Ella Moxley, News Editor

September 18, 2020

The 1833 Just Transition Fund has raised almost $150,000 in pledges to support the United Auto Workers union members who lost their jobs last spring when the College outsourced 108 custodial and dining services workers. The fund will mostly be distributed to about 44 former UAW custodians who have not found jobs that offer comparable compensation. The fund was initially created by alumni last spring in response to the College’s announcement and to student activism in support of the UAW members....

Katherine MacPhail and Anisa Curry Vietze

September 18, 2020

A former Oberlin dance professor filed a lawsuit against the College on Sept. 3 alleging discrimination in hiring for being a straight, white, married woman from the Midwest, as well as workplace retaliation. The College has not yet responded to these allegations. Former Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Alice Blumenfeld worked at Oberlin from 2018–2020. In the summer of 2019, Blumenfeld learned that the College planned to terminate her position and instate a tenure-track position in its...

Ella Moxley, News Editor

September 18, 2020

Oberlin Conservatory faculty released an action plan last week for increasing the diversity and equity of Oberlin’s music education as part of the Presidential Initiative. Over the past several months, Conservatory faculty and staff have worked with student and alumni leaders to develop the commitments that will begin this semester.  “I want to offer my personal thanks to the student and alumni leaders — in particular members of the Oberlin College Black Musicians Guild — and to the Conservatory...

Kyra McConnell, Writer

September 16, 2020

Twine, a student-developed social app designed to increase community and student connection, is scheduled to launch this month. The app was initially envisioned prior to the spread of COVID-19, and now its founders hope that Twine will help mitigate social isolation brought on by the pandemic. Twine won first place at the 2020 LaunchU pitch competition in March, awarding its team of four Oberlin students $15,000 in funding. The personalized mobile app provides a service that connects students...

Anisa Curry Vietze, Editor-in-Chief

September 16, 2020

The staff of The Oberlin Review extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of College fourth-year Aiden Day, who died Aug. 29, 2020, at the age of 22. At Oberlin, Day was a Politics and Hispanic Studies double major and a beloved member of the men’s lacrosse team. He was deeply passionate about social justice and standing up against prejudice within the athletics community. As a Politics major, Day was interested in envisioning  how the U.S. government could be improved and attentive...

Casey Troost, Staff Writer

September 11, 2020

This semester, the Peer Advising Leaders program has expanded in both length and content to address the strains that incoming first-year students face under COVID-19. The PAL program began in 2017 and has constantly evolved since then. This semester, the PAL program’s goal of teaching students to optimize their college experience hasn’t shifted, though its methods of achieving this goal have changed significantly. “PAL programming this year expanded in a number of ways,” wrote Executive...

Drew Dansby, Production Editor

September 18, 2020

Since federal COVID-19 assistance expired in late July, many unemployed and low-income tenants in Oberlin and Lorain County have experienced food insecurity and the threat of eviction. Although community organizations and social media support networks can temporarily help with basic needs, many residents are unable to find long-term solutions in the present job market.  The federal CARES Act, passed by Congress in March, established the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which distributed...

Gigi Ewing, News Editor

September 9, 2020

Oberlin City Schools are welcoming students back to virtual classes this week as the school district reopens remotely. The district’s plan has all grades operating fully online until Nov. 6, when they will reassess next steps. OCS will provide technological support for families in need.  When OCS suddenly shifted to remote learning last March, both teachers and students were ill-equipped to handle an entirely-virtual learning environment. However, the summer recess provided the district with...

Katherine MacPhail, Editor-in-Chief

September 9, 2020

A man stole roughly $40 from the downtown Oberlin Subway last Wednesday night. Police took 25-year-old suspect Jonathan Hughes into custody within 48 hours of the incident. He is currently being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $50,000 bond for aggravated robbery — a first-degree felony.  Subway Sandwich Artist Emma Kim was on shift the night of the robbery and explained that the man indicated he was carrying a gun.  “He had his hands in the pockets of his hoodie and made it seem like...