Art Rental Program Has Stu

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on the consequences of all housing and dining options available at Oberlin (i.e., dorms, cafeterias, Program Houses, Village Houses, and the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association, among others) for their intellectual, professional, social, and ethical development. The survey does not manifest bias in favor of OSCA at the expense of the College’s housing and dining options. Rather, it presents an opportunity for alumni to reflect on how all available housing and dining options contributed to their experience at Oberlin.

We affirm, based on our experience as Oberlin alumni and professionals in STEM, that this survey appears to be a systematic, unbiased, and well-designed instrument. Further, we disagree with the College’s apparent contention that receiving and completing this survey would alienate alumni; in contrast, we assert that it presents an opportunity for alumni to celebrate and deepen their connection to Oberlin.

We hope that the decision to not support this survey was made in good faith, but we fear that, in blocking its dissemination, Oberlin’s leaders are contributing to a larger national climate in which decision-making is motivated by optics rather than facts. Oberlin’s present moment is, and will remain, one characterized by tough financial and organizational choices. Some of these choices will be hard. But the difficulty of these looming decisions is all the more reason for decision-makers to first establish a foundation of robust data collection and analysis.

The project undertaken by Mehra and Petersen brings together some of Oberlin’s most valuable assets: exceptional students and faculty willing to apply their intellectual rigor to gathering unbiased data; tireless staff dedicated to collaboration and inclusion; and engaged, truth-seeking alumni eager to support the College in moving toward a secure future. Could the explanations offered for the last-minute suppression of this survey — that survey distribution would interrupt the alumni-engagement strategy, or that decision-makers already have enough information — justify throwing away the unique opportunity this research offers? Do those involved in suppressing the survey believe the risks of cluttering an alumni’s inbox, or perhaps of receiving data that is inconvenient, outweigh the academic, strategic, and ethical benefits that this survey could create?

We call on Oberlin’s decision-makers to allow the survey to be disseminated immediately; receive a formal briefing on the survey’s results; and commit to a cross-disciplinary stakeholder engagement process, with tangible participation from students, faculty, and alumni, in order for any relevant decisions to be adequately informed by data.

Our alma mater’s administrators now find themselves at a crossroads. Oberlin bills itself as one of the leading producers of Ph.D. candidates in the country. Given the precarious status of scientific values in 2020 America, we can think of no more critical a time for Oberlin to realize the principles of collaboration, transparency, and unbiased truth-seeking it so effectively instills in those it educates.

Art Rental Program Has Students’ Best Interest At Heart

The Art Rental program at the Allen Memorial Art Museum has, for the past 80 years, been an important aspect of the AMAM’s offerings and a cherished tradition. Hence, it was with great interest that I and other museum staff read the opinion piece “Art Rental Needs to Address Accessibility Concerns,” published in The Oberlin Review Feb. 14, while noting with dismay that many fewer students than normal took part in Art Rental on Feb. 15, leaving the museum with 86 unrented works out of 395. Last September, following advertising by the Art Students Committee, approximately 35 percent more students than average came to the event, with those at the end of the line going away empty-handed (“New Approach to Art Rental Attracts Record Number of Students,” The Oberlin Review, Sept. 20, 2019).

As ever, the AMAM maintains a democratic first-come, first-served practice regarding Art Rental. When the doors open at 8 a.m., those first in line enter; this continues until no more people wish to rent, the works are all rented, or until noon, whichever comes first. Over the years, modifications have been instituted to improve access to the program for all students.

Years ago, Art Rental occurred on a weekday; it was moved to Saturday so as not to compete with classes. More recently, the AMAM made images of most of the works available online through our eMuseum database, so that anyone may preview them. Before the arrival of card access — which now allows students self-access to the Clarence Ward ’37 Art Building — each February, Campus Safety officers opened the building so that those who wished to arrive Friday night could stay indoors. And about a year ago, to facilitate students’ installation of their chosen works, the AMAM began providing different types of hanging hardware suited to the various College residence walls.

We understand that one of the biggest concerns the ASC has expressed is a lack of knowledge among other students about the program. We would be glad for feedback on how to ameliorate this, as the AMAM already advertises it via our website and social media, the OC Events Calendar, and the Campus Digest. We also note that while dedicated students have always been first in line when the doors open, an important aspect of the program is that it is open to the entire Oberlin community.

At 10 a.m. last Saturday, when there was no line and a few Oberlin city residents had already rented, 150 works remained, including by such artists as Kollwitz, Oldenburg, Rosenquist, Rouault, and Stella, along with manuscript leaves, Chinese calligraphy,

and Japanese prints. Some students who arrived later expressed frustration with what they perceived to be a complicated process of list-making and check-in times, noting its complexity may have kept away others. We acknowledge the commitment and creativity of the ASC and applaud their interest in making the wait for the doors to open more fun through such activities as a costume contest and screen-printing, as well as the provision of warm beverages. We also thank them for including, on the poster they produced about the list and in the check-in process, the comment “you can still arrive mid-morning and (most likely) still receive artwork.”

But we wonder if this semester’s check-in system unintentionally made participating in the program appear more onerous. We would humbly put forth that students might simply do what many generations before them did: Those who are super-motivated to be among the first in the building arrive as early as they wish with fellow Art Rental die-hards, preserving the camaraderie the writers of the Feb. 14 Review article rightly note occurs, while those who want to rent but are not as motivated to be among the first in line arrive Saturday morning and simply take the next spot. The diehards may wish to self-create a list, memorializing their order of arrival.

The AMAM does not want to get into the minutiae of list creation now, anymore than it ever has — which is never. But the process above is what seems to have worked for many years and accords with our commitment to making the program open to all through our first-come, first-served practice.

A key aspect of the program has been that renters may rent two works. Each September, with the excitement of the new semester — and for firstyears, the newness of the program overall — as well as relatively nice weather, the collection routinely sells out. In February, however, works are almost always left over. Given that, and the additional time (double for choosing, registration, and wrapping) and cost (double for the wrapping materials) that would be incurred in allowing renters only to rent one work at a time, the museum does not plan to make a change to the two-work limit at this point. Last week, by 10:15 a.m. with no line, we allowed three works to be rented, and with 100 works left at 11 a.m., up to four.

In conclusion, we simply note that though the opinion piece stated that “Art Rental … is completely student-run,” it is only the recent phenomenon of creating and managing a list that is student-run. The program itself, for 80 years, has been run by AMAM staff. All of us at the museum thank both the writers of the recent piece and the ASC; we know they feel passionately that Art Rental is an important Oberlin tradition, and have the best interests of the program and their fellow students at heart — sentiments with which we heartily concur. We look forward to working with students and other community members to make sure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so.

Living Wage and Health Care for UAW Workers Proves Urgent

President Carmen Twillie Ambar, Oberlin College’s first Black president and just the second female president, shared with us all an impressively argued, 900- word announcement titled “Dining and Custodial Negotiations,” which reported that the College has proposed to, very shortly, cut every single one of its custodians and dining hall workers without warning, unceremoniously — a Trumplike “Get out of here, you’re all fired!”

President Ambar’s defense of her actions is quite solidly based upon One Oberlin, which is the name of the final report produced by the Academic and Administrative Program Review. The president offers an unassailable argument for the protection of the College’s core value: that of “educating our students for lives of meaning,” as she wrote in the announcement.

These cuts are projected at some time in the future to generate more than $2 million a year in savings. Moreover, the College holds that, although it might have to pay Gibson’s Bakery an astounding award once approaching $50 million — perhaps a lot more if it loses its appeal — these firings have nothing to do with the trial’s outcome.

The declaration strains credulity far too much because just $2 million of that $50 million would produce the savings expected from all these job eliminations, saving the jobs of many Blacks, people of color, women, et cetera — all of whom, though now treated, if not actually viewed, as expendable, have always been as loyal to Oberlin as any other class or section of the College. They are, indeed, our most vulnerable.

The president is absolutely right to ensure that educating our students for meaningful lives remains sacrosanct. Surely, all alumni and current students would unhesitatingly do all we can to help those less fortunate among us, so near to us. It’s the least we can do to breathe life into our words about “educating our students for lives of meaning.”

Would the president at least ask our Board of Trustees to reconsider the employee cuts if the College wins its appeal and does not have to pay the full $44 million to Gibson’s? You are in no position to demand, but ask.

But regardless of the outcome, would the president at least ask our Board of Trustees not to hire any vendor who will not guarantee that their employees will be paid a living wage and receive health care? Again, you are an employee and can’t demand, but you can ask your employers to hold the candle high in support of “educating our students for lives of meaning.” What is the College’s core value — not just our students’ — if not a willingness to stand for a living wage and health care for any human being, but especially for those eager to clean our toilets and cook our food?

Ohio Trans Health Care Policy Will Harm Trans Youth

Abigail Kopp Contributing Writer

Republican representatives Ron Hood of Asheville and Bill Dean of Xenia introduced the so-called “Protect Vulnerable Children Act” to the Ohio Statehouse on Feb. 11. While the name has positive connotations of protecting innocent youth, this could not be further from the truth.

The tricky title is just another attempt by congressional Republicans to both confuse liberals and persuade conservative voters into supporting a heinous, harmful bill. If passed, doctors could be charged with a third-degree felony for attempting to provide gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors.

Hood explained his reasoning behind introducing this bill stating: “My number one concern, by far and away, is the irreversible nature of these procedures. These procedures — most of them — lead to sterilization. And these things are not reversible.”

Let me start my opposition with some fact-checking: Most gender-related medical assistance for trans youth does not come in the form of invasive surgery, but instead through “puberty blockers,” which help delay characteristics that come with puberty by suppressing the body’s release of sex hormones. There are two major means of administering puberty blockers — an injection that one receives every three months or a small implant placed in the upper arm — and both can be provided in a doctor’s office, not an operating room.

According to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, taking puberty blockers should not affect your ability to have a baby in the future. The Mayo Clinic backs up this research by explaining that, “Use of GnRH analogues [puberty blockers] doesn’t cause permanent changes in an adolescent’s body. Instead, it pauses puberty, providing time to determine if a child’s gender identity is long-lasting. It also gives children and their families time to think about or plan for the psychological, medical, developmental, social and legal challenges ahead. If an adolescent child stops taking [puberty blockers], puberty will resume.”

Furthermore, the benefits of puberty blockers are both numerous and significant. According to the Mayo Clinic, these benefits include: improving mental well-being; reducing depression and anxiety; improving social interactions and integration with other kids; eliminating the need for future surgeries; and reducing thoughts or actions related to self-harm. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, about 1.8 percent of high school students identify as transgender — 34 percent of which have attempted suicide over the past year.

Alternatively, a different survey found that out of 20,000 transgender adults, the adults who received gender-related medical treatments in their youth were less likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Many doctors who provide treatments for transgender youth are well aware of these positive outcomes from treatments and consider this bill a breach of the Hippocratic Oath they must take. Dr. Scott Leibowitz, a psychiatrist and the medical director of behavioral health with the THRIVE Gender Development Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, explained this by stating: “It’s a double standard to completely withhold a form of known beneficial medical interventions.”

Besides the abundant benefits that are experienced as a result of transition-related medical treatments and the serious negative consequences that are faced by those without access to these treatments, I oppose this legislation on the same grounds that I oppose anti-abortion laws: because they take away one’s autonomy. How someone chooses to alter their body should be completely up to them — not politicians.

I’m also upset and concerned because this bill was not created in isolation. This transphobic type of legislation has been appearing across the country. At least 10 other states have introduced similar bills: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee. Thankfully, South Dakota’s bill was rejected on Feb. 10 and was even met with some Republican opposition. Hopefully, Ohio will follow in South Dakota’s footsteps, but in the meantime, we must do our part: Call your representatives and vote in 2020. Let’s Talk Accessibility

Zoë Luh Contributing Writer

Accessibility: one of Oberlin’s favorite words. You don’t even need to spend a full day on campus to hear faculty and students, alike, use the word in classrooms, dining halls, coops, and at events. While the apparent widespread concern for disabled people is wonderful, it’s also false and misplaced. I want to talk about the way accessibility is discussed and how it actually works against the disabled community, both at Oberlin and beyond.

I was recently in a meeting and the topic of inaccessibility was brought up. As a person with disabilities, you might think I would be excited, but my automatic reaction was a feeling of frustration and defeat. The conversation centered on inaccessibility of the meeting itself, because the location wasn’t announced until five minutes before it started. While this kind of situation can be inaccessible to people like me who can’t enter certain buildings, that was not the focus of the discussion. Rather, the word accessibility was co-opted to describe a minor inconvenience to the general population.

I often hear accessibility used flippantly in conversations to describe minor inconveniences or issues. However, I rarely hear it used to discuss broader issues that are harmful to people with disabilities. Yes, things like announcing the room ahead of time are important, but not important enough to divert attention from larger accessibility issues. The way accessibility is used as a buzzword to gain points for being “woke” shows a fundamental lack of care and understanding of disability and disabled people.

We need to talk about institutional ableism, from which Oberlin is not exempt. There are accessibility problems at Oberlin that are harmful and immoral, such as substandard living conditions, food insecurity, and an understaffed Office of Disability Resources, to name a few. Leaving these problems out of discussions on accessibility directly harms the disabled community at Oberlin.

If you don’t care about disabled people, then don’t pretend that you do. Using terms that carry weight for superficial concerns trivializes vital accessibility issues. Playing into fake-woke narratives actively causes harm by concealing systemic oppression through performative care.

We need to find a way to deal with problems without leveraging disability. If you’re going to talk about our community, then talk about our concerns and how we can work together to mitigate them.

Rachel Choi Contributing Writer Editor’s note: This piece contains mention of eating disorders and associated behaviors.

Many who experience eating disorders suffer in silence. Eating disorders can lead to feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness, and loneliness. When coping with an eating disorder, your mind can convince you that you are not sick enough and that things have to be worse before you can reach out for help and support.

The National Eating Disorder Association offers programs and services such as an online screening tool, a helpline, and walks for fundraising and advocacy. The organization’s website also has search features to find treatment, support groups, and research studies. Each year, NEDA dedicates a week to raising awareness about eating disorders and encouraging discourse to destigmatize and combat the stereotypes around them. This year, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is Feb. 24 – March 1. The week is themed “Come As You Are: Hindsight 20/20.” It encourages individuals to reflect on their journey with self-acceptance and acknowledge the heavy stigma around eating disorders. This coming week is all about inclusivity, as well as recognizing that everyone’s experiences are valid, no matter where they are in their stages of recovery. It’s about learning to accept yourself and make peace with your body.

We need to talk more about eating disorders. People need to be aware of the symptoms and signals early on, to recognize when friends or family display red flags, and to remember that it is not shameful to be struggling. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and all eating disorders are accompanied with severe and damaging side effects. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. Every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as the result of an eating disorder. Eating disorders do not discriminate based on sex, gender, race, age, socioeconomic group, or size. Yet eating disorders are often dismissed as insignificant.

There are many barriers to obtaining a diagnosis, such as limited access to health care and lack of knowledge on the part of doctors. Even then, the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders are incredibly narrow and specific. Without a diagnosis, individuals may feel invalidated and be denied insurance coverage for treatment. On top of all this, stigma exists as a barrier that deters individuals from seeking help. The system fails so many people. An eating disorder is not a body type, shape, weight, or a particular Body Mass Index. People should not feel like they have to justify themselves and their illness because they deserve to get help no matter what. Who the person is matters more than how they look. The path to self-love is difficult, especially in a world where self-criticism is so normal. Recovery is an unbelievably challenging process to navigate, but one that’s worth its darkness. It is not linear, but it becomes more beautiful the longer you stick with it.

We at Oberlin can do better. We need to be more mindful of what we say, because casual comments can be triggering. We do not need to label foods as “good” or “bad,” nor do we need to list the calorie counts directly next to the name of the foods on dining hall menus. We need to stop the fatphobia here on campus.

Oftentimes, Oberlin students tend to brag about not prioritizing nutrition or forgetting to eat. They compete to be that person with the most strenuous schedule. Food is non-negotiable. We need to avoid bragging about disordered habits and instead be mindful of the messages we send to ourselves and those around us. Visit nationaleatingdisorders. org and use its screening tool to find resources available to you.

Nationaleatingdisorders.org helpline: (800) 931-2237. Athina Apazidis, Staff Cartoonist COMIC

About 50 acres of picturesque trees, water reservoirs, walking paths, and grassy hills: This is our Arboretum. Deep in the south ernmost reaches of Oberlin’s campus, the Arb is an essential part of the College’s landscape. So many of us have had wild, emotional, or memorable experiences in our awesome campus woods. Featured this week, in honor of our beautiful Arb and for your reading pleasure, are just a few of these stories.

Rachel Serna-Brown, College second-year

The second semester of my frst year, I took a photography class. Our frst assignment was to choose any place on- or of-campus and photograph it. I chose to photograph the Arb and decided to have three of my closest friends come along. It had snowed a couple of days before so I tried to capture the serenity of the Arb, while also focusing on including the student experience by having my friends in the background of all of my shots. This turned out to be one of my favorite assignments, as I had a chance to capture the Arb in all of its glory while also having a fun photoshoot with my friends. Lyala Khan, College fourth-year

Stripped and jumped in the Arb water at 4 a.m. on a super cold February night. It was fun! Pearse Anderson, College fourth-year

I ventured to the Arb a year or two ago for a werewolfthemed gathering that ended up being quite strange. Thirty or so people huddled by one of the old reservoirs and tried to organize a spooky talent show, but no one wanted to volunteer to perform. People howled a lot in unison and, fnally, I signed up to read a short story I wrote about a post-apocalyptic Sephora. Everyone quiet ed down and I read my scary story in the dark. Afterward, College fourth-year Molly Gump gave me a lovely com pliment that would stick with me for years. The werewolf gatherers stumbled into the woods and promised more events, but I never heard from them again.

Weekly Events

Saturday, Feb. 22

Look Black At It: 50 Years of Fashion This year’s Black History Month fashion show will highlight some of the unique styles that have infuenced fashion over the last 50 years. The show seeks to celebrate Black beauty and culture, as well as reject typical beauty standards in the industry. 8–10 p.m. // Root Room, Carnegie Building Sunday, Feb. 23

Tablao Flamenco: Sefardi A traditional famenco performance featuring Ladino (Judeo-Spanish language) music and discussion of the Jewish infuence in famenco. 2–3 p.m. // Johnson House

About 50 acres of picturesque trees, water reservoirs, walking paths, and grassy hills: This is our Arboretum. Deep in the southernmost reaches of Oberlin’s campus, the Arb is an essential part of the College’s landscape. So many of us have had wild, emotional, or memorable experiences in our awesome campus woods. Featured this week, in honor of our beautiful Arb and for Jessica Norris, College frst-year

The Arb is easily my favorite place in Oberlin. When I frst moved here for Orientation, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed. I didn’t know anyone, I was insanely homesick, and I kept getting lost trying to fnd my way around campus. I started taking walks around the Arb every afternoon to escape my daily stress and fnd somewhere peaceful. Taking my time exploring all the little trails and watching the season start to change helped Oberlin feel like home.

I ventured to the Arb a year or two ago for a werewolfthemed gathering that ended up being quite strange. Thirty or so people huddled by one of the old reservoirs and tried to organize a spooky talent show, but no one wanted to volunteer to perform. People howled a lot in unison and, fnally, I signed up to read a short story I wrote about a post-apocalyptic Sephora. Everyone quieted down and I read my scary story in the dark. Afterward, College fourth-year Molly Gump gave me a lovely compliment that would stick with me for years. The werewolf gatherers stumbled into the woods and promised more

Now that I’ve settled into my life here, the Arb is my favorite place to go with friends. One day, a few friends and I decided to play hide-and-seek there the weekend before fnals. Hiding in the trees, hoping to not get found, brought back a childish euphoria that helped me escape the fnals week stress, and take a break from the endless hours I spent in Mudd Center trying to understand molecular orbital theory.

It was the end of Winter Term in my [third] year. Looking back I know, but at the time I was unaware that I was nearing the end of a relationship I’d been in since [frst] year. My then-partner had left campus to deal with some personal issues and was going to come back to get his things, then leave for the semester. I realized I was about to be at Oberlin without a partner for the frst time since frst semester of [frst] year.

In the evening, amidst a snowstorm, I went out with one friend and a few acquaintances to go sledding in the Arb. I was not dressed warmly enough, and the only thing on my person besides my phone was a bottle of Malibu dark rum. It was a crazy amount of snow and I remember not being able to feel my hands or feet, knowing I should go inside. However, I’d call the experience as a whole cathartic, and I remember feeling like I was entering a new Oberlin. When I look back on that period of my life, I see it as the beginning of a chapter that started in a pretty low place but, by the end, I have never felt better about myself or my time at Oberlin.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

Journalism Symposium: Science Journalism, Global Health, and the Environment Join Sonia Shah, OC ’90, for a lecture on her work as a science journalist and what she learned from reporting on the frontlines of epidemic outbreaks, deadly pharmaceutical drug trials, and international climate migration. A full list of Symposium events can be found at disruptedmedia2020.com 4:30-5:30 p.m. // Hallock Auditorium

Thursday, Feb. 27

Gendered Citizenship: Understanding Gendered Violence in Democratic India Join Natasha Behl, assistant professor at the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University, for a talk on gender, race, and democratic equality. 4:30–6 p.m. // Norman C. Craig Lecture Hall, Science Center