simplicity {products} seniors take the cosmetic scene by storm on
pages 6&7 FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper
VOL. 162, ISSUE 36
Office of admission implements new the changes, plans to admit fewer students UPS GPA
fall 2014
3.2 3.5
ACT scores
fall 2013
22 25
Acceptance rate
When scholarship and financial aid letters are mailed out to the class of 2018, fewer students will be receiving merit awards. Vice President of Admission and Financial Aid Dan Meyer said Wednesday that the University has increased the threshold to be considered for a merit scholarship. Whereas last year incoming first-year students needed to have a 3.2 grade point average and a score of 22 on the ACT to receive merit scholarships, incoming first-years must have a grade point average of 3.5 or an ACT score of 25. “We’re just making it mean something to receive a merit award from DePauw,” Meyer said. “When everyone’s getting a merit award, it’s not meritorious.” The plan, headed by Meyer and Director of Admissions Dani Weatherford, is expected to increase the perceived value of DePauw, according to Meyer. “It rewards students for working hard [in high school],” Meyer said. According to market research done by DePauw, the average merit award for a DePauw student is greater than many similar institutions. Meyer insists, however, that the University is trying to accomplish much more. The plan, he said, was not made based solely on University finances, but it is aimed at strengthening the overall student profile. He believes the change will lower the number of admitted students at DePauw while keeping class sizes at or near current levels. Meyer says that, based on internal research, students with lower GPAs and SAT or ACT scores in high school tend to struggle academically at DePauw. He hopes that this new initiative will strengthen the academic profile of the university. “You make these types of changes from a position of strength,” Meyer said. “DePauw’s applicant pool and our freshman class numbers have been increasing. Now is the time to right some weaknesses we’ve had in our recruitment area for the last ten to fifteen years.” The changes don’t stop with merit awards. While DePauw has admitted 60 percent of its applicants for years, this year the University has opted to decrease acceptances to 56 percent. As of last Thursday, the Office of Admission has received about 5,265 applications, nearly a four percent increase over last year’s number. Meyer said the Office of Admission will accept 150 to 200 students less to the class of 2018 than it accepted to the class of 2017.
“3,000 is the magic number. That’s about the maximum number of admits that we can have,” Meyer said. “Right now we’re at about 2,920 so there are about 80 spots left.” He explains that, following this year’s admission cycle, the rate is expected to drop to below 50 percent. He believes the change will continue to bring students to DePauw who will succeed and increase the University’s overall academic profile. The decision to reduce the acceptance rate and to elevate the grade point average minimum to receive merit scholarships came as part of University President Brian Casey’s decision along with the board of trustees to make DePauw more competitive with institutions like Carleton College (Northfield, Minn.) and Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio). Tuition will also increase by five percent next year to $42,756 not including room, board and fees. Not everyone believes the proposed change will produce benefits for DePauw long term. Director of College Counseling at University High School in Carmel, Ind., James P. Fadely, believes the policy update will steer his students away from DePauw in comparison to similar institutions. Furthermore, he expressed his concern in regards to making DePauw unaffordable to students he believes could be a good fit. First-year Sydney Jordan offers a similar perspective. “There are students who need more than financial aid to make committing to DePauw possible,” she said. “Merit scholarships can help bridge the gap. I wouldn’t have been able to come to DePauw without the merit scholarship I received.” Despite the criticism, Meyer believes the changes should take place now. “Now’s the time to say we’re a better, stronger University than what we’re seeing with our current aid packages,” he said. Several University officials, including President Brian Casey and Vice President for Academic Affairs Larry Stimpert, with the board of trustees, endorsed the changes earlier this month. The Office of Admission plans to change the overall admissions calendar starting for the class of 2019, according to Meyer. He said that DePauw plans to move to a precipice admissions policy that notifies students of both acceptance and financial aid and merit packages in the same letter. Meyer wants both current and prospective students to understand that, despite these changes, DePauw’s merit aid will not disappear. “DePauw will always have a merit scholarship program,” he said, “but we will probably continue to increase the requirements as our student academic profile increases.”
60% 56%
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DePauw versus National Japanese debate team: To use or not to use nuclear energy?
the depauw | news
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Forum raises questions about sustainability on campus By JULIE BLOCK
Features Editor Assistant Featurs Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Photo Editor Multimedia Editor Opinion Editor Business Manager Advertising Managers Web Editor
Julie Block Emily McCarter Nicole DeCriscio Tyler Murphy Eric St. Bernard Jacob Lynn Christa Schroedel Alex Weilhammer Jackson Mote Paige Powers Erika Krukowski Nick Thompson Leann Burke
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maybe lacrosse is the douchiest sport, but who has the douchiest twtiter? also - what’s so complicated about weather pictographs? #getalife #tbt #rememberwhen #goodolddays
Nuclear energy was the topic of debate on Thursday night when members of the DePauw Debate team faced the National Japanese Debate team in the Watson Forum. The Japanese debate team argued the affirmative side contending that the use of nuclear energy should be avoided. Instead, alternative forms of energy should be used from windmills and solar panels. The DePauw Debate team, represented by sophomore Mickey Terlep and senior Ronnie Kennedy, took the opposition advocating for an increase in the use and effectiveness of nuclear power. “I thought [the debate] went pretty well,” said first-year Sam Caravana. “It was interesting to see the different opinions from different cultures in the debate.” Amane Hirota from Hokkaido University and Naoki Takami from Waseda University debated for the Japanese team. Due to the recent nuclear accident in Japan, the debaters took this issue seriously. Their main points were that nuclear energy can hurt mankind, whereas new, safer forms of energy cannot. Many students who attended the debate were impressed by how well the Japanese debate team verbalized their points, especially with a language barrier. “[It] blows me out of the water that they are responding off the cuff in their second language,” said Geoff Klinger, the faculty advisor for the debate society. “I am certain they did a better job debating us than we would have done debating them in Japanese.” In order for the Japanese students to come to DePauw, Klinger had to submit a bid to the Center for International Discussion and Debate (CIDD). The program is very selective and many other universities such as University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology apply to have international debaters visit their institutions. “We put in a bid to be a host campus,” Klinger said. “Last semester we hoped to host the Great Britain team, but we unfortunately did not get a bid.” The DePauw debate team has hosted Great Britain
JT Ostler @drumrkiid “Congrats to one of my closest friends who is a sister to me @alaina_matthews!! #you’regoingtocollege #depauw” March 10, 8:57 p.m.
The DePauw debate team prepares rebuttals while a member of the Japanese debate team presents his case for why the use of nuclear energy should be avoided. FRANKI ABRAHAM / THE DEPAUW in years past. Approximately 20 students attended the debate, either to support the teams or to learn about the debate topic or about the debating process, such as firstyear Simone Deighan. “We have upcoming debates in Public Speaking class, so it was a good way to see how a debate will go and how to prepare for ours,” Deighan said. As a token of their appreciation, the DePauw debaters gave the Japanese debate team each a DePauw
t-shirt at the end of the debate. “I think it went very well,” Terlep said. “It is interesting to see their style differences from American style. There was definitely a language barrier but they laid out a great argument.”
CAMPUSCRIME March 10 • Fire Alarm • Cooking / Alarm Reset | Time: 9:31 p.m. | Place: 105 West Hanna Street
• Fire Alarm • Due to storm / forwarded to Facilities Management | Time: 1:16 a.m. | Place: Nature Park Welcome Center
March 11
March 13
• Harassment • Under Investigation | Time: 6:46 p.m. | Place: Campus
• Fire Alarm • System malfunction alarm company notified for repair / alarm reset | Time: 1:15 a.m. | Place: Beta Theta Pi fraternity
March 12 • Assist Greencastle Police Department - traffic stop • Greencastle Police Department took call | Time: 1:06 a.m. | Place: Seminary/Indiana Streets
SOURCE: PUBLIC SAFETY WWW.DEPAUW.EDU/STUDENTLIFE/CAMPUSSAFETY/PUBLICSAFETY/ACTIVITY-REPORT/ YEAR/2014/
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Olivia Carmel ‘13 @ojcarm @ “Being a total sorority girl right now and freaking out over the new #DePauw @KappaKappaGamma families!! I miss it #notashamed”
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“Because spring time finally made it’s way to depauw #depauw #picnic @foster_ayy @ DePauw University http://instagram. com/p/laocKdE2yh/”
“DEPAUW MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP! #depauw #musicmajor #money http://instagram.com/p/ lc4i0JwL1K/”
“Letter’s in the mail. The final countdown begins. #DePauw”
March 10, 9:14 p.m.
March 11, 4:42 p.m.
March 12, 1:41 p.m.
March 12, 7:42 p.m.
Hints of spring weather will bud over the weekend. Don’t let the cooler temps Sunday fool you, we’re look at a much warmer week next week leading up to Spring Break.
Weather courtesy of www.weather.com
HIGH: 61° F
LOW: 32° F
MONDAY
News Editors
Abby Margulis Nettie Finn Franki Abraham Leann Burke Nicole DeCriscio
Professor of Geoscience Fred Soster dimmed the lights in the Julian Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon, approximately halfway through Wells’ presentation on sustainability. “Fourteen incandescent, 134-watt light bulbs in this room … dumped four pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in the hour that we’ve been here,” Soster said. “I just killed those lights. It doesn’t kill the quality of our environment, and look what it does.” Soster’s example represents what the Office of Sustainability is trying to accomplish. Their goal is for DePauw University to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2040. The Office of Sustainability plans to accomplish this by partnering with one of six different environmental companies that DePauw is considering working with. The forum on Wednesday presented these companies to students and faculty alike to get their opinions and to raise questions that members of the DePauw community may have regarding sustainability on campus. The forum, presented by Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives Christopher Wells, discussed the pros and cons of each company in helping DePauw reach its goal by 2040. Categories of discussion included the companies’ sustainability experience with liberal arts colleges, each company’s relationship to DePauw and the cost of the company. All six companies will soon be coming to campus to “demonstrate their capacity to complete a comprehensive study of campus energy, water and waste systems,” according to an email sent out by Sustainability Director Carol Steele. “This study will ultimately guide what types of efforts DePauw should consider regarding facilities (and their use and maintenance), a rough estimate of costs and time required for these initiatives, and the relative benefits of the projects over
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FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
time.” One of the biggest issues brought up in the forum was cost. Many of the companies have a high price that comes with their involvement in this study. “The University is about to invest serious resources in this study,” said Associate Professor of Geosciences Jeanette (Jean) Pope. Assistant Sustainability Director Anthony Baratta believes that, while finances are important, DePauw needs to do all that it can to be in sync with sustainability efforts across the country. “If there’s reasons we can’t do something, we want it to only be financial and not for a lack of planning,” Baratta said. “We don’t want to be behind the curve. We want to know all the possibilities and we want to have our act together.” Another large issue of discussion during the forum was complacency. Sophomore Mitch Metzger expressed concern that many DePauw students simply do not care about sustainability on campus. He believes that the first step toward being a more sustainable community is garnering student interest and changing social norms. “What can we do between students and student body interactions to change the norm?” Metzger asked. “We need not just student involvement but the complete norms to change.” Associate Professor of Biology Vanessa Fox agrees with Metzger. “The hardest piece is changing behaviors,” she said in response to Metzger’s question. “This is the most difficult piece of all of this.” Wells, who facilitated most of the discussion, is optimistic that forums such as the ones that took place on Wednesday can encourage students, faculty and staff to become more excited about sustainability initiatives. “It’s not an easy thing to do, in some ways, to move a culture,” Wells said. “I would love to see students and faculty, all these constituents, more actively engaged in these issues.”
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HIGH: 55° F
LOW: 27° F
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FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
the depauw|features
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
PAGE 5
Lollapalooza predictions for summer 2014 JIM
EASTERHOUSE
L
ike the beginning of a frigid boulder run, 2014 is off to a rapid start. As most may know, though, there are incessant stretches along the way, and the academic calendar is no different. As students tread through the looming limbo before Spring Break, they are awarded with free samples of the upcoming summer. For music enthusiasts, this comes from the reveal of festival lineups. From Electric Forest to Pitchfork and Wakarusa to Governors Ball, fans have patiently waited through the winter lockjaw to see who will highlight such extravaganzas. Chicago’s Lollapalooza is one of them. The lakeside takeover has become increasingly popular since its inception in 1991. Since it permanently plopped on Grant Park in 2005, it has evolved into one of the country’s most commercial fests. With over 160,000 collective fans to please, creator Perry Farrell and co. are expected to assemble an all-encompassing pack of bands.
The most obvious way a festival does such is by accounting for headliners. These widely known acts cap off each of the festival’s three days. Lollapalooza, though, has the luxury of waiting until after other premiere competitors (Bonnaroo, Coachella) release their respected tickers. With ‘Roo nabbing the likes of Elton John, Kanye West and Jack White, and Coachella grabbing Arcade Fire, Muse and Outkast, what does Lolla have planned? Attempting to be unique while not missing out on acclaimed acts, Lollapalooza will likely gather a bit of a mix of its competition. That being said, it’s expected that Outkast will headline one night. Perry Farrell has always oozed for reunions. Lolla, however, opts against including artists already performing at nearby fests. Outkast will perform at Milwaukee’s Summerfest in June. This ‘rule’ has been waived before, though, and quite possibly can be for Outkast, who is already slated for 40 fests. If not, could Kanye? Speaking of homegrown heroes, Pearl Jam is expected to lead this year’s lineup. The Evanston, Ill. born Eddie Vedder and his band released “Lightning Bolt” last year, but still have not stopped by Chicago. Another American rock band, Tool, is set to release their first album since 2006 and last headlined Lolla in 2009. It’s possible they could accompany Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon as rock headliners, or at least as a sub-headliner. It’s rumored that Arctic Monkeys are a possibility to headline after their stellar AM release last year. Foster the People is expected to be included as well. The L.A. trio will release their sophomore record, “Supermodel,” on March 18. It’s believable that both will be
there, but it’s not certain who would headline. If not, both are plausible sub-headliners, as Florence + The Machine was in 2012. Although EDM has skyrocketed in America over the past few years, it has not been widely represented on many lineups set for this summer. Skrillex is back in the festival flux and is an identifiable addition. Pretty Lights shined at Lolla in 2011 and would be warmly accepted back, but they have a string of major fests set for this summer. Now that Swedish House Mafia is no-longer, it’s rumored that Axwell may be included this year, just as Steve Angello was last year. Modern day Renaissance man Justin Timberlake is still on his 20/20 Experience tour and has yet to stop by Chicago. Could it be? He could rack in the pop-fans that flocked to Lolla for Lady Gaga in ’09. It makes more sense than some may imagine. The same goes for the Avett Brothers who, even after two recent lackluster albums, are still as popular as they ever have been. They’re set to play in nearby Ohio on the Saturday of Lollapalooza weekend. Although all of these acts are often regarded as all-stars, the lineup’s leftover 90 percent is what truly makes it memorable. Acts such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, CHVRCHES, Sky Ferreira, Little Dragon, Bombay Bicycle Club, Cut Copy, Broken Bells, Fitz & The Tantrums, Zedd and Adventure Club seem logical. Four Tet, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Jon Hopkins, Warpaint, Krewella, Angel Olsen, Above & Beyond, Jagwar Ma, Danny Brown and Empire of the Sun would also work wonders.
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simplicity {products} Seniors make organic lotion, simplicity By NICOLE DECRISCIO features@thedepauw.com
stephanie & caitlyn {sharlow} {hammack}
After spending the semester in Costa Rica, falsely labeled organic lotions and the large costs of correctly-labeled organic lotions rubbed senior Caitlyn Hammack the wrong way. Now, she and fellow senior Stephanie Sharlow are creating their own organic cosmetics line. The duo is starting the line, called Simplicity, with a body butter. During Hammack’s semester abroad, she completed an internship on a sustainable and organic farm. “I couldn’t use traditional beauty products,” Hammack said. “No Aveeno. No Dove. No Herbal Essence. So, we made there a lot of our own products.” While in Costa Rica, Hammack used coconut oil as a lotion substitute. “Once I got back, I found out that in dry, winter Indiana, coconut oil was not a good source of moisture,” Hammack said. “It just wasn’t enough.” Hammack tried to find an organic lotion at health food stores. “I couldn’t find anything that was cheap or that I found to be really simple, organic,” Hammack said. “It says organic, but you read the label.” The gap between affordability and having a truly organic lotion prompted Hammack to start the company. During this same time, Sharlow was searching for a Media Fellows project. “Whereas I can make a lotion, I know nothing about starting a business,” Hammack said. Sharlow helped start the Be Great Today 5k and had experience working in public relations through internships. “The extra bonus is that it is for Media Fellows,” Sharlow said, “but I think it is a good idea in general.” Sharlow will be receiving credit for her work with Simplicity as part of her Media Fellows seminar. “Media Fellows in general is very broad in its definition of media,” Sharlow said. “It could be book publishing. It could be PR or advertising, journalism or anything that kind of, sort of deals with the media is really included in it.” Sharlow is interested in broadcast booking. Currently, Sharlow manages the branding of the business as well as their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. “There’s no casual media project one can do [for broadcast booking],” Sharlow said. “I can’t just book someone on D3TV for The Source and call it a Media Fellows project. It’s not comprehensive enough.” Sharlow and Hammack believe that their partnership is a solid one because their skill sets are unique and overlap very little. “I’m not going to argue about what oils she puts in the lotions because I did not live in a jungle for four months,” Sharlow said. The duo also has outside help. Both of their mothers are small business owners. Hammack’s mother is responsible for all of the trademarking and incorporation efforts. “A lot of it is online searching. There’s actually websites for your trademark, where you research your trademark,” Raschelle Hammack said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “That will probably coincide with whoever ends up doing website design because there’s also a domain search that has to be done.” The trademarking is normally done when a domain search begins. The trade-
marking search and the domain search occur at the same time because once the search begins, competing companies with similar products or product names will purchase the domain to prevent accidental traffic to the small business’s websites. Simplicity currently carries two types of lotions: cocoa butter and a lotion that is shea butter based. Both come in various scents. Because of the natural scent of the cocoa butter, all lotions of this base are chocolate variations, such as chocolate mint and chocolate orange. The shea butter based lotion can have more variation in the scents. Hammack and Sharlow will be hosting two focus groups on Sunday, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday to determine which of the lotions better serve their demographic. Those wishing to go to one of the focus groups should email them at products.simplicity@gmail.com. During the focus group, those in attendance can receive samples of the products. After Spring Break, the duo will finalize what scents they want to begin selling and sales will begin. Customers will be able to purchase the body butter by approaching either Hammack or Sharlow. The duo plans to put the project on a crowd funding website such as Indiegogo and hopes to launch other cosmetics. “Everyone’s into the organic, all-natural stuff, but you go into Whole Foods to buy all-purpose cleaner and it’s like 20 bucks for a Windex size bottle,” Sharlow said. “No one, especially on a college budget, can afford that, but you shouldn’t have to riddle your home and your body with chemicals either.” They expressed the importance of vetting what is placed on an individual’s skin. “Your skin is the biggest gateway to your bloodstream and so...if you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your skin,” Hammack said. All Simplicity products are food-grade. “You could eat it,” Hammack said. “It doesn’t taste very good, but you could eat it. It wouldn’t hurt you or kill you.” For Hammack, there is a simple reason for taking more care when selecting skincare items. “If you think about it, your stomach acid is PH2,” Hammack said. “If you eat something, it has the very harsh environment to go through before it can pass into your intestines and be absorbed into your blood stream. But your skin has very little filter.” In designing the products, Hammack avoided using a water base because she wanted to avoid having to use chemicals in the products. “When you introduce water into your lotions, you automatically have to have the extra ingredients of preservatives,” Hammack said. “Once you introduce water, you introduce the potential for mold.” Additionally, when adding water, there must be an emulsifying agent to blend the oils and the water. “Our body butters end up being a little bit heavier, a little bit richer than your normal everyday lotion,” Hammack said. “But that’s because there’s no water to be absorbed into your skin, which ultimately means that your moisture is better.” After they create a full line of cosmetics, Hammack and Sharlow hope to add a line of organic cleaning products to their inventory.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
the depauw | opinion
PAGE 8
THE DEPAUW | Editorial Board Guest editors: Dana Ferguson, Kelly Killpack, Becca Stanek, Sunny Strader Leann Burke | Chief Copy Editor
The power of print: putting your voice on the page We will publish any letter to the editor that we receive. Our only caveats are that it must 350 words or less, and be in prior to 4 p.m. on Monday or Thursday night. We would like to remind our readers of the power this newspaper has to spark conversation. The space designated for letters to the editor is a space for your voice and your discussions. The DePauw is here to provide information, but not necessarily in a one-way stream. Please use it as your platrform. These pages made the students’ views tangible and accessible to the DePauw community. The people who possess the courage to not only have an opinion, but to put it into writing are ultimately what spark conversation. This is exactly why the letter to the editor policy exists. One student responded to the opinion of his peer. Reactions erupted in the form of social media comments, protests and sit-down discussions. What we as a guest editorial board find most important about this situation is that these conversations happened. Let us also clarify that our function as a newspaper is not to be gossip mongers, nor to cause controversy (though we will not avoid controversy should it arise), nor do we seek to sensationalize. We are here to inform. We are here to do more good than harm. We are here to provide a consistent space for people to share their opinions and experiences. We are here to start conversations. We can’t guarantee that everyone will care about the words printed on these pages, but that’s not to say that our community as a whole doesn’t care. Notice the outpouring of letters in this issue. You may not agree with the words printed here, but you can’t deny that this paper is a vehicle for change.
email us at edboard@thedepauw.com
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 author’s name and phone number. 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, Abby Margulisl, at editor@ thedepauw.com or write The DePauw at 609 S. Locust St., Greencastle, Ind. 46135.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
the depauw | opinion
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
A NOTE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
Critical conversations on race and privilege Few topics spark raw emotions like the important questions of race, privilege and culture. This has become evident in recent days as our campus has been engaged in a critical and complex discussion about how difference is manifested on the DePauw University campus. This is, perhaps, particularly true because such a discussion forces us to consider key questions about the values we hold as central to a university such as ours. They ask us to contemplate whether we are, as a community, fully realizing our goals of providing a powerful academic experience within a campus culture that embraces all of its members. These conversations have been sparked by the real-world experiences of students who come from diverse backgrounds, domestically and internationally. By their very nature, the concerns we are hearing from students about a variety of issues - from the environment of our classrooms, to the acceptance (or lack of acceptance) they feel from their peers, to the sense of inequality felt within our community – and the conversations they engender are challenging and complex. Though difficult, the dialogue taking place right now is essential if we are to
fulfill our mission as a liberal arts college that asks students to wrestle with complexity and engage in critical thinking and problem-solving. Through these conversations we can – and will – shift cultural understanding and take appropriate and meaningful action. As the University president, the vice president for academic affairs and the vice president for student life, we have an obligation not only to be part of these conversations, but to be actors in moving our campus forward. We all have a role to play in these discussions. DePauw will only be at its strongest when all members of our community feel accepted and supported. Know that we will be looking to each of you, to the entire student body, both to listen to each other with respect and empathy and to help construct solutions to these issues. Fundamentally, the answers before us rest in our collective ability to spurn stereotypes, in whatever form they appear, and to accept perspectives and experiences that differ from our own. There are a number of actions that we will take to move this effort forward. First, we fully support DePauw Student Government and the Diversity and Equity Committee as they host campus-wide forums on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. We will call for more such events,
should they be necessary. Second, in response to a survey conducted during the fall semester, the Office of Academic Affairs is reviewing ways to help faculty better understand how to create classroom environments where difference is embraced in healthy and constructive ways. Further, we have asked the Diversity and Equity Committee to offer a report to us and to the faculty at-large on various policies related to diversity on our campus and the creation of a diverse academic community. In light of current campus dialogue, we have asked that the Diversity and Equity Committee include in their report a response to the questions raised by current campus conversations of race and privilege. This report will be able to inform potential further steps we could take together in the future. Most importantly, we would call on our community to keep talking and listening with respect and care. The strength of a liberal arts college like DePauw is that we can, and do, change. — Brian Casey, President Larry Stimpert, Vice President for Academic Affairs Cindy Babington, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
LETTER TO THE EDITOR This letter addresses the discussion on campus in response to Ashton Johnson’s editorial in last week’s paper. I hope I can depolarize this issue a bit. I’m not claiming to speak for the white majority at DePauw University. I think that both arguments were made with good intentions, but that’s not the impression it left with the student body. I haven’t witnessed the events Johnson provided, but I’m not denying they happened. It’s disappointing that her points were largely supported by hypotheticals, but this was to protect the privacy of the students involved. As you can see on social media, topics like this have the effect of polarizing the audience; people feel obligated to take sides. This is because the perception of the editorial was one of blame, put on the
majority population at DePauw. Perhaps an editorial was not the best way to air this issue. I disagree with the generalizations made about DePauw’s LGBT community. I live in a fraternity where my brothers feel comfortable with their sexual identity. This might not be the case everywhere on campus. I remember a controversy regarding a fraternity and a gay student two years ago, but I believe this was an isolated incident. I think this because DePauw collectively said, “This is not ok”. As for non-national and minority greek houses—I admit that I have little experience interacting with them, but I think houses that seek out only members of the same racial minority for recruitment have little ground to stand on when addressing prolonging segregation on campus.
Lastly, I want to address ‘DePauw Privilege.’ This is an area of Walters’ letter I agreed with. Student status comes with privilege, especially at a preppy, high tuition, white-collar institution like DePauw. I think anyone making claims tying student status to segregation should take into mind the privilege that all DePauw students have over the typical resident of Greencastle. Does DePauw need to continue to improve its accommodation of students who don’t fit the campus norm? Absolutely—who doesn’t? Do I think we are headed in the right direction? Yes, I do. — Matt Haeske, class of 2014
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The stereotype problem In the recent days, there has been an incredible amount of support, backlash and argument about the recent article “Excuse me, but your privilege is in our way.” Many have spoken out in ardent support of the article and equal numbers have voiced their disagreement, anger and hurt. I am hoping to respond with neither. As a senior on this campus, I can say that after four years at DePauw University, it is impossible not to see the divide on this campus. The divisions are evident and harmful to everyone. Not only to those who marginalized, but also to those of us who ultimately miss out on them because of this problem. But to me the problem here is the stereotype problem. We must reach a point where we see people as individuals on this campus with whom we share an identity as Tigers. When I look at my domestic, white peers, I find very few with whom I have more in common than just skin color and a United States citizenship. My life has not been defined by being white, but by being a white, female from Southern Indiana with divorced parents, and on and on. My struggles and the ways I experience privilege are many and varied. This is true of everyone on this campus. The discussions should lead not to a point where the members of our campus are polarized into those who agree and those who disagree with the existence of the problem, but about how we can find a common ground on which to discuss the commonalities we all share. Although there are things about each of us that are defining factors, no one of us is defined by a single trait. I am not just white. I am not just a woman. The author of “Excuse me, but your privilege is in our way” is not just a person of color. She is not just a woman. And if we all take one thing away from her submission, it should be the incredible need to see past the obvious and to the person. – Caitlyn Hammack, ‘14
DePauw DOES care As I ate lunch in The Hub on Wednesday, March 12, I was suddenly disrupted by angry chants of “DePauw Doesn’t Care” — the latest movement about white / male privilege on DePauw University’s campus. Another group of people with “no voice” ironically shouting through campus. Before I go any further, I would first like to agree with their fundamental point: White / male privilege has been, and still is, a serious issue in American society. Women still make less money than men. Whites still have better access to education than most other groups. Gays and lesbians still cannot marry in 33 states. The list goes on. The way to combat this privilege, however, is not by chanting at every man, woman and child in
a 200-foot radius that “DePauw doesn’t care!” The truth is, we do care. I can guarantee that our community is significantly more informed about these issues than most other organizations in the “real world.” Through scholarships exclusively available to minority and international students, DePauw has created a student body much more diverse than a typical American community. We have a women’s center, cultural resource centers and a student government that funds student organizations that cater to students of nearly every race, gender, sexual orientation and interest. Furthermore, DePauw celebrates that 95 percent of its students study off campus, allowing them to return much more culturally aware. More shouting at the DePauw administration and student body to not be oppressive is akin to preaching to the choir. Categorizing individual actions as general “white privilege” or “male privilege” cheapens a serious issue. When you equate not being called on in class with the pay inequality of men and women or the educational gap between blacks and whites, you make a serious problem seem frivolous. In the end, writing a list of “demands”—a technique favored by bank robbers and hostagetakers—really doesn’t allow for the open dialogue you are trying to create. Saying that “DePauw doesn’t care” is not only incorrect, it’s frankly insulting — not only to the administration, but also to the student body it represents. – Jon Stroman, ‘14
In response to Grant Walters In response to Grant Walters’ letter to the editor: You have exemplified all of the valid points Johnson was clearly making in her article, and all of the minority communities represented at DePauw University would agree that your ignorance reflects the overall ignorance of racism by the majority at DePauw. I encourage you to re-read her piece and to apologize for not attacking her opinion but her identity as a black woman at DePauw. Ms. Johnson was not revealing everyone with privilege to have a narrow perspective. She was merely raising awareness of the “privilege attitude” that is dominantly prevalent on campus in many shapes and forms. Personally, I have been called “Nigger” by truckers speeding down Jackson Street and Hanna Street. A couple of years ago the KKK purposefully threw a snake at a black female walking around campus. Friends have been racially insulted by our own sheriff here in Greencastle. Black males who were going maybe five miles over the limit had dogs brought to their car by the authorities as if they were criminals committing high level crimes. A homosexual male was deliberately dragged out of a fraternity house due to his sexual preference.
Might I mention this IS happening in 2014 and no it is not 1951? Therefore, these are the current experiences, and as your ignorance reveals not only your rude character but displays how you and many others are not aware of these experiences. I do not necessarily say it is your fault entirely for YOUR ignorance of these situations due to the “DePauw bubble.” Thus, it is NOT falsehood, and you should be appalled at these personal experiences being told to the administration, and yet there is a slow progression in resolving these issues. Now that you have been informed, I encourage you and the rest of DePauw to make better conscious decisions of how we interact and perceive each other. Instead of silencing Johnson, you can support her in raising more awareness and being proactive in addressing these issues here at DePauw University. – Shani Glover, ‘14
Each perspective is a DePauw perspective This is a response to the piece written by Grant Walters regarding Ashton Johnson’s article, “Excuse me, but your privilege is in our way.” I want to thank you, Grant, for sharing your opinion with us. It has sparked a discussion too great to contain. Every person at DePauw University has different experiences. What Ashton wrote in her opinion piece was part of her DePauw experience and should be respected and valued as such, the same as yours. It is oppressive to silence voices that attempt to shed light on issues pertaining directly to members of our student body. As it is unfair to assume that everyone at DePauw is racist, it is also unfair to assume that no one is racist. Many students on this campus have experienced cases of homophobia, racism, classism, sexism, sexual violence, trans-phobia and xenophobia. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person or two thousand people. What matters is that students at DePauw face these concerns on a daily basis, and, therefore, we must talk about it. As you stated in your article, we are not in the year 1951. We are in the year 2014, and discrimination has not disappeared. Latinos are being asked to represent their entire ethnic community in a Spanish class full of Caucasian students. International students are ostracized from group projects because “their English isn’t good enough.” Women and men are sexually assaulted, and a student is told that he/she can’t enter a party because of his/her appearance. These all occur at our school regularly. And even though this may not directly impact all of us, discrimination harms our classmates and hinders students from having the positive and inclusive DePauw experience that all of us deserve. I do not wish to attack anyone for their views;
I wish to educate. As my friend says, “It’s about learning that the struggle is real, even if you might not see it or live it every day.” I hope this motivates us to learn from each other and to create a more aware and accepting DePauw. – Anna Butz, class of 2014
Trampling on individual experience as bad as any protestation The DePauw community has become obsessed with perpetuating a one-sided conversation surrounding demographic privilege. Last week, an opinion piece was written by Ashton Johnson surrounding this subject. Tuesday, a letter to the editor was submitted by Grant Walters, and he has received a large amount of flak for even choosing to share his opinion. If one reads the online comments on his piece, one can find the sentiment that his view need not be published at all and that he is merely speaking from a privileged position and that his views need to be discounted. What one needs to remember is that the smallest minority is that of the individual. Trampling on his experience as an individual is just as shameful as any protestation that he could have made. Second, many minority communities at DePauw are responsible for continuing to advance an identity of “otherness.” If one seeks to live in a community not divided by sexual orientation, race or gender, then this must be avoided. I will not speak to racial or gender issues, but I can speak personally regarding experience with my own minority community: the LGBT community. I am an LGBT individual that has also felt oppressed while at DePauw, but not by a phantom privileged, straight, white male majority. I have only “come out” my senior year and only to a few close friends. It is not an oppressive majority that keeps me “in the closet”, but the incendiary LGBT community on this campus. By lodging allegations of homophobia and straight privilege at the community-at-large, they have not only prevented true integration but alienated individuals like myself. I cannot publicly identify with a group that chooses to create cultural fractures for the sake of the “other” identity. I’m from a marginalized group, but I think that blaming the majority has gone too far. – Fletcher Greer
opinion@thedepauw.edu
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FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
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EMPATHY. RESPECT. ACTION.
STUDENTS’ FORUM A forum and panel discussion concerning our current campus climate and its issues of identity and privilege
Sunday, March 16 at 8pm in the UB Ballroom Moderated by Sandy Tran and Cody Watson. Will include a student panel and an open forum.
the depauw |SPORTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
MEN’S LACROSSE
Tigers secure second victory over Hope By MICHAEL JENNINGS sports@thedepauw.com
With their second consecutive victory this season, the DePauw men’s lacrosse team has started its second season as a varsity program with a solid 2-1 record. The Tigers kicked off the scoring with a goal from first-year midfielder Ryan Mauro. This was quickly answered by a goal from Hope College. The Tigers took the lead back with a goal provided by first-year Sam Caravana and from there, the Tigers never relinquished the lead. With two goals from Mauro and a hat trick from first-year forward Robert Lapp, the Tigers came out and took control of the lead and never let up despite some “Our strategy in the Hope game was to come out and play hard,” Lapp said. “We knew that they liked to scrap and play hard and we had to beat them at their own game. We really managed to do that we got out in transition a lot which is what we like to do and we beat them in the ground ball battle.” Tigers picked up 39 ground balls compared to Hope’s 29, so the Tigers stayed true to their strategy and kept the ball out of their opponent’s hands. With the win, the Tigers head into their next game with a two-game winning streak as Hope drops to 0-2 on the season. The Tigers held the lead at 4-2 going into half time, then opened the scoring in the second half as well with goals from Lapp and Mauro extending the lead to four. Hope began to pull back into the game with five of their six goals coming in the second half. The game ended 8-6 in favor of the Tigers. “It seemed like every time we were about to pull away they kept managing to keep it close,” Lapp said. “I give a lot of credit to them for hanging around but we just knew we had to take smart shots and posses the ball at the end of the game. We had to stay aggressive and not just try to play keep away but we also had to do that in the smartest way possible. The biggest thing that happened for us when holding them off was when they cut the lead to one.” Despite the comeback, the Tigers held their composure and kept Hope at bay. “Many of the defensemen have been in big games or championship games and know how to keep their composure,” firstyear defenseman Charlie Yorke said. “We rely on each other to do our jobs, but we also have a highly skilled and individually talented defense with a big presence on the field.” First-year goaltender Tom Kryspin backed his defense well with 20 saves from 26 shots on goal. Hope outshot DePauw 26 to 17, but Kryspin held strong and kept the Tigers in the game with strong goaltending. The Tigers are back in action Saturday against Carthage College.
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DePauw prepares to host sectional matchups in NCAA Sweet Sixteen Tournament By CHRIS DICKOW sports@thedepauw.com
The NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament has entered the round of sixteen with a mixture of established powerhouses and teams that may win on an upset. The most intriguing matchup pits the defending national champion DePauw Tigers against Carthage College, who hopes to carry momentum after an upset victory over previously undefeated and second-ranked Hope College. They will square off on Friday, March 14 at Neal Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. The winner of that game will face the winner of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Titans of Wisconsin-Oshkosh knocked off Washington University-St. Louis 72-66 in the second round. Whitewater and Oshkosh will play at 5:00 p.m. in Neal Fieldhouse followed by the game between DePauw and Carthage. Wisconsin-Whitewater and DePauw have a history in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers knocked off the Warhawks in the national championship game last season. Hosting the NCAA basketball tournament
games is nothing new for DePauw University. The school has successfully hosted tournament games the past two seasons. Athletic Director Stevie Baker-Watson notes that there are other factors why DePauw was chosen to host two of the round of sixteen games in addition to the team’s success. “There are so many factors that influence the NCAA committee’s decision as to where to host tournament games,” said Baker-Watson. “The team’s success this year has been very important, but they also take into account our successfully hosting of games in previous years, geographical location, and great home crowd that will show up to support and consequently bring in revenues.” In order to apply to host the tournament, the athletic department has to submit a comprehensive plan of action that includes a mock budget, safety and security plan, and facility diagrams. Additional NCAA tournament regulations require that black pipe and drape be hung over the second floor viewing area to maintain privacy for all basketball practices. “It’s exciting that we get to see even more basketball at Neal [Fieldhouse],” said first-year Jane Pera. “I’m planning on attending both games on Friday night.”
Junior guard Lauren Abdendroth thinks playing a tournament game at home is a significant advantage for the Tigers. “I think hosting makes it more personal for a team,” said Abendroth. “We aren’t going to let someone else come in and beat us on our home floor. We also know that we will have the support of our fans behind us and playing for them adds extra energy on the court.” On the other side of the bracket, Montclair State University will face off against Scranton University. The winner of that game will play the winner of undefeated FDU-Fordham University and Baldwin-Wallace College, who upset York College (Pa.) to advance to the round of sixteen. Montclair State and Scranton will play at 5 p.m. followed by a matchup between FDU-Fordham and Baldwin-Wallace at 7:30 p.m. at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, N.J. The tournament has already seen its fair share of upsets and nail-biting games. The matchups set for Friday night at Neal Fieldhouse are highly anticipated, especially for all those who have been involved. Healthy combinations of new and familiar foes are shaping an exciting push towards the national title game.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 7:30 P.M.
NEAL FIELDHOUSE
Carthage (26-3) DePauw (29-1)
Winner plays
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 7:00 P.M. NEAL FIELDHOUSE
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the depauw | sports
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Carthage up next in Women’s NCAA tournament
Junior Hannah Douglas in hot pursuit of Pioneer guard Nicole Coffman at last Saturday’s game against Transylvania By JACOB LYNN sports@thedepauw.com
Following wins over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Transylvania University last weekend, DePauw’s women’s basketball team will move on to face Carthage College in the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Div. III tournament tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Lady Reds of Carthage finished the 2014 regular season with an overall record of 24-3. With a conference record of 13-1, the Lady Reds claimed the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship and earned an automatic bid to the national tournament. Carthage entered the NCAA tournament as the ninth ranked team in the nation. In the first round, the Lady Reds defeated St. Norbert College by a score of 60-51. Carthage senior Stephanie Kuz-
manic led all scores with 25 points and added seven assists in the victory. The Lady Reds then faced a tough matchup with second ranked and undefeated Hope College in the next round. However, Carthage pulled the upset over Hope with a 72-69 win. This time, it was junior Michelle Wenzel who led the way for Carthage. Wenzel recorded a double double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Forwards Wenzel and junior Kristi Schmidt lead the Lady Reds’ front court. Each averages over 12 points and over five rebounds per game. “Carthage has a very strong post game with a great guard court to go along with it,” said DePauw senior Alex Gasaway. “They have a couple very strong three-point shooters that we will have to make sure we locate at all times. Their offensive capabilities will require our defense to be at its best
C. THAMBUNDIT / THE DEPAUW
on Friday.” DePauw has made it clear that in order to win, they will have to be able to shut down the Carthage offense. “When we start stringing together defensive stops, our offense will come,” senior Ann Sarkisian said. “I think our defensive possessions will determine the outcome of the game.” The Carthage defense is quite strong as well. Eleven times this season, the Lady Reds have allowed less than 55 points. This was highlighted by a 36-point defensive effort against Clarke University and a 33-point effort against Elmhurst College earlier this season. Carthage also plays exceptionally well away from their home floor. The Lady Reds are 9-1 when playing away from their home court. However, it has been almost a month since the Lady Reds played
a game away from Tarble Arena, as they hosted CCIW tournament and the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament at home. The Tigers will come into Friday night’s tilt with veteran leadership and tournament experience, however. The seniors from last season’s national championship team have had a great influence on this group of Tigers. “[Last year’s seniors] played with extreme confidence and that confidence led our team to have the success we had last year,” said Gasaway. “Every single day at practice was a battle, and the seniors from last year instilled that type of work ethic and competitive mentality in all of us returners.” The tournament experience on this year’s team will also play a large role as DePauw advances deeper into the tournament. “I think last year we were able to see how tough the teams are as we got in the NCAA tournament,” said senior guard, Ali Ross. “What’s important is that we’ve been playing our conference teams for what seems like months now and we know them so well now. Going into the tournament, we have to realize that these are different teams that we don’t know as well.” Gasaway will most likely be called upon to lead DePauw on Friday night. The senior has averaged 18 points per game so far in the tournament. She scored 20 points, the game-high, in DePauw’s first round win over ClaremontMudd-Scripps and pulled in double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Transylvania. These two teams do have a history in the tournament as well. Prior to this season’s loss to Ohio Wesleyan University, Carthage was the last team to beat DePauw before the Tigers went on their historic 58-game winning streak. The Lady Reds ended DePauw’s season in the second round of the 2012 NCAA tournament with a 53-48 win at Neal Fieldhouse. “Carthage is a team full of experienced players,” said Sarkisian. “Last time we played them, the game was determined by a few possessions.” Tip off for this sweet sixteen matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday night following another sectional matchup between the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of WisconsinWhitewater.