February 12, 2016

The Oberlin Review

FEBRUARY 12, 2016 VOLUME 145, NUMBER 14

Local News Bulletin News briefs from the past week New Markers at Westwood Cemetery The Friends of Westwood Cemetery is a community group that works to preserve the cemetery grounds, gravestones and stories tied to the historic site. In December, the group finished replacing old, worn signs that were making it difficult to find certain graves after receiving approval from City Council last year. The new signs have identifying letters on three sides. Through this and other community upkeep projects, the organization hopes to raise awareness about the cemetery and the role it has played in Oberlin’s history.

Police Chief to Launch Community Liaison Program Chief of Police Juan Torres will provide liaisons to the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin Community Services and the Salvation Army later this year.

The goal of the program is to provide the organizations with supportive working relationships and better communication with local law enforcement. The liaison will provide a consistent presence that is meant to foster a sense of security when dealing with sensitive legal issues like custody battles or threats. Torres himself served as a liaison to two organizations for 17 years.

CVS to Begin Selling Naloxone Beginning in late March, the CVS Pharmacy on South Main Street, along with 318 other Ohio locations, will start selling naloxone over the counter.

Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, is used to treat overdoses caused by heroin and other narcotics. Lorain County police departments were the first in Ohio to carry naloxone to treat overdose victims. No alternative medication was previously available over the counter.

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Police Drive Home Safety Issues Eliza Guinn To curb traffic violations, the Oberlin Police Department started their Bike, Pedestrian and Drivers Safety Education and Enforcement Campaign Feb. 4 in response to numerous complaints.

The campaign has included the distribution of educational materials and an increased police presence, especially in Oberlin’s central business district.

Chief of Police Juan Torres said that the initiative’s top priorities are education, information distribution and enforcement of the rights and duties of citizens. The additional officers downtown will log the warnings and tickets they issue so that the OPD can do a statistical review at the end of the month.

“The campaign is based on the recognition that bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists are equally responsible for road safety,” Lieutenant Mike McCloskey said in an email to the Review.

McCloskey said that after the first month the Police Department would review its collected data to identify any patterns in safety issues to better continue the initiative throughout the year.

In a document detailing the specifics of the campaign, the OPD emphasized that bikers need to observe traffic laws, that it is illegal to ride

A student walks past bikes locked to a rack outside the King Building. The Oberlin Police Department is launching a new safety initiative that aims to reduce the city’s traffic violations.

Photo by Bryan Rubin, Photo editor

bikes on sidewalks in the business district and that motorists can only pass bikers when it is safe.

“There has been increasing concern voiced over bicycle and pedestrian safety, particularly in relation to the central business district,” McCloskey said. “Starting immediately, we will begin an increased presence in the CBD to enforce

See Street, page 4

NEXUS Pipeline May Violate Town Bill of Rights Jake Berstein As the date of construction looms closer, Oberlin citizens continue to push back against what they believe is Spectra’s Energy disregard of the Oberlin Community Bill of Rights.

Spectra Energy has been working to break ground on a natural gas pipeline, but Oberlin residents — and residents throughout Ohio — do not want the pipeline to exist as planned.

Local landowners who would be affected by the pipeline have been working with the College’s Students for Energy Justice to create community charters, like the Oberlin Bill of Rights, that would outlaw the transportation of natural gas through their cities. Though plans for the pipeline are constantly in flux, residents are becoming more disheartened as the pipeline gets closer to construction.

Still, communities around Ohio are taking measures to prevent the pipeline from becoming a reality.

Spectra currently plans for the 255-mile-long interstate pipeline to pass through Oberlin, even though the terms of the pipeline are in direct conflict with the town’s Bill of Rights.

Community members and College students have protested the pipeline

and fought its construction since it was first proposed in late 2014, but their attempts may prove to be in vain.

Citizens of Broadview Heights, a Cleveland suburb similarly affected by the pipeline, have also been pushing against its construction. In the past several months, citizens of Broadview Heights took their fight to the government. Citizens are currently seeking –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Spectra currently plans for the 255-mile-long interstate pipeline to pass through Oberlin, even though the terms of the pipeline are in direct conflict with the town’s Bill of Rights.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– an appeal to the rejection of the class action lawsuit that was filed against the state in December 2014.

“Nowhere in Ohio has anyone been able to actually get into a courtroom to make an argument to the judge,” said Tish O’Dell, Ohio Com-

munity Organizer of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund.

The results of the class action suit have yet to be released, but if the court rules against the people, the only option left would be to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court, O’Dell said in a statement to the Review.

The construction of the pipeline, which would pass through Reserve Avenue in the south of Oberlin, conflicts with the peoples’ rights enumerated in the town’s Bill of Rights, a document drafted by 16 Oberlin residents and proposed on July 11, 2013.

“It shall be unlawful for any corporation, or any director, officer, owner or manager of a corporation to use a corporation to deposit, store, or transport waste water, produced water, frack water, brine or other materials, chemicals or by-products used in the exploration for, or extraction of, gas or oil, within, upon or through the land, air or waters of the city of Oberlin,” section 2, part (b), states.

According to the Bill, any person or corporation that violates the ordinance can be considered guilty of a criminal offense.

“The Oberlin Bill of Rights is not something that the police department enforces as a criminal matter. I

Leeching Lead

Outta My Way

Senator Brown fights for clean water.

Oberlin defeated Allegheny 74–56 to snap a three-game skid.

See page 4

applicable violations and increase public safety awareness.”

As the effort is being made to address the concerns of citizens, the violation of local laws has been a recurring issue. These include safety concerns like traffic violations and pedestrians

Tolstoy Tale Production brings Family Happiness into 21st century.

See page 10

INDEX:

Opinions 5

This Week in Oberlin 8

See page 16

Arts 10

Sports 16

can’t even tell you what the remedies would be for someone violating the Bill of Rights, if there are any,” said Lieutenant Michael McCloskey.

In her statement, O’Dell said that “[the pipeline issue] has been going on all over the state.” It follows a pattern of the government’s refusal to protect the rights of its citizens. “The city is refusing to use their own law that the people passed to try and stop the pipeline.”

For NEXUS to progress into the construction phase, its application has to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

However, instead of directing FERC to the Oberlin Bill of Rights, the city has hired what O’Dell calls “a bigwig Washington, D.C., lawyer” that will come and make a statement to FERC. When asked if NEXUS was going to take the Oberlin Community Bill of Rights into consideration when starting construction of the pipeline, a representative of NEXUS said that it would be an issue for FERC to deal with, since NEXUS needs a “certificate of necessity” to continue with the pipeline. The definite answer of whether the Bill of Rights will have an effect will be decided in November.

See City, page 4

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The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

New Strategic Plan Draft Pursues Inclusivity Madeline Stocker Editor-in-Chief

Published nearly four months after the release of the last draft, the newest version of Oberlin’s Strategic Plan continues to make marked departures from the contents of the 2005 document.

Though it remains more of a comprehensive list of goals than a specific implementation plan, the current draft does identify two of the administration’s future initiatives — the development of “theme-based course clusters” and the creation of a guidance system that will offer support to students throughout their first four post-undergraduate years.

The draft, which was made public Wednesday evening, focuses considerably on ensuring an “inclusive and equitable learning environment” — certainly more so than its decadeold counterpart.

“We recognized that it needed to be upfront and center and more prominent,” President Marvin Krislov said. “We revised this draft to do that in response to faculty and student comments.”

Though specifics were excluded, the current plan suggests implementing strategies that would increase the number of faculty, staff and students from underrepresented communities.

According to Senior Class President and

Strategic Planning Steering Committee member Machmud Makhmudov, a number of these changes were due to student input, as well as suggestions made by student members of the Steering Committee.

Previous drafts of the 2016–2021 plan included language emphasizing the retention of full-paying students — an initiative that has been heavily criticized since first appearing in the 2005 Strategic Plan. However, after review by the student members of the Committee, language prioritizing retaining higher-income students was reduced.

“There was concern that the financial landscape was changing in the context of who gets to attend here and who doesn’t,” Makhmudov said. “There was language on that in the beginning, but we didn’t think it needed to be as forceful as it was.”

Although the nature of the document omits specifics, several students from the Steering Committee have expressed frustration over the lack of tactical approach.

“There have been times when I and some of the other students have been really idealistic about it,” said College junior and Steering Committee member Sarah Minion. “For example, we’ve [suggested ways] to increase faculty diversity or sustainability in dorms. And we’ve just been reminded that implementation will come after the plan is written and that the plan is more of a guiding vision of the future.

I don’t think it’s a perfect plan by any means.”

Makhmudov said that the student representatives of the Steering Committee navigated this by making suggestions on how to adjust the tone of the document — for example, changing that something is “considered” to being “strongly encouraged.”

However, Minion said she felt the lack of specifics has the potential to allow the administration to sidestep the accountability necessary to making the suggested changes a reality.

“As student members, we’ve had to push a lot for student involvement in implementation,” Minion said, adding that she is particularly concerned with the administration’s plans for execution.

According to Minion, the student faction of the Steering Committee received an email Tuesday evening containing the Board’s latest edits to the draft, one of which changed the language to say that the Board would only include students in the implementation process as they saw appropriate.

“We told them that that absolutely couldn’t be the case,” Minion said.

In its current state, the draft’s implementation language includes student involvement.

“Once the Strategic Plan is approved by the General Faculty and the Board of Trustees, it will be implemented by the administration, led by the president, in collaboration with the General Faculty Council … the Board, and

Oberlin’s faculty, staff, students and alumni,” the plan reads.

Though currently unformed, the future implementation committee may take forms similar to those of the working groups, Krislov said.

Other notable aspects of the plan include a change in mission statement and simultaneous adoption of four “core values” — educational excellence, diversity and community, stewardship and sustainability — as well as increased focus on technological development and “connected learning,” or an academic experience that integrates coursework, advising, mentoring, internships and various other avenues of a collegiate career.

Oberlin’s Strategic Plan is drafted by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, a group composed of the Oberlin College Board of Trustees, as well as Oberlin College faculty, students, staff, administrators and alumni.

As of now, the Committee has held several Student Listening Sessions and collected 71 pages in written responses to the Dec. 10 draft.

The plan is set to be finalized by June 2016.

Both Makhmudov and Minion strongly encouraged the Oberlin community to continue to make their opinions known.

“For the strategic plan to work, the whole Oberlin community needs to be constantly reviewing and evaluating it,” Minion said. “Or else it’s easy for nothing to happen.”

Legislation to Address Hazardous Lead Levels Sydney Allen Staff Writer Amid rising national concerns regarding toxic lead levels in drinking water, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown met with federal and local officials in Cleveland on Friday to discuss the issue. Sebring and Chagrin Falls, Ohio, have been the latest cities to issue warnings about unsafe levels of lead found in their water systems. Numerous properties in the area, including schools, are being investigated for their lead levels.

“As we work to respond to the immediate crises in Sebring and Flint, we must also remember that the problem of lead contamination stretches far beyond just our water systems,” Brown said in an email to the Review. “Too many of Cleveland’s children are exposed to lead through paint in older homes and even through the dirt in their backyards.

This is an urgent problem and we all must work together to address it.”

According to The Cleveland Plain Dealer, while 17 percent of children under the age of six in Cleveland have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, more than 187,000 homes in Cuyahoga County could have lead hazards.

Lead, a dangerous neurotoxin that has been linked to severe cognitive impairment, can cause developmental issues in children and has

been linked to behavioral problems later in life.

Senator Brown, who has led discussions in the fight against lead poisoning, announced legislation this week that would reduce lead hazards in Ohio. His bill includes plans to ensure families are promptly notified when there is a problem, and requires Ohio communities to have a plan in place to fix the problem within six months — the current requirement is up to 18 months.

The bill also requires there to be a plan in place to ensure access to clean, safe water and requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make annual water quality reports available online for every state.

Senator Brown took to the Senate floor on Feb. 2, where he spoke of how citizens in Sebring and Flint were unaware of the dangerous amounts of lead present in their water because of governmental failure.

Brown’s amendment requires the EPA to notify residents of unsafe drinking water if the state fails to do so in a 15-day time span. This will prevent any delay in action and deference of blame after the fact, said Brown.

“The village of Sebring in northeast Ohio is experiencing an ongoing issue of lead in their water, which in part inspired Senator Brown’s legislation. Reports indicate that there were levels of lead above the federal allow-

The Oberlin Review — Established 1874 —

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February 12, 2016

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Senator Sherrod Brown meets with officials in Cleveland. Brown recently introduced legislation to protect communities in Ohio from unsafe levels of lead in drinking water.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Petri

able level for months before families were notified that children and pregnant women shouldn’t drink the water,” Senator Brown’s office said in an email to the Review.

Dangerous lead levels in drinking water disproportionately affect lowincome children as well as children of color, said Brown.

“The Center for Disease Control estimates that at least four million American households — four million American households with children — are exposed to high levels of lead. We know what that does to their

Julian Liv Combe Ring Madeline Allegra Kirkland Stocker Managing editor Samantha Vida Weisblum Link News editors Rosemary Adam Boeglin Gittin Kerensa AlexLoadholt Howard Opinions editor Will Kiley Rubenstein Petersen This Week Weekeditor editor Zoë Hannah Strassman Berk Arts editors Louise Kara Edwards Brooks Georgia Danny Evans Horn Sports editors Sarena Quinn Malsin Hull Madeleine Randy O’Meara Ollie Layout editors Sydney TiffanyBernal Fung Ben Alexa Garfinkel Corey Nathalie Alanna Hawthorne Sandoval Photo editors Anya OliviaSpector Gericke Photo editors Brannon Rockwell-Charland Bryan Rubin Online editor Alanna Ben Shepherd Bennett Editors-in-chief Editors-in-Chief

brain development. We know the impact it has for the rest of their lives,” Senator Brown said at the event.

The city of Oberlin has also responded to the issue given its proximity to Cuyahoga County. The city’s water division posted a “Lead and Copper Fact Sheet” to their website on Feb. 1 regarding the findings in Flint, Sebring and Chagrin Falls.

It states that the Oberlin Water Department is following all guidelines set in place by the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rules that were issued on June 7, 1991.

Business manager Maureen CurtisCoffey Cook Business manager Savi Ads manager JuliaSedlacek Murphy Ads manager Reshard el-Shair Production manager Ryanne Berry Production manager Sophia Bamert Kira Findling Production staff Stephanie Bonner Production staff Victoria Albacete Emma Eisenberg TaylorBisesi Field Abbey Katherine AnneliseHamilton Giseburt Julia Hubay Auden Granger Tracey Knott Jennifer Jimenez Noah Morris Anna Peckham Sami Mericle Silvia Julia Sheffield Peterson Drew Wise Distributors Adira Baum Distributors Joe Camper Brady Marks Joseph Dilworth James Ben Steger Kuntz

“The lead and copper rules establish action levels of 15 parts per billion for [lead] and 1,300 parts per billion for [copper] based on the 90th percentile of tap water samples,” the fact sheet states. “An exceedance of these action levels is not a violation but can trigger other requirements that include additional water quality monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/ treatment, public education and lead service line replacement.”

The Oberlin water system has been following the LCR since 1991 and has scaled down the amount of tests issued due to very low levels of lead and copper. They now test 20 residences for lead and copper every three years; results can be found in the annual consumer confidence report on their website.

The last lead and copper test was in July 2014 and showed no irregularities. Oberlin’s pipes are treated daily using a lime softener and other chemicals and are tested weekly for pipe corrosion, a main source of lead poisoning. The city of Oberlin also has a connection with the Rural Lorain County Water Authority that would be used in a water supply emergency.

“We’ve reached out to state and national experts on the content of the bill. The Senator will continue to work with groups to build support for this commonsense proposal,” Senator Brown’s office said.

Corrections The Review is not aware of Corrections: any corrections this week.

The Review is not aware of any corrections Review strives to print allemail thisThe week.

To submit a correction, information as accurately as possible. managingeditor@oberlinreview.org.

If you feel the Review has made an error, please send an e-mail to managingeditor@oberlinreview.org.

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The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Page 3

Off the Cuff: Jason Sokol, History Professor and Author Jason Sokol, OC ’99, is an Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire. He earned a Ph.D. in history at the University of California, Berkeley. Sokol has written two books, There Goes My Everything: White Southerners in the Age of Civil Rights and All Eyes Are Upon Us: Race and Politics from Boston to Brooklyn, and is working on a third. On Tuesday, Sokol gave a talk at Afrikan Heritage House titled “America’s Long History of Racial Hypocrisy,” which addressed how many white Northerners used their states’ progressive reputations to obfuscate the racism present in their cities.

In writing your books, would you say you were trying to fill in a “historical gap?”

That’s part of it, though I don’t think it’s enough to just fill in a gap because there are millions of gaps, but they don’t all necessarily justify books. So to me, I felt like filling in that gap had to help me to answer some larger questions. And what I wanted to know was, basically, what did the Civil Rights Movement change, and what did it leave unchanged? To what extent did it usher in this social or political or cultural revolution, or to what extent did it just sort of come and go?

You explained in your talk that hypocrisy can be defined as “a pretense of virtue,” and a hypocrite as “one who pretends to be better than he really is.” What did you find were some of the causes of this blatant cognitive dissonance among white Northerners who claimed to be progressive while battling to uphold racist institutions?

When talking about white Northerners, one of the guiding ideas in my recent book was the idea of the “Northern mystique” — how a lot of white Northerners had this notion that the North was better, it was more progressive, it was a place where things were possible. They started from that premise that it was an open society where there were no discrimination laws. … Part of it was a sort of blindness to facts, part of it was a willful ignorance — we talked last night about the federal housing practices and mortgage practices that actually consigned Black people to those neighborhoods. I think a lot of white Northerners wanted to continue to believe that they were enlightened, and they didn’t want to deal with the more complex and

Thursday, Feb. 4 1:24 a.m. Officers were requested to assist an ill student on the third floor of Langston Hall. An ambulance was requested, and the student was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

Friday, Feb. 5 7:49 a.m. Staff reported graffiti in the Rice/King Building elevator.

uglier facts of their own homeland. And they didn’t want to deal with their own racism.

People who are looking to exonerate themselves from accusations of racism often say that they are “colorblind,” or that they don’t see race. Why is this mindset harmful?

This claim to colorblindness — so many people claimed that throughout the Civil Rights period that I studied, and so many people still claim that. And they hold up, as the example, President Obama. [They say,] “You know, we’re a colorblind nation, a white-majority nation [that] could elect and re-elect a Black president.” Chief Justice Roberts cited that as a reason for striking down part of the Voting Rights Act: that our country has advanced since 1965.

In some ways that’s obviously true — we wouldn’t have elected a Black president in 1965 — but in a lot of other important ways it’s false and it’s damaging, and the reason is because our cities are defined by race, they’re shaped by race. Go to any city, North or South, everyone there knows the neighborhoods where white people live, they know the neighborhoods where racial minorities live. … And so to say that “we are colorblind” just pretends that our country isn’t defined by race.

You talked last night about the battle over busing, particularly in Boston in the ’70s. What led up to the court’s decision to integrate schools?

Busing had been used in the Jim Crow south to achieve segregation. Buses would take white kids past the nearest school, which was a Black school, and take them to the white school across town, for instance. So busing had long been used by school systems … to achieve segregation.

By 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in a case [Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education] that school systems could use busing to achieve racial integration. After that, school systems had that tool available to them.

Massachusetts had passed a state law in 1965 that had mandated integrated schools in the state, but the city of Boston [still] had rigidly segregated schools [in 1971], and it did nothing to comply with the state law. … That’s why Black parents finally filed a lawsuit in 1972 [Morgan v.

Hennigan] asking for the courts to or-

A “Priority One” mailing label with writing on it was stuck to the ceiling of the elevator. A work order was filed for removal.

8:19 a.m. Staff at the Science Center reported a small tear in the metal spire outside the southwest commons. It is currently unknown when the damage occurred. A work order was filed for repair.

8:15 p.m. Officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Union Street Housing Complex.

Smoke from burnt bacon caused the alarm, which was then reset.

12:43 p.m. Officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Depart-

Brooklyn and Queens had long been sort of lower-class white, working-class neighborhoods, and they became integrated.

And a lot of the white people got scared.

It was this combination of economic hard times with increasing racial change. And presiding over it all was Mayor Ed Koch, who had a history as supporting Civil Rights, but he also played to the votes and the fears of the white working class in New York. That’s what set the context for what happened in the ’80s.

Jason Sokol, Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire

der to mandate integration. The NAACP litigated that suit, and in 1974 the federal district court judge ruled that Boston had indeed, the city leaders had indeed, intentionally segregated the schools — therefore they would have to have immediate integration, and he thought the best way to immediately achieve integration was to put kids on buses. Black kids into the white neighborhood and white kids into the Black neighborhood, that’s what happened September of ’74.

You called New York City a “bloody canvas of racial violence” in the 1980s. Was there a specific issue that spurred that violence, like there was in the ’70s in Boston?

There wasn’t one thing necessarily, but New York City in the 1970s was on the verge of bankruptcy. And there is a famous episode in which President Gerald Ford decided not to bail out the city economically. … In the mid-1980s, you started to get the AIDS epidemic. You later had the crack epidemic. Ronald Reagan’s policies during the ’80s, he cut back all sorts of funding on social programs like food stamps.

He also slashed funding for cities like New York. So all these things were happening.

The infrastructure of New York was being decimated, and you saw many more homeless people, and you also had this influx of racial minorities into the city. Places in

ment responded to a fire alarm on the first floor of Bailey House.

Exhaust fans were set up to clear smoke that had filled the first floor corridor and lounge. Two burnt towels caused the alarm, which was then reset.

Saturday, Feb. 6 1:06 a.m. Officers were requested to assist an unconscious student on the second floor of Barrows Hall. Upon arrival, the student was standing and speaking to other students. They were able to answer all questions asked and were transported to their room for the night.

Are there any historical lessons we can take to help bridge the gap between the idea of what America ought to be, and the reality we’re faced with today?

That’s the question, isn’t it? I mean, there are a few things. Unfortunately a lot of the answer rests with white Americans.

From that perspective, things don’t look too hopeful — the fact that Donald Trump just won 34 percent in New Hampshire means that you have a good number of Americans who are open to racist appeals still.

I think the continuing Black struggle is extremely important. ... I was the keynote speaker at a Black church in Massachusetts on Martin Luther King Day, and the guy who spoke before me was the local state representative. He got up and he claimed that if Martin Luther King were still alive, he would denounce Black Lives Matter and he would claim that all lives matter. And then [the representative] went on to say that we’re a country that’s all free and equal now, with a Black president, and we should celebrate that instead of denouncing the country. And I think this is a problem that many white Americans believe that — indeed, a state representative in a liberal state, Massachusetts. And I said I think the first thing white Americans have to understand is that, no, it’s not free and equal. And the gentleman in the crowd was talking about the legacy of unjust housing practices, Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book [Between the World and Me], which I know a lot of the Oberlin community has been reading, is a primer on why something like reparations makes sense. So I think until white Americans are honestly willing to grapple with those legacies of historic racism, I’m not sure how far we’ll go.

10:13 p.m. Officers responded to a report of an unauthorized party on the third floor of East Hall.

Approximately 17 individuals were advised to leave. Residents of the room were advised about room capacity, noise levels and underage alcohol consumption.

Sunday, Feb. 7 12:56 a.m. Officers responded to a report of an unauthorized party at a Village Housing unit on South Professor Street. Loud music was heard from outside. The party was closed down and approximately 150 party attendees dispersed.

Interview by Adam Gittin, News editor Photo Courtesy of Jason Sokol

Monday, Feb. 8 7:20 p.m Officers were requested to inspect a broken window on the third floor of Langston Hall. According to the room’s occupants, the window was accidentally hit with a suitcase, causing it to break.

A work order was filed for repair.

10:15 p.m. A resident of Saunders House reported an odor of burnt marijuana on the first floor. Officers made contact with the resident of the room in question, who denied smoking anything in the room.

News

Page 4

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Ratsy’s, Adored Thrift Store, Moves Uptown Audrey Rowland Oberlin’s premier thrift store just moved into downtown. Ratsy’s is now located directly across from The Feve at 27 South Main Street.

“I’d been down at the antique store for 10 years,” Ratsy Kemp, who goes only by her first name, said. “When I’d first moved in there, I had met the guy who owns the antique store, Alan Campbell. I had just moved here from California and had decided to live in Oberlin. I bought a house here without knowing anybody, and I was selling clothes on eBay.” Impressed by her organization, Campbell soon offered her space in his store, and while the old location had its benefits, toward the end of last year Ratsy began to consider moving.

When the business at 27 South Main Street suddenly closed in December, Ratsy seized the opportunity to move closer to the heart of downtown. She said she signed the lease on New Year’s Eve and started moving into the new space on Jan. 1.

Ratsy’s old store had two floors of merchandise that she found difficult to manage, in part because the cash register was located on the ground floor, she said. She recalled having to worry about leaving the cash register

downstairs, open to theft, while working upstairs.

The store’s new space is easier to handle, she said, with the added benefit that customers won’t enter the store without the owner present. The smaller space also allows for better customer service organization. “[At the old store] I’d run things up in the morning or in-between customers, but I couldn’t hang out up there and arrange things as I’d like to,” Ratsy said. “So far it seems a lot easier to manage here, just being able to be in the space where I’m selling things.”

Those “things” are anything from mason jars to typewriters to vintage clothing. Flannel shirts, large sweaters, weird socks and sunglasses are her biggest sellers, Ratsy said.

“I started selling socks with curse words on them in my new location. I mean, I opened two weeks ago, [and] I’ve sold out of all the curse-word socks, so I’ve had to reorder.You would think it would just be college kids that were buying — nope,” she said. “There’s these ladies, like certain middle-aged ladies, maybe schoolteachers; all sorts of people are purchasing them.”

Marketed to “guys, gals and anybody in between,” the store is a staple for Oberlin students. “I bought a really cool jacket from the ’80s that lets me

live out all my John Hughes dreams, and it was only $20,” said College firstyear Claire Abramovitz.

Ratsy sells more than clothes, and College students have a taste for almost everything in her store. “[I have] a stand mixer that I really like that I got there, like a really oldfashioned one,” said College junior Jacob Roosa. This sentiment is common across campus among those who have visited Ratsy’s.

“My best friend got a really cool pair of cowboy boots there,” said Interim Hillel Director Samia Mansour, OC ’10.

Students also go to find unique gifts for family and friends. “One time I got a postcard there that was from this town that my mom grew up in,” College sophomore Morgan Stein said.

However, Ratsy’s customer base extends far beyond the College.

“There’s also the people in town and people from Cleveland and different areas,” Ratsy said. “I have a couple guys that come over from Japan regularly and stop in.”

Sometimes even the members of visiting bands will drop by.

“I remember once, down at the other store, these kids came in at the end of the day and they were wearing rollerblades. It was a band called Co-

Two customers shop at Ratsy’s new location on South Main Street. The store moved after the New Year.

Clover Linh Tran

coRosie, and they were very entertaining. I just asked them to take off the rollerblades. They stayed for like an hour and bought all sorts of fun stuff and were like, ‘Oh my gosh, what a great store.’”

That feeling seems to be common.

Ratsy picks out everything that goes in the store and tries to find the most interesting things she can. She wants items that will entertain students as well as residents and visitors, she said.

The store’s success, with customers ranging from college students to construction workers, indicates that this effort has not gone unnoticed.

“I also sell old, dirty work boots, which I think the students like to wear with frilly dresses and things like that, both boys and the girls,” Ratsy said.

“But then, I’ve had guys that are building the Inn on the corner come down and buy work overalls and jackets from me because, you know, if you went and bought them new they’d be like a couple hundred dollars, and you can get them here for like $20 or $30.”

Ratsy’s successful run over the past 10 years gives Ratsy high hopes for future successes now that she is closer to the College and downtown Oberlin.

CDS Implements Minor Changes after Media Frenzy Harrison Wollman Staff Writer Little has changed for Campus Dining Services in the three months since representatives met with students from the South Asian, Vietnamese and Chinese student associations — except for the media attention, of course.

Despite the national spotlight placed on Oberlin College, CDS and the student associations, Director of Business Operations and Dining Services Michele Gross seemed unfazed that her branch of Oberlin’s administration — which contracts the food service management company Bon Appétit — had found its way into the limelight. When asked to comment on the media coverage, Gross gave a tempered response.

“My focus is on making sure we meet the varied needs of the community, and that we actively listen to students’ input to improve their dining experience,” she said.

On Nov. 6, 2015, The Oberlin Review published the article, “CDS Appropriates Asian Dishes, Students Say,” which would eventually become a national controversy. Citing banh mi Vietnamese sandwiches with improper ingredients, a heavily altered General Tso’s chicken recipe and Dascomb’s sushi bar, the article expressed the frustrations of several Oberlin College students who felt that CDS had been disrespectful by poorly adapting traditional dishes.

The November article led to a sit-down between CDS and students, and CDS agreed to improve the cultural accuracy and the

naming process of meals by not associating excessively modified dishes with specific cultures. At the time, the issue appeared to have been put to rest.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the topic began to gain traction in local and national news outlets toward the end of Oberlin’s designated finals period. On Dec. 21, The New York Times published an article titled, “Oberlin Students Take Culture War to The Dining Hall.” As other national news outlets, such as The Atlantic, ABC News, NBC, Buzzfeed, Fox News and The Washington Post also chimed in, the issue went viral.

Diep Nguyen, a College first-year from Vietnam who was quoted in the November article, said that she received a flow of hate messages. Still, Nguyen felt that the attention had a positive side.

“Overall, I think the article and petition have made a good impact on students’ awareness, not only within Oberlin College, but also in the U.S. However, that kind of attention is a double-edged knife, because people can easily assume that we, college students, are spoiled and complain about trivial things,” Nguyen said.

As more and more pundits jumped on the issue, the original message from the Nov. 6 article seemed to slip farther away.

The author of the Nov. 6 article and the co-chair of the Vietnamese Student Association, Clover Linh Tran, mentioned that she hadn’t observed many changes.

“I just noticed that the sushi bar at Dascomb has been replaced by a deli bar,” Tran said. “Besides that, I’ve also noticed that

CDS is now labeling food in more sensible ways, like saying this dish is Chinese-style, instead of claiming it as Chinese.”

Moving forward, Nguyen said that while it may be tough for CDS to cater to the numerous ethnicities here at Oberlin College, the service should not label foods as traditional after such severe modifications to dishes.

“CDS has to work hard to cater for many students coming from different backgrounds, so it is impossible to provide the authentic taste of foreign food,” Nguyen said. “However, if CDS cannot ensure that the food is authentic, then they should find another way to name it. I don’t know if this is possible, but it would be nice to have more Asian food served in dining halls because, for me, food is somehow a sense of home.”

Gross said that CDS will continue to be cognizant of student input when creating future menus for the student body.

“Student input has always been important and will continue to be actively sought, including the use of electronic comment cards, written comment cards, comment tables and Dining Committee and other student groups in order to better serve the community,” Gross said.

While the student associations and CDS could have hardly anticipated the coverage the issue received, it appears that the groups have made some headway toward reaching a compromise. Several students may have an opportunity to discuss further changes on March 1 when a Bon Appétit representative is set to come to Oberlin.

New Safety Campaign Hits the Streets

NEXUS Pushes Pipeline

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

crossing at unsafe places or at unsafe times.

“We continued receiving complaints about cyclists riding on the sidewalk in the Downtown district, which is against city ordinance,” said Torres. “This is an ongoing complaint. There is also the complaint of the drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians, even to cyclists, and they might sometimes drive too fast for the road conditions or the traffic.”

Torres has contacted the Oberlin Bike Co-op with directions on how to make bikes more appropriately road safe. He recommended that bikers use a bell and reflectors or a light. He has also contacted members of the business district to inform them of the new campaign.

In order for this campaign to be successful, students and community members would have to be conscious of the road conditions as well as the safety of those around them, Torres said.

The document regarding the new initiative cautions bicyclists to ride in the same direction of traffic and encourages pedestrians to use crosswalks when possible and to exercise caution when crossing. Drivers were also reminded to yield to pedestrians and cyclists. The latter, according to Torres, has been an issue that has generated a number of complaints.

Torres added that because the College is such a large and integral part of the town, it is important for the College and the town to collaborate in developing and implementing safety strategies in town. However, because the roads and crosswalks are city property, Oberlin’s Safety and Security cannot enforce safety measures.

Though it is unclear whether the Police Department will increase the number of tickets issued for traffic violations, the OPD does plan to increase their vigilance over the next few weeks, which will likely cause an increase in written and verbal warnings.

“Although the comment period for FERC is officially closed, it is still possible to intervene,” said Jon Elder, a member of Communities for Safe and Sustainable Energy. There have been responses to these intervention letters by NEXUS, but they have been brief. Elder, who helped write the Oberlin Community Bill of Rights, said that the responses made reference to zoning regulations, but did not name the Oberlin ordinance at all.

Elder explained that the issue is not about zoning regulations, but about violating a city ordinance. He is not confident that FERC will help the cause, seeing that it hasn’t denied any pipeline application to date.

Spectra Energy, a Fortune 500 natural gas corporation based in Houston, Texas,

has been named on Ethisphere Institute’s “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list and is a part of the FTSE4Good Global Index Series. Companies on these lists have to meet very strict standards in relation to environmental, social and governance principles.

According to Elder, Spectra Energy CEO Gregory L. Ebel said in a conference call to shareholders on Monday that NEXUS is still planning to send gas through the pipeline in the last quarter of 2017.

Although FERC has yet to approve the NEXUS pipeline with the changes to the proposed route, NEXUS is confident that the pipeline will continue along its current path.

Getting approval is a yearlong process, said a representative of NEXUS. They filed the updated plan in November 2015 and will hear back by November 2016.

February 12, 2016

Opinions The Oberlin Review

Page 5

The Oberlin Review Publication of Record for Oberlin College — Established 1874 —

Editors-in-Chief Julian Ring Madeline Stocker

Ailing “Eileen” Cao College sophomore

Endorsed by the International Student Association and the Chinese Students Association I am Ailing Cao, and my friends call me Eileen. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I come from Shanghai, China. I am a sophomore interested in comparative politics.

I’ve been involved in the Chinese Students Association and the International Student Organization.

I eat in Pyle Co-op and have just been elected as a food buyer for the co-op.

I want to be a Senator because I want to create a direct channel for international students to communicate with the Student Senate and the College. In the future, I plan to gather more reliable information about the needs of all international students at Oberlin College. I also would like to work with the Career Center to improve the international student-alumni database and to bring more career opportunities to international students.

In talking to the current student senators, I have learned that Student Senate is willing to serve the international student community but needs someone with an international background and understanding of international students’ needs and experiences to better do so. I would like to be that person!

Grace Evans College junior

Hi! I’m Grace. I use she, her and hers. I am a junior East Asian Studies major and a co-captain of our varsity softball team. I am running for Student Senate because I want to make the athletic resources on campus more accessible and visible to the majority of the student body and, by doing so, bridge the gap between the athletic department and the rest of campus. Recently there have been many good

strides, such as creating a gym in South, but more communication must be facilitated. Additionally, this is my second year working for the athletic department and my third year working in CDS. I have a strong work ethic, and challenges only add fuel to the fire. I am eager to work with students, faculty and administrators to create a more unified and communicative student body.

Thanks!

Austin Feuer College first-year

Endorsed by the Oberlin College Democrats Accessibility of printers is imperative, especially for students with disabilities and/or struggling with events on school grounds.

Placing at least one printer in each dorm will alleviate the stress of plenty of students and make it easier for students who cannot afford printers to print their work on winter evenings.

I hope to represent my peers as best as I can, and so another objective is to inform all students of the happenings in the legislative process and to receive input in return. I will provide surveys on social media and share my email address and office hours to hear from students about the issues that concern them.

I intend to hold monologue sessions (you speak, I listen) with groups of color and other marginalized groups on campus at least twice a semester — once before midterms, once after. I will bring their concerns, verbatim, to Senate meetings.

I want to start a program that places two sustainability and voting/registration representatives, respectively, in each dorm.

Lastly, there needs to be consent education and PRSM [Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct] training during the first week of school. Sexual assault is an epidemic on college campus-

es, and it is simply ludicrous not to provide these training sessions prior to first-week events.

Natalia Garcia-Sanabria College junior

My name is Natalia GarciaSanabria, and I am currently a third-year Environmental Studies major with a focus on Sustainable Communities, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. I am a Latinx womyn from the Bronx, NY. I love home-cooked meals, late-night conversation and reading. I would love to be elected as a Senator. It would be a great opportunity to get more involved with the community. I want to continue to understand the issues that face the Oberlin community and help develop solutions for them. I want to make sure that Senate is accessible and a comfortable place for students to come and address their concerns. Last year I had the privilege of serving on the Student Finance Committee, which allowed me to learn more about the interests of many different corners of the Oberlin community and help them financially. My work with the SFC helped me be a better listener and learn how to defend my positions. I learned the appropriate times to be subjective and when to be objective. I was subjective when my past experiences were necessary to defend or argue against an event and, while objectivity is hard to achieve, I did my best to be consistent and follow the policies. I would take the skills I have developed with the SFC and bring them to my position. I am reliable with regard to always showing up and organizing meetings (that was my responsibility on the SFC). I have no issue voicing my opinions, thus making me a great Senator. I work hard; I’ve always had to work harder than my counterparts to get what I want and therefore give everything I do 110 percent of myself. I hope to be elected!

See Student Senate, page 6

SUBMISSIONS POLICY The Oberlin Review appreciates and welcomes letters to the editors and column submissions. All submissions are printed at the discretion of the Editorial Board.

All submissions must be received by Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at opinions@oberlinreview.org or Wilder Box 90 for inclusion in the following Friday’s Review. Letters may not exceed 600 words and columns may not exceed 800 words, except with the consent of the Editorial Board. All submissions must include contact information, with full names, for all signers. All electronic submissions from multiple writers should be carbon-copied to all signers to confirm authorship.

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The Opinions section strives to serve as a forum for debate. Review staff will occasionally engage in this debate within the pages of the Review. In these cases, the Review will either seek to create dialogue between the columnist and staff member prior to publication or will wait until the next issue to publish the staff member’s response.

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Opinions expressed in letters, columns, essays, cartoons or other Opinions pieces do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the Review.

Managing Editor Vida Weisblum Opinions Editor Kiley Petersen

Flint Crisis Demands Reflection on Campus, Community Relationship With his approval rating plummeting and amid public calls for his resignation, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder addressed lawmakers on Wednesday to propose a $54.9 billion budget for the state, the majority of which would go to reversing the lead contamination in Flint’s water and repairing Detroit’s public schools.

Varying levels of blame have been assigned to former Mayor Dayne Walling, former Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, the Flint City Council and scientists at the University of Michigan– Flint. Despite the federal state of emergency declared by President Obama, state-issued Brita filters do not seem to be working.

The NSF-certified filters claim to treat water with up to 150 parts per billion of lead, yet the water trickling from Flint resident Nakeyja Cade’s faucet is still 185 ppb after three filters.

Marc Edwards is a professor of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech who, along with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, helped collect data on lead poisoning that exposed the Flint crisis.

In an interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, he explained how the structure of research in academia was also to blame.

“In Flint, the agencies paid to protect these people weren’t solving the problem,” Edwards said. “They were the problem.

What faculty person out there is going to take on their state, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency? … You are your funding network as a professor. You can destroy that network that took you 25 years to build with one word.” Simply put, scientists were disincentivized from performing research that could potentially damage the reputations of their major funders.

Furthermore, the University of Michigan–Flint had neither the expertise nor the equipment to investigate the contaminant levels, said Dr. Martin Kaufman, an environmental hydrologist at the University’s Department of Earth and Resource Science. The most useful piece of information Flint officials shared with the University was an outdated 1984 map of watermains. Some pipes were labeled only with width, others with only the material used.

One-third were unlabeled. Additionally, the map was published two years before a national ban on lead in pipes and plumbing fixtures. Corrosive lead could be lurking just about anywhere in the city.

In light of the water emergency in Flint, Oberlin College should examine its relationship with the city of Oberlin. We share a similar town-gown divide: impoverished community, prestigious college, outdated infrastructure. But in comparison, Oberlin has been an extremely safe place to live. The 2014 Oberlin Water Quality Report shows that of 20 random samples taken from Oberlin taps, none were found to have lead levels above the EPA limit of 15 ppb. Several faculty members in the College’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have “occasionally made measurements of lead in tap water … in the Science Center and have found levels far below the EPA limit,” according to Professor Matthew Elrod. The “Lead and Copper in Drinking Water” factsheet distributed by Jerry Hade, division leader of the Oberlin Public Works Water Division, describes the pipes that are installed as “[consisting] of lead-jointed pipes and lead service lines, as well as copper and brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) services and fittings that can introduce [lead] and [copper] contamination under corrosive conditions.”

Since the Flint water crisis broke, Hade and his employees began monitoring the water weekly, and the index always returns as zero (non-corrosive). Since 2004, the Water Division has been See Student, page 7 Editorials are the responsibility of the Review Editorial Board — the Editors-in-Chief, managing editor and Opinions editor — and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

Opinions

Page 6

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Student Senate Elections Continued from page 5

Ezra Goss

Sadie Keller

Endorsed by the Oberlin College Democrats

Endorsed by the Youth Council Coordinating Committee

Among all the issues that we should face, I specifically aim to encourage inter-organizational debate and cooperation on the more controversial issues that plague the campus. As a progressive institution, we should not just be known for our passion and energy for individual special interests but as well be on the forefront of solution-building and mock peace talks for those issues that affect the student body both directly and indirectly. I have extensive experience in student government organizations. I served as executive director of a Youth and Government delegation of 200 people. During my tenure, I sat on a committee that raised $15,000 for program scholarships for students in the delegation. This not only shows my ability to work well with a team, but also my motivation to get practical things done.

I’ll also be spending the next few weeks actively asking students what they want changed — you can find me at Dascomb Dining Hall from 12 –1 p.m. all week or Wilder from 1–2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and if you can’t find me send me an email at egoss@oberlin.edu.

Hi! I’m Sadie Keller (she/her/hers) and a College first-year. This year I’ve been overwhelmed, over-stimulated and really excited (is that a freshman thing?).

At first, I wasn’t sure Oberlin was my place. There were so many people and so many discussions; where did I fit in? Before transferring, I wanted to give Oberlin a fair shot. By fully immersing myself, I’ve found people who are well-informed and passionate about having an impact in our community. We discuss the pros and cons of human adaptation in regard to global warming while eating undercooked beans in Stevenson Dining Hall. On Saturday nights, we prefer warm cookies (vegan optional) and yelling “yes poet” at the top of our lungs.

As cliché as it sounds, these truly Oberlin experiences have made me realize that I don’t have to know it all, want to do it all and be good at it all. But when it does matter, I have a voice, and I am beginning to find places to share it.

A good advocate is honest. I’ve talked authentically about my own experience, and now I want to hear yours. In Student Senate, I will be available, transparent and committed to creating spaces for new voices.

College first-year

Gabe Hitchcock College junior

Endorsed by the East Hall Council, Fairchild Hall Council, Neuroscience Majors Committee and The Synapse Good day! My name is Gabe Hitchcock, and I am running for Student Senate. I am a College junior Neuroscience major and Art History minor. During my time at Oberlin, I have been the editor-in-chief of The Synapse, co-chair of the Neuroscience Majors Committee, an analyst with the Investment Club, a [Lead Residental Assistant] with ResEd, a piano teacher, a tutor and a number of other things. However, this year I am foregoing several of these roles so that when I become a student senator, I can focus on what I am most passionate about: supporting Oberlin students. With my experience growing organizations, resolving conflicts among residents and working with administrators, I am confident I can do so. I am also keenly aware of the precarious financial situation that our school is in, and I promise to work to prevent that burden from falling on the student body. In the end, I am running for Student Senate to achieve two things: to advocate for transparency within Oberlin’s administration and to make certain that the 150plus student organizations retain their financial flexibility and are well represented among the Senate. Thank you.

Nimo Ismail College junior

My name is Nimo Ismail, and I am a College junior Politics major. I consider the role of the student government to be one of the most important roles on campus, as they represent the student body and must be able to put the interests of the community before theirs. I want to become a senator this semester because I know I am capable of taking that responsibility. If I get elected to Student Senate, I will work on making communication between Senate and the rest of the student body more efficient and on diversifying representation. Even though I appreciate Oberlin, there are issues, such as student health, both physical and mental, that we need to work on. For us to be great, our health should be a priority. With my background as an international student from Somaliland, I will be able to bring a different perspective into Senate and different methods of problem-solving. Also, because my schedule is more flexible this semester, I have more time to dedicate to the responsibility of being a senator. With the skills I have attained in the different settings of Oberlin I partake in, I will be better able to serve the Oberlin community.

Ben Jennings College sophomore

As a student senator, my main goal would be to collaborate with those who wish to strengthen relationships between the student body and the College’s administration by acting as a liaison.

I feel that there is a palpable divide between groups within the student body and the administration, especially with regard to campus culture, and that this fosters a perception of confrontation rather than cooperation between the various parties involved. One prevalent belief expressed by many about this ongoing tension is that the administration does not appear as accessible to students as it should be. If elected, I would reach out to campus organizations that are currently in place, such as the Dialogue Center (Yeworkwha Belachew Center for Dialogue at Oberlin College), to create a more cohesive community and would seek to establish more streamlined systems of communication between the appropriate student and administrative representatives. In addition, I would work on creating a system of checks to make sure that such lines of communication are sustained. In Student Senate, I would strive to achieve these goals in conjunction with my fellow Oberlin students.

Deborah Johnson College sophomore

Hi! My name’s Deborah, and I’m a College sophomore and was previously on Senate last year.

This year I’m hoping to work with other students to create more support for survivors (ex: support groups that use methods of art, music, creativity, etc. to help heal, a phone line), make sure RideLine runs at the proper times and have staff drive when students aren’t able to, make College resources more accessible to members of the town and clarify the process of working with the Student Support Initiatives Fund so we can have some money for textbooks, clubs, medical needs, etc.

College first-year

Jeremy Poe

Double-degree junior Hey! I’m Jeremy (he/him/his), double-degree junior, and I’m running for my second year in Student Senate.

Last year, I knew some students struggling with depression and anxiety; being at Oberlin was hurting them. Senators kept promising to work on student health and wellness, but were unable to make any progress. I decided that the least I could do was try and help.

One year later, our successes in Senate are numerous: weekend hours at Student Health, funding for the SIC to offer emergency contraception, a Counseling Center feedback form and women and trans hours at Philips gym, to name a few. Senate’s successes have not just come in the areas of health and wellness: statewide organizing to protect student voting rights, meals over breaks and new efforts to evaluate dining on campus. But there’s so much more work to be done.

As Senate’s Liaison, I represent Senate and students in discussions with administrators, faculty, alumni and the Board of Trustees. I also manage Senate’s projects and legislative work.

I’ve worked to advance the interests of students — first by listening, then by preparing and finally by acting. I’m asking for your vote so I can go back to work.

Drew Styles

College sophomore I am a second-year at Oberlin College, and during my time I have been fortunate to have been a part of a number of teams and communities. I am a co-captain of the Oberlin College quidditch team, a goalie for the Oberlin College ice hockey team, a member of the Dead Hears Footsteps radio show, a member of Lambda Union and a participant in Oberlin theater since my first semester. I have seen many sides of Oberlin and have experienced the diversity of thought, action and individuals. I believe that my experiences in the Oberlin community will help me excel as a student senator, if I am elected. I hope to be an effective part of Student Senate, helping in any way possible and working for the students of Oberlin College. Thank you for your consideration.

Elijah Aladin College first-year

Sydney Allen College first-year

Matt Banda College first-year

Michael Drougas College sophomore

Thobeka Mnisi College sophomore

Tyler Wagner College senior

The Oberlin Review does not endorse any candidate in the upcoming Student Senate election.

Opinions

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Page 7

Politicians Should Embrace Internet Memes

Josh Ashkinaze Columnist Everyone with a social media account and more than two friends or followers has seen political memes. They’re clever ways to convey a simple point, which can then be reiterated, with slight variation, by another person who laughs at the meme. The dankest meme now is “Bernie or Hillary?” (dankness is to memes what catchiness is to pop songs). Images of the two are juxtaposed and their opinions on a fictitious topic are

contrasted. Hillary always has the lame and simplistic view; Bernie is portrayed as hip and insightful. But memes don’t have to function this way. Politicians can use memes as a communication and advertisement tool.

By design, memes are one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to spread ideas, and they would make useful attack ads, especially since memes already have a largely satirical purpose. Since politicians have already begun to use casual social media outlets like Twitter, memetic proficiency might be the logical next step.

Memes are designed for ef-

ficiency, perfect for outsourcing the propagation of an idea. The original use of the word “meme” appeared in biologist Richard Dawkins’s The Selfish Gene. He argued that memes are the cultural equivalent of genes: “Examples of memes are tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches. Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool by leaping from body to body via sperms or eggs, so memes propagate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain.” Of course, the common understanding of “meme” has nothing to do with biology. It has everything to do with internet culture, snide text overlays and viral pictures. But the fact remains: Memes are bits of culture, and the most successful bits of culture are those that favor their own transmission. Presumably, Donald Trump would love it if he could insert a Trump-loving gene into the gene pool. He can’t.

However, anyone with Wi-Fi can insert an idea into the meme pool.

Insofar as memes play a role in political debates, they’re almost universally satirical, which is why politicians would be wise to use the platform to satirize opponents. For example, the campaign slogan of Tanzania’s new president, John Magufuli, was “Work and nothing else.”

This spawned memes under the

hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo that made fun of this thrift. Or take India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who posted a picture of himself surveying the damage of a flood through his helicopter window. The picture turned out to be doctored. He was merely looking at the sky, nowhere near the flood. Then there was an outpouring of memes satirizing his lie — photoshopped pictures of him looking out his helicopter window at dinosaurs or waiting for his clothes to dry. In both cases, the idea being memed and propagated was simple: Magufuli needs to loosen up; Modi lied.

Memes have the potential, then, to be an invaluable attack ad medium. All you need to do is float an idea and others will replicate and spread it on their own.

Memes can also function as something like online bumper stickers, flooding the lanes of social media with succinct positive endorsements. In the current American election, Bernie Sanders takes the meme prize.

For instance, there are just over 184,600 followers of a pro-Sanders meme page called “Bernie Sanders’ Dank Meme Stash.” It’s an odd page because political memes usually take a critical stance towards their subject. I think this can be explained by the fact that it is rare for a sizeable chunk of those who circulate and read memes to have positive feelings toward one candidate.

Expectations Prove Damaging to Emotional Health CJ Blair Columnist Too often it’s easy to think that what you hope for and what will happen can be the same thing. Everyone is guilty of placing hope in a certain version of the future, expecting to make it real. Expectation sounds pretty ridiculous described this way, but somehow very few people see anything wrong with it. It is a form of selective blindness that can shatter a person’s emotional health, but somehow it’s never talked about, let alone confronted.

I doubt many people share my hostility toward expectation, but I’m certain everyone has suffered its effects.

The danger of expectation is that it elicits investment in things that aren’t real. It can make you mourn the loss of something you never had or take for granted something that you do. Of course, there are instances where it’s fairly benign, like expecting presents on your birthday or warm weather in June. However, for each of those harmless cases, there’s another that can be detrimental to a person’s well-being.

Having expectations isn’t necessarily bad, but they shouldn’t be taken so seriously that they’re impossible to forget. The most dangerous expectations are those closely ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––—

I doubt many people share my hostility towards expectation, but I’m certain everyone has suffered its effects. The danger of expectation is that it elicits investment in things that aren’t real. It can make you mourn the loss of something you never had or take for granted something that you do.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––— tied to some sort of ambition. In these scenarios, there can be a significant price pinned on achieving a certain outcome. Imagine someone with a 4.0 GPA who is certain they’ll get into grad school or someone who is confident they’ll make friends when they move to a new city. On their own, these feelings aren’t that bad. If anything, they

are logical assumptions based on the past or ways to foster a good attitude in a new environment.

The problem lies in the long-term effects of these feelings. For quite a while, I had the strange sense that I was missing something in my life, but I didn’t know what it could be. It wasn’t until I finished watching a film adaptation of Death of a Salesman that I could pinpoint this emptiness. The story focuses on an old man convinced he’s moments away from wealth and respect, while in reality he’s just a salesman. In the final act, he kills himself when he accepts that he will never achieve this dream.

While my aspirations aren’t quite so misguided, the message was sobering enough to make me reconsider how I lived my life.

When I came to Oberlin, I had very specific expectations. That’s not to say I was disappointed, but I had a distinct vision of how things would unfold. When something went different than I’d planned, my first response was to ignore it and keep my expectations the same. This applied when I fumbled through an open relationship during my first year and when I tried to throw away my shyness like a bad dream. In both cases, I was disheartened, because I felt I was reaching toward something I couldn’t have. Instead of trying something else, I kept reaching for the same thing, which induced a cycle of sadness and frustration.

I think I’m becoming more aware of when I lie to myself and get too invested in my expectations. But I’ll never completely divorce myself from expectation, and I don’t think anyone else will either. The ability to prepare for events beyond rote survival is a beautiful and uniquely human experience, and it should never be forgotten.

What should be discarded is the sense of finality we place on expectation. If something doesn’t work out a certain way, our minds shouldn’t be so resistant to change that we can’t find a way to adapt and be happy.

Whenever I think about expectation, a single line from Death of a Salesman plays in my head: Speaking to his misguided father, Biff Loman says, “Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens?”

Though few of us are elderly salesmen, we are all people with hopes and feelings, trying to make ourselves happy.

When all else is stable, expectation could be the thing making us feel sad when we have no reason to.

But this appears to be the case with Sanders, who has a much greater positive-to-negativememe ratio than chance. Sanders’s case, then, represents the positive potential of memes. According to Google Trends, since November, there have been 150 percent more searches for Bernie Sanders memes than there were for Hillary Clinton memes. It’s no surprise Sanders has such a lead with millennials, who make up the the bulk of meme circulators.

Memes are a cheap, easy and effective way to spread an idea.

Both attack ads and endorsements could be memeified. And if politicians use Twitter, there’s no reason why memes won’t someday be in their repertoire.

It’s true that as of now, I can’t see Hillary Clinton meeting with some lobbyist and being presented with a plethora of memes to choose from. Though, honestly, who would have predicted that Mike Huckabee would have over 420,000 Twitter followers? It’s impossible to predict what social media trends might take off with politicians. In theory, there’s little difference between a politician’s media team disseminating a meme through a Facebook page with the hope that it gets shared, or posting a YouTube ad with the hope it goes viral. All it takes is one brave soul with a daring media team to begin the true memeification of politics.

Student Body Needs to Engage with City Continued from page 5 replacing older pipelines in the city at the cost of $300,000–350,000 each year. Hade attributes the transparency of Oberlin’s water conditions to their relationship with the Environmental Dashboard run by Associate Professor of Environmental Studies John Petersen. Hade provides the College’s Dashboard with real-time data on power usage and data on reservoir levels.

While, comparatively, Oberlin is miles ahead of Flint in terms of water management, low corruption in city government and ignorance of faculty and students, Hade urges concerned students to contribute to the Caring Fund, which assists low-income families in paying their utility bills. Additionally, the College can and should do more to assist the city with infrastructure problems. A key failure in the Flint situation was obliviousness on the part of students and researchers, a product of the town-gown divide.

Oberlin faculty and students must acquaint themselves with the problems of the residents around them: Food shortages, expensive utility bills, unemployment, lack of healthcare and home foreclosure are all realities for low-income people in the Rust Belt.

Not every educational experience has to occur in a classroom for it to be valuable and authentic. Professors could engage community members and groups in class discussions about local politics, environmental impacts, sociological research or economic case studies as well as require students to participate in community events.

Flint was an unusually extreme example of the insensitivity of academics to the surrounding community. Let’s not lead Oberlin down the same path.

Photo and writing by Zane Markosian

It all begins...

Creating Trail Magic

About a mile from campus, Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies Carl McDaniel, OC ’64, and his wife, Mary, have built a home for the 21st century. Eight years ago, they returned to Oberlin with the intent to build a carbon-neutral house. Trail Magic, their remarkably cozy home, not only proves that carbon neutrality can be affordable, but also offers a wealth of data that could inspire future projects.

Two things ultimately allow Trail Magic to be efficient: its orientation and envelope.

The house is a long rectangle with its longer sides facing north and south. In the northern hemisphere, the southern side of the house collects the most sunlight. With large windows installed on the southern façade, Trail Magic captures and retains maximal energy. Furthermore, the design of the house focuses so heavily on insulation that there is very little air turnover. When energy enters the house, it doesn’t leave.

Solar Powered House: Trail Magic The house has plenty of unique structural characteristics, but the most important thing is the data it generates. McDaniel says plenty of homeowners can boast about their high-efficiency houses, but data proves his claims. A science-driven approach is integral to the McDaniels’ project.

What is Trail Magic?

How Efficient is Trail Magic?

What Makes Trail Magic Unique?

“Trail magic” is a phrase originally coined on the Appalachian Trail to describe how things often work out in serendipitous ways. Carl says that as his son hiked the Appalachian Trail, he was able to experience “trail magic” many times, and that building the house elicited similar results.

In the project’s early stages, the McDaniels returned to the Oberlin area for a few days to look for a suitable builder. Driving past Eastwood Elementary School, the couple spontaneously decided to stop and chat with the school’s principal, who happened to mention the perfect builder.

Things continued to run smoothly through the building project, and when it came time to choose a name, there was only one choice. “We said ‘Trail Magic,’ both of us!” Carl says. “It was like a jinx!”

One of the most important concepts in the house’s creation is the harnessing of passive solar energy. In addition to solar panels on the roof, the house is designed to take advantage of the sun as much as possible by using large, south-facing windows to let in natural light and heat the interior throughout the day.

Passive Solar Energy

Calendar Hales Late-Nighter

Jlin and Sarah Snider

Yup! Fre e g low b ow lin g, p o o l , liv e mu si c, Val entin e-makin g, sp e ed d atin g and Fe v e fo o d!

Brin g y o ur fri end s, cr u sh e s, p arent s, aunt s and un cl e s. It w i l l b e a go o d ni g ht.

Jlin ro ck s at a rel ativ ely n e w genre cal l ed fo ot w ork. It s o und s li ke an e xtrem e v ersion of scrat chin g and w i l l make for g reat d an c e mu si c, s o h ead on o v er af t er y o u hit th e Hal e s L at eNi g ht er.

Fr iday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m.–1 a.m.

H ales Annex

Fri d ay, Feb . 12, 10 p . m . –1 a . m .

Th e ’ S co

Living in Trail Magic

In addition to the house’s energy efficiency, there are a few other special features. The house makes one “so much more attuned to the natural cycles,” Carl said. “It’s so much like the natural habitat that we evolved in as animals.” Trail Magic is not only remarkable for its ambition and scientific rigor but for the homely and comfortable environment it ensures its owners.

Women's Tennis vs. Baldwin Wallace Valentine’s Day! S u n day, Fe b. 1 4 University Sp end th e d ay do in g h om e w ork w ith y o ur b o o, S at u rd ay, Fe b . 1 3 , 1 1 : 3 0 a . m .

C om e o ut and supp or t th e O b erlin’s w om en’s t enni s t eam . Th e y w ork hard and d e s er v e y o ur supp or t!

The average American home uses around 70–90 million British thermal units of energy per year; much of this energy is made from fossil fuel. Because the fuel is first burned and then routed into a steam turbine that powers a generator, a typical American home actually needs 300 million Btus throughout the course of a year.

Trail Magic only uses 35 million Btus per year, 2o million Btus of which is passive solar energy.

g rab a fri end and pret end li ke y o u’re d atin g or re p b e in g s o lo. D o w hat y o u pl ea s e, b ut make it a go o d on e! Make sure to ch e ck y o ur O C MR s for lo v e l ett ers and c ondom-g ram s.

Melodies of the Soul: An Explosion of Music

Women's Basketball vs. Ohio Wesleyan University

C om e li st en to th e Je w i sh Ar t s C o l l e ctiv e w hi l e th e y e xpre ss th e ir spiritual i d entity and s o ul thro u g h mu si c.

If y o u can’t cat ch th e t enni s gam e, thi s i s th e p er fe ct tim e to make up for mi ss ed ch e erl eadin g. Thi s b a sketb al l gam e w i l l b e e xc itin g to w at ch , s o go i f y o u can!

Tu e s d ay, Fe b . 1 6 , 8 – 9 p . m .

Cat i n the Cre am

We dn e sday, Fe b. 1 7, 6 p . m .

Photo and writing by Zane Markosian

It all begins...

Creating Trail Magic

About a mile from campus, Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies Carl McDaniel, OC ’64, and his wife, Mary, have built a home for the 21st century. Eight years ago, they returned to Oberlin with the intent to build a carbon-neutral house. Trail Magic, their remarkably cozy home, not only proves that carbon neutrality can be affordable, but also offers a wealth of data that could inspire future projects.

Two things ultimately allow Trail Magic to be efficient: its orientation and envelope.

The house is a long rectangle with its longer sides facing north and south. In the northern hemisphere, the southern side of the house collects the most sunlight. With large windows installed on the southern façade, Trail Magic captures and retains maximal energy. Furthermore, the design of the house focuses so heavily on insulation that there is very little air turnover. When energy enters the house, it doesn’t leave.

Solar Powered House: Trail Magic The house has plenty of unique structural characteristics, but the most important thing is the data it generates. McDaniel says plenty of homeowners can boast about their high-efficiency houses, but data proves his claims. A science-driven approach is integral to the McDaniels’ project.

What is Trail Magic?

How Efficient is Trail Magic?

What Makes Trail Magic Unique?

“Trail magic” is a phrase originally coined on the Appalachian Trail to describe how things often work out in serendipitous ways. Carl says that as his son hiked the Appalachian Trail, he was able to experience “trail magic” many times, and that building the house elicited similar results.

In the project’s early stages, the McDaniels returned to the Oberlin area for a few days to look for a suitable builder. Driving past Eastwood Elementary School, the couple spontaneously decided to stop and chat with the school’s principal, who happened to mention the perfect builder.

Things continued to run smoothly through the building project, and when it came time to choose a name, there was only one choice. “We said ‘Trail Magic,’ both of us!” Carl says. “It was like a jinx!”

One of the most important concepts in the house’s creation is the harnessing of passive solar energy. In addition to solar panels on the roof, the house is designed to take advantage of the sun as much as possible by using large, south-facing windows to let in natural light and heat the interior throughout the day.

Passive Solar Energy

Calendar Hales Late-Nighter

Jlin and Sarah Snider

Yup! Fre e g low b ow lin g, p o o l , liv e mu si c, Val entin e-makin g, sp e ed d atin g and Fe v e fo o d!

Brin g y o ur fri end s, cr u sh e s, p arent s, aunt s and un cl e s. It w i l l b e a go o d ni g ht.

Jlin ro ck s at a rel ativ ely n e w genre cal l ed fo ot w ork. It s o und s li ke an e xtrem e v ersion of scrat chin g and w i l l make for g reat d an c e mu si c, s o h ead on o v er af t er y o u hit th e Hal e s L at eNi g ht er.

Fr iday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m.–1 a.m.

H ales Annex

Fri d ay, Feb . 12, 10 p . m . –1 a . m .

Th e ’ S co

Living in Trail Magic

In addition to the house’s energy efficiency, there are a few other special features. The house makes one “so much more attuned to the natural cycles,” Carl said. “It’s so much like the natural habitat that we evolved in as animals.” Trail Magic is not only remarkable for its ambition and scientific rigor but for the homely and comfortable environment it ensures its owners.

Women's Tennis vs. Baldwin Wallace Valentine’s Day! S u n day, Fe b. 1 4 University Sp end th e d ay do in g h om e w ork w ith y o ur b o o, S at u rd ay, Fe b . 1 3 , 1 1 : 3 0 a . m .

C om e o ut and supp or t th e O b erlin’s w om en’s t enni s t eam . Th e y w ork hard and d e s er v e y o ur supp or t!

The average American home uses around 70–90 million British thermal units of energy per year; much of this energy is made from fossil fuel. Because the fuel is first burned and then routed into a steam turbine that powers a generator, a typical American home actually needs 300 million Btus throughout the course of a year.

Trail Magic only uses 35 million Btus per year, 2o million Btus of which is passive solar energy.

g rab a fri end and pret end li ke y o u’re d atin g or re p b e in g s o lo. D o w hat y o u pl ea s e, b ut make it a go o d on e! Make sure to ch e ck y o ur O C MR s for lo v e l ett ers and c ondom-g ram s.

Melodies of the Soul: An Explosion of Music

Women's Basketball vs. Ohio Wesleyan University

C om e li st en to th e Je w i sh Ar t s C o l l e ctiv e w hi l e th e y e xpre ss th e ir spiritual i d entity and s o ul thro u g h mu si c.

If y o u can’t cat ch th e t enni s gam e, thi s i s th e p er fe ct tim e to make up for mi ss ed ch e erl eadin g. Thi s b a sketb al l gam e w i l l b e e xc itin g to w at ch , s o go i f y o u can!

Tu e s d ay, Fe b . 1 6 , 8 – 9 p . m .

Cat i n the Cre am

We dn e sday, Fe b. 1 7, 6 p . m .

Arts The Oberlin Review

Page 10

February 12, 2016

First Love, Then Alienation in Tolstoy Production Ariel Miller One might expect the play Family Happiness, based on a novella by Leo Tolstoy, to include period costumes, cherry orchards and classic dacha drama, but the empty Hall Auditorium stage immediately suggested this would not be the case. A minimal layout of platforms and columns graced the floor, while two floor-to-ceiling curtains hung in the background. In the program, each role was described the same way — “Masha’s younger sister … also Masha,” or “Masha’s governess … also Masha.” It was clear that this adaptation, directed and devised by Alexis Macnab, OC ’01, and performed Feb. 4–7, would do things differently.

Tolstoy’s early novella follows Masha, a young girl who falls in love with her much older guardian, Sergey Mikhaylych, after her mother’s death. Their hesitant courtship becomes a passionate love, but once they move to Sergey’s family home, Masha grows dissatisfied and bored. So that she might experience city life, the two spend a season in St. Petersburg, where, to Sergey’s chagrin, Masha is swept up in the rush of high society. She loves balls and the attention of suitors, while he longs to return to their simple life in the country.

They grow estranged and bitter as their resentment bubbles over in the line from which the book derives its title, delivered with acid precision in this play

by College sophomore Jessica Toltzis as Sergey.

Macnab is no stranger to experimental takes on classic literature. She has previously adapted works by Henry James and Vladimir Nabokov, as well as The Odyssey, at California Institute of the Arts and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In adapting this work to the stage, Macnab focused on how love and experience transform the main –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Macnab is no stranger to experimental literature. She has previously adapted works by Henry James and Vladimir Nabokov, as well as The Odyssey.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– character. Each actress in the production voiced some part of the role: College first-year Abby Bordin played the young and innocent Masha before passing the baton to double-degree junior Amy Weintraub for her marriage and debut in society, then to College sophomore Chandler Browne as she matured. Even Sergey Mikhaylych started as one of Masha’s voices, becoming a separate character only when Toltzis symbolically put on her costume.

Onstage for the full performance, the cast meshed well.

Masha’s selves sometimes

College first-year Abby Bordin as Violet, double-degree junior Amy Weintraub as Masha, College sophomore Chandler Browne as Márya Aleksándrovna, College sophomore Zoe Kushlefsky as Kátya and College first-year Magda Demetriadou as Sónya perform in Leo Tolstoy’s Family Happiness. The play ran in Hall Auditorium Feb. 4–7.

Photo by Kellianne Doyle, staff photographer

flocked around her to comfort or advise her, while at othe times they operated her and Sergey like mannequins, pushing the two together or restraining them in their love or anger. In one particularly beautiful scene, the two curtains were pulled crosswise to create the image of a garden wall, where Sergey leaned, tensely separated from Masha and unable to express his feelings. The cast was energetic, at times even frenzied, racing around the stage in excitement, anger or ecstasy. The choreog-

raphy incorporated hints of a waltz and a controlled, almost eerie ballet. The show certainly lived up to its “visual and kinetic” billing.

Despite its minimal set, the play did start to feel conceptually crowded at points. The heavy symbolism that fell on the hat stand, which stood center stage as the play began and did not reappear until the very end in a refrain, felt somewhat forced.

The decision to have an actress play Sergey and depict him as an emergent part of Masha was in-

triguing, but suggested a gender exploration that never came to fruition.

Even with a few incongruous elements, Macnab’s final product expanded meaningfully on Tolstoy’s vision in her own style.

Each member of the cast performed well in their individual role and as part of an ensemble.

Tense and tender, this play told a coming-of-age story that acknowledged how fractured we are even when we think we’re finally grown.

Okoye Returns to Oberlin with Harriet Tubman Opera Julia Peterson Production Editor At the end of the opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom, performed last Saturday in Finney Chapel, the audience rose in a standing ovation. Over the course of an hour, the show’s 10-member cast and chorus told the story of Tubman’s life, from her childhood of slavery to her work on the Underground Railroad.

“I see Harriet Tubman, going through time, as a very strong woman,” Conservatory junior Amber Monroe, who played the title character, said. “Even when she was young, her sisters were sold into slavery. Her masters beat her for whatever reason or left her in the cold until she got sick. There was one day … she decided to stand up for a running slave and in return, [his master] knocks her upside the head with an iron. When she wakes up from her coma, she starts seeing visions that she says she got from God. That inspired her to continue on … and do what she had to do.”

“When she was put on the auction block, she decided to run instead,” Monroe said. “And even though she had made it all the way to Philadelphia and was free, that foundation that she had inside of her said that she didn’t feel free until she got all of her family out, too. Even through all of her trials and tribulations,

she still persevered and pushed through.”

David Hughey, OC ’03, who played Tubman’s father as well as abolitionist William Still, emphasized how this opera presents Tubman as a whole person rather than a one-dimensional historical figure.

“I think that this opera will go down in history because this story hasn’t been told through this medium in this way,” he said. “I wish that more people knew the story of Harriet Tubman in a more real way — not just in the storybook way that those of us [who] know it, know it, but in –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“I think that this opera will go down in history because this story hasn’t been told through this medium in this way.”

David Hughey “William Still/Harriet Tubman’s Father” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– a more immediate and practical way.”

College first-year Sophia Bass, a member of the chorus, also spoke to the new light that this opera sheds on Tubman.

“Participating in this opera was … a unique experience for me,” she said. “For the first time in my life, I wasn’t experiencing Harriet through the pages of a

book. Instead, I got to look into her eyes, hold her hands, listen to her voice. In a personal way, I was able to witness a living, breathing Harriet Tubman.”

This reflects the intent of the opera’s composer and librettist, Dr. Nkieru Okoye, OC ’92, who worked to present Tubman as a complex character in a fleshed-out environment.

“I did years of research on [Tubman] but also on what her life was like, which is very different than just researching her,” Okoye said. “I wanted to know all the different factors of her life — not just her Underground Railroad years, but just daily life, what it was like being on a plantation. I wanted to be able to identify with the experience ... what it was like to be in an atmosphere where you can be bought or sold at any time. So I really submerged myself in that … by reading slave narratives and [biographies of her] and just as many sources as I could, so that the plantation would be believable.

But then I also did research on AfricanAmerican folk forms. … I put many of them into the music [so that] it sounds like you’re there, with a little update.

They didn’t have orchestras and that kind of thing, but I really wanted the music to represent her life.”

The opera is performed with a minimal set, consisting only of a ladder, two movable blocks and three folding screens. It is the music rather than any

stage decoration that acts as the backdrop for this story.

“Unlike the traditional classical opera, the musical styles in Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom are heavily influenced by Black music,” Bass said. “The styles vary throughout the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“I wanted to know all the different factors of her life — not just her Underground Railroad years, but just daily life, what it was like being on a plantation.

I wanted to be able to identify with the experience…”

Dr. Nkieru Okoye Composer and Librettist ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– opera … from the Negro spirituals to the blues. The opera also contains elements of gospel, jazz and ragtime, and the perfect blend of all these styles makes Harriet Tubman a one-of-a-kind opera.”

The Oberlin and Cleveland performances of Harriet Tubman were staged in churches, a choice intended to honor Tubman and to add another dimension See Tubman, page 12

Arts

The Oberlin Review, February 12. 2016

Page 11

Jlin to Play ’Sco for First U.S. Show Since U.K. Tour Paul Mehnert Tonight’s Jlin show at the ’Sco will be the electronic music heavyweight’s first performance back in the U.S. after a long stint in the U.K., and one of her only shows before returning to tour abroad.

With double-degree junior Sarah Snider providing an opening DJ set and interest in electronic dance music growing at Oberlin, the show should serve as a warm welcome for Jlin.

Jlin, whose real name is Jerrilynn Patton, has been making music since the late 2000s within the fast-paced dance music subgenres of footwork and juke, which were first pioneered in Chicago in

the 1980s. Jlin caught the public’s attention in 2011 with her track “Erotic Heat,” which showed off a compositional style that was minimal and mechanical yet incredibly danceable. Record label Planet Mu released the song on Bangs & Works, Vol. 2, a compilation series that showcases Chicago footwork and juke artists.

Jlin released her debut full-length album, Dark Energy in 2015, achieving a new level of popularity. The album was met with universal acclaim, receiving a Best New Music certification from Pitchfork and earning a spot on many year-end lists. The album was not only hailed for being one of the best electronic albums of the year, but also for exposing a larger

Electronic musician Jlin experiments with a keyboard. Jlin, who released her 2015 album Dark Energy to critical acclaim, will soundtrack the ’Sco with her mechanical yet highly danceable beats tonight.

Courtesy of Will Glasspiegel

audience to the contemporary Chicago footwork scene. Jlin pays homage to the genre’s roots while pushing it forward with new ideas and paving the way for footwork’s future.

The artwork for Dark Energy depicts a black, smoldering rock against a stark white background, alluding to Jlin’s day job working at a steel mill. In many ways, it is a perfect representation of her music. In typical footwork style, the album features lots of frantic hi-hats and skittering percussion, but it is also dark, repetitive and robotic. Jlin also frequently integrates vocal snippets into her songs.

On the track “Unknown Tongues,” a distant, shrill vocal line echoes and repeats over and over again, intertwining itself with the beat. “Guantanamo” features the line “Leave me alone” eerily whispered again and again until it is interrupted by a blood-curdling scream. At first listen, the album may come off as catchy and danceable, but with repeated listens, it reveals itself as a deeply tense, winding exploration into some of the darkest crevices of electronic music.

Tonight’s show will kick off with a DJ set by Snider. Snider has been composing music since she was in sixth grade and DJing since her first year at Oberlin.

She was already a fan of Jlin before being asked to be a part of the show. She cites diverse influences, including Holly Herndon, Kyoka, Shigeto, Alva Noto, Kaytranada and John Cage, as well as Jlin herself.

“Basically, any women in electronic music are super inspiring,” Snider said in a Facebook message to the Review. She opened for Canadian electronic music producer Jessy Lanza at the ’Sco in 2014

and has DJed at Drag Ball and Solarity.

Last year, she also authored a zine titled “How to Treat Non-Male Identifying DJs: A Guide” to address lack of diversity within the electronic music and DJing communities.

College fourth-year and veteran showbooker Ivan Krasnov organized the show.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The artwork for Dark Energy depicts a black, smoldering rock against a stark white background, alluding to Jlin’s day job working at a steel mill.

In many ways, it is a perfect representation of her music.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– He said he first heard Jlin after listening to her collaboration with fellow electronic musician Holly Herndon.

“Her wildly unique and aggressive take on footwork really left an impression on me,” Krasnov said.

The decision to reach out and book Jlin stemmed from Krasnov’s desire to “get outside of [his] booking comfort zone.” In the past, Krasnov has mainly booked punk bands, including Big Ups and Palm. He cited “Guantanamo” and “Unknown Tongues,” as well as “Nandi” from the Free Fall EP, as his favorite Jlin songs.

Oberlin has explored a wide range of electronic music subgenres over the past few semesters with artists like Tim Hecker, Sophie and Grouper. Jlin should fit right in at the ’Sco and add to this impressive list of acts.

Slow Train Reading Highlights Eclectic Love Poems Louise Edwards Arts Editor Assistant Director for Student Engagement Dana Hamdan and Assistant Ensemble Operations and Personnel Manager Fabian Fuertes began a night of poetry on Monday at The Slow Train Cafe with a Mahmoud Darwish poem. Hamdan, reading the poem in the original Arabic, alternated lines with Fuertes, who translated in English while oud music by Le Trio Joubran played in the background. The poem, about being patient in love, reflected the reading’s theme of Love in Many Tongues. Students, faculty, community members and many of the Language Teaching Assistants shared love poems first in their original language of composition and then in English translation.

The readers honored their own nationalities in many of the poems. Before reading “Mujh se pehli si muhabbat mere mehboob na maang” (“My love, do not ask from me the love we shared before”) by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, College sophomore Hassan Bin Fahim said, “I dedicate this poem to my beautiful country, Pakistan.” Though the poem deals with feelings of love and heartbreak, it also expresses in its refrain that, “There are more sorrows in the world / beyond the anguish of love.” Faiz uses striking imagery such as “leaking ulcers” and “furnaces of pestilence” to describe injustices

that cause him intense grief.

While this imagery might be surprising for a love poem, the complex feelings it provokes highlight the multifaceted nature of affection.

Double-degree senior Thanisa Durongkaveroj read an original poem she wrote about the subtleties of courtship in Thailand, the country that she is from. She read, “In Thailand, 70 percent of romantic feelings are kept secret.” Yet the poem ended on a positive note: “You’re satisfied just knowing you love them, looking at them from afar.” The structure of the performance fit the poem’s content well; first the audience listened to the poem in Thai, not understanding the meaning, but appreciating the beauty of the sounds. The audience’s delayed understanding of the poem’s meaning mirrored the patient courtship Durongkaveroj describes.

In contrast to Durongkaveroj’s relatively new poem, pieces read by College senior Henry Aberle date back to ninth- and tenth-century Japan from a book called Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (100 Poems by 100 Poets). The poems’ concise tanka format — five lines with 31 syllables in total — provided a change of pace from longer, ballad-like poems.

Creative Writing Chair Kazim Ali had a different take on the romantic theme with the poem he read in Urdu, “Vapsi” (“Return”) by Ahmed Faraz. He pref-

Assistant Director for Student Engagement Dana Hamdan reads a poem by Mahmoud Darwish in Arabic while Assistant Ensemble Operations and Personnel Manager Fabian Fuertes looks on. The pair opened the Love in Many Tongues poetry reading at the Slow Train Cafe on Monday night.

Photo by Sarah Herdrich

aced the piece by explaining, “It’s a love poem, but it’s a love poem to an ex-lover.” In a humorous recitation, Ali delivered the narrative of a vindictive lover who tells his ex-partner to return only after the ex-partner’s house has been burned down by their previous passions. This hyperbole at the end of the poem left the audience chuckling.

The poems following Ali’s were more customary love poems, but held equal amounts of depth and emotion. “Ho sceso,

dandoti il braccio” (“I fell, giving you my arm”), read by Italian Language Teaching Assistant Paolo Scartoni, was a poem Eugenio Montale wrote to honor his wife, whom many people called “the fly,” because she was almost blind and wore huge glasses to compensate.

The final stanza reads, “I went down millions of stairs, at least, arm in arm with you, / and not because with four eyes we see better than with two. / With you I went downstairs because

I knew, among the two of us, / the only real eyes, although very blurred, / belonged to you.”

This sweet and sentimental poem that describes loving someone with imperfections paired well with the following piece Sharon Miranda read, a poem that her husband, Gil, who was a professor at the Conservatory, wrote for her on a birthday card. “He wrote serious poems, but his birthday cards were ofSee Bilingual, page 13

Arts

Page 12

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

On the Record with Francesca Blanchard, Singer-Songwriter French singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard has received praise from a number of publications, including Seven Days, for her signature brand of acoustic folk music, which incorporates influences of jazz and rock ’n’ roll. Fresh off her most recent LP, deux visions, released last October, Blanchard came to the Cat in the Cream for an intimate show backed by her current band. The Review sat down with Blanchard for a chat about writing lyrics in multiple languages, life as a touring musician and the Burlington, VT, music scene.

How did the show at Oberlin go? I got the sense that a lot of students were really excited to have you here.

It went well, considering I was quite sick! [Laughs.] This is my first time on the road for more than four consecutive days of playing and singing live, so getting a little cold was an inevitable part of the process. But I think the show went well. The audience seemed pleased, and the band and I had a grand time up on stage.

You once said that you like female vocalists “who speak for themselves” with intimate, emotional voices. Can you tell me some particular artists — of this sort or any other type — who have influenced you musically?

Norah Jones has always been a huge vocal inspiration to me.

The timbre of her voice, its effect on people when they hear [it], it’s like sweet milk and honey. Then there’s a whole range of women I look up to, from Eva Cassidy, Françoise Hardy and

Tracy Chapman to Joni Mitchell and Etta James. Some beautiful contemporary voices out there are really striking me, like Lucius, Margaret Glaspy and Lianne La Havas, to name a few.

You currently live in Vermont, right? What’s it like being a folk musician in an area with such a rich history of acoustic music?

It’s wonderful. Burlington has such a great music community with some incredibly talented musicians. It’s an incredibly open and sharing community. I feel lucky to be from there.

You’re French-American. Does this dual aspect of your identity affect your process as a musician at all?

Sure! Seeing as I write in both languages, my dual citizenship definitely holds a big spot in my music-making. It’s my way of sharing both worlds at once, of marrying my two sides. I don’t like to view my songs as being in either one [language] or [the other]. They just are themselves.

Music is language in itself.

Singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard, who played at the Cat in the Cream last Sunday

Courtesy of Francesca Blanchard

Tubman Opera a Story of Sisterhood Continued from page 10 to the way the audience experienced her story.

“The opera comes out of AfricanAmerican culture,” Okoye said. “It’s got a lot of that folk music in it. [Performing in churches] is a great way to get the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Oberlin and Cleveland performances of Harriet Tubman were staged in churches, a choice intended to honor Tubman and to add another dimension to the way the audience experienced her story.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– community to see what we do and bring it out to them.”

“I like the non-traditional concertgoers because they’re converts,” Okoye said. “They don’t know what we do in the Conservatory, and it does seem like another world. Non-traditional audiences are going to give the most visceral response. Harriet Tubman came from the Black church; she was very devout. So it just seems so appropriate that we would do this in churches.”

There was, however, another reason why performing the opera in Finney Chapel was important to Okoye. “I used to sit in Finney Chapel, and they had all these big acts,” she said. “It’s kind of surreal to realize that my music is now that act.”

Monroe emphasized the depth of the connection between the opera and Oberlin. “I find that [performing the opera in the Oberlin community] is like

bringing it back to where it all began,” she said. “[Okoye] is an alum here, and [Harriet Tubman is being] performed by students that currently go here, and the person who is playing William Still and … Harriet’s father is also an alum.

To bring [the opera] back home to where [Okoye] first wrote it seems right. And of course, Oberlin’s connection to the Underground Railroad is just mind blowing, how it all comes into play full circle.

To have a group of African-American people — students, professionals, alumni — come together and put a production like this together … I saw it in Dessa Rose last year, but to see it in an opera is a bit different. I want to see stuff like this more often.”

At the core of Okoye’s production are the emotional connections between humans. “[It] is a love story between two sisters,” she said. “It’s not an action opera ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“To have a group of AfricanAmerican people — students, professionals, alumni — to come together and put a production like this together … I saw it in Dessa Rose last year, but to see it in an opera is a bit different.”

Amber Monroe “Harriet Tubman” –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– or something else like that. It’s driven by this desperation for them to stay together.”

You’ve been touring pretty consistently recently. Have you done this before? What’s the touring life like for you?

This is my first headlining tour for more than three consecutive days. It’s been a blast.

[I have] been learning a lot. I’m

lucky I like driving! Like I said, being sick is something I have to learn to deal with and work with. When you lose your voice on the road, and the center of your music essentially relies on, well, your voice — then there’s a little problem. You deal with it, work with it and hope for the best. All in all, touring is fun.

Your music seems to display some level of jazz influence.

Can you tell me about that?

Only that I am drawn to the warmth and sophistication of jazz. I certainly wouldn’t categorize myself as a jazz musician, but I borrow influences here and there. Growing up, I was exposed to a wide variety of music by my parents, and jazz always made me feel warm and happy.

Who is in your band right now? How have you come to collaborate with the specific people in your backing band?

Matthew Kloss on bass and Jesse Rosenfield on drums. We met through the musical grapevine of Vermont musicians.

Matthew has been by my side for about three and a half years now, and Jesse is new to the Francesca family. I love playing with them, and they’ve been great road buds.

Interview by Danny Evans, Arts editor

Arts

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Page 13

That Dragon, Cancer a Powerful Exploration of Grief Avi Vogel Columnist Editor’s Note: This article contains references to cancer and death.

staying their welcome and finishing in intriguing ways.

I’m not going to talk about the pros and cons of That Dragon, Cancer. That would be like commenting on how “well done” someone’s grief is or how “complete” their mourning is. That Dragon, Cancer is a project of absolute love. It deals with love for one who is not present, love of a child that even the parents never really got to know. Joel was only a child and That Dragon, Cancer makes sure that we understand how that innocence was destroyed.

For a long time, people have thought of games as time-wasters or diversions only for children, despite the fact that, according to The Telegraph, the average gamer is 35 years old. We can’t say that games are just for kids anymore, so why do we color our views of the medium with games we despise and look down

You may have noticed that each of my columns has followed roughly the same formula: I include an image from that week’s game, introduce the game’s genre and gameplay, survey its pros and cons and offer a final opinion on the game as an entire package. But I can’t do that this week. Not with this game.

That Dragon, Cancer is a story and an experience made by people who have been impacted by a certain sort of emotional trauma, intended for those who might not have been through such an experience. It is an independent “game” released by a small team, including Ryan and Amy Green. Ryan and Amy are married and had a son named Joel, who was diagnosed ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– with brain cancer at age one. After living with it for four years, Joel died. This game I’m not going to talk about the pros and cons of That Dragon, is about Ryan, Amy and Joel’s lives.

The controls in That Dragon, Can- Cancer. That would be like cer are as simple as they come: You look commenting on how “well around the game universe with either your mouse or a control stick and inter- done” someone’s grief is or how act with objects and people by clicking or “complete” their mourning is. pressing a single button. There are some sections where the gameplay changes, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– but I don’t want to spoil these, as they are powerful punctuations within the story. upon? Why not go out of our way to find Overall, you look and you touch; that is that one great gaming experience that the totality of your control over the char- proves our own unsubstantiated rule acters. You don’t choose what they say, wrong? only what you hear.

For a while now, games have been tryThe game is split into chapters, each ing to go beyond the confines of tradifocusing on a period in Joel’s treatment. tional narrative. Gone Home, Dear Esther, You’ll find yourself at a pond, talking Her Story and The Stanley Parable are all about Joel and his condition, at the hospi- games that utilize unique storytelling tal the day he’s released and at a church in devices to turn the medium on its head. prayer. These aren’t just places, but sym- That Dragon, Cancer does this as well but bols that persist throughout the game, in a uniquely powerful and uncomforteach culminating in their own unique and able way: It talks about death. powerful way. The chapters and locations While numerous mediums have conmove the experience forward, never over- fronted death in their own ways, That

Bilingual Speakers Center of Poetry Reading

Dragon, Cancer exposes someone’s death on a level that feels highly personal. Joel is not just a character; he is a person that we truly get to know over the course of two hours. And in those two hours, we understand that there is a hole where he once existed that cannot be filled. This painful reality is the crux of That Dragon, Cancer.

I’ve played a lot of games since I initially became interested in gaming. I can recommend at least one game for basically anyone’s preferences. I have no problem recommending most games that I love, but That Dragon, Cancer is a special case. I don’t know who I would

want to give it to. This game is about a pain more profound than can be explained. It’s visceral. It hurts.

However, I really can’t stress enough the achievement of this game. It’s one of the first experiences to combine visual metaphor well with simple, preestablished controls. Tone is consistent throughout, whether expressed in its mechanics, art or narrative presentation.

The ending — a scene I assumed would only accentuate the grief — instead serves as a reminder of permanence.

If you can imagine yourself doing so, play That Dragon, Cancer. If you feel you can’t, know that its creators understand.

Feature Photo: SYNTHESTHESIA

Continued from page 11 ten more light-hearted,” Miranda said. The whimsical poem spoke of fairies bestowing gifts of youth, knowledge and joy in three bottles and also celebrated the Mirandas’ relationship.

“Poema de amor bilingüe” (“Bilingual Love Poem”), read by Oberlin faculty member Marcelo Vinces, was originally written ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Faiz uses striking imagery such as “leaking ulcers” and “furnaces of pesilence” to describe injustices that cause him intense grief.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– in both Spanish and English. The poem ends wittily with “Two tongues that come together is not a French kiss, but bilingual love.”

The reading allowed listeners to appreciate the nuances of multiple languages and bilingual identities. Hearing so many languages in one reading highlighted how sound transforms the way we understand poetry.

College junior Harley Foos, left, and College sophomore Claire Kotarski experiment with synthesizers at Studio B at SYNTHESTHESIA last Sunday. The WOBC-affiliated organization Live From Studio B hosted SYNTHESTHESIA to create a space for students to improvise together. Whether students owned electronic music gear and had significant experience playing synthesizers or had never laid hands on a synthesizer before, everyone was welcome. Live from Studio B normally focuses on broadcasting live performances by both visiting professionals and student artists each Sunday for WOBC. Julia Julian is playing the first session this semester on Sunday from 2–3 p.m.; other bands that have been featured this year include Pisca, Xuan Rong and Girlpool. The Live From Studio B team recorded demos of the music that had been written and improvised throughout SYNTHESTHESIA at the end of the event.

Text by Danny Evans and Louise Edwards, Arts editors Photo Courtesy of Live From Studio B

Sports

Page 14

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

IN THE LOCKER ROOM

Track and Field

This week, the Review sat down with senior track and field captains Josh Urso, Dan Bolotsky and Sarah Trutner to discuss their events, spring season preparations and being part of the track and field program at Oberlin.

Can you each talk about the events you do?

Josh Urso: I run middle distance events which most often include races at the lengths of 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1600 meter.

Dan Bolotsky: I’m a thrower for the team. During the indoor season, I throw the shot put and the weight. During outdoors, I throw shot put, discus and hammer. My events are based mainly on strength and technique.

Sarah Trutner: I run the 400 and the 800, which are generally seen as either long sprints or mid-distance races. I like them both because there are so many different aspects to think about — speed definitely matters, but you can’t just sprint the whole race without a strategy, and you have to know what pace you can hold without slowing down too much at the end. The speed-endurance balance and the mentality required for mid-distance races make them my favorite.

What did you do before the season to prepare?

JU: Before the start of the season, I continued training after my cross country season ended in the fall so that I would be physically able to perform at my best for the track seasons.

DB: I also play football for the College, so my training is a little bit different than most track athletes during the fall.

Through the summer and fall I’m committed to the football team, and the only real training I can do for track is occasional drill work.

ST: I did cross country in the fall before track season started, so most of my training before the season was focused on longer distances. There was a little time between the end of cross country and the start of track, but I spent a lot of that time cross-training on an elliptical rather than running. It’s very

lot of great performances so far, so I think we’ll be just fine when the conference meet happens.

Joshua Urso (left), Dan Bolotsky and Sarah Trutner easy to get injured during cross country and that can carry over into track, so taking the time for injury prevention is usually a good idea.

Can you talk about Coach Appenheimer and the impact he has had on you?

JU: Ray has had a profound impact on me, in my life in and out of athletics. The successes I have being a student-athlete at Oberlin College could not have occurred without the guidance of Coach Appenheimer.

DB: I don’t deal directly with Coach Appenheimer as much as the distance runners do as I mainly work with Coach Hepp, the throwing coach. From the time I do spend with Coach App[enheimer] I’ve found that he is not afraid to tell it like it is and give athletes tough love.

With that being said, he truly cares about his athletes and wants them to succeed on and off the track.

ST: I only work directly with Ray during cross country, but I think he’s a great person and a fantastic coach. He’s always very honest and clear about his expectations, but will also take the time to listen to what people have to say and work with them on any concerns. I think he sees track and cross country as

Yeomen Chomp Gators Continued from page 16 The Yeomen look to continue their strong efforts in their next game Saturday as they travel to Hiram, Ohio, to take on the Terriers of Hiram College at 3 p.m. The Terriers, with a record of 16–6 overall and 10–5 in the NCAC, are in the midst of their best season in recent school history, making the matchup a tough test for Oberlin. Head Coach Cavaco is extremely impressed with Hiram’s abilities on both sides of the basketball, but recognizes that there are multiple ways that his squad can be successful.

“The biggest keys to the Hiram game are taking care of the basketball and not letting

places to learn life skills rather than just sports, so he encourages community and personal growth whenever he can.

Are there any meets you look forward to in particular?

Why? JU: I am particularly excited for our indoor conference meet, which will take place at Kenyon.

Conference is exciting because it is the pinnacle of most people’s seasons, and it provides the platform for people to put out some of their best performances, which is always fun to see.

DB: I’m definitely looking forward to the conference meets, both indoor and outdoor this year. On a personal note, this year the throwing fields are very competitive and there are about four or five guys who are in a position to win the conference. I’m very excited to be in that group and to show off all the hard work I’ve put in throughout my four years here.

ST: We usually look forward to particular meets based on either whether the track is comfortable to run on (the difference is generally noticeable), whether the meet is run smoothly (some can be very inefficient) or whether the competition is close enough

Hiram’s aggressive offensive pace speed us up,” Cavaco said.

While the Yeomen defeated the Terriers on January 16 at Philips gym 75–67, junior guard Nate Cohen stressed that nothing is guaranteed in this season’s homestretch.

“We just have to stick to the game plan, play as a team, and success will come,” Cohen said.

Last year the Yeomen finished 10–16 overall and 6–12 in the NCAC. They clinched a spot in the conference tournament as an eight seed before falling to first-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University 83–66.

Oberlin currently sits in sixth place in the NCAC and have three games remaining on their regular season schedule. The three remaining opponents are currently the top three teams in the conference, and represent crucial games for the Yeomen if the squad hopes to achieve its goal of hosting a home playoff game.

to our level to make the meet challenging and fun, but not impossible for us to be competitive. The meets within our conference tend to have a pretty good combination of these, but I don’t know if there are that many [meets] that people look forward to well ahead of time.

How has the season been going so far, and what must the team do to be successful the rest of the way?

JU: As a team, we have been doing well, but [the season] is not over yet. In order to perform at our best, we must continue to work hard and maintain focus as we have for the beginning portion of the season.

DB: The season has been going really well so far. We’ve had a lot of school records broken already and lots of people getting lifetime bests in their events.

ST: I think the season has been going well so far. A lot of good athletes have graduated in the last year so that has had an effect on how well we tend to do overall. It’s also difficult to tell just by the scores, especially during Winter Term, just because the number of points you get depends heavily on how many people you have to start with. But we have gotten to see a

What got you interested in being a part of the team?

JU: I loved competing on my high school track team, and I knew that I would like to continue competing in the sport of track and field. Oberlin College’s track and field team provides an outlet to continue my track career as well as to be a part of a great community.

DB: I’ve always been a very competitive person, and I’ve felt that track was a place where I could be competitive and have success.

ST: I’ve done track since high school, and there are a few reasons why I decided to continue in college. I like having time set aside to do something other than school, and it’s nice to have something in my schedule that makes me keep moving and challenging myself in a way that’s different from academics.

What is your favorite part about track?

JU: My favorite part about track is the feeling of competing and the camaraderie that you gain by being a member of a track and field team.

DB: The thing I’ve found most interesting about track is the different types of athletes that take part in this sport. In football there are different positions, but there are general skills that every football player possesses. In track there are distance runners, there are sprinters, jumpers, throwers. Everyone has their own talent, and I love watching everyone showcase this.

ST: Definitely the team. The sense of community on this team is fantastic, and I am always grateful to have gotten to know so many smart, creative, hardworking, supportive and hilarious people. They’ve all given me so much over the years, and I just hope I’ve managed to do the same for them.

Interview by Scott Rivilin Photo by Randy Ollie, Sports editor

Home Games This Week Saturday, Feb. 13 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Men’sTennis vs. Franciscan 6 p.m.

University at Philips gym 11:30 a.m. Women’s Tennis vs.

Baldwin Wallace Univer- 8 p.m. sity at Philips gym

Sunday, Feb. 14 10 a.m. Men’s Tennis vs. Pacific University at Philips gym

Women’s Basketball vs.

Ohio Wesleyan University at Philips gym Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio Wesleyan University at Philips gym

Sports

The Oberlin Review, February 12, 2016

Teammates Stunt Newton Continued from page 16 attire and a team full of backup dancers, who wouldn’t want to be a Panthers fan? They seemed unstoppable.

At the Super Bowl this past Sunday, Newton did not perform as poorly as the numbers might suggest. For example, T.J. Ward’s interception in the third quarter — a key turnover for the Denver Broncos — never should have happened. Newton dropped the long pass into Ted Ginn Jr.’s hands, which would have placed the Panthers around 10 yards from the end zone. Instead, the easily catchable pass deflected off Ginn Jr.’s hands and led to an interception. Similarly, Jerricho Cotchery dropped two long passes from Newton, one of which should have led to a touchdown in the open field.

Newton’s receivers were unable to catch half their targets, forcing the Panthers to use their running game against the Broncos’ terrifying running defense. Consequently, star running back Jonathan Stewart could barely move up the middle. In fact, Newton himself recorded nearly double the rushing yards on half the carries. He did not dive for the ball after Von Miller’s forced fumble. However, he had less than a second to decide what to do, and he later explained that his leg “could have been contorted” into an injury if he had dove. Still, he would probably not have gotten to the ball before Ward. It is easy to say that Newton gave up, but fans who have watched his entire career know he has always put his body on the line to make great plays. This play will be at the heart of much of the Carolina criticism during the offseason. However, it is unfair to focus on a play that Newton would not necessarily have been able to make when his receivers, halfbacks and offensive line underperformed throughout the game.

Newton is fueled by the energy around him. He is one of the most outwardly emotional star players in this league, which appeals to many young fans. However, after the Panthers’ shocking Super Bowl loss to Peyton Manning’s Broncos, there was no dabbing, no

dancing and no smiles for the fans in blue and black. Newton’s post-game press conference wasn’t the typical glamorous display — he barely spoke.

His answers were dismissive. When asked what Rivera said to the team after the game, he responded, “He told us a lot of things.”

When later asked if there were any memorable moments in the game, he replied, “Nope.”

Sure, Newton did not boast the upstandingloser attitude for which fans fetishize their team leaders. He was heartbroken. While it is easy to be critical of his evasive answers — the media has certainly not refrained from judging him — did we want him to be happy after the loss? Did we want him to smile and dance?

No. Maybe he could have provided more analytical commentary on the game, but he held his post-game conference less than an hour after the game ended, which is much less time to prepare than he usually has.

Newton’s emotions are part of what makes him great. Beats by Dre released a Super Bowl advertisement starring Newton in which he says to God, “I know you molded me different.

You placed purpose on my shoulders. So now I come to you. Lord, give me the strength to finish this my way.” Newton did not see loss as an option on Sunday. After a post-season in which the Panthers were never losing at any point in a game, who could have predicted they would never be winning during the Super Bowl? He told Panthers fans, “We’ll be back,” which is a statement he won’t be taking lightly.

With the Panthers’ loss, Newton fans should try not to dwell on his shortcomings but rather see this as a sign of his potential. At only 26 years old, he is already a BCS National Championship winner, Heisman Trophy winner, NFL Rookie of the Year winner and NFL MVP winner and took his team to the Super Bowl after a losing season. He continues to improve and show his will to succeed while being one of the most energized players in the league. Newton deserves a lifetime “Cool” award at the Review. We look forward to his exciting antics and gameplay in the coming season.

Page 15

Editorial: Practice What You Preach Continued from page 16 The incident marks the latest installment of what many football fans have been following as a long saga of Manziel’s downward spiral into habits of alcoholism and violence.

The decision not to penalize him also marks the latest installment of the NFL’s consistent attempt to cover up flagrant acts of domestic violence committed by its players, as well as other irresponsible behavior inappropriate for their professional careers. Manziel has recently become the poster child for NFL coverups and excuses on both counts; a few weeks earlier, Manziel showed up to practice inebriated. The Browns waved this off, claiming he was following the NFL’s concussion protocol forbidding the consumption of alcohol during recovery from head injury.

Many network analysts called out this statement as false.

Many articles covering Manziel’s latest charges asserted that, while Manziel marks the first NFL domestic violence case of 2016, he will not be the last, indicating that the NFL’s passive reaction towards Manziel and others is enabling this unacceptable behavior.

Even more upsetting is the fact that Manziel’s family jumped in to defend him and disenfranchise Crowley. Manziel’s grandfather, Norman Paul Manziel, stated publicly that Crowley “has her problems” and hinted that most of the issues his grandson had been having were because of their relationship.

Others seemed to jump on Manziel, Sr.’s boat; NFL network analyst Deion Sanders said that Manziel was merely “in love” and that this love was “crippling him.” Rhetoric like this creates a dangerous narrative that characterizes the way many male professional sports stars are seen today, namely as

inherently good, innocent boys who are trying to play the hero but fall victim to corrupting circumstances out of their control. I say “boys” and not “men,” because treating these stars like perpetually confused youths is part of what makes the narrative appealing to so many fans and audiences. Adoring fans still call Manziel “Johnny” like a kid brother, familiarizing him even as they’re discussing his violent and unacceptable actions. Even “lovesick,” a word circulated by Manziel’s grandfather, paints his relationship as some angsty teen drama rather than a very serious adult issue for which he is absolutely accountable.

This lack of accountability is harmful to players too. If members of Manziel’s family and inner circle are worried about a downward spiral and substance abuse, brushing his actions under the rug and convincing him that improvement is out of his hands will not help him recover. Encouraging unacceptable behavior does not clear a path for improvement or education for Manziel or his fans.

Manziel’s case is just the first of 2016 that emphasizes how the NFL creates a toxic environment with no repercussions for truly harmful behavior that, if unchecked, will only grow and build on itself.

Statistics support this trend. Benjamin Morris of FiveThirtyEight compiled statistics revealing that the domestic violence arrest rate within the NFL is 48 percent, as compared to the general population of American men aged 25–29’s 21 percent. The Washington Post writes that eight NFL players were arrested last year with charges of committing violence against women; four of them still play in the league today.

NO MORE is warning us that even whimsical, lighthearted events like the Super Bowl can be couched in fear for those enduring domestic abuse at home. Yet the NFL’s actions and decisions show no signs of it ceasing to condone or accept violence, particularly against women, instead pandering to its critics in hopes of pushing off the issue. With NO MORE’s ad and Manziel’s case fresh on everyone’s minds, the phrase “practice what you preach” should really start kicking in now.

— Baseball —

Veteran Pitchers Lead Charge to Defend Conference Title Matthew Walker The baseball team is heading into the spring season with last year’s North Coast Athletic Conference Champion title under their belt and a squad of veterans who lived to tell the tale — and are eager to tell it again.

The Yeomen’s returning star pitchers, who just last year were rookies themselves, will be the team’s driving source of experience on the field.

Last season, pitches from sophomores Milo Sklar and Sean Kiley burned down the stretch to lead the Yeomens’ defense on the mound during their Conference-championship run. Sklar and Kiley — both first-years at the time — earned NCAC All-Tournament honors, Sklar being named NCAC Tournament MVP with a teamhigh 35 strikeouts and a league-leading 3.02-earned run average. Kiley was awarded Oberlin’s Male Newcomer of the Year.

Head Coach Adrian Abrahamowicz said these rookies’ strong performances and talent led them to emerge as team leaders.

“I think Milo Sklar and Sean Kiley, plus Kyle Dominy last year as a sophomore, they were really our top three arms,” Coach Abrahamowicz said, adding that the trio lends both depth and experience on the pitcher’s mound that will ultimately have a

large impact on the Yeomens’ success.

Senior pitcher Harrison Wollman agreed that the Yeomen’s defense will prove to be a bright spot this season.

“Our strength is definitely in our pitching and defense,” Wollman said.

“We return [with] almost our entire staff while adding some freshman that have the talent to contribute on day one. Our defense is noticeably upgrading from last season, which should help keep us in every game we play.”

Even though the team’s leadership seems to rest in pitching this upcoming season, junior Dominy said he thinks the team’s cohesion and positivity riding off of last season’s success will be big hitters.

“Last year’s deep run gives us invaluable experience for this year,” Dominy said. “It also gives us the confidence to know we can consistently play on a high level for long periods of time. I think the strength of our team is the great team chemistry we have and the confidence we have in each other. We also have great team leaders and coaches, which is another big strength of the program.”

While Coach Abrahamowicz acknowledged the potential setbacks borne from losing a graduating class of key athletes, he said he believes the team will find its footing in a new way while still packing the same punch.

“This season is going to be inter-

esting,” he said. “Losing a lot of pretty special seniors, returning some really good pitchers that are younger — the team is taking shape in a different way.”

In losing the majority of the starters, Coach Abrahamowicz said that his newer players have an opportunity to fill their old teammates’ shoes.

“There are a lot of positions to be filled with the only real returning starters [being junior] Justin Cruz [and seniors] Blaise Dolcemaschio and Brian Hemmert as our catchers,” he said. “A lot of guys will need to step up.”

Junior outfielder Justin Cruz said he sees the leadership coming from the senior and junior classes but also has confidence in whoever fills in the needed roles. As Sklar and Kiley proved last year, players do not need seniority to become leaders on Dill Field.

“I think all of the senior captains have a very strong voice in the locker room as well as the junior class too,” he said. “But there will be a lot of new starters this year, considering all of the players on the team who graduated last year, so really anyone who gets playing time and proves themselves can make a great impact on the team, regardless of class year.”

Offensively, the Yeomen look to use a different approach on how to

Junior infielder Mike Masella cracks a hit during a Yeomen home game on Dill Field. The baseball team is currently in preseason, anticipating a good defensive game for its first matchup against Ohio Northern University March 12 in Ada, Ohio.

Photo by Benjamin Shepherd, Photo Editor

put winning numbers on the board.

After losing tons of power hitters and consistency from the previous class, junior pitcher Joe Greenberg says the new offensive approach seems to be more speed-oriented.

“We have a different offensive team all around. Not as many triples and home runs but more line drives and groundball games,” he said. “We expect sophomore Sam Harris to be a really consistent hitter for us, along with senior Colin Brown and junior Brian Carney being our power hit-

ters. Our base-running game will be much improved also because we are now much faster and can be more strategic on the base pads.”

The Yeomen will hit the field for their opening game against Ohio Northern University March 12. This team will no longer be seen as a team that is out to shock the world again.

With a large target on their backs as defending conference champs, they hope that their team’s depth will prove that they deserve their spot at the top.

Sports The Oberlin Review

Page 16

February 12, 2016

— Men’s Basketball —

Historic Night Highlights Oberlin’s Victory Darren Zaslau Staff Writer

Junior shooting guard Jack Poyle slices his way through the lane for a contested layup against Denison University. The Yeomen’s win on Wednesday night against the Allegheny College Gators marks the first time the team has earned seven wins since their 2001–2002 season.

Photo by Briana Santiago, Staff Photographer

Cool or Drool: Cam Newton Dan Bisno Columnist Coming off of a career-low quarterback-passer rating in the 2014 season, Cam Newton did not look ready for the big stage. Bandwagon jumpers might have had more fun following the Seattle Seahawks and young quarterback Russell Wilson’s thrilling relationship with R&B singer Ciara than root for Newton’s 7–8–1 Carolina Panthers. Nobody denied that Newton was an athletic anomaly, having won numerous accolades early in his career, such as 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year and the 2011 Heisman Trophy award, but his brand was starting to lose its appeal with the team’s lack of success.

In 2015, that all changed. Newton recorded a career-high quarterback rating, threw for over 4,000 yards, rushed for over 700 yards, recorded 45 total touchdowns and was named the league MVP. Newton’s 15–1 Panthers, led by Associated Press Coach of the Year Ron Rivera, finally figured it out. Their success on the field met with overwhelming enthusiasm from all age groups in response to celebrations incorporating the Atlanta hip-hop dance move “the dab.”

Whether it was dabbing footage of Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, Betty White or any of the other celebrity fans, the Panthers began to popularize the dance move in sports culture. The team never stops dancing after a touchdown celebration, a sack or something fun on the sideline. With Newton’s flashy See Teammates, page 15

Looking to snap a three game skid, Wednesday night proved to be a night of milestones for the men’s basketball team as Oberlin defeated Allegheny College 74–56 at the David V. Wise Center in Meadville, PA. The victory marked the first time that the Yeomen have achieved seven wins in the NCAC since the 2001– 2002 season. The 14-year drought in conference wins and the Yeomen’s recent three-game losing streak were snapped by the road victory as the team advanced their record to 12–10 overall and 7–8 in the NCAC. The game was also highlighted by senior center and Review Sports Editor Randy Ollie scoring his 1,000th career point. The Evanston, IL, native finished the game with nine points, even though he needed just four points entering the contest to become Oberlin College’s 23rd member of the 1,000-point club.

The game was a close affair in the first half, as the Yeomen narrowly led the Gators 34–30 after the first 20 minutes of play. Having struggled offensively in the previous three games against DePauw University, Denison University and Wittenberg University, the Yeomen were able to find their rhythm in the second half.

Oberlin outscored Allegheny 40–26 in the second half to secure the season sweep against the Gators.

Oberlin shot 56.9 percent from the field, and was 9–21 for 42.9 percent from beyond the arc in the contest. The Yeomen’s defense came to

play as well, holding Allegheny to a respectable 38.5 field goal percentage in the contest.

Oberlin Head Coach Isaiah Cavaco was pleased with the team’s energy and overall performance throughout the game.

“I thought we played with really good energy, especially on the defensive end,” Cavaco said. “On offense we took some time to get comfortable, but moved it well in the second half.”

Junior guard Jack Poyle spearheaded the Oberlin attack, scoring a game-high 19 points on 7–10 shooting, while freshman guard Eli Silverman–Lloyd chipped in with 14 points. Junior guard Zach Meyers added five points and once again –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The victory marked the first time that the Yeomen have achieved seven wins in the NCAC since the 2001–2002 season.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– served as a key ball handler for the Yeomen’s offense. The Kalamazoo, MI, native noted how Oberlin’s offense performed much better in the second half.

“In the first half we’ve been struggling to find good rhythm, but in the second half we’ve been picking it up,” Meyers said.

See Yeomen, page 14

P L AYE R O F TH E W E E K Annie Goodridge

NO MORE Not Heard Sarena Malsin Sports Editor Many nodded in tentative approval at one of the Super Bowl’s many long-awaited ads on Sunday, which featured an iMessage conversation between two friends trying to make plans to watch the game.

One of the friends is clearly being coerced by her partner at home not to leave the house, indicating some history of domestic abuse, and she doesn’t know how to respond to her friend’s inquiry of ‘“Are you OK?” before the commercial ends.

The organization behind the ad, called NO MORE, posted proudly on their website that they had teamed up with a similar organization called Grey Again as well as the NFL to run the ad to “empower viewers to learn the warning signs of domestic violence and sexual assault and how to help.”

The ad seemed poignant, especially given its appearance during the major televised event of a professional sports organization that is known for its share of domestic violence cases. Then, not 24 hours later and still on the heels of Super Bowl news, a story hit the press that made it clear just how pertinent this warning was to the NFL, and just how much it has still failed to internalize NO MORE’s message: Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was accused last week in only his most recent domestic violence case. According to his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, he hit her in the head and ruptured her eardrum before kidnapping and threatening to kill her and himself. This Tuesday, based on an inconclusive verdict, the NFL released its own statement that it would not officially condemn or penalize Manziel, because authorities did not believe they had enough concrete evidence of his guilt to make a decision either way.

See Editorial, page 15

Sophomore sprinter and long jumper Annie Goodridge leaped her way into the record books Friday, Feb. 5, breaking a 15-year-old school record at Oberlin’s annual Crimson and Gold Invitational in the Heisman Fieldhouse. The Boston native leaped to a mark of 5.48 meters on her third attempt, which surpassed April Wynn’s previously held record of 5.42 meters. Goodridge would contribute to Oberlin’s winning efforts in the women’s 4x200-meter relay, running the third leg of the race with sophomore Rayna Holmes and first-years Emily Kelly and Ify Ezimora, finishing the contest in a time of one minute, 53.23 seconds. Goodridge also sprinted her way to a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter dash to conclude the evening. Oberlin Track and Field travels to Baldwin Wallace University on Friday to compete in the Mid-February Meet.

Courtesy of Oberin College Athletics