'Stuys' up for Second Year
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THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY PUBLISHED STUDENT THE NEWSPAPER TranscripT IN THE COUNTRY Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 Volume 151, No. 2 Class of 2017 OWU ‘Stuys’ up for second year most diverse in university history By Brian Cook Transcript Reporter No matter what the class of 2017 ends up achieving, it has already made history at Ohio Wesleyan. According to Rebecca Eckstein, vice-president of Enroll- ment and Strategic Communication, this year’s incoming class is more diverse than any of its predecessors. “We are proud that this freshman class has the highest per- centage of ethnic domestic diversity in the history of the uni- versity and we have increased our international enrollment over last year,” Eckstein said. “However, to us, diversity ex- tends beyond race.” Eckstein said the freshman class ranks near the previous class academically, although one statistic for evaluating an incoming class was not provided due to its decreasing popu- larity among high schools. “Since the majority of high schools no longer rank its stu- dents, GPA is a better measurement,” Eckstein said. “This class average is a 3.4 while the previous class average was a 3.5, while the average ACT of 25 remained unchanged.” In the Sept. 16 faculty meeting, University President Rock Jones said the current freshman class’s academic profile is less competitive overall than that of the current sophomore class. In addition to a lower average GPA, the former has a lower average SAT score than the latter. In terms of enrollment, Eckstein said OWU has set itself up well for the future financially and educationally. “The target number for all U.S. and international freshman as well as transfer students was 590,” she said. “We have en- rolled 572, which is the second consecutive year that OWU has enrolled a class with an increase in net revenue, which enhances the budget for all educational purposes.” Photo by Spenser Hickey However, Eckstein said OWU isn’t looking to drastically increase its enrollment because of its desire to educate stu- Seniors Matthew Jamison and Jenea Dominguez relax by the fire on the patio in front of Stuyvesant Hall before “Stuyin’ dents in a small-school environment. Up All Night.” Jamison and Dominguez both took part in the “Stuyin Up” festivities as members of Residential Life “OWU is committed to providing a liberal arts education staff—Jamison is resident assistant in the Honors House and Dominguez is an RA in Smith Hall East. in a small, residential community,” she said. “Residential Life is currently at 99% occupancy so I expect the size of future classes to remain approximately the same.” See Page 4 for more photos and coverage of “Stuyin Up All Night” Eckstein said the freshman class “carries the same phil- anthropic spirit and desire for service as previous classes,” but acknowledged there is no official way to quantify this because the Common Application does not require students Kay named as new director of university’s Arneson Institute to record a specific number of service hours. By Julianne Zala Kay said he plans to con- Transcript Correspondent tinue the traditional directors’ practice of combining inter- “Coming to OWU was a breath of fresh Sean Kay, professor of poli- ests in theory and practice in air because I can experience so many tics and government, is the new programming, mentioning a director of Ohio Wesleyan’s possible travel-learning course different cultures and lifestyles,” said Arneson Institute for Practical that would investigate ways in Liam Keller, a freshman. Politics and Public Affairs. which Washington, D.C., oper- As director, Kay plans to ates. create new avenues to share in- Kay also wishes to expand formation with students, facul- interest in the Wesleyan in Freshman Liam Keller said he enjoys the diversity in cul- ty, staff, and the general public. Washington program, which ture, something he didn’t experience much in high school. He said he feels the position is provides internships for uni- “Coming to OWU was a breath of fresh air because I can “a very exciting opportunity.” versity students in the nation’s experience so many different cultures and lifestyles,” he said. The institute has begun capital. Freshman Ashley McAdam said OWU is much more di- work on a new webpage, which Kay said Washington was verse than her high school even though the two have the same Kay said will serve as a “place a rich place for experiences number of students. for non-partisan information, in the social sciences, given Keller said he also appreciates the “family sense” that’s research, and other information the many organizations based present at OWU. for people who are interested in there. “In my high school everybody stuck to their group and public policy at the local, state, He said such government- didn’t stray from that path,” he said. “At OWU there are so national, and international lev- based groups included the Na- many groups and clubs to be a part of that you end up meeting el.” tional Endowment for the Arts, a variety of people and get to immerse yourself in different Kay also plans to compose the Department of Education, groups and activities no matter what your background is.” brochures that will outline the the Department of Energy, Photo courtesy of Connect2OWU Keller said the programs set up to help students succeed at semester-long Wesleyan in the Environmental Protec- Sean Kay, professor of politics and government and chair of the university could use some improvement. Washington internship program tion Agency, National Science the International Studies program, is now director of Ohio “There was a lot of information that had been given in our for interested students. Foundation, NASA and the Wesleyan’s Arneson Institute for Practical Politics and groups by our Orientation Leaders that was then given again Former director of the insti- Smithsonian. Public Affairs. at unnecessary information sessions,” he said. “I think that tute Dr. Joan McLean said she “(These groups are just) a the Orientation Leaders did a fantastic job giving us strate- thinks the institute will grow few places where people with things that you can never ex- upon leaving college, I will gies to help us succeed, but many people were driven away with Kay’s guidance. interests in the arts, humani- perience in the classroom or devote a portion of my time to from the meetings because they were long and repetitive.” “Under Professor Kay’s ties, and sciences might wish learn from a textbook,” she active and definite participa- McAdam, however, said she felt the university did a good directorship, students will be to expand their ability to shape said. tion in public affairs.” job of preparing incoming students during Orientation and challenged to think more about the agenda of practical poli- The Arneson Institute was Since then, the pledge has StART to handle the OWU experience. how to fulfill this pledge inter- tics in America while building founded in 1947 by professor become a ritual among majors “I have friends back home that didn’t have the same kind nationally as well as domesti- their professional resume at and chair of the politics and in the department. of programs and as soon as classes started they were totally cally,” she said the same time,” he said. government department, Ben “The institute has come to stressed out,” she said. Kay’s goals as director in- Kate Raulin ‘13 said her ex- Arneson. embody the university’s long- McAdam said coming to OWU was not something she clude seeing the institute “fo- perience in the program led her During his time at OWU, standing commitment to theo- wanted to do initially, but eventually came to appreciate what cus on the opportunities for lib- to her current work on Capitol Arneson handed out pledge ry and practice in local, state, the university had to offer. eral arts in America and to take Hill with a state representative. cards to students every year national, and international is- “Well, my mom wanted me to go here, but I was pretty a lead role in demonstrating the “Through my internships I that read, “With a view to sues,” Kay said. against it for the longest time, and then I found out they of- value of the liberal arts educa- was able to witness and learn serving the public interest and Kay is on a sabbatical leave fered a major in genetics and we came up to visit and I fell in tional experience in the United the intricacies and processes regardless of the nature of my working on a new book in ad- love with it,” she said. States and globally.” of how our laws are made— future vocations I pledge that, dition to directing the institute. Students A cappella Football test vital groups sets sights sign devices raise their on NCAA voices title Page 5 Page 7 Page 8 Page 2 The Transcript Sept. 19, 2013 Program connects students Thomson store running to new ways of thinking low on regular employees By Sara Schneider By Brian Cook process for the replacement real need to have more work- Transcript Correspondent “It’s nice being able to group Transcript is already taking place. ers on staff to spread out the Correspondent Freshman Sumukha workload. The Course Connection mandatory classes by a similar Srivatsa said he has only seen “I have seen the same Fair took place on Tuesday, theme and having it count towards Thomson Corner Store, three different people work- people working and switch- September 10 from noon to 1 which provides students with ing the store over the last ing shifts, mainly because I p.m.