September 14, 2018 by The Oberlin Review

The Oberlin Review September 14, 2018

established 1874

Volume 147, Number 2

MENA Students Seek Space, Recognition on Campus Roman Broszkowski Senior Staff Writer

Dual-degree sophomore Corley Friesen-Johnson and Conservatory junior Maggie King hanging out in South Hall. A master key to the dorm went missing toward the end of the Spring 2018 semester. Photo by Devin Cowan

ResEd Misplaces South Hall Master Key Jenna Gymnesi News Editor

Editor’s note: Editor-in-Chief Nathan Carpenter is a student staff member for the Office of Residental Education, and was uninvolved with the reporting and editing of this story. A master key to South Hall, one of Oberlin’s largest traditional housing facilities, has been missing for several months. This key is able to access any room in South Hall, which has a capacity of 220 students. “The College became aware of a master key being missing toward the end of the [spring] semester,” said Andy Sadouskas, assistant dean. Residents were not informed about the potential security risk, and the locks have not been changed since the discovery of the missing key. Instead, Oberlin Facilities and Operations simply replaced the key. “I feel lied and cheated to by ResEd,” said Birsa Chatterjee, a former RA and current South resident. “They do nothing but f**k students over. There is so much wrong with our living situations. It’s not fair for students to pay so much, to live in a building like this, and have them do nothing about the key.” Chatterjee was employed as an RA at the time the master key disappeared. “I was still in the group chat. We knew the key went missing. The protocol is that all the locks should be changed. I have a lot of valuables in my room and a lot of robberies have already happened in South,” Chatter-

jee said. Many South Hall residents are worried about their security and the security of their personal belongings. “Not being informed is terrifying. Someone could steal something, or hurt me or one of my quad mates,” College sophomore Reet Goraya explained. “I think it would have been nice to be told about it. If something happened in my room, I would want to know what the first possibility would be,” Conservatory junior Colin Anderson said. “I will be more secure about where I put things in my room.” “Some people keep necessary medications in their rooms. If someone has a key like that, that medication could be taken from someone who really needs it,” said College junior Connor Swan. Other South Hall residents feel that the disappearance of the key is not a pressing threat to their safety. “If someone has it, it could be bad. I feel pretty safe around here, but it may scare other people,” first-year Nico Moreta said. “I do not care. I lock my door, but there are so many other rooms in this building,” said College senior Eliot Sernau. EmmaLia Marriner, a College senior and lead RA of the FEAST cluster, which includes Fairchild House, East Hall, South Hall, and Talcott Hall, believes that ResEd recognizes both the importance of security on campus and the costs of obtaining security. “I know that they [Residential Ed-

ucation Staff] really prioritize security on campus. They are always looking for ways to increase security on campus, whether that be ID swipes, keys for rooms, things like that. It is a major concern for campus. However, those kinds of materials are very expensive. So they always have to weigh the benefits of security and the somewhat incredible costs of paying for that security. With a master key lost, there is no way to know if someone has that key or if they ever want to use it malevolently. But the cost is incredible; You have to justify what kind of risk losing a master key like that poses and if it justifies the cost.” Facilities did not provide an estimate of the cost involved in changing the locks in South Hall. However, the Office of Residential Education Housing and Dining Regulations details that students will be charged “at least $60 per lock change.” There are nearly 150 rooms in South Hall. Andy Sadouskas assured that the College will continue to pursue precautions to enhance security. “The College is always looking for ways to improve processes. We will be making requests to purchase new key boxes with either ‘trap keys’ or card access so we know who is accessing master keys. We will also advocate for replacing all keyed spaces with keyless locks as keyless cards can be shut off if lost.” The whereabouts of the master key remain unknown. No new locks have been installed, but an additional key has been created to replace the misplaced one.

Amid potential budget cutbacks, students are joining together to create a union that both supports students of Middle Eastern and North African descent and advocates for the expansion of MENA studies at Oberlin. Two groups of students, one geared toward creating a space for people of MENA descent and another aimed at developing the MENA Studies department, are taking action to make the region more visible on campus. College senior Aatifah George is the co-chair of the new Middle Eastern and North African Students Association. “It’s needed for a lot of reasons,” she said. “We are a community of color, but we’re not treated that way; we’re basically invisible.” In the United States, the government’s classification of the Middle Eastern racial identity has been changed frequently. Since 1943, the federal government has included Middle Eastern and North African people into a broader “white” grouping. In 2014, the Census Bureau announced a proposed separate MENA racial category to be included on the 2020 census. However, this plan was halted in January 2018. “It is very important to me to talk about how Arabs and Middle Easterners are truly their own ethnic or racial group,” George said. “We are often put in categories that don’t accurately depict our group, and frankly that’s kind of sad.” Accurately representing the diversity within Middle Eastern identities will be one of the group’s main goals. “A lot of people use Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern interchangeably,” George said. “[Although] a lot of people who identify with the Middle East are not Muslim [or Arab], especially in America.” The organization’s proposed name, MENASA, mirrors the wide range of people it seeks to represent. “[We want] to try and be inclusive as possible,” George said. “Basically any student that identifies with the Middle East, whatever that means to them, we want [them] to be a part of this group.” For George, the group is also a response to a lack of institutional support for students in the MENA Studies program. “The fate of the Arabic [program] is kind of up in the air at the moment,” she said. Two of the MENA Department’s six faculty members are currently on sabbatical and only one professor has been hired to teach Arabic. There is currently no major offered due to a lack of faculty. Despite the demand for higher-level language classes, the department is only able to offer students 100 and 200-level Arabic classes. College junior Antonia Offen is a MENA studies student who wanted to continue Arabic at the 300 level. “There wasn’t an Arabic class being offered, so I talked to my professor and other students about what we could do to get a class,” Offen said. “Through that conversation, I kind of stumbled into the fact that there [was] ... either nothing being offered for various things involving Middle See MENA, page 4

CONTENTS NEWS

OPINIONS

THIS WEEK

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

02 Agave Staff, Patrons Allege Racial Bias in OPD Incident

05 College Owes Christie’s Victims Compensation

08 Get Involved with Activism at Oberlin

10 Ari Lenox Delivers Powerful Performance

15 From the Bass to Baseball: Perfecting the Right Pitch

03 Ken Harbaugh Talks Politics with Students

07 Oberlin Dining Forum Highlights Issues with Sensationalist Activism

12 On the Record with Adriana Vergara

16 Swooshes up in Ashes, Nike up in Shares

The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

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Agave Staff, Patrons Allege Racial Bias in OPD Incident

Students enjoying a meal in Agave Tequilaria, where an incident of alleged racial profiling occurred last Friday. Photo by Patrick McBride

Gabby Greene News Editor Lu Zucker Sergeant Steven Chapman of the Oberlin Police Department entered Agave last Friday night and engaged in what sources say was discriminatory behavior toward Black customers. An anonymous male called the Oberlin Police Department on Friday to report a group of people in the alley between Agave and Lorenzo’s the night of the incident, claiming he suspected the group of dealing drugs. Chapman

advised OPD to dispatch two police units, both of which arrived at the scene before 11 p.m with a K-9 unit. Chapman was the only officer who entered Agave. According to Agave manager Mee-ae Chatman-Nelson, shift leader and bartender Galen Mackay-Bentoff, and a cashier who will be referred to as Maggie, Chapman told Chatman-Nelson that Agave “should be more selective about their clientele.” At that time, there were approximately 15 Black people and three white people, including staff, in the restaurant.

“I really felt it was racial profiling,” customer and community member Mykal Isom said. “How can you have any say on any business that’s making money from all races at the end of the day?” Isom was one of the customers who questioned what Chapman meant by his statement about clientele. Mackay-Bentoff and Maggie claim Chapman attempted to justify his comment by gesturing toward a Black customer and suggesting he knows him from his criminal record. “[Chapman] kept saying [the customer’s] name. He kept repeating, ‘How do you think I know that name?’” Maggie said. Mackay-Bentoff believes Chapman tried to agitate the man he questioned, and claims Chapman accused him of selling drugs. One point of tension during the event was a bottle of Crown Royal found outside Agave. Officers Raymond C. Feuerstein and Bashshar H. Wiley were the two officers who made contact with people sitting on back steps of Agave, where they found the opened bottle. By law, customers are not allowed to take drinks outside of the restaurant. Regarding the

drink, Agave management has since adopted a plan where kitchen staff complete routine checks in the dining room. According to Chatman-Nelson, Chapman discovered the opened bottle that Feuerstein and Wiley found, and then warned her and Maggie about the restaurant’s liquor license. “He was walking out, but he was still scolding us, telling us that the police don’t care about what happens, but that liquor control does,” Chatman-Nelson said. “And so he was saying that he didn’t really care about what was going on, but that if they came in here that we would get our license taken.” Maggie’s account ends differently. “As he was walking out, [Chatman-Nelson and I] said we would consider his advice, and then he turns around and goes, ‘It wasn’t advice,’” Maggie said. Chatman-Nelson and Maggie were the main staff who claimed they de-escalated the situation. Chapman first spoke to manager Chatman-Nelson when he advised staff against their clientele. Chapman left after speaking to Maggie and Chatman-Nelson

together. Maggie, who was offduty at the time, believes Chapman listened to her because she is white. Chatman-Nelson, MackayBentoff, and Maggie, as well as at least two customers, believe Chapman’s actions toward customers were racially motivated. One customer believes Chapman has a history of racial discrimination. “Officer Chapman has made a very, very bad mark in this town with minorities in general. But also anybody that doesn’t look privileged, Caucasian — he will definitely give you problems,” said a long-term Agave customer, wishing to remain anonymous for security reasons. According to OPD Lieutenant Michael McCloskey, the department has asked Sgts. Patrick Durica and Melissa Lett to implement an anti-bias training program for all officers. While the trainers have been prepared, training sessions have yet to begin. Individual OPD officers have completed anti-bias trainings in the past, but under no mandate. “In most cases, [anti-bias See Agave, page 4

Lorain, Ohio Misses Deadline on Medical Marijuana Program Anisa Curry Vietze Medical marijuana dispensaries are still inactive in Lorain County even though they were expected to be fully functional by the target date of Sept. 8. Ohio legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes in House Bill 523. The bill detailed that the program should be up and running two years after it was approved. More than two years after its passage, medical marijuana is still not available in Lorain County — or anywhere else in Ohio. State Representative Dan Ramos helped craft House Bill 523 and expressed concern about the delay. “I’m very worried from a public health perspective,” he said. “We didn’t write a law that said ‘develop a medical marijuana program,’ we wrote a law saying ‘develop a medical marijuana program that is up and running by Sept. 8.’ It wasn’t at all optional. The state of Ohio is currently breaking the law; the Kasich administration is breaking the law. No one seems to be doing anything about it, and Ohioans are suffering, needlessly.” Since the legalization of medical marijuana in Ohio, Councilmember Kelley Singleton has advocated for the establishment of medical marijuana facilities in Oberlin. Singleton was not surprised that the deadline was missed on the local

level. “The bill itself was so poorly designed for people who are advocates; it was designed greatly for people who didn’t want this.” Singleton explained, “If you were applying for a license for a small grow facility or a large grow facility, they gave preferential treatment to people who would build new buildings. All these abandoned buildings that we have in the state of Ohio and they demanded that you build a new facility. That doesn’t make any sense, but if you think about it, that adds to the time it takes to get this thing rolling. So ... now you have to build a building, rather than you win and now you can move in here and start growing.” Contrary to Singleton, Ramos felt that the delay had more to do with inefficiency rather than an intentional obstruction. “I don’t know if it’s logistics or incompetence or whatever, but politically, I don’t know that there would be anyone stopping this. If all you cared about was getting re-elected this [bill] polls well across the board, so politically it makes sense for this thing to be up and running.” In Lorain County, six doctors have been certified to prescribe marijuana. Of those six, three work for Mercy Health. “Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and the federal government has indicated it will enforce federal laws

The Oberlin R eview September 14, 2018 Volume 147, Number 2 (ISSN 297–256) 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 secondclass 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

Editors-in-Chief

Sydney Allen Nathan Carpenter Managing Editor Ananya Gupta News Editors Gabby Greene Jenna Gyimesi Opinions Editor Jackie Brant Cont. Opinions Editor Luce Nguyen This Week Editor Mikaela Fishman Arts Editors Kate Fishman Katie Lucey Sports Editors Alexis Dill Ify Ezimora Photo Editors Mallika Pandey Maria Turner

against the drug in states that have decriminalized its production and sale, including for medical purposes,” said a statement from Mercy Health. “Given that, Mercy Health is not at this time asking its physicians to undergo the twohour training program.” Ramos explained that he is most concerned about getting people the medical attention they need as quickly as possible. “We heard from dozens, if not hundreds, of Ohioans suffering from everything from PTSD, to multiple sclerosis, to cancer, to AIDS who said that they know this would help them. I went to Colorado — not on state expense, by the way — and I met a kid who used to have 100 seizures a day. He was maybe 11 or 12 and we were just having a conversation. He was like, ‘Yeah, this is the pill I take, my mom puts the oil in the pill and I take it twice a day. There is absolutely no way I could be here talking to you right now without that medicine.’” Once the program becomes operational, 21 medical conditions could qualify a patient to be treated with medical marijuana. These include — but are not limited to — pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord disease or injury, Alzheimer’s disease, all types of cancer, Tourette’s syndrome, and traumatic brain injuries.

Layout Editors

Anya Spector Tori Fisher Lila Michaels Lillian Jones Business Manager Jared Steinberg Ads Manager Jabree Hason Web Manager Mikaela Fishman Production Manager Giselle Glaspie Production Staff Olive Hwang Lior Krancer Leo Lasdun Devyn Malouf Katherine McPhail Madi Mettenburg Annie Schoonover

As for the future of medical marijuana for the people of Oberlin and Ohio as a whole, Councilmember Singleton remains optimistic. “Logistically, they just did everything they could to throw stuff in the way, but it’s still coming and it’s going be successful, and it will help a lot of people.” Ramos is worried about the potential duration of the delay. “People are suffering,” he said. They had to wait however many years for us to realize that this needed to become legal, then they had to wait another two years knowing that it was legal but they couldn’t get it, and now they’re waiting until maybe December, maybe January, maybe who knows?” Although, medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, Oberlin College still does not permit recreational or medical marijuana usage on campus. “Oberlin College is required to abide by the Drug Free Schoools and Community Acts in order to maintain our funding, including financial aid,” said Thom Julian, Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Julain recommends that students contact the Counseling Center and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards if students need guidance navigating the policy or alternative options.

Corrections: In “Administration Announces Campus Dining Changes Amid Budget Crisis,” (Sept. 7, 2018), Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo was incorrectly quoted as saying that Stevenson Dining Hall was previously sometimes serving 200-300 people for lunch. The correct figure is 300-400. The photograph for “Administration Announces Campus Dining Changes Amid Budget Crisis,” (Sept. 7, 2018), was incorrectly attributed to Photo Editor Mallika Pandey. The photo was taken by Patrick McBride. To submit a corrrection, email managingeditor@ oberlinreview.org.

Career Center Unveils New Career Strategy Roman Broszkowski Senior Staff Writer The Career Development Center is preparing to implement a new Career Communities Strategy in an effort to help students secure jobs after graduation. The initiative will create communities based on shared fields of interest and will be led by an expert advisor who has experience working in relevant industries. “The Career Communities Strategy … is about helping students make those connections between what they’re studying to potential career industries of interest,” said Lori Young, Director of the Career Development Center. Implementing the strategy represents a major priority for the Career Development Center, but the process remains slow. No hard deadline has been established for the creation of the communities and only three have been fleshed out as concepts: Business Finance and Consulting, NonProfit Education and Social Service, and the Arts and Creative Careers Community. College third-year Miyah Byers has been working with the Career Center to develop the communities the program will focus on and agrees that connections are essential in obtaining post-graduation employment. “It’s community, community, community,” Byers said. “At

the end of the day, it is about who can put in a good word for you to somebody [who is] important and bring you in. That’s why having connections and being able to build them, having the skills to network with someone, is so important.” Some hope that the community groups will create much-needed career resources for students interested in the arts. “Anyone who is doing anything that is involved with film ... it’s about who you know,” Byers said. “Other schools … have connects [sic], have networks, if you know us you know them. I think that’s something that Oberlin is trying to build.” To mitigate this, the Career Center has proposed an Arts and Creative Careers Community and has worked closely with Conservatory faculty to understand the needs of students hoping to work in the arts. Prior to the Communities Strategy meetings, the Office of Conservatory Professional Development, run by Director Dana Jessen, was the only arts-specific employment resource on campus. However, the office was mostly geared toward Conservatory students. An informational sheet Jessen shared with the Review mentions the office helping College students only in the context of those in double-

Security Notebook Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018

College seniors Sadie Keller and Marcus Hill talk in the Career Development Center. The Career Development Center recently launched a series called Career Communities. Photo by Maria Turner

degree or Musical Studies programs. Yet, many of the things Jessen helps Conservatory students with are applicable to College students pursuing careers in the arts. With the Arts and Creative Careers Community, the Career Development Center is seeking to replicate the type of services Jessen offers with students across departments and outside of the Conservatory. “One exciting aspect of the new program is its focus on combining resources of both the Conservatory and the College while strengthening interactions with alumni and parents from both areas,” wrote Peter Swendsen, OC ’99, Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts and Chair of the TIMARA Department, in an email to the Review. The Communities Strat-

egy, which Young is hoping to start after fall break, reflects an administration priority to increase its employment-oriented resources. “Review of peer institutions demonstrates that Oberlin is leanly staffed in this area,” Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo said. “At a time when national discourse raises doubt about the value of a college education, Oberlin can play a leadership role by demonstrating how a liberal arts and/or conservatory education are more important now than ever.” Those working on the project remain excited about its potential impact on the student community. “There is general excitement just because I think it’s good thing, it’s a good resource, it’s going to help put a lot of Oberlin students on the map if it’s successful and done correctly,” Byers said.

Ken Harbaugh Talks Politics with Students

1:35 p.m. A staff member reported a vehicle accident in the Wilder Hall parking lot. A box truck struck the rear of a parked vehicle. There were no injuries. 11:01 p.m. Campus Safety officers responded to a report that a student was having an allergic reaction in East Hall. An ambulance transported the student to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment.

Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 11:30 p.m. Campus Safety officers assisted a student in South Hall who was ill from alcohol consumption. After speaking with the individual in their room, the officer found them to be OK for the evening.

Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 1:50 a.m. Campus Safety officers were requested to assist a student at South Hall who was ill from alcohol consumption. An ambulance was dispatched. The student was transported to Mercy Allen Hospital for treatment. 1:41 a.m. Campus Safety officers assisted a student who was locked in a room on the first floor of Rice Hall. The student was located, found to be OK, and exited the building. 12:27 p.m. Campus Safety officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm on the third floor of Dascomb Hall. Smoke from cooking and a malfunctioning exhaust fan caused the alarm. The alarm was reset, and a work order was filed to repair the exhaust fan. 1:54 p.m. Campus Safety officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at a Village Housing Unit on Elm Street. The alarm was activated by smoke from cooking. The smoke was cleared and the alarm reset. 11:31 p.m. Campus Safety officers were requested to assist an intoxicated student on the east side of Wilder Hall. The officers contacted the student, who was able to answer all questions and was transported to their dorm for the evening. 11:58 p.m. Campus Safety officers were requested to assist a student on the third floor of Dascomb Hall who was ill from alcohol consumption. After answering all questions asked of them, the student was escorted to their room in Barrows Hall.

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018

Democratic congressional candidate Ken Harbaugh spoke with students at a gathering in Wilder Hall, room 112 last Friday, Sept. 7. Harbaugh — a Navy veteran and a graduate of Duke and Yale Universities — is running to unseat Republican Bob Gibbs in Ohio’s seventh congressional district. While Oberlin is in the fourth district, currently represented by Republican Jim Jordan, several Oberlin students have begun internships with the Harbaugh campaign that they will carry out through Election Day on Nov. 6. Harbaugh is among many Democrats, both in Ohio and nationwide, who are running competitive races in traditionally Republican districts — including Democrat Janet Garrett, an Oberlin resident who is challenging Jim Jordan’s seat.

The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

Text by Nathan Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief Photo by Fisher Johnson, Staff Photographer

3:00 a.m. Campus Safety officers responded to Finney Chapel after hearing several noises coming from the area. Upon entering the building, officers located two students inside. The students were warned about entering buildings after hours and were escorted from the building. 12:21 p.m. Campus Safety officers and members of the Oberlin Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at a Village Housing Unit on Elm Street. The alarm was activated by smoke from burnt toast. The area was cleared and the alarm reset.

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MENA Students Seek Opportunities on Campus Continued from page 1

Eastern studies and Arabic or that [there were] very disjointed things … occurring on their own.” Together with Leo Hochberg and Sophie Drukman-Feldstein, two College juniors, Offen began to advocate for expanding the MENA Studies department. “The East Asian Studies department, the Russian [and East European Studies] department, the German [Language and Literatures] department have all of these classes being offered that would be a dream for us,” Offen said. “We would never get them; it’s impossible with the current number of faculty.” Professor of Arabic Basem Al-Raba’a agrees. “I’ve been asked many times to give private readings, but I’ve had to say no because I cannot meet all the demand here by myself,” he said. According to Al-Raba’a, the problems the MENA department is facing are not unique to Oberlin. “At most peer institutions there is only one Arabic professor,” he said. “But now there is also the language sharing program.” Several Great Lakes schools have begun to share language professors and organize higher level classes online in order to supplement courses that may not be offered at an individual institution. “The language sharing program would be better than nothing, but it’s not perfect,” Offen said. “That being said, it’s not even being offered. [The administration is] saying ‘we have this opportunity, maybe you won’t like it, but you should try it out,’ but then it’s not really an opportunity. Even if I wanted to take the online class, there’s no telling when it will be offered next.” Offen is not alone in feeling that the College doesn’t do enough to support the department and its students. “Although the number of faculty has increased since I came in 2008, the previous administration didn’t really support MENA Studies,” said Zeinab Abul-Magd, associate professor of Middle Eastern History. “Arabic was never stabilized and always ran on visiting professors who were here for one year. Professor Al-Raba’a is the best that we’ve had, but he is three years into a four-year contract, and we haven’t been told if it will be renewed.” Both Professor Abul-Magd and Al-Raba’a agree that very little can be done for students without hiring additional faculty. “There is very high demand,” Abul-Magd said. “Our classes would always be full even if we weren’t good teachers. Despite this, we have very little financial support.” Offen and her informal teammates have continued to organize and meet with the administration in the hope of preserving access to Arabic and other courses. “The administration has been open to hearing what we have to say, but hasn’t implemented anything,” she said. “If students want to have their voices heard on this issue they have to enroll in classes and tell the College that the department deserves more support.”

OFF THE CUFF

Anabel Barrón Sánchez, co-founder of LOIRA Anabel Barrón Sánchez is the co-founder and vice president of the Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Association and a case worker at El Centro de Servicios Sociales. Sánchez was born in Mexico and came to the United States at nine months old as an undocumented immigrant. Since then, she has been turned away while trying to re-enter the U.S. several times, held in detention by Border Patrol, forced to wear an ankle monitor, and was faced with deportation by U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement. She is a Lorain County community leader advocating for immigrant rights. Sánchez visited Oberlin College last Tuesday to speak on immigration, race, and sanctuary in Ohio. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Interview Lila Michaels, Layout Editor You used to be fearful of the police due to your undocumented status and would instruct your children to hide from the cops. How did you find the courage to be so visible and vocal on behalf of immigrants? Because I have lived the life and I know the feeling to be afraid, to live in the shadows. You feel like you don’t have a voice. I fly now. I have been able to come out of the shadows to get involved in my community, to know community leaders and congresspeople. I feel like it is my duty to speak up for the ones that are still in the shadows. That’s where I found my strength, and, of course, in my family. Definitely everything that I do, I do it for my family.

people. Now it’s not discretion. Now it’s like, if you’re undocumented, you’re going. So definitely it would be a different story. I wouldn’t be here today.

You have had several very scary encounters with Border Patrol and ICE. How do you think those experiences would have differed if they had occurred during the Trump administration? Definitely I wouldn’t be here if it happened during the Trump administration. Why? Because they are more aggressive. In the past, they were taking discretion in removing

What does the Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Association hope for the future of Lorain County? Immigration reform, and not only for Lorain County; we hope for this nationwide. By accomplishing immigration reform, we’ll be able to change a lot of people’s lives. Empower those who are in the shadows. And again, this is about undocumented immigrants. They are afraid.

You mentioned that you moved to Ohio in 1999 because it was known to be immigrant-friendly and that Ohio made you feel at home. Do you think that Ohio and Lorain County continue to earn this reputation? Yes. And I am taking a deep breath because it cannot change or feel different because of one administration. I have lived in Lorain for the last almost 20 years, and the people still smile at me. People know me now in my community. I am wellknown. Ohio is home for me.

In what ways can the community help individuals affected by current immigration policies? If you want to help someone, vote. Go out and vote. I don’t like politics, but I came across the point that all the politics take effect in my life and in everyone’s lives. If you have the luxury to go and vote and you don’t do it, please do so. Because I wish I could vote, and I know one day I will, but right now I cannot make any difference. My job as a community organizer and community activist is to educate those that are more vulnerable, but also as a community activist, my role is to ask for help to those who can vote, to change the policies, to change the administration, to change our lives.

Agave Incident Provokes Community Tension

Continued from page 2

trainings] have been elective,” McCloskey said. Once completed, the program will focus on internal bias and racial intelligence. McCloskey added that the OPD has a very strict policy against racial profiling. “Racial or bias based policing practices are expressly prohibited by department policy,” he said. “It’s important to our community policing efforts to build trust, so that the police and community work in an effective partnership to solve problems. In that effort, we strive to serve the community and to enforce the law equally, fairly, and without discrimination toward and individu-

al or group.” Two squad cars arrived at the parking lot behind Agave on Friday, but Chapman was the only officer to enter any establishment, and he only entered Agave. McCloskey claims Chapman’s entrance into the restaurant followed protocol. “When an officer is on foot patrol, they’re generally on their own,” McCloskey said. Agave does not own the parking lot behind the restaurant where the reported group of people was gathered. Chapman was inside Agave for approximately 10 minutes before leaving and did not enter any other establishment on West College Street. Maggie believes

Oberlin Community News Bulletin Oberlin Man Indicted on Third-Degree Felony Charge Oberlin resident Delucas Lucas was indicted on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide and a second-degree misdemeanor of vehicular manslaughter. His charges are connected to a fatal Jan. 14, 2017 car crash in Amherst, Ohio. Fanecia Jackson was a passenger in Lucas’ car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Lucas is being held in Lorain County Jail on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and a $50,000 cash bond.

This is about educating them. This is about telling them that it is OK for them to come out, it is OK for them to be resilient, it is OK for them to raise their voice. We need to start working together. We need to start empowering each other. This is the hope of the vice president of Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights: that in my years that I have been in this position, I have empowered immigrants to do so.

Oberlin Heritage House Holds “Ohio Open Doors” Event Join the Oberlin Heritage House for their “Cabinets, Closets, & Cupboards” self-guided tour. The tour is part of the statewide Ohio Open Doors event that kicked off last Friday. The Heritage House will be open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. The cupboards and storage areas for the historic 1866 Monroe House have recently been renovated and restored.

it was discriminatory for Chapman to only enter Agave in response to the call. “People think, ‘If it was in the parking lot, it was probably Agave,’” Maggie said. “To some people, this is where the ‘wrong crowd’ is.” Police have been called to Agave in the past. According to Maggie, staff have called OPD for assistance with a particular customer, but there was no action taken by the department. As for the incident Friday, there has been talk among staff about filing a complaint with the police department. According to McCloskey, no official complaint has been filed. One of Chatman-Nelson’s main worries about the incident last Friday is the effect

on Agave’s customers. “I mean, [Agave is] like the one place that many Black folks ... can really come through, especially because it’s central to both bars in town,” Chatman-Nelson said. The restaurant has been a staple of downtown Oberlin for 20 years. Mackay-Benton believes that what happened Friday is relevant to all businesses that neighbor Agave. “I think other business owners should know about this. I feel like the people in our little block should know this is happening,” she said. Sgt. Chapman was unavailable for comment due to a two-week vacation planned prior to the incident.

Oberlin Public Library Discusses Angkor Settlement Historian Alison Kyra Carter is hosting a presentation that will discuss Angkorian homes at the Oberlin Public Library on Sept. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Angkor, one of the largest pre-industrial settlements, is of significant historical and architectural importance. This presentation will focus on the lives of the people involved in constructing temples, producing food, and managing water supply. Carter will highlight research developed from two excavations. She hopes to offer a more holistic representation of what life in an Angkorian household looked like.

OPINIONS September 14, 2018

Letters to the Editors

Oberlin Students’ Volunteering Crucial for Environmental Success

I want to express my sincere thanks to the Bonner Center for Service and Learning, Oberlin College Grounds, and the first-year students and their supervisors for the hard work they put forth for the Day of Service on Sept. 1. Western Reserve Land Conservancy, with assistance from Oberlin College, has been working on the Kahn Woods and, more recently, the Keep Cottage Meadow for several years, restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat and creating an area for students to observe and enjoy nature on campus grounds. On Sept. 1, students and community members planted over 70 native flowering plants to provide habitat for pollinators and add beauty. If you are looking for a nice place to enjoy nature on campus, I encourage you to visit the wooded area just behind the Kahn Dorm and the beautiful meadow off St. Rt. 58 just north of the Keep Cottage entrance. On most summer days the area is abuzz with flowers, bees, and butterflies. Because of our interest in preserving and creating habitat for pollinators, which are essential for our North American economies and natural landscapes, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, with the help of Oberlin College, has been working on the Keep Cottage Meadow and also purchasing land and creating the Oberlin South Woods and Prairie on the south side of Oberlin. It is located right off of Hamilton Street near the bike path and the Ramsey Right of Way. The Oberlin College Green Edge Fund helped to fund this 60-acre project. Monarch butterflies are undergoing a long-term population decline and currently

established 1874

are under consideration for federal listing as an endangered species. The Land Conservancy is hopeful that our partnership with Oberlin College, the City of Oberlin, and residents in the community will allow us to work together to promote more awareness and increase habitat for our pollinator friends. The Land Conservancy is thankful for the help of the students and Oberlin College for the work and tools provided for these College meadow and woodland projects and the Oberlin Prairie. Thanks to the students who nearly doubled the size of the meadow and made the wooded trail more accessible for all to enjoy. Get out and enjoy nature! It is right in your backyard! Kate Pilacky, Associate Field Director, Western Reserve Land Conservancy Oberlin Field Office

College Owes Christie’s Victims Compensation Regarding The Boston Globe article about the resignation of Organ Department Chair James David Christie from Oberlin and at the College of the Holy Cross: As the parent of a gifted organist who studied with David Boe, Jack Mitchener, and others at Oberlin, I had several occasions to interact with Christie; the first when we looked at Holy Cross and he gave us the brush off — I saw and heard from many students that “the great man” was domineering, imperious, and narcissistic — all the qualities of a Harvey Weinstein. The fear and dread he instilled in his students was an open secret and obviously contrary to the tenets of a liberal arts institution like Oberlin. I have NO doubt that everyone knew of this alleged predatory behavior for decades at Oberlin as well as at Continued on page 7

SUBMISSIONS POLICY

The Oberlin Review appreciates and welcomes letters to the editors and op-ed 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 that week’s issue. Letters may not exceed 600 words and op-eds may not exceed 800 words, except with consent of the Editorial Board. All submissions must include contact information, with full names and any relevant titles, for all signers. All writers must individually confirm authorship on electronic submissions. The Review reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity, length, grammar, accuracy, strength of argument and in consultation with Review style. Editors will work with 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. Headlines are printed at the discretion of the Editorial Board. Opinions expressed in editorials, letters, op-eds, columns, cartoons or other Opinions pieces do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of the Review. 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 a contributor. The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

Volume 147, Number 2

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief

Sydney Allen

Nathan Carpenter

Managing Editor Ananya Gupta

Opinions Editors

Jackie Brant Luce Nguyen

Graduate School Connections Vital for Student Development We must turn our gaze outward. That was President Carmen Ambar’s message as she prepared to ship a group of nearly 1,000 people — including first-years, Peer Advising Leaders, staff members, and volunteers — to Cleveland for the inaugural Connect Cleveland trip during New Student Orientation. The pilgrimage was part of Ambar’s initiative to build stronger ties with the Northeast Ohio community. In a massive 20-bus caravan, students connected with local organizations and alumni all over the city, visiting a total of 39 different sites, including the public radio and television broadcaster Ideastream, the Cleveland Museum of Art, an urban farm, and a Cleveland food bank, to name a few. The goal was to help students learn about the city, meet local Oberlin alumni, and expose students to possibilities for internships and volunteer work in Cleveland. Along with the Orientation programs, Oberlin has forged a recent partnership with the Summer on the Cuyahoga internship program, a program that connects students with paid internships in Cleveland. Although these are all good steps in helping Oberlin students make connections for post-graduation, the College and Career Development Center must do more in developing post-grad connections for alumni. Both current and graduated Obies frequently complain about the lack of connections and job opportunities available to them; as a top-ranked institution liberal arts, this should not be the case. Despite these problems, the Career Development Center seems to be taking some steps in the right direction. It is looking to strengthen community ties, for example, through its pilot Career Cluster program. With this initiative, the Career Development Center hopes to connect students with internships and alumni in their chosen fields. The center will also be hiring a new faculty member to help manage the Business Scholars program and advise students interested in Business, Finance, and Consulting. These new initiatives are crucial for students, and as we build networks both internally and with alumni we should look to do the same with our neighbors in Cleveland and the rest of Ohio. Doing so would not only improve the entire undergrad experience for students, but also help set Oberlin students up for professional success post-graduation. In particular, Oberlin should pursue relationships with nearby graduate programs. Ohio is home to some the best universities in the world; Case Western Reserve University is less than an hour away, and The Ohio State University — one of the best state universities in the country — is less than two. Developing stronger ties with these institutions would better prepare our students to take their first post-grad steps, both in terms of familiarizing themselves with the graduate admissions process and getting to know faculty and staff at local institutions. While Oberlin does have amazing opportunities for research, funding, and connecting with professors, the reality of a small liberal arts school is that we can’t do everything. Students come to Oberlin because of its small class size, personal connection with professors, and hands-on learning opportunities. But it’s no secret that in doing so, we often sacrifice some of the resources that are available at larger institutions: accessing significant grants and funding, working in large labs or hospitals, and interacting with professionals in a city setting. Because of Oberlin’s academic rigor and opportunities, students leave here ready to do significant work and research — the kind that happens at big research institutions like OSU. Starting relationships with nearby universities would allow students easier paths to translate the passions they cultivate here to a larger scale, in graduate school and beyond. The new initiatives undertaken by President Ambar and the Career Development Center are steps in the right direction. But in order to set students up not only for success both at Oberlin, but after graduation as well, it is crucial that we help them build a professional and academic network that will allow them to continue to explore their interests in meaningful and financially sustainable ways. So, we concur with President Ambar — we should look out, both in terms of space and time. Obies have a lot to share with the world; let’s make sure they have access to all the tools to do so. Editorials are the responsibility of the Review Editorial Board — the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and Opinions Editors — and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

Opi n ions

Review Fails To Report Sexual Misconduct in Socially Responsible Manner Olive Hwang Production Editor Editor’s note: This article contains discussion of sexual misconduct and rape culture. Last week, the Review reported on the resignation of two Conservatory professors in the midst of sexual misconduct complaints (“Oberlin Professors Resign After Sexual Misconduct” The Oberlin Review, Sept. 7, 2018). Among the accused is James David Christie, former chair of the Organ department and worldfamous musician. The allegations, however, are obscured by the article’s insensitive and dismissive tone. As a new member of the Review team, I am deeply disappointed by the way this story was covered. It is our job to present the news in a manner that is both factual and socially responsible. The topic of sexual misconduct is definitely one we should be covering. However, last week’s article handled the subject

with such flippancy, it’s difficult for readers to walk away with anything but shock. Had I seen this piece prior to publication, I would have flagged it for drastic revisions. However, now that it has been circulated, I feel compelled to address the harm it has done. I hope this response will serve to spark positive dialogue in light of what’s happened. We absolutely need to talk about the power held by James David Christie. Silence on the part of the public can only serve to perpetuate sexual misconduct. The relationship between Conservatory student and teacher is built on trust. As a worldrenowned organist, Christie had substantial leverage over his students. He was able to grant students once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. In such a position, it would be difficult to find a reason not to trust him. Additionally, many victims fear retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct. In a field where social connections are

vital to success, young musicians may find themselves faced with a difficult choice: Either they come forward and risk countless career opportunities, or they keep quiet in an attempt to make a name for themselves. Finally, to some extent, Christie’s prestige serves to shield him from alleged wrongdoing. Who is the public inclined to believe — the beloved prodigy or the individuals supposedly trying to tarnish his reputation? Journalistically, it makes sense to describe Christie’s occupation and authority at the Conservatory in a piece about his resignation. However, there’s a not-so-fine line between detailed context and obvious deflection of sexual misconduct allegations. Nobody is trying to argue that James David Christie is not a talented organist. But that is irrelevant to whether he has inflicted harm on multiple individuals. Perpetrators, more often than not, are our friends,

family members, mentors, or partners. They are individuals we deem “normal,” or even “amazing.” Of course it’s difficult to reconcile a person’s admirable qualities with their deleterious actions. That’s classic cognitive dissonance. And this makes it all the more important that we consciously try to hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of who they are or what they’ve accomplished Sometimes, the devil just doesn’t need another advocate. Scroll through the comments section on any online article about sexual assault and you will see what I mean. Victim-blaming and gaslighting are pervasive in our society. The attitudes upheld by last week’s piece are commonplace. This incident, unfortunately, is part of a broader pattern. If we don’t recognize this, then we are only furthering a culture that alienates survivors. Regardless of what the author intended it to be, last week’s piece perpetuates at-

titudes that deter survivors from coming forward. I believe the Review has a certain obligation to cover the important issues of this campus, including sexual misconduct allegations. But we can do so without invalidating the struggles of those who’ve been through trauma. We can keep the Oberlin community informed while still holding ourselves accountable for the way we report controversial incidents. The biases in this piece are woven into our everyday lives. Whether you are a journalist or not, I urge you to ask yourself: Are you fostering an environment where people feel safe coming forward after being victimized? If you have been affected by issues related to those discussed above, the Nord Center can provide you with free and confidential services. For emergencies, call the 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 1-800-888-6161. For non-emergencies, call the Sexual Assault Services Hotline at 440-204-4359.

Anonymous Official’s Opinion Piece Raises Questions, Concerns Luce Nguyen Contributing Opinions Editor The New York Times recently published a now-infamous opinion piece titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” Sept. 5. In the essay, an anonymous senior official of the Trump administration alleges that they, along with other senior officials within the Trump administration, “are working diligently to frustrate parts of Trump’s agenda and his worst inclinations.” While claiming that “the root of the problem is the president’s amorality” and that “President Trump’s impulses are generally anti-trade and antidemocratic,” the writer claims that members of the Executive Office and agencies have moved to operate independently of the president. Another anonymous article, “The Flight 93 Election,” was published in the conservative quarterly Claremont Review of Books by a writer who called themself Publius Decius Mus. Just two months before the 2016 presidential election, they wrote that “2016 is the Flight 93 election: charge the cockpit or you die. You may die anyway. You — or the leader of your party — may make it into the cockpit and not know how to fly or land the plane. There are no guarantees. Except one: if you don’t try, death is certain. To compound the metaphor: a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto. With Trump, at least you can spin the cylinder and take your chances.” A reference to both Roman consul Publius Decius Mus — known for sacrificing his life in the Battle of Vesuvius in exchange for victory — and the tragic events of the 9/11 suicide hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93, the message of the article was clear: elect Trump or watch, as the writer put it, “a party, a society, a country, a people, a civilization” die. Decius Mus was later revealed to be Michael Anton, a former speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani and member of George W. Bush’s National Security Council who was named

deputy assistant to the president for Strategic Communications on the National Security Council under President Trump. Echoes of Anton’s alarmist rhetoric appeared during his service in the NSC, when a leaked memo prepared by a staffer alleged that globalists, Islamists, bankers, the “deep state,” and nefarious forces inside and outside the government were undermining President Trump’s agenda — not unlike the actions alleged in the Times opinion piece. This is a dangerous moment for the United States, regardless of whether the Times’s anonymous official’s accusations are true or not. Should these accusations be proven true, this would imply that an unelected cabal of senior administration officials and the conduct of federal agencies have undermined the laws and norms set in place by the Constitution. Should these accusations be proven false, the opinion piece would have fueled President Trump’s resentment, verifying the deep state conspiracy theory that was previously only the realm of the alt-right, iconoclasts like Michael Anton, and the occasional presidential tweet. There have been prior accusations that the president had knowledge of Russian attempts to interfere with the 2016 presidential elections. There have been prior accusations that the president knew his hand-picked National Security advisor, Michael Flynn, had illegally lobbied on the behalf of foreign governments and lied about those activities to the FBI. There have been prior accusations that the president illegally asked James Comey to end the Bureau’s investigation into Michael Flynn’s ties and dismissed the director when he refused to follow the president’s request. The alleged activities in the opinion piece are different. The revelations in that piece are not about knowledge; they are about lack of knowledge. There now exists a lack of knowledge about whether a president’s directives on domestic, administrative, or foreign policy issues are going to be

followed or not. How can the Senate complete its constitutional duty to “advise and consent” if they do not know if the appointments and treaties submitted to that body of legislators are truly those made by the President of the United States? How can Congress effectively allot spending on foreign initiatives if the future of such initiatives is unknown even to the president of the United States? A general uncertainty exists within the White House today regarding policies and executive actions, which has been strengthened by the opinion piece. It is not unlikely that foreign and domestic enemies of the United States may seek to capitalize on this uncertainty. The immediate danger lies in the risk of a misunderstanding by an adversary — enhanced by unorthodox presidential behaviour — that could lead to a conflict that escalates beyond conventional weapons. Both the anonymous administration official and The New York Times are wrong to have written and published this piece. If the writer is truly genuine about their resistance crusade, then the publication of such a piece only serves to weaken their own goals. The piece gives credence to the president’s accusations of a deep state opposing his policy initiatives, empowering him to investigate and remove people who are hostile to, as the piece puts it, “parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.” If the writer is not genuine about the resistance that they write about, the Times has unwittingly allowed itself to help fuel a right-wing conspiracy theory just months before the 2018 midterm elections and has weakened our international standing. Furthermore, allowing officials within the White House to work directly against the initiatives of the president is a dangerous precedent to set for the future. The intentions of an unelected group of powerful politicians who can hijack the functions of the Executive Office of the United States may not always be in the best interests of the American people. In fact, the intentions of the

so-called resistance described in The New York Times are likely not to be in the United States’ best interests right now. These officials are willing to accept short-term conservative victories on taxation, regulation, and appointments in exchange for allowing a man they believe to be incompetent to continue being president. Regardless of what the resistance may think of its own intentions, they are not committing some grand sacrifice; they are partisan political actors working against the interests of the United States to achieve their own goals. Two anonymous articles — one in support of President Trump’s initiatives and one in opposition to them — have been published during his presidency, portraying two different visions of the United States. The first, Publius Anton’s “The Flight 93 Election” in The Claremont Review of Books, compares Trump’s administration to the honorable resistance that passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 conducted in the last few minutes of their lives. In this reality, the United States was destined to fail without some grand intervention, and the Trump presidency was that grand intervention, succeed or fail. On the other hand, the anonymous “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” article presents an alternate reality — one where we have an erratic, antidemocratic president whose dangerous policies are undone last-minute by administration officials. This reality entitles an oligarchy of shadowy figures to undermine our elected officials in favor of their own goals. The rule of law, the Constitutional precepts of government, and the norms of executive power have no place in this reality. Neither of these competing visions of the United States has to be our true reality. There exist laws and norms under the American Constitutional system to deter, resist, and remove a wayward executive. We are a nation of laws and not of men — let us not reject that basic premise in this current crisis.

Oberlin Dining Forum Highlights Issues With Sensationalist Activism Patrick Powers Contributing Writer Oberlin students identify as activists. That activism must reach beyond a Google Doc. In the wake of the implementation of the 300 meal-per-semester plan for first-years and sophomores, Dascomb Dining Hall’s closure, and this year’s changes to DeCafé, Campus Dining Services has become one of the first major flashpoints for the anxieties and fears of the student body as our school changes. In the past few weeks, outraged Facebook posts and Google Doc activists have brought dining changes to the forefront of campus chatter. With that in mind, I find myself coming away from the recent forum on the state of campus dining with a lot of mixed feelings about student activism as I’ve seen it on this campus. The anger and anxiety around the dining changes from many students is understandable, and often justified. As social media posts explode, students want to feel as though they are making a difference, which leads to angry emails and Google Doc activism. This in itself is not a problem. The problems arise when our activism stops there. The problems arise when over 700 people write their names at the bottom of a Google form, but barely 40 show up for an event with decision makers who are open to discussing their concerns. When students stop their engagement with an issue at the digital level, the potential for impact decreases and they do a disservice to those who actually want to make change happen. Without taking the time to fully grasp issues and understand the rationale behind unpopular policy changes, and without a nuanced understanding of difficult decisions, students are guaranteeing the ineffectiveness of their own movement. Beyond the issue of half-heartedly engaging in tangential activism (which, frankly, is tired, widespread, and more irritating than thought-provoking), the dining forum highlighted some other interesting challenges. Confronted with the financial reality behind the dining changes, especially the decision to stop allowing meal swipes for groceries at Decafé, it is easy to be daunted. At the forum, Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo dove deeply into the retail economics that led to this decision, and it is genuinely complicated. It’s convoluted, and it has to do with economic factors that are difficult to express to students who aren’t directly invested in those

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

fields (my Russian Language and Literature major certainly doesn’t make it any easier for me to understand supply chains and economies of scale and all that jargon). The information is opaque and mathy, and it doesn’t lend itself to the type of loud, bold, fast activism that many on this campus practice. Watching Dean Raimondo quickly lose the crowd as she got into the specifics on this issue highlighted her inability to present the information in concise terms. It also emphasized the amount of work it will take on the part of students to be well-versed enough in the nuances of our dining challenges to be able to work towards a solution. We are too quick to claim that the changes make no sense when we really don’t understand — or even try to understand — the scope of the issue. We are also too quick to write off any technical explanation as nontransparent. Throughout the forum, money loomed as an overarching issue. People were angry that options were reduced while prices were not, and because they felt as though they were not getting the quality of food they paid for. People felt that they were paying a ridiculously high cost for dining. These concerns pose a huge issue for people on all sides. On one hand, students are put in a financial bind (or quite literally driven out) by the price of dining at Oberlin. The prices are very high and could threaten people’s ability to stay at Oberlin. On the other hand, focusing only on the negative aspects of Oberlin’s dining costs skirts around the fact that the meal plans are so expensive here largely because of the cost of labor. I believe most Oberlin students would agree with me when I say that unionized labor is valuable and that Oberlin is better as an institution for working with the union. Unionized workers get paid competitive wages with benefits. The cost of labor is factored into our meal plans. The cost of dining is, in large part, the cost of our values. We have to understand that. We cannot expect to pay the same amount of money for food made by workers making minimum wage as we pay for food made by union workers making over three times that much. Wednesday’s forum needs to be the beginning of widespread student engagement in working toward actively improving campus dining. It also needs to be the beginning of a longneeded re-evaluation of the sensationalist chatter on campus that so often passes for activism.

Anya Spector, Layout Editor

Letters To The Editors (cont.) Holy Cross. Shame on those who have allowed this to perpetuate. For decades! Since Christie was half the department I should demand that half the tuition ($250K at the time) be returned to our family; instead I demand that sum be set aside for an organ scholarship that doesn’t require sexual submission as well. David Booth Beers, P ’11 West Hartford, CT

The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

Written Student Commentary Provides Important Feedback Oberlin College is seeking comments from the public about the

College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The College will host a visit Oct. 15–16 from a team of peer reviewers representing the Higher Learning Commission. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. Oberlin College has been accredited by HLC since 1913. Comments must be in writing and must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Submit comments to HLC at hlcommis-

sion.org/comment or mail them to the address below. All comments must be received by Sept. 18, 2018. Public Comment on Oberlin College Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411 Ross Peacock Assistant Vice President, Institutional Research and Planning

Lorain County Rising According to their website, “Lorain County Rising is an all-volunteer group of local community members who are passionate about pressing issues that affect those of us in Lorain County, the state of Ohio, and our nation. Every day, we work to help affect change with actions that support: ending gerrymandering and promoting fair elections, increasing voter registrations, keeping the [Affordable Care Act] intact, and communicating with members of Congress.” Contact: loraincountyrising.org/contact-us/

Oberlin College Jewish Voice for Peace “Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine,” College senior Raphael Dreyfuss wrote in an email to the Review. “We affirm the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions and believe that if Oberlin wants to live up to its allegedly progressive legacy, it must take a principled institutional position on this conflict, beginning with full divestment from companies which profit from the colonization of Palestine. In addition to divestment activism, we also conduct several educational campaigns on campus and collaborate with Students for a Free Palestine to bring speakers, musicians, and writers to Oberlin.” Contact: facebook.com/OberlinJVP

“Students United for Reproductive Freedom is Oberlin’s student organization promoting reproductive justice, sex education, and gender equity,” College junior Lily Battino wrote in an email to the Review. “We organize fundraisers for Preterm (Cleveland's only abortion clinic), promote safer sex on campus and in the community, and more!” Meetings are every Tuesday from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. in a Wilder room announced the day of the meeting. Contact: lbattino@oberlin.edu

“Student Labor Action Coalition acts in solidarity with unions representing workers at Oberlin College to oppose worker exploitation by the administration, with the Free Ohio Movement against prison slavery and to support striking prisoners, and as a member of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle against imperialism and for democracy,” College junior Jasper Perry-Anderson wrote in an email to the Review. “In the past, we have interviewed people who work in the dining halls about their working conditions and opinions. We have also maintained pen-pal relationships with jailhouse lawyers and politically active prisoners.” Contact: oberlinslac@gmail.com

GET INVOLVED WITH ACTIVISM AT OBERLIN “Students for Energy Justice organizes students and community members together to resist the racist, classist, ableist, heteropatriarchal fossil fuels empire in the name of defending love and life,” College senior Ian Feather wrote in an email to the Review. “Currently, we are working to obstruct the construction process of the Nexus Pipeline, a pipeline which would carry natural gas from Kensington, Ohio, to refineries in Ontario, Canada.” Contact: rwood2@oberlin.edu

CALENDAR “Oberlin in Solidarity with El Salvador is a student organization that maintains a 13-year relationship with Santa Marta, a community of ex-refugees in northern El Salvador,” College junior Leo Hochberg wrote in an email to the Review. “Each Winter Term, we visit the community and learn about their history in the Salvadoran Civil War, and then we return to campus to raise awareness for human rights atrocities in Latin America and elsewhere.” The first meeting will be a screening of the documentary In the Name of the People Thursday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in King Hall, room 301. Contact: lhochber@oberlin.edu

FRIDAY & SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14–15 Art Rental Every semester, the Allen opens parts of its collection to students, staff, and faculty, allowing anyone with a valid OCID to rent a work of art for just $5. Art will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so put your name on the list in the AMAM courtyard as soon as you can and come to four of five check-ins to confirm your spot on the list. See the sign in the courtyard for more information. You could walk away with a beautiful piece of art to hang in your dorm room or office! Check-ins on Friday at 5 p.m, 8 p.m., and 11 p.m, and on Saturday at 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Allen Memorial Art Museum

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Yom Kippur with Hillel Classes are cancelled today in observance of Yom Kippur, a day when Jewish people traditionally fast, go to religious services, and atone for sins committed during the previous year. Hillel is holding morning services at 10 a.m., and then “Art in the Arb” at the Morgan Street entrance at 2 p.m. At 6 p.m. there will be a text study in Wilder, followed by a final Ne’ilah service at 7:15 p.m. Lastly, Kosher Halal Co-op is hosting a break fast meal at 8:30 p.m. for both fasters and non-fasters. 10 a.m.–10 p.m Wilder Hall, Arboretum, Kosher Halal Co-op

Study Away Fair This event is an opportunity to learn about Oberlin’s affiliated international and domestic study away programs. Come out to meet representatives from these programs, as well as students who have studied away. Refreshments will be provided. 4–6:30 pm Science Center Atrium

Raids, Enforcement, and Forced Resettlement in Rural Ohio Jeff Stewart of the Ohio Immigrant Worker Project will deliver this talk as part of the series “Sanctuary Practices: Race, Refuge, and Immigration in America.” Come learn about the conditions facing immigrants in Ohio as well as IWP internship opportunities. 12 – 1:00 p.m. Wilder Hall 101

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

A r t s & C u lt u r e

ARTS & CULTURE September 14, 2018

established 1874

Volume 147, Number 2

New Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex Offers Top-of-the-Line Performing Spaces, Needed Facilities

Construction on the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex is nearing completion. The Theater department is set to stage Cabaret, its first mainstage show in the new space, in early December. Photo by Patrick McBride Katie Lucey Arts & Culture Editor Hall Auditorium is getting an upgrade that will revolutionize the future of theater at Oberlin. A semester after the acclaimed success of Angels in America, the epic two-part performance that received high praise across campus last spring, the renovations and expansions of the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex are finally coming to fruition. For some, this project represents a decades-long desire to improve both the quality and quantity of performance spaces on campus. “There are some faculty that consider this project yet another iteration of ideas that have been gestating for 25, 30 years,” said Managing Director of Theater, Dance, and Opera Eric Steggall. However, plans for this particular project, which

also include much-needed renovations to Hall Annex, began about six years ago. Construction started over a year and a half ago, and the project has progressed significantly in the last 12 months. The new building is situated between Hall Auditorium and the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center, which houses the Office of Admissions, StudiOC, and The Hotel at Oberlin. Though the basic function of the new space is to provide a much-needed third performance space to complement Hall Auditorium and the Kander Theater, the new performing arts annex presents an additional range of opportunities for members of the College, Conservatory, and community at large. Among the new offerings in the space are an attractive metal-faced exterior, a brand-new lobby, a costume shop, a scene shop, and rehearsal spaces. The building also contains new bathrooms for patrons and two

new dressing rooms for performers. For those familiar with the prior behind-the-scenes facilities of Hall Auditorium and Hall Annex, including Kander Theater, these updates are nothing short of monumental. The crown jewel of the project is the Irene & Alan Wurtzel Theater, a highly-adaptable performance space that will house an audience of 250–300 people. The addition of this theater space is significant in providing a performing space that is sized midway between 501-seat Hall Auditorium and 75-seat Kander Theater. Additionally, the array of theater setups and possible performance styles provided by the Wurtzel poses a welcomed opportunity for new curricular offerings to the faculty of the Theater department. “The curricular challenge of moving, acting, and designing in a space that is so fluid really challenges us as a department to grow and to embrace new technologies and methodologies,” Steggall said. “It gives the students the opportunity to create a different skill set, one that is highly contemporary in the industry right now.” First-year students in particular will now have the advantage of sharpening their theatrical knowledge as well as their acting, directing, designing, and technical skills in a brand-new space that is on par with some of the most prestigious venues in the country. “I love theater and am used to working in terrible, awful spaces. I think no matter what, I’d be happy working there, and this place is so nice,” said College first-year Thandiwe Seagraves. “It’s amazing, because [Senior Technical Director Joseph Natt] was talking about how he’s been working on this project for, like, six years, and now that it’s coming to fruition, it’s exciting to be here.” According to Steggall, the new building should hit a point of “substantial completion” — architectural parlance that means the tenants of the building can move in — by early October. Its first official performance will be Dec. 6, and the grand gala opening event for the building, to be attended by members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, and others, will be the following week on Dec. 13. While Cabaret is certainly a significant choice — the musical’s composer, John Kander, OC ’51, studied music at Oberlin — this should not deter students interested in putting on productions of their own and taking advantage of the new theater’s resources. As long as these students and other groups on campus fulfill the requirements and follow the restrictions set forth by See College, page 12

Ari Lennox Delivers Powerful Performance

Carson Dowhan The line to enter the Cat in the Cream wrapped around the hallways of Hales Annex before R&B artist Ari Lennox’s show Saturday, Sept. 8. “Over 100 people were in line by 7:30,” manager and College senior Hanne Williams-Baron said. “At 330 people, we reached full capacity.” The sold out house was quite an impressive turnout for an artist not particlarly well known to the Oberlin community. Lennox launched her music career in 2012 and released her first EP Ariography in 2013. She signed to J. Cole’s record label Dreamville in 2015, and gained major traction with the release of her 2016 EP, PHO. While she has yet to present a full-length album, she has already garnered a national following, speaking to the music industry’s shift away from the traditional album release format. The quality of Lennox’s work speaks for itself. Her music is a raw and emotive excavation of her experiences. While in line for the show, College senior Ti Ames explained the signifi-

cance of her music in today’s industry. “She’s amazing when it comes to just being free, about her feelings about sex, culture, and religion,” Ames said. “She’s just talking about what she wants, which a lot of Black female artists really don’t get the chance to do. So, the fact that she’s young, Black, and a woman and can do all these things the way she wants to do it — with no one telling her what to do — honestly, that’s what makes her one of my favorite artists.” The ’Sco typically books R&B acts, while the Cat in the Cream’s coffee shop atmosphere makes it the ideal location for folk, acoustic, and jazz performances. On Saturday night, though, the Cat’s floor was cleared of tables and chairs, transforming the space into the perfect venue for Lennox’s genre-bending style. Lennox opened the show with her new single “Whipped Cream,” a story of old love. She was backed by Raphael Zomora on keys and Komari Bailey on the turntable. Most of the crowd learned the songs as they were performed. Everyone was quick to respond when

Lennox nailed her high notes, which became the heart of her performance. “Do you got the PHO?” Lennox asked the crowd partway through the show, a query that was met with murmurs of confusion — confirmation that the audience was hearing Lennox’s music for the first time. This didn’t faze Lennox. She explained that PHO was the title of her EP before continuing with songs from that release. Lennox joined in with the excited laughter from the students at the front, and created an environment of playful camaraderie during the faster songs. Even during slower songs like “La La La La,” Lennox kept the energy alive with her impressive vocal range as she traversed the stage. In a post-show interview, she said that “La La La La” and “Night Drive” were some of her favorite songs to perform. “I feel like I can really show people what I can do, but it’s so much work,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy out of me so it’s like bitter-sweet. I love it.” Lennox also experimented with some pre-recorded, unreleased material, dis-

appearing offstage while she presented the new tracks — likely a mixture of humility and nerves. While most artists prefer to perform new material live, it appeared that Lennox wanted to observe reactions to the pieces. A free college show is the perfect low-stakes environment to try out some new material. The new songs showcased Lennox’s solidified signature style, balancing a flowing melody over a slow, steady beat filled with a spacious reverb. The music centered around themes of love, loneliness, and passion, which recur regularly in her work. Lennox delivered a captivating performance that showcased her unique style. She engaged the audience with relatable themes, and kept the energy high throughout the show with her fluid dancing. Based on this Oberlin debut, she is sure to develop an even stronger following among the student population. Students can look forward to the release of her upcoming EP, and enjoy the new music video for “Whipped Cream” in the meantime.

Concert Commemorates Anniversary Of World War I’s End Through Music Heather Do Although the first World War ended 100 years ago, a lot of emotions still permeate our collective memory of the monumental conflict. These emotions were channeled through music when Oberlin Conservatory hosted the two-day public event “Creative Arts and Music in the Shadow of War: Commemorating the Centenary of World War I.” The event included several activities around campus to memorialize the end of the war, including four concerts, a panel presentation at the Conservatory, and an exhibition at the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Commemorating the Centenary was the brainchild of Professor of Violin Sibbi Bernhardsson, OC ’95, whose favorite period of music is the early 20th century — especially the music written immediately before, during, and after World War I. “This year is the 100th [anniversary]

of the end of World War I, so I thought it would be interesting to present at Oberlin a series of four concerts where we can program just pieces from World War I,” said Professor Bernhardsson, who is teaching here for his second year. “It was so compelling to me how different the pieces were. Some of the works were clearly about the war and were completely influenced by the war, and there are some pieces that were written by the composers as [if] there was no war going on.” One of the core repertoires in the event is Leoš Janácek’s violin sonata, performed by Professor Bernhardsson and Professor of Piano Peter Takács. “This piece is a direct response to World War I, and it is so picturesque, it can change from such beautiful music to brutal music just within a moment,” Bernhardsson expressed. The piece is one of his favorites, and one he

has always wanted to teach and perform. Bernhardsson said it would be enlightening to collaborate with other departments and faculty members on this project, since this time period encompasses diverse subjects and Oberlin is a place full of great resources. “Since all the music is basically Western classical music, I wanted to find the way to incorporate the Middle East, because it can make a very strong argument that what is going on right now in the Middle East is from the result of the end of World War I,” Bernhardsson said, mentioning the participation of Assistant Professor of Islamic Art History Farshid Emani and other faculty members in the main panel discussion last Sunday afternoon. The opportunity to present such seemingly disparate musical pieces in one setting proved to be a welcomed challenge to the organizers of the event.

“It is an interesting way to bring wonderful works together: extremely wellknown works and unknown works on the same program. And the things that were going on in the world might affect and might grow into decisions that the composers were making,” said Associate Professor in Musicology Elizabeth Ogonek, who also lectured in one of the concerts. Students, faculty, and community members alike left the series inspired by and more in tune with the artistic environment and history of World War I. “I find this series of events is a fantastic way to introduce the music and the artworks that were composed and made during the World War I period,” College sophomore Khang Nguyen said. “I had a chance to listen to many impressive pieces that I did not know before and learned so many new things about the arts and the music in the 20th century.”

FRONT International Brings SiteSpecific Art Exhibitions to Oberlin

Artist Barbara Bloom focused on capturing the architectural aspects of art pieces from the Allen Memorial Art Museum’s collection in her visual art exhibition for FRONT, titled THE RENDERING (H X W X D =). Photo by Devin Cowan Priya Banerjee FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art presented its first group of internationally acclaimed artists and their equally diverse art earlier this summer. From July 14 to Sept. 30, over 100 chosen artists will display their works at selected locations around Cleveland. Exhibition venues are not confined to spaces dedicated to the presentation of art alone, but rather transcend the traditional walls of galleries and museums into the streets of Cleveland and beyond. For instance, the United States’ first-ever indoor shopping center, The Arcade in Cleveland, boasts an abstract mural by Julian Stanczak that balances softness with geometric rigidity. The Cleveland Clinic

The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

houses a photography installation by artist Sharon Lockhart that highlights the humanity of young Polish women. St. John’s Episcopal Church houses an exhibit that grapples with the public’s historical consciousness of the Underground Railroad. The wide range of venues is reflective of the diversity of subjects touched upon by the artists represented at FRONT. This year’s theme is “An American City: Eleven Cultural Exercises.” Each artist was asked to incorporate some aspect of the city and its architecture into their work. They have developed exhibitions that range from pointed political commentary through images to abstract painting and outdoor sculpture. The founder of FRONT, Frank Bidwell, modeled the event after its prominent European pre-

decessors, including the Venice Biennale and the German festival Documenta. The Venice Biennale, like FRONT, attracts artists from every corner of the globe to present politically-charged pieces in an urban setting. Both events scatter the installations and exhibits around the city, allowing onlookers to either explore the city in search of the art, or to stumble upon new art in their own neighborhood. While Venice is a utopia of picturesque landscapes, the city of Cleveland holds a very different place in the hearts of the public. It is often viewed only as a dismal remnant of Rust Belt industrialization, characterized by crumbling buildings, abandoned factories, and failing infrastructure. However, through initiatives such as the Bonner Center’s Connect Cleveland program

as well as FRONT, members of the Oberlin community have seen a side of Cleveland that defies those stereotypes. With FRONT, Bidwell aims to shed light upon the culturally diverse community of Cleveland that is so often ignored. Bidwell hopes that the festival will help revitalize the city and the surrounding area, not only with the predicted $50 million of economic impact, but culturally as well. Bidwell wants to shift perceptions of Cleveland from a city of declining industry to a hub of art, culture, and opportunity. Three venues in Oberlin are hosting FRONT exhibitions: the Allen Memorial Art Museum, the Richard D. Baron ’64 Art Gallery, and the Frank Lloyd Wright House. At the Allen, New York artist Barbara Bloom took on the task of curating an exhibition using pieces already existing in its collection, displaying architectural forms ranging from a rough sketch of a house reminiscent of a children’s drawing to traditional paintings of ancient buildings. She drew upon the architectural elements of the gallery space in the Allen in the presentation of the selected pieces by encasing them in white boxes with the only visual access being small windowlike cutouts. College first-year Emma James described the space as “white and minimal.” Andrea Gyorody, the Ellen Johnson ’33 assistant curator of modern and contemporary art at the Allen, described Bloom’s artistic approach in the exhibition as “a strategy she has employed before.” “She calls it masking, and the idea is really that she wants you to see the element of the work that

she wants you to see and nothing else,” Gyorody said. “And so there is a bit of irreverence there because she is essentially covering up in some cases the vast majority of a work in the collection, and only giving you a peek.” Gyorody further described Bloom’s projects as being “about her particular vision and getting you as the viewer to be clued in to what that vision is.” Bloom’s approach to presentation invites the viewer to appreciate both the art and the space that it inhabits, much like FRONT as a whole. Shanghai-based artist Cui Jie presents her first solo work in the United States at the Richard D. Baron ’64 Art Gallery. The pieces consist of a combination of paintings, drawings, and sculptures whose subjects revolve around political criticism of the socialist elements of the former Mao regime, and incorporate architectural quotes. Gyorody describes Jie’s work as “her personal experience walking through the city of Beijing, and trying to understand it from the point of view of walking around these buildings and experiencing the space.” By including an exhibition that features such frank political criticism of China’s political history, FRONT secures its place as a boundary-pushing artistic festival. At the Frank Lloyd Wright Weltzheimer/Johnson House, Portugal-based artist Juan Araujo created paintings that are displayed on both the interior and exterior of the mid-century era building. The exhibition, titled Redwood, draws inspiration from the physical and historical aspects of the building, such as the colors and the materials, as See Oberlin, page 12

A r t s & C u lt u r e ON THE RECORD

Adriana Vergara, Musician and Activist Incarcerated people launched a widespread strike Aug. 21, protesting the dismally low wages they are regularly paid for their labor. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, codified the prohibition of enslavement and involuntary servitude — with one key exception being incarcerated people. To this day, incarcerated persons are regularly forced to work for mere cents per hour. Often, this work is physically demanding and even dangerous — the State of California, for instance, leveraged its substantial prison population to fight the West Coast’s extreme wildfires this summer. Those who have joined the strike believe that prison labor is a form of modern-day enslavement and have outlined 10 demands calling for reforms to the criminal justice and prison systems, specifically in regard to ending mass incarceration and racialized discrepancies. In some areas, incarcerated people are also focused on gaining more rights, such as the right to vote. Though the strike has gained rapid momentum, it has had minimal coverage in the media. In support of this nationwide strike, Oberlin students threw a benefit concert in a Village Housing Unit Friday, Sept. 7 that primarily showcased musicians of color. Featured were student acts Spice Lo, little bear, Xango/suave, and FOGATA. We spoke with Conservatory junior Adriana Vergara, who hosted and organized the event along with double-degree senior, member of Xango/suave and lead singer of FOGATA, Mobey Irizarry. Interview by Jane Wickline This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Conservatory junior Adriana Vergara co-organized Music Toward Prison Abolition, a benefit concert that featured many student musicians of color. The event raised over $1,000 to support participants of the recent nationwide prison strike. Photo by Maria Turner, Photo Editor I want to start with some general background — how did this event come together? What did planning it entail? Well, I have a band that plays Latinx party music, mostly made up of Latinx performers on campus. This year I have a house close to campus — it’s a great space for shows… I thought it would be a fun opportunity to get everyone together, and I’ve really wanted an excuse to play a show. It was actually Mobey’s idea to turn it into a fundraiser for the strikes for prison abolition… People are going to want to go to a party either way on a Friday night, so being able to channel that into something that tangibly benefits the community was really great. How much did you end up raising? Over $1,000 in donations alone and even more with the profits from concessions. We didn’t have any trouble with people not wanting to pay. It was cool to see how eager people were to help …

we got quite a few donations from people who didn’t even make it to the event. What role do you think Oberlin’s studentbodyplayedinthesuccessoftheevent? This event definitely combined two of Oberlin’s biggest strengths — politics and music — and I think that’s a big part of it. I’ve been on other campuses where I haven’t seen the same motivation. I’m not saying our success necessarily depended on Oberlin specifically, but I think having a political climate here that is so conducive to people putting those two things together helped a lot. So going a little into the movement itself, I know one of the main focuses of the national movement is an end to unpaid forced labor in prisons — “prison slavery.” What are your thoughts on this particular piece of the conversation? It’s so important. It’s something that hasn’t been talked about, and still isn’t, enough for the necessary action to be taken. Not only are people of color so disproportionately targeted, they’re then put into these conditions that are completely inhumane. And there are people in positions of power who are directly benefiting off of this [unpaid labor]. It fosters a horrible environment for [the incarcerated], both in their day-to-day and in the context of their long-term mental health.

College Set to Benefit from Performing Arts Annex Continued from page 10

the Theater department, these performance venues can host both faculty-directed and student-run shows. According to Steggall, the Theater department is currently initiating strategic programming conversations with other constituencies on campus in order to develop a solid plan for how, when, and for whom the new facilities will be available. Older students will also enormously benefit from the new resources. “I'm excited,” said College sophomore Alex Scott, who is acting in Cabaret, in an email to the Review. “The costume director showed me some pictures, and I'm glad to be in my first ever Oberlin mainstage there.” Additionally, the project will play a vital role in attracting a diverse group of prospective students interested in pursuing theater in college. In light of the College’s recent financial troubles, the addition of the performing arts annex, as well as the Patricia ’63 & Mer-

rill ’61 Shanks Health and Wellness Center, to Oberlin’s repertoire of oncampus offerings cannot be understated in regards to recruiting more students. “We are certainly excited by the new facilities and the wonderful productions that will follow right next door thanks to the theater expansion,” said Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Manuel Carballo in an email to the Review. “Along with the renovation in the Health and Wellness Center, we can highlight that Oberlin continues to improve and work on its programs and facilities. We hope to be able to showcase these spaces to our visiting families for years to come.” Ultimately, the long-term impact of the performing arts annex is well worth the wait. “It really is a lightning rod [for] jumpstarting new ideas and new ways of teaching and learning for the 21st century,” Steggall said.

Since the strike ended, its organizers have said they’re “thrilled with the publicity” they’ve received, but the news apparently hasn’t reached members of Congress What are your thoughts on this disconnect? I think it’s intentional. A lot of the people who stand to profit off the unpaid labor are the ones in a position to change the laws. I know the prison system is, partly by design, very far removed from people’s daily lives, which is a problem. I mean, I can’t say I know much of it from the inside — most people don’t. But it’s up to lawmakers to put in the effort. We all need to put in the effort to understand what’s going on. Yeah, with this particular event you guys were able to use a social incentive to get students to participate in a cause they otherwise might not even know about. As a musician, is that something on your radar? What role does music play in getting people involved in politics? There’s such a big connection between art and politics … political music can be enjoyed by non-political people. And I think students who maybe otherwise wouldn’t be paying attention to the news will show up and get involved if they’re drawn in by something like a live show. I think most people here are in support of the strike, but events like this help give them the extra push to take action. We want to add something to the scene

on campus in terms of DIY shows on campus. With this show specifically, we wanted to target something that is mainly affecting people of color using music coming primarily from musicians of color. There’s a lot of spaces here in the DIY music community that are maybe not totally POC friendly in terms of performers. Absolutely. And on the subject of marginalized groups not having a voice, this movement also is calling for voting rights for prisoners, which, with 2.3 million people incarcerated in the U.S., could have huge implications for upcoming elections. Yeah, the fact that many of the incarcerated are not only unable to vote while in prison, but also after they’re released is [unjust]. These people don’t have a voice at all. They don’t have a voice to express distaste with a system that hurts them, to express their own experiences, or to get their message out to help other people avoid prison. So I think that’s a really unfair move from lawmakers to silence the people that would be most effective in changing these laws, and I think it’s important for us use the platforms we have to help whenever possible. Just the feeling of community that live music can create is so powerful. One of our goals is to do more shows and fundraisers. We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to bring something that seemed not present enough on campus.

Oberlin Hosting Three Exhibitions for Cleveland Contemporary Art Showcase Continued from page 11

well as the art collection of the home’s previous resident, former Oberlin Professor of Art History Ellen Johnson, OC ’33. Gyorody described the “desire [of FRONT] to have an artist who is interested in modernist architecture paired with a modernist home. [Araujo] had never done anything with a Frank Lloyd Wright house before, so it was an opportunity for him to stretch in a different direction and apply what he does primarily with Latin American modernist architecture to a North American example.” Another Oberlin professor, Johnny Coleman, is one of the featured artists of FRONT. His work focuses on the community of Glenville, a Cleveland neighborhood, and is comprised of three pieces: a sound installation at an old community church, a sound piece in a stairwell, and a telescope facing Glenville (both of the latter are located at the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art). In an email to the Review, Coleman

described his sound piece, “Bonita Wagner Johnson, world-class Gospel vocalist and Glenville resident, climbs each of the four levels of the staircase singing the classic, “Move On Up A Little Higher.” Between each iteration of the verse, the recorded voice of an elder reflects upon their experiences within the community over the span of their lives. The sound of a human heartbeat and the soft lapping of Lake Erie on the shore are layered below the sung-spoken voices.” Coleman’s connection to Oberlin further reiterates Oberlin’s role in revitalizing the art scene of Cleveland. With FRONT, Bidwell is pushing against what people have long thought about Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Hosting multiple shows and bringing internationally acclaimed artists to a small college town is a serious achievement, and Oberlin should view its involvement in such a prestigious arts festival with pride.

Oslam Open Mic Highlights Talent of New Poets Kate Fishman Arts & Culture Editor Each time a poet took to the stage and announced their name and pronouns followed by “I’m a first-year,” the audience erupted into a chorus of snapping and cheering. This was “Back 2 School Open Mic,” hosted by OSlam, Oberlin’s poetry collective. The event, which occurred last Friday at the Cat in the Cream, was the first opportunity this academic year for Oberlin students to hop on stage alongside OSlam’s three current members and share some of their work. “I’ve worked a lot of open mics because I work at the Cat in the Cream, and it can be really hard,” College junior Amy Sahud said. “The energy can definitely dip, [but] I feel like we sustained it. I thought [the audience] was really supportive, and I was really happy about that.” Sahud, who is entering her second year on OSlam’s team, relishes the space the club creates for sharing poetry outside of academic departments. “I definitely feel, as someone that’s not involved with the Creative Writing department at all, [that] we’re definitely pretty distanced from … poetry [as] a very academic thing,” she said. “Especially the roots of slam being a Black art form and drawing from spoken word — this is not something that’s us reading Walt Whitman and some dusty old white men. It’s very happily detached from that. And that definitely invites people who are intimidated by the Creative Writing department or just feel like ‘I’m not really a writer’ — people say that all the time, and … that’s not true!” It’s important to note that the OSlam club and team are two distinct groups. While participating on the team requires an audition process and involvement in poetry competitions, the OSlam club is a writing and sharing

space that is open to all students, regardless of experience level. Although the OSlam club was not particularly active last year, this year the members of the club plan to revive that group. Additionally, OSlam will be facilitating a Brown Resistance Writing Narratives club, centered around writing sessions specifically for Brown and Black students. “Making sure that we have spaces for slam that aren’t competitive … is really important,” said College senior and OSlam team member Hanne Williams-Baron. College junior and fellow teammate Jalen Woods agreed. “I think [we’re] ultimately trying to give people a space to express themselves,” he said. Historically, OSlam events featuring both performances and a workshop element get a decent turnout. Friday’s event, which featured only performance, showed a particularly remarkable first-year presence both in the audience and on the stage. “We’re going to have three returning members this year [on the competitive team] and a lot of first-years,” Williams-Baron said. While seemingly a bit daunting, the returning members of OSlam see this year as an opportunity to revitalize the group with some new voices and fresh perspectives. Friday’s perspectives were fresh indeed, with poems focusing on subjects ranging from lamentation on young love, to a playful exploration of friendships with God and Satan, to analysis of the silencing forces of street harassment, to interrogation of violence against the Black community. For College sophomore Olivia Guerriero, the open mic represented their first foray into an art form they’ve mostly interacted with in a classroom.

“It was the first time I had read a poem outside of a workshop setting, so it was very nerve-wracking,” they said. “It was great to be in that celebratory atmosphere, rather than an atmosphere of critique.” Guerriero also acknowledges the importance of avoiding taking up space that is not theirs to take, given slam’s origins. “I feel more comfortable and more justified taking up space in classes,” they said. “But it was nice to feel like I was participating in this community rather than just being an audience member or rather than inserting myself into it. ... It felt very communal and very supportive.” There are plans to bring Oberlin alumni and OSlam founders Alison Kronstadt, OC ’16, and Annika HansteenIzora, OC ’17, back to campus to perform leaving much in store for the club’s fifth year. “They’re two incredible people who birthed OSlam, and we’re really excited to have some intergenerational knowledge-sharing,” Williams-Baron said. Mostly, the team members want students to be excited about OSlam’s work. Friday’s event was an opportunity for community members to turn out, and for poets and performers to see the enthusiasm with which their artistic contributions were met. “I’m really excited for all of the first-year poets of color who are coming into this community and being welcomed in the way that they are. I think it’s really amazing,” Guerriero said. Sign-ups to audition for OSlam as well as additional information about the group are available through their Facebook page. Auditions will be held tonight and Sunday in Wilder 115.

POCKET HAMLET

Claire Wang

The Oberlin Review | September 14, 2018

Sp ort s

In The Locker Room with Jabari and Malachi Clemons, teammates and brothers Growing up, brothers Jabari and Malachi Clemons did everything together, from playing video games in the bedroom to running around the track while their dad timed them. Despite their closeness, neither one expected to be on the same college campus, let alone the same college football team. Jabari, a College senior, is the starting wide receiver after missing his entire junior season due to an ACL injury. Malachi, a second-year, was voted Male Newcomer of the Year by his peers at the 2018 Obie Awards for his accomplishments on the track and football teams. Both are involved in more than just sports, however. Jabari gives tours for prospective students, is an Oberlin Business Scholar, and DJs and produces music in his spare time. Malachi does research and gives tours for the Oberlin Heritage Center as a Bonner Scholar. Interview by Alexis Dill, Sports Editor What drew you to Oberlin? Jabari: I had a lot of fun on my overnight visit with the team and the coaching staff at the time. They gave me a good enough reason to come here. How did Jabari influence your decision to come to Oberlin? Malachi: He actually didn’t. He didn’t think I was coming here, in fact. My parents actually chose my college — I didn’t choose it. A lot of people would think that’s bad, but there was no college I was really drawn to. When most people visit a college they say, “Oh, I belong here.” There was no college that really felt like home. I was thinking about going [Division I] for a little while, but I knew that if I did that, I would have to throw away academics. I was like, “OK, that’s not worth it.” I just wanted to go to a place where I could make a difference. That sounds cliché, but my dad just wanted to put me in a place where I could have an impact and [that] feels like home and is just the best place for me. I made a lot of friendships here fast, and I think that’s the beauty of it being so small. What people don’t tell you is that you’re going to see everyone every day — you see people at their highest and people at their lowest. You find out who really has your back. How did you get into sports? M: It started out with track. Our dad made us run. We used to wake up every morning and play video games together, and he would call us lazy. J: Yeah, he hated that. M: He would force us to go out in the morning for a run. To make sure we did it, he would give us a stopwatch. Before we ran, he would click it. J: He would know if we ever stopped because he was timing us too with his own

stopwatch. M: He would tell us what time we had to be back by. J: We would tell him our time and he would tell us his time, and they didn’t always match up. I was 13 and [Malachi] was 11. M: We started running at this little black track. Jabari was faster than me at the time, so our dad would always make me try and catch him. How did you get into football? J: [Malachi] got into it before I did. M: I finally started watching it. I used to think it was so boring with too many things going on, but then I watched the Steelers play one day and just thought it was very fun and freeing. Whatever I did or [Jabari] did, we did together. If I was playing a sport, he was playing it too. J: He got me into football, because originally I was into basketball. I loved it and was good at it, but I’m too small and my dad told me I wasn’t tall enough and would get blocked every time I go up for a shot. Does your relationship change when you are on the field together versus when you go home? J: Our relationship never changes. M: People think that we’re distant from each other, but that’s just how we function now. We shared a room with our sister growing up, and Jabari hated it. Since he’s my big brother, I always wanted to be around him. But Jabari loves his space. Living in the same space is tough, because I could always just follow him up there. J: I had nowhere to hide. M: It wasn’t until he got older and had a car that he could get away from me. On the football field, though, nothing changes. We’re each other’s biggest supporters. I don’t know if anyone catches this, but any time he makes a big play, I’m always right

College sophomore Malachi Clemons, mother Tracy Hollingsworth, and senior Jabari Clemons Photo courtesy of Jabari Clemons

on the sideline ready to give him a hug. If I make a play, he runs to me to give me a hug. J: It started off when we were playing video games — Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers and stuff like that. That’s how we first became close. We just stayed in the same room, up all night, playing video games. It was fun. How has having a brother on campus benefitted you each personally? M: Jabari is the type of guy where, if you don’t ask, he won’t tell. I knew nothing coming to college, because Jabari never talked about it. I didn’t know what questions to ask him. I knew some guys coming in because of him, but I never had an official visit since nobody ever thought I was going to come here. Jabari never straight up said, “You should come here.” He was relaxed about it all, and I’m shy if I don’t know you, so I really only met two people: [senior] Chris Mueller and Khalil Rivers [OC ’18]. But when I came here I started meeting all of [Jabari’s] friends, which was cool. J: Nothing has changed since high school because essentially it’s the same situation. We’re both at the same school and both on the football team. We’re both the same people we always were. The only difference now is that we don’t have our parents watching over us. So we just look after each other, which we did in high school too. What is one piece of advice you have for Malachi to make the most of his remaining three seasons? J: Just have fun. It’s a game. None of it really matters once you graduate. Enjoy your experience. That’s it. What is one thing you look up to Jabari for that he is unaware of? M: Growing up, my hero was our dad.

Jabari knew that, because I was like Dad’s little soldier. I would do just about anything my dad said. Jabari was always better than me athletically. When we played basketball games, he would always win. But my dad was always giving me tips and helping me out. But then Jabari started changing a bit in high school without even really realizing it. He became one of those defiant teenagers, and I didn’t understand it. I was in eighth grade and thought he was just acting weird. But then I came here and can see how he’s his own person. I really look up to him for putting his own twist on everything and being so different from what our parents kind of pushed us to do. I love my parents, but I love that [Jabari] goes against the grain. That’s what I strive to be. Will this season be emotional since it’s your last one together? M: We actually thought high school was going to be our last time playing together. J: Yeah, I would guess it’s going to have the same ending as our last time playing together in high school. M: After high school we thought that we would be traveling down different paths. I was like, “OK, Jabari, this is it. You’re going your way and I’m going my way.” Then we ended up here together, so now it’s just round two. We know what to do now. I remember that last high school game we played together. We lost by like three [points], and Jabari had his head down. The film guy caught me putting my arm around Jabari as we walked off the field one last time together. My dad isn’t emotional at all — at least not in public — but that last football game was the first time I had ever seen him cry. My mom will for sure cry again this time around. She’s very emotional [in comparison]. This year will be the same for me and Jabari, if not a little more business-like.

YeoFit Knocks Out Grand Opening Standards Too High for Serena Hannah Keidan

College senior Olivia Shin brought a friend to a cardio boxing class taught by Head Softball Coach and Wellness Coordinator Sara Schoenhoft Thursday evening. Shortly after the Pat ’63 and Merrill ’61 Shanks Health and Wellness Center opened in late August, an initiative called YeoFit kicked off. YeoFit offers an assortment of free drop-in classes to students, faculty, and staff. In the first two weeks of the academic year, the center has been bustling with eager students looking to try extended yoga, spinning, TRX training, or one of the many other classes being taught. Text by Alexis Dill, Sports Editor Photo by Devin Cowan

As a tennis player, I grew up watching the Williams sisters on television. They were — and still are — my heroes. I would sit criss-cross-applesauce on the family room floor, eyes glazed over, head bobbing back and forth to follow the ball, barely understanding what was happening on the screen. Back in those days, Venus and Serena often played one another in the finals of tournaments. I would root for Venus, since she was the big sister, and my little sister would cheer on Serena. While Venus has fallen out of the spotlight in recent years, Serena continues to dominate the sports page. Yet as I age, I’ve seen her reputation dragged through the mud time and time again. Whether it be positive or negative, people have something to say every time Serena appears on court. As I look up what happened in the U.S. Open finals this year, I am bombarded with words such as “rant,” “outburst,” and “meltdown.” The Telegraph alone featured all three of these words in one

article. Serena Williams is being attacked by the media for her reaction to a game penalty. After receiving a penalty for supposedly receiving coaching during the match, Williams spoke out in defense of herself and her integrity. Rightfully offended at being accused of cheating, she yelled out, “I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.” She went on to say that she stands for what is right for her daughter’s sake and that she felt she was owed an apology. Upon calling the chair umpire a thief, her comments — which contained neither threats of violence nor any profanity — were ruled verbal abuse. Former world number-one ranked tennis star Billie Jean King spoke out in support of Williams on Twitter, writing, “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” Both Serena and King are calling out the double standard which continues to restrict women not only in tennis, but in all sports. I have to believe that this simply See Serena Incident, page 15

From the Bass to Baseball: Perfecting the Right Pitch Luke Sprecher Most Oberlin students arrive on campus at age 17 or 18, but Ian Ashby — firstyear Conservatory student — familiarized himself with the College when he was 12 years old. He played baseball competitively in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA until he was in seventh grade, when his father accepted a position as a Jazz arranging professor in the Conservatory and his family moved to Oberlin. Every Wednesday, 12-yearold Ashby would practice his pitch on the red dirt of the old Dill Field while his dad, Jay Ashby, would teach a class. Dill Field has since been renovated — the classic dirt was switched out for a sleek turf diamond — but nowadays when he steps on the mound, he does so as an Oberlin varsity athlete. A younger Ian would cement his form and perfect his balance, and he would hear the stoic voice of a coach who would become his mentor all the way to college. Coach Abrahamowicz, who coaches varsity baseball here at Oberlin College and also assists with the Lake Erie Warhawks — a local travel baseball

organization — recognized Ashby’s talent and has been working with him since he was in middle school. The hours Ashby spent playing baseball during the day were complemented by nights full of jazz. Ray Brown followed Jose Ramirez. I can almost picture Ashby’s childhood: a scenic night full of MLB: The Show on the PS2, and Monday night baseball as Ashby walks around gripping an original iPod touch with headphones permanently in his ears. At the end of the night his eyes are fixed intently on the screen of a game, with his bass in his hands as he casually strums the strings and rapidly taps the fingerboard. There are over 400 athletes at Oberlin, but what makes Ashby unique is his passion for athletics — adjacent and equal to his passion for music. He has a fidelity to both, committed as a full-time varsity athlete and a Conservatory student. The grueling practice hours of baseball alone are daunting, and Ashby adds a rigorous Conservatory curriculum and practice schedule to them. When I sat down with Ashby, he briefly explained his schedule: a morning workout

followed by a quick practice session for bass, then class all day, baseball practice, and bass practice again. Each day Ashby allotts three hours to practicing both jazz and baseball. Most people wonder how he manages to do both, but I wanted to know why. When I met with Ashby, he was repping a backwards Oberlin cap and a hoodie with a large “O” and “C” on it. He didn’t drink coffee or even look at the Slow Train menu. Trying to get a gist of how intense and elite Division III baseball is, I alluded to my own athletic endeavors — mediocre at the high school level — during which Ashby politely nodded, and then proceeded to relay details from the workouts he and his teammates have to endure daily. Needless to say, I regretted saying what I benched before Ashby told me what he does. Varsity is no joke. The average athlete might feel physically drained after going to the gym once a day for an hour or two, but Ashby has to spend almost three hours per day focusing and exerting himself. Anyone who has been on a sports team knows that practices and games aren’t just physically

draining, they’re emotionally draining and stressful as well. Exhausted, most people would be entitled to rest postpractice — but for Ashby, this is when he starts to play the bass. Ashby posited that there is a tendency to separate activities like music — which appear intensely cognitive — and athletics — which appear purely physical. This tendency is, unfortunately, a result of both sides failing to fully comprehend the similarities between the two. Music and athletics are both about getting lost in the focus they require. “For both music and baseball, it’s really an escape,” Ashby said. “And I don’t want to sound basic, but that’s really what it is. It’s a place you can go and get lost.” Extreme focus has this effect. Whether you like to sing, drive, write, run — whatever your passion — we choose some activities because they require our attention. Going for a drive might be a cliché, but the road forces the driver to focus. When you combine experience with focus, the result catalyzes a kind of meditative state. Ashby “goes for a drive” when he’s on the

mound on Dill Field eyeing the catcher, or when he’s holding his bass in Warner Concert Hall at the Conservatory. “But why do you work so hard?” I asked. “What is special about the kind of focus that you get from both baseball and jazz?” Here’s what it is: When you see old-time jazz players, and they’re constantly having a conversation beyond words, and they’re having moments with each other — real moments where they’ll tip their hat or wink or do something to acknowledge the moment they just had — that’s what everyone in the Conservatory, including me, is working for. It’s similar for baseball — there’s that moment when you connect with a teammate on a play and in an instant, the waiting is over.” Ashby doesn’t participate in baseball and music for glorification or validation. At its core, it’s not just for escape. In his mind, jazz and baseball are not just analogous, they’re the same. Although baseball is more “slow-paced” and jazz has a “constant response rate,” the moment when he connects to others is the same in both.

Serena Incident Reveals Good Recruiting Leads to Great Success Sexism in Tennis continued from page 16

continued from page 14 would not have happened to a male player. Men are praised for the traits — in their case, “competitive spirits” — that women are so often criticized for — in our case, “unchecked emotion.” I cannot count the number of times I have seen male players, both in tournaments I have played in and in professional matches on television, act much worse than Williams did this past match. A high school boy whose match I was managing once defaced the bathroom of a rival school and was given no more than a slap on the wrist. He wasn’t even suspended from the next match. As mentioned in a recent article by The Quint, Roger Federer, a player often praised for his quiet, respectful presence on the court, has sworn at chair umpires in the past and faced no penalties. Andy Murray once kicked a ball at an umpire’s head without any repercussions, and ABC News called this “show[ing] off his football skills.” This debacle may have even been avoided had it involved a female player other than Williams. The fact of the matter is that people have been looking to tear Williams down her entire career. She is held to an unattainable standard on and off the court. I have heard many people say that Williams should have handled herself better in the situation. To this I respond: Yes, she could have acted in a more appropriate manner. But was her anger, her frusThe Oberlin Review | Septermber 14, 2018

tration, her resentment at the implication that she would cheat not justified? I suppose the answer to that question is one that we must all decide for ourselves, but I believe that everything Williams did was within reason. Perhaps she could have stopped herself from saying what she did. However, I believe it is the incredibly unrealistic standard that she is held to, rather than her actions themselves, which got her in trouble with the refs and the media. There is, of course, much more to unpack from this event. The conversation of double standards and unfair scrutiny in tennis has been a long time coming, and I hope it does not end here. Yet what I want to make sure is not lost in all of this is that Naomi Osaka played an amazing match and accomplished something groundbreaking. She is the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament. Apologetically fighting back tears and covering her face is no way for a champion to feel she must act. To let what happened take her victory away from her would be an absolute shame, and I ask that, as Williams graciously begged in her finalist award acceptance speech, we “not boo anymore” and “try to make this the best moment we can.” The worst thing we can do at this time is pit two women, each of whom has revolutionized the game, against one another. Neither Williams nor Osaka is the one to blame.

more to say about the institution itself than the track and field program. Perhaps Hepp is aware of all that Oberlin has to offer because he was a student-athlete here himself. He won 12 total varsity letters as a member of the football and track and field teams from 2003–2007. “Our approach to recruiting with the cross country and track and field programs has always been the same,” Hepp said. “We want to recruit studentathletes who, first and foremost, fit Oberlin College. We want to find individuals who not only share and appreciate the things that make Oberlin College the singular and extraordinary institution that it is and has been for 185 years, but who are also passionate about continuing to compete in the sport that they love at the collegiate level.” McClain hadn’t considered any non-Division I schools until she met Hepp. “Every single [Division I] campus that I visited and coach that I talked to made me feel like the only interesting part of me was my athletic component,” McClain said. “It was like everybody was trying to parade their huge weight rooms and their huge locker rooms off to me, and then we would go out to a fancy dinner. But for two hours, we would just talk about track. When I visited [Oberlin], [it] was the first time that I sat in a classroom and was taken to academic buildings that interested me. Coach Hepp was recruiting me for athletics, but also made me feel like that was not the only thing that I had to offer.” According to McClain, Hepp finds what a recruit is interested in and does his best to appeal to those interests. He even attended a high school performance of Beauty and the Beast last year because a recruit was acting in it. Alexander admitted that recruiting the best student-athletes is challenging, because if they can get into Oberlin, that means they can get into other high-ranking academic schools as well. “We’ve had athletes on the team who chose Oberlin over Bowdoin [College], the University of Virginia, Colby [College], and Middlebury [College], and we’ve had recruits choose Williams [College], Duke [University], the University of Chicago, and Northeastern [University] over Oberlin,” she said. It becomes especially tough to land a sought-

after student-athlete when Division I or II schools entice them with scholarship offers. “It takes a certain amount of maturity and bigpicture perspective for 17- [and] 18-year-old [kids] to understand the benefits of attending a school like Oberlin versus being a face in the crowd at a larger institution where they [might not] continue competing,” Hepp said. McClain said choosing Oberlin was the best decision she has made and will undoubtedly set her up for success in her post-college life. At Oberlin, McClain has the chance to be more than just an athlete: she is a village assistant, an assistant student treasurer at the Office of the Student Treasurer, an officer on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a board member for the Heisman Club, president of the Class of 2020, a Bonner scholar, and a Mellon Mays fellow. When people write off Division III athletics as mediocre, they should look at what Oberlin’s cross country and track and field programs have done under the leadership of Head Coach Ray Appenheimer. But even more than that, they should acknowledge everythings these student-athletes have done and continue to do outside of the athletic facilities. Student-athletes don’t come to Oberlin with hopes of becoming a professional athlete. They come to Oberlin because they know they are more than just an athlete — they are learners, musicians, artists, environmentalists, humanitarians, and leaders. By spending four years on this campus, they allow themselves to grow in all aspects of their lives, not just athletically. “For every article or story that is written about achievement in their sport, we are even more proud as a coaching staff about things like Lilah being one of 29 spring sport athletes [across all divisions] awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship this summer, Monique earning a competitive Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs this year, having Conor Narovec, [OC ’15], in his second year of medical school at Harvard, or seeing Calista Diehl [OC ’16] earning her Ph.D. at MIT,” Hepp said. “Those achievements are a direct result of students who took full advantage of the resources and opportunities provided at Oberlin, and they have and will continue to have a lasting effect on this program for a long time.”

SPORTS September 14, 2018

established 1874

Volume 147, Number 2

Swooshes Up in Ashes, Nike Up in Shares Ify Ezimora Sports Editor Nike’s close-up image of Colin Kaepernick’s face reads: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” At the bottom: the classic swoosh followed by Nike’s slogan, “Just do it.” The ad, which first surfaced in tandem with the opening game of the 2018 National Football League regular season, references Kaepernick’s now-infamous decision to sit and then kneel during the National Anthem at an NFL preseason game. Kaepernick, who has not played a game since that moment two years ago, Junior All-American thrower Naeisha McClain has been an integral part of the originally sat to peacefully protest racial track and field team’s success the past two years. Outside of track, she is a village injustices in the United States, but then assistant, an assistant student treasurer at the Office of the Student Treasurer, an decided kneeling would show more officer on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a Heisman Club board memrespect for veterans. ber, the Class of 2020’s president, a Bonner scholar, and a Mellon Mays fellow. Nike’s ad, similar to Kaepernick’s Photo courtesy of OC Athletics original action, has inspired great controversy. The internet has been showered with thinkpieces, stock forecasts, and tweets, all with different takes on the image, its meaning, Nike’s controversial labor history, and its huge vision III the past several years. Their financial gain. Alexis Dill Some people have reacted negatively coaching staff recruits student-athletes Sports Editor who are driven, curious, and passionate by burning their Nike shoes and cutting swooshes off their apparel. On Sept. 3 the It was four months ago that Lilah in all areas of their lives. Shortly after arriving at Oberlin, many hashtags #JustBurnIt and #BoycottNike Drafts-Johnson, OC ’18, clutched her firstplace trophy while being mobbed by team- student-athletes in the program take on were trending on Twitter. Others have mates and coaches. She had just run the leadership positions in a variety of extra- lauded Nike for rolling out a powerful 10th fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the curricular activities, pursue interests out- and activism-centric ad campaign. Those who support the ad have shared event’s history at the NCAA Division III side of their sport, and engage themselves Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Cham- in the community. Their college experi- past Nike campaigns that they think pionships, and could finally call herself a ences do not ride on how they perform display the company’s commitment to national champion — a promise she made on any given day, because they know that equality and solidarity, including those released during Pride Month June their sport isn’t all that defines them. to herself three years earlier. “If a student-athlete is at a school they 2017 to honor the LGBTQ community. Two days later, it was her Oberlin College diploma that she held with pride. Af- enjoy and are getting what they want out This ad showcased vogue artist Leiomy ter four years of balancing classes, track, of their college experience, they are going Maldonado against the backdrop of and several other extracurriculars, the to be their best athletic selves,” said Asso- an inspirational, emotional narrative Latin American Studies and Politics dou- ciate Head Cross Country Coach and As- describing Maldonado’s progression as a ble major graduated with Honors in Latin sistant Track and Field Coach Izzy Alex- dancer. In some ways, the controversial public ander. “The top runners on our team have American Studies and a 3.92 GPA. To the disbelief of many, Drafts-John- improved a great deal since high school, reaction has become bigger than the ad son was not originally recruited as a high in no small part due to them being in a itself. College senior and student-athlete school athlete, and she wasn’t immediately college environment that suits them — an Kaylee Elliott felt conflicted about the issue. accepted into Oberlin — instead, she was environment [in which] they can thrive.” “I’m a little unsure about how I feel In the past decade, a handful of the waitlisted. After one practice, she quit the triple jump to join the sprinters in their country’s best cross country and track and about Nike doing it,” she said. “I’m a training, and instantly realized that if she field athletes have competed for Oberlin. hypocrite — I like their shoes. But I put in the effort, she could set herself up to Joanna Johnson, OC ’11, was a seven-time don’t agree with them making a profit on All-American between the two sports; this campaign, especially when they’re accomplish lofty goals. During her second year, Drafts-John- Carey Lyons, Emma Lehmann, and Kyle committing human rights violations son took seventh place at nationals in the Neal, OC ’15, were each two-time All- in other countries. It’s hypocritical for 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.86 Americans; Geno Arthur, OC ’16, was a them to be profiting off of activism in our — 3.52 seconds slower than the time that three-time All-American; and, more re- country while violating people’s rights in made her a national champion two years cently, Monique Newton, Ana Richard- another.” The public outcry has not been limited son, and Drafts-Johnson (OC ’18) each later. to individuals — some institutions are also One of the fundamental reasons why earned several All-American honors. “They loved being at Oberlin College, making public stances on the Kaepernick Drafts-Johnson was so successful as a student and as an athlete — and why many and as a result, that joy, comfort, and read. Several NCAA colleges and other student-athletes at Oberlin succeed assurance permeated into their successes — is because she loved her school, what on the track,” said Associate Head Track universities have exited apparel contracts she was doing, who she was doing it with, and Field Coach and Recruiting Coordi- with Nike. Liberty University — the largest private, nonprofit university in and because she was motivated to improve nator John Hepp, OC ’07. A native of Columbus, GA, College the U.S. and one of the largest Christian herself every single day. It takes more than sheer athleticism to junior and All-American thrower Naei- universities in the world — is the first become your best self at Oberlin, which is sha McClain had never heard of Oberlin and, thus far, only Division I institution why the cross country and track and field before receiving her first phone call from to start a conversation about leaving Nike programs have dominated their North Hepp. According to McClain, Hepp had over the ad. “If Nike really does believe that law Coast Athletic Conference competition See Good Recruiting, page 15 enforcement in this country is unfair and made a statement to the rest of Diand biased, I think we will look around,”

Good Recruiting Leads to Great Success for Cross Country, Track

Liberty President Jerry Falwell, Jr. said to USA Today. “But if it’s just a publicity stunt to bring attention to Nike or whatever, that’s different. We understand that. We understand how marketing works. But they’re going to have to convince us that they’re not proactively attacking law enforcement officers and our military. If that’s the reason behind using this ad, we’re going to have a hard time staying.” Elliott, a Virginia resident who lives ten minutes away from Liberty University, stated, “I believe in God and Christianity, but I don’t think institutions should have that sort of influence over students and their students’ political views, but I also feel like given the type of students that attend Liberty, they’re not going to protest it.” She said, “Regardless, you can’t have an institution telling people what’s wrong and right. An institution that large with over 110,000 students and heavy reach on the students and the city of Lynchburg — it’s wrong for them to put out harmful messages like that. They’re stifling opposing opinions.” Oberlin College is decidedly not switching from Nike. “The swoosh for us takes on a greater meaning now,” said Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education Natalie Winkelfoos. Despite threats like Falwell’s and an initial hit of three percent to Nike’s stock price, the company’s shares have since rebounded and online sales have spiked 31 percent. From this perspective, siding with Kaepernick doesn’t seem like just a stand for equity — it’s working out great for Nike’s self-interest. The degree to which Nike has benefited from the ad raises important questions. Does Nike truly care about activism and seeing an end to injustices? Or like Falwell says, is the recent ad campaign just a clever ploy? The numbers tell a disheartening story. In addition to a long history of human rights violations in its hundreds of manufacturing shops in countries around the world — primarily in Indonesia, China, and Taiwan — Nike allocated 78 percent of its political contributions in the 2018 election cycle to the Republican Party. Likewise, seemingly in opposition to Nike’s politically conscious ad, Phil Knight — co-founder and current Chairman Emeritus of Nike — has allocated substantial funds to the Republican Party. Knight, who also wears the title of Nike’s second-largest shareholder, donated over $1 million to Rep. Knute Buehler, GOP candidate for Oregon governor, earlier this month. Whether or not any of the profits Nike made from the ad campaign will be put toward advancing social and racial justice initiatives is unclear. Kaepernick’s new partnership with Nike will aid his work to empower others to fight systemic oppression against Black people, including his Know Your Rights Camp, geared toward youth self-empowerment. However, based off of Nike’s apparent political incongruence, the chances of the company making direct contributions to racial justice causes are slim.