Tess Joosse – The Oberlin Review

Student Senate Expects Further Momentum in 2018–2019

Tess Joosse, Staff Writer

May 4, 2018

After a year of milestones and challenges, Oberlin Student Senate is looking forward to continued progress on a number of initiatives in the next academic year. “Senate has made many major strides forward as an organization this year,” said Eddy Tumbokon, College first-year and Student Senate Communications Director. “We’re experiencing new degrees of cooperation with the Board [of Trustees], and I think that’s something to be proud of. Senate has also revamped our working group models to a much more structured and intentional framework. Working groups now regularly meet and bring in non-senators, administrators, staff, and community members.” Among those working groups, the Student Community Working Gro...

Law Scholars Program Suspended for 2018–2019

Tess Joosse, Staff Writer

April 13, 2018

The Oberlin Law Scholars Program — a year-long program intended to prepare students interested in law with relevant academic and work experience — will not be offered for the 2018–2019 school year, due to the expenditure of the alumni gift that previously funded it. “The Law Scholars Program was funded by a generous alumni gift, which has now been expended,” Oberlin Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo wrote in an email to the Review. The program was offered to sophomores and juniors and admittance was selective based on an application. At the program’s center was a one-module Legal Advocacy course, which was taught by a magistrate and included a mock trial and training in legal writing....

Sidewalks, Social Justice Discussed in State of the City Address

Tess Joosse, Staff Writer

March 30, 2018

City Council President Bryan Burgess and City Manager Rob Hillard addressed past successes, such as improvements in city services, public works, social justice, and energy sustainability, as well as challenges and future projects in Oberlin’s State of the City address last Thursday. Burgess also gave the attendees an update on construction of the NEXUS pipeline, which he said will inevitably be built, despite local activists’ best efforts. For several years, the city has engaged in litigation aimed at rerouting the NEXUS pipeline, which in recent months has become the subject of several protests in the community. However, since a federal judge ruled in favor of NEXUS in December, Burgess said construction is ex...

Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where more than 60 students and community members stood chanting to protest the city’s vote to settle with NEXUS over the incoming pipeline.

Council Votes to Settle with NEXUS

February 23, 2018

“They’re breaking our laws, they’re taking our rights, but we won’t give up without a fight,” chanted the more than 60 Oberlin students and community members who protested during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Councilmembers voted 4–3 to move forward with a potential $100,000 settlement with Enbridge, the company set to build the NEXUS pipeline. After nearly an hour of public comments asking Council to oppose the agreement, the ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute the...

Monday’s City Council meeting, where councilmembers and community members discussed the possibility of settling with NEXUS for $100,000.

City Council Votes to Wait on NEXUS Settlement Decision

February 9, 2018

Oberlin City Council did not proceed with an emergency vote on a proposed $100,000 settlement with NEXUS at the council’s regular meeting Monday night. After hearing the public’s opposition to the settlement, the council voted to not accept the offer from NEXUS and wait until further public discussion was possible. The terms of the settlement dictate that the city not engage in any further litigation intended to interfere with construction of the pipeline and grant full easement rights in e...

A student prepares for a performance at the ’Sco, which will undergo changes as staff members work to draw more students to the space.

‘Sco to Open Earlier, Offer More Diverse Events

November 17, 2017

The ’Sco, Oberlin College’s campus bar and music venue in the basement of Wilder Hall, will open earlier and offer a wider range of events based on student feedback. Staff members of the club hope the changes will make it more accessible, with a larger role in student life. The ’Sco will open earlier on days when no touring act or other programming is scheduled. It was open from 8 p.m.–11 p.m. instead of its usual hours of 10 p.m.–1 a.m. on Saturday, and Assistant Director of Student...