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The student voice of the Ohio State University
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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Year 137, Issue No. 4
Drake talks college affordability, Donald Trump administration SALLEE ANN RUIBAL Editor in Chief ruibal.1@osu.edu
HANNAH HERNER Arts&Life Editor herner.12@osu.edu
NICK ROLL Campus Editor roll.66@osu.edu In his Spring Semester sit-down with The Lantern, University President Michael Drake talked college affordability and federal government transitions, as well as the personal values by which he operates. Regarding affordability, he said he couldn’t commit at this point to a continuation of Ohio State’s five-year freeze on in-state, undergraduate tuition, which would most likely be decided in April. As for President Donald Trump, he talked about his admiration for undocumented students covered by the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals policy set in place by former President Barack Obama. College affordability Drake spoke on overall college affordability. For the past five years, in-state tuition has been frozen. Drake acknowledged that tuition is not the only factor when it comes to making college affordable, but is a common baseline for determining whether college is possible or not. “What we want is for our col-
American Association of University Women opens OSU chapter
teaches, all texts are available online, for free. He said while an overarching policy of textbook affordability doesn’t exist, steps have been taken at the individual level by teachers who use cheap or free course materials. “Where we think is the future is to do things that are more affordable and easy to get,” he said.
Over the weekend, nearly 500,000 people marched at the Women’s March in Washington D.C. Some of them were members of Ohio State’s newly-established chapter of the American Association of University Women. President Kirsten Sippola, a third-year in international studies and Spanish, was inspired to start the group by Lisa Maatz, the vice president of governmental relations for AAUW, after hearing her speak while Sippola was interning in Washington over the summer. On Thursday, Maatz, an OSU alumna, is set to return to her alma mater to talk about grassroots legislative action the national organization is planning in light of the new presidential administration. AAUW is a national organization that was founded in 1881 and now has about a thousand branches across the country, with about 800 at the university level. It advocates for a range of issues, including education, leadership and economic justice for women. AAUW at OSU began meeting
DRAKE CONTINUES ON 3
AAUW CONTINUES ON 2
MASON SWIRES | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
University President Michael Drake sits down for an Editorial Board meeting with the staff of the The Lantern on Jan. 23. leges, our university, is to be affordable and what we would like within that is tuition set at an appropriate level,” Drake said. However, he did acknowledge that five years is a long time for tuition not to be adjusted for inflation. Drake could not confirm or deny another freeze, saying that a concrete answer will be available around April. But he did say need-
based aid will be increased by a minimum of $2 million next year. “We look at our aid to make sure that our aid grows at a rate that allows us to make sure that we are even more affordable this year then we were last year,” Drake said. One of the factors of college affordability is textbook costs. Drake said that in the course he
Professor connects cultures to promote science ERIN GOTTSACKER Lantern reporter gottsacker.2@osu.edu
Ohio State professor Sultana Nahar has given more than astrophysics research to the scientific community, as she’s worked to bring higher education to women and children in underdeveloped countries. For the last 20 years, Nahar has worked in developing countries, most notably her home country of Bangladesh. Nahar looked to improve the quality of education at poor schools, to connect researchers in underserved areas with the international community and to provide an open forum for Muslim women in science. “If we come together, we can make advances faster, much faster, than in isolation,” Nahar said. Nahar started her outreach efforts after she attended numerous
scientific conferences and did not see other Bangladeshi scientists. Recognizing the lack of resources and support for Bangladeshi researchers, Nahar started programs to encourage the international involvement of scientists in developing countries. Since, she has connected people from 22 countries to the American Physical Society who otherwise may not have had access. In addition, she has created programs to link emerging research professionals in developing countries with universities in the United States, including OSU. Sabiha Parveen, a graduate student in chemistry is involved in one such program and hopes to eventually become a faculty member at Aligarh Muslim University in India, where she is currently enrolled. “I am feeling very lucky to be part of this program, and it is all
possible because of (Nahar),” Parveen said. “She has become the role-model lady for me.” While enabling emerging researchers and scientists is an important aspect of Nahar’s work, she also focuses on primary education by working to provide textbooks and technology to underserved primary and secondary schools in countries and territories such as Bangladesh, Egypt, India and Palestine. At the same time, to inspire higher quality teaching, Nahar has created research and teaching awards, so students can nominate their most influential teachers. “What kind of people can change the whole education system?” Nahar asked. “They are the teachers.” Nahar found this strategy particularly successful in improving school enrollment and graduation NAHAR CONTINUES ON 2
COURTESY OF SULTANA NAHAR
Ohio State professor Sultana Nahar works to improve the quality of education in developing countries, like her home country of Bangladesh, by connecting researchers with local communities.
CAMPUS
2 | Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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Crime map January 17-22
MITCH HOOPER Engagement Editor hooper.102@osu.edu 1. A woman reported her vehicle had been stolen on West 3rd Avenue near Norton Avenue between 5 and 5:20 p.m. on Sunday. 2. On Wednesday at 10 p.m., a robbery of $4,400 allegedly occurred in the 100 block of East 13th Avenue after three people attempted to buy a vehicle listed on Craigslist, according to the Columbus Division of Police’s online log. 3. A man was arrested for public indecency after a witness reported the suspect yelling, “Hey, hey, hey girls!” at pedestrians while he walked exposed and masturbating on the corner of Summit Street and East 16th Avenue on Friday at 10:02 p.m. 4. A firearm was discharged by an unknown suspect into the rear of a residence located on North 6th Street near East 8th Avenue on Wednesday between 11 and 11:42 p.m. Note: Crimes featured on this map do not represent the full extent of criminal activity in the campus area.
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rates. “Sometimes it seems like people don’t care about recognition,” Nahar said, “But somehow it is 100 percent sure it brings motivation and encouragement.” In addition to these initiatives, Nahar also founded the International Society of Muslim Women in Science to give Muslim women from developing countries exposure to Western science. The group encourages women to pursue a career in science despite outside pressure. “We have a brain like any man and we are supposed to learn,” she said. “God has given you a brain. It doesn’t mean you have to waste your dream to do other things.” Ultimately, Nahar said she hopes to provide the people and children of developing countries with opportunities to pursue in-depth scientific research they otherwise might not experience. Whether that means inspiring small children to dream about flying spaceships or enabling already established professors to make meaningful contributions to the field of science, Nahar said she is constantly works to achieve this goal. “God has created this whole universe,” Nahar said. “We have to know it. If you know it, now you can do something.” The Engaged Scholars logo accompanies stories that feature and examine research and teaching partnerships formed between the Ohio State University and the community (local, state, national and global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources. These stories spring from a partnership with OSU’s Office of Outreach and Engagement. The Lantern retains sole editorial control over the selection, writing and editing of these stories.
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A woman holds a sign representing the Buckeyes during the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21. AAUW FROM 1
in the fall, but officially became registered as a student organization Spring Semester 2017. In November, it hosted Columbus City Councilwoman Elizabeth Brown. Sippola said the club wants to hold discussions on sexual violence on campus, equal pay and negotiating salaries, among other issues. Helena Rudoff, vice president of the OSU chapter and a third-year in environment, economy, development and sustainability, said one issue she’s especially concerned about is leadership roles for women, which she said was prompted in part by the recent presidential election. “We want to make sure that women still have a place to have a voice, especially in government, that women are taken seriously for their work in government,” Rudoff said. In addition, AAUW at OSU would like to bring in female faculty members to learn from their experiences in the workplace and partner with AAUW’s Columbus chapter to learn about lobbying the state and local government. Sippola said one of the issues she is especially passionate about is heightening the awareness of sexual assault on college campuses and people who it disproportionately affects. She listed the transgender community and women of color as people who might feel like they can’t speak out. “My biggest goal is creating a healthier and safer campus culture for women, and knowing that I actually did my part to try to change something here, instead of just wishing that would happen,” Sippola said. But women aren’t the only ones who can get something out of AAUW. Dave Straka, a fifth-year in political science and member of the group, attends the meetings as well. He said he has learned a lot from AAUW meetings, which offers a different composition than the male-dominated organizations he’s been a part of. “I would like to see women, especially in the fields of math, science, technology and entrepreneurship and engineering, joining in and taking leadership roles in these organizations related to those topics,” Straka said. “When you look around the room and it’s all men, you’re missing half the campus, you’re missing half the ideas. And nobody wins when you’re missing out on ideas.” Rudoff said that sometimes the issues discussed in the group can be emotional and sensitive, but it is still important to have those conversations, which the organization facilitates. “It’s hard to tell someone who doesn’t have the same experiences as you, ‘Sometimes I feel disadvantaged.’ And it might not be obvious all the time, but I know I will run into different issues because I’m a woman,” Rudoff said. “Being able to have those types of dialogues that are really difficult with different types of people with different experiences, I think is really useful on a campus this big.” Lisa Maatz will speak in Page Hall, Room 130 from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday. The group’s first meeting will be on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. Both are open to nonmembers.
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DRAKE FROM 1
“There are concrete, individual examples of these things happening. Can this be expanded? Different courses, different material requirements — what we’re looking for is to expand these things even more.” Trump, DACA and transition On the heels of the inauguration, Drake said that OSU is dealing with “a lot of unknowns,” with the new administration, though it was something he felt prepared for. “Our job is to understand those things, to process them and make it that your experience is better year-by-year going forward,” he said. Drake also spoke on his support of DACA, as immigration advocates have worried about its potential cancellation under the Trump administration. The executive order protects people who came illegally into the United States as children. If the person meets the qualifications, any action on their immigration status is paused, which could include deportation, for a renewable period of two years. “I work with colleagues, as I mentioned my work with (former University President E. Gordon Gee) and other groups, and we all then work together to determine how policy, federal policy, national policy, can affect things that are important to us,” Drake said. “We’ve all joined together in (the Association of American Universities as well as the Association of Public Land-grant Universities) and in both of those roles we have written letters on behalf of the DACA students, to write to the administration
to reinforce the incredible journey these students have had to get to where they are.” Framework 2.0 In regards to the Framework 2.0 construction and renovation plans, details of which were announced at the State of the University address last week, Drake said an exact time frame for projects such as the possible demolition of St. John Arena is not clear. He said it will be sometime in the future, but likely nothing immediate. “The future can stretch,” Drake said. “We don’t intend to replace things until they’ve outlived their useful life. We would not think about that replacement unless or until it’s necessary. That’s not the immediate future.” As far as tight deadlines or plans for the demolition of the arena, Drake said it was up in the air. “You’re asking what the decision will be before we make the decision, and there’s not a decision yet. I know that the plan called for (demolition) to happen relatively soon, I think it’s now not going to be that soon.” One of the effects of the construction plans is the demolition of 18 percent of Buckeye Village student family housing, in order to make room for the Covelli Multi-Sport Arena. Drake said the university will place a request for proposals for plans to construct more student family housing in its place. “I think the plan will be to have even more space over time,” Drake said. “We are interested in the student housing being affordable and efficient and environ-
mentally friendly.” Personal values Nearly three years after assuming the role of OSU president, Drake reflected on his philosophy concerning leadership, particularly the concept of “values-driven decision making.” “When you lead, by definition, you’re in the front, you’re not following anybody,” Drake said. “And when you’re in front, there’s no pathway. You don’t do it like someone else did because no one MASON SWIRES | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR has been in that circumstance exactly Drake discussed aspects of Framework 2.0 like that in this time before. So you have and his personal values. your values and principals at the ready.” On filling the space left by Gee — Lantern whom Drake said he talks to frequently Classifieds in their professional capacity as univerUNFURNISHED FOUR UNFURNISHED TWO sity presidents — Drake said assuming BEDROOM BEDROOM the high-profile role at OSU has come naturally. 4 Bedroom half double 35 East Norwich Ave. “I was a whole lot like me when I got for lease August 2017 here, and I haven’t changed much now,” Just steps from Lane he said. “And to be honest I won’t change and High. Remodeled 1703 - 1705 N. 4th 2BR, 1 Bath, a/c, much after I leave.” Street . 2 baths, AC, laundry, free parking. dishwasher, washer/ The principles Drake said he follows $900/mo From 8/10/17 dryer. $1500. include respect for oneself and others, - 7/31/18. Contact curiosity, integrity, commitment, pasAndy 614-402-3390 or 614-804-3165 sion, empathy, appreciation for other denbrookremodeling@ people’s perspectives and, lastly, fun. ANNOUNCEMENTS yahoo.com “Life is supposed to be fun, this is supNOTICES HELP WANTED posed to be fun,” Drake said. “You ought GENERAL BAHAMAS SPRING to be able to practice all of those and BREAK $189 for have a good time.” Camp Oty’Okwa has Sam Harris contributed to this article.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Navient scams students Did you hear? Not only are we taking out student loans, we are also getting scammed on these loans! I am writing in light of the recent news that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Navient, the largest student loan provider in the nation, for allegedly wronging its borrowers in every step of the loan process. Why is this a big deal? Well, if this is news to you, do a quick Twitter search and you’ll see how many Americans are being affected. This is a huge issue because this means students like you and me have fallen victim to a greedy corporation. Students that are about to take out loans, have loans or have debt to pay off are being wronged in every step of the student loan process. According to the CFPB, Navient has been scamming its consumers as far back as 2010. Along with students being targeted in this wrongdoing, the CFPB also allege that Navient has been scamming disabled veterans as well, which takes a serious lack of ethics. Big financial institutions are not looking out for you or me, the consumers. As a student here at Ohio State, I see the frustration classmates and friends have on a daily basis when it comes to student loans. Loans are bad enough as it is, but now we have
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The Lantern is a student publication which is part of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. It publishes issues Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and online editions every day. The Lantern’s daily operations are funded through advertising and its academic pursuits are supported by the School of Communication. Advertising in the paper is sold largely by student account executives. Students also service the classified department and handle front office duties. The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the newspaper in order to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from The Lantern experience.
to worry about these loan companies scamming us, too? Companies like Navient are greedily preying on customers who are working hard to make a better life for themselves by completing their education. So, what can we, as students, do so hopefully we don’t see another loan scam against us like this in the future? Luckily, there is a federal agency whose sole purpose is to look out for the consumers and our economic liberties. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was formed to prevent another recession, and has returned millions of dollars to consumers since its creation, but right now it’s under attack. Under the Trump administration, the CFPB could be facing budget cuts, loss of power and the firing of its director, former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray. We need the CFPB to look out for us. Big financial institutions are not looking out for us, and this is where the CFPB plays a vital role for you and me. Without this consumer watchdog, we are just shark bait. I would highly encourage checking in to see if Navient is in control of your student loans or not. On top of that, let friends, family, professors and politicians in Washington know that we need the
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Corrections “Ohio State basketball attendance plummets from new ticket packages,” appearing on page 8 of the Jan. 19 edition, incorrectly identified Matt Carabajal as principal designer of the ticket deal. In fact, he is the associate ticket director. The online version has also corrected the exact decrease in total number of fans on average from 2013 to 2016. The Lantern corrects any significant error brought to the attention of the staff. If you think a correction is needed, please email lanternnewsroom@gmail.com
ARTS&LIFE
4 | Tuesday, January 24, 2017
DIVERSITY THROUGH DANCE
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An event will celebrate Asian diversity by showcasing different dance styles. | ON PAGE 6
Gin and juice to occupy former Eddie George’s HANNAH HERNER Arts&Life Editor herner.12@osu.edu North High Street is set to welcome a new restaurant in the former Eddie George’s Grille 27 space this semester. A&R Creative Group recently purchased the space at 1636 N. High St. and have started construction on Trism, a new fast-casual restaurant, bar and event space. The group already owns campus-area spots like Ethyl & Tank, Midway on High and Fourth Street Bar & Grill, as well as other businesses around Columbus. Eddie George’s announced its move to Grandview Heights last January, after occupying the space for more than 10 years. Alexis Joseph, co-founder and
“Trism is going to be a very modern transformative space.” Alexis Joseph Co-founder and director of business development and brand integrity for Alchemy Juice Bar + Cafe.
COURTESY OF TIM LAI
An artistic rendering of Trism, which is set to open this spring at 1636 N. High St. director of business development and brand integrity for Alchemy Juice Bar + Café, said Trism is heavily inspired by Alchemy. She said it will have many staple menu items from Alchemy’s menu, focused on seasonal, local ingredients, made from scratch. But, unlike the juice bar, Trism will serve alcohol in the evenings. With the 6,500-square-foot space, she said they are looking forward to host-
ing events. “Trism is going to be a very modern transformative space,” Joseph said. “There will be a lot of thoughtfully planned out events, whether it be a pop up farmer’s market, a yoga brunch, nighttime dancing … it will not be a sports bar, it will not have the perception that Eddie George’s did.” Joseph and Abed Alshahal, both 2012 Ohio State graduates,
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founded Alchemy in the fall of 2014. Joseph studied dietetics and Alshahal studied nutrition. Noticing students making the trek to the Alchemy locations, Joseph said they had wanted to add one on campus but decided to tweak the idea when they secured the former Eddie George’s space. Joseph said they had both been dreaming of providing more healthy options for students since
they attended OSU, and things have now come full circle. “A&R Creative Group is a highly sought after restaurateur with incredibly successful concepts in Columbus ... We are so pleased they’ll be debuting a new 6,500 (square-foot) concept at a prominent Gateway location at the corner of High Street and Chittenden Avenue,” Beau Arnason, executive Vice President of Steiner & Associates, which manages the Gateway spaces, said in a statement. Joseph described the price range of Trism as “approachable and affordable” for students. Definite hours have not been announced, but Joseph said Trism will be open late like other campus bars. “I think really just focusing on taking the Alchemy mission and culture and taking that to new heights and having that presence on campus,” Joseph said. “Not just eating healthy food but other things that can influence you positively when it comes to lifestyle, and just having this open space for people, is what we’re excited about.”
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Glass Axis creates space for community OLIVIA BALCERZAK Lantern reporter balcerzak.13@osu.edu n 1985, Ohio State graduates and staff members who stayed behind to continue making glass art using OSU facilities called themselves “cling-ons.” Now, they are more formally referred to as the founders of Glass Axis — a non-profit glass studio located in central Columbus. “I took everything (the OSU glass program) taught three times. I would just go to class until they kicked me out,” said Andy Hudson, co-founder of Glass Axis. Hudson was among the ten OSU students and faculty who created the studio more than 30 years ago. While a lot has changed since then, the non-profit studio still serves as a place for OSU alumni and local artists to continue making art and teaching others to do the same.
“It all began with the stellar glass program at Ohio State,” Bonnie Biggs, one of the founders, said in an email. “Students from the Art Dept. and many other OSU Depts. were taking glass classes and falling in love.” Glass Axis also teaches the community about glass art through demonstrations and lessons. They have partnered with the Ohio Union, making glass classes sometimes available through the D-tix program. “Our purpose is to create opportunities for people through advancing glass art education,” said director Rex Brown. “In fact, we do so many kinds of glass art that we’re in the top 10 internationally of what we do, so right here in Columbus they really have something.” While many of the founders are now working elsewhere, OSU is still represented in the studio. “I came to Ohio State for grad
“Our purpose is to create opportunities for people through advancing glass art education.” Rex Brown Director, Glass Axis
school and found out about (Glass Axis) through my professor,” said Jacci Delaney, glassblowing instructor and artist at Glass Axis. “I rent a studio here now, so since I finished my grad degree I have that space to work.” The professor who introduced Delaney to the studio was Richard Harned, a founder of Glass Axis and the man to whom Hudson attributes a lot of the studio’s success. Hudson said the founders started by meeting in Harned’s house before creating the mobile
OLIVIA BALCERZAK | LANTERN REPORTER
A glass corset made by Alexandra Fresch will be featured in “Glassquare” on March 4.
OLIVIA BALCERZAK | LANTERN REPORTER
A glass crown made by Jaci Delaney will be featured in the fashion show on March 4. studio that would become Glass Axis. “We all owe Richard Harned a whole debt of gratitude for the years of his life that he dedicated to Glass Axis,” Hudson said. In its tenure, Glass Axis has grown to be more than just a place to blow glass, Harned said. It started with just OSU members grew into a community of local artists from different parts of the country. Even so, Harned said he still gets OSU students involved with Glass Axis. “Axis helps my students to participate in the world as good citizens,” Harned said. “Axis is not only a safety net, but also a launch pad.” Another OSU alumna who has utilized Glass Axis resources is Alexandra Fresch, social media coordinator and glass instructor at the studio. “Glass Axis is a really incredible facility because I went to Ohio State, and when you graduate, just
like a lot of other majors you don’t know where you can go to still do your art affordably,” Fresch said. “Glass Axis offers that opportunity for myself but it also is welcoming to students or adults.” Glass Axis is currently exhibiting “Fragile Fashion,” featuring wearable glass art. Those pieces will be part of the organization’s annual fashion show fundraiser, “Glassquerade,” on March 4.
“We all owe Richard Harned a whole debt of gratitude for the years of his life that he dedicated to Glass Axis.” Andy Hudson Co-founder of Glass Axis
By the Slice promotes laid-back comedy SARAH UPTON Lantern reporter upton.91@osu.edu Ohio State’s newest improv comedy group is serving up laughs By the Slice. By the Slice improv comedy group, which was established late last semester, currently has about 10 regular members. The group focuses more on the practice and enjoyment of improv comedy rather than performing, aiming to create a relaxed environment. Patrick Bouchard, a fourth-year in English and president of By the Slice, helped found the group after he and other founding members were rejected after auditioning for another comedy group on campus. Bouchard said what sets this club apart from others like it is there are no auditions, and no required attendance. “We’re not really an improv group whose goal is to perform and just put on shows,” Bouchard said. “Our objective is to give students an opportunity to try improv comedy in a more laid-back environment.” Bouchard said during the meet-
COURTESY OF PATRICK BOUCHARD
ings, the members will show off their creativity by participating in improv games and activities that not only allow them to have fun, but allow them to practice the craft of comedic improv. “So far, we have switched it up at each meeting,” he said. “But, each (meeting) has included an improv game, kind of like you’d see on ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’— improv exercises for people who want to get better. And then we kind of end it all with scenes, at the end, where people volunteer, get up and do scenes for everyone else.” Joe Majka, fourth-year in
speech and hearing science and regular attendee of By the Slice’s meetings, said he had never done comedic improv before joining. “I had been to a couple of the Fishbowl comedy improv shows,” Majka said. “I thought those were pretty funny, so I thought it would be fun to try it out.” Majka said the meetings fit Bouchard’s goal of creating a relaxed environment for its members by eliminating pressure when performing improv. “I think it was pretty relaxed because it was structured, but it was not too structured where it felt like I had to participate or anything,”
“We’re not really an improv group whose goal is to perform and just put on shows. Our objective is to give students an opportunity to try improv comedy in a more laid-back enviornment.”
ed about,” Bouchard said. “I think there will be opportunities for people who just want to practice and get better, but then we are also trying to provide an opportunity for people who would like to get out there and perform.” By the Slice’s first meeting of the semester is on Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sphynx Centennial Leadership Suite at the Ohio Union.
Patrick Bouchard Fourth-year in English, president of By the Slice
he said. “It just felt like if I wanted to participate, I could.” Although performance is not the main goal of the group, Bouchard says as the club grows, he would like to show off their honed improv skills. “We’re kind of hoping to eventually put on a show with as many of the regular members as possible, just to show what we’ve been doing and show what we’re excit-
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Diversity through dance
Students dance for Asian/Pacific American heritage month KAYLEEN PETROVIA Lantern reporter petrovia.1@osu.edu East will meet West on Wednesday as students celebrate culture through dance. Diversity through Dance will take place on Wednesday in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. It will feature demonstrations from Odissi Dance, a traditional Indian dance group, and Dance of the Soul from China, a student organization that blends contemporary and traditional dances from various cultures around the world. Kaustavi Sarkar, a graduate student in dance studies, will also speak on the evolution of dance as it reflects culture. Sarkar said OSU’s recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides the university community with an opportunity to explore different facets of cultures throughout the Asian world. “They’re making space for a celebration not just of community, but of the communal arts,” Sarkar said. “A celebration of not just a culture, but a cultural artifact.” Odissi Dance will present a nearly two-thousand-year-old traditional Indian style of dance live. Odissi is a “curved linear” dance form whose movements draw S-shaped curves with the body and in space. The dance features crisp footwork that is accompanied by a percussive instrument called a mardela, Sarkar said. As a performer and someone who studies the art form, Sarkar said the emotionally evocative nature of Odissi also reflects the context that surrounds it. “The question I ask as a prac-
“Dance is a way of mirroring because I can see me in you and you can see yourself in me, so it creates empathy in our society.” Luyao Zhang Founder of Dance of the Soul from China
titioner is, ‘What knowledge does this movement create?’ Not just cultural context, not just historical context, not just the scientific, biomechanical knowledge, but all of it,” Sarkar said. “So many layers of knowledge are encoded in movement.” Sarkar said the Odissi performance at Diversity through Dance will also involve audience participation. “We are hoping to have a very immersive, interactive experience with the audience,” Sarkar said. “We wouldn’t just do a regular performance because that wouldn’t serve to start a conversation similar to the one we are having here.” Diversity through Dance will also screen a video of the Peacock Dance, produced and performed by student organization Dance of the Soul from China. Luyao Zhang, a graduate student in economics and founder of Dance of the Soul from China, said the Peacock Dance stems from the Dai Chinese minority group, but is also performed throughout India and Europe. However, Zhang said the group’s performances are not restricted to traditional Chinese
COURTESY OF KAUSTAVI SARKAR
Odessi dance, which originated in India, often relies on elaborate movements of the dancer’s hands. styles, as they include a variety of styles from hip-hop to ballet to belly dancing. “What distinguishes us from other organizations is that we are not promoting one culture, but we want to bring cultures together,” Zhang said. “We are open-minded to all different styles of dance.” Alexis Li, a third-year in chemical engineering and co-president of Dance of the Soul from China, said different styles of dance enable communication between diverse groups. “Dance is something like music or math — you don’t have to know the language to communicate with other people,” Li said. Zhang said she hopes the performances at Diversity through Dance will create understanding for other cultures while stressing the similarities between them. “We want to promote the idea
COURTESY OF KAUSTAVI SARKAR
Diversity through Dance will feature dance styles from both India and China. that we are all very similar, if only in different ways,” Zhang said. “Dance is a way of mirroring, because I can see me in you and you can see yourself in me, so it cre-
ates empathy in our society.” Diversity through Dance will take place in the Ohio Union Multicultural Center Alonso Family Room on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017 | The Lantern | 7
TUESDAY TAKE: MEN’S BASKETBALL
Big Ten teams cannot afford to lose at home JACOB MYERS Assistant Sports Editor myers.1669@osu.edu The Ohio State men’s basketball team has had its notable struggles this season, but after two straight wins against Michigan State and stealing one at the buzzer at Nebraska, there was a reason for optimism. The Buckeyes had a real chance at turning an 0-4 start to Big Ten play into 4-4 with two winnable games at home after Nebraska. Alas, OSU’s 74-72 loss at home on Sunday to Northwestern can be attributed to a lack of focus on the team, according to Buckeyes’ center Trevor Thompson said. “Unacceptable. Disappointed. Soft,” he said. “It’s just frustrating.” The redshirt junior has been OSU’s most consistent and most improved player this season. He had 11 points and 15 rebounds against the Wildcats, which was his third game with 15-plus rebounds and sixth double-double of the season. Northwestern coach Chris Collins called the 7-footer one of the premier big men in the conference. Other than Thompson, the pro-
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OSU junior forward Jae’Sean Tate had 14 points in the Buckeyes’ 74-72 loss against Northwestern at the Schottenstein Center on Jan. 22. duction of the rest of the squad has become somewhat of a wildcard. Senior forward Marc Loving seemed to be playing at his best leading up to Sunday’s matchup, but the Toledo, Ohio, native totaled just five points on 2-of-8 shooting in 35 minutes. In proverbial “toss-up” games, players who are counted on for their performance cannot disappear, especially not at home, and especially not in the Big Ten.
The Big Ten Conference has an immense number of stories of star players from years past. From Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Jerry Lucas, to Glenn Robinson, Draymond Green and Evan Turner, there wasn’t a season that those players didn’t battle for a conference title. Even the Fab Five Michigan teams in the early 90s — one of the best college basketball teams in history — never won a Big Ten regular-season or
tournament championship. The 2016-17 Big Ten season is shaping up to be a traditional drag-it-out, tear-them-down slugfest. The top eight teams in the conference have realistic shots at getting an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament come March. While no team is 100 percent out of the picture right now, OSU is tinkering closer and closer to the edge of no return. As it stands, No. 20 Maryland (17-2, 5-1) and No. 15 Wisconsin (16-3, 5-1) are tied atop the conference with Northwestern (16-4, 5-2) and Purdue (16-4, 5-2) trailing in third. With the parity seen throughout the conference this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Big Ten champ have five losses. The last time that occurred was 2012 when three teams were tied at 13-5. At 2-4 OSU didn’t have much room for error. At 2-5 in a conference with immense uniformity and a deep pool of talent, the Buckeyes squandered a grand opportunity against Northwestern to gain some ground in the Big Ten standings. But sometimes, the slipper doesn’t fit. Or sometimes, in Sunday’s case, it’s fumbled and shatters when it falls out of your
grasp. “I would hope it leaves a bitter taste in all of our mouths because how we played leading up to this and then to play how we play, come out (Sunday) how we came out, was just mind-boggling,” Thompson said. As last season’s Big Ten champion, Indiana’s three Big Ten losses were all away from home, and won all three games against ranked conference opponents at home. In 2012 when OSU was one of three teams that shared the conference title at 13-5 in conference, the Buckeyes lost two home conference games to ranked opponents, but won two others. The 2016-17 Buckeyes have opportunities down the road, hosting Maryland and Wisconsin. But there’s little denying that the Northwestern game was one the team had to win. “You look at the stat sheet and not the final score, and you think Ohio State won (on Sunday),” OSU coach Thad Matta said after the game. “We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and realize who we are.”
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BASEBALL
Washington’s transition to shortstop to benefit team COLIN GAY Lantern reporter gay.125@osu.edu In January, things do not seem to be too busy around Bill Davis Stadium, home of the Ohio State baseball team. With the first game of the season not until Feb. 17, when the Buckeyes face off against Kansas State in Osceola, Florida, the players are still participating in the occasional workout and batting cage session. However, with every crack of the bat and smack of the catcher’s mitt, OSU is in the middle of one of the most integral parts of any season: creating a team identity. Senior and returning captain Jalen Washington is familiar with having to help build a team chemistry. Now as he moves from behind the plate to the shortstop, the leadership aspect of his game does not seem to be going anywhere. Ever since Washington first stepped foot onto the OSU campus, he felt he had something to prove. “Like freshman or sophomore year, I wasn’t as much of a vocal leader,” Washington said. “I was one that was always pushing the envelope trying to prove myself, trying to make a name for myself and lead by example — working my butt off on the field and off the field.” With work came reward for Washington who was named as a captain of the team heading into his junior season and even before he had played on a regular basis. “He had never been a starter
before,” OSU coach Greg Beals said. “That says an awful lot about what his teammates think about him and says an awful lot about his work ethic and what he does.” This was not the only thing that made Washington stand out to his teammates and the coaching staff. It was also his ability to play all over the diamond if needed to. “Pretty much in summer ball and in high school, they used to put me at different positions every year,” Washington said. “I feel like it has always been a tool that I have had and being able to show it off on this big a stage is a pretty cool thing.” Washington’s versatility is what caused Beals to put him behind the plate to see what he could do as a catcher. “I was really intrigued by the possibility, being a catching guy myself, of working with someone of that athleticism, somebody that really hadn’t done a lot of catching before, but was a good athlete, and see if we can teach him the skills of catching,” Beals said. “I also believe that the catching position is becoming more of an athletic, a quicker, lower to the ground type of guy as opposed to the bigger, big, sturdy, strong catchers that used to be the prototype.” Washington started to perfect the art of being a leader behind the plate out of necessity. “Being a catcher is more that just catching and throwing the ball,” Washington said. “You’re the leader of the team. Everyone is looking at you.” Without ever starting a game at
COURTESY OF OSU ATHLETICS
OSU senior Jalen Washington, who is transitioning from catcher to shortstop, bats for the Scarlet and Gray in late October. catcher going into the 2016 season, Washington had a .992 fielding percentage and threw out 27 percent of potential base stealers, while also being named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list, just the fifth time a OSU catcher has been named to this list. However, his offensive approach did not match the normal stereotypical catcher. “The skill set of being an athlete is different because in that skill set, it also allows him to be a bunt guy and a run guy on the offensive side,” Beals said. “That’s very different than your normal catching prospect.” Going into the 2017 season, Beals had a different idea for how to maximize Washington’s ability for this team. He will move to shortstop with sophomore catchers Jacob Barnwell and Andrew
Fishel taking the reps behind the plate, something that is not a very common move in baseball. “To go from catcher to shortstop, you don’t hear that very often,” Beals said. “It speaks volumes to Jalen’s athletic ability, his versatility as an athlete.” Washington is very proud of his flexibility on the baseball field. His work around the diamond sets him apart from many other players at the college level. “I think that it shows that I have more tools than the other guys do and I’m a little bit more versatile,” Washington said. “Being a catcher, you can show your hands and your feet, but being at shortstop, I can show more athleticism.” With the move to the infield, Washington moves from having to lead the pitcher through his outing to leading the infield. Redshirt ju-
nior pitcher Adam Niemeyer said he believes Washington’s knowledge of the game will create a smooth transition. “Last year, he did a great job controlling the game behind the plate,” Niemeyer said. “You know, being in sync with a pitcher is being on the same page. This year, moving to shortstop, really just shows how intelligent he is at the game of baseball and how he can kind of handle doing two totally different positions and do them both very well.” Moving out of the crouch, Washington can now extend his offensive ability, especially on the bases. Last season, he stole 14 bases on 19 opportunities. With the move to shortstop, Washington feels as though that his base running ability will increase dramatically. “When you are catching three, four games a weekend, your legs are pretty worn out,” Washington said. “I see myself as a base stealer, so I feel like I’ll be able to steal more bases, put our offense in better positions to have success.” No matter where Washington will be playing for this OSU team, Beals said he believes Washington will be an integral part of where the Buckeyes will end up at the end of the 2017 season and why. “Our cultural blueprint that we have for our team, one of the last sentences on it is, ‘work to earn trust every day,’ and Jalen Washington does that,” Beals said. “He works extremely hard and he has earned the trust of his teammates.”
8 | Tuesday, January 24, 2017
SPORTS
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TUESDAY’S TAKE OSU basketball can’t afford to lose close home games in a crowded Big Ten. | ON PAGE 7
FOOTBALL
Barrett, Price confident in new-look offense NICK MCWILLIAMS Sports Editor mcwilliams.66@osu.edu The departure of both Ed Warriner and Tim Beck did not come as a surprise to most Ohio State football fans, after two lackadaisical seasons in a row and the goose egg laid by the Buckeyes against eventual national champion Clemson. The addition of Kevin Wilson as the new mastermind behind the offense for the Scarlet and Gray has been received warmly by most fans, but it has the players even more excited. On Sunday, members of the OSU football team were honored at the first media timeout of the Buckeyes men’s basketball game for their achievements in 2016. J.T. Barrett was honored for being named the best Big Ten player by the Chicago Tribune with the Silver Football Award. Last season Barrett, who will be returning for his redshirt senior season after choosing not to enter the NFL Draft, had a roller coaster type season. From starting the year as a potential Heisman trophy candidate, to finishing it with a raw quarterback rating of 36.1 against Michigan and 12.7 against Clemson, Barrett has had better years. Now, with Kevin Wilson at the helm, Barrett could very well return to the form he was in during his redshirt freshman season when he produced 45 total touchdowns. Wilson, known for a up-tempo of-
ALEXA MAVROGIANIS | PHOTO EDITOR
OSU redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) looks for room to run against Clemson during the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. The Buckeyes lost 31-0. fense and an air-it-out approach to the passing game, has been viewed as a welcome change in the eyes of Barrett. “Just something new,” Barrett said. “I think sometimes we get set in our ways, but change is also a good thing. Change is not always bad. I think it was needed.” Wilson has coached some notable quarterbacks who have finished their college careers with trophy cases full of accreditation. Sam Bradford and Landry Jones are the most notable, but all of his
signal callers have a tendency to rack up plenty of yards. Bradford threw for 50 touchdowns during his only season under Wilson’s direction, and the chance to see Barrett under a quarterback’s mastermind has many OSU fans itching to see what the new-look offense will do during the Spring Game. Although his return to Columbus for his final season seemed a lock immediately following the Fiesta Bowl, Barrett said the hiring of Wilson was a big factor in his decision.
“Just trying to make sure, that if I was going to come back that, it was something I was going to do that was best for me in order for me to help and grow as a quarterback,” Barrett said. “That was part of it.” Wilson had high praise for Barrett after the Buckeyes defeated Indiana 38-17. “In my opinion, from afar, I think that’s the best quarterback in college football,” Wilson said after the game. “Some of these guys have some stats, I’m not saying it
because he’s in our league — I’m not a homer. When you watch that kid play, that kid and his unselfishness … he went through a lot. He was a premier player in the country two years ago when he got injured.” Billy Price, who is following in the footsteps of Pat Elflein and returning for his redshirt senior season and moving to center, will now be under his third offensive coaching staff since arriving on campus. Although, as a whole, OSU’s offensive line performed well, there were more than a few times where the unit looked confused, or like they were blocking the wrong schemes. Price admitted after the Fiesta Bowl loss he and the rest of the team understood what went wrong, but did not delve deeper into the subject. He, like Barrett, is welcoming the change Wilson is bringing. “The offensive philosophy is going to be different,” he said. “There’s things that are going to be a lot different than they were, and it’s a positive change. We’re just looking forward to once spring ball comes and we get to see those changes, and see what we’re actually going to be working with.” OSU kicks off the 2017 season with the Spring Game on April 15 at Ohio Stadium.
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The role of Ben Victor in the 2017 Ohio State offense JACOB MYERS Assistant Sports Editor myers.1669@osu.edu The thought of a 6-foot-4 wide receiver featured in a college offense is a prospect recruiters at big-time college programs salivate over. For a passing offense that was wildly underwhelming in 2016, Ohio State coaches fit into that crowd. Lucky for them, they already have that size advantage in rising-sophomore wide receiver Binjimen Victor. The Florida native was sparingly utilized this past season, but based on his progression in the later months of 2016, Victor should see his production skyrocket. Victor came into OSU at 180 pounds, according to 247Sports. One of wide receiver coach Zach Smith’s and strength coach Mickey Marotti goals for his new project was to put him on the Dontre Wilson diet — eat, lift and eat more. Bulking-up was priority No. 1 for Victor. He had the height and speed entering OSU, but still he said he lacked knowledge of the
game. “For (Zach Smith) being my coach, like he taught me a lot on how to read coverages — everything,” Victor said on Dec. 29 at Fiesta Bowl Media Day. “He taught me everything I need to know so he’ll prepare me to get ready for game situations.” As the season went on, Smith and coach Urban Meyer continued to say Victor was “close” to being ready to see significant time on the field with the starters. At the start of the season, all Victor did was play clean-up. But as it wore on, he was targeted several times, mostly in the redzone. He caught his first touchdown of the season against Maryland, a 25-yard reception from backup redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Burrow. “When I first caught it, it was amazing to me,” he said. “And then, at the end of the day, I’m a receiver, I’m supposed to score touchdowns.” Victor said he expected to have a similar role in the Fiesta Bowl, another option for then-redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett. Victor had OSU’s longest recep-
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The referee rules OSU freshman wide receiver Binjimen Victor’s (9) catch a touchdown during the second half of the Buckeyes 62-3 win against Maryland on Nov. 12. tion of the game for 21 yards. What might seem insignificant given how the offense laid down and allowed Clemson to steamroll them all over the field at the University of Phoenix Stadium, the reception was actually quite telling. It showed the trust Barrett and Meyer have in Victor and his development. The wideout from
Coconut Creek High School in Florida said he was behind the ball a little bit coming into college having played at a public school rather than at a prep school. Nonetheless, the strides Victor made were significant. Now with prolific passing play caller Kevin Wilson as OSU’s offensive coordinator, Victor’s role as a deep threat and third-down receiver could be
amplified even more. “(Ben Victor’s) a guy — he’s just too good of a player to sit around,” Meyer said following the Rutgers game on Oct. 1 when Victor caught his first pass. “He won’t be here for five years. We said, ‘go, let that dog eat.’ And you’ll see more and more of him. He’s just getting better and better.” Redshirt junior wide receiver Parris Campbell said at Fiesta Bowl Media Day that there’s still plenty of untapped potential in Victor. For a revitalized passing game, that potential will need to become reality. “Binjimen, obviously he’s gonna be an animal,” Campbell said. “We always say at practice when he makes a play or something man that kid’s gonna be a problem.”
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