Age of Enlightenment</h1> <article> <h1>Age of Enlightenment</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 17 May 2023 16:19:22 +0000</p> <span>Age of Enlightenment</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-17T12:19:22-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 12:19">Wed, 05/17/2023 - 12:19</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ellie Jensen didn’t plan on majoring in German, but once she began taking classes, she came to appreciate the supportive professors and the tight-knit community she found in �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/node/3191">German Language and Literatures Department</a>.</p> <p>Now the spring graduate will have the opportunity to exercise her extensive knowledge of the language as a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Germany.</p> <p>Beginning in September, Jensen will spend 10 months in Schleswig-Holstein, a northern state near the Denmark border. Jensen, who is a <a href="/node/25371">German</a> and <a href="/node/3386">economics</a> major with a concentration in mathematics, began studying the language in high school. With long-term teaching ambitions of her own, she looks forward to interacting with students and experiencing another country’s education system.</p> <p>“I’m really hoping to gain experience in the classroom setting and working with students,” she says. “This will be my first time living abroad, so I think that will help me have an open mind and grow as a person and learn more about this different culture. I think that will affect my outlook on life and my personal development.”</p> <p>For Jensen, a favorite course at �鶹��Ƶ was Enlightenment to Classicism, a German lit class taught by her advisor, Professor of German <a href="/node/5801">Steven Huff</a>.</p> <p>“[He] made the content so interesting and made it feel so real,” she says. “That was the first real German literature class I took, so it was interesting to be able to read these German novels and be able to break it down and analyze it.”</p> <p>A native of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Jensen knew she wanted to attend a small liberal arts college. During a visit to �鶹��Ƶ, what struck her most was the people. “They all had very unique hobbies,” she recalls, “and they were all super-passionate about what they were studying.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Community came easy through Ellie Jensen’s German studies. Now a Fulbright teaching assistantship invites her to cultivate a community of her own.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-17T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/17/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Brittany Moseley</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25371">German</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/steven-huff" hreflang="und">Steven Huff</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/german" hreflang="und">German Language and Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32087" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class data-text-size-large> <p>“Even if you don't know everyone on campus, it’s so easy to just go up to someone and strike up a conversation, and you'll likely know someone in common or have a mutual friend. That kind of camaraderie—it’s really unique to �鶹��Ƶ.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27724" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p><span id="cke_bm_505S" style="display: none;"> </span> </p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Jensen was a four-year midfielder on the �鶹��Ƶ lacrosse team. (photo by Maggie Balderstone '24)</figcaption> </figure> <p>Outside of the classroom, Jensen was a four-year member of the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/womens-lacrosse">women’s lacrosse team</a>. She also takes secondary lessons on organ—with access to �鶹��Ƶ’s 30-plus world-class instruments—and is a member of the dining co-op Pyle Inn.</p> <p>As she prepares for life after graduation, she knows she will miss the community aspect of �鶹��Ƶ the most.</p> <p>“Even if you don't know everyone on campus, it’s so easy to just go up to someone and strike up a conversation, and you'll likely know someone in common or have a mutual friend,” she says. “That kind of camaraderie—it’s really unique to �鶹��Ƶ.”</p> <hr> <p><em>The <a href="https://fulbrightscholars.org/">Fulbright Program</a> was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries by sponsoring students and scholars to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. The U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program, Fulbright supports exchanges between the U.S. and more than 150 countries around the world. In February, �鶹��Ƶ was named a top producer of Fulbright Fellows for the 14th consecutive year. It ranks third among U.S. colleges and universities on the all-time list, with more than 260 Fulbright recipients.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Survivor Mentality</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 16 May 2023 18:37:39 +0000</p> <span>Survivor Mentality</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-16T14:37:39-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - 14:37">Tue, 05/16/2023 - 14:37</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Emma Hart '23 was raised by two mothers in rural Decatur, Indiana. Growing up, the other kids often reminded her “You can’t have two moms.”</p><p>Today, Hart credits the experience with inspiring her to pursue the cause of sexual justice. She formed �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="https://www.ocmhresources.com/students-of-sexual-harm--allies-sosha.html">Survivors of Sexual Harm and Allies</a> (SOSHA), a student-led organization that advocates for and empowers those who have experienced sexual violence.</p><p>Beginning in August, Hart will approach the issue in a new way: by devoting a year to observing programs in South Africa, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand that create dialogues among boys in middle and high schools, raising awareness and curbing the incidence of sexual violence.</p><p>The opportunity was made possible by a <a href="https://watson.foundation/fellowships/tj">Thomas J. Watson Fellowship</a>, a highly competitive honor that enables recipients to pursue original, independent projects outside the U.S. and receive a $40,000 stipend and a year’s worth of college loan payments.</p><p>Named for the longtime head of IBM, Watson Fellowships have been awarded to 42 graduating college seniors from 20 states and four countries this year. Two of those fellows are from �鶹��Ƶ: Hart and fellow senior <a href="/news/toiling-margins">Alli Roshni</a>, who will work with patients, practitioners, researchers, and grassroots organizations to prevent and treat pediatric HIV and AIDS in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia.</p><p>Hart calls her project “Violence Intervention: Inviting Boys to the Conversation.” In a post on the Watson website, she writes: “Spaces that invite open conversation and encourage vulnerability in boys are key to reducing gender-based violence. Learning from organizations that empower boys to participate in these spaces, I will learn how different modes of violence-prevention stop harm before it happens.”</p><p>For Hart, the year ahead represents a global extension of the work she began at �鶹��Ƶ. She will graduate with majors in dance and psychology, with a minor in law and society and an integrative concentration in education. For her senior project in dance, she directed and performed in a documentary film called Healing Bodies, which quotes survivors of sexual abuse. For an honors project in psychology, she presented research on “vicarious dissonance,” a sensation that happens when seeing close friends or family act contrary to their stated beliefs.</p><p>This semester, she took part in a seminar on the psychology of social conflict, taught by Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies <a href="/node/6296">Cindy Frantz</a>. Hart says it helped her advocate more persuasively for justice for survivors of sexual violence. It’s a skill that has served her well in her work with SOSHA.</p><p>Numbering more than 100 student members, SOSHA supports survivors of sexual violence through confidential listening sessions facilitated by the Nord Center, a local mental-health and crisis intervention agency; through social events that support stress relief and healing; and through open forums.</p><figure class="captioned-image obj-right"><p></p><figcaption>Hart learned to mentor student writers through Writing Center director Laurie McMillin (left). Photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption></figure><p>SOSHA is credited with reviving �鶹��Ƶ’s participation in Take Back the Night, an annual initiative on college campuses intended to empower survivors of sexual violence. It has also forged coalitions with athletic teams and other organizations aimed at preventive measures—initiatives similar to those Hart will experience overseas.</p><p>“Instead of creating division, we ended up having those dialogues,” she says. (Learn more about SOSHA <a href="/blogs/student-org-series-sosha">on the �鶹��Ƶ blogs</a>.)</p><figure class="captioned-image obj-left"><p></p><figcaption>Hart in competition for the �鶹��Ƶ track team. (photo by Thomas Hill '24)</figcaption></figure><p>Hart’s campus involvement has extended in numerous other directions as well: She served as a <a href="/node/47086">Peer Advising Leader</a> to first-year students and worked with student writers as an associate in the <a href="/node/41931">Writing Center</a>, where she works with the center’s director, <a href="/node/6421">Laurie McMillin</a>, a professor of writing and communications. Hart also performed on silks and trapeze with the student-run <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oberlincircus/?hl=en">OCircus</a> and pole-vaulted for the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/womens-track-and-field">�鶹��Ƶ track team</a>. She credits her coach, <a href="https://goyeo.com/staff-directory/ray-harris/84">Ray Harris</a>, for helping keep her balance on and off the field and emphasizing the importance of clear focus in order to compete safely.</p><p>“You have to have your head over your feet,” he’d say.</p><p>Down the road, Hart might pursue a law degree or a master’s in public policy. Either way, she will continue her pursuit of justice, and she hopes her Watson experience will help her determine the best way to do that.</p><p>“Advocacy work can be emotionally taxing,” she says. “I want to be sure that I’ll be able to sustain it.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Emma Hart '23 traverses the globe to stem the tide of gender-based violence.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-16T12:00:00Z">Tue, 05/16/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Grant Segall</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25331">Dance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/cindy-frantz" hreflang="und">Cynthia (Cindy) Frantz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laurie-mcmillin" hreflang="und">Laurie Hovell McMillin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/dance" hreflang="und">Dance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>A Voice for the Voiceless</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 19:19:26 +0000</p> <span>A Voice for the Voiceless</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-07T15:19:26-04:00" title="Friday, April 7, 2023 - 15:19">Fri, 04/07/2023 - 15:19</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sydney Allen graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2019 with a major in English and minors in rhetoric and history. She worked at the <em>�鶹��Ƶ Review</em> for four years, serving as editor-in-chief her senior year. A student-athlete, Allen was a member of the varsity women’s lacrosse team. She was also a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/pal">Peer Advising Leader</a> (PAL), Peer Listener in the Peer Support Center, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/soar">Sophomore Opportunities and Resources Program</a> Facilitator, and worked with the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/wap">Writing Associates Program</a>. </p> <p>A native of Indianapolis, Allen has held internships with <em>Indianapolis Monthly</em>, the <em>Chronicle-Telegram</em> in Northeast Ohio, and her hometown congressional representative in Washington, D.C. In 2019, she was selected as a two-year <a href="https://www.shansi.org">�鶹��Ƶ Shansi Fellow</a>, which took her to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to teach writing and introductory journalism courses at Universitas Gadjah Mada. In June 2021, she began a position as an associate editor and Green Voices coordinator at Global Voices Online. </p> <p>We caught up with Allen to learn more about her path in journalism.</p> <p><strong>What was it like traveling across the world after graduation and immersing yourself in Indonesian culture as a Shansi Fellow?</strong></p> <p>Shansi does a great job at preparing the fellows, letting people know what to expect, and sharing tips on how to get acclimated. It was definitely a challenge, but I clearly loved it because I’m still in Asia now. When I first moved to Indonesia, I studied Bahasa (a language in Indonesia) for two months, which was excellent. That really gave me the foundation I needed to continue learning Bahasa. </p> <p><strong>How did working in leadership and mentorship roles at �鶹��Ƶ prepare you for teaching students at an Indonesian university?</strong></p> <p>The Writing Associates Program helped me communicate more effectively and give feedback in ways that are kind and compassionate. There’s a pretty clear trajectory between my roles at �鶹��Ƶ and how my career has progressed so far. I see a very direct link between the skills I learned as a writing associate and the work I’ve done. Also, PAL was helpful in establishing connections with students who are interested in different subject areas, as well as learning how to mentor younger students. The Writing Associate program and PAL gives students a different side of �鶹��Ƶ and provides a lot of value. </p> <p><strong>Tell us about how you found work as an associate editor and Green Voices coordinator at Global Voices Online in Indonesia.</strong></p> <p>Shansi Executive Director <a href="https://www.shansi.org/executive-director">Gavin Tritt</a> informed me of this remote position that matched my interest in advocacy-related journalism. It’s turned out to be incredibly fulfilling and an endless supply of perspectives. Green Voices is a collective of journalists and researchers who mainly write about the Global South—a region that’s been overlooked by mainstream media. Most writers are volunteers, citizen journalists, and people who have been overlooked by larger outlets. We have 40 languages that we translate to bridge linguistic silos, so many people have accessible information. </p> <p><strong>What kinds of stories have you worked on at Global Voices Online?</strong> </p> <p>I’m editing and writing news stories about Indonesia, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Central Asia. I’m also coordinating Green Voices, which is a group of environmental journalists around the world. This is a support mechanism to meet once a month and discuss the heavy topic of environmental issues while also forging connections. Mutual understanding and support between journalists can be really uplifting.</p> <p><strong>Can you provide some advice for �鶹��Ƶ students interested in journalism after graduation?</strong></p> <p>Get involved in as many things as you possibly can. It’s worth it to take advantage of many opportunities and go outside your comfort zone. See what appeals to you and push yourself to try new things. Getting into college is only a quarter of the battle. Finding out what’s important to you is a major part of your career journey. Find out what you like, and learn how to talk about it. I got this job through Shansi because I have always been vocal about what I’m interested in. Getting people to know about your interests and being able to talk about what you want in a way that is clear, concise, and confident is important.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Advocacy journalist Sydney Allen shines a spotlight on underrepresented regions.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-04-07T12:00:00Z">Fri, 04/07/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ava Miller '25</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Since graduating, Sydney Allen has worked remotely for a global news outlet while traveling around Southeast Asia. Read more about Allen in this After �鶹��Ƶ Q&A.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2397">Shansi</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3887">SOAR</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2771">Athletics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25451">Writing and Communication</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" hreflang="und">English</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sydney Allen '19 is an associate editor and Green Voices coordinator at Global Voices Online.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Sydney Allen</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Black Student Athlete Group Focuses on Community, Mentoring, and Diversifying Athletics</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 18:42:34 +0000</p> <span>Black Student Athlete Group Focuses on Community, Mentoring, and Diversifying Athletics</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-12-04T13:42:34-05:00" title="Friday, December 4, 2020 - 13:42">Fri, 12/04/2020 - 13:42</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When third-years Kofi Asare and Malaïka Djungu-Sungu took over as the group’s cochairs this year, they recognized that the protests and uprising over the summer combined with uncertainty about being able to compete would require unconventional thinking about ways to support Black athletes and create change in the Department of Athletics.</p> <p>The organization was founded in 2019 by graduates Naeisha McClain, Cheyenne Arthur, Jabree Hason, Jubreel Hason, and Devin White. Although their senior year on campus was cut short due to COVID-19, they created a space where Black athletes could talk about the challenges they face within their sport, advocate for action against inequality, and foster support for Black students in athletics, as well as the overall well-being of �鶹��Ƶ’s Black community.</p> <p>‘‘It’s really important that Black people can have a space where they can celebrate themselves and have community, but also talk about their issues, advocate for themselves, and be supported and heard,’’ says Djungu-Sungu, a member of the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/womens-track-and-field/roster/malaika-djungu-sungu/8076" target="_blank">women’s track and field</a> <span class="fa fa-external-link" aria-hidden="true"></span> team majoring in economics and Africana studies. </p> <p>Asare, a biology major and member of the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/mens-track-and-field/roster/kofi-asare/8107" target="_blank">men’s track and field team</a> <span class="fa fa-external-link" aria-hidden="true"></span>, says the events over the summer heightened the need for the group to elevate its presence on campus. </p> <p>‘‘We approached this semester as an opportunity to step outside the box,’’ Asare says. ‘‘We had to consider the areas we felt were most necessary. We thought about the different Black alumni who used to be student-athletes. Part of the community building aspect comes from networking. We wanted to bridge the gap between former and current Black student-athletes.’’</p> <p>On a Thursday evening in October, the group coordinated a virtual panel discussion with 10 Black alumni who shared their experiences about being a student-athlete at �鶹��Ƶ, how they navigated the campus and their team dynamics, and what they’re doing after �鶹��Ƶ. </p> <p>Giving Black athletes an opportunity to see other people who look like them is high on the BSAG‘s agenda. </p> <p>The group meets with the athletics department’s diversity and equity working group monthly to discuss ways to catalyze effective allyship among non-Black players and make the department more inclusive of Black voices and perspectives. They‘re also working with coaches to help recruit more Black student-athletes. To this end, they‘ve hosted panel discussions with recruits ’’to let them know there is a group for them when they get here, so they know �鶹��Ƶ is a place where they can thrive and be heard,’’ says Djungu-Sungu. </p> <p>Another key initiative the group developed this fall is a peer-to-peer mentorship program with Black student-athletes in �鶹��Ƶ High School. </p> <p>‘‘The idea is that we will be matched one-on-one to guide OHS students in their journey to college, also talking about their experience being Black and being advocates for themselves,’’ Djungu-Sungu says. ‘‘We’ve already had conversations with the high school’s Black Student Union about ways we can learn from each other.’’</p> <p><a href="/chris-donaldson">Chris Donaldson</a>, assistant dean and director of Student Academic Success Programs, is advising the BSAG and helping to engage the group with Black alumni. </p> <p>‘‘Some of the most important influences on athletes of all ages come from those individuals who can share similar experiences and connect on familiar themes,’’ says Donaldson, an �鶹��Ƶ graduate and two-sport athlete in baseball and football. ‘‘I’m honored to be working with them, and I fully embrace their mission.’’ </p> <p>Although there’s no competition at the moment, Asare and Djungu-Sungu have both discovered some bright spots.</p> <p>‘‘This semester has shown me how to be a better teammate,,’’ Asare says. ‘‘In the flow of the season, you’re preoccupied and worried about a track meet; you’re worried about a conference meet and wanting to win. To have that all stripped away, my priorities changed. Now, I need to find ways to be a better teammate from afar. I need to reach out to the first-years and let them know I‘m around. I‘m making sure I connect with the fourth-years and find out what they plan to do after they graduate.’’</p> <p>Djungu-Sungu says the track and field team feels more like family. </p> <p>‘‘We know we can’t look forward to that big conference meet or the smaller meets each Saturday, but we’re still practicing and moving as if we are competing. We’re working toward something big because there’s still a future for us.’’</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-12-07T12:00:00Z">Mon, 12/07/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>This fall, the Black Student Athlete Group (BSAG) has re-energized and taken advantage of the unusual circumstances of the pandemic by working creatively to diversify the athletics department.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2771">Athletics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4821">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/africana-studies" hreflang="und">Africana Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">BSAG board members, from top left: third-year Kofi Asare, second-year Chilly Wallace, third-year Malaïka Djungu-Sungu, third-year Kobe Brooks, fourth-year Lawrence Hamilton, third-year Rowan Smith, third-year Jada Kennerly, and fourth-year Alexis Castillo.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of BSAG</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Late Nights and Briefings: Law Student Jakheem Wheatley ’19</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:41:07 +0000</p> <span>Late Nights and Briefings: Law Student Jakheem Wheatley ’19</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-01T13:41:07-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2020 - 13:41">Fri, 05/01/2020 - 13:41</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Jakheem Wheatley ’19 knew he always wanted to attend law school. After graduating with a double major in law and society and sociology, he is now a law student at UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago. In addition to being a pre-law student, he played on two sports teams, worked in the Career Development Center, and completed an honors thesis for sociology.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe what you currently do?</strong></p> <p>Currently, I am a first-year law student at UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago. I am the 1L representative for the Black Law Students Association, and I also work part time for a boutique trademark law firm. I am very interested in entertainment law and intellectual property law, which has to do with trademark and copyright.</p> <p><strong>How has your experience at law school been so far?</strong></p> <p>My experience so far has been really rewarding. Although it has been a lot of work and a lot of late nights, reading, and briefing cases, I am still enjoying the process of learning how to read, write, and think like a lawyer. </p> <p><strong>How did you figure out what to major in?</strong></p> <p>I knew I always wanted to attend law school, so that’s how I decided on law and society. During my first year I ended up taking a few sociology courses, fell in love with the program, and decided to double major. I believe �鶹��Ƶ provides the opportunity to take a lot of classes in many different academic areas.</p> <p><strong>How did �鶹��Ƶ help you build skills for academic, personal, and professional success?</strong></p> <p>I was a captain for the varsity track & field team, a peer advisor in the Career Development Center, a sociology honors student, and an offensive play signaler/videographer for the football team. I think all of my experiences at �鶹��Ƶ definitely helped me to build my professional, personal, and academic skills. Those experiences all taught me time management and organization, which is invaluable in every area of my life. My senior honors thesis was a study of diversity issues in the legal profession, which I have been able to talk about in interviews and with my colleagues now at law school.</p> <p>I also learned how to interact with a diverse group of individuals. More specifically, learning exactly how I can help people with different backgrounds and life experiences achieve their goals. The Career Development Center directly helped me learn the ins and outs of the job search process, from creating a resume and cover letter to networking and interviewing.</p> <p><strong>Did any professors or faculty at �鶹��Ƶ particularly enhance your college experience?</strong></p> <p>Two professors in particular who I think helped me not only in the classroom but in figuring out my path after college were <a href="/node/6486">Greggor Mattson</a> and [former Visiting Assistant Professor] Jack Jin Gary Lee. Both provided invaluable advice and answered many questions I had about my future plans. </p> <p><strong>Do you have any advice for students who are interested in a similar career path?</strong></p> <p>I would say that one of the things I did early on was I reached out to as many alums in the legal profession as possible, mainly through Wisr. There are so many different areas of law, so for me, it was really helpful learning more about the many different legal career paths to really figure out what I wanted to do in the legal profession and with my law degree. Another tip I would have is to apply to schools based on places you could see yourself living after law school.</p> <p>Also, there are a ton of diversity legal pipeline programs that you could be applying to now that provide scholarships for things like LSAT fees, law school applications, and so on. I would be more than happy to talk with students about applying to law school, my experiences, and just being as much of a resource as I can over email: <a href="mailto:jwheatl@law.jmls.edu">jwheatl@law.jmls.edu.</a></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-01T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/01/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jaimie Yue '22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2403">Career Exploration & Development</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25431">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25396">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/greggor-mattson" hreflang="und">Greggor Mattson</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/sociology" hreflang="und">Sociology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society" hreflang="und">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Jakheem Wheatley '19 is a law student interested in practicing entertainment or intellectual property law.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Jakheem Wheatley</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Student-Composer-Athlete Lifestyle: Inspiration for Classical Album "Nocturnes"</h1> <p>hhempste — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 13:38:07 +0000</p> <span>Student-Composer-Athlete Lifestyle: Inspiration for Classical Album "Nocturnes"</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-04-08T09:38:07-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 09:38">Wed, 04/08/2020 - 09:38</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When Kenny Schafer ’22 was 12, the Louisiana native fell in love with jazz and discovered his first musical idol, Claude Debussy. Schafer dreamed of being a composer: “I wanted to pursue music; I knew I could figure out jazz and compose my own pieces.” </p> <p>Schafer’s composing style was influenced by the early 20th century French classical music of Debussy, Ravel, and Satie. He began writing by imitating these composers, but soon developed his own style. In high school, Schafer devoted energy into becoming a successful cross country athlete while leaving enough time in his schedule to compose. When he began his college search, �鶹��Ƶ’s cross country and track coaches supported his decision to be both an athlete and composer while carrying a full academic workload. Since his first visit as a prospective student, Schafer felt that the �鶹��Ƶ community fostered an environment that would allow him to carry out his musical inspirations. </p> <p>When composing, he often draws inspiration from the concept of nighttime. The very first piece he composed, <em>Dance of the Fairies</em>, is a ballet set during the night. His favorite original work, <em>Spanish Air</em>, takes place during the night. He explains that, “more than 90 percent of my jazz tunes are written in the key of Eb minor, which I consider to be the ‘night key,’ meaning any piece I write in this key is depicting the night.”</p> <p>Schafer credits his attraction to the night from three qualities: its beauty, its mystery, and its tranquility. “The world of the night is the world in which I can most be myself,” Schafer says. “The pieces of mine that depict the night are the ones that tell my listeners the most about who I am.” </p> <p>On January 26, 2020, Schafer published <em>Nocturnes</em> on Spotify. The album addresses loneliness and eliminates the negative connotation associated with it.</p> <p>The summer before first-year orientation, he composed what would be the first nocturne after reading a passage from <em>Moby Dick</em> in which the main character, Ishmael, described the ambiance when walking through an abandoned snowy town. In this particular nocturne, Schafer attempts to capture the same wandering feel as the passage and would carry it out for the rest of the set. Since Baton Rouge is his hometown, “going to �鶹��Ƶ was my first time living in a place that snowed… running and walking through �鶹��Ƶ at night was the perfect model for me to base <em>Nocturnes</em> on.” </p> <p>“Loneliness is a state of human emotion, just as happiness is, and is what makes us human,” Schafer says. With <em>Nocturnes</em>, Schafer returned to his roots of French impressionist music but now had developed a voice that was distinct from theirs. Schafer notes that the album, or any piece of his inspired by the night, “seem to be the ones where I feel the most comfortable and most free to explore whatever areas I wish.” </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-04-08T12:00:00Z">Wed, 04/08/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Victor Salcido ’21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Kenny Schafer ’22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jack Lichtenstein '23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Women and Nonbinary Athletes Partner with Colombian NGO</h1> <p>eulrich — Mon, 20 May 2019 16:22:36 +0000</p> <span>Women and Nonbinary Athletes Partner with Colombian NGO</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-05-20T12:22:36-04:00" title="Monday, May 20, 2019 - 12:22">Mon, 05/20/2019 - 12:22</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Spearheaded by Dylan Mehri ’18, the alliance between the groups has led to on-campus internships for current students, as well as winter term and summer break opportunities in Colombia.</p> <p>When <a href="/node/32541" target="_blank">Natalie Winkelfoos</a>, Delta Lodge director of athletics and physical education and <a href="/node/31931" target="_blank">Erica Rau</a>, head volleyball coach and deputy Title IX coordinator for athletics, were approached by Johnson and Ross about the idea for Stronger Together, they had already been wanting to create similar programming.</p> <p>Stronger Together is an athletics initiative that aims to bring together �鶹��Ƶ’s women’s athletics teams while leveraging the connections between women and nonbinary athletes and alumni to create an environment of mutual support, engagement, and opportunities for professional development.</p> <p>In addition to Stronger Together’s inaugural Get to Know You mixer, the initiative has hosted other events, including a Power Panel that included athletics alumnae in the professional world, as well as a five-minute clinic that created a space for the women’s athletics teams to bond and show each other what they do in their respective sports.</p> <p>Rau says that she’s already noticed a difference in the women’s athletics community since the program began.</p> <p>“I work with SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), and I’ve definitely noticed that our women have been taking the lead more on community initiatives and have been having a stronger voice. The program is barely two years old, but I’ve already seen it have such a big impact on our athletes.”</p> <p>The work Stronger Together has done extends beyond �鶹��Ƶ’s campus. The initiative has recently partnered with Niñas Sin Miedo, a Colombian NGO advancing the lives of young women and girls through education and wellness initiatives. The two organizations united when Mehri returned to campus in fall 2018 to recruit volunteers for Niñas Sin Miedo, and spoke to classes and <a href="/node/52361" target="_blank">Bonner Scholars</a> about the nonprofit.</p> <p>With the aid of the <a href="/node/75486" target="_blank">Susan Phillips ’76 Social Justice Internship Fund</a>, Mehri began working with Niñas Sin Miedo shortly after graduating from �鶹��Ƶ. She was soon promoted to international fundraising coordinator. Thanks to Mehri’s networking efforts, Niñas Sin Miedo now has four interns based in �鶹��Ƶ: Zoe Guiney ’21 and Rachel Serna-Brown ’22, both of whom promote the organization’s digital media presence in the United States; and Naeisha McClain ’20 and Eliza Braverman ’21, who coordinate on-campus events in conjunction with Stronger Together.</p> <p>Mehri says the overlapping values of both organizations, as well as those of an �鶹��Ƶ education, make �鶹��Ƶ students a good fit.. “Social justice is at the heart of the work many Obies want to accomplish, so being able to connect with a young international nonprofit is a great experience for them to have when they want to begin a career in the field,” he says.</p> <p>Braverman, who completed her winter term in Colombia with Niñas Sin Miedo this past January, shares Mehri’s sentiment. “Niñas Sin Miedo is all about education and physical empowerment through sport, and it falls very much in line with what Stronger Together is committed to,” she says.</p> <p>From �鶹��Ƶ, Stronger Together has fundraised for Niñas Sin Miedo at men’s and women’s basketball games as well as at a Stronger Together potluck event. Third-year McClain became involved with Niñas Sin Miedo through the Bonner Center, and says she is looking forward to continuing the partnership between the two organizations in the future.</p> <p>“Our hope for the future is that Stronger Together and Niñas Sin Miedo can collaborate, since we are empowering our women athletes here at �鶹��Ƶ and that’s what is happening in Colombia with the young girls at Niñas Sin Miedo,” she says. “I just hope we can all empower each other.”</p> <p>This summer, Niñas Sin Miedo will be joined by the four �鶹��Ƶ interns: Zoe Guiney ’21, Santiago Roman ’20, Joy Castro-Wehr ’20, and Bethany Gen ’21. The student interns will work to further the organization’s mission of empowering young women and girls through sports programming, psychosocial support, and violence prevention initiatives.</p> <p><a class="view-more" href="https://www.instagram.com/ocstrongertogether/" target="_blank">Follow Stronger Together on Instagram</a></p> <p><a class="view-more" href="https://www.instagram.com/ninassinmiedo/" target="_blank">Visit Niñas Sin Miedo on Instagram</a></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-05-20T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/20/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erin Ulrich ’18</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Stronger Together, an athletics initiative founded in 2018 by student athletes Lilah-Drafts Johnson ’18 and Leo Ross ’21, has joined forces with Niñas Sin Miedo (Fearless Girls)<span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span>, a nonprofit organization based in Soacha, Colombia. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2771">Athletics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2411">Athletics & Wellness</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/natalie-winkelfoos" hreflang="und">Natalie Winkelfoos</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Members of Stronger Together, an athletics initiative created by women and nonbinary athletes</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Julie Gulenko ’15</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>A Little Chin Music: Pitcher Julian Sawhill Mows Down the Mozart Too</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:39 +0000</p> <span>A Little Chin Music: Pitcher Julian Sawhill Mows Down the Mozart Too</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:39-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>What do viola, baseball, and politics have in common? Julian Sawhill ’17.</p> <p>Sawhill is a relief pitcher on the <a href="http://www.goyeo.com/index.aspx?path=baseball">�鶹��Ƶ baseball team</a>, a politics major in the college, and a viola student in the conservatory. But unlike most students who enter into the heralded <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/applying/double-degree.dot">Double Degree Program</a> at �鶹��Ƶ, Sawhill found his way through a series of formative events after beginning his experience on campus.</p> <p>Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Sawhill arrived on campus with a profound interest in politics that he traces to a government class in high school. It was there that he learned, as he puts it, that “my ignorance was staggering. I believe that study of government is one of the most imperative tasks one can undertake.”</p> <p>He also walked on to the baseball team and “shot up the depth chart” by the end of his sophomore year, according to his coach, Adrian Abrahamowicz.</p> <p>Politics and baseball would easily fill most students’ schedules, but Sawhill longed for something more. A violinist as a child, he attended the well-respected Greenwood Music Camp for nine years. And though he put down the instrument before college, he found himself gravitating toward musicians at �鶹��Ƶ.</p> <p></p> <p>“Simply put, I was jealous of my friends in the conservatory,” he says. “Hanging out with them while they talked about music was sometimes almost painful.”</p> <p>So he participated in campus musicals as a pit orchestra violinist, and he returned to Greenwood as a counselor following his freshman year. With music gradually creeping back into his life, he decided to do something “constructively musical”: �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/news/2014-string-quartet-intensive-and-festival-opens-january-7">2014 String Quartet Intensive and Festival</a>, held on campus over winter term.</p> <p>There, Sawhill played second violin—an experience that convinced him to make a full return to music. He shared his longing to be a part of the conservatory with the director of the quartet intensive, Associate Professor of Viola <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/faculty/faculty-detail.dot?id=4321674">Michael Strauss</a>.</p> <p>Strauss suggested the viola and gave Sawhill a concerto to learn for auditions.</p> <p>“At that point, I would have played fifth violin in a nonet,” says Sawhill, who had been introduced to viola in a recent season at Greenwood. “I would have done whatever I could to play.”</p> <p>“I noticed Jules’ love for both the instrument and chamber music, and it guided my instinct to encourage him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician,” says Strauss.</p> <p>Auditions are a nerve-racking proposition regardless of circumstances, and Sawhill had only a month to prepare on a relatively unfamiliar instrument. But his energetic and engaging performance resulted in an invitation to join the conservatory.</p> <p>Through it all, Sawhill has continued to play baseball—a sport that he compares to music. “When I pitch, I clear my head and get out all the thoughts I need to, and focus only on the game,” he says. That calming exercise is invaluable in stressful situations such as auditions.</p> <p>Now a violist in Strauss’ studio, Sawhill finds that his love of baseball has benefited him across campus too.</p> <p>“I am a big baseball fan, and used to play and coach,” Strauss says. “We refer to baseball when the situation may call for an analogy. Those times are fun for both of us.”</p> <p>Beyond their shared love of America’s pastime, Strauss lauds Sawhill’s passion. “Jules is a very intense worker,” he says.</p> <p>Coach Abrahamowicz sees the same.</p> <p>“Jules is a great teammate. A guy that you get the best out of all the time,” he says. “His work ethic on and off the field is an amazing quality that few possess.”</p> <p>As for the rest of the team?</p> <p>“My teammates think I’m nuts,” Sawhill says. “But in the end they respect the work I’m doing.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-10-09T12:00:00Z">Thu, 10/09/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Daniel Hautzinger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2411">Athletics & Wellness</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>How Cross-Country Training Makes Austin Lewellen '16 a Better Bassist</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:39 +0000</p> <span>How Cross-Country Training Makes Austin Lewellen '16 a Better Bassist</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:39-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sometimes accidents have beneficial consequences. Austin Lewellen ’16, who majors in double bass performance in the conservatory, sprained his ankle just three hours before his first lesson of the year.</p> <p>The injury came about while Lewellen was training for his role away from music: as a runner on the cross-country team. Because of the ankle, he had to sit down while playing in his lesson with his teacher, Scott Dixon. “All my teacher said was, ‘You play louder while sitting.’ And now I only play orchestral music while sitting.”</p> <p>That discovery is only the least obvious of the benefits that have resulted from Lewellen’s life as both a musician and athlete. “I’ve been finding that the mental game of racing has helped me deal with performance anxiety," he says. "You have to focus on the big picture, otherwise you won’t run a good race. But you also have to pay attention to the technical details, otherwise you will injure yourself or run slowly. And the same thing goes for music.” </p> <p>Running and performing also share similar practice techniques, so that learning to practice efficiently in one causes improvement in the other. For instance, cross-country workouts involve a lot of interval training. Recently, Lewellen has been trying to apply the same concept to the bass: working on small sections or aspects of performance in short, concentrated bursts. </p> <p>Ray Appenheimer, head coach of the cross-country team, agrees that Lewellen’s dual pursuits have had a favorable effect. “As his commitments in the conservatory have grown over the last three years, so has Austin's maturity and ability to handle it all,” Appenheimer says. </p> <p>“The fact that he balances it all so well is testimony to his capacity and confidence as an artist and athlete.”</p> <p>Lewellen ran cross country throughout high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and originally hoped to earn a college scholarship for it. But although Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, Lewellen visited �鶹��Ƶ in his senior year and loved the team. “They’re just awesome people,” he says.</p> <p>That helped him decide to take on two considerable commitments.</p> <p>When asked how he balances athletics and music, Lewellen laughingly responds: “coffee.” </p> <p>But coffee alone doesn’t solve everything; he carefully organizes his day so that there’s time to practice bass in the morning and run later in the day. </p> <p>“It’s hard to have the mental and physical energy to practice bass after a hard workout,” he says. While attending a music festival in Canada over the summer, he ran at six in the morning—the only free time he could find.</p> <p>“Austin loves being so busy,” Appenheimer insists. “He loves the challenge of taking on so much and striving to do it all to the best of his ability.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-09-18T12:00:00Z">Thu, 09/18/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Daniel Hautzinger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2411">Athletics & Wellness</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2418">Student-Athlete</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Austin Lewellen collaborated with the bluegrass band Punch Brothers during his 2013-14 year at �鶹��Ƶ.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>