Kendal at Oberlin Designated Tree Campus Healthcare Institution

Yendi Kai Foo

The Arbor Day Foundation recently dubbed Kendal at Oberlin a 2022 Tree Campus Healthcare institution.

This award was presented in March of this year to only 35 healthcare institutions nationwide who made a considerable impact on wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement.

In line with the City of Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan, this award is a testament to the community’s commitment to a better environment in Oberlin. The Tree Campus Healthcare program standards also include an advisory committee, a tree care plan, participation in community forestry projects, celebration events, education campaigns, and a financial commitment to investing in trees, education events, and community outreach.

The project was spearheaded by Kendal at Oberlin’s Horticulturist and Arboretum Curator Rachel Duncan, with much assistance from the community members on her committee.

“The John Bartram Arboretum [places] a high level of focus on education, community engagement, health and well-being, collaboration, and responsible investment and planning for the future,” Duncan said.

Duncan said that they arrived at this point organically and cited the City of Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan and its more than 20-year-long participation in the Tree City USA program as inspi- ration for its arboretum and applying for the award. Kendal at Oberlin was also re-accredited with full compliance by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the sixth time.

The Arboretum is just one part of the campus’ wider sustainability initiative. Kendal at Oberlin Chief Executive Officer Barbara Thomas, as well as Director of Sales and Marketing Terry Kovach, note that they are following the City’s steps to a zero carbon community. Currently, they are focusing on ways to create a sustainable community with minimum pollution. In addition to new technological infrastructure, including solar panels and electric stoves, they are looking to minimize their light pollution and become a dark sky community through their LED Lighting Retrofit project, aided by a $44,000 grant from the City of Oberlin.

Karthik Ranganadhan

Editors’ note: This week’s world news series contains mentions of death and murder.

Indigenous Woman Found in Landfill in Winnipeg

The remains of a second Indigenous woman were found in a landfill on Monday in Winnipeg, Canada. The first woman found in the Brady landfill in May 2022 was identified as Rebecca Contois. Police believe that the deaths of the two women were unrelated.

Contois’ murder is believed to have been committed by alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki, who is now in custody. A feasibility study is now underway to determine if the Prairie Green landfill in Winnipeg can be searched for the remains of two other missing women, presumed to be murdered by the same person who killed Contois. Police believe the recently killed woman was found only hours after being killed, while the other bodies are possibly buried under pounds of garbage.

Former U.S. President Trump Charged with 34 Felonies

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was charged with 34 felonies by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The charges stem from accusations that Trump falsified business records regarding hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. It is the first time that criminal charges have been brought against a U.S. president. He faces a maximum of four years of jail time for each count, for a total of 136 years if convicted on every count, and the sentences run consecutively. Legal experts, however, are unsure of how likely it is that Trump will face jail time.

Leader of Indian Opposition Appeals Defamation Conviction

Rahul Gandhi, who is the leader of the Indian opposition, has appealed his conviction on counts of criminal defamation.

Gandhi, who is a leader of the Indian National Congress, was sentenced to two years in prison for remarks he made in a speech in 2019, where he compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prominent fugitives and thieves Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi on the basis of a shared last name. The twoyear sentence is the minimum required to expel Gandhi from the Indian Parliament, which he was disqualified from on March 24. His appeal comes through a storm of criticism of the conviction and expulsion from opposition leaders and concerns about the country’s democracy.

Friday, March 31

Security Report

Custodial staff reported graffiti in a room on the third floor of Robertson Hall and on the tile ceilings.

Saturday, April 1

Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in a kitchen of Fairchild House.

Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at a Goldsmith Village Housing Unit.

Sunday, April 2

Student reported the theft of their men’s Giant bicycle from the southernmost bike rack of Zechiel House.

Monday, April 3

Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Price Hall.

Tuesday, April 4

Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire at Wilder Hall.

Wednesday, April 5

Officers and Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Severance Hall.