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Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

Progressives Remain Unprepared for Trump
Isaiah Johnson, Opinions Editor • February 7, 2025

In just a little over a month, President Donald Trump has initiated a swath of assaults against the most vulnerable communities in the country and beyond. Over 1.4 million undocumented people in the United States now face an imminent danger of being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement without...

Bolivian Student Reflects on Flaws in Immigration System
Noah Zemans Góngora February 7, 2025

“We are a nation of immigrants.” Yes, we are a nation of immigrants, as the signs protesting President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies say. Fear and anger have spread across the United States as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started a wave of arrests. ICE is targeting undocumented...

A Bathroom Bill zine has been distributed across campus.
Admin Should Resist Bathroom Bill
Pelham Curtis, Columnist • February 7, 2025

In a zine that appeared around campus as classes started this week titled “Pissed Off About the New Bathroom Rules?” an anonymous trans person wrote, “The worst part of all of this is that the college does not need to do all this. As an institution, Oberlin does not have to comply so loudly and...

Students gather for SFP protest
Executive Order Threatening Protester Deportation Dangerous, Unconstitutional
Zane Badawi, Columnist • February 7, 2025

On Jan. 29, President Trump issued Executive Order 14188, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” in which he declared, “It shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise...

Tougher Criticism Needed in Writing Workshops
Lauren Moore, Columnist • February 7, 2025

A couple of weeks into my first year, I sat in a circle with my workshop group for my first-ever collegiate Creative Writing course — Introduction to Fiction Writing. We timidly muttered compliments about each other’s pieces; soft smiles sat on our lips as we nodded along to the tenth consecutive...

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Vital to Workplace
Gabrielle Barnett, Columnist • February 7, 2025

Artist Recital Series Features Anthony McGill, Emanuel Ax
Kash Radocha, Senior Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

On Tuesday, Oberlin continued its Artist Recital Series with one of the most anticipated concerts of the year. The ARS brings professional musicians...

Opera Theater Winter Term Operas Return Twofold
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • February 7, 2025

The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace played in Warner Concert Hall Jan. 24 and 26. Running just an hour, the opera follows Ada Lovelace, a notable...

Omar choir and orchestra rehearse for performances Friday and Sunday.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Opera Omar Reaches Oberlin, Cleveland Stages
Calvin Ray Shawler and Kash Radocha December 6, 2024

Tonight, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Finney Chapel, is the sold-out concert production of Rhiannon Giddens, OC ’00, and Michael Abels’ Pulitzer...

Moving Pictures: A Concert Exhibition by Oberlin Artists and Composers
Kash Radocha, Senior Staff Writer • November 22, 2024

On Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m., a group of student composers, conductors, and musicians held a showcase in David H. Stull Recital Hall. The production,...

Oberlin students perform in Massenet’s Cendrillon in Hall Auditorium.
Cendrillon Stuns Oberlin Opera Audiences
Travis O'Daniel, Managing Editor • November 15, 2024

Oberlin Opera Theater presented Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon last Thursday–Sunday in Hall Auditorium, corresponding with Oberlin Parents and...

The Bathroom Bill requires the designation of multi-use bathrooms for the exclusive use of either sex.
Frustration and Sadness Among Students as Bathroom Signs Change
Lily Nobel, Production Editor • February 7, 2025

On Feb. 1, abiding by the Feb. 25 deadline mandated in the law, the College officially finished implementing the changes necessitated by Ohio Senate Bill 104, colloquially known as the Bathroom Bill. The College maintains that it must obey the law or risk legal trouble that could lead to lawsuits or...

Black Women of Excellence awardees sit on the stage at Oberlin House of Lord Fellowship. Photo courtesy of Desmond Bowens
House of Lord Celebrates Oberlin’s Black Women of Excellence
Swaranya Sarkar, Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

“Still We Rise: Oberlin’s Black Women of Excellence,” a ceremony organized by the Oberlin House of the Lord Fellowship Center, took place Sunday. The event was organized in honor of Black History Month as a novel effort to recognize leadership and resilience in the face of systemic challenges....

Larvae were found in the broccoli at Stevenson Dining Hall. Photos courtsey of Olly Sitrick
Stevenson Dining Hall Serves Broccoli with Larvae during Winter Term, Students Voice Concerns
Máxima Oxholm-Barraza, Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

Oberlin College students are voicing concerns over food safety following the discovery of larvae in broccoli served at Stevenson Dining Hall during Winter Term. The incident was reported by college third-year Olly Sitrick on Jan. 23 during lunch hours, and has prompted questions about food safety protocols...

Village housing availability will impact how many students are approved for off-campus.
College Expects Decrease in Off-Campus Housing
Layla Wallerstein and Karthik Ranganadhan February 7, 2025

The Office of Residence Life anticipates a decrease in the number of approved requests for students to live off campus for the 2025–26 academic year. The change is part of the College’s calculations of retention rates, as well as plans to renovate older dormitories and move students to the Woodland...

City Council Update for Feb. 3
Avishi Khar, Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

Transfer of Liquor Permits from Lupitas Inc. dba Lupitas Mexican Restaurant to La Senorita, LLC During the Feb. 3 meeting, the Oberlin City Council passed a motion regarding a request not to hear an application to transfer liquor permits from Lupitas Inc. dba Lupitas Mexican Restaurant to La Senorita,...

World Headlines
Karthik Ranganadhan, Contributing News Editor • February 7, 2025

Trump Proposes U.S. Takeover of Gaza; Draws Condemnation  On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that the U.S. should assume a “long-term ownership position” over the Gaza Strip, and that the Palestinian people living in the enclave should be moved to other countries, including...

Many facilities on campus currently use the E system to designate the gender of bathrooms. This will change in February when Ohio Senate Bill 103 goes into affect, banning multi-gender bathrooms.
Ohio Bill To End Multisex Bathrooms, Limit Access for Trans Students at Oberlin
Lily Nobel, Production Editor • December 6, 2024

At the end of November, Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 104 into law — which included House Bill 183 as an amendment — after it was passed by the Ohio state legislature. The bill will restrict the use of bathrooms by transgender students at all schools and universities in Ohio, including...

Roommates Reflect on Random Placement
Sasha O’Malley, The Bulletin Editor
Latest Episode
This week's show is a special episode about Juneteenth, made up of segments by The Weekly team: Nina Auslander-Padgham, Eric Schank, and Casey Troost. First, Nina and Eric present a segment on the Oberlin Juneteenth festival, how it is different this year, and address potential town and gown tensions as more students participate in the parade. Afterwards, Nina Auslander-Padgham interviews Annessa Wyman, an Administrative Assistant at the College, about her personal involvement in planning Juneteenth festivities for the last decade. Finally, Casey Troost's segment is on the history and meaning of Juneteenth with interviews with African American locals: Ms. Margaret Christian, honoary Juneteenth board member and local historian; featured poet LaTonya Fenderson Warren; Valerie Lawson, chairperson of the Juneteenth executive board; Adenike Sharpley, professor of Dance at Oberlin; and Shelley Shepard. This episode originally aired on WOBC Oberlin, 91.5 FM, Oberlin College and Community radio at 3:00 pm EST on August 2nd, 2021.
Editorial Comic 2/7/2025
Editorial Comic 2/7/2025
Molly Chapin, Layout Manager and Illustrator
Students of Brendan Fernandes perform in the Allen.
Art, Activism are Inseparable in “The Body, The Host: HIV/AIDS and Christianity” Symposium
Sadie Howard and Sydney Collinger
The LACFD stands to receive thunderous applause.
History Made on Music’s Biggest Night at Grammys
Myles Sead February 7, 2025

The Grammys are considered music’s biggest night. However this year’s awards ceremony was special because it was a night dedicated to the city of Los Angeles. The city’s artists, firefighters, and businesses were front and center throughout the ceremony. There were also calls for donations during...

Patient Alice and her mother work in the Holiday Pop-Up Art Therapy Studio.
Cleveland Clinic Art Therapy Provides Creative Escape for Patients
Chloe Ko, Arts & Culture Editor • February 7, 2025

The art therapy program within the Arts & Medicine department at Cleveland Clinic works with medical patients to make their hospital stay more comfortable and manageable. In an environment that is inherently far displaced from what patients know as their home, various therapy programs are put into...

In Increasingly Fragmented Media Landscape, Social Media Platforms Fight for Attention
Dlisah Lapidus, Arts & Culture Editor • February 7, 2025

Five years ago, social media users seemingly had an easy time navigating their various platforms. They could post a selfie on Instagram or tweet about whatever movie they were currently watching. Older generations remained on Facebook, while younger generations gravitated toward new platforms like Snapchat...

Talawa, Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance and Africana Studies
Talawa, Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance and Africana Studies
Eva Fraser February 7, 2025

Prestø is a world-renowned dancer, choreographer, and founder of the Talawa Technique and the Tanbaka Ensemble. Every piece of his work focuses on decolonizing dance and embodying one’s true self and body. He developed and researched the aesthetics and technical elements of African-rooted dancing,...

India-Mae Fraser portrays Cassius.
Julius Caesar Features Standout Performances, Final Product Lacks Creative Cohesion
Nimala Sivakumar, Production Editor • February 7, 2025

Julius Caesar, directed by College fourth-year Ansel Mills, closed this past Tuesday, taking the Shakespeare classic and using it to address the issue of climate change through a reinterpretation. A senior capstone for Mills, one of the themes he identified early on in the creative process was “what...

Connecting through Bilingualism, Artistic Journal Making
Ariel Papas, Staff Writer • February 5, 2025

For the past month, Oberlin artist Sarah Cruz has been teaching workshops about connecting to others through bilingualism and artistic journal making, open to anyone third grade and up. Cruz was an elementary school Spanish and ESL teacher who now spends her time tutoring students and conducting workshops...

Cynthia Eviro and Ariana Grande stun as Elphaba and Galinda in Wicked.
Defying Gravity, Expectations: Two Takes on Wicked
Nikki Keating and Travis O'Daniel December 6, 2024

Two brave souls, Managing Editor Travis O’Daniel and Editor-in-Chief Nikki Keating, ventured into the enchanting, twisted world of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. Armed with a shared love for musicals, green-and-pink ensembles, and the promise of Lupitas Mexican Restaurant afterward, they set out to...

Dracula opened last night in the Irene and Allen Wurtzel Theater
Dracula Is Beautiful, Must-See Production
Grace Connell, Staff Writer • December 6, 2024

The Theater department will be staging Dracula this weekend, directed by Costume Designer and Associate Professor of Theater Chris Flaharty, as a part of the Theater Mainstage Series.  This production dramatizes Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel, which tells the story of Lucy, who has developed a...

Graphic novelist Line Hoven is this semester's Max Kade German Writer in Residence.
53rd Max Kade German Writer in Residence Line Hoven Inspires Students
Sydney Collinger, Senior Staff Writer, Layout Editor • December 6, 2024

Every Monday night for the past six weeks I sketched a self-portrait on a sticky note in a classroom in Peters Hall. To record our attendance, Line Hoven, Oberlin’s 53rd Max Kade Foundation’s German writer-in-residence, required 11 students, including myself, to complete this one-minute assignment...

Mad Cow closes its doors in December.
Mad Cow Curiosity Shop To Close in December
Jonah Barber, At Large Senior Staff Writer • December 6, 2024

The Mad Cow Curiosity Shop, after opening its doors in April 2018, is set to close by the end of the month. Over its nearly seven-year span in Oberlin, Mad Cow attracted students and community members to its retro collectibles and second hand items, ranging from a 1970s stapler gun to a copy of Lego...

Juwayria Zahurullah
Juwayria Zahurullah: Student Activist and Organizer
Layla Wallerstein, News Editor • December 6, 2024

College third-year Juwayria Zahurullah is a co-chair of Oberlin Students for a Free Palestine, and has helped organize numerous events with the organization over the last few years. Zahurullah also acts as Racial Equity Committee Chair for Student Senate and is a co-chair for Oberlin’s Muslim Student...

Jennifer Morgan
Jennifer Morgan, OC ’86: Silver Professor of History at NYU, MacArthur Fellow
Karthik Ranganadhan, Contributing News Editor • November 22, 2024

Jennifer L. Morgan is the Silver Professor of History at New York University. Her work focuses on early slavery and the experiences of enslaved Black women. She received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship this fall, which is commonly known as the “Genius Grant,” for her work. Her prior books have...

Caroline Wood Newhall
Caroline Wood Newhall: Assistant Professor Of History
Karthik Ranganadhan, Contributing News Editor • November 15, 2024

Caroline Wood Newhall is an assistant professor of History whose work focuses on 19th-century U.S. history. Her first book is on the experiences of African-American POWs during the Civil War. For Veterans Day, she was invited by the Oberlin Heritage Center to give a talk about her research at Kendal...

Maria Elli Petridou
In the Practice Room with Maria Elli Petridou: Philadelphia International Music Festival Winner, Cellist
Delaney Fox, Editor-in-Chief • November 22, 2024

Maria Elli Petridou is a second-year cellist from Thessaloniki, Greece. On Nov. 13, she was awarded first prize in the Philadelphia International Music Festival’s Virtual Concerto Competition. Petridou performed Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major. One of three musical siblings, Petridou began...

John Kennedy
John Kennedy, OC ’82: Guest Conductor
Kash Radocha, Senior Staff Writer • November 8, 2024

Taking the stage Dec. 10 with Chamber Orchestra is Guest Conductor John Kennedy, OC ’82, a percussionist, composer, and conductor who graduated from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University. Kennedy’s work has taken him across the country to New York City; Charleston, SC; Santa Fe, NM; San...

David Byrd-Marrow
David Byrd-Marrow: Associate Professor of Horn
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • November 2, 2024

David Byrd-Marrow has distinguished himself as a classical horn player, performing with the International Contemporary Ensemble, The Knights, Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, the New York Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra, among many others, and his experience extends to the genres of Broadway...

Tiffany Calvert
Tiffany Calvert, OC ’98
Junwoo Oh, Staff Writer • December 6, 2024

Artist Tiffany Calvert, OC ’98, blends traditional and modern techniques to create stunning pieces in her own distinct style. Utilizing a diverse arsenal of methods, including fresco painting, digital painting, digital modeling, and artificial intelligence, Calvert’s approach to art is refreshing,...

DeeDee Ngozi Chamblee.
DeeDee Ngozi Chamblee
Nikki Keating, Editor-in-Chief • November 22, 2024

DeeDee Ngozi Chamblee is the founder and executive director of La Gender Inc., a non-profit organization led by Black transgender women that uplifts and empowers transgender women of color in the metro Atlanta area. Recently, she was the keynote speaker for the exhibition “The Body, the Host: HIV/AIDS...

Andrew Macomber
On the Record with Andrew Macomber: Zombification, Medieval Japan
Sydney Collinger, Senior Staff Writer, Layout Editor • November 8, 2024

Assistant Professor of East Asian Religions Andrew Macomber presented a talk Oct. 23 at the 2024 Zombie Apocalypse Medicine meeting in Eureka Springs, AR. The title of his talk was “A Nascent Zombie Affliction in Medieval Japan: The Buddhist Ritual Response to ‘Corpse-vector Disease,’” which...

Nate Thompson poses at soccer's media day.
In The Locker Room with Nate Thompson
James Foster, Sports Editor • February 7, 2025

Nate Thompson is a third-year Financial Economics major. He is the co-captain of the Oberlin Men’s Soccer Team. He recently partook in the Ashby Business Scholar Program over Winter Term. This interview was edited for length and clarity. Tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do at Oberlin. I’m...

Meaghan Kramer poses at media day.
In the Locker Room with Meaghan Kramer
Micah Rodriguez, Sports Editor • October 11, 2024

Second-year Meaghan Kramer is a forward/midfielder on the field hockey team. An international student from the Netherlands, she is planning on double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience and minoring in Chemistry. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How were you introduced to field...

Yuuki Okubo spins basketball on finger at media day.
In the Locker Room With Yuuki Okubo
Chris Stoneman, Sports Editor • October 4, 2024

Fourth-year Yuuki Okubo is a guard for the Oberlin men’s basketball team. Originally from Los Angeles, Okubo was an internet sensation who went viral multiple times before coming to compete on the court for the Yeomen. Off the court, he is a Psychology major with a minor in Anthropology.  This interview...

Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić joins LeBron James in the Lakers’ quest for their 18th NBA championship.
Blockbuster Deal Blindsides NBA, Luka Lands in LA
Micah Rodriguez, Sports Editor • February 7, 2025

Throughout NBA history, there have only been a few incidents where superstars in the prime of their career are traded. Players become ingrained in a city’s culture, fans have memories of historic games, the player’s jersey becomes a staple in the wardrobes of countless young fans, and aspiring basketball...

Saquon Barkley, who was recently named AP Offensive Player of the Year, will face off against the Kansas City Cheifs in Super Bowl LIX.
Eagles’ Revenge or Chiefs’ Three-peat? Previewing Super Bowl LIX
Gregory Lane, Senior Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

Super Bowl LIX is set to be a historic showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. On Sunday, just two years after these teams met in Super Bowl LVII, Patrick Mahomes looks to lead the Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat in the Super Bowl Era, winning...

Halfway through the 2024-25 Premier League season, Man City sits 15 points behind league-leading Liverpool.
Manchester City Falls From Grace
Kash Radocha , Senior Staff Writer • February 7, 2025

The story of English football club Manchester City this season is one of both rapid success and fallibility. City were treble winners just two years ago — taking home the English Premier League title, UEFA Champions League title, and FA Cup title all in the same season. They also won the Premier League...

Oberlin women’s basketball celebrates after expanding their lead against The College of Wooster.
Winter Term Sports Rundown
Jonas Jarecki February 7, 2025

Winter Term at Oberlin is a time for students to explore their academic interests through a project of their choosing. Some students may go off to explore different parts of the world or learn a new skill, while others opt to take part in one of the many group projects hosted on campus. All students...

Chahine Saïd was recently proclaimed the NCAC Swimmer of the Week.
Swim Team Performs Well at Malone Invitational
Amelia Ocampo, Staff Writer • December 6, 2024

The men’s and women’s swim and dive teams put out a strong performance at the Malone Invitational, both squads securing second place finishes at the three-day competition in Canton. With standout individual performances and record-breaking relay swims, the Yeomen and Yeowomen demonstrated their competitive...

Packers QB Jordan Love and RB Josh Jacobs celebrate their 30-17 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Miami Dolphins.
It Wouldn’t Be Thanksgiving Without Football
Micah Rodriguez, Sports Editor • December 6, 2024

For fans of the NFL, Thanksgiving Day is as much about football as it is about sitting around the table and enjoying a turkey feast with the family. Watching the Detroit Lions start off the day at Ford Field, followed by the Dallas Cowboys hosting a game in the afternoon slot, capped of by a primetime...

Second-year forward/center Krystal Montas guards Wooster’s Ella Dean.
Women’s Basketball Wins Conference Opener
Chris Stoneman, Sports Editor • December 6, 2024

This past Wednesday, the women’s basketball team traveled to Wooster, Ohio to tip off in conference play against The College of Wooster Fighting Scots.  The Yeowomen were extremely effective, bringing home a 64–52 victory. After receiving well-deserved NCAC Athlete of the Week honors for her stellar...

Gabe Powers and Kenneth Grant brawl after Michigan upsets Ohio State.
Michigan vs Ohio State: When Does the Rivalry Go too Far?
Gregory Lane, Staff Writer • December 6, 2024

The storied rivalry between the Ohio State Buckeyes and University of Michigan Wolverines ended wildly this past week, culminating not only in a shocking 13–10 upset victory for Michigan, but also in a heated postgame brawl that magnified the intense emotions surrounding the game of football. While...

Thank You: A Letter from the Editor
Chris Stoneman, Sports Editor • December 6, 2024

Writing and journalism have almost always been a part of my life. My mother was a journalist and instilled in me the importance of the written word from an early age. I remember being a kid and loving Superman and Spiderman — not because of their superpowers but because they worked for newspapers. I...

Kansas City Chiefs run out of the tunnel ahead of a game.
How Andy Reid Led Decline of the Running Back
JT Schoessel  December 6, 2024

When Andy Reid’s tenure was over in Philadelphia, the head coach’s time was widely regarded as an utter and complete failure. Despite guiding the Eagles to a 130–93–1 record in 14 seasons, the relationship between the offensive play-calling wizard and the city known for being incredibly hard...

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