Cricket’s: the newest boutique downtown pg. 6 & 7
Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper vol. 164, issue 31 Admissions ambassador applications see huge spike, number of first-year mentor applications continue to grow Friday, February 26, 2016
BY GEORGIA GREEN news@thedepauw.com
The number of admissions ambassador applications this year nearly doubled from previous years. With over 80 applicants, the admissions staff must accommodate for this large pool of interested students by adjusting its interviewing process. Anna Logan, DePauw’s admissions visit coordinator, is not surprised by this increase in numbers. “I think we did a better job of advertising,” Logan said. “It just seems like in past years, I had a lot of students contact me after the process was over saying, ‘I’m interested in being a tour guide,’ and they had completely missed out. So I just wanted to make sure that this year, we advertised it more broadly to be sure that everyone was aware of it.” In order to initially obtain applicants for the admissions ambassador position, the staff asked faculty to nominate students. The staff reached out to these students first by informing them about the process and sending them the application. Next, they advertised on campus through the classifieds. “Sometimes, that works great,” Logan said. “Other times, it seems like you put something on there and it just gets lost. So I tried to go back to it often, almost daily, and refresh it so that students would see it.” The staff also used word of mouth to spread the news about the position through their current ambassadors, senior mentors, members of the admissions staff and even Tiger Hosts. First-year Megan Mannering learned of the position in a different way. “I work for D3TV’s “The Source” as an anchor, and one night, I was read-
Admissions Ambassador and junior DePauw Student Elizabeth St. John shows a prospective group of new Ambassadors the ropes on a tour. REBECA BAGDOCIMO / THE DEPAUW ing on the teleprompter that they were interview process, as opposed to the ting, but the kind of setting that they looking for admissions ambassadors. singular interview conducted in previ- would be in when they’re out on a I thought that it would be right up my ous years. tour,” she said. alley,” Mannering said. “We’re going to let all of the apThose who rise to the top of that There are currently 40 ambassa- plicants go on a tour so that our ap- process will be invited for a final interdors on staff, 14 of whom will gradu- plicants have an idea of the knowl- view, and candidates will be selected. ate this May. Logan also said that a edge that we like our ambassadors to Logan stressed that the admisnumber of the current ambassadors have,” Logan said. sions ambassadors play a vital role in will become senior interns, but that Logan explained that the position the Office of Admissions. Due to Deexact number is still unknown. From requires an adequate amount of work Pauw’s location near I-70, Logan said these numbers, Logan expects to hire and commitment, and the mock tour several families stop by to simply take between 20 and 25 new admissions gives the applicants a chance to real- a tour and leave. ambassadors. ize that. “So the ambassador position is In order to accommodate for this “It’s a time for us to be able to see key,” Logan said. “They may be our large increase in cuts that the staff their presentation and interpersonal one shot at getting a family hooked, must make, they will enact a two-step skills in a somewhat more casual set- so we just want to find the most dy-
namic students that can help us with that.” “It’s funny, when I do these tour guide interviews from year to year, one of the things we say is to tell us about their college experience and what really hooked them on DePauw,” she continued. “You would be surprised at how often we hear, ‘I just remember my tour when I came. The tour guide was wonderful, they told such good stories, they were so impressive…’ After you’ve done this for a few years and you’ve talked to current students and their process coming in, you realize how impactful it is.” While admissions ambassador positions experienced an unusual spike in applicants unique to this year, the first-year mentor positions continue to become more and more competitive each year. The process for hiring first-year mentors commences at the beginning of the spring semester. “We ask all potential mentors to go through an information session,” said Dean of Students Cara Setchell. “We get a lot of interest in the position, and it’s not always clear to people what a mentor is. They can see what their mentor did for them, but there is so much behind the scenes that mentors do.” Next, candidates must fill out a standard application, submit two recommendations and participate in a group interview. These interviews began on Tuesday night and will continue throughout the week. The interviews, however, are unlike those for a traditional job.
AMBASSADORS cont. on pg. 4
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The DePauw | News
TDP www. thedepauw.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 VOL. 164, ISSUE 31 Emily McCarter Meg Morrow Julie Block
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor News Editors Features Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editors Photo Editor Design Editor Digital Editor Web Editor Social Media Editor Multimedia Editor Staff Writers Staff Photographers Business Manager
Georgia Green Katie O’Laughlin Kienne Coram Alex Weilhammer Mike Wetoska Mallory Dillon Sam Caravana Meg Morrow Sam Caravana Grant Skipper Christa Schroedel Morgan Flowers Emma Mazurek Nettie Finn Rebeca Bagdocimo Zach Taylor Nico Moorman
Hoover Hall scheduled to finish on time BY EMMA MAZUREK news@thedepauw.com
Although Hoover Hall’s finishing date seems far away, the building is coming along rather quickly. The brick masonry was just completed. The mason is still on campus working on the granite below the windows and at the base. Almost the entire bottom layer of the slate roof is done, and the slate roof itself will be installed when the weather is nice enough to allow it. The application of drywall on the inside of the building has begun in the main dining hall and the east and west wings. The mechanical and electrical systems as well as the equipment are being installed in the inside of the building. “We’re thorough about the areas where we think timing and budget would be at most risk, so we think we’ll hit it,” said Brad Kelsheimer, the vice president for finance and administration. “So far the team has done a really good job of anticipating the next challenges coming up and being able to find good solutions that don’t stop progress,” said Project Manager Warren Whitesell. But that is not to say that building Hoover
Hall has been easy or simple. “There’s a host of very specific details in the building, so making sure that all of those details and all those materials line up with each other is probably one of the larger challenges,” Whitesell said. Some students think these challenges may be too hard to overcome in time to finish the building by the scheduled date. “I think it’s a really cool idea that we’re all going to be able to come together and eat together in a big open setting, but I do have my concerns, like most DePauw students, about whether or not it’s going to be done on time,” first-year Emily Green said. The building is scheduled to be finished on Oct. 31, 2016, but there is still plenty of work to do. In March, the construction crew will build the steps from Burkhart walk to the west side of the building. There are some underground storm structures that need to go in on the west side. There are also some underground electrical units that need to be installed. Inside the building, the drywall will continue to be built. Then, the wood trimmer will start after the air systems are working. But after all the work is done, the building should pay off.
“The functionality of the building will be so much better than what students are used to,” Kelsheimer said. Kelsheimer believes that the building has potential to shape the future of DePauw’s campus and community, including not just students, but faculty and staff as well. “Having a place where faculty can be together and have events and just eating together will be a culture change for this campus,” Kelsheimer said. ““It’s been a positive experience even relative to other construction.” Despite the extra time that will be put into renovating the Union building and the areas around it to turn it into the plaza after Hoover’s construction is completed, the campus will have a new place for people to meet. “When you have the new wall of the old Union building built, the Hoover Hall building, the plaza, I think it will be a really inviting place, and the hope is that the DePauw community will want to gather there,” Whitesell said. Those who wish to see more of Hoover Hall can go to DePauw’s website and watch construction through cameras. Students may also schedule a time to take a tour inside the building. “When you’ve seen the outside of it, the inside of it is equally impressive,” Whitesell said.
THE DEPAUW: (USPS 150-120) is a tabloid published most Tuesdays and Fridays of the school year by the DePauw University Board of Control of Student Publications. The DePauw is delivered free of charge around campus. Paid circulation is limited to mailed copies of the newspaper. THE HISTORY: In its 163nd year, The DePauw is Indiana’s oldest college newspaper, founded in 1852 under the name Asbury Notes. The DePauw is an independent, not-for-profit organization and is fully staffed by students. THE BUSINESS: The DePauw reserves the right to edit, alter or reject any advertising. No specific positions in the newspaper are sold, but every effort will be made to accommodate advertisers. For the Tuesday addition, advertising copy must be in the hands of The DePauw by 5 p.m. the preceding Sunday; for the Friday editions, the copy deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday. The DePauw Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media 609 S. Locust St., Greencastle, IN 46135 Editor-in-Chief: 765-658-5973 | editor@thedepauw.com Subscriptions: business@thedepauw.com Advertising: advertising@thedepauw.com
sack o’ dicks
Drywall and lifts litter the construction site as interior walls are put in place at Hoover Hall. KALEB VANARSDALE / THE DEPAUW
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The DePauw | News DePauw’s first African-American professor connects athletics, art and diversity BY KATIE O’LAUGHLIN news@thedepauw.com
Willis H. Davis, a ’59 alumnus and the first African-American professor at DePauw, was recently featured as a cultural hero in his hometown’s newspaper, the Dayton Daily News, for his active participation in the community through his art studio. Davis--more often referred to as “Bing”--taught art from 1970-76. He originally arrived at DePauw as a student after being taken under the wing of then-DePauw coach Dean Dooley. Bing met Dooley when he was just 12 years old. When Bing graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1955, Dooley brought him to DePauw on his own dime. “Dooley was not only my track and basketball coach,” Bing said. “He was a father figure to me and we were close friends until the day he died.” When Bing arrived on campus as a first-year, he was one of only two African-American students in his class. The other African-American student was a female. At this time, there were less than 10 African-American students on DePauw’s campus. “The DePauw experience for me was different than most,” Bing said. “The African-American community, no matter how small, at DePauw and in the city of Greencastle nurtured me and encouraged me to do what I do today.” Bing also found solace in his study of art history, which would lead to the artistic influence in his future endeavors. After graduating from DePauw, Bing continued to learn about art from different cultures. “One of the most important things I learned from DePauw was lifelong learning,” he said. “I was able to take my education upon myself and gained a much deeper insight of art because of it.” Bing realized after these years of learning about cultural art that it is almost entirely about the people behind it. This revelation changed his life and his teaching, a profession he was inspired by Dooley to pursue. “Art became a vehicle and the students I taught became the most important part of the art,” he said. Upon his return to DePauw as the first African-American professor of the university, Bing taught African-American art, a
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Lizzy just got a shoutout on Depauw’s radio station from a guy she met on Tinder...
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The fact that Gabriela Lena Frank added so many DePauw students on facebook makes me happy DePauw Women’s Swim @DePauwWswim
DePauw women’s swimming has 6 invited to the NCAA Championships! Congrats ladies!! @ NCAA #teamdepauw
INSTAGRAM PHOTO OF THE ISSUE
curriculum that had not been PHOTO COURTESY OF DAYTON DAILY offered when he was a student there. Pauw under a departing President Casey, “A lot of students I teach are surprised Bing said, “I love DePauw, and I especialwhen I tell them I was an athlete in col- ly love how it has become more diverse lege. They don’t see the connection be- and more inclusive. That was one of my tween sports and art,” Bing said. “When goals and dreams for DePauw, which is you’re out there shooting baskets in the why I tried so hard to lay a foundation for summertime, you are simply making your- this growth.” self better. You are refining your skill and Bing believes that DePauw is on the you learn that you get out what you put road to greatness when it comes to diverin. ...I do the same thing in the art studio. sity. He hopes that students won’t forget There is a direct correlation.” where DePauw began and how far it has Reflecting on the current state of De- come since he arrived on campus in 1955.
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The DePauw | News
Write for the oldest college newspaper in Indiana
come to storyboard meetings every Wednesday and Sunday in the PCCM Newsroom AMBASSADORS cont. FROM pg. 1 “Candidates are put into a group of eight to ten of their peer candidates, and we take them through a couple of activities to see what their leadership style looks like, what their interpersonal skills look like, how they communicate with others, what role they play on a team, how they think through some critical issues,” Setchell said. Junior and first-year mentor Lizzy Gering enjoyed the unique interview process. “The interview process made me
really nervous at first,” Gering said, “but when I got to the group interview stage, it was so much fun. I loved comparing ideas with people and coming up with answers as a group on a time crunch. The energy in my room was really high and positive. We seemed to play off of each other really well.” After review of applications and group interviews, finalists are selected to participate in a two-part individual interview, one with Setchell and the other with a current peer mentor. Peer mentors help run the mentor program by supervising groups of first-year mentors. Current first-year mentors who want to return to staff for the following year must apply again. There are
about 25 current mentors who want to return, and there are 45 mentor positions to be filled each year. Setchell anticipates hiring 20 to 30 new mentors. With100 candidates for the position, only one in four applicants will be hired. The position has been attracting more rising seniors as opposed to sophomores and juniors in recent years. Setchell said that this was an intentional move by the staff. “I like having that diverse perspective on staff,” Setchell said. “Sophomores can relate more easily to a first-year student, whereas a senior has more distance and can give different perspective. They can say things like, ‘I know that situation probably seems really, really overwhelm-
ing to you right now. I was there as a first-year student, but let me tell you how I’m looking back on it now and the perspective I’ve gained on it.’” Along with recruiting a diverse team of first-year mentors from different backgrounds, campus experiences and interests who can learn from each other, Setchell explained that she primarily asks four things of her first-year mentors to do for their students. “Be there, listen, show care and empathy and concern, and refer them to different resources on campus who can be a part of their support network,” she said. Gering found her first-year mentor experience exceptionally gratifying. “Nothing is as rewarding as see-
ing your mentees succeed, or talking through a problem with them and seeing the moment that something clicks in their head, and they just light up,” Gering said. “I feel like a proud mom every time I see one of my guys write an article, or perform in a concert, or get really involved in a club, or get elected to a cabinet position, or get an A on a test. I brag about [them] and their accomplishments all the time, big and small.” Logan hopes to have new admissions ambassadors selected by March 10, while mentors should be announced by April 1.
Inaugural Tiger Talks to give student body chance for open discussion with President Casey BY NETTIE FINN news@thedepauw.com
With only months left before University President Brian Casey moves on to Colgate College, DePauw Student Government decided the time was right for students to be given a chance to check in with Casey. On Sunday at 6 p.m. in Thompson Hall, DePauw’s first-ever “Tiger Talk” will be held. This event is open to all who wish to attend, and will be an informal discussion between the student body and Casey. “[DePauw Student Government] has been discussing having an event with President Casey because it is
his final year but also because this has been a really inviting year for conversation about things that need to change on campus, things that are happening on campus,” said Erin Mann, DSG’s director of public relations. Though dates last semester were discussed, nothing was locked in until recently, when in the February 2016 email update from DSG, Sunday’s discussion was advertised as “the opportunity to talk to President Casey or just see the university through his eyes.” While the event planned for last semester would have taken the form of a “State of the University” address, this semester’s is formatted
differently. According to Mann, the time Casey spends making formal remarks will be brief, limited to 15-20 minutes at the beginning. After that, the direction the evening takes will be left in the hands of those students who attend. “We really want the students to take agency over this conversation,” Mann said. “Ask him the questions they want to ask and want answers to. Considering the fact he only has a few months left, this is a really crucial time for him to be responding to students.” There is no set end time, in efforts to ensure that all who have questions or points for discussion are allowed their moment.
“We wanted it to be a raw conversation,” Mann said. “There’s really not a lot of structure to it for that reason.” So far, outreach to the student body in general has been mostly limited to emails. WGRE DJs have also been encouraged to tease the event, and talks with RAs, mentors and the Greek community are in process. Newly-appointed junior senator Michelle McLane admitted that, while she is aware of the event, “I don’t know what it’s about.” But Mann hopes that an increased push in advertising for Tiger Talks over the coming few days will be enough to draw a crowd. “We’re just hoping that the people
who want this response from him take advantage of this possibility,” she said. DSG, according to Mann, is hopeful that this can be an event that continues in coming years once the new president has been selected. Once the open-ended nature of the event was explained to McLane, her response was positive. “We can ask him anything?” she said. “Then I would definitely go. I feel like it would be interesting to see what he’s all about before he leaves.”
The DePauw | F 5 Professor profile: Julia Bruggemann
eatures
BY KIENNE CORAM features@thedepauw.com
Professor of History Julia Bruggemann has been teaching at DePauw for 17 years. The DePauw sat down with her to pick her brain about her experiences. TDP: What sparked your interest in teaching in general and your specific subject? JB: To be honest, I didn’t know I had an interest in teaching until I tried it. In graduate school I had a chance to earn some money as a teaching assistant and I instantly loved it. Even though I did not choose the teaching materials at that time, I enjoyed the conversations with the undergraduates. Together, we used historical sources to try to figure out how people in the past thought and reacted to different situations. I loved the adventure and collaborative nature of these intellectual journeys. Nowadays, I choose the readings and materials myself, but the conversations with students haven’t lost their appeal. Every group of students brings something different to the table and history – or at least what we make of it – changes as we ask new questions of it. As a historian of modern Germany, my students and I often have to wrestle with difficult historical and ethical questions, but to me the material never gets old or stale as our contemporary world changes, so does/should our approach to history. It is this dynamism that I want to share with my students. TDP: Who was your favorite teacher/mentor/professor?
JB: I had a history professor in my first semester in college who noticed me – even though I was just one student in a large survey class. One day she called me into her office to talk about one of my essays. I was pretty intimidated and nervous about what would happen in this meeting. To my amazement I found out that something I had written had struck her as interesting and she actually wanted to discuss my ideas. Being taken seriously in an academic setting changed how I saw myself. I felt instantly empowered. I try to pass this feeling on to my students.
TDP: What was the best piece of advice you received while growing up? JB: I grew up in post-1970s West Germany where young people were expected to question authorities (teachers, parents, politicians). I wasn’t always the most radical agitator, but a healthy sense of skepticism has stayed with me my whole life. We don’t have to reject all tradition, but I think it is incumbent upon us as engaged citizens of the world to question and critically examine our past, our traditions, our elders, to see how we can make things better, more fair, more inclusive. Change can be hard, but is often good. TDP: What do you like to do for fun? JB: I love hanging out with my 7-year old son, traveling to Europe and beyond, cooking, reading, and of course, spending time with friends. TDP: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? JB: Here. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY
DESIGN FOR THE DEPAUW email editor@thedepauw.com
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The DePauw
Cricket’s: the newest stop and shop in Greencastle BY KIENNE CORAM features@thedepauw.com
Lauren Smoot, owner of Greencastle’s local boutique Cricket’s, cannot be more ecstatic with the success of her new clothing establishment, located at 110 S. Vine Street. Smoot was born and raised in the city of Greencastle with her three sisters. After going to college and living away from home for five years, she got married and had a daughter. With her husband traveling for work every week, they realized the importance of living close to an airport. Moving back to Greencastle provided that necessity, with an airport 40 minutes away. As a plus, they were able to be close to Smoot’s parents and grandmother. Smoot recalls having fun when shopping with her grandparents as a child. She wants to recreate those memories for others with the opening of her store. “When I was growing up, some of my best memories would be going shopping and spending the day with my grandma and then coming back home and showing our grandpa everything,” she said. “When I was a little girl we had a lot of stores downtown...we had a Maurice’s, a really cool bead shop, there was a lot more to do downtown.” Smoot thought the best way to bring back those childhood memories would be to open up her own boutique. When creating the store, Smoot was invested in selling quality clothes that people will truly enjoy “with a more friendly price tag.” She began her business by hosting trunk shows in her sisters’ homes and online. Not long after, and with the help of a local banker and the support of family members, she had the property and building in her hands. The name of the boutique is no mishap. “The store is called Cricket’s because that’s what my grandma used to call me when growing up,” Smoot said. “She had nicknames for all of her grandchildren. Some of them were bizarre, but they
always stemmed from a certain memory she had with us. When I was a child, I used to rub my feet together when I slept and so that’s why she started calling me cricket.” Smoot hopes to help create the same lasting memories for other individuals, families and her own daughter. “I have a four year old, she loves being at the shop, making the packages, handing them over the counter, she loves to shop in the store,” she said. She let out a small exhale followed by a soft smile. “For me, I just really want her to know that if she wants to do something she can do it.” Smoot enjoys that her dream shop has turned into a family business. “It’s been really fun doing it all together,” she said. “My husband is a great sport. If I can’t be there, he’s done the shop several times and my mom likes to be in the store and helps out with the guests and gets inventory out on the floor.” Word of mouth and customers who have “liked” various accounts of social media pages have been the main methods of advertisement for the boutique thus far. Smoot confidently says the store “Will get where it needs to be in its own time. We’ve already had such a great response, plus a part of me likes the nostalgia of the ‘word of mouth’ type of thing- it gives people the possibility to interpret the store for themselves.” Other than family involvement, Lauren employs only two other people: DePauw sophomore Jessica Arington and senior Madison Manning. “They live in sororities so that is helpful too [for advertising],” Smoot said. “I don’t want people to think it’s so in their face… in my eyes it’s been a unique experience for different types of people and that’s been very special for me to watch.” Overcoming numerous stigmas of being just a ‘college girl boutique’ has been a primary focus. “It’s a line that we balance really well. I want people to feel like this is a place where you can come in and get something for yourself, a friend,
your grandma...I don’t want it to feel like, okay I’m only going to be able to go in and get a skater skirt and a tank top,” she said, proudly giggling. “Two weeks ago I had a 90-year-old who bought 12 things for herself!” Quality of merchandise is a must at Cricket’s. “Boutique brand clothing is so different. It’s about finding what works for people around here,” she said. “I want to make sure people have great quality clothing. It’s something I’m still trying to figure out.” To ensure that she is presenting quality clothing, Smoot goes to markets to get a physical feel for the clothing instead of simply looking online. She does not feel comfortable holding any clothing that she hasn’t personally approved of. Smoot is happy with where she is and how her dream boutique has been evolving. “I want people to feel like each time they come back they can be like, ‘Hey Lauren, can you grab me this?’ and I totally would,” she said. “That’s my dream, to know that they can just call out from the dressing room to me.” Customer service is key to her work ethic. “[I] check in with people when they come into the store,” she said. “You need to make people feel valued because they are… it’s what we’ve tried to create.” Smoot is thrilled with the amount of positive feedback Cricket’s has received, but Smoot continues to aim high with her goals for the store. “[My goal is] to have an online presence, but we just don’t have the inventory right now and I would not be able to give the kind of guest satisfaction that I’m comfortable with,” she said. “My dream would be to be big enough to where we would need a larger warehouse location and all my sisters could move back here and we could work together!” Cricket’s is having a $10, $20, $30 sale from noon-6 p.m. this Saturday, where people can catch some of their favorite pieces for less than the original price.
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SAM CARAVANA/ THE DEPAUW
The DePauw | Opinions the depauw| editorial board Emily McCarter | Editor-in-Chief Meg Morrow | Managing Editor Julie Block | Chief Copy Editor email us at editor@thedepauw.com
Giving DePauw a good face
As an admissions ambassador, I can honestly say that whenever I give a tour to prospective students and their families, the burden to impress sits on my shoulders like a sack full of bricks. One can only learn so much about a school online; the level of responsibility that admissions ambassadors feel is enormous, as we are the representation of what the prospective student’s life could be like, should he or she choose to come to DePauw. When I give a tour, I am selling DePauw. The switch flips, and I am no longer just a student--I am a representative of the University, of the Office of Admissions, of everything that DePauw stands for. No pressure. I am thrilled that the Office of Admissions received over 80 applications for just 20-25 ambassador slots. While I’m sure any of the applicants would do a fine job in selling prospective students on DePauw, having such a wide pool to choose from means that the admissions office will have its pick of the best of the best in terms of who will represent DePauw and help get application numbers up. Quality applicants should show enthusiasm, emphasize all of DePauw’s unique qualities-such as Winter Term, the Honors and Fellows Programs and all of the recent and ongoing renovation projects--and paint a true picture of what life is like at DePauw. A huge part of life at DePauw is the bonds formed during the firstyear experience. One’s mentor group can have a massive impact on a student’s transition into college life, as this is one of the first groups of students that first-years come into contact with. It is for this reason that the application process to become a mentor is so rigorous: the mentor is often the first upperclassman that first-years meet, and typically acts as a role model for what students can accomplish in just one, two or three years. I had a mentor who cared about my well-being, who did his best to make sure everyone in my mentor group was transitioning smoothly into college, who went out of his way to meet with us before exams, breaks or whenever we wanted to chat. I felt like I had a protective older brother in a time when I was separated from my family for the first time. I found comfort in that. I sincerely hope that the class of 2020 enjoys the same mentor experience that I did. Dean of Students Cara Setchell, along with her selection team, has done an excellent job of choosing competent and welcoming mentors in past years. I have faith that, with the everincreasing number of mentor applications, this year will be no different. EDITORIAL POLICY
The DePauw is an independently managed and financed student newspaper. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of DePauw University or the Student Publications Board. Editorials are the responsibility of The DePauw editorial board (names above). The opinions expressed by cartoonists, columnists and in letters to the editor are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial staff of The DePauw. The DePauw welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and accompanied by the au-
thor’s name and phone number and sent in by 4 p.m. either the Monday or Thursday before print dates. Letters cannot be retracted after 5 p.m. the same day of submission. Letters have a 350-word limit and are subject to editing for style and length. The DePauw reserves the right to reject letters that are libelous or sent for promotional or advertising purposes. Deliver letters to the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media, email the editor-in-chief at editor@thedepauw. com or write The DePauw at 609 S. Locust St., Greencastle, Ind. 46135.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Thank you, Hattie, for your passionate response to my letter to the editor concerning some of the many wrongdoings that is Greek life. Freedom of speech is really something, isn't it? All I have to say in defense of my original words is, someone had to point out the rather large elephant in the room, so it might as well be someone who is a bit foolish but couldn't care less about the status quo, which is so unfortunately ingrained into the minds of the students at our university. If you would like to discuss our differences of opinion further, might I suggest a chat at Starbucks? Warmest regards, Dana Hart '16
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Socialism: the creed of ignorance MICHAEL FROEDGE
Democratic-socialist Bernie Sanders has garnered immense national support for his fervent speeches and campaign messages discussing income inequality, free college and healthcare and, of course, the evils of capitalism. However, despite the passionate rhetoric, his intentional rebranding of socialism under the guise of “democratic principles” has come under harsh scrutiny from, well, people who live in a place outside socialist circles called “reality.” According to Sanders, the immoral one percent will be covering the expenses designed to subsidize his progressive vision of equality. As we have seen throughout the course of his passionate campaign crusade on capitalism, Sanders has repeatedly affirmed the “corrupt” and “greedy” nature of capitalism, arguing against the “excessive” amounts of wealth accumulated by a small percentage of individuals. Important questions remain. What constitutes ‘excessive?’ What individual or group in power gets to decide how much an individual can keep? Why should someone have to pay more in taxes if the individual honestly and legally creates value (process of wealth creation)? According to the Wall Street Journal, his economic proposals would in-
crease federal spending by more than $18 trillion over the next ten years, covering a single-payer healthcare system, expansion of Social Security and massive taxpayer-funded infrastructure program. If enacted, Bernie’s tax plan would subsequently extract more than $6.5 trillion from individuals and businesses in the private sector. Under his prescription of democratic socialism, Senator Sanders will furthermore increase budget deficits while exploding the overall size of the national debt (which is $18.5 trillion). Bernie Sanders fundamentally neglects the value of economic freedom, individual responsibility and the power of self-interest and competition in a marketplace. Under his political lens, the government should play a chief role in directing the economy by fixing prices, redistributing wealth and disincentivizing prospects for high earnings. Economic freedom in the marketplace should not be a means to an idealistic end promoted by those who wish to impose their vision on society; liberty is, by its nature, an end in and of itself. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not only immoral, but also fundamentally wrong. At the heart of the progressive vision for more equitable outcomes is the source of envy and greed. Thomas Sowell, a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute, underscored this premise. He argues: “I have never understood why it is ‘greed’ to want to keep the money you earned but not greed to want to take someone else’s money.” It is one thing to practice altruism and benevolence in your
own personal life. It is another to use government force as a means to fund lofty, unrealistic visions for society. Democratic socialism ultimately requires centralized control and regulation. It necessitates curbing individual freedom and confiscating private property in the name of the ‘common good’ and ‘public welfare.’ Progressives will claim they possess a special knowledge and understanding for what is best for society and its individuals. I unequivocally reject this “vision of the anointed” mentality. The choices in my life should be mine to make, not a shadow bureaucrat or politician who innumerably wants to absorb more power and control over my life. Progressives will argue for more government spending and more stringent controls on the economy and trade, offering lofty solutions that they believe are morally and philosophically correct. Despite their rhetoric, one must understand that in order for those in power to achieve their visions and goals for society, the government must inevitably increase its role in controlling our lives. In the end, force will always be the enemy of freedom. Democratic socialism, regardless of its name, will continue to be, as Winston Churchill once poetically affirmed, “the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Froedge is a sophomore political science and economics double major from New Castle, Indiana.
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The DePauw | Opinions
Small steps forward for sexual assault survivors Matt PIGGINS
Unfortunately, and to the surprise of few, victims of sexual assault face an uphill battle in the fight for justice. Even when a survivor of a sexual assault is brave enough to report the crime to law enforcement, the legal system is still stacked against them. Sometimes, law enforcement officials themselves are skeptical or blame the victims for the crime, according to research led by Rebecca Campbell of Michigan State University. When that isn’t the case, victims have to fight through a backlog of untested sexual assault evidence collection kits--commonly known as rape kits--that, according to USA Today, “reaches into the hundreds of thousands.” What is more, many states will throw out rape kits before they even get the chance to be tested, destroying survivors’ chances for justice. In fact, no state requires rape kits be
preserved for the entire statute of limitations of a sexual assault. Indiana, for example, does not require rape kits to be preserved for any amount of time. As a result of these challenges to victims, our criminal justice system seemingly works harder to protect perpetrators than support survivors. In order to address these issues, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act to the Senate on Tuesday. The act seeks to empower survivors of sexual assault by guaranteeing certain rights to those who bring their cases into the criminal justice system. Most notably, the bill would mandate that rape kits be preserved for the entire statute of limitations, require that survivors are given 60 days notice when their kit is to be destroyed, allowing survivors to request further preservation of their kit and would make states inform victims of the results if their kit is tested. At the very least, this bill removes the burden of responsibility for preserving the evidence of a rape from the shoulders of sexual assault survivors and assures victims their rape kit will not be destroyed. The bill has been endorsed by several organizations, including the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), the National Alliance to End
COMIC
Sexual Violence and International Association of Forensic Nurses. Yet, while it is a good start, the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act does not go nearly far enough. While it guarantees a rape kit will not be destroyed during the statute of limitations, it does not guarantee that a rape kit will be tested, even if it could help a victim’s case—thereby doing nothing to reduce the enormous backlog of rape kits in the criminal justice system. It does nothing to address the shortage of funding to complete DNA tests on rape kits, which is cited by RAINN as one of the most common reasons kits are not tested. The bill does nothing to improve the training of law enforcement officials in dealing with sexual assault cases, and it does not meaningfully expand access to trained counselors for survivors. The lack of these provisions makes the legislation weak at best. It is a good first step and certainly moves things in the right direction. However, if we want to meaningfully address the way our criminal justice system treats sexual assault and its survivors, there is so much more to be done. -Piggins is a senior economics major from Saugatuck, Michigan.
PHOTOPINION What’s something about DePauw you would change if you could? “I would like to see relationships develop between the administration and students of color.”
La Toya Logan, first-year
“I wish the construction would get done faster.”
Jack Ford, senior
“I’d like the library vibes to change from dreary to lively.”
Grace Cusack, junior
“I would like to remove the new dining hall to make some room in the lawn for activities.”
AJ Houk, senior Alex Weilhammer / the depauw
The DePauw | Sports 10 Men’s baseball team looks to get back on track this season: BY AUSTIN CANDOR sports@thedepauw.com
After winning the NCAC Conference Tournament in 2014, the baseball team took a step back in 2015, finishing nine games under .500 last season. “We ended up short,” said junior pitcher and outfielder Mike Hammel. “We started to lose focus and didn’t finish like we should have.” Hammel’s words could not ring truer, as DePauw limped to the NCAC tournament, going on a six-game losing streak to finish the regular season. On top of having a rough year, the Tigers also lost eight seniors to graduation. “I think the biggest challenge will be losing the experience [the seniors] all brought to the table,” said junior pitcher Nick Horvath. “They all had a lot of experience in the conference tournament and NCAA tournament. With us pushing for both of those things, we are going to miss [them].” Despite the loss, the Tigers brought in an impressive group of 13 first-year players, five of whom are infielders. With the rookies making the jump to the collegiate level, here is a look at some returning Tigers to watch for:
First-year Brad Burton practices his swing during practice on Thursday. REBECA BAGDOCIMO/ THE DEPAUW
TIGERS TO WATCH FOR WATCH THE TIGERS Mike Hammel (Junior, Pitcher, Outfielder):
The former Division I transfer from Indiana State helped the Tigers both on the mound and at the plate last season, accounting for four of DePauw’s wins while slugging two home runs, one of which he hit out of Victory Field, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Triple A affiliate.
Lucas Italiano (Senior, Outfielder):
Perhaps the Tigers' top hitter, Italiano led the team in total bases, hits, home runs, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage last year, while finishing second in RBIs in a breakout season. The outfielder was also one of DePauw’s most consistent players, starting in 36 of the Tiger’s 39 games.
Jack Thompson (Junior, Outfielder):
Thompson also turned in an impressive season, hitting .310 with four doubles in 78 plate appearances. The outfielder was also perfect on the basepaths, stealing five bases in five attempts.
Nick Horvath (Junior, Pitcher):
The 6’2 righty proved to be one of DePauw’s most consistent relievers last year, doubling his innings from the 2014 season with 36 IP. He also went 4-2, posting a 3.00 ERA with 29 strikeouts.
Sam Comer (Sophomore, Pitcher):
Despite not getting much time on the mound, Comer was still impressive in his nine appearances last season. The sophomore kept a 2.53 ERA over 10.2 innings, striking out five. With the
loss of four senior pitchers, Comer is guaranteed to get more innings this season.
Wyatt Spector (Senior, Pitcher):
Spector has become a workhorse for the Tigers on the mound, averaging 60 innings over the past two seasons. Having started nine games last season, Spector will be expected to lead DePauw’s staff as the sole senior pitcher.
Connor Einertson (Senior, First Basemen):
Einertson accounted for most of the Tiger’s run production last season, leading the team in home runs (4) and RBIs (26). After posting an impressive .556 slugging percentage with 23 walks, the senior will once again be seen as DePauw’s true power hitter.
FEBRUARY:
Sat. 27 vs. Anderson (Ind.) @ Grand Park; Westfield, Ind. 11:00 AM EST & 2:00 PM EST Sun. 28 vs. Anderson (Ind.) @ Grand Park; Westfield, Ind. 12:00 PM EST
Round-up:
The Tigers will test the February weather this weekend, opening up their season against non-conference opponent Anderson University in Westfield, Ind. The teams will square off in a double header on Saturday with games at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by a matchup at noon on Sunday. With practice six days a week and lifting sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, the Tigers have been working towards regaining the success they found two seasons ago. “This year, the team is bringing a consistent energy and focus to practice and it will definitely show up this season,” Hammel said. Horvath agreed. “The entire team has been getting after it thus far and we are all ready for the season to get underway,” Horvath said. “I think that we should have a very solid year and compete for the conference championship.”
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The DePauw | Sports
Men’s tennis sweeps Earlham 9-0 Tiger of the Week: BY MEG MORROW sports@thedepauw.com
The Tigers’ season has just begun—and they’ve hit the ground running. After sweeping conference opponent Earlham 9-0 on Wednesday, they’ve moved to 4-1 overall for the season so far. “I think we were able to sweep because we all played disciplined tennis,” said junior doubles player John Daseke. “I don’t think we necessarily played our best tennis as a team, but we stuck to our game plan and were more disciplined than [Earlham].” Daseke and his partner, junior Patrick Farrell, make up the No. 2 doubles team for the Tigers. They defeated their competitors 8-0. “I thought I served very well and was happy with how aggressive I was playing,” said Farrell of his play.
“I’m confident that I can keep up my level.” Daseke added: “Pat and I did the right things. We were on the same page and got a solid win at No. 2 doubles.” Juniors Harold Martin and Nate Wallace, the No. 3 doubles team, won 8-4, while the No. 1 doubles team— made up of senior Alec Kaczkowski and junior Dan Rodefeld—won 8-6. “Our team got off to a hot start in doubles, taking all three matches, and I think the momentum carried over into our singles play,” Martin said. “We remained disciplined in our singles play, which was important against a team who has some big hitters.” The singles portion of the teams also performed well, with No. 4 singles player Matt Santen cleaning up another victory. “I think the key was the fact that we
started hot and swept the doubles portion of the match. We’ve been focusing a lot on starting off matches with an increased amount of energy and I thought we did that,” Santen said. The Tigers have a tough couple matches coming up. Granted, they get a little break before then—their next competition is March 5 against University of Chicago. “We play one of the best teams in the country next Saturday when we play Chicago,” Santen said. “We’re going to have to play better than we did yesterday if we want to win—but the season just began so I think we’re on the right track.” “We need to fine tune our doubles a little bit and establish our presence earlier in matches,” Martin added, “but we should be fine with a full week of practice next week.
Want to be a champion?
WRITE FOR SPORTS email sports@thedepauw.com
Marcus Dozier
Sport: TRACK AND FIELD EVENT: SHOT PUT Year: SENIOR
Hometown: SOUTH BEND, IND Senior Marcus Dozier has had a strong start to the track season. He’s already broken his own records “about 7 times this season,” he says, and he has been ranked No. 1 in shot put in the country for the past three weeks. He shared more with The DePauw: The DePauw (TDP): You recently placed first in the DePauw Indoor Classic. It was your third win a row. It seems that all the pieces are coming together well this early in the season. How do you think your work put in during the offseason has influenced your breakout start to the year? Marcus Dozier (MD): I believed my off-season workout helped me in many ways. It gave me the time to practice and look for mistakes that I can fix. If the fix doesn’t help, then I can revert back and try again. However, I would say the biggest help came from preseason because it allowed me to go into my season ready to go. I did not need to condition much at all. I felt as if I was already at peak performance even though I know I am not because I just keep improving every week. I’ve broken my own record about seven times this season in just four meets. That does not happen normally. TDP: How does it feel to be ranked No. 1 in the nation for so many weeks in a row? Does it come with any pressure? How do you handle that pressure? MD: It feels great to be able to say you are the best at what you do for your division
and even some others. Being able to say it for three weeks is even better. But yes, it does come with some pressure. Everyone expects you to always be at your best, which honestly is just not possible. I feel I know this better than most based on my outdoor season last year. You go to the national meet ranked top five in two events and, having just won Athlete of the Year, everyone expects a lot from you, and then you go out there and blow it. But I feel I have learned from this and it just gives me a bigger incentive to win the whole thing this year. I feel I’ve always handled pressure pretty well, but something about this year just makes me feel a step above. TDP: Can you give us your insight on what the future holds for this Tigers team? MD: I have the utmost confidence in my team that we will get over our sicknesses and injuries by next weekend, and compete at our very best at the conference meet at Kenyon. We have some amazing standout athletes and it will be up to them as well as myself to help motivate everyone to compete at their very best because DePauw track and field always shows up at conference.
The DePauw | Sports
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Women’s basketball advances to NCAC semifinals BY MIKE WETOSKA sports@thedepauw.com
The second-seed Tigers defeated seventh-seed Wittenberg by a score of 56-46 in the quarterfinals of the NCAC Tournament on Tuesday. The Tigers started off the game slow. They let up an early threepointer that sparked an offensive fire in the Wittenberg squad. Wittenberg did not lose the lead for the entirety of the quarter. At the end of the first, the score stood at 18-10 in favor of Wittenberg. The Tigers were able to claw their way back into this game in the second quarter. They held Wittenberg to zero points through the first six minutes of the second quarter. Their dynamic defense held Wittenberg to just five points in the entire quarter, allowing DePauw to finish off the half with a slim 26-23 lead. “We had a rough first quarter,” junior forward Taylor Howard said at the conclusion of the first half, “but when we switched to zone in the second quarter that really disrupted their flow.” This switch in defensive strategy played to the Tigers’ advantage for the remainder of the game. The third quarter was a hardfought struggle for each team to get points on the board, as the defense for both teams held up very well. Wittenberg put up 12 points in comparison to the Tigers’ nine points, and, as a result, the teams headed into the fourth quarter fighting a tight 35-35
battle. The Tigers’ consistent fourth quarter performance is what really sets them apart from most of their NCAC competitors. DePauw’s defense held Wittenberg to 11 points in the quarter, while their offense exploded to 21 points, propelling the Tigers to a hardfought 56-46 victory. Senior forward Abby Keller conceded that although it wasn’t the prettiest victory, it was definitely a sweet one. “We struggled a bit in the first half,” Keller said, “but I’m proud of how we handled the difficult times and were able to get the win.” Taylor Howard led the team in scoring with 16 points, followed by first-year guard Maya Howard and junior guard Claire Ryan, who finished the game with 13 points and eight points, respectively. Speaking on what needs to improve before next game against Kenyon College, Sophomore guard Emily Budde put emphasis on focusing on the basic fundamentals. “We just need to keep working on offensive execution,” she said, “because ball movement really works well, especially against a defensive team like Kenyon.” With this victory, the Tigers advance to the semifinals of the NCAC Tournament, where they will play Kenyon at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The Tigers have gone 1-1 against Kenyon this regular season, so it’ll be a toss up as to who gets the victory. Tipoff is scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m.
First-year Maya Howard focuses as she sinks a free throw on Wednesday night. DePauw blew past Wittenberg 56-46 on their way to the NCAC semifinals. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW
Sophomore Emily Budde runs past a defender as DePauw trumped Wittenberg 56-46 in the NCAC quarterfinals Wednesday night. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW