December 2, 2016 by The Oberlin Review

The Oberlin Review

DECEMBER 2, 2016 VOLUME 145, NUMBER 11

Local News Bulletin News briefs from the past week Clinton Narrowly Wins Lorain After initial projections predicted a narrow victory for Presidentelect Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in Lorain County, the final count including absentee ballots showed Clinton beating Trump in the county by a margin of 131 votes, just a tenth of a percent difference. The final numbers were 66,949 votes for Clinton and 66,818 for Trump. Local Amateur Football Team Moves to Oberlin The Nightmares, Lorain County’s amateur football team for postcollege athletes, has signed a contract to play next season’s games at the College’s Knowlton Athletics Complex. The Nightmares are part of the Premier Amateur Football League, a collection of 13 teams scattered throughout Ohio, PA and WV. The league’s season runs from May to September, with games typically on Saturday nights. City Delays Minimum Wage Hike Discussions City Council will hold off on whether to adopt a proposed minimumwage increase for municipal employees. The decision was made so that new city manager Rob Hillard can better understand the impacts of the proposal. As introduced by Councilmember Sharon Soucy, the wage would rise from $8.10 to $12.50 for approximately 35 part-time municipal workers. The move would cost $43,768 annually.

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ONLINE & IN PRINT

Local Arrest Raises Police Bias Concerns Louis Krauss News Editor In response to the arrest of Oberlin resident Brae Chamberlin, 21, students silently protested outside the Oberlin Police station Nov. 22, claiming local police acted with racial bias when arresting him. Chamberlin, who is Black, and Justin Montique, 23, were skateboarding in the street in front of Agave Burrito Bar and Tequileria on the evening of Friday, Nov. 19 when a police car drove up to them. After issuing a warning and then discovering Chamberlin and Montique skateboarding in the street just minutes later, police separated the two and said they would issue citations for the offense. According to body camera footage on the main police officer, Chamberlin began cursing and yelling at the officer, claiming that the citation was unfair, causing the officer to arrest him for disorderly conduct. Chamberlin was then handcuffed and taken to the station before being immediately released. Montique, who is white, was let go with just a citation for the skateboarding. Friends and student bystanders said they believed this was a case of racial bias by police, as they only arrested Chamberlin despite Montique allegedly also cursing and acting uncooperatively. One of Chamberlin’s friends who witnessed the incident is College senior Delaviz Eftekhar, who believes the police could have handled the situation better. “Brae was reaching for his skateboard, and I get that, but I think the cops could’ve deescalated it before it got to the point where he was feeling unsafe, which influenced him to keep holding his board,” Eftekhar said. From the police perspective, Oberlin Po-

People walk past Agave Burrito Bar and Tequileria on West College Street. Local resident Brae Chamberlin was arrested Nov. 19 around 1 a.m. for skateboarding on the street and sidewalk by the restaurant, an offense police call “Toys in the Street.” Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

lice Chief Juan Torres felt the situation was –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"... I think the cops could've deescalated it before it got to the point where he was feeling unsafe, which influenced him to keep holding his board." Delaviz Eftekhar College senior ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– handled correctly, as the body camera footage shows Chamberlin yelling and curs-

See page 2

See Students, page 4

Regulators Move Forward with NEXUS Pipeline Oliver Bok News Editor A new pipeline that would carry natural gas directly through Oberlin has received a stamp of approval from regulators in spite of local opposition. Staffers at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recommended regulatory approval for the NEXUS pipeline, a controversial proposed natural gas conduit spanning Ohio and Michigan to Canada. The recommendation points to a potential legal battle on the horizon, since building the pipeline within city limits would violate the Oberlin Community Bill of Rights, an ordinance that prohibits fracking or infrastructure related to fracking. Over 70 per-

cent of Oberlin residents voted for the Community Bill of Rights in 2013. The recommendation also rejected a proposed reroute of the Oberlin section of the pipeline that would have avoided the fire station and densely populated parts of the city. While the recommendation is not final — the Commissioners appointed by the president make the final decision, not the FERC staff who wrote the report — the report represents a major step in getting approval for the pipeline, which is scheduled to begin construction in the first half of 2017. “We determined that construction and operation of the projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but impacts would be reduced to

less-than-significant levels with the implementation of the applicants’ proposed and our recommended mitigation measures,” the recommendation reads. Ohio community organizer for Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund Tish O’Dell questioned FERC’s definition of “significant” and pointed to recent natural gas explosions in Kansas City and around the country as evidence of the gravity of the risks involved. “What’s acceptable to them and what's acceptable to you in Oberlin — having to breathe the air from it if there's an explosion there — it’s probably a little different, what's acceptable to you and what's acceptable to NEXUS,” O’Dell said. O’Dell also criticized how the

Making History

Office Axed The College is disbanding the Dean of Studies office amid administrative restructuring .

ing much more freely at the officers than Montique. “I believe he told him to put the skateboard down two or three times, and he refused, so at that time the officer was justified to bring him into the station,” Torres said. “The other student was also issued the same warning, but he cooperated with the officer fully.” Delaviz and other students organized a silent protest in front of the police station and courthouse the morning of Nov. 22, when Chamberlin had his court hearing and pleaded not guilty. Approximately 25 attended the

Justine Siegal is the first woman to coach and throw batting practice in Major League Baseball.

Sea Change Disney's latest is bound to make waves. See page 11

INDEX:

Opinions 5

This Week in Oberlin 8

See page 14

Arts 10

Sports 16

recommendation promotes expansion of carbon-based energy infrastructure despite the rapid –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"We determined that ... the projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts but impacts would be reduced to less-thansignificant levels ... ." Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– warming of the climate. “Researchers are shocked that See Pipeline, page 4

on the

WEB

All of the content you see here is also available on our website. Check back for the latest stories and interactive polls. Visit oberlinreview.org and facebook. com/oberlinreview and follow us on Twitter @oberlinreview and Instagram @ocreview.

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The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

College to Eliminate Dean of Studies Office Sydney Allen Production Editor

In an effort to consolidate and restructure offices on campus, administrators have decided to eliminate the Dean of Studies Office. The decision is part of the Strategic Plan’s implementation and efforts to create a more streamlined and helpful advising system. The Strategic Plan stipulates that the College needs to “adopt the framework of connected learning — an educational model that supports every student in the intentional integration of coursework, advising, mentoring, internships, experiential and applied learning, and personal support throughout their undergraduate careers.” “I think the feeling coming out of the Strategic Plan was that the faculty wanted to be more directly involved in some of the advising and mentoring functions, and that's been the focus of a working group that Dean [Timothy] Elgren and Dean [Andrea] Kalyn had established and is now sort of part of the Strategic Plan,” President Marvin Krislov said. The Dean of Studies Office currently houses a myriad of seemingly unrelated functions, such as coordinating leaves of absences, managing advising and overseeing students’ academic standing and winter term projects. The resulting lack of clarity made communication cumbersome and inefficient, especially for faculty advisors. “When questions do come up, I often don’t know the answer and I will send off a message to the registrar or to the dean of studies — sometimes to all of them simultaneously — plus a

class dean, and hope that someone will be able to answer my question,” said Professor of Comparative American Studies and History Shelley Lee. To Timothy Elgren, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the problem is largely one of not having the right tools. “If all of my time is spent fumbling through your records and trying to interpret your standing, that’s not a good use of my time,” Elgren said. “But if I have your record readily available and it’s a good, precise record that I know we can depend on when we make your academic plan, that’s great.” Over the course of the semester, administrators hope to create a new system for advising that provides more consistent and centralized support for students and faculty advisors. While the one-to-one professor-student relationship will remain the same, the technology used and the organizational structure surrounding advising are subject to change in the coming months. Some of the proposed restructuring includes moving medical-leave functions to the Health Center to better protect privacy and provide more optimized care, as well as having the Winter Term and Study Away offices directly report to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. However, administrators have yet to determine what will happen to all the staff who work in the department, and that uncertainty has prompted concerns. Diane Lee, interlibrary loan supervisor and first Vice President of the Office and Professional Employees Union, expressed frustration with the lack of transparency in the decision-making process.

A student talks to the administrative assistant in the Dean of Studies Office. The office will be terminated at the end of the school year. Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

“We believe a few senior administrators have plans which they developed without sufficient consultation with faculty, staff or students, and we’re not convinced they understand the impact of those plans on people and services,” Lee wrote in an email to the Review. “We would like to know if the College intends to replace vacancies in that office, or if they intend to do as they have in other areas — eliminate or reduce administrative assistant positions and either transfer the work to A&PS [Arts and Professional Staff] staff or double the workload of remaining AAs. That has a serious impact not only on the affected

employees, but also on faculty and students needing assistance from the office.” Due to the restrictions in the Oberlin College Office and Professional Employees contract, the College will have a difficult time eliminating or changing any administrative assistant positions, Lee noted. “Fortunately, our contract has some protections for people whose positions are eliminated or involuntarily reduced,” Lee wrote. “If the College forces employees to take advantage of those rights to continue working, students and faculty could experience disruption of service in other departments."

Students Continue Push for Health Center to Relocate Sydney Allen Production Editor Members of the Student Health Working Group and Student Senate are pushing for the relocation of the Student Health Center and Counseling Center on the capital planning agenda. The request comes on the heels of a petition released by Student Senate’s Student Health Working Group last

April that garnered roughly 650 signatures. The petition claimed that the location of the Student Health and the Counseling Centers “prevents these resources from effectively serving students” and asked for student support in moving the centers to a more centralized location on campus. The Student Health and Counseling Centers, located approximately a quarter mile from main campus,

The College’s Student Health and Counseling centers, at the bottom right of the photo, are located more than a quarter mile from the central part of campus. Some students and faculty hope the centers will be moved closer to campus. Photo by Rick Yu, Photo Editor

The Oberlin Review — Established 1874 —

Volume 145, 140, Number 11 2

(ISSN 297–256)

December 2, 2016

Published by the students of Oberlin College every Friday during the fall and spring semesters, except holidays and examination periods. Advertising rates: $18 per column inch. Second-class postage paid at Oberlin, Ohio. Entered as second-class matter at the Oberlin, Ohio post office April 2, 1911. POSTMASTER SEND CHANGES TO: Wilder Box 90, Oberlin, Ohio 44074-1081. Office of Publication: Burton Basement, Oberlin, Ohio 44074. Phone: (440) 775-8123 Fax: (440) 775-6733 On theOn web: thehttp://www.oberlinreview.org web: oberlinreview.org

have raised concerns about accessibility and inclusion for many students and administrators. “Students have identified the location of [Student Health Services] and the [Counseling Center] as a problem at least since the fall of 2013,” said Jeremy Poe, doubledegree senior and former Student Health Working Group liaison for Student Senate. While it has been a student priority for years, the issue has never made it to the Board of Trustees’ capital planning budget, which lists the tasks Trustees most want to get approved. Since relocating has never made it on the budget, the costs and logistics have never been officially looked into. “It’s inconvenient enough that a lot of folks don’t know where we are, and that’s a problem,” said Kaitlyn McCarthy, a postdoctoral resident at the Counseling Center. “So we would love to be moved closer to campus. We would love more space.” The Student Health Working Group and Student Senate hope to get written confirmation from the administration or Board of Trustees that will make moving the centers a top priority for the next capital

Tyler Liv Combe Sloan Allegra Vida Weisblum Kirkland Managing editor Samantha Kiley Petersen Link News editors Rosemary Oliver Boeglin Bok Alex LouisHoward Krauss Opinions editor WillSami Rubenstein Mericle This Week Weekeditor editor Zoë Andrea Strassman Wang Arts editors Christian Kara Brooks Bolles Victoria Georgia Garber Horn Sports editors Jackie McDermott Quinn Hull Madeleine Darren O’Meara Zazlau Layout editors Abby Tiffany Carlstad Fung Amanda Ben Garfinkel Tennant Alanna TaliaSandoval Rodwin Photo editors Anya OliviaSpector Gericke Photo editors Brannon Rockwell-Charland Bryan Rubin Online editor Alanna Bennett Rick Yu Editors-in-chief Editors-in-Chief

planning budget, which will likely be discussed at the Board of Trustees' upcoming visit to campus this Thursday. “Students … feel like they’ve been duped with the last capital planning process,” said Duncan Reid, the current Student Health Working Group liaison for Student Senate and cochair of the Student Health Working Group. “They feel like while the gym [expansion] is important, some of the other capital planning that is being done with regards to Hall Auditorium and stuff just isn’t necessarily as big of a priority as Student Health.” Although it is still a concern, Reid added that he feels Student Health has recently been “put on the back burner” by both the campus and Student Senate. “While low cost and accessible Student Health services will always be a top Student Senate priority, in the light of recent campus-wide and national events, Senate feels that there are more pressing issues at hand.” Though many agree that moving the centers would be beneficial for the campus, it is still unclear whether that will be financially or logistically feasible for the campus.

Business manager Maureen CurtisCoffey Cook Business manager Savi Sedlacek Ads manager Caley Watnick Ads manager Reshard el-Shair Online editor Hazel Galloway Production manager Sophia Bamert Production manager Ryanne Berry Production staff Stephanie Bonner Production staff Auden Granger Emma Eisenberg Taylor Field Julia Peterson Katherine Hamilton Giselle Glaspie Julia Hubay Sydney Allen Tracey Knott AnnaNoah Rubenstein Morris Anna Peckham Courtney Loeb Silvia Sheffield Melissa Harris Drew Wise Kendall Mahavier Distributors Joe Camper Distributors Bryan Rubin Joseph Dilworth James Ben Steger Kuntz

While administrators have been holding discussions about potentially having the Student Health and Counseling Centers replace the administrative offices in Carnegie Hall, which are set to be moved to the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center next year, the building would require considerable renovations to meet the strict standards required for a health center. “Ideally, we would like to move both Student Health and counseling together, and finding space for both services is quite challenging,” said John Harshbarger, director of Student Health Services and the Counseling Center. “Carnegie would not be able to house both Student Health and Counseling sufficiently. And currently, there are no other buildings with sufficient space.” In the meantime, the Dean of Students Office is “examining options to improve transportation options,” according to Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo. Although the Capital Planning Committee’s activities are kept relatively confidential, students who attend the student-trustee sessions next week could have an opportunity to meet with trustees from the Committee.

Corrections: In “Karega Fired After Split Faculty Corrections Recommendations,” (Nov. 18, 2016), a letter to the byisSidney Rosenfeld was Theeditor Review not aware of incorrectly described as criticizing the any corrections this week. College for not dismissing Joy Karega; in reality, the letter called The Review strivesnever to print all for Karega’s dismissal. The same article also information as accurately as possible. listed If youhalf feelthe thefaculty Reviewmembers has made on an the PCRC, not thesend whole error, please an committee. e-mail to managingeditor@oberlinreview.org. To submit a correction, email managingeditor@oberlinreview.org.

News

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

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Off the Cuff: Theodore M. Shaw, Civil Rights Lawyer Theodore M. Shaw is the director of the Center for Civil Rights and the Julius L. Chambers Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. He previously served as the fifth director-counsel and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense Fund from 2004 to 2008, spending a total of 26 years at the Legal Defense Fund. Shaw also worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He spoke to several classes and delivered a lecture in Dye Lecture Hall Monday, titled “America on the Precipice: Civil and Human Rights and the Battle for the Soul of Our Nation.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity. From a civil rights perspective, what do you expect from a Trump administration? I don’t expect good things from the Trump administration with respect to civil rights. Maybe I should answer the question a little differently, in that our expectation should be that he enforces the civil rights laws of the country or he has his Justice Department do so. That’s probably the better way to put it, because although apparently the president-elect doesn’t realize that he doesn’t get to make the calls in terms of law enforcement — see his pronouncement with respect to prosecuting Hillary Clinton. That’s not his job, that’s the attorney general’s job and the attorney general is supposed to have some degree of independence. Having said that, if his nominee for attorney general is confirmed, this is not somebody who has a record that gives comfort to the civil rights community. We know Senator [Jeff] Sessions well. We know his history, and in fact, the organization for which I worked many, many years was deeply involved in opposing his nomination to the federal court of appeals years ago, which of course was unsuccessful. So he has no love lost either for the NAACP legal defense fund — I’m not there anymore, but I’m still a civil rights lawyer — or anybody who’s been associated with it. You resigned from the Justice Department under President Ronald Reagan. What advice would you give to people working in the Justice Department now who are contemplating working in the Trump administration? For those who care about civil rights, we’ve seen this before in some ways. That is to say, when President Reagan was elected, we knew that he was not a friend of civil rights. I was at the justice department at that time. I was a

Thursday, Nov. 24 3:49 p.m. A Safety and Security officer on routine patrol noticed the roof hatch open on Johnson House. Upon checking the area, the officer found that the door leading to the roof hatch was unlocked and clothing was on the door knob. No one was found in the area. A work order was filed to replace the padlock.

fledgling lawyer, and we quickly found ourselves to be in great conflict with the people who were appointed to run the civil rights division for the Reagan administration. I could talk in detail about some of the matters that came up which were controversial, including the federal government’s reversal of position in a case, raising the question whether private institutions that practice racial discrimination were eligible for tax-exempt status. The Reagan people said that they should be. Those of us in the civil rights division at the time went into a kind of revolt, but it quickly became apparent that my position there as a trial attorney was not going to last long one way or the other. That was the beginning of my end there at the time. When I say we’ve seen this before, however, my concern is that this administration is somewhat different even from the Reagan administration, which, when it came to civil rights, was terrible. And I say that again knowing that for many Americans Ronald Reagan was a hero — not so much for African Americans and not so much for civil rights advocates. I could back up the reasons why, since I know people would jump all over me for saying that, but I don’t back down one iota. This administration could be worse. I take no pleasure in saying this, but I don’t think the president-elect would know the Constitution if he tripped over it. He has said all kinds of things that indicate that civil rights enforcement is not going to be a priority, and in fact, he’s going to be an adversary on these issues. His nomination of Senator Sessions as attorney general is another indication of that. You don’t talk about an American-born judge who is of Mexican descent the way this president-elect did and see somebody who is going to enforce civil rights. So there are all kinds of bad signals. This is not going to be an easy time, and in so many ways beyond civil rights, I’m fearful for our country. I’m fearful for freedom of the press and speech and civil liberties. We are in uncharted territory and this is not going to be an easy time. But if the president-elect is so ignorant about the Constitution, won’t that trip him up? The amazing thing to me is that so far when he has said things that would have and should have doomed any other candidate, he got away with it. … The conflicts of interest that he’s already demonstrating he has — and he seems pretty shameless about it — should doom somebody from taking that office in my view or being able to stay in that office once he’s in. To be clear, I’m not one of these people who say that America is more divided than it’s ever been. This country has often been divided, and

5:06 p.m. An officer conducting building security checks located an open window on the northwest side of Saunders House with a fan on drawing air from the room. There was no response from anyone inside the room. The officer turned the fans off and the window was secured from the outside of the building.

Saturday, Nov. 26 3:23 a.m. Officers and members of the Oberlin Police Department respond-

not completely giving in to them so that they get the benefits of their obstructionist behavior? Or do you do what you think is right in the sense that that’s the way our government should operate? That’s a hard question under these circumstances. It’s not an easy one. I’d like to say that you do what you think is right, but you don’t get anything for it. In fact, you reward other behavior. That’s the race to the bottom that we’ve been in that’s destructive.

Civil rights lawyer Theodore Shaw

for goodness sake, we fought a civil war. But having said that, there is this notion of having an election and then the loyal opposition, which is British in its origins, but the United States certainly embraced it. We’ve been losing that in recent years. The way that at least one of the major parties has behaved, and I hesitate to say that because I don’t want to be partisan — there are some things that both parties have been doing that are destructive. There are some things that one party has been doing in particular that has been destructive in an extraordinary way — see the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Where does that leave us with respect to what the major parties are going to do when they’re not in power with respect to Supreme Court nominees or vacancies? If somebody is president and for one-fourth of his elected term he is told that he can’t nominate somebody to fill a vacancy, who should say it shouldn’t be half? Where does it stop? This is destructive of American democracy; it’s not the way the Constitution can or should work. I can hear the voices of those who disagree now responding to what I say by saying, “That’s all sour grapes, you lost.” But the notion of the people deciding a Supreme Court nominee is totally inconsistent with the way the Constitution is written or operates. So now the Democratic Party is going to have to decide if it uses the same tactics to obstruct Donald Trump. Here’s the dilemma: First of all, Democrats typically don’t stay together with the same force as Republicans. That’s one thing. But the real dilemma is this: Republicans behave the way that they do and set a precedent. Then the question is, if you believe that what the Republicans are doing is destructive, do you do the same thing when they’re in office if you can, just as a matter of turnabout or fair play or

ed to an alarm at the Apollo Theatre. A cleaning crew mistakenly activated the alarm.

Monday, Nov. 28 8:11 a.m. An officer conducting a security check in East Hall detected an odor consistent with burnt marijuana on the first floor. The officer made contact with occupants of the room, who admitted to smoking marijuana. Both students were advised of the College’s

What kind of specific civil rights laws are you most worried won’t be enforced? I’m worried about almost all of them, and I’m concerned about what position the Justice Department and the federal government is going to take when it comes to the issues of diversity that have been bouncing up and down in the federal courts for many years. We just had a decision by the Supreme Court last year — the Fisher case — that would seem to settle the issue of whether colleges and universities can consciously try to achieve diversity in admissions. But this president is going to have an appointment to the Supreme Court — an appointment that frankly should not be his, but is coming to him. It’s possible he could get an additional appointment, at least one. The change in the Supreme Court that was within the grasp of those who were concerned about civil rights when it appeared that Hillary Clinton might win is not going to happen. I’m concerned about those diversity issues. I’m concerned about policing. I think a Trump administration — when it comes to the recognition that we’ve seen in recent years that policing needs to change, particularly with respect to African-American communities — I think we’re going to see an administration that’s probably going to walk back from those kinds of concerns. … I’m concerned about the treatment of Mexican Americans. When you demonize a group of people, and when we talk about mass deportations, what we have already seen is an unleashing of a torrent of hate that doesn’t distinguish between those who are citizens and those who aren’t. But whether you’re a citizen or not, you ought not to be subjected to violence, threats or intimidation because of who or what you are, so I’m concerned about that. I’m concerned about the rights of women. Given the change in the Supreme Court that is coming, this is a president-elect who does not have a good record when it comes to women, to say the least. Across the board, I’m concerned about civil rights because I don’t think the people who are poised to take the reins of government have a record of civil rights enforcement or caring about civil rights. Interview by Oliver Bok, News editor Photo courtesy of Theodore M. Shaw

policy on drugs. No additional contraband was observed in plain sight.

Tuesday, Nov. 29 12:57 p.m. A student reported the theft of their bicycle from the east side of Harkness House. The bicycle is a red and beige beach cruiser, with a metal wire basket, a metal rack and whitewall tires. The value is unknown.

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The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

Krislov Announces Sanctuary Campus Status

Students Protest Following Arrests Continued from page 1

Students gather around the front steps of Wilder Hall Nov. 16, calling for Oberlin College to become a sanctuary campus. President Krislov responded in an email to the community Thursday and committed to meeting all demonstrated financial need for admitted students and not taking immigration status into account in the admissions process. Krislov also wrote that the College will “refrai[n] from providing information about our community members’ immigration status to government agents or allowing government agents to gain access to our campus, unless required to do so by a court order, subpoena, warrant or other lawfully authorized directive — a long-standing practice which we will now regard as institutional policy.”

Krislov also pledged to support students who face difficulties due to potential changes in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, such as losing their driver’s licenses or work permits. “I have been inspired by this movement,” Krislov wrote. “I honor and recognize the students who have chosen to bring their talents to Oberlin. We will do everything we can to support you as cherished members of our community, in keeping with our fundamental values as an institution.” Text by Oliver Bok, News editor Photo by Oliver Meldrum

Pipeline Opponents Criticize Energy Regulators Continued from page 1 in the arctic temperatures are 36 degrees Fahrenheit above what they've ever been,” O’Dell said. “But let’s keep burning fossil fuels! We’re talking about the extinction of humans and the end of life on this planet as we know it." According to O’Dell, the recommendation came as no surprise due to FERC’s track record and pervasive corporate influence in the political system. “FERC’s only denied a permit once or twice; they approve 99 percent of them, so it’s not really that shocking,” O’Dell said. “That's what they’re set up to do." O’Dell advocated for people in every community to oppose the pipeline without reservations or focusing on reroutes, and called on the Oberlin City Council to uphold the Community Bill of Rights. “We need to work together to stop it altogether,” O’Dell said. “If it's harmful in Oberlin, it's harmful in the next community you're going to put it in.” According to City Councilmember Sharon Pearson, since the news broke Wednesday council has not had a chance to meet with the law director and form a legal strategy. “We’ve been trying to do everything within our power under the law to figure out what we can do to keep our residents safe,” Pearson said. To Pearson, the main problem with the route is its proximity to the fire station. “I think it’s all of our concern that if something does happen with that pipeline, it is very, very close to our fire station, and they would be one of the first responders — we would hope — to be able to help people,

rescue people,” Pearson said. The FERC report rejected the proposed reroute that would have avoided the fire station because of previous pipelines already in the ground and planned development. Spectra Energy released a statement arguing that the pipeline will create jobs, –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"I think it's all of our concern that if something does happen with that pipeline, it is very, very close to our fire station and they would be one of the first responders ... to be able to help people, rescue people." Sharon Pearson City Councilmember ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– provide money for school districts and assist the transition away from coal-burning power plants. Spectra also emphasized the amount of effort that had gone into planning the route. “In total, NEXUS adopted a total of 239 route changes totaling about 231 miles (91 percent of the pipeline route) for various reasons, including landowner requests, avoidance of sensitive resources, or engineering considerations,” the statement reads. However, to John Elder, a member of the Committee for Safe and Sustainable Energy and a longtime opponent of the NEXUS pipeline, the pipeline is the “wrong infrastructure in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

In addition to environmental and safety concerns, the pipeline is not economically viable, Elder said. “The domestic price of natural gas is so low that for many producers, they're actually losing money on it,” Elder said. “They all say, ‘Well, if we could ship it to countries overseas that don’t have natural gas, they’ll pay us more for it and that will make it economically viable.’ The problem with that is there’s a global glut just as there’s a domestic glut in natural gas.” Additionly, Spectra Energy only has contracts to transport 58 percent of the pipeline's capacity for natural gas, according to Elder. Elder said that while he supports City Council enforcing the Community Bill of Rights, the ramifications of a legal challenge to the pipeline could be serious. “If the city takes NEXUS to court and says we have an ordinance on the books, NEXUS will respond, ‘You may have an ordinance on your books, but it's overruled by federal law and we don't have to pay any attention to it,'” Elder said. “If the city appeals that, then NEXUS would say, ‘If we had to change our route, now you'd be liable for the cost of that, and if your ban resulted in our not being able to build the pipeline at all, then you'd be liable for our lost income,’ which would bankrupt the city.” Tamara Young-Allen, a spokesperson for FERC, asserted that Oberlin’s ordinance cannot overrule FERC’s federal authority. “Federal courts have affirmed that federal actions preempt state and local ordinance and laws,” Young-Allen wrote in an email to the Review.

protest, with several holding up signs that read, “End racial profiling,” “No racist police” and “Black Lives Matter.” Even though the turnout was not as large as that of the Gibson’s Bakery protest, Delaviz said he thought the silent protest made an impact, as the judge noted the protesters while interacting with Chamberlin at his hearing. “Brae said, ‘This is racist,’ and the judge responded saying, ‘Well, you have a group out there that seems to agree with you,’ so I think it made a statement,” Delaviz said. Before the protest, Torres met with Delaviz and other students to discuss the incident and reassured them that he would increase police bias trainings and would hold a meeting with students next semester on police-student relations. Torres also offered to give students ride-alongs with officers to demonstrate how they deal with each incident. According to Torres, state officials have recently been focusing on racial bias and have increased required trainings on the issue. In an email to the Review, Torres listed a number of training courses Oberlin police officers take to ensure they treat civilians fairly, including one called “Verbal Judo,” which refers to a book about defusing argumentative conversations peacefully. With Donald Trump’s recent victory, Delaviz believes the protests were created in part as a way to ensure that racially based injustices don’t become the norm. “I don’t want these acts to be normalized, and since the election there have been a lot of examples of explicit racism, nationally and in Oberlin,” Delaviz said. “So the protests were definitely inspired by [Trump’s victory].” With this protest coming on the heels of the Gibson’s protest, it represents a growing concern that there is a distinct separation between students and locals. While some locals and Gibson’s supporters have allegedly called student protesters “spoiled” and too quick to accuse people of racism, Torres said police will continue to facilitate protests and that the department has no problems with the public demonstrations. “They have every right to protest, and I’m impressed that they’re exercising their constitutional rights,” Torres said. “They’re behaving fine and the students are an important part of this community. There are no strangers or visitors in this community.”

December 2, 2016

Opinions The Oberlin Review

Letters to the Editors

Rosenfeld Misrepresented To the Editors:

In his Review report on Dr. Karega’s dismissal (“Karega Fired After Split Faculty Recommendations,” Nov. 18, 2016), Oliver Bok misrepresented what I had written

in my April 23 letter to the Review (“College Fails to Address Antisemitism on Campus,” 2016). Nowhere in the letter did I “criticiz[e] the College’s failure to fire Karega last spring,” nor did I imply such criticism. Rather, I focused solely on the College’s failure to call antisemitism by its name. To forestall more confusion, I’ll add that my

one-sentence email letter cited in the Review Nov. 18 was written at Oliver’s request after Dr. Karega’s dismissal had been announced. I stick to the content of both letters. – Sidney Rosenfeld Professor Emeritus of German

Voting by Mail Removes Barriers to Polls Nathan Carpenter Contributing Writer November’s election gave Republicans control of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives for the first time since 2007. On the state level, Republican governors and legislators across the country have enacted voting restrictions, such as strict voter ID laws and restricting early voting. Now, Presidentelect Donald Trump’s administration will have the opportunity to make that platform national. Any action, legislative or otherwise, that seeks to disenfranchise voters must be met by vigorous resistance. In the coming years, it will be especially important to be aware of attempts to discourage democratic participation on a national level, particularly as important legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 hangs in the balance. The importance of easy and accessible voting for everybody was impressed upon me as a fellow for the Hillary Clinton campaign office in Oberlin. One of my campaign responsibilities was to canvass, going door-to-door in Oberlin and nearby communities to encourage Clinton supporters to make a plan to vote. One canvassing experience in particular sticks out in my memory. I walked up the driveway to an Oberlin home and knocked on the door. An elderly woman answered, a little suspiciously. I introduced myself as a volunteer with the Clinton campaign and asked if she had made a plan to go vote. She waffled, going on about how it was difficult for her to get out of the house to go down to the polls. I asked if she would like to request an absentee ballot and vote by mail instead of in person.

Her eyes lit up, and she asked how she could get an absentee ballot. I told her I had the application with me and that I would be happy to fill it out with her. She invited me in, and we took five minutes to make sure that her voice would be heard in one of the most important elections in modern American history. I don’t tell this story to pass myself off as some kind of voter enfranchisement hero. Instead, I want to highlight the fact that, had no one come to her door, this woman may not have voted in this election at all. All U.S. citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote, unless if they have been convicted of a felony or if they have been declared mentally incompetent in some states, but that right is different from the actual ability to exercise it. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down key elements of the Voting Rights Act, which was originally passed to combat regionalized voter suppression, particularly in the South. The Court’s ruling meant that states now had the ability to change

it was signed into law in 1965. It’s impossible to know if the gutting of the VRA significantly impacted the outcome of the election, but it is clear that the ability of many citizens to vote in this year’s election was compromised, largely due to this 2013 ruling. As was the case in many places across the country, Ohio voters — including the woman whose door I knocked on — faced new difficulties voting this year. For example, Golden Week, a period of five days in early October during which voters could register and vote simultaneously, was eliminated by Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted. Secretary Husted also failed to mail absentee ballot applications to more than one million Ohio voters. These are just two examples of how it is becoming increasingly difficult to vote in Ohio. Under Secretary Husted, voting restrictions are specifically targeted to suppress minorities and young people, who typically lean Democratic. This is why the way that voting happens in the state of Ohio ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and across the entire country must change. As a model of betI want to highlight the ter voting practices, we can look fact that, had no one to my home state of Oregon, come to her door, this where everyone votes by mail. Every election, ballots are mailed woman may not have to the home of each registered voted in this election at voter. People can research candiall. dates and ballot proposals from ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– home and fill out their ballots on their own time. Then, when their voting laws without seeking they’re ready, they either mail the federal approval. This decision ballot back or drop it off at any led to the closure of many poll- designated drop-off location. ing locations, as well as stricter Mail-in voting works. It works voter ID laws in many states. because many of the barriers This year’s election was the first that impede people from voting presidential election without the full protections of the VRA since See Revision, page 7

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. The Review reserves the right to edit all submissions for content, space, spelling, grammar and libel. Editors will work with columnists and contributors to edit pieces and will clear major edits with the authors prior to publication. Editors will contact authors of letters to the editors in the event of edits for anything other than style and grammar. In no case will editors change the opinions expressed in any submission. 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. The Review will not print advertisements on its Opinions pages. The Review defines an advertisement as any submission that has the main intent of bringing direct monetary gain to the author of a letter to the editors. Opinions expressed in letters, columns, essays, cartoons or other Opinions pieces do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the Review.

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

Editors-in-Chief Tyler Sloan Vida Weisblum Managing Editor Kiley Petersen Opinions Editor Sami Mericle

Zuckerberg Must Accept Responsibility for Hoax Stories Facebook’s responsibility to regulate fake news on its site, particularly the false stories that gained traction during the election cycle, has sparked national debate about what role the platform should play in politics. While the company’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has distanced himself from the popular theory that Facebook could have significantly swayed voters, the bottom line is that if his company profits from fake news sources, then it is also responsible for flagging them. A BuzzFeed News analysis shows that the “20 top-performing false election stories from hoax sites and hyperpartisan blogs generated 8,711,000 shares, reactions and comments on Facebook.” Conversely, “within the same time period, the 20 best-performing election stories from 19 major news websites generated a total of 7,367,000 shares, reactions, and comments on Facebook,” BuzzFeed reported. “Of the 20 top-performing false election stories identified in the analysis, all but three were overtly pro-Donald Trump or anti-Hillary Clinton,” Craig Silverman, BuzzFeed Canada’s founding editor, wrote. “Two of the biggest false hits were a story claiming Clinton sold weapons to ISIS and a hoax claiming the pope endorsed Trump, which the site removed after publication of this article.” Zuckerberg has consistently shied away from calling Facebook a news platform, instead labeling it a “technology company,” but social media has far outpaced the growth of more traditional news outlets. While Facebook may not be responsible for actually producing stories, the website includes features like “trending” stories, inherently editorializing its home page by selectively highlighting news. Whatever he chooses to call it, Zuckerberg cannot deny that Facebook plays a pivotal role in how we consume news. “People share and read a lot of news on Facebook, so we feel a great responsibility to handle that as well as we can,” Zuckerberg said in the comment thread on his Nov. 12 status about Facebook’s role in the election. “But remember that Facebook is mostly about helping people stay connected with friends and family. News and media are not the primary things people do on Facebook, so I find it odd when people insist we call ourselves a news or media company in order to acknowledge its importance.” Let’s compare Zuckerberg’s response to our current reality. According to the Pew Research Center, 44 percent of the overall U.S. population accesses news on Facebook. Breaking this number down, 62 percent of U.S. adults get news on social media generally, 67 percent of adults are on Facebook in the U.S. and 66 percent of all Facebook users get news from the site. In short, we’re discussing a sizable portion of the adult population that heavily relies on Facebook for news. Zuckerberg seems conflicted about addressing the problem head on. Though he boasts about mobilizing millions to get to the polls, he is quick to deny that Facebook actually shaped people’s opinions in the election. The real danger that lies in Zuckerberg’s persistent rejection of Facebook’s political role is its pervasiveness in the “post-fact era.” Just yesterday, a member of a panel of Trump supporters told CNN that she knew “millions of illegals voted” because she saw it on Facebook. In an ever-evolving media landscape, Facebook must accept its responsibility as a key player in shaping public opinion. Though the website’s original intention was to connect friends and family, it has since transformed into one of the most influential communication platforms of our time. Zuckerberg must accept this reality and prioritize flagging fake stories or get left behind. 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

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The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

Dakota Access Pipeline Latest Case of Environmental Racism Russell Jaffe Columnist While many students were preparing themselves for a Thanksgiving full of feasting and celebrating with loved ones Nov. 21, law enforcement officers at Standing Rock were assaulting protesters with water cannons in below-freezing temperatures. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has been assaulted, terrorized and arrested since April for exercising its right to peacefully protest against the unethical construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline. The pipeline, designed to serve as a key link between the state’s oil wells, was originally mapped to cut through Bismarck, ND — an area with more than 92 percent white residents as of the 2010 census — but was instead rerouted through tribal nations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cited 11 additional miles of pipeline and Bismarck’s “high consequence area” and proximity to wellhead source water protection areas as reasons for the reroute. Prominent activist Reverend Jesse Jackson noted this as “the ripest case of environmental racism I’ve seen in a long time.” It is no exaggeration to state that Native Americans are being forced to accept the risks and damages that white residents refused. In addition to desecrating sacred lands such as prayer and burial sites, the pipeline would potentially displace hundreds of residents and put the drinking water of millions of people at risk. A leak or burst could poison the only clean drinking water in the area. For these reasons, the Sioux tribe has also accused the Corps of Engineers — who allowed the pipeline to go through — of violating both the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act and the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act. Protesters, activists and water protectors have worked desperately to delay construction of the pipeline, demanding that it be rerouted away from Native lands. Although the protesters thus far have been nonviolent, law enforcement has not demonstrated the same decency. It has employed tear gas, mace, rubber bullets, stinger grenades, attack dogs and other militarized equipment in its attempts to quell the protest. Many of the protesters, including children, have sustained extreme injuries from both police forces and private mercenary groups alike. Several elders have almost died and had to be resuscitated by emergency services. Others remain in critical condition, including a 13-year-old girl who was shot in the head by a rubber bullet, and a woman whose arm was maimed by a concussion grenade. The news of the events at Standing Rock is being actively suppressed by authorities: many reporters have been shot by rubber bullets and arrested, while several media drones have also been shot down as a no-fly zone was declared to prevent news stations from taking videos. The situation is becoming grimmer every day, and President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to reduce environmental regulations foreshadow a darker future. Nevertheless, the protests continue — as they must — because for countless people, the pipeline’s ap-

proval may be, as Aries Yumul, the North Dakota Todd County School District assistant principal called it, a “death sentence.” Surrender is simply not an option. Sadly, the horrifying situation in North Dakota is hardly an isolated incident. This is just one of countless, rarely-discussed cases in which profit has been put before human life and the rights of Native people. In fact, according to the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Standing Rock Sioux, “This exact scenario unfolded in the last three years with the Balkan pipeline and the Baker Lateral Pipeline, where the concerns of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe went unanswered [by the Army Corps] while construction commenced on both pipelines.” Additionally, it is worth noting that while the Standing Rock protests were beginning in May 2016, the White House quietly approved two additional pipelines from Energy Transfer Partners — the same company currently responsible for the abuses in North Dakota. So what can we do to help? First and most obviously, we can join the protesters and take a stand at Standing Rock. Naturally, this is not an option for everyone. However, that does –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sadly, the horrifying situation in North Dakota is hardly an isolated incident. This is just one of countless, rarely-discussed cases in which profit has been put before human life and the rights of Native people. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– not mean that there is nothing you can do. For example, many petitions have already gone viral, pleading for the White House to stop the pipeline construction. Additionally, donations and supplies are extremely welcome to both the Standing Rock Sioux and the protesters’ legal defense fund. Medical supplies, for example, could save the lives of injured protesters, while food and water can help provide sustenance for the harsh upcoming winter. Some specific places donate include the International Indigenous Youth Council, The Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council and the Standing Rock Asheville Council. Beyond donations, you can pick up the phone and voice your opposition of the pipeline to key government officials. Call North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple at (701) 328-2200 and Michael (Cliff ) Waters, the lead analyst of Energy Transfer Partners at (713) 989-2404. Those with legal or media skills have also been called to email the Sacred Stone Camp to volunteer at sacredstonecamp@gmail. com. Finally, simply educating one’s own community can often play a critical role in organizing people to take a stand. If the suppression of media is any indication, ignorance and misinformation are the key weapons that this protest’s opponents have utilized to slow down progress. Unveiling the truth and taking a stand against the current atrocities may be the only way to prevent them from repeating in the future.

Emily Weakley

Identity Politics Favors White Candidates Josh Ashkinaze Contributing Writer Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election highlighted that when it comes to identity politics, the largest and most powerful identity group has a natural advantage. White identity politics help, at least in part, to explain Trump’s success. And insofar as racial identity plays a chief role in political polarization, candidates who promote white identity political movements like “All Lives Matter” and xenophobia-imbued protectionism will continue to wield a numerical edge. In contrast to identity-centered organizing, affinity-based organizing hinges on shared aims and values. Affinity-based organizing should be employed by political parties to avoid the numerical advantage of a candidate just because they belong to the largest identity group. In 2015, Census data projected that by 2044, more than half of Americans will belong to a minority group. But historically, “white” has remained the largest identity category in the U.S. because its membership expands to include new identities over time. Therefore, it is unlikely that whiteness will be displaced as a plurality identity. As an example of this expansion, consider the Irish. In How the Irish Became White, historian Noel Ignatiev documented the complex ways in which the Irish population in the U.S. began self-identifying as white and being perceived as white by American society as they became more materially and socially successful. Similarly, historians James Barrett and David Roediger explore how eastern and southern European immigrants who came to America during the late 19th century and early 20th century were originally considered non-white. For example, Barrett and Roediger note that the term guinea, which referred to African slaves sold off the northwest coast, was at one point applied to Italians, indicating that they were not considered part of the white majority. Likewise, historians found that in the early 20th-century, Greeks were sometimes discriminated against under Jim Crow laws. Today, these groups are generally considered to be white. Currently, there are hints from the Census that Hispanics are now “becoming white.” In 2014, the Pew Research Center reported that 2.5 million Americans who said they were of Hispanic origin — the Census does not include Hispanic origin as a race — and “some other race” in 2000 marked that they were of Hispanic origin and “white” 10 years later. Of course, this is just a tick box on a census form. But since there is historical precedent, it’s not unreasonable to think we are seeing whiteness

expand again. As long as whiteness continues to expand, it has a good chance of remaining the largest racial identity group. Thus, when race becomes a salient political marker, politicians like Trump who affirm white identity will continue to have an advantage. Trump’s victory cannot be attributed to identity politics alone, but policy specifics were certainly not his calling card. An article in the journal Trends in Cognitive Science recently proposed a relevant voter choice model. They suggested that on every issue, voters get some policy utility (“Will my taxes be lower?”) and some identity utility (“Does this boost my social identity?”). Trump’s proposed policies throughout the election cycle oscillated between vacuous and contradictory. So his policy utility — insofar as his policies can be decoded — was probably not nearly as high as the identity utility people got from him. It’s simplistic to argue over whether Trump was elected by racists or people with legitimate economic grievances. This assumes the electorate is sectioned into heroes and villains. Trump’s campaign resonated with a lot of people who have a shared identity of whiteness and are also feeling downtrodden. This isn’t new. His campaign echoed those of self-described “paleoconservative” Pat Buchanan in 1992 and 1996 and populist William Jennings Bryan in 1896 — two other American politicians who resonated with down-and-out whites. The Jan. 2 Economist article, “Pitchfork Politics.” opened with the claim “Before Donald Trump, there was Pat Buchanan.” Socially, Mr. Buchanan was panned as too bigoted for mainstream conservatives. Economically, like –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

It’s simplistic to argue over whether Trump was elected by racists or people with legitimate economic grievances. This assumes the electorate is sectioned into heroes and villains. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trump, he mixed protectionism and xenophobia, leveraging the familiar idea that immigration and free trade acts are harming America’s working class. The Economist profile goes on to summarize his grievances: “Immigrants have reached even small communities, factory jobs have vanished and interventionist wars launched by George W. Bush left Americans ‘with ashes in our mouths.’” See Trump, page 7

Opinions

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

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Senate Activism Vital to Political Resistance Kameron Dunbar Contributing Writer This op-ed is part of the Review’s Student Senate column. In an effort to increase communication and transparency, Student Senators will provide personal perspectives on recent events on campus and in the community. Student Senate passed a resolution on March 18, 2007 in support of U.S. Senate Bill 2695: a federal bill allowing taxpayer access to federally funded research introduced by then-Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator John Cornyn. I came across this resolution a few months ago while doing some independent research on the history of Oberlin’s Student Senate. Last year, I didn’t think of Senate as a political actor. Recently, many have been fed the idea that Senate is supposed to be an apolitical body. This line of thinking

makes sense. How can a group of 15 students make political decisions on behalf of the entire student body? I found the 2007 resolution to be a striking example of Senate using its political agency to advocate for positive political action in students’ interest, even to the extent of weighing in on a debate taking place far outside of Oberlin’s campus. This is something Senate negotiated throughout this fall semester. It’s not a new trend per se, but it’s an underlying ethos that existed last year. As Communications Director, I have the privilege of setting the tone of Senate’s various modes of communication. At what point does our universal endorsement of civic engagement turn into partisanship? Should we have sent campaign material for Hillary Clinton out in the Senate Weekly email if her campaign had asked us to?

For a while, I found myself fixated on the idea of non-partisanship, but my thinking on the matter has since changed. While it’s true that Senate can’t possibly articulate and act in the voice of all 2,800 students, it’s also true that we haven’t attempted to do so. The student body is not a monolith and neither is Senate, which is why I wasn’t surprised when Senate received both internal and external pushback on the resolution endorsing the boycott of Gibson’s Bakery. One student emailed the Senate account and asked why it is appropriate to ask students to boycott an institution. Shouldn’t that be a personal choice? Yes. Absolutely. Students have the autonomy and agency to act in whatever ways they choose, but Senate, in my opinion, has an inherent duty to support the student body in the ways it finds

most appropriate and beneficial. In relation to the Gibson’s resolution, Senate observed a clear pattern of behavior we deemed unhealthy to our community. It’s no secret that Senate has moved quickly on certain issues this year. From our letter admonishing the Oberlin Alums for Campus Fairness to the statement released after Presidentelect Donald Trump’s victory to the Gibson’s resolution, Senate has worked to further develop and construct itself as a political body. The common thread that weaves all these incidents together is our commitment to supporting students where they are, in whatever way they need. The future of Senate is political. Student activism will become a vital arm of resistance over the next few years, and student governments are uniquely positioned as both bureaucratic and activist

agencies to help students bring about change. Senate and student government in general are unique in that they have distinct, static institutional identities while still molding to the shape of their incumbency. The student body has a choice in how they want Senate to function; the way to access that choice is to elect members who truly represent your interests and beliefs. Next Thursday at 7 p.m., Senate will be sponsoring a lecture by Angus Johnston, one of the nation’s leading historians on student activism in higher education. We’re trying to build, learn, organize and strategize just like everyone else. At the end of the day, we’re an extension of the student body. We’re ready to join in this fight. We can’t realistically save the world as individuals, but together we can make a world of difference.

Right to Choose Endangered by Trump Cabinet Adriana Teitelbaum Contributing Writer Donald Trump’s election has resulted in many people questioning the stability of the progress that’s been made during President Barack Obama’s tenure, including LGBTQ rights and gender and racial equality. Trump has announced his intention to appoint anti-abortion Supreme Court justices and defund Planned Parenthood. Even in these early stages of Trump’s presidency, we can see how dangerous a time it will be for people seeking reliable reproductive health care. The issue of abortion access is not new, as conservatives across the country have been attempting to limit the right to choose for decades, but recent waves of legislation have been particularly vindictive in their goal to undermine reproduc-

tive rights. On Dec. 9, a new law will come into effect in Texas that requires aborted fetuses to be either buried or cremated, often at great cost to the family. The requirement will also apply to those who miscarry in hospitals. Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote in a fundraising email that the purpose of said law was to “reflect our respect for the sanctity of life.” What this requirement actually does is create a false equivalency that a fetus and a human life are the same thing, as well as limit people’s rights to make autonomous choices about their own bodies. Unfortunately, legislation limiting abortion access is not contained to Texas, but has reached almost every state in the nation, including Ohio. A bill similar to the one in Texas is being considered in Ohio, along with a bill that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks of pregnan-

cy — four weeks earlier than the current cut-off. In addition, the state of Ohio revoked the license Thursday of one of its last abortion clinics, the Women’s Medical Center of Dayton. Some optimists have suggested that Trump will have limited ability to curb reproductive rights, as most laws pertaining to abortions are set by the states. However, this argument ignores federal agencies and the important role the president plays in setting policy agenda nationwide. On Tuesday, the President-elect’s transition team announced Trump’s selection of Georgia Representative Tom Price as secretary of Health and Human Services. Price cosponsored the Right to Life Act that would have categorized a just-fertilized egg as a “human being,” essentially outlawing abortion entirely. He has supported defunding Planned Parenthood and a national ban

on abortions past 20 weeks. As secretary of Health and Human Services, Price would be in control of an $80 billion budget and be responsible for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Medicare, Medicaid and the Food and Drug Administration. He could change policy and funding priorities in ways that would seriously impede access to abortion and birth control. Even though he has yet to be sworn into office, President-elect Trump has shown how he is likely to threaten the rights of Americans. He has the support of many conservative politicians already enacting restrictive reproductive legislation across the country, with more unfair changes looming on the horizon. It is disheartening to think of the regressive policies that are to come in his term and the countless years it will take to undo the damage that will be done.

Revision of Ohio’s Voting Laws Trump Victory Aided by White Identity Politics Necessary to Expand Access Continued from page 6

Continued from page 5 — including proximity to polling locations and long lines — are removed. The numbers back this up. According to early estimates from The Oregonian, nearly 80 percent of registered voters in Oregon voted this year — and that was the state’s lowest turnout rate since it instituted vote by mail in 2000. By comparison, about 70 percent of registered voters in Ohio voted in both 2008 and 2012, according to the Ohio Secretary of State website. Data has not yet been released for 2016. There are several arguments against vote-by-mail systems, but none of them pass muster. Most arguments revolve around the perceived potential for voter fraud, since opponents contend that a vote-by-mail system is less secure. There are also concerns that ballots will be lost or misplaced in the process of being mailed back in.

In the 16 years since Oregon implemented vote by mail, none of these issues have impacted an election. Indeed, according to a 2004 study published by the American Political Science Association, 81 percent of Oregonian voters prefer the vote-by-mail system to voting at the polls. So not only is vote by mail effective in motivating high voter turnout, it maintains the integrity of the electoral process and is wildly popular. It is unlikely that national vote by mail legislation would make it through a conservative Congress or the Trump White House. However, in July, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley proposed a national vote-by-mail bill, which will hopefully help catalyze similar action on the state level. Instituting voting by mail in Ohio and elsewhere would be an important step towards ensuring that everyone who has the right to vote has the ability to vote.

On the similarities between Bryan and Trump, David Frum wrote in The Wall Street Journal, “Both men championed constituencies that formerly occupied a position of cultural and political dominance: small farmers in Bryan’s case, the white working class in Trump’s.” Exchange “gold standard” for “globalization” and “Southern farmers” for “Rust Belt blue collar workers,” and the similarities become clear. Just as Trump bemoans the decline of manufacturing work, Jennings warned of the dire consequences of decentering agrarian farmers: “Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.” In short, the trope of white identity politics for the disaffected is nothing new in America. What can be done? Basing politics around affinity — shared goals and values — rather than identity could take away the inherent numerical advantage of white demagogues in identity

politics. Trump isn’t known for his ideological consistency, and many of his pull factors were identity-based. Pew reported that “attitudes about immigration, Islam and racial diversity” were a bigger predictor of support for Trump than “other political values — including opinions about whether the U.S. economic system is unfair.” At the same time, both low life satisfaction rates and poor personal finances were correlated with Trump support before the election. It is too reductive to call these voters wholly racist or ignorant. It’s likely that people were directing real economic grievances into white identity politics. Racism and economic distress often interact. For example, there’s a well-documented link between cotton prices and the number of lynchings in the South during the late 19th and early 20th century. Economist Cornelius Christian says that when cotton prices were low, “lynchings cause[d] blacks to migrate away, lowering labour supply and increasing wages for white labourers.” Then and now, there is an imperative for a viable labor party — a party based on affinity, not

identity. There should be avenues to channel economic dissatisfaction and affect real change in a healthy, non-reactionary way. Of course, there isn’t always a clear divide between affinity and identity organizing. A member of the ACLU might support Black Lives Matter because African Americans tend to be most deprived of civil liberties. And within affinity groups, there is no reason that identity should not be acknowledged. Even with groups that are explicitly identity-based, it’s common to attract broader support the more intersectional the group is. Though on purely pragmatic grounds, if politics prize identity, the group representing a plurality already has a leg up; for a winning coalition, they don’t need any supporters but their own. An identity group that is not in the majority starts from behind. There was a stronger correlation between white resentment and Republican candidate support this election than in the last. With race as a salient political marker, Trump’s white identity politics had a numerical advantage.

FRIDAY NIGHT

PIZZA

NIGHT Every Friday night, students flock to various dining co-ops for the ever-popular OSCA Pizza Night. At Pizza Night, one can expect to find vegan and vegetarian pizza options with a variety of creative toppings. If you’re tired of plain pepperoni and cheese pizza, read on to discover a flavorful selection of unconventional toppings straight from the OSCA pizza cooks.

Bunny Food Vegan Pizza Erika Rasmussen, College senior Harkness Co-op

Seasonal Autumn Pizza

• Broccoli • Beet “prosciutto” — thinly sliced, roasted and salted beets • Sweet potatoes • Tofu “ricotta” • Tomato sauce

Bri DiMonda and Xander Somogyi, College juniors Tank Co-op • • • • •

Roasted butternut squash Onions Greens (kale or arugula) Mozzarella cheese Tomato sauce

Garlic Mushroom Pizza

Eggy Breakfast Pizza

Leon Pescador, College junior Harkness Co-op

Bri DiMonda and Xander Somogyi, College juniors Tank Co-op • • • • •

• • • •

Mozzarella cheese Greens (kale, arugula or whatever is in the fridge) Eggs Bell peppers Tomato sauce

Garlic sauce Caramelized onions Mushrooms Mozzarella cheese

Calendar Equestrian Team Home Show Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Equine Differences 11911 Leavitt Road, Oberlin Come out to Equine Differences Saturday morning to support the Oberlin Equestrian team! The team has been training hard all season to present a spirited showcase of equestrian skills. This is the only home show of the year, so don’t miss it. Equine Differences is just five minutes north of campus by car.

Design and illustrations by Andrea Wang Asian Night Market 2016 Saturday, Dec. 3, 6–8 p.m. Science Center Atrium Now in its sixth year, the annual Asian Night Market is a collaboration among AsianPacific Islander diaspora organizations on campus and is modeled after street bazaars popular in Asian cultures. This year’s Asian Night Market features performances from OCTaiko and other groups and will have delicious food from local vendors. Tickets cost $5 at Wilder Hall and at the door.

Winter Lights Lantern Festival Sunday, Dec. 4, 1–5:30 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland No holiday season is complete without ceremonial lighting displays! The Cleveland Museum of Art will showcase lantern displays and the Environment of Lights installation, alongside lantern-making workshops and live music. The event culminates with the Lantern Procession, led by community lantern artists, illuminated dancers and giant puppets.

Town Sound in Concert Sunday, Dec. 4, 4–5 p.m. First Church in Oberlin

Kwanzaa Celebration Sunday, Dec. 4, 4:30–6 p.m. Afrikan Heritage House

Town Sound is a barbershop-style mens’ chorus based in Minerva, Ohio, that has been performing regularly for more than ten years. This Sunday, their performance at First Church will feature a selection of new and traditional barbershop classics, as well as gospel songs and comedic pieces.

Afrikan Heritage House will be hosting its annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Kwanzaa, which starts on Dec. 26, is a week-long African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrating values of community, kinship and culture. Celebrate Kwanzaa with members of the Oberlin community through spoken word and song.

Nepali Food for Nepali Classrooms Tuesday, Dec. 6, 9–11 p.m. The Feve 30 S. Main Street, Oberlin The Feve will feature a night of music and traditional Nepali food as part of a fundraiser hosted by Students United for Nepal. A portion of your bill will be donated to Maya Universe Academy, Nepal’s first free private school. Show your support for Nepali children passionate about their education.

FRIDAY NIGHT

PIZZA

Bunny Food Vegan Pizza Erika Rasmussen, College senior Harkness Co-op

Seasonal Autumn Pizza

• Broccoli • Beet “prosciutto” — thinly sliced, roasted and salted beets • Sweet potatoes • Tofu “ricotta” • Tomato sauce

Bri DiMonda and Xander Somogyi, College juniors Tank Co-op • • • • •

Roasted butternut squash Onions Greens (kale or arugula) Mozzarella cheese Tomato sauce

Garlic Mushroom Pizza

Eggy Breakfast Pizza

Leon Pescador, College junior Harkness Co-op

Bri DiMonda and Xander Somogyi, College juniors Tank Co-op • • • • •

• • • •

Mozzarella cheese Greens (kale, arugula or whatever is in the fridge) Eggs Bell peppers Tomato sauce

Garlic sauce Caramelized onions Mushrooms Mozzarella cheese

Town Sound in Concert Sunday, Dec. 4, 4–5 p.m. First Church in Oberlin

Kwanzaa Celebration Sunday, Dec. 4, 4:30–6 p.m. Afrikan Heritage House

Arts The Oberlin Review

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December 2, 2016

Beder’s Composed Sheds Light on Stage Fright Julia Peterson Production Editor

Composed, a new documentary by John Beder, features interviews with professional musicians exploring their experiences with being affected by and coping with performance anxiety. The film had a screening at the Apollo Theatre on Wednesday night, followed by a panel discussion with Beder and Conservatory faculty members. Although musicians may be reluctant to discuss performance anxiety, the film emphasizes that it is a very common phenomenon. “With the documentary, I am hoping that people will understand that they are not alone,” Beder told the Review. “I think most musicians who feel any amount of performance anxiety or stage fright initially feel isolated, like there’s something wrong with them. … If you meet someone who has never gotten nervous — they are the weird one.” Conservatory Viola professor Peter Slowick, who appeared in both the film and discussion panel, agreed. “Do you know musicians that don’t struggle with performance anxiety?” Slowick asked the Review. “That’s the point of the movie. They say that something like 93 percent of musicians self-report having some difficulty with it. It’s hard to get 93 percent of people to agree about anything — I think even head lice polls at about nine percent.” In fact, this anxiety statistic may be even higher than Beder says; the 2015 Musicians’ Health Survey found that 98 percent of performers reported at least some degree of performance anxiety, though numbers like these rarely enter the public consciousness.

Beder’s inspiration for the documentary came from a discussion about musicians taking beta blocker pills, which are generally used to treat hypertension and cardiac episodes. Many musicians use them because of their effects on the physical symptoms of performance anxiety such as a racing heart, shaking muscles and sweaty palms. “I was having a conversation with an old friend … we discussed how strange it was that we as musicians know about beta blockers but we don’t really talk about them so much,” Beder said. The film found that at least 72 percent of professional musicians have at least tried beta blockers. “So why don’t we talk about this, if so many of us have tried it or heard about it?” he asked. “Why wouldn’t this be a major part of discussing what it means to be a performer?” Though the film includes a nuanced discussion about the relative merits, drawbacks, necessities and dangers of musicians taking beta blockers, Beder expanded the scope of the film to explore performance anxiety more generally after speaking with professional musicians. “[After that conversation] I started hearing not only about beta blockers but musicians talking about things like using meditation and mindfulness techniques, people undergoing physical activities to calm themselves or train themselves,” he said. Conservatory Associate Dean for Academic Support Chris Jenkins was enthusiastic to bring this film to campus to facilitate discussion about anxiety and stress among musicians. “Stigma around performance anxiety is a really big issue,” Jenkins said. “A lot of musicians think that every-

Director John Beder leads a panel of Conservatory faculty at the Apollo Theatre Wednesday night after screening his film Composed. Discussion revolved around the film’s exploration of performance anxiety in professional musicians, hoping to shed light on a little-discussed area of the music world. Photo by Rick Yu, Photo editor

one else has it all figured out. It looks like you are the only one who has an issue with this, but in reality it’s so common among musicians. … We don’t always talk about how debilitating it is. So hopefully this [ film] will help students become aware of how frequent this phenomenon is and be able to talk with one another about it, and feel free to talk with their teachers about it too.” In the film, Slowick speaks about his experience with stage fright. For instance, he described how he developed “Superman ears” so that although he heard a mistake in his playing, nobody else in the room heard. For Slowick, this anxiety is a result of the raw nature of musical

performance. “When you perform, you’re really putting your barest self out there,” he said. “You’re putting out your soul. You’re playing or singing, and you hope that people like you ... it’s a very personal thing.” A significant portion of the documentary focuses on what conservatories around the world could be doing to better prepare their students for auditions and performance. “We talk about ... music education and the institutes and organizations that are producing musicians, and some of the ways that they can improve the training so that when [musicians] graduate, they’re not just technicians and talented musi-

cians, but they also have a grasp on the mental side of performance,” Beder said. A large part of musical education at Oberlin focuses on preparing students to be confident in performance. “A lot of performance anxiety is justified,” Slowick said. “So we try to prepare people in such a way that they don’t have any reason to be scared of performances. … Performance is sort of a lab situation for our students. It’s really something that undergirds everything we do in the Conservatory. It’s not talked about in every lesson, but it’s dealt See Quell, page 13

Student Composers Tap Into Myriad Inspirations Ivan Aidun

Emotions ran high at the Student Composers Concert in Stull Recital Hall Tuesday night. 12 Composition and TIMARA students presented original pieces that ran the gamut of sound and structure. Traditional pairings like piano and voice and cello duets were juxtaposed in unconventional arrangements such as massive fixed media soundscapes incorporating visual stimuli and a rhythmic transcription of a Dadaist poem. The pieces varied widely in their subject matter as well, some addressing abstract concepts like constraint or degradation, others paying stunning tribute to national and personal tragedy. One piece, Songs for Marimba Trio by firstyear Seare Farhat, scored for a soprano, flute and marimba ensemble, was written to speak “to alienation and a degrading transformation of the spirit through commodification in society,” the composer wrote in the program notes. “In the piece itself, I try and manipulate [the variety of timbres in the ensemble], make things lyricism versus the staccato feeling in both [the flute and the voice],” Farhat told the Review. The text for the piece is drawn from two poems by Jorge Javier Romero, and Farhat noted in the program that “following the Afghan storytelling tradition in chamber music, the form of the piece is broken into four movements of different degrees of stress,” although only three movements were presented

in concert. “A lot of what goes into TIMARA is really thought out, … and these gestures that kind of glide through the whole thing,” Farhat said of the relationship between pieces for traditional classical instruments and the fixed media pieces produced by the TIMARA students. He pointed to another piece on the program, Landscape No. 1 by first-year Will Bertrand as exemplifying a “complete contrast to [his] more improvisational and completely acoustic instrumentation.” A piece titled 2,5,6 by first-year Liam Kaplan contrasted Farhat’s improvisational style. Scored for cello and piano, 2,5,6 used only three musical intervals to construct its melody and harmony. 2,5,6 was conceived in composition class. “[We] had to use only three intervals horizontally and vertically, which at first seemed very [restrictive]. I spent a lot of time choosing which intervals I could use to give me maximum freedom,” Kaplan said. The pieces’ title is a reference to these three intervals — a second, a fifth and a sixth. The piece itself revolves around the idea of expression within restriction. “I kind of was able to create a tiny musical language using this limited vocabulary and I just wanted to express as much as I could within that very limited space,” Kaplan said. “My goal was that when you listened to the piece you would have no idea that it came from this [extremely] mathematical assignment.”

Kaplan’s and Farhat’s works bordered a piece for fixed media, Pulse by sophomore Helen Hé. She characterized its creation as her personal reflection on the Orlando shooting in June. “[It was] a hate crime against queer people of color and specifically queer Latinos,” Hé said. “As an artist, as a queer person of color, I felt like I should make something for that.” Many of the sounds Hé incorporated into her music hold particular symbolic significance, such as the heartbreakingly insistent chirps and melodies of cell phone ring tones. “I read somewhere, just after the incident when the first responders were there, they were haunted by the sounds of the cell phones of the ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Many of the sounds Hé incorporated into her music hold particular symbolic significance, such as the heartbreakingly insistent chirps and melodies of cell phone ring tones. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– victims around the room,” she said. The piece is wrenching and powerful, also featuring the sound of a heart monitor, which she used “as a transition, also the ending, because the name of the club is called Pulse, and then my piece is

also called Pulse. … It just signifies some kind of life and that their lives will continue.” The piece ends with 49 beeps of the heart monitor “to commemorate the 49 lives.” Hé’s was not the only piece commemorating tragedy. Also on the program was Whale (in memory of the victims of Sewol-ho) by junior Soomin Kim, which paid tribute to the victims of the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry in South Korea that killed 304 people, 250 of whom were high school students. First-year Kari Watson noted in the program that her piece I Fear No Fate, based on a stanza of e.e. cummings’ “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]” was written in honor of the second anniversary of her twin sister Jesi’s passing. “When you’re working with the living, breathing person of the music, you can also work together to shape it into something beautiful that’s personal for just you,” said Conservatory junior Kelsey Burnham, who performed in Farhat’s piece. “All of the music that we make here at Oberlin for that purpose is just incredible.” “So often in the classical tradition … we get blinded,” Burnham said of the engagement of new music with the world. “We have blinders on while we’re playing, and we’re doing it for music’s sake, but we forget about how music can save people. … If you write something as beautiful as Helen [Hé] and you really dedicate it to something, it means something. People don’t realize that sometimes.”

Arts

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

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Miranda’s Score Elevates Moana to Excellence Christian Bolles Arts Editor Decades ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios perfected the art of fantasy. The studio has always endeavored to craft worlds that the viewer aches to live in; the timeless, dreamlike quality of its tales of princesses and castles has given them the power to endure. Looking back, though, it’s hard to reconcile the glimmering surface of Disney’s animated worlds with the fundamental whiteness and rigid patriarchy that comprise their conceptual frameworks. Even Frozen, for all that it eschews standard love story tropes in favor of sisterly love, was a snowcovered echo of its predecessors’ white idyllicism: lavish balls, towering palaces and swooning lovers. Moana, directed by Disney veterans John Musker and Ron Clements, is cut from an entirely different cloth. The rich Pacific setting, quite literally straight out of Polynesian myth, is teeming with

reverence for the culture depicted within it, scoring high above Musker and Clements’ Aladdin. The creators of Moana draw a hard line in the sand when it comes to their protagonist: Moana is realistically proportioned, fiercely independent and deeply capable, giving the film a rock-solid anchor even when it threatens to get lost at sea. And it’s hard to overstate the significance of her age; at 16, she is neither assigned a love interest nor objectified in the slightest, a stark contrast to Tangled’s Rapunzel escaping with her future prince on the day she turns 18. But Moana is far more than a beacon of progress; the film is beautifully crafted as well. That beauty begins with the central cast. Disney has found true talent in the wonderful Auli’i Cravalho, who voices Moana. Her performance is completely believable, communicating emotion with a natural knack for nuance, and her singing is glorious — no small feat, considering she celebrated her 16th birthday the day before Moana’s theatrical

release. Additionally, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s camera presence magically endures in the animated Maui, demigod of the wind and sea. Johnson makes excellent use of his only song, “You’re Welcome,” belting out its earworm chorus with the same brand of infectious confidence that has made his career soar. Finally, an honorable mention goes to Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords, whose turn as a treasure-encrusted crab called Tamatoa is delightful and terrifying in turns. The chemistry between Cravalho and Johnson is excellent — a necessity for the film’s remarkably focused narrative. Moana, driven by wanderlust and the impending doom of her home island of Motunui, sets sail to find Maui and deliver him across the sea, where he must return the heart of island goddess Te Fiti. The script is full of heart, as can be expected from a Disney film, yet is acutely aware not just of itself, but of its predecessors, subverting the lack of inclusivity in previous movies

Moana and demigod Maui are voiced by Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, respectively, in Disney’s newest musical adventure. A beautiful view into a new future for Disney animated films, Moana enjoyed a successful first week in the box office. Photo courtesy of Disney

of its ilk with precise jabs. Though the story itself is formulaic in its liberal application of the nowtired “hero’s journey” format, its steadfast adherence to Moana’s perspective and the lack of an overarching villain set it apart. This might be a problem if Moana weren’t such a fascinating character, but her constant growth –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

But Moana is far more than a beacon of progress; the film itself is beautifully crafted as well. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and endless optimism buoy even the sparsest moments. And when comic relief is short, an absurdly brainless chicken named Heihei comes to the rescue. A scraggly creature incapable of performing even the most basic tasks, Heihei is the be-all, end-all of animal sidekicks. In most Disney films, the animal companion acts as a surrogate for the audience, subtly influencing events on-screen with a wink and a nod. Heihei, on the other hand, represents absolutely nothing. It’s simply a vacuous little chicken, and should assume its rightful place in pop culture memory as a rebuke of Disney formula. For Frozen, Disney enlisted two of the hottest composers on Broadway with songwriting duo Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, which paid dividends with the wildly successful “Let It Go.” To continue that legacy, Musker and Clements turned to the obvious choice: Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning creator of Broadway megahit Hamilton. Miranda’s versatility and preci-

sion infuse every song, from the sweeping “How Far I’ll Go” to the villainous “Shiny.” His collaboration with musician Opetaia Foa’i of the South-Pacific fusion group Te Vaka lends a savvy perspective to the songs that focus on Moana’s heritage, aiding in the creation of a fantasy world rooted firmly in a vibrant, enduring culture. Viewers will be rewarded for multiple listens, where the full complexity and brilliance of Miranda and Foa’i’s lyrics and instrumentation reveals itself. The excellence of Moana’s inner workings allows impressive visuals to stand out all the more. It’s hard to imagine how the animators could possibly render better-looking environments without crossing over into photorealism. The film’s islands are nothing short of breathtaking and the open ocean has never looked more inviting than in the film’s many aquatic vistas. But even surrounded by beauty as Moana and Maui are, the characters’ lifelike expressions steal the show. When Moana sings of crossing the ocean, she seems as real as the waves around her. Any film can be judged upon the quality of its climax, and Moana’s is gorgeous in every way. Animation, performance and music converge to craft a single moment that could send shivers down any spine, making “Know Who You Are,” though just over a minute long, the film’s most memorable song. It’s an apt encapsulation of the movie’s acute emotional intelligence, sense of style and reverence for the culture at its heart. With a stellar opening week at the box office, Moana is on track to become one of Disney’s greatest hits yet and has the potential to effect real change on the studio’s future work.

Oberlin’s Early Music Ensemble Revels in Tradition Eilish Spear Staff Writer

Oberlin’s Collegium Musicum has a history of bringing medieval, Renaissance and early baroque music to the Oberlin community and has developed an impressive following. The group will perform its holiday concert tonight and tomorrow night in Fairchild Chapel at 8 p.m., featuring tradition liturgical works from the Christmas and Advent season and a 20th century musical take on a 16th century text. Early music performance has undergone a great deal of turbulence and change over the last 60 years, and Oberlin has been at the forefront of its evolution since its resurgence. Groups dedicated to early music performance developed around the world during the counterculture revival of Renaissance music in the ’50s. In Europe, the movement was largely carried by professional musicians, but in the United States, colleges and academic institutions took the reins. Oberlin was revolutionary in its commitment to offering degrees for the study of early music and was one of the first places where students could receive studio instruction in the area. Many Collegium groups in the middleand late-20th century were treated as one-size-fits-all ensembles, where a single group would perform instrumental and vocal music with an emphasis on the pe-

riod instruments themselves rather than the music being performed. What makes Oberlin’s Collegium distinctive is that it is an entirely vocal ensemble, something that director Steven Plank considers very important. “Everybody ought to sing,” he told the Review. “Regardless of [your] musical direction, singing is one of the most wonderful ways of developing all kinds of things related to your musicianship.” Collegium is comprised of a diverse array of voices whose members are a crosssection of the Oberlin community, including College students, organists, orchestra ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What makes Oberlin’s Collegium distinctive is that it is an entirely vocal ensemble, something that director Steven Plank considers very important. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– players and more. “You can pretty much name it,” Plank said. “It’s a dream ensemble for me in every way.” This weekend’s program has a holiday bent with a twist. “There are sub-themes, too, that make this particularly fun — the way musical or textual material gets reinvented,” Plank said.

Several of the pieces the ensemble is performing are extensions and evolutions of existing works. Ludwig Senfl’s “Ave Maria,” for example, is based on the work of the same name by the legendary 16th century composer Josquin des Prez. But the concert will have more than just 16th century pieces; Morten Lauridsen’s setting of the liturgical text “O magnum mysterium” was written in the late 20th century. To Plank, adding pieces outside of the Renaissance strengthens the listening experience. “I think you hear pieces differently relative to what’s around them,” he said. The issue of garnering public interest in the arts is particularly difficult for early music. In an era with infinite access to every kind of entertainment, it can be challenging for musicians to attract an audience for 16th century motets. Plank, however, thinks that the history of the music, the spaces in which it is performed and the reasons for which it is performed all contribute to Collegium’s unique allure. “It has the appeal of unfamiliarity,” Plank said. “But the best of it … is the attraction of sound itself … not the intellectual idea, not the theoretical construction, but the sound [is] so intoxicating.” Historical perspective, too, is important to Collegium Musicum. “[It] brings historical curiosity into sound,” Plank said. “Here’s a chance to dwell in not only what

it sounds like, but to change yourself and your relationship to history.” Plank believes that a personal connection to history is essential to a well-rounded education. The community forged by Collegium is well established, as College senior and chorus member Claire Coleman attested to the Review. “I’ve sung with a lot of choirs, and there is something truly special and magical about Collegium that brings members back to visit years after graduation,” Coleman said. “You can look at the number of people who returned for the Collegium reunion last year as proof.” Double-degree senior Noel Warford, a fellow group member, emphasized this bond. “[Collegium] has been one of the constant pleasures of my life,” she said. “The musicianship of the ensemble is unparalleled … Professor Plank’s selections are exquisite and his programs flow like wine.” Plank finds joy in his meticulous artistry. “We have a remarkably good time in doing this,” he said. “This is music-making that is coming out of a kind of unprompted need to do it. This doesn’t meet a requirement. Nobody has to do it; they are there because they love to do it. And being able to provide that — what could be better?” Very little, according to Coleman. “I will miss Collegium more than almost anything else about my Oberlin experience,” she said. “There is nothing else like it.”

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Arts

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

On the Record with Sage Lewis, Composer A multimedia composer from Minneapolis specializing in film, Sage Lewis, OC ’04, graduated with a BA in Music Composition before completing his studies at California Institute of the Arts with an MFA. Though based in Los Angeles, his work has been screened at festivals diverse as Cannes Film Festival, the Havana Film Festival, SXSW and others. The Sundance Film Composer Fellow’s recent compositions have included the scores for Logan Kibens’ film Operator, starring Martin Starr and Mae Whitman, and Flaherty Pictures’ virtual reality film The Surrogate, which was nominated for SXSW’s Interactive Innovation Award in AR/ VR. His ability to integrate visual media with orchestral and electronic soundscapes has made him a prized figure on the Los Angeles composition scene. Lewis spoke with the Review over the phone about his time at Oberlin, his experience with Cuba and his recent work. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What about your time at Oberlin inspired you to compose music for film? I always knew that I wanted to write music. … But when I got [to Oberlin], I didn’t really know exactly what kind of music I wanted to write, and it was really cool getting classical training in orchestral music, ‘cause they’re really, really great fundamental skills and I learned a lot, and got great experience writing for [an orchestra] and conducting and doing string quartets and all that stuff. I really fell in love with that kind of music while I was there. However, as much as I enjoyed it and benefited from it, it wasn’t my most true expression, aesthetically, of what I wanted to create musically. So, I then left and wasn’t really excited to enter the world of contemporary classical music, or to get a PhD and become a professor in music composition, which is somewhat what the Conservatory prepares people for. So, I decided to move to LA and I went to CalArts, and I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to be a composer in a collaborative medium where I was working with theater and with film, and things like that. Being at Oberlin, I did get the chance to collaborate a lot with people from the arts school. I got married to my girlfriend at the time at Oberlin, who — her name’s Aleigh Lewis — she was an art major, and did video art as her concentration. So that was how we first bonded, over a music and video art collaboration, working together and talking about it, being inspired by it, stuff like that. So, I [was] definitely... opened to a lot of great types of working while I was at Oberlin. What was your relationship with studio art at the school? Before I came to Oberlin, I was kind of [equally an] original artist, equally a musician, and it was really hard to have to choose one. But when I got to Oberlin, I realized that I had to choose one … so I chose music. I knew in my heart that that was my best art form. I still wanted to learn more about visual art, take advantage of the art school and everything there, and so I was recommended this class called The Nature of the Abstract with John Pearson. … I think it was four credits, and it was only half a semester. It was a module class. And it was a really intensive studio art class. … It has you produce an insane amount of work — large-scale work. … Really, it’s about getting big ideas out, lots of them, on a really rapid basis, and having this huge creative output. That class was one of the coolest classes I’ve ever taken, and it’s not just about creating visual artwork, it’s just about being an artist, finding something inside you when you don’t think there’s anything left, creatively. ... My music classes were really great too. Randy Coleman, who was my teacher and my composition advisor, he had a really cool thing we did in the very beginning of the composition program where you have to write a piece a day for, I think it’s like 15 or 20 days straight, every single day you have to write a piece of music. … You just have to basically learn technique and how to start coming up with ideas. Even if you want to or not, or if you have them or not. And that’s something I have to do in my career now,

because you get … something thrown at you, sometimes you only have a day or two, it’s a completely unreasonable amount of time to do the work that they’re asking you to do, and you have other stuff going on in your life or in your work, and you have to make this person happy who’s hiring you to write this piece of music... And so those skills that I got at Oberlin were important because that was the beginning of learning how to form those types of techniques. Do the visuals of the film inform the score that you write for it? Yeah, that’s why I think chose film composing of all the paths that a composer can take, because I need that visual element, I thrive off it. There’s something that makes sense to me about visual art. And since film is so visual, I get inspired by the cinematography and whatever it is I’m looking at, and I basically consider myself a translator of taking visual ideas and turning them into musical ideas and then making those two go together in a very natural and integrated way. So, since I can’t really produce... I just don’t have the time or place to produce visual art anymore, but I still satisfy that part of my personality by writing music to visual. And it’s not always films; like, sometimes I score branded content. I’ve been lucky to work for this company in New York called Maiyet which makes their fashion... they make these beautiful little online marketing videos that show the process of where these clothes are made around the world … and it’s just a little piece of eye candy, and they ask me to create a little piece of ear candy to go with it. … That’s my favorite, in a lot of ways, my favorite type of work... and it’s one of my best skills, just understanding visual art and then bringing that into the musical space. What is the music scene like in Cuba, and how does it compare to that of Los Angeles? Well, they’re very similar in the sense that they have a happening scene with a lot of people who are very passionate about it, but other than that, they’re very different. ... There’s a lot of money that goes into film [in Los Angeles], and there’s a lot of money that comes out of film ... where in Cuba, there’s a lot of people making film … supported by the government, which it’s not here. … They believe film is important for their culture, and it represents their culture, and it’s a way for Cubans to also reflect on their culture. It was started right after the Cuban revolution; it was important to Fidel Castro and Che Guavara and all the revolutionaries to use film as a vehicle for social change and make it accessible to all Cubans. So they would have these filmmaker brigades that would go out into the ... countryside and mountains, and they would have these mobile movie theaters, projectors with big screens, and they would set them up and they’d show people movies for the first time in their lives. There’s a political slant; movies back from the beginning all the way to today have somewhat of a political message to them. The government funds a certain type of film with a political message. Sometimes that’s really great, and sometimes it’s also not great because there’s censorship. And then their movies don’t really make that much money, and they’re not necessarily supposed to make money. They also host the Havana Film Festival, which ... has become the most important film festival in Spanishspeaking cinema. They get people from all over Spain and Argentina, all over Latin America, Mexico — places where they have pretty thriving film industries. … There’s a lot of really cool parties and conferences and stuff like that. I’ve had a project that was in the Havana Film Festival, and I’m going out for it next month, taking a bunch of filmmakers from LA. You’ve worked a lot in the social side of the film scene; what did your work with the Sundance Institute involve? They have these labs where they invite directors, screenwriters, producers and then composers, to go to Sundance — the composers one is

Sage Lewis, OC ’04, is a Los Angeles-based composer known for his work in film, brand campaigns and virtual reality. Photo courtesy of Sage Lewis

actually at Skywalker Ranch ... they brought in an orchestra from the Bay Area to record the sessions, and we got to record in the most stateof-the-art recording facilities in, like, the whole world, probably, and then they had all these wellknown composers and directors come in and mentor us... it was a really, really intensive professional development experience and it was also great because then you get to develop a relationship with the Sundance Institute … they have events in LA that I get to go to on a regular basis and keep building relationships within the larger community of Sundance filmmakers. So, that was a really extraordinary experience to have. Could you speak to what it was like working on Operator? There was a very compressed timeline, and I knew there could potentially be a lot of music in this movie, so I didn’t want to have it all be rushed and not be my best work. So, I started writing the music early, which normally, composers wait until they have a finished edit. But [the director] would string some scenes together and send them my way and I’d start coming up with some ideas for music, so I was always just one step behind the editor. Then, as they locked the film edit, I already had a whole bunch of music ideas ready, and they sent it to me and I finished it off — it was a three or four month process. It’s a 90-minute film and there’s 60 minutes of music in it, so it’s ... this epic music film, which was really cool for me because … Music became one of the lead storytelling devices within the film. … A robo-voice is one of the main characters, … and it doesn’t have a body, it’s not a real person. … So, music is one of those ways that can flesh this character out that you’re hearing in a subliminal way, and you’re feeling this character, and they just don’t have a body. How is the process of creating virtual reality films different from regular film? Virtual reality is really interesting because it’s a whole new field … so, each project … they’re trying to pioneer something new and show a proof of concept rather than any sort of finished masterpiece. It’s like the way film was [in] 1910 or so. … It’s also different because the paradigm

is totally different in the sense that you’re on the inside looking out. [In] a regular film, you’re on the outside and you’re looking in, there’s this window that you’re looking through into this world. … A filmmaker can perfect that window, they can perfect everything about it; the timing of everything, the placement of everything, the framing of everything. Whereas in virtual reality, you can’t do that because there’s not one point of view, there’s infinite points of view, and you’re in the middle of the characters. You’re in their space, and you can’t hide that or deny it so you have to address it. … We did this piece called [The] Surrogate, which was a really cool piece, and it was telling a story. It was a short film, like a 15-minute film, and you’re in the film and you can move around and look at things from different perspectives. ... It was hard because we finished this thing, and then people started experiencing it, were [pre-release] beta testing it — that’s the other thing, you have to do a lot of beta testing with stuff like that — and people weren’t paying attention to the story. … So we had to redesign the whole thing by making it so people could actually explore the space first, and once their curiosity was fulfilled about this space that they were in, that’s when the story happened. Then they actually would watch it. You have to consider people’s psychology, and everyone’s different. That’s how all of virtual reality has to address all of these things that we’re not used to addressing. … Everything’s still kind of in research development because people think that it’s gonna be the next big thing, and so right now they’re just trying to get a foothold … so that they can be in a good place once the medium actually hits the market and becomes something that everyone has access to and that everyone is using. Film is kind of the opposite in that it’s almost at the end of its trajectory. It’s not that people won’t be making film a hundred years from now, per say, but people are going to see movies less. I mean, it’s turning into more episodic, serial work. People don’t go to movies as much, and people don’t want to make movies as much because they want to make a TV series or they want to do virtual reality or they want to do something else.

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

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Thanks to WITS, Poetry Inspires, Empowers at Langston Middle Victoria Garber Arts Editor Anticipatory conversation hummed in the Cat in the Cream Tuesday evening as a full audience awaited the start of the a A new documentary by John Beder, nnual poetry reading by Langston Middle School students. The event serves as the culmination of the Writersin-the-Schools program every fall semester, during which the students of Creative Writing 450: Teaching Imaginative Writing take up short residencies with a Langston class to teach lessons on reading and writing poetry. “We essentially had a book launch for these kids, which is so exciting that that’s a thing that you can do in middle school,” said College senior and Creative Writing major Elizabeth Rubel, who taught a class of seventh graders. “The reading in the Cat in the Cream was really fun. It’s not a huge space, and there were a lot of people there, so there was just a lot of energy and the kids were clearly … excited and nervous, but a whole lot of them got up and read.” Public performance — especially of personal material — can be a daunting prospect, but most students who attended decided to read. “I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to stand up and read poetry in front of a room full of people in sixth grade, seventh

and eight grade, so … props to them for doing that,” Rubel said. “We worked with 95 middle school students this fall, and almost half of them participated in the Cat in the Cream celebration,” Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Lynn Powell, who introduced the program’s teaching practicum courses and coordinates the Writers-in-the-Schools program, wrote in an email to the Review. Also impressive was the depth and variety of the poems they read, ranging thematically from favorite foods to childhood memories, to abstract concepts like communication and loss, or sadness as “a dark corner in a quiet room.” “There was one that was very funny; the kid was such a comedian,” Rubel said. “It was a favorite food poem … and he had this whole dramatic rendition [about] microwaving a hot pocket and eating it, and he really hammed it up for the audience.” Several students read poems inspired by photographs of meaningful childhood memories. Others were inspired by a prompt on unconventional relationships of fame, such as paint being famous to art or pens to paper. Another popular lesson was one on fantastical cities, which a Creative Writing resident had taught using an excerpt from Italo Calvino’s novel Invisible Cities, which is comprised of

dozens of descriptive prose poems. This novel inspired imaginative works outlining life in cities made of impossible materials like ice or glass. “Fewer … read personal poems than wrote personal poems, … which is completely understandable,” Rubel said. She read several deeply personal poems by students she had in class, particularly from a lesson she taught using a poem about origins. The lesson focused on experiential input like smells and sounds and stories to create what she described as “a ‘where you’re from’ that wasn’t based on a place but on an experience.” “There’s a student in the class that I taught who’s from Puerto Rico, … and the first day we were working with this class … he wrote his poem in English, and then wrote it again in Spanish,” Rubel said. “Another poem, [ for] the ‘Where I’m from’ poem prompt, he wrote ‘I’m from Puerto Rico,’ and it wasn’t in Spanish, but it had a lot of Spanish in it and was one of the best poems I think to come out of that lesson.” While he didn’t read either poem at the Cat in the Cream, he did share them with his classmates the day before the performance, which he’d been very reluctant to do. “I got the impression he wasn’t sure how speaking Spanish was going to fit into an English classroom,” Rubel said. This student’s progress working through

Spring Awakening Interrogates Taboo

questions of identity and otherness encapsulates why people like Powell are so passionate about teaching creative arts in public schools, regardless of the fact that many — or most — of those students will not pursue careers as professional writers. One counterargument to the claim that exposure to art and creative processes is an impractical use of time for most students in public schools is that such processes provide outlets for the kinds of internal conflicts other activities really can’t address. “They goofed around, they had fun with it, but it was really cool to see how for a lot of them it was a good outlet for things they maybe didn’t have … some other space to deal with,” Rubel said. “So often a child or young adult imagines they are the only one who feels what they feel or thinks what they think,” Powell wrote. “For both writer and listener, these experiences exercise the muscles of imagination, insight, and empathy. … It doesn’t matter whether any of these children become professional writers. What does matter is that they become more attentive to their own lives and to the lives of those around them.” In the words of seventh grader Katherine Doane, “Do not stop / giving life to / the blank slate of space / that cannot be broken / Do not stop, Do not stop, / and, Oh!”

To Quell Nerves, Address Them, Beder Suggests Continued from page 10

Oberlin Musical Theater Association presents Spring Awakening, a rock musical adapted for Broadway in 2006 from Frank Wedekind’s 1906 play of the same name. Controversial at the time due to its unflattering portrayal of late 19th century Germany, the play presents a powerful critique of a societal structure that insulates its young people from reality for their supposed protection. The story follows a cast of teenagers grappling with misinformation and taboos surrounding puberty and sexuality as well as issues of abuse, isolation and ostracization. “It’s when you really start to become yourself, that’s when the world tells you that you can’t,” said College sophomore Joe Owens, who plays the role of Moritz. Performances began Thursday and will run through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee Sunday at 2 p.m., in Hall Auditorium.

Text by Victoria Garber, Arts editor Photo by Eilish Spear, Staff writer

with in every lesson.” Jenkins has made health and wellness a focus of his tenure as associate dean. “Part of what I’m doing in the Conservatory is presenting ... wellness workshops, which focuses on improving mental and physical health as well as social health in the community,” he said. “As part of that, I wanted to be involved in the presentation of Composed, because I think it should play a role in an important discussion about anxiety and stress among musicians.” Oberlin’s commitment to having these difficult discussions became clear to Beder in his interactions with the College throughout the process of creating the film. “When we first started approaching schools about a film that deals with performance anxiety — and in some ways points a finger towards conservatories as maybe not having enough resources — there were two schools who responded immediately and said ‘We want to screen this, tell us the details, we want to figure this out,’” Beder said. “It was New England Conservatory and Oberlin.” The destigmatization of anxiety and the facilitation of discussions is important to many, and not just Conservatory students. “We feel that it’s for everyone — and not just musicians, too,” Beder said. “There’s anxiety in daily life for everyone, I think.” “Stories matter,” Slowick said. “There are a lot of people that are having anxiety these days, and the way to move past anxiety and into functional performance is always communication. By hearing a lot of artists’ stories about the struggle they have with themselves, perhaps it will support or kindle conversations that we can have with other people and allow us to meet them in a way that’s meaningful.”

Sports

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The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

In the Locker Room

Justine Siegal

Justine Siegal is the first woman to coach and throw batting practice in Major League Baseball. She earned her first coaching job in 2015 with the Oakland Athletics. In 2011, Siegal first threw batting practice to Cleveland, later working with the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and New York Mets. Most recently, Siegal founded a nonprofit organization, Baseball for All, which provides opportunities for girls to play baseball and educates the public on gender equity in sports.

I spent about 10 days with the team, so you have to quickly gain the trust of the players. The other coaches already have their trust because they have already been established as managers in professional baseball. We definitely felt like a team when we won. It was just really special to wear Israel across my chest and to think of my grandfather. It’s another dimension, and it was really cool.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Growing up, did you always want to coach in the MLB? I grew up as a girl who always wanted to play sports. Then, you would call me a tomboy. Now, it’s pretty normal for girls to play sports. I knew I wanted to become a coach when I was 16. Quite frankly, I wanted to first play for [Cleveland]. When I realized I wasn’t going to play for them, then I thought, “Well, maybe I could become a coach.” And I started working since I was 16 on how to get there. How did your educational background help you achieve your dreams in coaching? I decided to get a Ph.D. [in Sport and Exercise Psychology] when I was 16 actually, because the first person I told that I wanted to be a college baseball coach laughed at me. I thought, “Well, I won’t have the same opportunities as men to play professionally, but at least I can out-educate most of them.” It has allowed me to break boxes,

Justine Siegal, founder of Baseball for All and it’s often a lead-in when I’m applying for a job or in the media. It legitimizes some of my knowledge, and when you’re coaching with professionals you’re bringing a different tool to the toolbox, which is really important. What have the naysayers said to you, and how do you ignore them? When I was a teenager, I had a lot of things said to me, whether it’s sexual taunts or whether it’s telling me that it’s against God’s way to play baseball. But the younger generation is much more open, and I haven’t really been having any troubles other than just continually trying to get opportunities. The men that I work with, who are 20–23, like having a female coach. Once you can show that you know

what you’re doing and you can help them, they don’t care. They think it’s cool. Being the first woman to throw batting practice to a MLB team, what was that experience like? Throwing batting practice when you’re me is like show time, because unless you’re with the team regularly, everyone wants to see if you can do it. So everyone stops to watch and then it circulates around. I always get really nervous unless you’re with the team for a while; then it’s just batting practice. It’s fun to be in this joint action together. You’re throwing, and they’re hitting. There is a flow to it, and you’re helping them get their rhythm, but you are part of the rhythm. It’s like that athlete feel of why you play.

What did receiving your first coaching job with the Oakland Athletics mean to you? I worked for the A’s for two weeks during instructional camp. It seems like two weeks is nothing, but it took me four years of asking to get that opportunity. It really was a breakthrough moment for professional baseball and for me. Of course, it feels amazing. I got to put an A’s uniform on and go coach baseball. … I understand the significance of being the first, but that’s not why I did it. I did it because I love baseball and I love to help players. Did you enjoy your experience working as the mental skills coach with Team Israel, and what did you learn from international players?

What are the goals of your self-founded nonprofit organization, Baseball for All? I founded Baseball for All for girls to get to play baseball with other girls. When I was a kid I felt really alone being the only girl, and I thought to myself, “What would I have liked? To play baseball with other girls.” That’s what we do. We are the leaders, and we are really changing the general landscape of getting more girls involved in baseball. We want them to know they can do it. Are you satisfied with the direction of female inclusion within the MLB? The MLB started a diversity initiative to get more women involved. I think that more needs to be done. First, we have to get girls playing baseball. I know that there are also women with softball backgrounds that have done really well at different jobs. I’d like to see more. We are really just starting. Interview by Darren Zaslau, Sports editor Photo Courtesy of Justine Siegal

Editorial: Leagues Must Show Support for Muslim Athletes Continued from page 16 views she gave, Muhammad often mused that she loved fencing because it made her feel accepted. The fencing uniform mostly covered her hijab and put the focus on her sporting prowess rather than her religious expression. “I’ve always loved [that] in my sport once I put my mask on, I’m like everyone else,” Muhammad said in an interview with CNBC. “My uniform doesn’t seem different in any way. … I’m just solely known for my kind of athletic ability first and foremost.” Muslim athletes like Muhammad who are fighting to be recognized for their athletic ability were dealt a blow from President-elect Trump several months ago. In an effort to combat anti-Muslim rhetoric in the wake of the San Bernardino terrorist attack last December, President Obama stated in a speech, “Muslim Americans are our friends and our neighbors; our co-workers, our sports heroes,” to which Trump replied via Twitter: “Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?” Not only has Trump attempted to invalidate Muslim athletes and claim they don’t exist, he also directly tried to silence one of the most eminent Muslim athletes ever, the NBA’s leading all-time scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After Abdul-Jabbar, now a prominent journalist and author, wrote an essay in The Washington Post criticizing Trump’s attempts to intimidate the press, Trump wrote Abdul-Jabbar a handwritten response asserting that he has “no clue about life.” Trump apparently has no clue that there are numerous

Muslim Americans competing at the professional level who will not accept his rhetoric. Ryan Harris, an offensive tackle for the Steelers and Notre Dame alumnus who has condemned Trump’s rhetoric, said that up until this election, he always felt comfortable as a Muslim football player. “People need to know, I have had the best experience being Muslim both at Notre Dame and in [the] NFL,” Harris said in an interview with USA Today. “Every single one ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

With this news, the sportswear market promotes a trend of visibility and acceptance of Muslim athletes that has slowly taken hold in the sports world. But that progress is in danger given that the American public seemingly regressed in terms of religious tolerance by electing Donald Trump. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– of my coaches has respected me, asked me about it. My teammates ask me about it. I have never experienced any xenophobia in the NFL. … [But] when you start hearing that kind of rhetoric, and you can never control what some ... extremist is going to do, that’s going to have an effect on all of us.” Concerns about what an “extremist” can do are especially prevalent given the nature of professional sporting events, which gather tens of thousands of people in close

proximity and leave athletes virtually unprotected in an open field. Although players cannot necessarily offer physical protection to their Muslim teammates, they can certainly offer public support. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers set a great example of public support when he condemned anti-Muslim remarks made by a fan last year. Just days after the Paris terrorist attacks, the Green Bay Packers, hosting the Tennessee Titans, had a moment of silence for the victims. During that time of rememberance, a fan shouted, “Muslims suck.” In the post-game press conference, Rodgers made it clear that those type of remarks are not only unacceptable among fans and in the stadium, but they have consequences far beyond the football field. “It’s that kind of prejudicial ideology that I think puts us in the position that we’re in today, as a world,” Rodgers said. Although more non-Muslim athletes should follow Rodgers’ example, their statements of support are not enough. As xenophobic ideology spreads and the number of Muslim hate crimes rises, it becomes more important than ever that professional leagues reaffirm their commitment to protecting Muslim athletes. The NFL, NBA and other organizations should release statements of support for their Muslim players and leaders. Muslim athletes will continue to educate their teammates and speak out against hate. But the burden cannot fall solely on them. Non-Muslim members of the sports world must make it clear that there is no place for religious intolerance and hate in the game.

Sports

The Oberlin Review, December 2, 2016

Page 15

— Swimming and Diving —

Prangley Smashes Pool Record at Wittenberg Meet

First-year Paige Davies races in the 200-yard butterfly. The swimming and diving teams begin the Fredonia Invitational in Fredonia, NY, today. Photo Courtesy of OC Athletics

Alexis Dill The swimming and diving teams battled the Wittenberg University Tigers in Springfield, Ohio, Saturday, Nov. 19, but both the men’s and women’s teams came up short in a key North Coast Athletic Conference meet. The Yeowomen dropped a thrilling matchup 116–107 while the Yeomen fell 125–90. The afternoon

was filled with multiple first-place finishes, impressive rookie performances and a new pool record. “I think we have really come into our own this season,” said senior freestyler Maddie Prangley. “Every person on the team has the potential to earn some points.” Although the Tigers took an early lead, senior backstroker and freestyler Kathleen Falk got things going for the

Yeowomen when she achieved a mark of 11 minutes, 24.85 seconds in the 1,000-yard free, claiming first place. Prangley, who was recently named NCAC Swimmer of the Week, began her afternoon with a win in the 200free with a time of 1:58.35. But her most impressive race occurred later, when she set a new pool record with a 5:13.76 finish in the 500-free. Prangley and first-year Devyn Malouf, who

Men’s Basketball Searches for Momentum Entering NCAC Season Continued from page 16 Oberlin then fell to Illinois Institute of Technology 95–82. Oberlin’s lone conference loss came in the season opener, falling to the College of Wooster Fighting Scots 105–64 Nov. 16. The College of Wooster was ranked seventh in the nation at the time, which proved to be a challenging task for the Yeomen. The game gave the team a chance to give younger players like Holt a larger role. He scored a career-high 14 points. In addition to the prominent sophomore class, several of the seven firstyears on the Yeomen roster have received significant playing time. “The younger guys on the team have performed well,” senior guard Jack Poyle said. “There is a big change in the level of competition between high school and college, and I think the guys have handled it very well. It has been great to see.” Now, Oberlin is preparing for its Saturday matchup against the Youngstown State University Penguins, a Division-I program. Playing in the Horizon League, Youngstown State regularly faces off against NCAA Tournament regulars such as Valparaiso University and Oakland University. The Penguins have also participated in the CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament and play regular season non-conference games against basketball powerhouses, such as Michigan State University and Ohio State University. While the matchup will certainly be a difficult one, the Yeomen are excited

to take on the challenge. “For every kid who grew up wanting to play competitive basketball, attending and competing at a Division I school is the ideal goal,” first-year guard Joshua Friedkin said. “The general mood within our locker room is that we feel like we can battle with and beat any team out there. There is no question that we feel confident we can go into Youngstown and give them a battle.” The Yeomen will need such confidence as the season continues in order to bounce back from losing four of their first five games. After finishing last year 12–14 overall and 7–11 in the NCAC and graduating their second-leading scorer, center Randy Ollie, Oberlin is still searching for its identity on the hardwood. “I definitely think we’re still trying to figure ourselves out,” Head Coach Isaiah Cavaco said. “We’ve changed how we play, we’ve added some freshmen and sophomores to our rotation, so I think we’re all kind of feeling out where we belong within what we do.” Cavaco, who is entering his 11th season as Oberlin’s head coach, has mentored multiple All-NCAC players and five 1,000-point career scorers and has led the Yeomen into the conference tournament for the past four seasons. His accomplishments are on a level that Oberlin has not seen since the 1990s. “I’ve seen us play really well in stretches so I know we’re on the right track,” Cavaco said. “It’s just a matter of eliminating those major droughts that we’re having as well.”

finised second in the 200 free, earned their team a combined 13 points. Senior Vera Hutchison also had a strong showing, ending the day with two top finishes. In the 100-yard individual medley, she posted a time of 1:04.62. She also completed the 100yard fly in a season-best 1:01.86. The first-years made their presence known as Alex Grande and Sarah Dalgleish contributed a total of seven points to their team’s overall score after placing first and second, respectively, in the 50-yard free. Grande’s time was 27.28, while Dalgleish reached the wall at a time of 28.15. Grande also earned a secondplace finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:06.16. The men’s team also walked away with some encouraging results against Wittenberg. Sophomore Jacque Forbes and a trio of rookies led the way for the Yeomen. Forbes recorded a time of 22.74 in the 50-yard free, scoring a second-place finish. He then won the 100-free with a time of 49.82. First-year Michael Lin recorded his first triumph of the day in the 200free with a mark of 1:51.82. Later, he was the meet’s lone swimmer to finish the 100-yard breaststroke in under a minute, hitting the wall at 59.36. His fellow first-year Jonathan Liu achieved his season-best time of 58.73 in the 100-fly and won second place. Rookie Jack McKeown also earned a second-place finish in the 100-yard

backstroke. With the first-year swimmers continuing to impress, Forbes said he believes this bodes well for the team’s success at the Fredonia Invitational. “Our freshmen class is great, and I am looking forward to seeing them perform [after getting] a little more rest,” he said. Rookie Katja Zoner and senior Jean-Paul Gilbert dove unopposed. Zoner posted a mark of 202.10 on the one-meter board, while Gilbert achieved a mark of 208.25. On the three-meter board, Zoner scored a 176.15, and Gilbert notched 183.60. The teams will now set their sights on the Fredonia Invitational. The three-day event in Fredonia, NY, which begins today and ends on Sunday, represents an excellent opportunity for the teams to build off their positive individual performances. After the Fredonia Invitational, the teams will have nearly four weeks to train before their next meet. They will travel to Stuart, FL, for the Ed Kennedy Invitational Dec. 31. With significant time in between meets, the Yeomen and Yeowomen are determined to head into the break with momentum. “I think my goals for this weekend would be for everyone to leave everything they have in the water,” Prangley said. “And that not only means I want them to swim fast, but to put up a good race and cheer on their teammates.”

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Sports The Oberlin Review

December 2, 2016

— track & Field —

Track, Field Set for Spartan Holiday Classic Sydney Allen Production Editor Last year’s indoor season brought four individual North Coast Athletic Conference Championships for the track and field team, and the squad looks to get on that same path to success tomorrow as it kicks off the winter season at the Case Western Reserve University Spartan Holiday Classic in Cleveland. “We worked really hard in pre-season and after working out for three or four months, you just want to compete against people that aren’t your teammates, and you want to see people from other schools,” said junior thrower and captain Monique Newton. Newton was named an NCAA All-American last winter and finished second nationally in shot put. Newton and her teammates will compete against Ohio rivals this weekend, including Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll Univer- Junior thrower and three-time All-American Monique Newton launches the shot put. A Sacramento, CA sity, Ohio Wesleyan University and Muskingum native, Newton is also a track and field team captain. Photo Courtesy of OC Athletics University. Head Track and Field Coach Ray Appenheimer said that he is eager for the teams to compete in the non-scoring meet. son: Newton, junior Ana Richardson, senior Mad- ference meets in the spring. Both teams lost a lot “[The Spartan Holiday Classic is] a really nice eline Batzil and junior Lilah Drafts-Johnson. The of talent with the graduating classes last year and opener for our student athletes who have been Yeomen captains are junior James Tanford, senior must work hard to fill the gaps. working so hard all fall to finally get a chance to EJ Douglass and senior Bradley Hamilton. The Yeomen in particular graduated some key show off all the hard work they’ve put in,” he said. Both teams also have their fair share of first- figures. Geno Arthur, OC ’16, was named the 2016 Although the distance runners just completed years, with 25 rookies lacing up their spikes tomor- NCAC Outdoor Distance Athlete of the Year, earned their cross-country season and started practicing row. While many first-year distance runners, such All-American honors and was arguably the greatest with the indoor track team Monday, the rest of the as Marija Crook, Shannon Wargo and Oona Jung- men’s runner in Yeomen history. Though a runner team has been training all semester for this first Beeman already had an opportunity to compete like that is hard to replace, the men’s team will look meet. Numerous runners trained throughout the in cross-country, others will begin their collegiate to other members to help lead the pack. summer, rarely taking a break from the year-long career tomorrow. “It’s a matter of everyone working hard, doing practice schedule. While practices look the same “Coming in as a [ first-year] was intimidating at their part, supporting their teammates around no matter the season, some team members prefer first, because it was a new team and I didn’t know them, challenging them — you’re not going to reindoor track and field because it eliminates the where I would fit,” said first-year distance runner place someone like Geno Arthur, but we have lots elements. Will Taylor. “But I quickly realized how easy it was of guys who are aspiring to get there,” Appenheimer “My event is definitely much easier indoor than to be a part of the team. The senior captains do a said. outdoor because of the weather,” said senior pole- good job at checking in with everyone and that atLooking ahead, both teams will travel eastward vaulter Ave Spencer. “Indoors, we don’t have to titude flows down to other people on the team as to Kent, Ohio, to compete in the Kent State Uniworry about the cold, the wind or rain, which can well.” versity Golden Flash Gala Dec. 9–10. Following the really impact how you jump.” This winter season will be a time for the teams holiday break, the teams will host the Crimson and Four captains will lead the Yeowomen this sea- to build their cohesion before the competitive con- Gold Invitational Jan. 13.

— men’s basketball —

Yeomen Look to Rebound Against Youngstown Alex McNicoll The Yeomen’s early season struggles continued with an 87–73 loss to the Muskingum University Fighting Muskies Wednesday, dropping the team’s record to 1–4 overall and 0–1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. With less than one week remaining before the team’s next conference matchup, the Yeomen must find their stride if they want to make a postseason push. “I think the biggest problem with our team so far is the inconsistency,” sophomore forward Eric Holt said. “When we play our game we will go on runs against the other team. Whenever we don’t play our style we start giving up open shots and offensive rebounds, which is not a winning recipe.” The Yeomen got off to a slow start against the Muskies, shooting just 26.4 percent from the field in the first half. Trailing 37–24 at halftime, Oberlin was forced to make a few adjustments and in the final 20 minutes of play, the Yeomen found their offensive rhythm. The team made six three-pointers in the second half and was only outscored by the Muskies 50–49. With this win, Muskingum remains undefeated, improving to a 4–0 record for the season. The Muskies’ offense was dominant throughout the entire game, making 55.4 percent of its shots, while Oberlin shot just 39.7 percent. Senior Nate Cohen led the Yeomen’s offense, totaling 19 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Asiya Empowers Athletes Jackie McDermott Sports Editor Hijab-wearing Muslim athletes received some much-needed good news on Monday. A duo of female entrepreneurs announced that they will release a line of hijabs made from a breathable material that absorbs sweat, empowering some Muslim athletes to play more comfortably. Fatimah Hussein, a Somali immigrant and founder of a girls’ sports non-profit, and her business partner Jamie Glover founded the sportswear company Asiya to meet the demand from the ever-growing number of Muslim girls and women participating in athletics. With this news, the sportswear market promotes a trend of visibility and acceptance of Muslim athletes that has slowly taken hold in the sports world. But that progress is in danger given that the American public has seemingly regressed in terms of religious tolerance by electing Donald Trump, who has promoted xenophobic and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Positive developments such as Asiya’s work should be celebrated, but the sports world must continue to ensure that Muslim athletes are accepted. Ibtihaj Muhammad brought hijabs in sports to the forefront of global conversation during the Olympics last summer. Muhammad, who competed with the women’s fencing team in Rio, was the first hijabwearing athlete to compete for Team USA. Fans, sports broadcasters and corporate sponsors alike embraced Muhammad as a poised, outspoken symbol of diversity in the midst of an election that spouted anti-minority rhetoric. In the numerous interSee Editorial, page 14

Sophomore Eli Silverman-Lloyd attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds against Illinois Institute of Technology during the Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by the Yeomen. Photo Courtesy of OC Athletics

Prior to the Muskingum game, the Yeomen hosted the Thanksgiving Classic. Oberlin faced Kalamazoo last Friday, and although three different Yeomen scored in the double digits, they could not come back from their early deficit and lost 74–70. Two days later, Oberlin then fell to Illinois Institute

of Technology 95–82. Oberlin’s lone conference loss came in the season opener, falling to the College of Wooster Fighting Scots 105–64 Nov. 16. The College of Wooster was See Men’s Basketball, page 15