The Oberlin Review

Canceled Productions: Art in a Time of COVID-19

Aly Fogel, Arts & Culture Editor

March 13, 2020

The night before Così fan tutte was scheduled to open this past Wednesday, the entire cast, crew, orchestra, creative team, and every voice faculty member gathered on the stage of Hall Auditorium as Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen officially announced that the opera would be closed to the general public. The show must go on — even if the audience is banned from attending. Aside from the two tickets that every cast member is allowed to give friends and family, Hall Auditorium will be empty as the show is performed. The audience, instead, will be watching the show from computers or TV screens as it is livestreamed tonight at 8 p.m. In the age of COVID-19, the question we are all forced to ask is a new version o...

Last week, the Oberlin men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams partnered with the Multicultural Resource Center to host Love Always Wins, a Pride event. Team members wore rainbow shoelaces at their games against the Allegheny College Gators in Philips gym. Rainbow sunglasses were also sold at the venue for $1, with all proceeds going to the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention for youth in the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, the Athletics department recognized all faculty and staff members in attendance.
“It was great,” said College third-year and men’s basketball player Jordan Armstrong. “I think that both teams here really are proud of our identity as Oberlin students and the environment that we foster here for all students, being proud of all genders, sexualities, and ways of life. It felt really good for me and all of my teammates to be able to compete as proud athletes.”
These games came off the heels of an important statement made by former NBA superstar Dwyane Wade, who announced that his 12-year-old daughter, Zaya, came out as transgender. The impact of Wade’s statement is covered on page 16 of this issue (“The Wade Family’s Positive Influence”).
Both teams are approaching the end of their seasons and will play their final home games Saturday, Feb. 22. See the women’s and men’s teams compete at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Varsity Basketball Teams Raise LGBTQ+ Awareness

February 21, 2020

LGBTQ posters, banners, and art left at 288 Peace Memorial Park, where Taipei’s first pride parade was held.

College Juniors Debut “Crystal Bridges,” Zine on LGBTQ Life in Taiwan

April 26, 2019

After months of work, College juniors Jenn Lin and Sheng Kao unveiled their new zine, Crystal Bridges, on Monday at a release party held in the Multicultural Resource Center. After being awarded an Oberlin Shansi In-Asia grant this year, the pair traveled to Taipei during Winter Term to document LGBTQ life in Taiwan and interview civilians and activists. Foregoing a traditional print format, Lin and Kao released their zine, a self-published, handmade magazine, on WordPress for free to facilitate access...

Students turned out in force this Wednesday for the 23rd annual Colors of Rhythm showcase. This year, the theme was “Freedom in this Village.”

MRC Colors of Rhythm Celebrates POC Creative Expression

April 12, 2019

The 23rd annual Colors of Rhythm showed loud and proud at Finney Chapel this past Wednesday, putting students of color and the organizations they represent center stage. The event invited all to come and share in the variety of art forms expressed, including dance, singing, spoken word, and storytelling. The theme of this year’s Colors of Rhythm, “Freedom in this Village,” was chosen to honor E. Lynn Harris, who was a prominent figure in Black gay male literature for more than 25 years...

OTC: Zahida Sherman, Multicultural Resource Center Director

February 22, 2019

Zahida Sherman stepped into her new role as director of Oberlin’s Multicultural Resource Center on Monday, Feb. 18. Most recently, Sherman was an assistant director of Black Student Success at the University of the Pacific. She has also worked as an associate development coordinator for Diversity and Inclusion at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in Los Angeles, and as an assistant director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Kenyon College. Sherman earned her BA in anthropology fro...

Students watch a screening of the documentary, We Exist: Beyond the Binary, as part of Trans Week of Action.

MRC Program Supports Trans Students

November 16, 2018

The Multicultural Resource Center launched new programming this week for the College’s third annual Trans Week of Action. Beginning last Sunday, students and staff organized events aimed at providing safe spaces and resources for trans students. The programming ends on Trans Day of Remembrance this Sunday with a vigil honoring trans folks affected by hate. “The Trans Day of Remembrance vigil is something we do every year, since it’s a national event and there is already so much erasure of a...

New Space Promises Opportunities for MRC

September 22, 2017

The Multicultural Resource Center moved from its former space on the second floor of Wilder and into North Campus’ International House, previously occupied by the International Student Organization and Wilder Voice, along with other groups. An on-campus resource for marginalized and underrepresented students, the MRC defines itself in its mission statement as a “gathering place for the collaborative support of historically disenfranchised communities,” serving members of the College and th...

Students from ASA perform in Colors of Rhythm last Thursday, an annual showcase of artists and performers of color on campus
organized by the Multicultural Resource Center.

“Colors of Rhythm” Highlights POC Performances

April 7, 2017

Student artists of color took the stage in Finney Chapel for the 21st annual Colors of Rhythm showcase last Thursday night, showcasing languages, instruments and dance traditions underrepresented in Oberlin classes and campus life. This year, the event featured spoken word performers, singers, OCTaiko, the Filipinx American Students’ Association Band, a dance group from the African Students Association, Descendants of the Dragon, Movimiento and a variety of other groups. One band performed in T...

Undocumented trans activists Ola Osaze (left), Nigerian-born, and Jennicet Gutiérrez,
who came to the U.S. from Mexico in her teens, interview one another in front of an audience
at My Name is My Own, an event hosted by the Multicultural Resource Center in Dye
Lecture Hall Thursday night. My Name is My Own’s primary mission is to provide institutional
support to Oberlin communities that identify as queer and of color in the broadest
senses of those words.
Discussion topics ranged from political promises by current and past administrations
in the face of increasing violence against Black, brown, trans and immigrant bodies to the
importance of self love and joy in social and political climates that provide little of either
to minority communities across the board.

My Name is My Own: Life, Love, and Resistance

March 3, 2017

Local News Bulletin

May 6, 2016

SB 310 to Fund Budgets State Representative Dan Ramos announced the passage of the 2017 capital budget, Senate Bill 310, Wednesday. The budget will provide state funding for two community projects in Lorain County: the Lorain Palace Theater and Civic Center will be allotted $150,000 for building repairs and improvements, and $175,000 will be granted to the Boys & Girls Club of Lorain County Food Kitchen Program to make the program more accessible to children in need. SB 310 also allocates funding for Public Works Commission programs to provide grants and loans to local governments for infrastructure projects throughout the state. NEXUS Opponents Remobilize Opposition to the NEXUS pipeline strengthened i...

News Brief: Estes to Become Brown VP

Review Staff

February 5, 2016

Vice President and Dean of Studies Eric Estes will be leaving at the end of this semester to become the vice president for campus life and student services at Brown University. He came to Oberlin College in 2004 as an associate dean of studies and director of the Multicultural Resource Center. Here, he advocated for student activism and organizing and brought students and faculty together for community building. He has led the Division of Student Life, which includes 16 departments and offices, since 2011. During his time at Oberlin, Dean Estes has become one of the most recognizable administrators on campus. He has increased the staff in the Counseling Center and Office of Disability Services and serv...

Students convene at the 2014 Multicultural Resource Center New and Returning Student Open House. The event was held in the newly renovated MRC.

After Years of Growth, MRC Revamps Office Space

September 12, 2014

The College renovated and expanded the Multicultural Resource Center this summer, providing more meeting spaces and individual offices in a response to the Center’s increased use over the past several years. “In general, we’re hoping we’re able to use it as a meeting space in a more efficient way,” said Alison Williams, associate dean for academic diversity and director of the MRC. The MRC, which serves as a collaborative hub for historically underrepresented communities,...