Ananya Gupta, Managing Editor

November 16, 2018

Despite the availability of an annual Winter Term project, two Shansi opportunities for graduates, and two study abroad programs in India, the languages of Hindi and Urdu are left out of the Oberlin academic scene. Over half a billion people speak Hindi globally, second only to Mandarin Chinese. While this number is largely concentrated within the Indian subcontinent, it is also spoken in countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Nepal, and among immigrants in the U.S., U.K., and Australia — to name only a few. This figure...

Nathan Carpenter and Jackie Brant

November 16, 2018

In recent weeks, footage of the fires currently raging through the state of California has appeared in the news and on social media. We have seen houses destroyed, communities devastated, and families left without clear options. As of Nov. 11, more than 1.5 million acres had burned — the most ever recorded in a single fire season — which has caused nearly $3 billion in damages and control operations and has killed more than 50 people and left more than 130 people missing. Even as firefighters across the state are working overtime to get the blazes under control,...

Ilana Foggle, Columnist

November 9, 2018

After more than a year of local and state politicians campaigning around the country, the midterm elections are finally over and the results are in. The much-discussed “blue wave” dominated in states like Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan, but failed to reach key races in Florida, Texas, Georgia — and Ohio. Regardless of whether or not you are pleased with Tuesday’s outcome, now is not the time to rest. The midterm election results show us a couple of things. First, there are many voters in key states who are discontent with the Republican Party and have mobilized...

Jackie Brant, Opinions Editor

November 9, 2018

Regardless of how these midterm elections went overall, there are many outcomes that we all can and should be proud of. The U.S. went from having its lowest voter turnout rates in midterm history in 2014 — with just 34 percent voter participation — to one of the highest, with almost 50 percent of eligible residents turning out to vote. An estimated 114 million people cast votes, the first time in U.S. history that a midterm election collected over 100 million votes. Some broken barriers include two Muslim women being voted into Congress for the first time in...

Debbi Walsh and Melissa Ballard

November 16, 2018

With the passing of Issue 11, we have now entrusted the Oberlin School District with a large amount of taxpayer money. We will remember the many promises made throughout their campaign. The message of Oberlin Concerned Citizens has been to broaden the conversation from a building to the entire context in which this decision is being made. We hope the community fares well, even as the depth of its divide about this project has now been revealed. It is a basic truth that Oberlin’s resources are not infinite. The financial state of the College and our households...

Barbara Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Kendal at Oberlin

November 2, 2018

First, I want to extend compliments to the students of Oberlin College who invest their time to provide a weekly newspaper offering important communication for students, faculty and staff, but also the larger community. Kendal at Oberlin is fortunate to have The Oberlin Review delivered each week for residents and staff. In November, citizens will vote on consolidation of the schools, an important issue that could have lasting impact for generations to come. Yes, it will impact taxes, and citizens must weigh the benefits and personal cost. I applaud all those studying...

Lisa Kavanaugh, Oberlin Resident

November 2, 2018

As we come closer to the elections, it is with great sorrow we watch as the “corrupt corporate two” censor other viable gubernatorial candidates on the ballot from the debates. Protests against this censorship were held at Dayton University, Marietta College, and Cleveland University. The City Club’s formation of the privately owned Ohio Debate Commission has been petitioned from the onset of their formation to include candidates on the ballot in their debates. Even if the number of people who do not vote decide to go to the polls and vote for a third party,...

John Petersen, Paul Sears Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology

November 2, 2018

There are many ways for Oberlin students to affect positive change in this world, and voting this coming Tuesday, Nov. 6 is an important one of these. I’m a permanent resident of this community; I have lived here for more of my life than anywhere else. I want to strongly agree with a recent opinion piece by College junior Ezra Andres-Tysch (“Students Should Vote in Local Elections,” The Oberlin Review, Oct. 12, 2018). Students who are residents of the City of Oberlin and registered in Ohio have a right and, I would say, a responsibility to participate in local...

Laura Slocum, Amy (Pechaitis) Burgess, Chris M. Mason, Jim Walsh, Debbi Walsh, John Elder, Michele Andrews, Robin Diedrick, Judith Poirson, Monica Smith, and Aliza Weidenbaum

November 2, 2018

In Favor While discussion continues about Issue 11, we must remember that we are part of a strong and diverse committee, including many parents of school-aged children who are tired of commonplace argument and committed to action. In this day and age we know that family, school, and community influences on student achievement are great, and that the environmental quality of schools affects educational performance. Study after study demonstrates that facilities themselves have an impact on things such as student behavior, grades, teacher retention, and community...