February 17 2016

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 THELANTERN.COM

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An OSU program and a staff member were recently recognized by the Ohio College Personnel Association.

ON PAGE 2

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Ohio State’s baseball team is bringing back 20 letter winners, and the returning team members and new members are preparing for the weekend’s Dodgertown Classic.

ON PAGE 8

Karate Cowboy, a new honey-wasabiflavored spirit that blends flavors from the East and West, was made by an OSU alumnus and his business partner.

ON PAGE 4

‘Concussion’ doctor to visit Ohio State

Omalu, who inspired 2015 film about his research, to speak at OSU HANNAH ROTH Lantern reporter roth.514@osu.edu

The researcher credited with discovering a brain disease that afflicts football players is coming to Ohio State. Dr. Bennet Omalu, the man on which the film “Concussion” is based, will appear 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ohio Union.

About 96 percent of former NFL players who took part in a study by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Experts think the head-trauma-induced disease has caused the deaths of several players.

The Ohio Union Activities Board is sponsoring “A Conversation with Concussion’s Dr. Bennet Omalu” in the Archie M. Griffin Ballroom.

Omalu said he has been to Ohio several times while he was living in Pittsburgh, and added that he is excited to come back.

“I heard (OSU has) one of the biggest football programs in the country,” he said.

CTE was discovered after the death of a former football player, Mike Webster, in 2002. Omalu performed the autopsy and was determined to find the cause of death in Webster’s brain. In 2005, Omalu published his findings.

CTE is a degenerative disease that has been found in people who have taken at least one severe blow to their head. This puts football players, boxers and other con-

COURTESY OF MICHAEL D’ANDREA

Dr. Bennet Omalu is set to speak to OSU students on Feb. 18 at the Ohio Union. tact-sport athletes at the highest risk.

Initially, Omalu’s findings were not widely accepted, but the NFL recognized CTE in 2009.

Omalu was born and raised in Nigeria and moved to the U.S. to attend medical school.

“When I came to this country, I did not know anything about foot-

ball; I did not know anything about the NFL,” Omalu said.

Omalu said he feels that it is his duty to educate people about concussions and CTE to help prevent it.

“I have met so many retired football players, so many of them, they are broken, they are suffering from this disease and some of them are

crying on the phone that, ‘I wish I knew, I wish I had known,’” he said.

Omalu said he believes that rules and restrictions need to become safer with sports, especially when children are involved, because they might feel compelled to play because of societal expectations.

“A child grows up, he believes he has to play football or basketball in order to succeed in life,” he said.

Omalu said his own son does not play football because he wants to protect his brain, but that doesn’t make him anti-football but rather “pro-intelligent football.”

Nick Lennon, lecture chair for OUAB and a fourth-year in integrated systems, was in charge of putting together this event.

“As members of OUAB, we always try to bring diverse, entertaining and thought-provoking events,” Lennon said. “Dr. Omalu, we felt, hit all three of those categories.”

Lennon said he is excited to hear Omalu speak.

“He’s definitely on the cutting edge of his field, taking on a huge industry; it should be a good talk,” he said.

Omalu’s story can be seen in the movie “Concussion,” which was released on Dec. 25, with Will Smith starring as the doctor. It follows Omalu’s life story and the backlash he received after publishing his CTE research.

Tickets for Omalu’s talk are free with a BuckID and can be picked up via D-Tix in the Student Union.

COURTESY OF ALEX BROADSTOCK

USG presidential candidate Gerard Basalla.

USG executive candidates running unopposed ARIANA BERNARD Station Manager bernard.185@osu.edu For the second time in Ohio State Undergraduate Student Government history, there is only one president and vice president duo running unopposed. The last time there was only one ticket on the ballot was in 2013.

USG announced the 2016 election ballot early Tuesday morning.

Currently on the ballot, Gerard Basalla is running for president and Danielle Di Scala for vice president. Basalla is the current deputy chief of staff and a third-year in strategic communications and political science. Di Scala is a thirdELECTIONS CONTINUES ON 2

Buck-I-SERV assists those in need at home and abroad CARLEE FRANK Lantern reporter frank.442@osu.edu

Buck-I-SERV volunteers pose for a photo.

COURTESY OF RENEE MURRAY

There are many communities across the world, whether struck by disaster or impoverished, that need a helping hand, and an organization at Ohio State seeks to meet those needs.

Buck-I-SERV is an alternative break program, which sends between 80 and 90 trips of students to both national and international destinations annually to complete volunteer services during the winter, spring and summer breaks.

It began as a student organization in 2002, but when it became too large for a student organization to maintain, OSU turned it into an official student activity with staff and funding.

Bailey Harr, Buck-I-SERV coordinator, said that the program is one of the largest alternative break programs in the U.S. However, Harr said that size is not what Buck-ISERV strives for, but instead, that it aspires to beneficially impact the communities that it visits.

“We believe in connecting with the community there, and getting to know who they are,” Harr said.

“We want to know what kinds of challenges they are having and what needs they need to be met, and then provide our time and service to work on those things.”

The Buck-I-SERV motto is “Travel. Learn. Serve.” The program sends students to the Midwest, South and locations along the East Coast for a week for $200 to $400, Harr said. While traveling to a new place can be exciting, Harr

said she stresses the learning and serving aspects.

Buck-I-SERV advisory board member Alex Downie, a fourthyear in political science, said he agrees. Downie became involved with Buck-I-SERV his second year at OSU when he visited Birmingham, Alabama, in winter 2014, and became a member of the advisory board the following fall.

During his trip to Birmingham, Downie reshingled roofs for a week.

“It was hot, dirty work,” Downie said. “However, it was well worth it knowing I was making a difference in people’s lives.”

Harr said that her favorite part of coordinating Buck-I-SERV is hearing stories from participants who are really moved by what they learn BUCK-I-SERV CONTINUES ON 2

PAGE 2 | THE LANTERN | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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Ohio State recognized by the Ohio College Personnel Association STEPHANIE WISE Lantern reporter wise.1075@osu.edu The Ohio College Personnel Association recently recognized Ohio State by awarding the Student Life Wellness Coaching Program the Innovative Program Award and Adan Hussain, the program coordinator of Open Doors and the Bias Assessment and Response Team in the Office of Student Life’s Multicultural Center, the Mark G. Noffsinger New Professional Award.

The OCPA’s vision includes “a diverse, connected and energized network of higher education professionals” who seek to collaborate to meet the needs of university students and their schools in the state of Ohio, according to the OCPA website. The organization offers annual awards that recognize people and groups who are innovative and have an impact on students.

Awards were presented in you are facing right now.” mid-January during an annual conGibbs said that wellness coachference in Worthington, Ohio, ac- ing is currently expanding. cording the OCPA website.

“We are doing this now as a Todd Gibbs, the Student Well- group initiative. We work with exness Coaching program manager isting student groups on campus,” who accepted the Innovative Pro- he said. “We will come in for three gram Award, to five sessions spoke about and kind of the program. equip every “ We l l n e s s student with coaching is this coaching one of the skill set so that newer services students can be at the univerthe ones who sity … What support each COURTESY OF OSU other. We talk we look to do is provide ser- Left: Adan Hussain. about how do vices for the Right: Todd Gibbs. we create a entire student population from the culture of care, or community of perspective of wellness and posi- caring, on our campus.” tive psychology,” Gibbs said. “We The program uses students as are really looking at what is go- wellness counselors to promote ing right for students, what their mental health and focus on individstrengths are...and the point is that ualized, intentional conversations, you can figure out how to navigate Gibbs said. The initiative of posithe challenges or transitions that tive psychology and building stu-

dents’ capacity for taking control of their own lives and decisions has been noticed by other institutions.

“We have had about 60 schools who have followed up with us about what we are doing and how they might be able to do it. We hope that what we are doing is part of a national movement to provide this kind of service to students,” Gibbs said.

An OSU staff member also was recognized for his work to prevent campus bias. This marks the second year in a row a Student Life staff member has won this award.

Adan Hussain was given the Mark G. Noffsinger New Professional Award for his involvement in reducing bias and fostering a more inclusive campus.

“On the Bias Assessment and Response Team side, we track and get reports on incidents of bias.

BART is primarily a resource for folks,” Hussain said.

He said Open Doors provides

students with training that identifies what bias is and what can be done about it, and BART offers students the ability to report incidents of bias as they occur.

Hussain said winning the award was shocking and humbling.

“I just hadn’t expected it. The humbling came from noticing that my work is being valued and showcased … I’m doing what I guess we are supposed to be doing. I never imagined receiving an award for it,” Hussain said.

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ELECTIONS FROM 1

COURTESY OF BAILEY HARR

Photo booth photo of the Buck-I-SERV Advisory Board at the 2016 Winter Trip Gala.

BUCK-I-SERV FROM 1

on location.

“Buck-I-SERV goes to New Orleans a lot to continue helping with Katrina disaster relief,” Harr said.

“Students will come back and say, ‘Wow, I had no idea what it really meant to go through such a disaster.’”

Harr said that hearing students reflect on the lessons that they learn in just one week of volunteering makes all of the work and planning she does worth it.

While serving, students volunteer 30 to 40 hours a week and are housed in church basements, hostels or on-site housing facilities.

Upon the return of each wave of volunteers — winter, spring and summer — Buck-I-SERV puts on a Welcome Back Gala. The gala both celebrates everyone’s return and experiences from the trip and what participants will do in the future.

“The gala says that we can all still be friends in Columbus, but also that continued service in the community is important and easy to do,” Downie said.

Harr and Downie both said they believe that Buck-I-SERV trips are not merely about fixing a problem and leaving but something that can strongly impact both the volunteers and the community members.

“Sometimes people look at alternative breaks and think, ‘Oh yeah, it’s just students going somewhere warm for spring break, saying that they are volunteering, but not actually,’” Harr said. “But Buck-ISERV really focuses on caring and impacting. It’s making real connections and a sustainable impact.”

Downie urges students to give Buck-I-SERV a chance, because that chance will improve the lives of people.

“I would encourage people who are unfamiliar with the program to just give it a shot and try it,” Downie said. “All of our trips are over breaks, so they really have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.”

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.

year in political science and the current senior counselor to the vice president.

In light of the fact that the pair is running unopposed, current president, Abby Grossman, a fourthyear in math education, said she remains optimistic about the election process.

“Regardless of whether an election is contested or not, I hope that all students put great thought into who they are voting for and why they are voting for them, as well as use the election season to talk with candidates and make sure that they are providing these candidates with feedback for the future of USG and what USG should be focusing on during the upcoming year,” Grossman said.

In order to get on the ballot as president and vice president, a petition must be turned into the USG Judicial Panel with 750 signatures for the panel to validate and approve. Once the petition is approved, the names are added to the ballot.

According to USG election bylaws, although the duo are official candidates, they cannot begin campaigning until Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

After that time, candidates are free to campaign but must comply with the USG campaign bylaws.

The campaign process will run through voting dates, which occur March 7 to 9.

Current USG Vice President Abby Waidelich said she is looking forward to the election.

“I’m excited to see candidates come up again this year,” said Waidelich, a fourth-year in biological engineering. “Elections are a large part of our organization because they overturn our administration from year to year. It’s really the chance for students to give their direct input to who their student leaders are.”

There is also the opportunity for candidates to run for president and vice president as a “write-in,” where their names will not appear

COURTESY OF ALEX BROADSTOCK

USG vice presidential candidate Danielle Di Scala. on the ballot but can be written in by voters. Write-ins must comply with the same bylaws as candidates on the ballot.

Last year, there were a total of 2,007 votes cast for write-in candidates, according to the 2015 USG election results.

“The opportunity for a write-in is there for a reason, and I support the opportunity for a write-in candidate in any election,” Grossman said.

Grossman stressed that taking on a leadership role can be intense and encourages candidates to prepare for that.

“The role of the president and vice president of USG is extremely rigorous and time consuming and takes a lot of passion for what you’re doing,” she said. “So I hope any candidate, regardless if they

are a write-in or not, has done the research for what the position entails.”

Also on the ballot, are senator position candidates, broken down by constituency. Constituencies include different colleges, majors and living areas on campus. Those running on the ballot for senator seats run independently from the president and vice president and need to submit a petition with 50 validated signatures.

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OPINION @THELANTERN

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Is President Obama a leader?

President Barack Obama’s critics accuse him of being weak — of not leading. When they do give him credit for leading, which is not often, they say he is “leading from behind.” Across both sides of the political aisle, people want this president to display strong leadership. But what does that even mean? What does “strong leadership” look like? “Strong leadership” is as metaphorical, abstract and vague as “hope and change,” the president’s 2008 campaign slogan.

I think “strong leadership” is code for being more aggressive — being more hawkish in political speak. Specifically as it relates to foreign policy, it means being more brash, more interventionist and more cocksure.

Unfortunately, it also means lashing out before considering the full and long-term ramifications of certain actions. The president’s critics will not use the terms “dovish” and “hawkish” — defining the president as the former — because that sort of imagery conjures up comparisons with former President George W. Bush, whose hawkish foreign-policy endeavors still entangle the United States. Even so many years later, these endeavors are not popular with the American people, Democrats and Republicans alike. Rather than directly calling the president a dove, with intent to avoid the aforementioned comparison with Bush’s foreign policy — which is a losing argument for them — they simply accuse the president of

COURTESY OF TNS

President Barack Obama stops at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Illinois, following his speech at the Illinois State Capitol on Feb. 10. being a weak leader.

Make no mistake, the same people who accuse the president of not being a strong leader want more U.S. intervention abroad, and the majority of that type of intervention looks rather similar to the Bush administration. Many congratulations go out to these critics, as they have simultaneously and successfully done two things. First, they have managed to discredit the president’s charac-

ter and resolve, rather convincingly. Second, and more cleverly, they have managed to call the president a weak leader for not being as interventionist as Bush without invoking the Bush foreign-policy legacy.

Perhaps the foreign policy of Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be more in tune with the desires of Obama’s critics.

Clinton recognizes the role the United States must play in the world, and how a lack of American leadership abroad leaves open a vacuum for Putin’s Russia, the ayatollah’s Iran and communist China to fill, which means no “leading from behind” is allowed.

But on the flip side of the coin, Clinton is no neoconservative — she won’t be appointing Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney to her cabinet. People like John McCain or Lindsey Graham should find her foreign policy more palatable, even though she will be

more calculated, and her foreign policy will be more reserved than Bush’s. The sad part is that Obama’s critics are likely to criticize Clinton’s foreign policy, regardless of what it actually is. This is a byproduct of our intense partisanship in this country, which leads to divisiveness, and that is unfortunate. When our foreign policy is not delivered through one voice, it weakens America.

I am not proselytizing for Clinton’s candidacy, but I am fairly convinced that her foreign policy will stake out a middle ground between the over-intervention of the Bush years and the under-intervention of the Obama years. This should please a lot more people, yet I have a funny feeling it will please very few.

Andrew Podob First-year doctorate student studying American politics

Lantern Classifieds UNFURNISHED THREE BEDROOM

PLEASE RECYCLE Corrections The article “USG releases internal demographic report” that ran on Feb. 16 incorrectly stated that the international student population of USG was not listed in the report, when in fact it is included within the residency demographics section.

The article “OSU athletics sets aside aid for Flint, Michigan, water crisis” that ran on Feb. 16 incorrectly identified Dana Stuckey.

The article “Red carpet ‘Race’ screening aimed to inspire, celebrate Jesse Owens’ life” on Feb. 16 incorrectly spelled Adolf Hitler’s name.

The article “Alumni work to change young lives” that ran on Feb. 16 incorrectly said Roy Hall arrived at Ohio State in 2003 after the national championship season, when in fact he redshirted the 2002 season and received a ring.

thelantern 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.

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DISNEY IMAGINEER An OSU alumnus shared his experience as an imagineer for Disney. ON PAGE 5

Local entrepreneurs give a kick to the wild world of liquor BRENNAN MAGALSKI Lantern reporter magalski.9@osu.edu An Ohio State alumnus has brought a new flavor to the liquor scene: honey wasabi.

Mark Tinus, who graduated from OSU with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2004, is president and co-founder of Karate Cowboy, a 28 percent alcohol by volume specialty spirit that mixes American grain with Japanese sake, made from rice.

“The idea was to create something completely different than anything else on the back bar in the style and in the flavor profile,” Tinus said.

He created this product with his partner, John Rohlwing, after working for years in the liquor and beer industry and really establishing affection for the liquor side of things.

“We have a huge challenge in educating people on flavors they had never had before,” Tinus said. “Being different is our No. 1 asset and our No. 1 deficit.”

Karate Cowboy launched in October, first appearing in bars around the OSU campus such as Too’s Spirits Under High, Oldfield’s

“Love us or hate us, you have never had anything like us.”

Mark Tinus President and co-founder of Karate Cowboy

COURTESY OF KARATE COWBOY

Karate Cowboy, a new Columbus-based liquor, was created by an OSU alum.

North Fourth Tavern, Out-R-Inn and Ugly Tuna Saloona before moving to the Short North, Grandview, Easton and Dublin. It also launched in Chicago in November.

“For a college-aged student, we are a drink you have on a special occasion,” Tinus said. “We want to give people a social experience that stands out in their mind as something they would have never tried if they would have stuck to what they are used to.”

In terms of serving options, Karate Cowboy focuses on the

three M’s — mules, margaritas and Bloody Marys — as possible mixers to enjoy with its product. It has also developed a line of shots, bombs and cocktails, which can be found on the company’s website and social media accounts.

Rohlwing, co-founder of Karate Cowboy, said that there is truly nothing else out there in the world like what he and his partner have created.

“Besides being very unique in terms of flavors and ingredients, product features like the bottle,

the name and our branding are all eye-catching assets,” Rohlwing said.

He also said the company plans to expand on all of this in the near future.

“You can look for our new flavor, ginger mint, coming to the market in a couple months,” Rohlwing said. “You can also look for more exciting promotional events with ninjas and karate cowboys creating Karate Cowboy shot rituals, along with other friendly competitions or drinking events.”

Tinus said that all the company asks is for consumers to come out and give its product a try.

“Love us or hate us, you have never had anything like us,” he said.

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WHAT’S UP THIS WEEKEND Thursday, Feb. 18

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Friday, Feb. 19

Saturday, Feb. 20

Taste of OSU, 5 p.m. at Ohio Union. More than 30 different international and ethnic clubs on campus offer samples of their traditional cuisine and entertainment. Food tickets are $1 each..

Not So Valentine’s Day Show, 8 p.m. at Kafe Kerouac. 2250 N. High St. Ohio State student organization Musician’s Collective presents local bands Rust Belt Revival, Mighty Kites, Rain Delay and LeVeque. Admission is $3.

w

For Today, Doors at 7 p.m. at The Basement. 391 Neil Ave. Opening artists are Phinehas and Vanna. Tickets are $21.60, fees included, and available through Ticketmaster.

Ganja & Hess, 7 p.m. in the Film/Video Theater in the Wexner Center for the Arts. Final part of the Wex’s series highlighting black filmmakers. Admission is $6 for students and $8 for adults.

COTA’s Line #2 runs on High St. until midnight* * Mon-Sat, until 10pm on Sundays

Swipe your Buck ID for unlimited rides throughout Columbus

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 | A&L | 5

Former Disney imagineer encourages Ohio State crowd HANNAH ROTH Lantern reporter roth.514@osu.edu A little bit of Disney and pixie dust came to Ohio State Monday night. Former Disney Imagineer Mark Hickson spoke with students about his life and what it is like to help develop rides, attractions and shows for Disney.

Ever since he was a little boy, Hickson said he felt the magic of Disney and knew that he wanted to be an imagineer. The word “imagineer” is a combination of “imagine” and “engineer,” and someone with that job title does both of those things. A Disney imagineer will come up with a magical idea and then make it happen.

After each of his points during the event, Hickson said, “Never say it’s impossible.”

Growing up in California, Hickson was often around Disney. In 1959, he and his sister, Susie, had their photo taken at Disneyland, and it was used in the first issue of Disney’s Vacationland Magazine.

He credits that as inspiration for becoming an imagineer.

“I bleed pixie dust,” he said.

After multiple attempts at working within Disney, Hickson gave up and got a job in ship building.

It was not until 1988 that he got a card with Mickey Mouse on it

COURTESY OF JOANNE JONES

Mark Hickson spoke at the Ohio Union on Feb. 15 to students about his life as a former Disney imagineer. which read, “We want to talk to you.”

Hickson said that he broke down because he knew he was going to have a job that he had always wanted.

His first project at Disney was as part of the project management team for Splash Mountain, an attraction at Disneyland. On the opening day for the ride, Hickson said he remembered the feeling of

observing the final product.

“When we first opened up ‘Splash’ and I spent the entire day at the exit queue, we finally got it running,” Hickson said. “And we’re watching all these families and friends coming off, out of the exit, laughing and sharing and a little wet, and I stayed out there, like, all day. And it spoiled me. I learned that it’s really important to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Hickson left Disney in 1994 after the company downsized because of problems in the economy. He has since been involved in many different fields of work, but he said, “Once an imagineer, always an imagineer.”

Today, he runs a website centered on Disney-related news.

“We don’t pixie dust; it’s straight news, and even though I have many, many friends at Disney, sometimes Disney legal doesn’t like me because they want me to pixie dust,” he said.

After the presentation, many of the questions for the Q&A session were centered on how to get involved at Disney.

Maggie Steadham, a second-year in film studies and communication, said she was there because she wants to be an imagineer.

“I’ve always loved Disney and I love storytelling, so I’d like to be that person that puts together the stories for the different rides and areas of the theme park,” she said.

Chloe Egbert, a second-year in architecture, wanted to find out the next steps to take when applying to be an imagineer. “’I absolutely love Disney and love the happiness it brings. So I want to be able to design and build structures that bring that to people as well,” Egbert said.

Hickson shared his story of lov-

ing Disney but thinking that working for the company was just out of reach. However, he ended up living out his dream job. He gave advice about networking and working toward a degree that will advance one’s career.

He also made sure the audience gained “the knowledge that nothing is impossible.”

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COLUMBUS’ OWN

Gelatinus Cube wants to be undefinable

ZAK KOLESAR | LANTERN REPORTER

From left, Pat Chase, Adam Woelfel, Matt Chalko, Mike Daull, Chris Cheeseman and Tim Swanson sing in unison.

ZAK KOLESAR Lantern reporter kolesar.25@osu.edu In an attempt to shine light on local music, The Lantern’s “Columbus’ Own” is a weekly series that profiles a new Columbus band or artist each week.

The intricate rock collection Gelatinus Cube is decisively indecisive. By browsing through its lengthy catalog — consisting of five extended plays and eight albums — it can be concluded that the band has been this way for almost 15 years.

Gelatinus Cube knows what sound it wants to create for each song, but the process and genre varies from track to track.

“The idea is that it’s better to not have a specific sell, like this is a ‘blank’ band, because it limits you creatively,” said Pat Chase (guitar, vocals, piano, trombone), a 2011 Ohio State alumnus with a degree in music education. “That classic question, ‘What’s your band sound like?’ If you have an answer, that’s kind of boring if you think about it.”

The primarily seven-member ensemble is able to accomplish this task because of the wide variety of talents, which allows each musician to easily transition into a song.

It won’t settle into a routine, which

prevents boredom from bringing an end to the band.

“I feel like there’s definitely an evolution, and the musical tastes in this band vary tremendously,” said trumpet player and vocalist Matt Chalko.

In its close to 15-year run, Gelatinus Cube has found a way to keep its music fresh with constant evolution. The personalities and musical tastes of the band members do not always line up, but the bond between them has extended from high school almost into their 30s.

The group has consisted of five musicians who have been consistent in keeping the band’s capricious vision alive over the past fifteen years. Chalko, Chase, Tim Swanson (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Sean Castanien (saxophone, clarinet, keys, guitar, vocals) and Mike Daull (percussion) all have musical roots dating back to having sleepovers with Pepsi benders and attending Cleveland high schools that are close in proximity.

The five of them experienced the teen-angst stage together, traveled through young adulthood and are currently becoming naturalistic realists together.

“You can’t just pretend like everyone’s having a great time all the time; it’s not healthy at all,” Chase said.

The alternative rock group meets at least once a week for practice,

ZAK KOLESAR | LANTERN REPORTER

From left, Pat Chase, Adam Woelfel, Matt Chalko, Chris Cheeseman and Tim Swanson jam out while playing “Euthanasia” in the Lantern TV studio.

making the inception for relatively new bandmates bassist Adam Woelfel and percussionist and vocalist Chris Cheeseman smooth.

A handful of the current members live together, some work together and for a few years, most of the band has lived together in show houses, homes that serve as a venue for musicians to creatively collaborate and socialize.

“That classic question, ‘What’s your band sound like?’ If you have an answer, that’s kind of boring if you think about it.”

Pat Chase 2011 Ohio State music education alumnus

“It’s awesome and horrible at the same time,” Chase said. “But also being able to be creative is a step away. Nobody has to come over for practice; you can just have it.”

2016 marks the first time in a while that Gelatinus Cube is not residing in a show house, but little is changing while so much is happening at the same time.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, we just jammed for 15 minutes, let’s put the recorder on and try to do something like that again and then make a song out

of it,’” Woelfel said.

Swanson believes the ever-changing mindsets of the bandmates can sometimes prevent the group from gaining clout.

“There are plenty of people who like very specific music and don’t like very specific music, so being a genre-less band in that way is kind of a disadvantage because most people really aren’t that curious to go look into a new band,” Swanson said.

Even though Gelatinus Cube realizes that its unorthodox approach to music might restrict it from keeping a steady fan base, the band would not have it any other way.

“The one thing about being genre-less is we want to do this because we think it’s fun,” Woelfel said. “We’re not out there going to try to sell a million records.”

Gelatinus Cube’s methodology behind how it produces albums involves using the album title as a framework for the music. For example, its most recent release, the alternative ska rock LP “24 Hour Rock and Roll,” was titled prior to a single note being produced. The project name guides the album, and it is up to the group members to interpret the meaning for themselves.

“I don’t think at any point on any of the albums recently has somebody written a part for somebody else,” Daull said.

If betting on the future longevi-

ty of Gelatinus Cube, it would be wise to assume that the bandmates will be nearing their 50s while still miles away from exhausting all of their musical muscles.

“So I guess if you’re looking for a theme, it’s no happy place, no goals, and we just keep doing it because we don’t know what else to do,” Swanson said.

The band finds it important to keep its sound unexpected.

“I think it’s more exciting to me to have Christmas actually be a holiday; to be able to unwrap (a present) and not know what the hell it’s going to be,” Chase said of the band’s ever changing sound.

Gelatinus Cube is set to play with Clay Otter and Knots at Rumba Café on March 4 at 10 p.m.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 | SPORTS | 7

ZENG FROM 8

ences in the nation.

“Physically, diving-wise, experience with his training, he will stack right up with the divers in the Big Ten,” Sochor said. “He is a potential champion, but so are they. There are a lot of potential champions in (the conference), and he’s on the same dance floor as them.”

Zeng has proved that this year. A five-time Big Ten Diver of the Week award winner, Zeng has finished first in all but three events in the 2015-16 season. In the trio of events he didn’t win, he was close, claiming second place each time.

He said he looks to continue his success at the Big Ten Championships, in which he will compete in three events: the 1-meter, 3-meter and the platform. After that, the NCAA Championship in late March is on the docket for Zeng.

Like any competitor, he said he wants to win, but rather than setting his sights on those sorts of accolades, his plan is to just become the best diver he can be.

“I’m just trying to focus and get more consistent on my dives,” Zeng said.

Despite his success athletically, Zeng places a great deal of emphasis on excelling in the classroom too, his coach said.

“The majority of his focus is academics,” Sochor said. “Training just happens in the

COURTESY OF OSU

“Colin gets pretty mean when he is competing ... He is not going to be easy to beat.”

Justin Sochor OSU diving coach

part of the day we can get him. Once he gets into that Big Ten meet, there is no more tutoring and study table hours… It’s all diving.”

As the conference championships approach at the end of February, Zeng is fine-tuning his dives to make them as perfect as can be. The biggest thing, he said, is just becoming as comfortable and consistent as possible.

Sochor said he thinks that his star diver is ready to go and show the Big Ten what he is all about.

“Colin gets pretty mean when he is competing,” Sochor said. “He is not going to be easy to beat.”

SSI FROM 8

gan said.

His recent research dove deep into the issues of compensation for student-athletes.

The professor began delving into years of OSU data in order to analyze the effects the school’s recruits have on the number of wins and bowl game appearances.

Thereafter, Logan took that information of wins and appearances and reviewed their connections to the university’s football-related revenue. The research revealed, based on revenues and expenditures, that a fivestar recruit is worth about $900,000 for a university, Logan said. That number dips to $400,000 for a four-star recruit.

“If you think about that number based on a five-star and four-star recruit’s salary in the NFL, those are honestly not too crazy of numbers,” Logan said.

Next, Logan examined the data around transferring and the frequency of players departing early for the professional ranks across FBS schools.

This research found that 15 percent of college football players will transfer to another university. The most common transfer position, Logan said, was the quarterback position. Additionally, the professor found that 11 percent of players will leave early for the NFL draft.

“When these numbers were generated, I was shocked,” he said.

SSI members will present this research — and more — in the coming months at a multitude of events regarding policy and economics in the world of sports.

One of these events includes a forum centered on the pay-to-play model in high school athletics. The event is titled, “Pay to Play: Who’s In, Who’s Out and How Much?” and it is set to be held at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26 in Pfahl Hall room 202.

Discussing the issue, Logan said, will be a panel of professors and politicians, such as Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, State Sen. Cliff Hite, Scott Grant, a professor at the University of Findlay and Ohio University Professor David Ridpath.

“The goal of this forum is to discuss ways to increase participation in high school athletics without increasing the costs,” Logan said.

A separate gathering is slated to be held on April 15 to dissect compensation for collegiate student-athletes. This function will present sports experts and OSU alumni from across the nation to examine this subject, Logan said. Arguably the crown jewel of the panel will be Vince Doria, an OSU gradu-

Members of the Ohio State baseball team huddle during their first practice of the 2016 season.

ate and senior vice president and director of news at ESPN. Research SSI has conducted concerning this issue will be presented at the forum, too, Logan said. “(SSI and the panel) want to discuss the implications of compensation for student-athletes and what it would mean for the future of college athletics,” he said.

Box-Steffensmeier possesses similar goals for these cutting-edge gatherings. Her hope is to further dialogue about these important national issues while promoting the faculty involved with SSI and the research it has performed.

Additionally, she said she also wants to intrigue students who have a passion for sports and encourage them to contact those involved with SSI. She said she believes that students doing this could spark new ideas and issues to research.

She said she holds big aspirations for the future of SSI. “I would love major news outlets to have a hot sports topic and know that we have an outstanding roster of faculty and students to call upon about the issue,” Box-Steffensmeier said.

SSI might be in its early stages, but the collective is taking giant leaps, reaching new, unexplored heights in the vast expanse of college athletics.

“Ohio State is on the move in regards to sports-related research,” Logan said.

And with the passion, intelligence and ability of this small group of faculty members, there is no telling just how influential its work might be.

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BASEBALL FROM 8

Starting out strong Heading into this season, the pitching staff will be looking to fill the void from some key departures, as it lost Travis Lakins, Ryan Riga and Trace Dempsey to graduation or the MLB draft. But fortunately for OSU, the team is returning two key pieces to the rotation in junior left-handed pitcher Tanner Tully and redshirt sophomore righty Adam Niemeyer. Tully said he is fired up and ready to take the mound as OSU’s opening-day starter.

“We all worked hard this summer going our separate ways, and we’re coming back as a unit,” Tully said. “We pushed each other harder than we have before, (we) definitely (had) a good fall, and we’re ready to go.”

Last season, Tully went 4-4, compiling a 4.32 ERA while striking out 44 batters. His counterpart, Niemeyer, a right-handed pitcher from Minster, Ohio, compiled a 2.16 ERA in 12 appearances last season, with a 2-0 record over four starts for the Buckeyes. Beals said Niemeyer will be the typical Saturday night pitcher and will be looked at as a guy who OSU can count on for big innings this season.

“Adam’s a great competitor,” Beals said.

“He’s another guy that’s got good feel for pitching the baseball, he throws a lot of strikes. I’m excited for Adam to be a regular

in the rotation, he’s certainly ready for that.

I’m confident he’s going to have a really good season for us.”

The third and fourth spots in the rotation are set be rounded out by senior John Havird and freshman Ryan Feltner.

“Havird has been throwing the ball really well,” Beals said. “He’s not a flamethrower, he’s a lefty and he’s a command guy. He’s got great movement on his fastball, plus changeup and breaking ball. And Ryan Feltner is a very highly skilled, highly touted freshman who was in the draft out of high school. I’m looking forward to seeing his first collegiate start this weekend.”

Dodgertown Classic OSU is scheduled to open versus Toledo on Friday, before playing a doubleheader against Niagara and Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Buckeyes are slated to close the season-opening series again with Toledo on Sunday. Beals said the full weekend of baseball will give him a good look into the true makeup of his team.

“Obviously, we want to get started fast, but with the high expectations that this ballclub has, we’ve got to be careful that we’re not pushing too hard too soon and that we trust ourselves and just go out and play the game,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 | THE LANTERN | PAGE 8

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MEN’S BASKETBALL Go to The Lantern’s website for a recap of the men’s basketball team’s 76-66 victory against Michigan at home.

LANTERN FILE PHOTO

OSU thensophomore Ronnie Dawson signs autographs before a game on April 12 at Bill Davis Stadium.

Read an extended version of this article online at thelantern.com

COURTESY OF OSU

OSU sophomore Colin Zeng dives during a meet.

DIVING

Season opener on deck GIUSTINO BOVENZI Lantern reporter bovenzi.3@osu.edu The Ohio State baseball team hasn’t won its conference or made the NCAA tournament since 2009. That five-year postseason drought, however, could be put to an end this season, as the Buckeyes are returning 20 letter winners, including 10 seniors and six starters, in a lineup that projects to be among the best hitting teams in the Big Ten. OSU’s quest for the postseason is set to commence this season with four games at the Dodgertown Classic in Vero Beach, Florida.

Sixth-year coach Greg Beals said he is excited about his team’s potential, making it clear that he expects the Scarlet and Gray to compete for the conference championship.

“I think you approach every season with a championship mindset, and if you ask any guy in that locker room and anyone on that coaching staff, that’s our mission: to play for a Big Ten championship,” he said. “The expectation

OSU baseball team has high hopes for 2016 is to play up to our ability and be as consistent as we can on a daily basis. I believe with the talent on this club, the experience on this ballclub, if we’re able to play at a high level consistently, then the winning and losing will take care of itself.”

Counting on the outfield Beals said the Buckeyes have the experience needed to bring the Big Ten championship back to Columbus. A key reason, the coach said, will be the strength of OSU’s outfield.

The unit will be anchored by a pair of juniors: center fielder Troy Montgomery and left fielder Ronnie Dawson.

“They are experienced, high-quality players with big, big futures ahead of them,” Beals

said. “I’m looking for them to have big seasons.”

Montgomery will be the Buckeyes’ leadoff hitter after batting .317, with a team-high 54 runs scored in 55 games last season. Beals said Montgomery has blistering speed, as evidenced by his 35 stolen bases last season to lead the Big Ten. That tied a school record.

Dawson, a career .307 hitter, should provide the power for the Buckeyes. He will bat third in the lineup after clubbing seven home runs and 15 doubles last season. Beals said Dawson had an outstanding offseason, which included earning all-star honors in the Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer.

The Grove City, Ohio, native said he believes the team is fully prepared to start the season on a good note to build momentum early on.

“We’re one unit this year, and last year we had a bitter taste in our mouths,” Dawson said.

“As a team I think we’re ready. We’re excited to get out there to show people what we’re capable of. It’s going to be a big year for the Bucks.”

BASEBALL CONTINUES ON 7

OSU making waves in sports research NICK CLARKSON Lantern reporter clarkson.38@osu.edu A newly formed organization of Ohio State professors and other distinct faculty are challenging the traditional views of sports through in-depth research.

The Sports and Society Initiative at OSU performs data analytics research to look at the way sports interact with the economy and society. The collective, which is composed of professors from five different majors, began in October.

Despite being just five months old, SSI is already making headway through its multiple areas of expertise. Its members work toward developing new findings in the realm of sports research.

Janet Box-Steffensmeier, the divisional dean for social and behavioral sciences in the OSU College

“We want to make Ohio State sportsrelated research as prominent as the sports themselves.”

Trevon Logan Associate professor of economics

of Arts and Sciences, is one of the driving forces behind SSI. Her role is to support the ideas and research done by professors, as well as galvanize outside donors, public officials and OSU alumni about this newly thriving organization. “(SSI) wants Ohio State to be the place to go for research on sports,” Box-Steffensmeier said.

One of the leading professors on the forefront of SSI’s research is Trevon Logan.

Logan, an economics professor who has been at OSU for more

COURTESY OF TREVON LOGAN

Trevon Logan, an associate professor of economics at Ohio State, poses for a photograph inside his office in Arps Hall. than 10 years, is the group’s main goal is to challenge the conventionmember that is deeply examining al wisdom of sports, as well as prothe correlations between sports and vide a platform in which research economics. and discussion of sports issues can “There are social science and take place. policy aspects to sports,” he said.

“We want to make Ohio State “They are just never brought up in sports-related research as promithe public sphere and talked about.” nent as the sports themselves,” LoSSI CONTINUES ON 7 That is where SSI comes in. Its

Colin Zeng a ‘potential champion’ COLIN GAY Lantern reporter gay.125@osu.edu Coach Justin Sochor took over an Ohio State men’s diving team in 2013 that was laden with juniors and seniors. That meant Sochor had one year of recruiting to revamp the Buckeyes after an exodus of talent.

“I wasn’t trying to change an old team,” he said. “I was trying to build a new one.”

Sochor said he wanted talented students who would make good teammates to represent the diving team, as well as the university, positively.

He found that in sophomore diver Colin Zeng.

Zeng, a Fujian, China, native, started to dive after his parents suggested it at a young age. He said he discovered early on that the diving training in China was very strenuous.

“I didn’t do a lot of competition,” Zeng said. “It’s very intense. We (train) at least six hours a day, seven days a week.”

Then, in 2010, Zeng came to the United States to focus on developing his diving skills even further.

“I was at the training camp at Stanford,” Zeng said. “After I got my student visa, I started to focus more on competing.”

According to DiveMeets, Zeng finished first in all of the competitions he competed in during high school.

The sustained dominance made him a hot target for collegiate programs across the nation. This led him to start looking at colleges in his junior year, he said. OSU proved to be a good fit.

Sochor agreed.

“A lot of Colin’s traits were what I was looking for,” Sochor said.

“He’s got a high skill level, he gets along with his teammates, and he is smart.”

Zeng came to OSU looking to succeed in what the coach called one of the most prestigious conferZENG CONTINUES ON 7