Block Remembered for Fierce Dedication to OWU
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Got secrets? Accio Pottermore!: OWU PostSecret cards hit OWUWarts just doesn’t HamWill Thursday sound as cool... -- Page 2 -- Page 3 THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY PUBLISHED STUDENT NEWSPAPER THE TranscripT IN THE COUNTRY Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 Volume 149, No. 6 WoHo and HelpLine team Block remembered for fierce dedication to OWU up to educate By Kathleen Dalton a member of the OWU class of politics and government, ten by students on the impact campus about Transcript Reporter of 2014 and Lugg works as a spoke of not only her profes- Block had on their lives. The writing tutor in the Sagan Aca- sional relationship with Block reflections focused not only sexual assault Lydia Block was remem- demic Resource center. but also of their personal rela- on the ways in which Block bered for her passion and de- Block-Wilkins and Lugg lit tionship and the strength and helped students academically By Eric Tifft votion for her job, family and the Yizkor Memorial Candle ease of their friendship. and with their chosen ca- Transcript Reporter the home she found at Ohio during the ceremony as part of “She was fierce, fierce about reer paths but also the ways Wesleyan University during the Yom Kippur observance. programs and people she cared in which Block developed Sexual assault is a vola- the Oct. 7 memorial celebra- The Kappa Alpha Theta about, and she was sassy, very friendships with the students tile, and many times emo- tion devoted to her life. (Theta) sorority, of which sassy,” said McLean. she worked with. tional, topic on college cam- Block died in June after Block-Wilkins is a member, This description of Block “Dr. Block had a bigger im- puses. fighting Chrohns disease for gathered to remember Block remained true throughout all pact on my college career than In an attempt to clear mis- much of her life. She became a and support their sister. The the remembrances of and re- any other person,” recounted conceptions and educate stu- member of the OWU family in Thetas occupied nearly a third flections upon her life. one student. dents about sexual assault, 2006 as the director of learn- of the chairs in the full Benes President Rock Jones high- Colleen Cook, director of Lydia Guiguis, a counselor ing resources and the faculty Rooms. lighted Block’s “lasting im- counseling, said Block ap- with HelpLine of Delaware coordinator for the Sagan Aca- Colleagues of Block’s Photo courtesy of Emily Lugg pact” upon OWU and said proached her job with a dis- Block and Morrow Counties, gave demic Resource Center. spoke at the ceremony. They Block was “unwavering in tinct drive and enthusiasm. a presentation in the Benes Caroline Block-Wilkins recounted stories of conversa- potential of OWU students. her commitment for students.” Cook said her laugh was infec- Rooms on Oct. 5 detailing and Emily Lugg, Block’s tions with Block. They remem- They also spoke of Block’s Jones said Block’s life was full tious and her passion to help facts about sexual assault. daughters, both attended the bered the ways in which she so loving devotion to her family and, in that context, complete. students was driven by the in- The presentation was ceremony. Block-Wilkins is staunchly fought for what she and her daughters. Associate Chaplain Chad tensity with which she fought sponsored by the Women’s believed in: the strength and Joan McLean, professor Johns read reflections writ- Chrohns disease. House (WoHo) and orga- nized by junior Laura Troy- er-Joy with the help of senior Linda Stover and junior Vic- Students, professor take TiPiT grant to Kenyan orphanage toria Sellers. HelpLine is located on N. Franklin Street and of- By Suzanne Samin phanage sometimes felt hope- fers emotional and financial Transcript Correspondent less, because the government support, as well as a 24-hour does not acknowledge it or toll-free hotline for survivors Students are adding Ke- provide funding to maintain it. of sexual assault. nya to Ohio Wesleyan’s ever- Mayer said her desire to Guirguis said she is re- growing list of international continue work there came sponsible for providing as- connections. from her hope that, “by giv- sistance and support to sex- After receiving a Theory- ing others access to resources ual assault survivors in the into-Practice-into-Theory to create change, […] in time, hospital. (TiPiT) grant, senior DeLaine the students at this orphanage “The moment someone Mayer and junior Megan will be able to go back to their walks in to Grady and says Bachelder took a trip this sum- communities with the tools to they’ve been raped, I stay mer with professor of Swahili enact positive social and po- with them at the hospital Ali Skandor to Changamwe litical change.” to offer emotional support Orphange -- located in a slum While she acknowledges until they are discharged,” outside of Mombasa, Kenya. that there is much work to be Guirguis said. “Sexual as- They spent three weeks done, Mayer said the cheer- sault is an extremely trau- there, bringing various sup- ful disposition of the children matic experience and having plies to donate with them. gave her hope. someone there to listen and After their time volunteering, “They may not access to provide assistance is very they decided they wanted to clean water or good food, but helpful.” continue their efforts in aiding they are vivacious, spunky, As many as one-third of the orphanage. playful, friendly and absolute- women and one-sixth of men Mayer and Bachelder said ly magnetic,” she said. “In our will be sexually assaulted at they wish to help make the own country, we struggle with some point, Guirguis said. orphanage into a nongovern- race issues and today especial- The biggest area of confu- mental organization (NGO), ly, a clash between Muslims sion is what consent actually so that it can receive funding and Christians, and religious means, she said. and aid from other organiza- pluralism. “Kissing and fondling tions like it. “In the Changamwe Or- does not equal consent to Changamwe Orphanage phanage, some of these kids sex,” Guirguis said. “As Photos courtesy of DeLaine Mayer stands in the form of a mud hut are Muslim, some are Chris- cliché as it is, no means no Top: Megan Bachelder ‘13, DeLaine Mayer ‘12 and professor of Swahili Ali Skandor in with multiple rooms. There tian. They all sing and dance means no.” Changamwe Orphanage outside of Mombasa in Kenya. are 100 children who attend together. The Christian kids Alcohol is the most com- Above Left: Some of the children in the orphanage. school there, and only three sing Muslim songs and Mus- mon drug that is used to Above Right: Bachelder, Skandor and Mayer were able to travel because of a TiPiT grant. teachers. lim kids sing Christian songs, coerce someone into sex, There are currently an es- and the kids who were raised faced cholera, widespread The effort at Changamwe cial resources to receive an Guirguis said. Alcohol is timated 60 children who live without religion sing both. drought and starvation, and Orphanage is not the only im- education. consumed before a sexual at the orphanage, and they of- There is a lot to admire and an economic system that had pact OWU students are leav- “Myself and the women’s assault by about 78 percent ten times sleep three to a bed. learn from.” totally collapsed,” she said. ing in Kenya. and gender studies student of rapists and 55 percent of They have poor plumbing, and Mayer said another source “That’s how I fell in love Senior Celeste Taylor is board are hoping to raise victims. rely on a medical clinic several of her passion is her deep love with Africa. It was a conti- working to raise money for enough money this year to miles away for one meal a day. for the continent of Africa, nent widely neglected in any Akili Dada, an international cover the entire cost of high See ASSAULT Many of the children are which began when she first discussions we’d had in high non-profit organization that school education for one stu- on page 3 HIV positive. visited Kenya at the age of school surrounding political was co-founded by Ashley dent,” Taylor said in reference “It’s difficult to go to a third seventeen. and economic development, Biser, professor of Politics and to her luncheon, which is on world country with money “We met people who told international studies, litera- Government. Nov. 16 at noon in the Benes and food to donate and then us about the executive tyranny ture, anything really. I wanted Akili Dada provides high rooms. IN THIS ISSUE leave,” Mayer said. “That’s under President Mugabe, and to know more.” school scholarships for young Mayer and Taylor are both such a short-term benefit.” learned about the hard-ships Bachelder was not avail- Kenyan women who would members of the Peace and Jus- Page 2: She said working at the or- of their daily lives, as they able to comment. not otherwise have the finan- tice House. WSLN is back on the line ‘Passion meets opportunity’ at Bigelow-Reed House dedication Page 3: Mock election By Saar Rajpuria and identifiable by two lions most, William Bigelow (’05) People then moved to the Pages 4 & 5: Transcript Correspondent standing outside its front door. and John Reed (’55). kitchen downstairs where se- Philanthropy Many students who live in They also wanted a room in nior Shane Wepprich gave a The newly-formed Big- the house are involved with which they could store all their speech thanking John Boos, Page 6: elow-Reed Economics House economics, though some have memories, where the brothers professor of international busi- Abercrombie ads at 23 Williams Drive hosted different majors.