THE VOLUME 128,COSMOS ISSUE 12 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016 CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA MILD WEATHER AIDS WORK Construction continues on Eby Fieldhouse Dec. 1. Executive Vice President Michael White said College Drive will not close until the week of Dec. 19. Continued on pg. 2. INSIDE THE COSMOS NEWS 2 FEATURES 5 DIVERSIONS 6 THE WINTER READ THEATER DIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL FINALS P. 3 P. 4 P. 6 INDEX 2News Friday, December 2, 2016 Construction continues on Eby THE COSMOS into the current weight Eby, White said, Hickok Lisa McDonald room and Clark Racquet 2016-2017 STAFF Editor-in-chief renovations are almost Center. However, White fully complete. The last Thanks to build- said, further relocation major planned addition EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ing-friendly weather, of the equipment will be Lisa McDonald to Hickok is the elevator, a lot of headway has necessary since the cur- and delays with the ele- been made on the Eby rent weight room is also vator firm currently have COPY EDITORS slotted to be turned into Lisa McDonald Fieldhouse construction, the installation occurring additional locker room Rachel Deyoe Executive Vice President in January 2017. Michael White said. space. "You'll still be able "The floors are almost "There is going to be to get to the new class- ASSISTANT LAYOUT probably a stretch here EDITORS all in," White said, "with rooms and everything," Allison Bartnick the exception of the area where the weight room White said, since virtu- Rachel Deyoe to the south, where the will be relocated and ally all the work will be Mai Fukuhara new strength and condi- they'll have some weights contained in the elevator tioning room will be." in various areas," White shaft and in the elevator PHOTOGRAPHERS White said once the said. Further details service areas. Amanda Bourne walls are installed to regarding that arrange- ensure climate control, ment will come after winter break. STAFF WRITERS the floor will be poured in that area. "It's going to be kind Rachel Deyoe of an inconvenience for Bridget Moore Though a construc- tion update email sent the spring term," White Yuan Chai said, "but once it's done Mai Fukuhara Nov. 15 stated College Drive would be closed it will be a lot better." Allison Bartnick While there is still a Above, completed classroom Nicholas Hodges the week of Dec. 5 to build the sky bridge lot of work to be done on in Hickok Dec. 1. connecting Clark Rac- Below, construction of the new fitness center and class- SPORTS EDITORS quet Center and Eby, that room spaces on, top, Sept. 22 and, bottom, Dec. 1. Rick Webb construction has been Photos by Lisa McDonald. Ryan Izer moved to the week of Dec. 19, White said. RECIPE CONTRIBUTOR White added occas- Nina Wilson sional one-lane closures can be expected to occur during the spring semes- TREASURER Rachel Deyoe ter. Along with the instal- lation of the sky bridge, FACULTY ADVISOR the existing fitness center Shawn Harmsen will be closed during CONTACT US winter break to begin [email protected] converting the area into Phone: 319-299-8646 additional locker room Fax: 319-399-8031 space. The fitness room equipment will be moved Friday, December 2, 2016 News 3 A "Fun Home" for the holidays Thomas Petrino ('17) College students should Mai Fukuhara Staff writer selected Alison Bech- read graphic novels and del’s “Fun Home.” It was memoirs to appreciate On Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., named the best book of these genres can be as Coe Alliance and the 2006 by Time magazine literary as more tradition- English Department will and the stage adaption al genres. hold the Winter Read won a Tony Award for The third reason with the support of the Best Musical in 2015. Petrino gave is since “Fun Committee on Diversity. “Fun Home” is a mem- Home” is a memoir by an The Winter Read start- oir in the style of a graph- influential lesbian, Petri- ed in January 2016. This ic novel. Bechdel wrote no believes this book will will be the second annual about her family, her fa- help people understand Winter Read. ther and herself. Bechdel sexuality and the prob- The purpose of The discussed finding out her lems that LGBTQIA+ Winter Read is to gather a father had secret relation- face in American society. diverse group of students, ships with men at a time The first group of Alison Bechdel’s memoir faculty and staff to read she was discovering her students to sign up can Fun Home tells Bech- a common book and dis- own lesbian identity, and receive a free copy of del's story of discovering cuss its relation to social shortly before her father’s “Fun Home.” For people her father had secret issues and politics. death. interested in the Winter relationships with men, In addition, The Petrino gave three rea- Read, they can contact while Bechdel discovers Winter Read would like sons for choosing “Fun Coe Alliance at coealli- her own lesbian identity. to emphasize literature Hom e .” [email protected]. Photo courtesy of Inside addressing sociopolitical First is “Fun Home” Petrino said he hopes Higher Ed. struggles and inequality. socially relevant. Second The Winter Read will be- For this year’s event, is Petrino thought Coe come an annual tradition. Need help with grad school application fees? Need monetary assistance a letter of recommendation paying for graduate school from a faculty member who applications? The Lipsky can speak about the student's Graduate Application Fund, academic work at Coe and like- founded by former Coe Col- lihood of future success in their lege Board of Trustees member chosen field. Joan Lipsky, will pay for three An email with more details graduate school applications to and the application form will schools on the approved list. be sent from the Provost's Of- All schools on the list are fice early next week, so keep an major schools outside of Iowa, eye out for it. with the deadline to apply for Joan Lipsky gave the Class of 2014 Com- Students with questions these funds being January 23, mencement Address. may contact Assistant Profes- 2017. Photo courtesy of Coe College. sor of English Amber Shaw at The application requires [email protected]. 4News Friday, December 2, 2016 A cue for diversity Rachel Deyoe some of the scripts we pick,” Staff writer Barnett said, “and not know we want them to come. It’s Just before Thanksgiving going to increase competi- break, on Nov. 16, members tion, but that’s good; it gives of BSEO and the theatre us the best outcome.” department met to discuss On the flip side, choosing diversity in theatre. plays cast traditionally with According to Professor non-white actors can be of Theatre Dennis Barnett, difficult, as there may not be the issue was brought up by enough minority actors inter- an actor wanting to know ested in performing. more about how the cast was “Until we have a sizeable chosen. minority involvement, we “It’s been an issue for Above: Okieriete Onaodowan, second from left, can’t do those plays,” Barnett years,” said Barnett. Barnett plays the role of Hercules Mulligan during the said. explained that achieving first act of Hamilton. In the play, famous white In this sense, blind casting diversity in a cast can be American historical figures are played by people only works in one direction. difficult. of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Photo “I’d cast an African-Amer- “We only do three shows courtesy of New Jersey On-Line. ican as Willie Loman in a year,” Barnett said, “and Death of a Salesman, any the majority of our [theatre] Below: Public debate arose following Noma Du- day,” Barnett explained, “but majors are white.” mezweni's casting as Hermione Granger in the I couldn’t cast a white actor However, Barnett said, stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s the theatre department uses Child. Photo courtesy of PA Images. Black Bottom.” a system called blind cast- The hope for the future is ing, meaning that actors are clearer and more direct com- cast based on their ability to munication with BSEO and perform, not on race. Bar- Multicultural Fusion about nett mentioned that campus the plays chosen and the roles emails calling for tryouts that are available to anyone. normally carry the message Furthermore, the department that the shows are open to all is now offering a minority students. fellowship position. “But,” Barnett added, “that “It will increase the diver- doesn’t say it specifically sity of the department to have enough. We needed to know a professor who is also part of that our message wasn’t get- an underrepresented commu- ting out.” ress, and there’s a lot of prog- nity,” Barnett said. When scripts are chosen ress still to make,” Barnett As the Chair of the Com- that are traditionally cast said. “There’s a lot of learning mittee on Diversity, Barnett with white actors, minority that has to be done by both is aware of the work that still students can feel discouraged parties here to make Coe the needs to be done. about trying out. diverse and cohesive campus “We’ve made a lot of prog- “They’re going to look at that we dream of.” Friday, December 2, 2016 Features 5 New faces of Coe: Nathan Hodges derived from his experi- Yuan Chai ence in high school. Staff writer “I wasn’t a very good A new Coe professor student in high school,” says he finds vulnerability Hodges said.