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Archives for November 2016

Students complain about food choices on campus

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tomoato-slicesBy CJ Blickenstaff//

Hood students say they are unhappy as they fork over premiums for lackluster, super priced “healthy” food options.Every day across the Hood College campus students make a huge decision; what’s for lunch? While there are two options immediately available, are any of them healthy?

Commonly known as “The Freshman 15” among other things, college students often gain unwanted weight throughout their semesters of higher education.  It is not to say that this is not the fault of the students and their choices, however their dining decisions must be fast, accessible, and affordable food that will satisfy their hunger.

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Student debate mirrors the national political scene

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donkey elephantBy Sophia Rowel//On Wednesday Oct. 10, while the general population prepared to watch another riveting presidential debate, Hood College students experienced an exciting debate between Hood College Democrats and Hood College Republicans on the topic of immigration.

On the Democratic side, seniors Gabriel Cassutto and Kaylene Wright presented a fact-based line of reasoning and ethics while the Republican team composed of junior Luke Staley and sophomore Samantha Salus, offered more on the defense of American values and political structure. The heated discussion attracted a large audience and certainly provided comprehendible political observations for the crowd of millennials.

As immigration has become such a heated area in presidential campaigns, both sides were tasked with relaying the stances presented in each respective party platform.

Democrats kicked off the conversation with an introduction that called attention to the historic relevance of immigration in the discovery and founding of the United States. “If we choose the path of fear, we not only alienate millions of innocent people, who strive for a better life for themselves and their families, but we degrade the belief, values, and essence of what is inscribed on the statue of liberty,” Cassutto says leading into a quote from “The New Colossus.”

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Alcohol violations double as college cracks down

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By Tyler Royer//Alcohol-related violations at Hood College have nearly doubled over the last year as security and faculty are cracking down on underage drinking, according to campus security officials.

In the latest annual security and fire safety report shows an increase in judicial referrals of liquor law violations from 49 in 2014 to 75 in 2015. In 2013 there were 66 violations reported. According to Thurmond Maynard, director and chief of security at Hood College, says the numbers are down for the fall 2016 semester, saying, “There has not been many, maybe around 10 or 15 violations so far this semester.”

Matt Troutman, director of residence life and student conduct, said the numbers in the report can be misleading because they depend on the size of the student body, which varies from year to year. He said percentages of the student body would be a more accurate documentation.

“Residence assistants now know how to properly address and document alcohol issues,” Troutman said, who joined Hood College’s faculty in the summer of 2015. Troutman later added that in the past only students directly in violation of policies have been referred and documented, and the process since Troutman’s arrival is now much more thorough.

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New group aims for free expression without judgment

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By Maya Douglas//Hood’s newly formed Urban Outlet is preparing for their upcoming showcase featuring performances from Hood students, a live band and a modeling portion on Nov. 11.

The Urban Outlet is a subgroup of the All About Me modeling and fashion club. It was created by junior, Christiana Morris in her efforts to create an uncensored place on campus for students to express themselves.
“I just noticed that this campus was lacking something.”

The uncensored showcase features mainly rap, two singers and a live band.

“It just a place where I come to express myself and feel like I’m not being judged,” Chis Lafantant, a freshman, said.

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Family, friends gather for Homecoming Weekend

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hypnotistBy Zack Miller//Students, alumni, faculty, family and friends all gathered at Hood College on Oct. 21 and 22 as the college held its annual Homecoming and Fall Family Weekend.

The festivities began late Friday evening with an event hosted by the school’s Campus Activity Board (CAB) where hypnotist Marshall Manlove performed in front of a crowd filled with Hood College students.

Manlove began by inviting approximately 10 students on stage that believed in the hypnotism. Once on stage, he began the complex process of hypnotizing by having them listen to his voice and relaxing completely.

After a few minutes, the students on stage and the CAB President, senior Jackie Bealer, who was sitting in the audience were at Manlove’s will. Doing everything from catching Pokémon, to riding in a spaceship and protecting their own shoes, the students followed his every direction.

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Class banners are removed for restoration

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class banners

Class banners await restoration.

By John Curran//Class banners that once hung in Whitaker are now being stored in Rosenstock until they can be assessed for deterioration.

During the summer, several renovations were being made to Whitaker Campus Commons. One of those renovations included painting all of the railings. In order to access the railings on the second floor, the class banners had to be removed.

When students arrived on campus for the fall semester and did not see the banners, many made the assumption that the banners had been disposed.

“It was never our intention to inform students about taking down the banners,” said Olivia White, dean of students. “After taking a closer look at the banners, we realized that some of the banners were deteriorating, so we decided to store them until we could have a conservationist look at them.”

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College adds gender-neutral bathrooms

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all gender bathroom sign

By Ryan Knight//Students’ right to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity in public schools has been taken all the way to the Supreme Court.

But since changes were made at Hood College, using the same bathroom as their transgender and gender-nonconforming peers hasn’t been an issue for anyone on campus. Safety and comfort while using the bathrooms were primary reasons members of the Queer Student Union wanted all-gender bathrooms o campus.

During the spring 2016 semester, QSU members met with President Andrea Chapdelaine and Dean Olivia White during an open forum in which they discussed the possibility of making some restrooms on campus all-gender.

According to the Rev. Beth O’ Malley, other institutions had restroom accommodations for transgender students and Hood College wanted to adhere to those same standards because transgender students needed this change to feel safe in the bathroom. However, overall, she feels that safety and comfort of all students is important because many students call this campus home.

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First-year programming seeks to retain students

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banner

A Hood banner hangs in Whitaker Campus Center. Photo by Logan Samuels.

By Logan Samuels
//The faculty and staff of Hood College share the mission of making first-year students feel comfortable and acclimated on campus through specialized freshmen programming.

As part of this programming, students gathered in Hodson Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 19 to hear a presentation from Paige Rawl, an activist who fights bullying and raises awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome. She is also the author of the memoir “Positive: Surving My Bullies, Finding Hope and Living to Change the World”, which was this year’s selection for the first-year read program directed by Professor Martha Bari.

The program was implemented six years ago by Bari and requires all incoming freshmen to read an assigned novel the summer preceding their entry to the college. Beginning at orientation, students have opportunity to discuss the novel with facilitators.

Every October, the author is invited to speak and host events at the college.
“Meeting the author of the first-year read is the centerpiece of the program itself,” President Andrea Chapdelaine said.

Provost Deborah Ricker affirmed Chapdelaine’s thought and shared that having the opportunity to meet the authors frames the conversation and enriches the campus and its students.

Each year, a committee is constructed to sort through books to choose which titles showcase the best lessons and themes for the incoming students and which authors would be available to come to campus. This year’s winning selection came directly from a student’s suggestion.

Abbey McAllister, a sophomore, recommended “Positive” because it fit well with the transition from high school to college and she admittedly could not put the book down once she started reading.

McAllister said: “It was amazing to pick the first-year read. I was incredibly honored and had never had an experience like it before. I just felt like I had made a difference for the first time.”

McAllister explained that she cherishes the freshmen read because it brings students together even before they have met in person. McAllister felt it was vital to connect the students through a shared literary experience and both faculty and staff involved with the first-year programming would agree.

Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Life Olivia White pays special attention to students and the way that programming affects them. White is fixated on retention for students between their first and second year on campus.

The first-year read has been a requirement for six years, but last year was the first year where all students were also required to take a freshmen seminar. The first-year seminar program is now mandatory for students’ core curriculum and ensures that students have an academic class where they also learn basic college skills.

Since the implementation of the required seminar and the continuation of the first-year read program, retention has increased. From 2014 to 2015, there was a 75 percent retention rate between first and second year students, but 2015 to 2016 showed an 81 percent retention: a 6 percent increase.

White said, “We knew we had done a number of things well, but we didn’t know what sort of impact to expect. The significant increase was higher than we expected, but it was a very pleasant surprise.”

With the conclusion that specific programs geared towards first-year students were making an impact, Hood has begun innovating new ideas to keep retention on the rise.

Matthew Troutman, director of residence life, announced in 2015 that beginning with the class of 2020, Hood College would now house all freshmen living on campus in designated first-year dorms.

The first-year buildings have specially trained resident assistants and programming specifically for students who are new to the college experience.

Troutman said, “There’s been good attendance at programming and there’s been a natural transition from orientation into school. [We try] to get them to take the medicine with some sugar.”

Troutman’s remedies for first-years include tutoring in the lounges of the residence halls in collaboration with the school’s tutoring staff and life skill programs. Troutman shared that this was a new experience for both RAs and students but, he is beginning to hear that things have begun to get into a rhythm.

Troutman and White have heard reports that the class of 2020 has a positive attitude and is less apathetic and more engaged on campus.

Troutman said: “We’re putting a lot into what we hope is a great payoff for students to return this spring and next fall. The culture has changed and I’d bet that retention will be even higher next year.”

A class project of CMA 304.