher and shouts of the one person who makes sure the winner is saying the truth is now silent. We would string up the piñata outside, where everyone would be chanting and throwing themselves under the smashed paper and cardboard to steal one little lollipop from everyone else.
Now, winter is gloomy for us. We often choose to sit in the living room and watch a movie. If we are lucky, we might celebrate with others, but most of the time, it’s only my parents and my brother. Purchasing a plane ticket to Mexico isn’t easy, as we don’t have the luxury to spend that much money. Even if I were to visit Mexico now, I would get my Spanish words mixed up. I would need a dictionary because the new school subjects I learned are in English. I would have to retake history, Spanish, geography and politics because everything I learned in Mexico has been forgotten throughout my time in the United States. Who’s the first president of the United States? George Washington. Who’s the first president of Mexico? No idea. Moving to a different country expands your knowledge. I have met incredible people throughout my five years in the United States. My dreams of traveling the world became a reality. And now, I am privileged to attend a good college. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss my home. You can’t completely forget where you came from. But you can start to lose it.
TO DO | INCOMING COFFEEHOUSE RAISES QUESTIONS As Greenwood coffee shop preps for move, Marshmallow Monkey makes room Marshmallow Monkey, a home decor shop that has become a staple of the downtown Franklin shopping community, ARIANA LOVITT announced plans to move its business to the owners’ family farm in Morgan County next spring. Coffeehouse Five, a non-profit, faithbased coffeeshop in Greenwood, recently issued its own plans to open a new location in Marshmallow Monkey’s place, filling a possible substantial retail gap in Franklin. The two businesses, according to a joint press release, plan to maintain a working relationship that would allow Marshmallow Monkey customers to pick up their online orders at the coffeehouse. But is this the best decision for the wider Franklin community? Downtown Franklin is already home to
a handful of unique coffeeshops and cafes, including Benjamin’s Coffeehouse, Court Street Cafe, 1823 Bakehouse and Main & Madison Market Cafe. With this many options available, it’s possible that Coffeehouse Five won’t add much. It might even endanger its own business prospects by entering a crowded market. However, that’s not to say Coffeehouse Five’s for-benefit community services wouldn’t help Franklin. The business is known and loved in Johnson County for its Sunday church services, as well as its free marriage and addiction counseling. In 2018, for example, 101 clients received free counseling. This number is only expected to grow with the new store. Brian Peters, owner of Coffeehouse Five, said adding a new location is essential to gather enough revenue to expand the store’s counseling services — a concept he is hopeful the Franklin community will support. As a former regular of Coffeehouse Five, having a coffeeshop that was the stomping
Marshmallow Monkey’s current home on Monroe Street is up for sale. The retail store offers a variety of home goods, seasonal decorations and gifts. PEYTAN MILLS | PHOTO
grounds of my adolescent life within walking distance sounds great. But is it just as great for the community? Perhaps the downtown Franklin area could use a new type of business, but another coffeeshop can wait.
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BEYOND THE BEAT | ACCELERATING WOMEN
Listeners should embrace fair standards for female artists, their work
RELATED LISTENS
Women in music are not uncommon. From Ariana Grande to Billie Eilish, there is a wide array of female performers. KARA SIMON The music industry has also subjected women to criticism for years, in a way that often surpasses genuine critiques of the quality of an artist’s music. Society has set many standards for a woman in the spotlight to meet. The ideal, successful female celebrity should appear poised and beautiful, with just the right amount of provocativeness and sex appeal. Women who do not fix themselves to this mold are publicly disapproved of and, worse, their careers are often harmed and overshadowed by these judgments. Nicole Dular, a philosophy professor on campus specializing in ethics and feminist thought, said artists today are fighting against these unjust standards through their lyricism, which might reclaim a right to their sexuality and individuality. “Musicians are entertainers, and women
have demands for their artistic persona,” Dular said. “They are being asked to be artistic but also to be attractive.” Growing up, too, my mom introduced me to powerful female artists like Madonna, Paula Abdul and Stevie Nicks. All were female artists that frequently pushed the boundaries of their times. Throughout her career, for example, Madonna received backlash for her fashion, her provocative stage performances and her overall resistance to conform to the standard image of the female pop artist. Seeing a female performer for the art she creates, not just her appearance, is key for the success of the artist and the listeners. Isn’t music, after all, the important part? Dular said standards for women are not just limited to appearance. Women are expected to not only look pretty, but they must sound pretty, as well. The expectations of females in society also affects younger listeners, leading them to believe that these assumptions are correct, and they, too, should follow them. Thankfully, some local groups are actively combatting these toxic standards. Girls Rock! Indianapolis is an organiza-
TWO CENTS ON MOVIES
Examining the comic giant who helped create some of the world’s most iconic fictional characters
In 1922, a man who would change the world was born. And on Nov. 12, 2018, that same man died at the age of 95. Stan Lee was CHAZ HILL partly responsible for the blossoming of Marvel Comics into the entertainment juggernaut it is today, and, odds are, he helped create one of your favorite pop culture icons, such as: Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk. Before producing these characters, however, Lee bravely served in the United States Army during World War II. Hoping to be a hero, he volunteered as soon as the war broke out. In his time there, he worked as a propaganda artist, technical writer and training filmmaker.
In the 1960s, Lee returned to create a community for comic book enthusiasts. To accomplish this, he wrote a monthly column called “Stan’s Soapbox,” where he discussed issues facing the country at the time, including racism and persecution. Comics were more than just kids’ books to Lee; he saw the value of entertainment for both children and adults. Others have recognized that value, too. According to boxofficemojo.com, if one summated all of the grosses for every movie based on the Marvel Comics characters, the total is over $12 trillion. However, Lee’s influence on the individual reader should be remembered. Professor James Alexander, department chair of religion and philosophy at Franklin College, turned to comics in the fourth grade after his father suffered a farming accident, where he shattered a C-4 vertebra and lost feeling below his shoulders.
“Cherish” by Madonna “Sweetener” by Ariana Grande “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac “Forever Your Girl” by Paula Abdul “Love On Top” by Beyonce
tion that hosts an annual summer camp for girls age 9 to 16 to show them the “transformative and revolutionary power of using creative expression,” particularly through music, “as a means for social change.” Like Girls Rock!, more people should teach the younger generation to eliminate preexisting standards for what a woman should be and instead show them how to embrace their unique creations.
Alexander began to read “Knightfall,” a storyline in the DC universe, where the villain Bane breaks Batman’s back, who spends the rest of the comic in recovery. “Fiction can relate to real-life scenarios and help you cope through them,” Alexander said. Though it is not a Stan Lee comic, it goes to show that stories matter. Whether it be a novel, comic or a film, Lee knew that people find hope and light in stories. Alexander, who has taught classes on Marvel comics, says that, while the world should not defy Lee, it should recognize his character. This is best shown in the statements in his soap box columns and his ability to build relatable, flawed characters; Tony Stark’s alcoholism and Peter Parker’s social anxiety are keynote examples. Through the creation of superheroes, the man became one himself — with every last “Excelsior!” at the tail end of his columns.
SPORTS
NEW FACES TAKE THE GRIZZLIES COURT Women’s basketball team hits a learning curve with 11 freshmen players TAYLOR WOOTEN | STORY taylor.wooten@franklincollege.edu
With 11 of 20 girls on the roster being freshmen, the women’s basketball team has an overwhelmingly young program. The new members bring challenges, as well as versatility, said head coach Dana Haggenjos. “It’s been fun; there’s been a lot of energy, but obviously a lot of learning is taking place now,” Haggenjos said, referring to the team’s new players. During the team’s season opener Nov. 11, the defense set a program record for fewest points allowed, crushing Mount Mary 92-16. For her performance in that game, freshman guard Karlee Welding was named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week for women’s basketball Nov. 12. While the season started off on a high note, hard-fought losses against Carnegie Mellon and Wooster Nov. 17 and 18 told a different story. Haggenjos hopes the defense will be the
team’s asset this year. “If you watched us this weekend, our defense was not our strength; that’s why we lost two games,” she said. With young players comes a need for solid leadership. Mallory Cast, one of two seniors on the team, has done her best to step into this role. “This year I’ve definitely had to take on a different role than the one I had in past years,” Cast said. In hopes of helping her teammates on the court, Cast has become a vocal leader as she can see everything that is going on. “It’s been different, but I actually enjoy taking that position,” Cast said. Cast’s leadership ability has not gone unnoticed. Haggenjos said Cast has done an exceptional job being more vocal on the court and exhibiting a better work ethic than she has in her past years on the team.
Compared to last year’s team, this year’s team can score quickly and put a lot of points on the board, while last year’s team was mostly skilled at defense. “Our biggest strength is probably our versatility,” Haggenjos said. “We have a lot of perimeter players who can do a lot of different things, whereas I felt like we were very one-dimensional last year.” She said the team can run the ball from the inside and outside, whereas, due to a lack of size, last year’s team could only run it from the outside coming in. Overall, the team is moving towards being a more communicative group, while allowing the newer players to gain experience and learn how to play the college game. “We talked about not using our youth as a crutch, but using it as a strength — as a positive — moving forward,” Haggenjos said.
GRIZZLIES PREPARE FOR WINTER SEASON Prather says team’s depth could be key to conference success ABRAHM HURT | STORY abrahm.hurt@franklincollege.edu
A young, but experienced, men’s basketball team is ready to take on a new season. Though the team does not have any seniors and only a handful of juniors, head coach Kerry Prather said one of the strengths of this year’s team is their depth. “It’s great chemistry, great enthusiasm, great effort,” he said. “We had really good practices day in and day out, I think because it’s more competitive and most guys like that.” Prather also said the young team points toward a year of success. “We get our bearings here, and we get some consistency to our play, then I think we’re going to be in a position where, not only can we be good, but we could be good for a while,” he said. The team’s goal is to become more consistent and limit unforced turnovers. Prather said there are some times when turnovers can’t be helped because the games are played at a fast pace. Sophomore guard Sam Gutierrez said he would like to see the team finish games
better this year. “We had many conference games last year that were decided by just a few possessions, and our experience of that from last year should better our discipline to be able to finish those possessions,” he said. The team has already seen Prather win his 500th career victory, while witnessing improved play from sophomore forward Danny Goggans. Prather earned the 500th win in the season opener against Otterbein University 84-77, Nov. 9. “You’re so focused on just getting a win, not the 500th, but the first because we’re trying to get as many wins this season as we can,” Prather said. On the same night, Goggans dropped 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, which led to him earning his first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week award. Goggans is thankful to be back on the court with his team. “It seems like a long time coming since I went out last year to injury, so I’m just happy
Sophomore Danny Goggans drives the ball past an Otterbein defender Nov. 9. QUINN FITZGERALD | PHOTO
to be back out there,” he said. Goggans said he would like to see the team grow into one of the toughest teams to compete against. “We have all the talent we need, and we have talent that will be here for years to come,” he said. “Now it’s just time for us to grow tougher and be a team that opponents hate playing against.”
INTO THE
WATER Eight-time diver of the week reflects on past, present and future in the water HOPE SHRUM | STORY, PHOTO + DESIGN
A
ll eyes are on one girl as she stands nearly 10 feet in the air with water bubbling from the small jets below her. “Just take it slow,” she tells herself. “One step at a time. Stand up straight. Keep your head up.” She leaps, then flips two and a half times before entering the water. The only female diver on the Franklin College swimming and diving team, sophomore Lexi Blackburn has held the title of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Diver of the Week for the past five weeks. She now has eight career conference diver of the week awards. To prepare for this season, Blackburn started working out every day in the fall. Even the early morning workouts couldn’t deter her from her ultimate goal: to make it to nationals this year. “[Lexi has] already qualified for the NCAA Diving Regional,” said Ty Hoff-
man, assistant swimming and diving coach. “I’m hoping we can put enough degree of difficulty into her list that she can get out of the regional list and make it to the actual nationals.” Hoffman said Blackburn will start completing new dives with higher difficulty levels as she works toward the regional meet, in hopes of qualifying for nationals. When Blackburn first started diving in seventh grade, she never imagined herself getting this far.
Her middle school swim team needed a diver, and since Blackburn was a competitive cheerleader, her coach asked her to try a dive. “It was just a one-time thing, and I was like, ‘Cool. I like it,” she said. That’s when her diving journey started. Although Blackburn has accomplished much in the early weeks of this season, she reminds herself to always stay humble. Her teammates believe she is a very positive person in and out of the pool.
R Sophomore swimmer Jessica Halsmer said Blackburn is always supportive, and she’s always cheering on everyone. “She’ll always have a smile on her face about something, and she’s always giggling,” Halsmer said. At the meets, Blackburn is friendly and talking to everyone. Since she only participates in diving events, Blackburn has plenty of time to cheer on her teammates. Hoffman said Blackburn is a “great team member.” Likewise, she is incredibly easy to
coach because she accepts criticism well and makes corrections easily, he said. Blackburn continues to dive because she enjoys being able to see her progress. “I can see in the way that I am diving that I am slowly getting better, so it’s just really nice and rewarding to see that,” she said. Outside of the water, Blackburn is active in Greek Life on campus. She is a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She is also involved in the college’s Panhellenic Conference, where she serves as
the vice president of scholarship. When she returns from winter break, Blackburn will take over as president. Her position currently requires her to check every chapter’s members’ GPAs. Anyone with the sororities’ average GPA or higher receives a certificate and cookies delivered by Blackburn. Whether she’s with her sorority sisters, having a meal in Sodexo with friends or training in the weight room, expect to see Blackburn enjoying it all.
LAST LOOK MORGAN BRYANT, FRESHMAN
Bryant places food on her plate during the Franklin College Pride Alliance Thanksgiving dinner. “I think it’s important to have a celebration with members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially because not all of us have supportive families; that can lead to uncomfortable feelings about the holidays. It’s a good way for everyone to feel loved and appreciated,” Bryant said. LACEY WATT | COVER PHOTO QUINN FITZGERALD I BACK PHOTO