The Harbinger

April 3, 2006

 

Hiram students take a step toward toughening DUI law


They had greater hopes than expectations for success, these nine Hiram College students and an administrator who trekked to the Ohio General Assembly on March 29 to try, in the names of Grace Chamberlain (Kirtland, Ohio) and Andrew Hopkins (Champion, Ohio), to effect change in the state’s drunken driving law. In Columbus , they received a surprise.

State legislators not only listened to the Hiram students, members of the Chamberlain and Hopkins families, and students from Champion High School and Youngstown State who had gone to high school with Andy Hopkins, but they also responded. 

"They legitimately cared about what we said," explained junior Emily Clark (Canton , Ohio), who had been Grace's "big sister" in Phi Beta Gamma sorority.

An Ohio Senate amendment further strengthened a bill that stiffens penalties for drivers who refuse a breathalyzer test and allows judges to consider prior drunken driving convictions for as long as 20 years instead of six. The bill still must be considered by the Ohio House.

Grace Chamberlain and Andy Hopkins died as a result of a March 2 automobile accident, and fellow first-year student Evan DaSilva suffered serious injuries from which he is still recovering at Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center. Their auto was struck south of Burton, Ohio, by a truck driven by James Cline, whom police say was drunk and has been convicted 11 times previously of drunken driving.

"I didn't expect much," said sophomore Dave Crago (Niles , Ohio). "I didn't think we were going to have such one-on-one input as we had with Sen. (Mark) Dann (D-Liberty), but he told us that because of our presence the senators had decided to take additional action."

The Hiram students did not go to Columbus to march, wave signs, and shout at lawmakers. They went to work inside the system with a seriousness of purpose. By doing so, they created a stir.

"Sen. Dann told us he hadn't seen this much activity (in the Ohio Senate) in a long time," Clark said.

Sophomore Rob Gavazzi (Warren , Ohio) joined Hiram alumna Karen Scher '89, who teaches at Champion High School, to inspire and organize the trip.

The Hiram students understood what they faced in the General Assembly. Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Oswick explained to them the night before the trip the problems that judges face in keeping drunken drivers off the road.

"Meeting with the judge so we had some prior knowledge," said freshman Raisa Janke (Spring, Texas), "helped so much."

The Hiram students, who were accompanied by Vice President and Dean of Students Eric Riedel, knew, as junior political science major Julie Kocka (Strongsville , Ohio) cautioned, that "it would be complicated."

It was, but in the complications there were lessons.

"I learned more (in Columbus ) than I would have in class," said junior Jon Weaver (North Lima , Ohio).

"And," Gavazzi said, "we made the first step."

Now, the students said, there is more to do. They said they want to return to the General Assembly. Gavazzi suggested entire classes should go to Columbus in the future. There is a fall symposium on drunken driving laws and how to make them more effective. The symposium includes an educational component that is expected to attract lawyers, judges, victims of drunken drivers and, of course, Hiram students determined not to forget the larger context.

"This problem," Clark said, "is not just some tiny problem in Geauga and Portage counties. There are 20,000 Ohioans with at least four DUIs."

The students want to find ways to draw other colleges and universities to their effort, perhaps, suggested Kocka, the Student Government vice president-elect, through College 360, a group of 15 schools dedicated to making Northeast Ohio a place where its best and brightest students want to remain and make their lives and careers.

Robert Chamberlain, Grace's father, also was in Columbus and told the Hiram students that he was so proud that his daughter had picked a college like Hiram with students like the ones who visited the General Assembly.

"It was the first time I saw him smile," Clark said. "I think what we did reassured the families that we won't let go of this until something changes."

Award will honor Hopkins


The music department has embarked on a fundraising initiative to honor the memory of Andrew Hopkins: a cash prize to be awarded each spring to an outstanding student instrumentalist.

Andy and fellow first-year student Grace Chamberlain died of injuries sustained in an auto accident on March 2.

The music faculty will make the award based on Andy's model of high standards, constant improvement, self discipline, and collegiality. First consideration will be given to saxophonists. Andy played alto saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble.

The department is accepting donations – which will be processed through the development office and kept in a restricted fund for this award.

Gifts of any size will be accepted.

"It's most appropriate that this come from every segment of the Hiram community, including students," Assistant Professor of Music Tina Dreisbach wrote in an e-mail.

Contributions may be made at the band concert (dedicated to Andy's memory, Wednesday, April 5, at 8 p.m. in Hayden Auditorium). They also may be brought or sent to the music office, or given to Katelyn Massie '07, Andee Wilson '06, or any music faculty member.

Pledges are welcome, but the music department hopes to gather all funds by the end of the three-week term. The amount of the prize will depend on the total collected.

Tuesday Convocation: Deemer Symposium III


On Tuesday, April 4, Dr. Isaac Mwase will address the issue of disparity in health and health care between U.S. citizens and residents of poor countries. Dr. Mwase is an associate professor of philosophy with Tuskegee University's National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care. Established in 1999, the center uses the fields of science, the humanities, law, and religious studies to examine the moral principles which underlie research and medical treatment of African Americans and other underserved people.

A native of Zimbabwe, Dr. Mwase came to the United States in 1984. At Tuskegee, he leads an inquiry group which explores the topic of "Public Health Research and Practice in International Settings: Special Ethical Concerns."

This convocation will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Ballroom.

The Deemer Symposium is an annual series that engages the Hiram community in serious consideration of moral issues in the practice of science and medicine, business, law and government, education, and communication. The symposium is free and open to the public.

Students to present research at conference


Several psychology and neuroscience students will present their independent research projects Saturday, April 8, at the Ohio Undergraduate Psychology Conference at Baldwin-Wallace College.

The students and their presentations are:

  • Ryan McGee, Rebecca Velotta, and Tiesha Young - "Fight to the Death:  Serotonin and Aggressive Motivation in Crayfish"
  • Aimee Harr, Karya Ottey, and Michael Sliter -  "Religiosity and Spirituality:  Resolving the Ambiguity"
  • Holly Koslosky - "Cerebellar Asymmetry and Hand Preference in Brown Capuchins (Cebus apella)"
  • Nicholas Morgan - "Will Capuchins (Cebus apella) Work Harder for a Preferred Food?"
  • Alayna Lilak - "Handedness Consistency across Tasks in Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella)"
  • Melissa Maskulka - "Head Coaches' Encouragement of Student Life and Individual Development as a Function of Team Size"

Senior math presentations set

Four seniors will make their Mathematics Senior Seminar presentations this week in Gerstacker 123. The campus community is invited.

The presenters on Tuesday, April 4, and their topics are:

  • Kyli Foltz - "The Laplace Transform and Its Use in Compartmental Analysis," 6 p.m.
  • Matt Boggus -  "Points of Interest: Grassmann Space and Its Use in Computer Graphics," 7:15 p.m.


The presenters on Thursday, April 6, and their topics are:

  • Elizabeth Groselle - "The Development of the Box-Jenkins Method of Forecasting," 6 p.m.
  • James Lewandowski - "The Problem with Voting: Voting and You," 7:15 p.m.

 

Physics senior seminar presentation


The Physics Department invites the Hiram community to attend a senior seminar.

On Wednesday, April 5 at 5:00 p.m. in Gerstacker 123:

Sayuri Ichida will give a presentation titled: "The effects of solvent on the conformation of a polymer chain."


Heiss, Neiss present papers

Senior communication majors Sarah Heiss (Garrettsville , Ohio) and Andy Neiss ( Newton Falls , Ohio) recently presented their year-long research projects at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by West Virginia Wesleyan Honors Program.

Sarah's research presentation was titled, "Determining the Relationship between Cognitive Need, Subjective Health Claims and the Use of Nutrition Labels." Andy presented "Agenda-Setting within Media Coverage of the Cleveland Browns."

On Tuesday, March 28, Sarah and Andy also presented their research to the campus community.

"Both of these students have done exceptional work," said Professor of Communication Linda Rea, "and it was nice for them to receive recognition beyond the campus for their research."

 

Cleveland mayor Frank G. Jackson to visit Hiram on Tuesday


Mayor of Cleveland Frank G. Jackson will visit Hiram College on Tuesday, April 4, 2006. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join in a casual conversation with the mayor as he discusses his vision for Cleveland's future. Mayor Jackson will speak with the campus community at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Ballroom.

Spring concert to honor Andy Hopkins, Grace Chamberlain, and Evan DaSilva



The Hiram College Concert Band, conducted by James Bane, will perform its spring concert in memory of Andy Hopkins and Grace Chamberlain and in dedication to Evan DaSilva.

The concert will be held in Hayden Auditorium on Wednesday, April 5, at 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Andy, who played the also saxophone, and Grace died from injuries suffered in a March 2 auto accident. Evan, who plays the oboe, is still hospitalized.

The concert will feature Bane's instrumental conducting class students.

The program will include:

  • "The Mad Major March" (Kenneth J. Alford/Frederick Fennell)
  • "Yagi-Bushi" (Japanese folk song/Naohiro Iwai), conducted by student Jeral Hurd
  • "Finale from The New World Symphony" (Anton Dvorak/Erik W.S. Leidzen), conducted by student Vivianne Asturizaga
  • "Burlesk for Band" (Robert Washburn), conducted by student Katelyn Massie
  • "Dedication Overature" (John Tatgenhorst), conducted by student Joseph Gaither
  • "Selections from Les Miserables" (Claude-Michel Schonberg/Warren Barker), conducted by student Elizabeth Over
  • "Let the Spirit Soar" (A choral prelude/James Swearingen) – dedicated to Andy, Grace, and Evan


Alumnus Travis English '05 recognized for Hiram senior seminar work

Travis English '05, currently a graduate assistant in art history at SUNY Stonybrook, recently received an award for his Hiram College senior seminar paper written for Lisa Safford, professor of art history.

The paper, titled "Historical Exegesis: Otto Dix's Allegories from the Third Reich," was accepted for publication in the Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review. In addition, Travis was chosen as the Edythe Portz Prize recipient for the spring 2006 issue.

As explained by Anna Quider, journal editor: "This prize is awarded by the editorial board to the paper that most fully encompasses the ideals of the Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review. We consider the quality and originality of the research, the level of scholarly discourse represented in the paper, the referee comments, and the ability of the author to effectively incorporate revisions into the work.

"The Editorial Board ," Quider told Travis, "is proud to select your paper as an example of undergraduate research at its finest. This distinction includes a $250 award. . . Congratulations again on your excellent work. It was a pleasure to read your paper, and I believe that your articulate and passionate treatment of the subject has inspired a desire to learn about art (and history!) in several of the PUR staff members. I am certain that this will be the case among the many students and professors who will be reading the spring 2006 issue of the PUR."

Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet scheduled


The second annual Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet will be held on Sunday, May 7, at 6 p.m., in the Coleman Sports and Fitness Center's DiGirolamo Lobby.

The event is free to senior student-athletes (any senior who had at least one complete season of participation in any sport during their eligible years at Hiram). The cost is $15 for parents and family members of these senior student-athletes and for Hiram Hall of Fame members. Others will be charged $25.

Those wishing to attend this semi-formal affair are requested to R.S.V.P. by April 20 to Ben Rodeffer at 330.569.5340 or rodefferbd@hiram.edu.


College Choir to present Handel's Messiah

The Hiram College Choir will present the choral classic Messiah by G. F. Handel, Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m. in Hayden Auditorium.

Probably the most famous oratorio ever written, according to choir director John Drotleff, Messiah is in three parts; each deals with a different portion of the life of Christ. The choir is presenting part two, which includes the Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost stories.

Part two was chosen, Drotleff said, because it includes all the musical elements of the oratorio form, which the choir has studied this semester. There are recitatives and arias for every voice part, as well as 11 varied chouses. It is also the least familiar section of Messiah except for the final chorus, “Hallelujah.”

Eight soloists from the choir will sing the recitatives and arias, including sopranos Charity Jean and Isabella Tuma, altos Emily Clark and Dana Pogorelec, tenors Dan Klinzing and Brad Cromes and basses Greg Petersen and Nathaniel Koven.

The choir will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra made up of members of Hiram’s music faculty and guest artists from the Cleveland area, including Janet Krueger, violin; Claudia Hook, viola; Adam Cathcart, cello; Susan Yelanjian; bass; Sandra Tittle; harpsichord; Paul Dreisbach, bassoon; David Duro, trumpet, and Hiram College Band member Dan Peterre, timpani. John Drotleff will conduct the performance.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Quick Hits

  • Janet Pope , associate professor of history, will speak on "Monastic Patronage and Family Strategy in Tenth-Century England" during Wednesday's Library Forum. The forum begins at 4:15 p.m. in the Pritchard Room of the Library. Refreshments will be served.

  • Joyce Dyer , professor of English and director of writing, will teach a Memoir/Personal Essay Intensive at the Antioch Writers' Workshop July 8 through July 14. Dyer has written numerous award-winning publications, including her memoir, Gum-Dipped: A Daughter Remembers Rubber Town. For more information about the workshop, go to www.AntiochWritersWorkshop.com

  • Associate Professor of History Vivien Sandlund will deliver the presidential address at the Ohio Academy of History spring meeting this Saturday at Muskingum College. Her address is titled, "A Man of Africa: Reverend Daniel Coker, 1785-1835." Professor Sandlund will assume the duties of president of the Ohio Academy of History for the coming year.

Additional Information