Skip to Main Content
Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

Established 1874.

The Oberlin Review

The Oberlin Athletics and the John W. Heisman Club received nearly $600,000.
Oberlin Does Not Need to Change Culture for Football
Ghulam Woolman, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

In the Oct. 3 issue of The Oberlin Review, an opinion piece appeared in the Sports section titled “Put Your Mouth Where Your Money Is: Back Oberlin Football.” The piece provides an audacious perspective on the culture here at Oberlin. Despite my respect for its confidence, I fully disagree with the...

Newspapers Should Feature More Silly News
Lauren Moore, Columnist • November 7, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, there was a break-in at the Louvre. Over the span of eight minutes, thieves broke into the museum using a mechanical lift to steal a bunch of jewels. They exited the building with their bounty and the knowledge that they had just pulled off, in my opinion, the most iconic heist...

More People Should Get Comfortable With Discomfort
Chloe Ko, Arts & Culture Editor • November 7, 2025

For most of my life, comfort was synonymous with safety. My comfort zone was the only zone of survival, and even the slightest step outside of it meant imminent danger. To me, comfort was staying silent, hidden, and hanging on. But who wants to spend their life in fight or flight? To those who feel,...

Freedom of Speech Crucial to Addressing Political Unrest
Gregory Amenta, Columnist • November 7, 2025

After Jimmy Kimmel was suspended nearly two months ago for allegedly making light of Charlie Kirk’s death, many liberals have noted this irony: While Republicans had framed themselves as the party of free speech and fierce opposition to cancel culture, they are now engaged in a campaign to discipline...

Democracy Forum was hosted by Democracy & Culture Foundation and The New York Times in Athens, Greece.
Why We Should Remain Optimistic About Democracy’s Future
Kash Radocha, Contributing Conservatory Editor • November 7, 2025

After Tuesday’s electoral victories across the country. from local elections here in Oberlin to state-wide elections in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and more, there seems to be a poignant sense of hope in the air. In spite of all the hardships and blatantly undemocratic efforts promulgating...

Performative Male Competitions are Bids for Inclusion, Belonging
Riley Finn, Columnist • November 7, 2025

I stumbled upon my first Performative Male Competition sometime back in September. I was walking along the side of the road with a friend when we came across a large group of students, all talking loudly and gesturing wildly and laughing hysterically in such a way that revealed their mild discomfort...

L’amant anonyme runs Nov 6-9
L’amant Showcases Talent, Lacks Direction
Travis O’Daniel, Managing Editor • November 7, 2025

On Thursday, Oct. 6, Oberlin Opera Theater began their run of L’amant anonyme by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The composer’s...

Noah Lin’s piece accompanies Katharina Mueller’s composition “Unsupervised,” mimics AI visual art pieces without using AI.
AI Does Not Pose Major Threat to Concert Music
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • November 1, 2025

In the late 1920s, sound film began to dominate the film industry. The convention of live musicians accompanying silent film disappeared, and...

Barnaby Smith conducts Oberlin College Choir and VOCES8 singing “and the
A Cappella Octet VOCES8 Display Precision, Variety
Griffin Frerichs November 1, 2025

This Tuesday evening, the world-renowned VOCES8 performed in Finney Chapel through the Artist Recital Series. Hailing from Britain, the group...

Oberlin Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall during their 2023 tour.
Winter Term Orchestra Project in Cleveland Canceled
Abe Frato, Photo Editor, Web Manager • October 14, 2025

In the Warner Concert Hall lobby, big, framed posters hang majestically on the wall, commemorating Oberlin Orchestra performances at Carnegie...

Kenny Endo performed at Oberlin in 2022 as part of his 45th anniversary tour.
Kenny Endo Returns for 50th Anniversary Tour
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • October 14, 2025

This Tuesday, legendary taiko drummer Kenny Endo will perform in Finney Chapel as part of his Contemporary Taiko Ensemble’s 50th anniversary...

Year of AI Exploration Unfolds With Surveys of Students, Faculty
Swaranya Sarkar, News Editor • November 7, 2025

Since the Year of AI Exploration was launched this September, Oberlin College has conducted campus-wide surveys, hosted faculty-led panels, and welcomed guest speakers examining topics such as generative AI’s relationship to music, creativity, and critical inquiry. These efforts seek to explore the...

Foggy Plans for Industrial Development Worry Residents in New Russia Township
Ghulam Woolman, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

Lorain County plans to develop more than 1,000 acres near the Lorain County Airport, about 10 minutes outside of Oberlin, to attract industry. The plan has brought out fierce opposition from local residents angered by the County’s lack of transparency. has garnered a $67.4 million grant from the State...

The Rideline shuttle provides transportation around campus and to nearby housing.
Campus Safety Student Employee Budget Cut, Affecting Rideline, Con Monitors
Máxima Oxholm-Barraza, Senior Staff Writer At Large • November 7, 2025

Halfway through the fall semester, Oberlin Campus Safety abruptly scaled back its two largest student-led safety services, Rideline and the Conservatory Monitor program, after realizing that the department had exceeded its student employment budget.  Rideline, an on-campus shuttle service that transports...

ThiNi Thai’s previous location closed its doors in August.
ThiNi Thai to Reopen in Main Street Space This Winter
Delphine McGee, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

This past August, ThiNi Thai, an Oberlin restaurant specializing in Northern Thai cuisine, temporarily closed its doors in order to move to a new location. Oberlin residents from both the community and College have been eagerly awaiting news regarding the reopening of the restaurant. Matt Adelman, who...

City Council Update for Nov. 3
William Hurst, Beatrice Tirona-Dusenbury • November 7, 2025

City Hires Construction Company to Prepare Green Acres for Development In a 6—1 vote, City Council approved $660,531 to be paid to Buckeye Excavating & Construction to prepare 17 lots for development into a single-family subdivision named Green Acres in the eastern portion of the City. Council...

Oberlin Hillel Relocates from Wilder to Downtown
Avishi Khar, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

Over the summer, Oberlin Hillel moved locations from Wilder Hall to 21 W. College St., right between Gibson’s Bakery and Taco Flavored Kisses. The location was formerly a hair salon and has been converted into a student lounge and meeting space for Hillel. According to Yaffa Muhlbaum, associate director...

Starting fall 2026, students in 14 majors will be able to declare a Bachelor of Science.
Oberlin College Introduces Bachelor of Science Degree
Swaranya Sarkar, News Editor • October 31, 2025

Oberlin will introduce a new Bachelor of Science in the College of Arts and Sciences beginning fall 2026. The new program will allow students majoring in fields within the natural sciences, as well as in certain social sciences, such as Economics and Business, to choose between a B.A. and a B.S. To...

Concert Board is Back, Oberlin's Been Waiting
Concert Board is Back, Oberlin’s Been Waiting
Sasha O'Malley, The Bulletin Editor
Wilson joins us in the Review Office for Office Hours!
Oberlin Review Comic 010/31/2025
Oberlin Review Comic 010/31/2025
Theo Preston, Illustrator
Editorial Comic - 10/10/25
Editorial Comic – 10/10/25
Theo Preston, Illustrator
'A Bright Room Called Day' is OSTA's latest production.
‘A Bright Room Called Day’: OSTA’s Call to Action
Ava Illi, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

Starting Nov. 7, the doors to Wilder Main will open for one of Oberlin Student Theater Association’s finest productions yet. Through a hyperawareness of current political implications and an unwavering commitment to artistry, the cast and crew of Tony Kushner’s first full-length play, A Bright Room...

Emma Stone stars in 'Bugonia.' Photo courtesy of IMDb
‘Bugonia’ Furthers Yorgos Lanthimos’ Strange Visions
Jasper Swartz, Production Editor • November 7, 2025

Fans of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos rejoiced at the announcement that the acclaimed director would be returning with an Emma Stone collaboration in his new black comedy tackling aliens conspiracy and corporate greed, Bugonia (2025). The film, which was released late this October, is a remake of the...

Neuro-Oncologist Gives Lecture on How Music Shapes Brain, Impacts Health
Chloe Ko, Arts & Culture Editor • November 7, 2025

Earlier this week, Herbert Newton, MD, FAAN, presented a lecture titled “The Neurobiology of Music.” From tracing back the origins of music, to debunking the myth that one side of the brain is responsible for creativity and the other for logic, to revealing differences in certain brain regions of...

Obies Give Fall Book Recommendations
Krys Cabrera and Juliet Zuccola November 7, 2025

With autumn foliage lining the sidewalks and temperatures dropping, we’ve reached the perfect time of year to cozy up with a mug of hot chocolate, a warm blanket, and, most importantly, a good book. During the hustle and bustle of exam season, a book can be the perfect break. Gathered here are books...

This year's lab crawl took place Oct. 31.
Lab Crawl Incorporates Humanities, Social Sciences
Chloe Boccara, Arts Senior Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

This year, Oberlin College Lab Crawl featured over 60 interactive stations. Students bustled in and out of different buildings, many surprised to see the strong presence that the arts asserted. Ambassadors from a number of humanities departments shared their studies with curious students, challenging...

Hibernation
Maya Fillion-Ritchie November 7, 2025

November devours me until I envy the groundhog, high on her haunches, stuffing her face with blueberries before her long winter sleep. I cannot hibernate, like her, but I crave that state of minimal activity. A metabolic depression which would leave me needing nothing, not even air. I wish to...

Crossword Answers 11/7
Crossword Answers 11/7
Julia Cohen, Crossword Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

Gone Fishing – Crossword 11/7
Gone Fishing – Crossword 11/7
Julia Cohen, Crossword Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

ACROSS 1. Physical media of Brat or 1989, for short 6. Place to get a roll on campus 11. What to do on a snowy 9-down 14. Stage after larvae 15. Third section 16. Wednesday evening activity, abbr. 17. Fuel supply for a 51-across 19. Street between College and Oak 20. Rave 21. New York State...

Obies Share Their Halloween Costume Plans
Obies Share Their Halloween Costume Plans
Lilly Beuthin and Violeta Gonzalez October 31, 2025

With Halloweekend upon us, it’s finally time for everybody to unveil the outfits they’ve assembled to celebrate the holiday. We have those who’ve been working on their outfit since Nov. 1 (of 2023) and those who plan to throw something together the night of. Regardless of whether they’ve meticulously...

Sharona Franklin’s “Nest Egg for Transient Childhoods” features a variety of media. Photo courtesy of the Allen Memorial Art Museum
Artwork and Bodymapping Event Inspires Healing, Self-Reflection
Chloe Boccara, Arts Senior Staff Writer • October 31, 2025

This Tuesday, Oberlin community members joined Curatorial Assistant in Education Ellis Lane for a guided exploration of artwork and bodymapping — an art form that visualizes bodily experiences — at the Allen Memorial Art Museum.  The event took on a three-part schedule. First, Lane guided attendees...

Lynn Rusten.
Lynn Rusten, OC ’80: Former White House Director of Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Cole Mirman, Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

Lynn Rusten, OC ’80, an expert in nuclear arms control and non-proliferation, delivered a talk on U.S.–Russia nuclear security on Wednesday at the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies. Rusten had a long career across the federal government and was senior director of Arms Control and...

Luke Herrine
Luke Herrine, OC ’10: Freedom Scholar and Advocate for Student Debt Cancellation
Swaranya Sarkar, News Editor • October 3, 2025

Dr. Luke Herrine, OC ’10, is an assistant professor of law at the University of Alabama and was named a 2025 Marguerite Casey Foundation Freedom Scholar for his role as a legal architect behind mass student debt cancellation. He devised legal strategies that helped trigger the cancellation of hundreds...

Marc Blecher, Dylan Kim Discuss Upcoming Oberlin Conference on Democratic Socialism
Layla Wallerstein, Editor-in-Chief • September 26, 2025

On Oct. 3 and Oct. 4, the Politics Department and Oberlin’s chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America will hold a conference titled “Capitalist Crisis and Democratic Socialism: A Working Conference,” which will be open to the public. James Monroe Professor of Politics and East Asian Studies...

Stephen Aron
In the Practice Room with Stephen Aron: Founder and Teacher of Classical Guitar
Kash Radocha, Contributing Conservatory Editor • November 7, 2025

Stephen Aron is a world-renowned classical guitarist who founded Oberlin’s Classical Guitar program in 1992. He is a groundbreaking figure in the world of classical guitar recordings, publishing the first-ever complete solo guitar recording of Chopin’s Mazurkas. He has also adjudicated numerous national...

In the Practice Room with Andrew Garver, Riley Newfield: Recording Arts and Production
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • October 5, 2025

Associate Director of Conservatory Audio Services and Associate Professor of Recording Arts and Production Andrew Garver, who has been nominated for a Grammy, and double-degree second-year Riley Newfield, who is studying Recording Arts and Production, sat down to discuss one of the Conservatory’s...

Christa Cole
In the Practice Room with Christa Cole, OC ’17: Assistant Professor of Music Theory
Calvin Ray Shawler, Conservatory Editor • September 26, 2025

In 2016, Violin Performance Major Christa Cole, OC ’17, won the Oberlin Senior Concerto Competition with Shulamit Ran’s Violin Concerto, the only concerto by a composer of color to be featured on a competition winner’s concert during her time as an Oberlin student. After graduating from Oberlin,...

Erica Dawn Lyle
On the Record with Erica Dawn Lyle: Improvisational Musician, Artist, Writer
Sloane DiBari, Arts & Culture Editor • November 7, 2025

Erica Dawn Lyle is a musician, artist, writer, and cultural instigator. During her artist residency at Oberlin last week, she hosted a reading of her prose and poetry and a writing workshop, and she put on a largely guitar-based improvised musical performance at the Cat in the Cream. She is currently...

Kathryn Metz
On the Record With Kathryn Metz: Ethnomusicology, Pop Music Pedagogy
Sloane DiBari, Arts & Culture Editor • September 19, 2025

Kathryn Metz, director of Musical Studies, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship administrative coordinator, and senior lecturer, is an ethnomusicologist who works with popular music. She has conducted research on popular music in Peru’s urban Amazon and worked as an educator at the Rock &...

Ann Cooper Albright
On the Record With Ann Cooper Albright: A Lifetime of Research and Practice
Eva Fraser, Staff Writer • September 5, 2025

Throughout her career, Professor of Dance Ann Cooper Albright has pioneered research and embodied practice in dance. Albright recently won the Dance Studies Association’s 2025 Outstanding Scholarly Research in Dance Award for her contributions to the field. Her written work, consisting of six monographs...

Zach Bronson handles the ball against Washington and Jefferson College.
In the Locker Room with Zach Bronson
Jake Fields  October 31, 2025

Zach Bronson is a College fourth-year double majoring in Economics and Law and Society. In his senior year of high school, he underwent ACL reconstruction surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. Six months later, he sprained his MCL, leading to a fully torn ACL for the second time...

Dr. John Harshbarger smiles for staff photo.
In The Locker Room With Dr. John Harshbarger
Micah Rodriguez , Sports Editor • October 10, 2025

Psychologist and Director of Student-Athlete Wellness Dr. John Harshbarger earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology from the UC Davis before receiving his doctorate in counseling psychology from The Ohio State University. An accomplished athlete himself, Dr. Harshbarger is entering his 21st year...

Second-year forward Averi Williams poses during media day photoshoot.
In the Locker Room with Averi WIlliams
Ava Harvey , Sports Editor • September 26, 2025

Averi Williams is a second-year Data Science and Environmental Studies major on the women’s soccer team. Last week, the team hosted Leukemia Awareness Night during their match against Muskingum University to support Williams after her recent diagnosis.  This interview has been edited for length and...

Third-year outfielder Brady Groves hands out candy during Track or Treat.
Oberlin Hosts Annual Track or Treat Event
Jake Fields November 7, 2025

On Oct. 30, Oberlin’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Athletics department hosted Track or Treat for the 12th year in a row. Over the last 11 years, more than 2,500 children and families have attended the seasonal event, and many left with a smile. Track or Treat, an event where every varsity...

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups was recently seen being taken into custody.
NBA Rocked By Shocking Gambling Scandal
Micah Rodriguez , Sports Editor • November 7, 2025

Mere days into the NBA season, the league was stunned by a shocking gambling scandal that involves current players and coaches. Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups, former Cleveland Cavaliers guard and current Assistant Coach Damon Jones, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested...

Oberlin baseball players work with kids from the Oberlin community to improve their swings.
Baseball Gives Back to Community Through Youth Day
Ava Harvey , Sports Editor • November 7, 2025

Each fall, the Oberlin baseball team hosts a youth skills day that brings together K-12-aged players on Dill Field and in the baseball facilities for a morning of baseball, mentorship, and community. What began three years ago as a simple outreach effort has expanded into a tradition that aims to grow...

The Dodgers celebrate after being crowned World Series champions for the second season in a row.
Dodgers Win Wild Game 7, Secure Back-to-Back Championships
Ben Regan November 7, 2025

After the Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 6 of the World Series at Rogers Centre in Toronto with a pitching duel that tied the series and sent the two teams to a decisive Game 7, Dave Roberts made it clear that all but one pitcher would be available for the win-or-go-home contest. In a Game 7 with everything...

Oberlin Football Plays Nobody Fights Alone Game
Lily Nobel , Sports Senior Staff Writer • November 7, 2025

On Oct. 25, the Oberlin College football team played in the Nobody Fights Alone game, a fundraiser organized by players, coaches, and other members of the athletics staff to honor and support individuals battling breast cancer through the Cleveland Clinic’s Cancer Patient and Family Support Services...

Leo Powers competes at Oberlin Early Invite.
Powers Named Athlete of the Week After Record-Breaking Swim
Maisie Morrison  October 31, 2025

Two weeks ago, during the Oberlin Early Invite, Oberlin swim and dive’s opening meet, College fourth-year Leo Powers broke the school record for the 100-meter individual medley and earned the North Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week for his accomplishments. The invite, which took place Oct....

Fourth-year Liam Newman competes at the Oberlin Inter-Region Rumble.
Oberlin Hosts Inter-Region Rumble, First Since 2022
Lily Nobel, Sports Senior Staff Writer • October 31, 2025

On Oct. 19, for the first time since 2022, Oberlin hosted the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble, which brought together cross country teams from across the region to run on Oberlin’s home course. According to Oberlin cross country runners, hosting on Oberlin’s home turf made the event uniquely enjoyable...

Trey Yesavage throws a pitch in Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Trey Yesavage’s Meteoric Rise Leads the Blue Jays
Quinn Bamburger October 31, 2025

At 22 years and 88 days old, Trey Yesavage is the second-youngest Game 1 World Series opening-day pitcher in history, second only to the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca, who was 21 when he took the mound in 1947. Just six months ago, Yesavage was pitching in front of 327 people with Single-A Dunedin; now he...

Emmanuel Clase walks off the mound in a game against the Chicago White Sox.
Guardians Muddled by Gambling Scandals
Ben Regan October 31, 2025

The story of the summer in downtown Cleveland was that the Guardians lost two important pitchers. Not to injury, as you might expect, but to an investigation by the MLB surrounding gambling. Luis Ortiz and Emmanual Clase, both Dominican right-handers that figured to have key roles in Guardians manager...

The Flying Horsecows celebrate a victory in 1989.
Oberlin Ultimate Frisbee Honors 50 Years in Flight
Swaranya Sarkar, News Editor • October 10, 2025

This weekend will commemorate the 50th year of ultimate Frisbee at Oberlin. On Saturday, the alumni and students of Oberlin ultimate Frisbee will toss up the first disc of the 50th anniversary scrimmage, a mixed game spanning generations. They’ll run through the grass of North Fields again — cleats...

Activate Search