Karthik Ranganadhan and Swaranaya Sarkar

March 14, 2025

Recently, the Trump administration has cut funds from the National Institution of Health and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, all federal grants and funds may be subjected to budget cuts or additional restrictions impacting the disbursement of funds. Universities across the United States are currently responding, with larger research universities that are most dependent on these funds rescinding admission acceptance or implementing hiring freezes. These budget cuts also threaten ongoing...

Layla Wallerstein, News Editor

March 14, 2025

Last Thursday and Friday, the Oberlin Board of Trustees convened in Oberlin. In consultation with outside experts and faculty, the trustees discussed the country’s current political landscape, implications for Oberlin, and the question of academic freedom. At the end of the board meeting, the trustees voted unanimously to reaffirm the board’s commitment to Oberlin’s mission statement. “Needless to say, whether we were discussing it directly, or whether it just hovered over the conversations,...

Layla Wallerstein, News Editor

March 14, 2025

Today and Saturday, Oberlin College is hosting the WASH Economics Conference, an event co-organized by Oberlin, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The conference, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, brings together academics doing research on water supply, sanitation, and hygiene and health services. This is the third year the conference is happening, and the first time it is being held in the United States. Associate...

Skylar Brunk, Staff Writer

March 14, 2025

On Thursday, the Office of Residence Life held the housing lottery for Woodland Hall, as construction of the new hall continues.  Construction began in 2023 and is projected to be completed this summer in time for students to move in for the fall semester. Assistant Vice President and Dean of Residence Life and Auxiliary Services Mark Zeno explained that Woodland Hall was designed based on student input regarding the need for new, updated housing.  With the flexibility of additional beds for...

Karthik Ranganadhan, News Editor

March 7, 2025

Republican control of both Chambers of Congress and the presidency has raised the prospect of repealing portions or the entirety of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Such an act would potentially deprive Oberlin of funding for the College’s implementation of the Sustainable Infrastructure Program.  The Inflation Reduction Act was the headlining achievement of the Biden administration. It aimed to bolster investment in clean energy in order to create jobs, reduce emissions, better supply chains,...

Lily Nobel, Production Editor

March 7, 2025

On Wednesday, students of Middle East and North Africa Studies learned that Dr. Dorothy Washburn, OC ’67, had finalized her donation of $2,170,000 to fund an expansion of the Arabic language program. The donation will create an endowed lectureship position for a full-time lecturer to teach classes in introductory and intermediate Arabic, as well as an advanced seminar. Previously, only one year of introductory Arabic was offered — ARBC 101 and 102. Students had some opportunity to study Arabic...

Lily Nobel, Production Editor

March 14, 2025

The nurses’ union at Mercy Health - Allen Hospital in Oberlin is currently in negotiation with the hospital company to secure fair benefits, wages, and hiring practices. On Monday, 94 percent of the Mercy nurses voted to reject the company’s initial proposal.   Derek Chaffins, a Mercy nurse and bargaining team member who has been a part of the nurses’ union for about 12 years, spoke to the current short-staffing that has put severe stress on the staff. He explained that some are changing...

Karthik Ranganadhan, News Editor

March 14, 2025

Kendal at Oberlin has finished the first phase of a planned 10-year master plan to renovate facilities, improve living spaces for residents, and ensure the financial sustainability of the community.  According to Kendal at Oberlin CEO Seth Vilensky and CFO Ann O’Malley, phase one of the plan, which was completed this year, “focused on renovating Kendal’s Stephens Care Center, creating a new friends corner dining room and gathering room activity center.” It also worked on improving staff...

Avishi Khar, Staff Writer

March 14, 2025

On April 10, 2024, Oberlin was selected by Blooming Philanthropies to receive funding through the organization’s Youth Climate Action Fund. The City of Oberlin distributed the initial $50,000 funding last summer in the form of microgrants between $1,000 and $5,000.  Bloomberg Philanthropies has now given the City a new round of $100,000 in funding, double the funding from the last round, which will be distributed in the form of microgrants between $1,000 and $5,000. Any entity can apply to receive...