A Q&A WITH PRESIDENT FELLER PAGE 4
AUGUSTAUGUST 21, 30, 2020 2019 History Has its Eyes on Us
CASEY AKERS ‘21/PHOTO A group of freshmen make their way to Preisdent Feller’s Chapel Talk on Thursday. In accordance with social distancing measures the talk was held on the Mall.
STAFF EDITORIAL • It is quite a Much has changed in that short time. episode of Black Mirror. We cannot help significantly. We long for the days when surreal feeling to know that you are Concern turned to quickly panic for but wonder “when will life begin to feel we can enjoy them again in their true, living through a defining moment in many. For others it shifted to doubt normal again?” unpandemic form. history. For most of us, too young to about the reality of the virus. For Life at The College, too, feels The return of these wonderful events remember the September 11 Attacks or some, it turned to disdain not only for anything but usual. From classes in the is, of course, dependent on all of our the recall with great detail the Great the new rules and measures in place Chapel to masked and socially distanced participation in the guidelines of the Recession, this is the first time that designed to limit the spread of COVID- Coffee and Careers sessions, there is a Gentlemen’s Compact. By now we have we have felt the weight of the future 19, but for those who create and weird ghost of the past that lingers over all heard of the unfortunate fates of on our shoulders. Without a doubt, we enforce those necessary policies. our daily activities. Students and faculty Notre Dame and University of North will all one day look back at this time as All the while our country faced have so far coped with this reality in Carolina. We must understand that a a defining shift in society, culture and growing concern of an economic crisis many different ways, some choosing to similar crisis for Wabash College, an our personal lives. on par with the Great Depression and deny it as much as they can and try to educational institution built specifically It seems like a lifetime ago when a wave of social unrest following the live a normal life, others accepting the with student-residency in mind, could concern about the spread of COVID- deaths of George Floyd and Breonna fate of this semester with a humble and spell disaster for many years to come in 19 first hit campus. The Chapel Talk Taylor at the hands of police. For a accepting resolve. a way that larger colleges could more held right before Spring Break marked brief time in June, it seemed we were But is this moment all about doom and easily bounce back from. In short: the arrival of a widespread realization closer to outright social collapse than gloom? President Feller has called this failure to rise to the moment on our among the Wabash Community that anyone in this counrty had experienced “our kneeling in the snow moment.” part could risk the very existence of our the pandemic was no longer a simple in at least a generation. Meaning, this is a time when this beloved College. matter of discussion, but a stark The mood has eased somewhat since generation of the Wabash Community, But there is a silver lining in these reality which had to be faced. Still in then, and yet most of us still go about stripped from many of the things that times. Though life on campus for the many ways, it is easy to envious of the our daily lives with a tense unease. bring us together, must really consider first time since time immemorial has subtle optimism that filled many of our There are times when this whole those fundamental aspects which define shifted so radically, we still have one conversations back then. moment smacks of a Kafka novel or an who we are as a College. another. We still have those soul- There is no doubt about it: the void enriching conversations. We still have left by the many of the traditions that those sparks of inspiration.We still we know and love that must be cast have late night conversations with A Message From the aside for the time being is unfillable. roommates and fraternity brothers. We Homecoming, The Monon Bell, still have our beautiful campus where Pledgeships: all of these time-honored we can feel the hallowed steps of past Healthy Campus Task milestones of Wabash life will either generations meeting face to face with be absent this semester or altered ours. Yes, we are still Wabash. Force
COOPER SMITH ‘23 | ONLINE this fall. Planning involved not only EDITOR •This week, as we watched the HCTF members but scores of other campuses around the country others on campus.” The HCTF will send students home, conversations meet throughout the semester to inevitably turned to Wabash. Can monitor and alleviate the pressures, we stay residential during the Age anxiety, and saefty of all students and of COVID? One of the campus members of the Wabash community. organizations working tirelessly to The work was not, and is not, easy. make our residential hopes a reality is Taylor said, “The biggest challenge is the Healthy Campus Task Force. that every three weeks, the situation The HCTF met throughout and recommendations seemed to the summer, examining and change.” Dr. Roberts explained the recommending policy changes to critical role Wabash students have fight the spread of COVID-19 at in helping us stay residential. “Our Wabash. Ann Taylor, Chemistry biggest fear is what happens outside Professor and Special Assistant to the of the classroom - social gatherings, President for COVID-19 Response and particularly with those from outside Planning, explained how the HCTF the Wabash community as well as partnered with other organizations. travel off-campus to events, that can “We consulted guidance from the easily increase the viral burden on Center for Disease Control (CDC), the campus.” American College Health Association, Wabash has the potential to Indiana State Department of Health, weather the COVID storm – but only the Montgomery County Health with strong leadership and character Department and the Fairbanks from everyone. Taylor put it best: School of Public Health. We have “I do think this is a really good collaborated with the Great Lakes example of what studying the liberal Colleges Association, Independent arts prepares you to do.This is a Colleges of Indiana, and other higher brand-new situation, but we can use education institutions in Indiana to thinking critically, acting responsibly, share ideas and make bulk purchases leading effectively and living at lower prices.” Dr. John Roberts, humanely to come up with strategies Campus Physician and Deputy that are tailored to Wabash and allow Montgomery County Health Officer, us to move forward. There are no also commented. Roberts said, “I perfect answers, but we are doing our think it’s important for the student best to balance the academic mission body to realize that thousands of of the college with the physical and hours of work went into preparation mental health needs of everyone on for residential learning at the college campus.”
VOLUME 112 • ISSUE 11 FOOD IN WORLD HISTORY: STEAK CHIMICHURRI PROF. RICHARD WARNER | GUEST home, consumption remained high. Until CONTRIBUTOR • Greetings, Wabash! This recently Argentines consumed more beef is the first in a series of articles I will be per capita than any other people… but in offering in the Bachelor this semester recent years their neighbor Uruguay has about food in history. We all have faced captured that honor. In this matter at challenges in this “viral” period, which least, Uruguay is “their DePauw.” has forced us to draw back from many The Argentine countryside is home to aspects of our everyday life. For me this the “gaucho,” a larger-than-life persona has meant not being able to cook for other who dominates the plains culturally and people, or host them at our house, which at times politically. If you are my age, you we affectionately refer to as “the 308.” remember the Marlboro man in cigarette To fill that void, I will be telling some commercials. These rugged individuals stories about particular dishes and some have been the backbone of rural of their history, and encourage you (when Argentine society, herding the cattle that you have access to a kitchen) to try your are headed to the world’s markets. And of hand at creating these. course, you can imagine what the had for Today’s dish is called Steak dinner. As another commercial once said: Chimichurri. It hails from South America, “beef, it’s what’s for dinner.” specifically the nation of Buenos On the other hand, Buenos Aires has Aires. Believe it or not, Argentines grown to be a very cosmopolitan urban are more attached to eating beef than space over the past couple of centuries. we Americans are! (and that is saying Many Europeans, in particular Italians, something….) When I traveled there immigrated there beginning in the late during my last sabbatical in 2016, I nineteenth century. In the early years literally ate steak seven days in a row. Latin American leaders were looking The portions were outrageously large at to improve their societies by attracting restaurants, and the beef was as tender more European immigrants, though they as any I have tried, save for Japanese were somewhat chagrinned that fewer Kobe meat. (I’m pretty sure that Kobe came from northern Europe. The Italians cattle are fawned over with back rubs and brought with them some serious working COURTESY OF THE BACHELOR ARCHIVES belly massages, creating the most tender class politics, including a tendency In addition to being an historian, Prof. Warner is a professionally trained chef. meat you can imagine…) toward anarchist ideology in some cases. In many ways there are two Argentinas: Culturally,these immigrants were the pasta to be found in Buenos Aires and that you have a chance to make this dish, Buenos Aires and the rest of the country. source of the now famous national dance elsewhere in Argentina as a result of this particularly the sauce. Most immediately The rural areas have long been quite called Tango. Like Rock and Roll, this import. Besides pasta, another classic you will notice the similarity to a classic productive agriculturally. Since the time dance was first viewed with disdain by Argentine dish is empanadas, a delicious Italian sauce: pesto. The method is the of Spanish colonization the huge area of “civilized” classes, and now of course it’s beef pastry eaten as a snack or main same, as the basil and pine nuts of pesto plains, called the Pampas, has produced a favorite pastime of the rich. meal. We can probably thank the French are simply substituted by Italian Parsley more than its share of commodities. In the Italians brought new food for the influence on that crust. and cilantro. Use whatever cut of steak the nineteenth century British investors technologies to Argentina as well. In Today’s dish reveals the impact of you prefer…. At my age and income established numerous ranches that raised particular, they of course introduced Italian immigration, combined with the bracket I do prefer filet mignon but have wheat and beef for export. With the rise pasta, which today ranks as the second strength of Argentine beef culture. Beef enjoyed the dish with marinated flank as of rail travel and, more importantly, the most important food in Argentina to beef Chimichurri can be readily found in many well. If you must use ribeye…. Well just advent of refrigerated cars, Argentine (though I might argue that it is a distant corners of the Argentine Republic. I hope don’t tell me! been became available the world over. At second!). There is plenty of homemade
Chimichurri Sauce · 1/2 cup cilantro
· 1/2 cup Italian parsley
· 2 tablespoons minced garlic
· 1/2 teaspoon or less minced jalapeño or other chile
· 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
· 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
· Salt to taste
Place first four ingredients into food processer or blender. Slowly drizzle in oil with the motor running. Season to taste with salt Can be thickened with the addition of fresh parmesan cheese, or by refrigerating for an hour.
Spoon over steak… ¡salud!
Ringing- In Ceremony: COVID-19 Style
COURTESY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING President Feller rang in his first class of Wabash men with gusto.
COURTESY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING The incoming class of freshmen is one of the larger classes in Wabash history at over 250 students.
4 | WABASHCOLLEGEBACHELOR.COM | THE BACHELOR OPINION
AUSTIN HOOD ’21 REED MATHIS ’22 ALEX ROTARU ’22 BLAKE LARGENT ’22 DREW BLUETHMANN ’22 BENJAMIN HIGH ’23 COOPER SMITH ’23 JOHN WITCZAK ’21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NEWS EDITOR OPINION EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR CAVELIFE EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR COPY EDITOR
A Message from the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies Allen Johnson Jr. ‘23
ecent events in America have country, many people have experienced shaved into their afros. This story has act responsibly if you are spending been historic for the pursuit of racial discrimination and have lost a bigger meaning and I challenge you your time here discriminating against R racial equality, but minorities their lives or loved ones because of it. as a reader to do some research and other races, whether that be in our still face discrimination. This is why This not only saddens me but makes me find out how the MXIBS came to be dorms, fraternity houses, classrooms, race relations continue to affect our wonder, “Will I be next?” on campus. This will give you some or anywhere else. You can’t lead everyday lives. As an African American So, as a student at Wabash, I have more background to why not only this effectively if you are not taking into male from Indianapolis, Indiana, I live been blessed to have many doors organization in particular, but other account your own racial discrimination. in a place where people have a variety opened for me with opportunities, organizations on campus are against Lastly, no Wabash man can truly live of opinions about racism and racial not because I was a Black male, but racial discrimination. humanely if you are discriminating discrimination. While many people go because I was a Wabash Man. In the Now this is not only a one-sided against another human being. These about their days and tell you, “I am real world, I can’t say I’d have those story, as there are other students/ principles should not only stick in our not a racist” or “I don’t discriminate same opportunities. Wabash is a place people of different races who have felt minds every single day, but we should against anyone”, their actions may tell where we are open to each other and discriminated against. The goal for remember this next time we don’t a different story. I have lived my entire understand that racial discrimination is us is to become a better community welcome someone’s ideas to the table, life wondering how this will be fixed. wrong. Now, sit and think, do we truly and brotherhood, and to have no invite someone to a get together or just Racial discrimination stems believe that? racial discrimination on campus. This see the bigger picture when thinking mostlyfrom generational hate. Now, racial discrimination is not should be a place where people don’t outside of Wabash. This is my goal: Now, I want to be very clear that I only an issue outside this campus, but only feel comfortable to walk around That Wabash becomes a better place don’t believe that all white people could be and has been an issue to many and speak their minds, but a place not only because we are great men, but or people of other races have racial students here at Wabash. Students of of non-racism and peace. If we, as that no hate is in our hearts for our discrimination or prejudice in their different cultures, especially African one Wabash, should choose to not do fellow brothers on and off campus. hearts. Attending Wabash college has Americans, have suffered from racial this, then we have not only failed the taught me that there are many people discrimination here at Wabash. An students who have come before us, but Allen Johnson Jr. ‘23 is the Malcolm X who will advocate for what is right, example of these actions occurred back we have failed the principles laid out Institute of Black Studies Community when it comes to equality and justice in the 1960s, when African American in our Wabash Mission Statement. You Chair in America. Rather, I believe that students felt uncomfortable to sing cannot think critically if you are not any form of racial discrimination, big the school song at Chapel Sing because open to seeing different ideas from Reply to this message at mxi@wabash. or small, is wrong. Recently in this of them being threatened to have W’s different races and genders. You cannot edu
Reflections on Race: Learning from my Mistakes William Kelly ‘18
n the aftermath of George Floyd’s I never learned a lesson so quickly. or in the car. Why? Because I was role this history plays in keeping me – murder and in the midst of racial These Black Wabash men were my uncomfortable confronting my white and my whiteness – grounded in racial I tension, Confederate symbols brothers, and I had let them down. friend about his racism or sexism. I reality. When I examine one of the and Black Lives Matter protests, I Immediately after I realized this, I felt it would have ruined a friendship millions of bills of sale that document write this letter to the entire Wabash went to their table to apologize and if I intervened and called out the racist the transfer of human flesh from one Community with the particular aim pleaded with them to discuss their dialogue, or had the joker explain his enslaver to another, I remember that of provoking racial reflection and stories and perspectives. But a simple so-called “joke.” Instead, I chose to the United States has largely been, reckoning amongst white Wabash men. apology did not and cannot correct the keep my mouth shut to ward off any and continues to be, built on the backs My 24-year old white male, middle- implicit racism that already took place. potential disruptions to our friendship. of people of color to benefit white class American profile represents a I often reflect on this particular I was complicit in that racism. people. I remember that I, as well as large swath of Wabash men. I offer two episode in my life. The embarrassment Presumably, many of my white white people throughout the ages, critical reflections about my time at of facing my Black Wabash brothers Wabash brethren have either found reap the benefits of that oppression, Wabash, and I hope that reading them after excluding them from a racial themselves in similar positions, or have directly and indirectly, every day. will hopefully spark your own. dialogue reminds me that my whiteness been the ones who spewed the “joke.” This is not a political statement. The In October 2017, in wake of the needs to be constantly self-checked; But when it happened, did you decide evidence for this history comes from Charlottesville tragedy, I organized a that I, as a white person, need to to intervene? Will you intervene the primary sources, as well as bodily three-person panel to discuss removing advocate for voices of color in all next time it happens? and psychological scars inflicted the Confederate statues in the United spaces; that I need to stop taking for There will be a next time. This strain upon generations of people of color. States. I thought I had done everything granted the value of their thoughts and of racism might manifest again as a I attempt to reckon with this reality in my power to assemble a well- life experiences. I made an inexcusable joke, or gossip, or a text, or a social every day to become a more racially informed, interdisciplinary panel. I mistake that night – but I will never media post, or an off-the-cuff remark. aware Wabash man. even said in my introductory remarks make that mistake again. That night I Will you continually call it out for the Indeed, Wabash men never stop that we had a “diverse” panel that made a personal vow that I would work racism that it is? improving. We have ingrained within night. But as soon as those words left to be racially aware and accountable for I was complicit before, but I will us a lifelong desire to educate ourselves my mouth, my eyes met the event’s my whiteness, so that I never ignore never be complicit in racism again. about the life at our fingertips. only Black attendees. They looked at the voices and viewpoints of people of As a Wabash man, a gentleman, and a But, I fear too many of my white each other in disbelief. The panel I had color again. global citizen, I know I am better than Wabash brethren have skimped on assembled was not diverse where it A more general Wabash – and human that, and I know you are, too. Engage, continually educating ourselves about mattered. All the panelists I assembled – experience I often reflect upon is as I have, with the moments of your our whiteness and about race. If we were white males. deciding whether or not to confront life where you took your whiteness for truly want to make the world a better I did not purposefully choose only racism in our social circles. On multiple granted. Join me in reckoning with the place, we have to emerge from our white men to be panelists, but doing so occasions at the College, I found myself times when you allowed racism room white comfort zone and challenge our exposed my lack of racial awareness. in a group of Wabash men where one to breathe in your presence without preconceived notions, to strengthen I focused so much on interdisciplinary peer cracked a racist or sexist joke. calling it out and striking it down. Vow our own humanity. There has rarely knowledge that I ignored the critical In the moment, I recognized the joke alongside me to become anti-racist, been a more pressing time for us to racial perspectives in a conversation as wrong; something that shouldn’t to learn from your mistakes, and to begin such an endeavor. that dealt with racism. That night was be said or even thought. It was not hold each other accountable for hateful dedicated to debating whether or not to harmless banter. behavior and ignorance. Wabash Always Fights, remove massive stone structures that But I did nothing. I did nothing Since Wabash, I have embarked on a William Kelly ‘18 memorialized rebels and enslavers of nearly every single time I heard or saw career studying the history of slavery Lincoln, NE Black people, and I did not include a a similar joke or remark in GroupMe in the United States. My scholarly single person of color on the panel. messages, at parties, on Snapchat, interest in the topic is secondary to the
Reflections on Race: Becoming Aware of my White Privilege Nicholas Weaver ‘20
s a white man, I will never be to push back against racial inequality white man. White privilege allows your viewpoint just as you try to do able to feel the full array of within our country, and the never- white Americans, such as myself, who the same for them. Most importantly, A emotions that black people are ending cycle of mass incarceration grew up in an Indianapolis suburban understand that we are all human. feeling at this moment after George victimizing Black communities every town, to be separated from real-world I have been a hypocrite in the past, Floyd’s murder. I have been complacent single year. The class had an immersion issues plaguing Black communities, and I have done the exact opposite of in addressing these topics in years component to Chicago, with one of and to never feel the need to disrupt everything I just urged you all to do. past, but, thanks to the professors our stops at a local hip-hop studio. these racist systems. Only by exposing But that is okay. What matters is that that challenged my beliefs during my As a class, we were put into groups ourselves to different perspectives, we reflect on these mistakes and push four years at Wabash, along with the to create and perform our own rap while also challenging our own, can ourselves to be better. This is what conversations I was able to have with songs. For those who do not know me, we truly grow, whether by gaining Wabash is all about, thinking critically, my fellow Wabash men from similar I have no sense of rhythm, so it was knowledge that supports our beliefs, making ourselves uncomfortable, and and different cultural backgrounds, I a pretty scary experience to say the or shifting our perspective because it acknowledging that mistakes will be do know one thing: I must do better. least. But moments like these help makes sense. made. Men of Wabash, we can all do We all must do better. We can do better change our worldviews. While I felt Fellow Wabash brothers, I urge better, and, when we do, our world will in many ways, but I believe the easiest extremely uncomfortable, the entire you to challenge yourselves: have be changed for the better. one is learning and unlearning. experience of the class allowed me uncomfortable conversations about As a Junior, I had the chance to take to better understand the challenges race, take courses that challenge your Best, a course over the history of hip-hop. Black Americans face within our perspective, surround yourself with Nicholas Weaver ‘20 I learned how hip-hop started, why country, which I will never fully people who have different views from it started, how it was used as a tool understand due to my privilege as a yours, but who can try to understand
Remember your International Brothers
and safety protocols just to have fun but having little to no proper Malay, and Mongolian students. And Alex for one night. social interaction for that long was then there’s the question of getting This opinion piece, however, is not miserable. back to the United States for the next Rotaru ’22 about them. It’s about those of us who If campus were to close, we, semester or the Comprehensive Exams. Reply to this are still thinking about or are already international students, have literally As you can see, not all of us have editorial at planning to do something similar. two options. On the one hand, we can the privilege of having just a quick arotaru22@wabash. We’re college students, so the next stay on campus and endure another 6 drive to our parents’ house. I, for one, edu party is a “when,” rather than an “if,” months of isolation. On the other hand, don’t even have a driver’s license, so I even during a pandemic. So, before we can risk going home. However, even would likely be stuck in Crawfordsville you do something similar, I want you if we can find a flight to begin with, for 6 long months. This is why we to think about those of us who cannot it might get cancelled, and we can get need to keep this campus open - if not simply drive for a couple of hours to get stranded in a place we don’t know. for ourselves, then at least for our home, and who will be likely stranded Or, our routes can have layovers upon international brothers. any college and university on campus for the next 6 months, layovers, sometimes 20 hours long. I know not having parties and close campuses switched to fully should Wabash go fully virtual. Worst case scenario would be to cross contact is hard, but not having classes M online teaching after just one Yes, international students likely any sort of border by land or by sea, in person is even worse, so I urge all week of classes because of surges in have no way of getting home right using an international bus, train, or of us to think about our international COVID-19 cases. The list includes the now. Last summer, I was pretty much ferry. And even if we get home, we still brothers next time we plan a party, or University of North Carolina at Chapel stranded on campus for 4 months. need to quarantine for 14 days. Then, intend to engage in any sort of risky Hill and the University of Notre Dame. Thanks to the Dean’s Office and we also have to deal with time zone behavior. This pandemic is not about Many of those surges have been linked Career Services, I was fortunate to differences, which can go all the way us, but about our brothers, and it’s to parties where students broke health find opportunities for the Summer, up to 12 hours for Chinese, Taiwanese, about time we started acting like it.
THE BACHELOR | WABASHCOLLEGEBACHELOR.COM | 3 NEWS A Q&A WITH PRESIDENT SCOTT FELLER
CASEY AKERS ‘21/PHOTO President Feller delivering this week’s Chapel Talk. Before taking the top job at The College, Feller served as Dean of the College from 2014-2020. He also served as a facult member in the Chemistry Department starting in 1998.
AUSTIN HOOD ’21 | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF is that I’ve been here 20-some years, but Q: We are in an existential moment in I’ve actually had a lot of different roles. our College’s history. You have this “our The majority of my time I was actually kneeling in the snow moment.” Could you a faculty member...I’m learning a lot of explain what you mean by that? different stuff as President that I never A: I don’t think that you are over- knew as Dean. I learned a lot of stuff as dramatizing it to say it is an existential a Dean that I didn’t know as a faculty crisis for The College. If an institution of member and even I learned a lot of stuff higher education can operate under these as a senior faculty member that I didn’t conditions, it should be Wabash College. know as a junior faculty member. So it’s 100 percent of students live on campus. hard for me to comment on the arc of 22 So we know where everyone is. We’re able years because I’ve been changing more to set up all the residential environments than the college has...In terms of things in a manner dictated by public health that I have noticed, I started late 90s and agencies. Everybody eats together in that was close enough to the coeducation ways where we’ve set up safe practices. decision of 1993 that it was still kind Everybody learns together in classrooms of lingering on campus. The question of that are well-spaced. And in addition, the College’s identity had been debated we have a strong culture of personal at that time. I think now the identity of responsibility and we are small. People Wabash as a College for Men has firmly know each other and I think they can been established...and so we see faculty understand their responsibility to others bringing in questions of masculinity and in a more meaningful way. So if we can’t gender in a more concrete way than when JAKE VERMEULEN ’21 | MANAGING EDITOR • get this done I think it will certainly make I started. I think we’re more aware of our For the first time ever, drivers will take the green flag to us reflect in serious ways about the extent particular place in higher education... start the Indianapolis 500 outside of the month of May that we are living out our mission. In terms of the student culture, there are this weekend. Sunday’s 104th Running of the Greatest Q: To what extent do you think that that much more similarities than differences. Spectacle in Racing was delayed nearly three months due reflection is already happening on campus? The things that I found unusual when I to the coronavirus pandemic, but finally it comes, at long A: So far, we’ve got about a week in. came, I find unusual now. The interactions last. Despite the extraordinary circumstances, this year’s Everything I see suggests that we can do between students, faculties, and staff race will be filled with storylines from the front of the grid this. But certainly, when we moved from has been very solid all along. So I really to the back. the abstract to the concrete and started don’t see all that much change so much as Leading the field to the starting line will be polesitter to see exactly what it means to maintain there are strong traditions that play out in Marco Andretti for Andretti Autosport. The 33-year-old your distance at all times, I think we’re different ways. driver is making his 15th start at Indianapolis, and he having to adjust some. It went from the Q: A common complaint of President captured the first pole for an Andretti at Indianapolis since abstract to the concrete as far as making Hess’ administration was that there was his grandfather, auto racing legend and 1969 Indianapolis sacrifices as individuals for the greater a lack of communication or relationship 500 champion Mario Andretti, led the race to the start in good. Some of us are there. Some of us are between his office and the student body. 1987. Marco has had a turbulent career since finishing getting there. And quite frankly a few of Do you have any plans or thoughts about second to Sam Hornish in 2006 in one of the closest those are gonna come to realize or have to how you might change that perception finishes in the race’s history. Marco has not won a race in be told they’re not there. And they need to with your administration? nine years, and has not stood on a podium since 2015, but leave...and I know that sounds harsh but A: Communication is always going to none of that mattered last Saturday. In the face of 18 mph that is the reality of the moment. be a challenge in an institution where gusts of wind, he put together the best four laps of his life Q: Does UNC concern you? so many people really deeply care about to pip Scott Dixon to the pole by a margin of 0.017 mph. A:It of course concerns me. I also think The College. So I come to it as seeing Andretti has been fast in every session, finishing no that the very different size concerns me. this also as a strength. The fact that the lower than 3rd in any session, and he will look to finally I do get up a lot of days and think “how students care, the faculty and staff care, break the Andretti Curse at the Brickyard which has kept in the world would we be keeping track the alumin care, and parents care, is quite the family out of victory lane since 1969 when Mario of these things if we had 20,000 people amazing. I’ll start with thinking that’s Andretti one his only Indy 500, despite more than 70 total here instead of 800?” And so I think we’ve a good thing, but I’ll freely admit that starts by five members of the family. Marco has had his got similar challenges. We can be a little it’s a challenge...They’re really kind of share of heartbreak. Aside from finishing second in his more agile. At a place as small as we are distinct communication channels. While rookie year, Marco has finished in third 3 other times, we’ve been making some pivots in realm the students care about one thing, parents, but has never won. While the Indianapolis 500 always has time that I suspect are just really hard faculty and staff, and alumni all care about particular significance for the Andretti family, the race if you’ve got many tens of thousands of something else...I’m not exactly sure holds special significance this year. Marco’s uncle, John students, the majority of whom don’t live how to get this done but I’m definitely Andretti – who started 12 Indianapolis 500s – died earlier in campus housing...It’s a grand challenge committed to the challenge. this year after a prolonged bout with colon cancer. for large institutions just to incorporate Q: On paper we are a tremendous Andretti’s biggest competition on race day will likely all the data that comes in. That’s hard college...but where are some places you be the man starting right next to him. Five-time IndyCar here, we’re struggling with that here. But see we could improve? its also the case that we’re small enough A: We’re starting from a strong spot. that we can make the list of people who But I think one of the areas I’d like to we need to check on with ease. You can’t see us work on this year is inclusivity, do that if there’s 40,00 students. It would broadly defined. I’d like us to think about just be impossible. We are putting a lot of how everything from the curriculum to labor into the process right now...I don’t students clubs is addressing the need think it scales. If this place was 50 times for us to make sure we’re the broadest, larger, we would need to find a thousand most welcoming organization we can... employees overnight to do the work. By We need to welcome people historically my estimate we have twenty Wabash underserved by higher education and that employees who’ve changed their jobs includes people historically underserved overnight to tackle this. by Wabash College. I will say that over my Q: You’ve been at Wabash for well over twenty years, that our move into accepting 20 years. I’m a senior, and you’ve been and celebrating the LGBT community on here for longer than I’ve been alive, so I our campus has really moved a long ways. think that would mean that you have been When I came here it was very hard to be here for longer than most students have gay on campus. There are still challenges been alive. How have things changed? How for sure, but we’ve made a lot of progress. has student life, campus culture changed? We need to make that same progress A: It’s a good question. I’m struggling to welcome people of different races, a little bit with the thought that you folks nationalities, geographies to our campus. weren’t alive when I started as an assistant It’s both the right thing to do and the thing professor here...I’m afraid nobody has put we have to do to survive. in those terms yet. So what’s interesting
2 | WABASHCOLLEGEBACHELOR.COM | THE BACHELOR NEWS BACHELOR 301 W. Wabash Ave., CARE Team Takes Lead HI-FIVES Crawfordsville, IN, 47933 in Keeping Campus FIVE THINGS WORTHY Twitter: @WabCoBachelor_ OF A HI-FIVE THIS WEEK Instagram: wabashcollegebachelor Healthy SIG CHI FRESHMEN GET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEX ROTARU ’22 | OPINION COVID-19 also brings along some THE BOOT Austin Hood • [email protected] EDITOR • Because of COVID-19, indirect effects that Wabash will need many institutions, like the University to mitigate in order to thrive during NEWS EDITOR Low-Five to the Sigma Chi frehsman of California system and Harvard the pandemic. “It’s interesting to see Reed Mathis • [email protected] class for getting sent home before University, chose to cancel classes, or all of public health coming together,” their first week of classes for failing to OPINION EDITOR to hold them virtually. Others chose to Lakomek said. “[For instance,] vaping social distance during a pandemic. On Alex Rotaru • [email protected] create and enforce another few hundred is largely tied to the spread of COVID- the bright side, the Crawfordsville Wal- rules just to ensure their campus can 19. Then, there’s also just a lot of SPORTS EDITOR Mart will have glue in stock for once. Blake Largent • [email protected] stay open. Not Wabash. As of right other public health measures that now, this is the only campus in the are involved with COVID-19, like CAVELIFE EDITOR nation that has put complete trust in contact tracing.” Other concerns stem SEMESTER SWAN SONG? Drew Bluethmann• [email protected] their students managing the crisis, from the loneliness that comes with PHOTO EDITOR through the CARE team. quarantining and social distancing and Hi-Five to today possibly being the Benjamin High • [email protected] “The CARE Team stands for COVID from the anxiety originating from the last day of the (residential) semester ONLINE EDITOR Action, Response, and Education,” Jill rigors of Wabash. “We are known for because random COVID testing is Rogers, CARE Team Coordinator, said. our go-go-go mentality, and, after a Cooper Smith • [email protected] starting. Soak it up while you can “The CARE Team is basically a group stressful day in the classroom and going boys! COPY EDITOR of students that helps promote healthy around fulfilling all these different John Witczak • [email protected] behaviors on campus,” Eric Lakomek responsibilities we have, the last thing MANAGING EDITOR ‘21. CARE Team Manager, said. we want to do is go back to our rooms THOM WHAT WERE YOU Jake Vermeulen• [email protected] Lakomek created the acronym while he and be constantly thinking about THINKING? was working with the Healthy Campus distancing, and masks, and [the like],” The purpose of The Bachelor is to serve the Taskforce, which planned and took Berg said. “Mental health is going to Low-Five to Red’s Play-by-Play school audience, including but not limited all the measures necessary to ensure be a very important challenge [this announcer Thom Brennamen for using to administrators, faculty and staff, parents, Wabash can hold in-person classes this semester].” a homophobic slur mid-broadcast this alumni, community members and most Fall semester. There are naturally many trade-offs week. importantly, the students. Because this is a “There are 44 Team Leaders and 4 that come with COVID-19, and which school paper, the content and character within Team Managers that make up the CARE both the CARE Team Leaders and the will cater to the student body’s interests, ideas, SERIOUSLY MAN, WHAT and issues. Further, this publication will serve Team,” Rogers said. These 48 students students need to manage. “Everything as a medium and forum for student opinions are leaders on campus, and had faculty we do is fragile,” Olmstead said. This THE HELL? and ideas. recommend them for the position. is why the CARE Team must enforce “Each CARE Team Leader has around 20 the rules. “Obviously, everybody Even Lower-Five to Thom Brennamen Although an individual newspaper, the Board students they are charged with looking of Publications publishes The Bachelor. The wants to be on campus,and everybody for calling a homerun in the middle of Bachelor and BOP receive funding from the after,” Rogers said. “We wanted them wants to have fun,” Malcolm Lang ‘21, his on-air apology. Just like that ball Wabash College Student Senate, which derives equally divided up across campus so CARE Team Manager, said. “Wabash we think your career is going, going, its funds from the Wabash College student that each living unit and each floor has is already a tough place when it gone! body. a CARE Team leader.” Every CARE Team comes to curriculum and professional Letters (e-mails) to the editor are welcomed leader will work with his students to development, so we don’t want to and encouraged. They will only be published educate them on safe behaviors during marginalize the Wabash atmosphere, WELL PLAYED, COUCH if they include name, phone, or e-mail, and are COVID-19 and to troubleshoot anything but, at the same time, we want POTATOES not longer than 500 words. that comes their way, from restocking to ensure that it’s a healthy, safe sanitizing supplies to communicating space. [...] In order for this to work, The Bachelor reserves the right to edit letters Hi-Five to all the students who spent concerns and cases to the CARE Team we’re going to have to make a lot of for content, typographical errors, and length. most of their time in their rooms Coordinators. This is only possible sacrifices.” One of said sacrifices All letters received become property of this before this semester. On a campus full because “Wabash is a very student- will be calling out the people who publication for the purposes of reprinting and/ of busy bodies, you played the long- or redistribution. Profanity may appear in the driven institution,” Football Coach Olmy do not respect the health and safety game and now you’re thriving while publication, but only in cases of direct quote Olmstead ‘04, CARE Team Coordinator, guidelines, which is why “it takes a the rest of us are suffering. or if profanity is necessary to the content of said. “It takes an army to [ensure the compartmentalized approach to succeed the story. Please do not confuse profanity with safety of our campus],” Adam Berg ‘22, in such a role,” Berg said. obscenity. No article or picture of an obscene CARE Team Manager, said. Ensuring a residential campus nature will appear in this publication. Every CARE Team Leader and where people will not risk getting The Bachelor is printed every Thursday at Manager attended a two-day training sick will take everyone respecting the Purdue Exponent in West Lafayette. It on “COVID-19, how it is affecting the the advice coming from the CARE is delivered freely to all students, faculty, Crawfordsville community, and most Team, the college physicians, and the and staff at Wabash College. All advertising safe and least safe practices,” Rogers administration. Everyone must follow published in the Bachelor is subject to an established rate card. The Bachelor reserves said. They also had a chance to learn the 3 W’s and avoid the 3 C’s outlined in the right to deny requests for publication more about effective communication Dr. John Roberts ‘83’s Chapel Talk from of advertisements. Student organizations of from the Dean of Students’ Office and July. Everyone must wear masks, wash Wabash College may purchase advertisements the Counseling Center. “One of our main their hands, keep their distance, and at half the listed rate. goals is to educate students,” Lakomek follow the Gentleman’s Compact. While The Bachelor is a member of the Hoosier State said. “This includes spreading messages this pandemic has brought changes at and Indiana Collegiate Press Associations from the administration and making Wabash, classes can continue in person (HSPA and ICPA). sure that people are getting those so long as everyone stands TALL. messages.” SPORTS The Month of May in... August
JAKE VERMEULEN ’21 | MANAGING EDITOR • Series Champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco For the first time ever, drivers will take the green flag to Dixon has been on a tear to start the season and will be Grand Prix. 1966 Indianapolis 500 winner, and two-time start the Indianapolis 500 outside of the month of May looking to add a second Indy 500 win to one of the most Formula One World Driver’s Champion Graham Hill is the this weekend. Sunday’s 104th Running of the Greatest impressive resumes in the history of open wheel racing. only driver to successfully achieve this feat to date. Spectacle in Racing was delayed nearly three months due The New Zealander won the first 3 races of this season in Fan favorite and 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony to the coronavirus pandemic, but finally it comes, at long dominating fashion and currently leads the NTT IndyCar Kanaan is also starting toward the back. He will roll off last. Despite the extraordinary circumstances, this year’s Series Championship by 49 points. A victory on Sunday the grid in 23rd this year. Kanaan will likely be making the race will be filled with storylines from the front of the grid would likely put the championship all but out of reach and final start of his illustrious career at the Indianapolis 500. to the back. allow Dixon to further cement his standing as the greatest This year’s Indianapolis 500 will look different in a lot Leading the field to the starting line will be polesitter driver of a generation. of ways. For one thing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Marco Andretti for Andretti Autosport. The 33-year-old The front three rows also include a pair of will not temporarily be the second largest city in Indiana as driver is making his 15th start at Indianapolis, and he representatives of the next generation. 19-year-old Dutch they pack nearly 300,000 fans into the famed speedway. captured the first pole for an Andretti at Indianapolis since driver Rinus Veekay drove his Ed Carpenter Racing car The roar of the 2.2 L twin-turbo V6 engines will not be his grandfather, auto racing legend and 1969 Indianapolis to the 4th starting position on the inside of row two, the met by the cheers of eager fans. Instead, they will echo off 500 champion Mario Andretti, led the race to the start in highest starting position for any Chevrolet-powered car. thousands of metal bleachers. Fans will not get an up-close 1987. Marco has had a turbulent career since finishing One row behind him in 7th, 23-year-old Spanish racer look at the improvements IMS’s new owner Roger Penske second to Sam Hornish in 2006 in one of the closest Alex Palou turned the fastest lap of qualifying at 231.901 has made since purchasing the track at the beginning of the finishes in the race’s history. Marco has not won a race in mph for Dale Coyne Racing before an issue with his in-car year. The cars will also look a little bit different thanks to nine years, and has not stood on a podium since 2015, but adjustment tools caused his speed to fall over the final the addition of the new aeroscreen developed by IndyCar none of that mattered last Saturday. In the face of 18 mph three laps. Both rookies have already notched top-five to improve driver safety. But one thing will remain the gusts of wind, he put together the best four laps of his life finishes in their short careers, and they will look to become same. The race on Sunday will add itself to a history longer to pip Scott Dixon to the pole by a margin of 0.017 mph. the first rookie winner at the Brickyard since Alexander than any other auto race in the world. Its winner will still Andretti has been fast in every session, finishing no Rossi in 2017. be spoken of in the same breath as Harroun and Foyt and lower than 3rd in any session, and he will look to finally Some of the field’s biggest names had disappointing Unser and Vukovich and Meyer and Mears. break the Andretti Curse at the Brickyard which has kept qualifying runs which will have them starting further down If you are looking for a prediction from this article, here the family out of victory lane since 1969 when Mario the grid than normal. The back of the field will likely be full it is: after a titanic battle with Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti Andretti one his only Indy 500, despite more than 70 total of action as some of these drivers work to make their way will win the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500. Dixon starts by five members of the family. Marco has had his to the front of the field. Three-time Indy 500 champion and Andretti have been the fastest cars throughout practice share of heartbreak. Aside from finishing second in his Helio Castroneves will start way back in 28th as he seeks to and qualifying, but something feels different for Marco this rookie year, Marco has finished in third 3 other times, join Rick Mears, Al Unser, and AJ Foyt as the only four-time year. After the race, Marco, his father Michael, and his but has never won. While the Indianapolis 500 always has champions in the history of the race. Defending champion grandfather Mario will all have the greatest drink of milk particular significance for the Andretti family, the race Simon Pagenaud had a similarly disappointing qualifying of their lives. A curse more than fifty years in the making holds special significance this year. Marco’s uncle, John session. The Frenchman will start 25th, right next to will be broken, and it will be glorious even though we Andretti – who started 12 Indianapolis 500s – died earlier two-time Formula One World Driver’s Champion Fernando will not be there in person. But then again, predictions at this year after a prolonged bout with colon cancer. Alonso, who will start his second Indianapolis 500. Alonso Indianapolis are usually a fool’s errand. At this race, more Andretti’s biggest competition on race day will likely is on a quest to become only the second driver to ever than any other, the Speedway picks the winner. We just get be the man starting right next to him. Five-time IndyCar complete the Motorsport Triple Crown, by winning the to see how it unfolds.
COURTESY OF FOX NEWS COURTESY OF INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Marco Andretti enters his 15th Indianapolis 500 on the pole as he seeks to snap the Scott Dixon will look to add to his already impressive IndyCar resume with a Andretti Curse. second Indianapolis 500 victory this weekend. Dixon won the 2008 race from pole.
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