The Harbinger

August 28, 2006



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Hiram scores well in Washington Monthly rankings


Hiram College ranked among the nation’s top liberal arts colleges in the second Washington Monthly Annual College Guide.

Hiram placed in the top 40 percent of the 202 liberal arts colleges ranked at 74. Of schools in Ohio, Hiram trailed only Oberlin College (13) and Antioch College (48).

Washington Monthly began its rankings a year ago in response to those published by U.S. News & World Report. Washington Monthly describes itself as “an independent voice, listened to by insiders and willing to take on sacred cows – liberal and conservative.” With its rankings, Washington Monthly is taking on the criteria U.S. News uses to produce its college guide.

Washington Monthly’s idea of what constitutes the “best” schools in the country include: “how well it performs as an engine of social mobility (allocating financial aid resources to enable access to a private liberal arts education), how well it does in fostering scientific and humanistic research, and how well it promotes an ethic of service to the country.” To read more about the magazine’s methodology, click here.


Strike up the band


The Terrier Sound Marching Band completed its first pre-season band camp by marching through Hinsdale Hall arch and serenading President Thomas V. Chema and others in Hinsdale with "Footloose."

“They sounded great,” President Chema said. “I think they are going to create some real spirit. I really enjoyed them marching around campus.”

Terrier Sound will make its first official appearance at the Hiram’s season-opening football game against Carnegie Mellon. The game is Saturday, September 2 at 1 p.m. at Charles A. Henry Field.

The first marching band in Hiram College history – there has been a pep band – sprang from student initiative led by senior Joe Gaither (pictured at right with Elizabeth Over in the background), a music education major. It has 29 musicians and ten drill team members.

“This has been their creation,” said Jim Bane, adjunct faculty member in the music department and the band’s adviser. “They’ve done an absolutely wonderful job.”

Though a student organization, Gaither hopes Terrier Sound will be such a success that the College will want to support officially. Already there have been donors found to fund some instrument purchases and to pay other expenses.

“This has been a great learning experience,” Gaither said. "Band Camp went extremely well. We accomplished more in six days than most high school bands do in that same time frame."

Bane says that potential Hiram College music majors often have inquired whether Hiram had a marching band and to be able to answer in the affirmative will cause more students to be interested in attending the College.

“Marching band experience is also important to the students after graduation,” Bane said. “Every school district wants its music educators to have marching band experience.”

The Hiram College drill team is under the guidance of Jamie Bane.

"We want to thank all those who helped us get where we are today. Without their support, we wouldn't have been able to pull this off in only six months. Special thanks goes out to Tom Chema, James Bane, LeAnn Starlin, Dee West, Liz Okuma, Eric Riedel, and all the faculty and staff of Hiram College," said Gaither.


Evan DaSilva throws himself into campaign against drunken driving


Hiram College sophomore Evan DaSilva, who survived an accident in March that killed classmates Grace Chamberlain and Andy Hopkins, met in Fenton Lounge of Booth Hall last week with representatives from six television stations, two radio stations, and three newspapers to discuss the accident and how much his return to Hiram means to him.

“I’m very happy to be back here,” Evan told the media. “Just being back here has helped me a lot.”

Admitted drunken driver James D. Cline pleaded guilty this month to five felony charges. He will be sentenced on September 6 by Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David L. Fuhry. Cline could receive between 7 and 38 years in prison.

“I hope he gets the maximum penalty,” Evan said. “I hope he feels incredibly guilty.”

Evan, who returned to campus on August 12 in order to complete work from the spring 12-week, is one of the founding members of a group called I Don’t Drink and Drive (I3D), which is seeking official status from the Hiram Student Senate. Evan explained to the media that the group is different from other groups in that it doesn’t object to drinking.

“I’m not against drinking,” he said. “Just drinking and driving.”

I3D ($2 bracelets are on sale in the bookstore), participation in the Chamberlain/Hopkins Symposium on Alcohol and Culture, and the intention to help draft legislation to toughen Ohio’s drunken driving law are Evan’s way of embracing the good that can come from the tragedy that killed Grace and Andy and severely injured him.

“I lost my two best friends,” Evan said. “There is nothing to justify their deaths, but I’m trying to honor their memory by fighting against drunken driving. I can certainly work at it.”

Cline had 11 previous drunken driving convictions before the fatal night of March 2.


Chema speaks to Aurora Rotary


President Tom Chema spoke to the Rotary Club of Aurora at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, August 23, about Hiram College. To give the group a sense of Hiram’s student population, Chema explained that 41% of Hiram College students are the first generation in their immediate families to attend college. In comparison, he said, only four percent of students at Harvard University are first generation college students. Chema also stated that Hiram’s entering class exceeded 330 students and is one of the largest entering classes from the past thirty years. Enrollment in Hiram’s Weekend College program is at a near-record high, as well.

Chema told the Rotary group about a new cellular phone tower that is under construction on Hiram College property. The new tower will be located in the industrial park area next to the physical plant. Mandatory site tests are almost completed, and after those tests are concluded, the tower should be online within a month.

Chema also spoke about the possibility of a retirement center building project on College-owned property, just north of Hiram Village limits. The center would provide retirees with access to the Hiram College community’s many cultural and intellectual amenities. That concept is in a preliminary development stage.


Pick up a copy of today’s news


Complimentary copies of four weekday newspapers are available through Hiram’s newspaper readership program. The newspapers are:

• Record-Courier
• New York Times
• USA Today
• Akron Beacon Journal

The papers are located in the Kennedy Center, on the ground floor of Hinsdale, in Miller dining hall, in the Booth/Centennial lobby, and in Dodge Lounge in the Quad.

The newspaper readership program has been funded in part by Mrs. Helen Dix and the Dix family, publishers of the Record-Courier.


German magazine celebrates SSSSH


NEON Magazine, a German publication designed for 20- to 35-year-olds, has taken an interest in SSSSH (Secret Society of Serendipitous Service for Hal). SSSSH is an anonymous-giving organization that began at Hiram College in March 2003.

A reporter from NEON magazine interviewed Roger Cram, director of special projects and coordinator of SSSSH, by telephone regarding Hiram College’s SSSSH activities. Last month, a photographer from NEON came to Hiram College to shoot photos that will accompany the article, which should be published shortly.

The Hal in the SSSSH name is Hal Reichle, a 1986 Hiram College graduate who was killed in the 1991 Gulf War in Kuwait. Hal had a habit of secretly performing anonymous good deeds for strangers, and the organization SSSSH was formed in his honor

Anonymous good deeds, called SSSSHing, have been reported from Switzerland, Germany, and Central and South Africa, with articles written about these special clandestine activities cropping up from the four corners of the globe.

Rotary International, through Northeast Ohio’s Rotary District 663, has encouraged all other Rotarians to participate in SSSSH activities by adopting a special Rotarian SSSSH card. This card is given to the recipients of anonymous good deeds, and it explains SSSSH and the Hal Reichle phenomena.

For more information about SSSSH, go to the SSSSH website.


Opening Convocation this Thursday


Opening Convocation is an official ceremony that marks the beginning of each academic year at which all new students are formally inducted as members of the Hiram College academic community. The convocation is held in Hayden Auditorium and begins at 12:30 p.m.

Professor Emerita of Communication Mary Ann Brockett and Assistant Professor of History Adam Cathcart will deliver the convocation address on the topic of, "Kite Running at Hiram College."

Members of the Hiram College faculty should convene in their academic regalia under the Hinsdale Arch at noon.

All new students should convene at noon on the Campus Green behind Hinsdale to line up for the procession.


Faculty & Staff: Please save the date.


The annual Hiram College Employee Recognition event will be held on the evening of Thursday, September 14, 2006.

In place of the annual luncheon convocation, this year’s recognition celebration will include a reception and dinner, followed by an awards program. All Hiram College faculty and staff are encouraged to invite a guest to this event.

Formal invitations to follow.

This employee recognition event has been funded in large part by G.A. Sywassink, a member of the Hiram College board of trustees.



This week at Hiram

Tonight, August 28

  • Hilarious hypnotic high jinks with Dale K
    8 p.m., Hayden Auditorium
    Don't miss award-winning hypnotist Dale K! Dale's high energy show earned him a Performing Artist of the Year award and two nominations as Comedian of theYear and Novelty Act of the Year. This event is sponsored by KCPB.

Wednesday, August 30

  • ASO Check-in & President’s Roundtable
    12 p.m. & 6 p.m., Alumni Heritage Room, Teachout-Price Hall
    Student organizations will begin the process of check-in to obtain clubroom keys for the year. Information will also be given to student leaders for President's Roundtable. Representatives from each organization must be in attendance to qualify for Senate funding during the 2006-07 academic year.

  • Creative Field Studies Exhibition: "Forested Landscape"
    4 to 6 p.m., Dolan Hall, John Carroll University

Thursday, August 31

  • Beyond the Wall Poster Sale
    10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kennedy Center Student Lounge

  • Opening Convocation
    12: 30 p.m., Hayden Auditorium

  • Involvement Fair & BBQ
    5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kennedy Student Center
    Explore more than 70 student organizations that Hiram has to offer! Getting involved in campus activities is a great way to enrich your experience and meet new people. 

Friday, September 1

  • Volleyball @ ONU Invitational
    3 p.m, 5:30 p.m., Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio

Saturday, September 2

  • Football v. Carnegie Mellon
    1 p.m., Charles A. Henry Field, Hiram
  • Volleyball @ ONU Invitational
    9 a.m., 11:15 a.m, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio
  • Men’s Soccer @ Marietta Tournament
    11 a.m., Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio
  • Women’s Soccer @ Ursuline College
    1 p.m., Pepper Pike, Ohio
  • Cross Country @ Westminster Invitational
    11 a.m., New Wilmington, Pennsylvania


Terrier Athletics

http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/index.html.

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