Campus News – The Oberlin Review

Sunrise Strikes for Brighter Future

September 13, 2019

Environmental activists will gather in Tappan Square at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 in solidarity with Global Climate Strike, an international movement focusing on climate justice. Oberlin’s protest is being organized by Sunrise Oberlin. However, the international Global Climate Strike project began with high school students led by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg going “on strike” from school on Fridays to express their discontent with their respective international governments�...

PCRC Recommends Colás’ Termination

Nathan Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief

September 13, 2019

Former Professor of English Santiago (Yago) Colás resigned this summer following a unanimous recommendation by a panel of the Professional Conduct Review Committee that he be terminated. The five-person panel reached its recommendation after evaluating conduct that was judged to violate the sexual harassment portion of College policy and the professional ethics and conduct policy of the Faculty Guide. The allegations against Colás concerned Facebook messages sent by Colás to the Reporting Party. The hearing panel determined that the messages constituted an act of sexual harassment. “We saw no reasonable alternatives that could support the Responding Party’s argument that the messages were not sexual harassment,” ...

Jaywalking Tickets Upset Students

Ella Moxley, Senior Staff Writer

September 13, 2019

Recent jaywalking tickets issued by the Oberlin Police Department have launched a campus-wide conversation about pedestrian safety on campus. Last week, the Oberlin Police Department barricaded the informal crosswalk on West Lorain Street connecting the Science Center to Wilder Bowl and issued three citations to students crossing there instead of down the street at the formal crosswalk. “This area was chosen to be shut down for several reasons; we've received several complaints, it's a highly jaywalked area, traffic moves at the 35mph speed limit here, and there is a REAL painted crosswalk about 100 feet down the road that should be used,” read a statement posted on the Oberlin Police Department’s Facebook pa...

Students Relax at Presidential Carnival

September 13, 2019

Students enjoyed an afternoon of local cuisine, a dunk tank, and a sudden hailstorm at the President’s Welcome Carnival this past Wednesday. Stretching from the Science Center atrium to the nearby quad, the event invited students of all class years to sample food from community vendors, including the Slow Train Cafe and Dave’s Cosmic Subs. Students tried their hand at ring toss and challenged peers to friendly races through an inflatable obstacle course. “The Taste of Oberlin was an inventi...

A New Home for Campus Safety, Student Health

September 13, 2019

Campus Safety, Student Health Services, and the Counseling Center have all moved locations into the newly remodeled first floor of Dascomb Hall. Administrators, Campus Safety officers, and Student Health providers believe that the move helps better address students’ needs by making the services more central to campus as well as by giving the departments more room and resources. The first floor of Dascomb previously housed a dining hall but was temporarily vacant when the dining hall was closed...

College, Raimondo Denied New Trial in Gibson’s Case

Nathan Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief

September 13, 2019

Judge John Miraldi of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas ruled Tuesday that Oberlin College and Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo would not be granted a new trial in the lawsuit filed against the College and Raimondo by Gibson’s Bakery. In June, a Lorain County jury ruled in favor of Gibson’s, initially awarding $44 million in damages. This figure was later capped at $25 million under Ohio law. The College and Raimondo requested a new trial or remittitur in the same court where the initial verdict was made. A remittitur is a ruling by a judge to lower the amount of damages awarded by a jury; in this case, the College alleged that the level of damages awarded in June were “excessive.” I...

Searches Launch for Next College, Conservatory Deans

September 6, 2019

In a time of unprecedented institutional change following the recommendations of the Academic and Administrative Program Review, both the College and Conservatory have launched active searches for new deans. The AAPR, which concluded this past spring, was chaired by Acting Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences David Kamitsuka and vice-chaired by Acting Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen. Both Kamitsuka and Quillen are currently filling their positions on an interim basis. Kamitsuka ass...

Introductory Arabic Courses Offered On Campus in Fall, Spring

September 6, 2019

Following significant controversy last spring, Oberlin will once again offer introductory Arabic courses on campus this academic year. In April, a group of faculty petitioned the College Faculty Council with a proposal to offer a section each of Arabic 101 and 102. Visiting Assistant Professor of Arabic Mahmoud Meslat was hired over the summer to teach the introductory courses. “As is our process, a group of faculty submitted a request for a temporary line in Arabic to the [Educational Plans and P...

SJI Reaches Record Attendance

September 6, 2019

A record-breaking number of incoming first-year students applied to participate in the Social Justice Institute orientation workshop. The two-day annual workshop aims to engage incoming Obies from a diverse range of social, cultural, and political backgrounds in conversations centered around issues of social justice. “There were 97 applicants this year,” said Kim Jackson Davidson, Oberlin’s second ombudsperson. “Eighty new students confirmed their plans to attend prior to arriving on cam...

In Memory of John “Jed” Deppman, Professor of Comparative Literature and English

September 6, 2019

The staff of The Oberlin Review extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Professor of Comparative Literature and English John “Jed” Deppman, who died June 22, 2019 at the age of 52. Deppman moved to Oberlin with his wife, Professor of Chinese and Cinema Studies Hsiu-Chuang Deppman, in 2003, where he lived until his death. Deppman was a leading scholar on Emily Dickinson, spoke several languages, and taught the highly-regarded first-year seminar, “Ars Moriendi: Death and th...

Jury Rules For Gibson’s, Assigns $44 Million in Damages

June 14, 2019

Editor's note: Due to the scope of national media attention, the Review took the extraordinary step of covering the Gibson's verdict outside of normal publication dates. Because of limited staff capacity, the Review does not moderate comments during the summer, and letters to the editors in response to any article will be reviewed for publication in the fall. Please direct any questions to [email protected] The Lorain County jury overseeing the trial between Gibson’s Bakery and Ob...

Hourly Workers Maintain AAPR Concerns

May 10, 2019

Tensions remain high between Oberlin’s unionized hourly workers and the Academic and Administrative Program Review steering committee. After weeks of collecting community feedback, the committee is wrapping up its work and preparing to submit its final recommendations to President Carmen Twillie Ambar at the end of this semester. Many constituent groups have endorsed the AAPR’s recommendations. Last week, the Educational Plans and Policies Committee, the Educational Policy Committee, the College F...