Howard Sachs’ article, “American College System Destroys Real Liberalism,” (The Oberlin Review, April 6, 2018) challenges the widely held opinions on this campus and the general state of higher education, attacking what they deem as the “child-like value system” of leftism. This is a controversial opinion, and I applaud Sachs for attempting to make their case. However, the author’s argument is unendingly naive, childish, and condescending to a point where it both undermines their case and completely distorts constitutional conservatism. I have grown to respect the scholarship of constitutional conservatives after much reading and deliberation. Scholars like Kori Schake, the deputy director general of the Int...

In recent weeks, the Review has published numerous pieces regarding gun control in the wake of the murder of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, by Nikolas Cruz. Initially, we published “Founding Fathers Would Approve of AR-15 Sales,” (The Oberlin Review, March 2, 2018) by Jacob Britton. Briefly, his piece argues that the AR-15, used in the Parkland, Sandy Hook, and Santa Barbara mass shootings, among others, would have been right at home in the 18th century when there were “guns even more dangerous around.” Unsurprisingly, this argument elicited several responses, including “Current Gun Control Debates Give Inadequate, Ineffective Solutions” (The Oberlin Review, March 9, 20...

Today and all days after this, we mourn the death of ObieHub. Tragically struck down too young by the cold, unfeeling hand of the oppressors, our fallen son was far more than a candidate in a CIT PRESTO-renaming competition. ObieHub was the hero we needed in a time of chaos and distrust, chosen to lead our school as a symbol of hope, resilience, and pornography. But first, let us celebrate its life; I began chronicling the journey of ObieHub in the op-ed “ObieHub Rams Expectations Hard” (March 2, 2018, The Oberlin Review). Here, I outlined our hero’s origins as an administration-chosen name, appearing to us after an earlier poll was sent out requesting the help of students in renaming PRESTO. Though many of thi...

Recently, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the athlete/non-athlete divide at Oberlin. I believe that one of the most preeminent ways students can bridge this so-called “divide” is by challenging themselves to enter new and possibly uncomfortable spaces. We should all be willing to put in the work to support other students’ interests and identities — whether this means going to a featured concert, attending a sports game, or taking a workshop on privilege and oppression. Bridging this so-called divide is contingent on how much each individual is willing to step outside of their own social circles and learn about others. This past week, the Athletics department required all student-athletes to attend ...