Ursinus College Digital Commons @ Ursinus College Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper Newspapers 5-9-2019 The Grizzly, May 9, 2019 Courtney A. DuChene William Wehrs Sam Isola Johnny Myers Thomas Bantley See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews Part of the Cultural History Commons, Higher Education Commons, Liberal Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Authors Courtney A. DuChene, William Wehrs, Sam Isola, Johnny Myers, Thomas Bantley, David Mendelsohn, Thomas Garlick, and Zack Muredda IN THIS ISSUE: THE Education Majors pg.3 Fridge of Year pg.4 Swarthmore pg.6 Lax Champs pg.8 GRIZZLYStudent newspaper of Ursinus College Collegeville, Pa. Thursday, May 9, 2019 Vol. 43 Issue 23 Kingston out, Varner in for Bear Bash Ursinus reacts to through selecting a performer, communicating to campus the seriousness of the allegations against Kingston, and ultimately symbol of hatred deciding whether or not to cancel makes me feel unsafe,” Glick- the concert. William Wehrs [email protected] stein-Levin said. The administration became Samuel Mamber ’21 noted aware of the allegations shortly On Tuesday, April 30, the Ur- that despite the awfulness of the before Easter weekend when stu- sinus community woke to trou- incident, it still pales in com- dents started expressing concerns bling news. An email sent out by parison to what other minority about Kingston after hearing that campus security reported that a groups have to go through. “I other schools were cancelling swastika had been found drawn feel as though my own safety his concerts over allegations that in the first-floor men’s bathroom – not only on this campus, but he, his bodyguard, and another in Pfahler Hall. Obviously, the overall in Collegeville - is no- member of his band allegedly historical context of the swastika where nearly as compromised as raped a female concert goer in is repugnant: “The symbol of the the safety of people of color or his hotel room in 2010 after one swastika is universal shorthand LGBTQ+ individuals,” Mamber of Kingston’s performances at for hate. Not just against Jews, said. a Justin Bieber concert, accord- but against all marginalized and Overall, however, people Image courtesy of Arielle Jones ing to Billboard.com. Criminal oppressed groups,” Dr. Alexan- were highly pleased with how Elle Varner performed at UC’s 2019 Bear Bash after Sean Kings- charges were dropped against dria Frisch, Assistant Visiting quickly the school handled mat- ton’s performance was cancelled Kingston in 2010 when authori- Professor of Jewish Studies / ters. ties concluded the case wasn’t Courtney Duchene 19-year-old woman. Though the Coordinator of Jewish Life, said. “I am very confident in the strong enough, but he settled a [email protected] Ursinus College Student Gov- Adding to the repugnance college’s efforts to do what is lawsuit with the accuser in 2013. ernment eventually cancelled were the recent news events right and they are doing every- On Monday, April 22, the Last week, word spread Kingston, the school’s response surrounding the drawing. “Given thing they can to make sure that day after Easter Sunday, Haley around Ursinus’ campus that the has led some students to ques- this weekend’s anti-Semitic the students feel safe. I have Sturla, the former social chair of scheduled Bear Bash performer, tion whether the administra- attack on a synagogue in San been in contact with them and Sean Kingston, had been accused tion should have done more to Diego, Calif., and given other they are very transparent, which in the 2010 sexual assault of a guide the student government See Bear Bash on pg. 2 recent tragedies motivated by is something I am grateful for,” hostility and intolerance, the use Glickstein-Levin said. of such a divisive and hateful Frisch echoed those state- Q&A with President Blomberg symbol is particularly reprehen- ments, “It’s very upsetting to sible,” Campus Safety said in know that this happened on our the IDC up and running for a full their email to the campus. campus and I appreciate Campus year, and have students use it. Kimberly Taylor, Associate Safety’s quick response since it’s . That’s been really rewarding. Dean of Students, said that a of the utmost importance to our It’s been great to see all the out- student had found the drawing college community that all stu- comes here in terms of student and quickly reported it to Cam- dents, faculty and staff feel safe experiences. For me, the high- pus Safety, who then removed it. on our campus,” Frisch said. light of the year is almost always Campus Safety is still unsure of Glickstein-Levin hopes that COSA. Watching all the different the perpetrator. “Campus Safety that swiftness of the response kinds of ways the student express is continuing to speak with in- will send a strong message that themselves. It was so cool to see dividuals in the building hoping these actions are never accept- again the IDC being used in that someone can provide a lead. We able and thereby create a safer space . We’re excited in terms are also seeking feedback from environment for all. “Email has of the other parts of college that the community if anyone has spread awareness that these may not be the things students additional information,” Taylor things are still happening on think about 24/7, things like our said. campus, and I hope that whoever Comprehensive Campaign and Some members of Hillel were did this realizes that their actions our Keep the Promise campaign. not surprised that this happened. are not welcome, especially at It was great to see the level of “Unfortunately, the announce- Ursinus.” Glickstein-Levin said. Image courtesy of Ursinus Comu- participation . Participation ment did not come as a surprise rates for students were up to Courtney Duchene ... because I know that there are Follow us on 40%, so that was pretty excit- [email protected] It’s been a tremendous year people that feel that it is ok to do Twitter! ing. In general, it’s been a really here at Ursinus. Coming in as these things,” Deniyele Glick- @ursinusgrizzly productive year . There are Give an overview of what you the penultimate year before our stein-Levin, ’20 co-president thought of the school year, sesquicentennial, so there’s a lot of Hillel, said. The incident lef See Blomberg on pg. 3 your high points, your low of people getting excited about Glickstein-Leven shaken. “It points. a lot of things. It’s nice to have www.ursinusgrizzly.com 2 - News SAM ROSENTHAL and WILLIAM WEHRS, News Editors Bear Bash continued from pg. 1 government used victim-blaming Grammy-award winner Elle language in its email announcing Varner, rather than Kingston, UCSG and the newly elected stu- the Kingston allegations. headlining the event. Varner is Word on the Street dent body president, was notified The statement read: “Rather the first woman to perform at of the allegations in a text from than simply stating you’ve Bear Bash. Dean Todd McKinney. already paid him for the event, Sturla and the student gov- Favorite memory from Ursinus? “When I found out about you used victim blaming culture ernment were praised for their this… I’ll be completely trans- to justify his performing on decision. A school-wide email parent, I got upset,” Sturla said. campus. In giving the facts of the from the Peer Advocates said, “We [the student government] do case against him, you’re assum- “we are grateful to UCSG for all “My freshman year I met someone and it turns not take sexual assault lightly at ing that our legal system always of the hard work that has gone all... Our goal in this was never works out perfectly. When in into planning the Bear Bash, out that they were from Texas and I am from Cal- to hurt anyone. Our goal was to fact, out of every 1,000 rapes, their responsiveness to student ifornia, so we are both from very far away... And bring a sense of community and 994 of them will walk free, feedback, and certainly appreci- I said, I went to high school with someone with bring this concert as a sense of whether convicted of the act or ate the most recent modifications community.” not. Not to mention the fact that which will ensure that everyone that last name and they looked at me and they The administration, accord- celebrity status typically makes can have a great experience.” were like, that’s my cousin, I have Thanksgiving ing to Sturla, “was very neutral it easier for them to evade the Senior and former student within this process and said crime in total. In saying you body president Liz Iobst said, with them every year, how’s that possible?” that it’s student government’s stand with our justice system in “Haley was thrown into a very -Anika Backelin-Harrison, 2019 call” whether or not to cancel the belief that all accused are difficult situation the first week Kingston’s performance. From innocent until proven guilty, of her presidency, and has April 22 to April 30, the student you are standing with the unfair already proven her capability to “My freshman year, I took Crigler. Rev Rice was government sought advice from unequal justice system our be a thoughtful, diligent and in- one of my professors for the class... For our final Dean McKinney, Dean Kimberly country currently has especially vested leader.