The students in Social Work Practice 3 are participating in two fundraiser projects at Defiance College in conjunction with Project Pay it Forward.

The first fund raiser is the sale of Little Caesar’s Pizza Kits. Each pizza kit can make three pizzas. The average cost of one of these kits is $22. If pizza is not your thing, there is also crazy bread and two types of cookies.

The Little Caesars sales event will start on October 26, 2020, and end November 9, 2020. The links are Here or Here or Here

People interested can order online and then the order will be shipped right to your door. The order should take about seven business days to receive the product. Or you may contact Professor Alesia Yakos-Brown, Associate Professor of Social Work, at aybrown@defiance.edu and she will have a student participating in the project contact you.

The second fundraiser that the Social Work Practice 3 students are doing is a Faculty Flash. A Faculty Flash is when students visit different faculty on campus and ask for donations to their cause. The campaign is scheduled for October 30, 2020, during class time from 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm.

If anyone is unable to donate at this time you can contact Professor Alesia Yakos- Brown.

Pay it Forward is a non-profit organization that believes “that through acts of kindness among strangers, we all foster a more caring society” according to their website. With their help, the Social Work students are raising money for a local organization in the four-county area. Once they raise the money, they pick an organization that compliments their theme. This year, they have chosen to donate to women in poverty and women in poverty with children since that is their theme this year for their fundraising efforts.

Written by: Amanda Vasko

This November, the English Department, headed by Dr. Engel, Director of Composition at Defiance College, is participating in NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. The department is actively seeking students, staff, and faculty to join their group in this year’s novel writing month. To join, contact Dr. Engel at sengel@defiance.edu. More information can also be found at the English department’s website — https://englishwonder.wordpress.com/

Students can earn 50 Jacket Journal points for joining and participating in the event. “I’ve always wanted to give it a shot. This year seems like the perfect time to try something that requires a leap of faith,” Engel said. “It is also better to write when you have a community around you that can help support you and encourage you,” as stated on the Jacket Journal site. For more information on how to obtain the points, visit their site — https://defiance.presence.io/event/nanowrimo-national-novel-writing-month 

In addition to the Jacket points, “We have some swag for writers who join us.”, stated Dr. Engel.  

Writers commit to writing each day in November with 50,000 words as the end goal. That is roughly 1,667 words a day. Writers are given virtual badges for completed certain goals, and the NaNoWriMo website features helpful actives and educational materials on how to prepare, plan, and execute writing a novel. NaNoWriMo gives a chance for anyone to write a novel with the help and support of a non-profit organization that encourages creative writing.  According to the NaNoWriMo website, “We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.” For more information on NaNoWriMo, please visit their website. https://nanowrimo.org/ 

Written by AD Johnson

“Trump might be ridiculous for the rest of the world, but he is sane and wise man for the Taliban” stated a senior leader of the Taliban. 

This weekend senior leaders of the Taliban told reporters from CBS, that they endorse another Trump presidency. After President Trump shockingly boasted that he will have American troops pulled out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, it was reported the Taliban celebrated. 

The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist group based in the middle east. President Trump’s campaign has declined the endorsement.

Nobel Prizes were handed out this week. So far, five have been Americans. One for literature, chemistry, physics, and two in the physiology or medicine categories. More awards will be given out this week in other categories. The first awards were given out in 1901 after the scientist/inventor Alfred Nobel. 

This week, Eddie Van Halen passed away after a long battle with cancer. He is known for his guitar playing in his rock band named Van Halen. He was 65.

Another legend lost this week was baseball’s hall of fame pitcher, Whitey Ford. Known as “The Chairman of the Board”, Ford pitched 16 seasons for the New York Yankees finally retiring in 1967 but still remained active in coaching and training activities with the team. He was 91.  

In Defiance College news, FASFA applications are now available to complete. The college is offering workshops to help students who still need to fill out their FASFA for next year. For more information visit the Finacial Aid website at http://www.defiance.edu/financial-aid/index.html  or email the financial aid office financialaid@defiance.edu 

Here are the times of the FASFA workshops happening this month. Visit the financial aid website and click the date to attend. 

October 16, 12 – 2 PM
October 22, 5 – 7 PM
October 30, 2 – 4 PM
November 13, 2 – 4 PM
November 16, 5 – 7 PM
December 11, 2 – 4 PM
December 14, 5 – 7 PM

Written by: AD Johnson

*** On Wednesday, September 24, during a press conference in Kentucky, the Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced one officer would be indited in the case against the murder of Breonna Taylor. The other two officers “were justified in their use of force.”, according to the Attorney General Cameron. 

The decision was met with protests around the country.  

Earlier this month, according to NPR.com, the city of Louisville announced a $12 million settlement — the largest in its history — in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Taylor’s family. 

*** A little over a week ago, Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in her home at the age of 87. She served 27 years on the supreme court being nominated in 1993 by President Clinton. 

Her death sparked a heated debate over whether a president should nominate a potential judge during an election year. In the past, the situation has come up in the past with the most recent being during President Obama’s last year of office. In that case, the nomination was held off till after the election.  

President Trump, however, decided to nominated Amy Coney Barret to replace Justice Ginsburg. According to NPR.com, “Barrett is expected to begin meeting with senators early this week, and the Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to begin hearings on Oct. 12. 

*** Last week, the Emmy’s were held. Like most big events, the award show made changes due to COVID. The host, Jimmy Kimmel, performed to an empty room and the winners made speeches from their homes. The most notable winners were Schitt’s creek, the first show to win every award in the comedy category, Watchmen, RuPaul’s Drag race, and Succession. 

*** On Saturday, President Mankey announced in an email that DC has experienced our first COVID outbreak. Staff have been working through the weekend sorting out those that could be impacted by contact tracing and have quarantine and isolated those involved. 

“As a reminder: Defiance College REQUIRES everyone on campus to wear a mask when around other people, perform a health check through our Campus Clear app, physical distance whenever possible, clean and sanitize their space, and show respect to others.” 

Please wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines. 

Written by: AD Johnson 

This Wednesday, September 9, 2020, the Defiance College will be having an Academic and Organization Fair for all students. Freshman and Seniors are welcome to browse the tables located between the library and Serrick from 11:00 am –12:00 pm. Juniors and Sophomores can look around from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.

It is an opportunity for students to find out more information on different organizations offered by the college. Each Academic department will also have designated spots for students to check out if interested.  

If anyone is interested in writing for The Defender, there will be a sign-up sheet at the English Department table along with other fun and totally cool things (I can’t say there will be cake pops but there will be cake pops at our table). 

The live-action movie, Mulan, premiered this weekend on Disney+ for $29.99 in addition to the subscription fee. Fans that don’t want to pay the almost $30, the movie will be available for free December 4, 2020, for those with subscriptions. 

The movie’s release was not without controversy, however. Many Asian pro-democracy advocates called for a ban of the movie after the lead actress, Yifei Liu, made remarks in support of the Hong Kong police. Read more about the ban at https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-54024810 

This week, Taco Bell announced they will remove more items off their menu in November. The news comes as a jolt to fans everywhere as Taco bell had previously removed a dozen popular items last month including all potato items. According to Tacobell.com, the soon to be gone items include “Mexican pizza, all items with shredded chicken, and Pico de Gallo. 

Written by: AD Johnson

** This past Thursday and Friday, over 30 speakers and musical guests spoke and performed in person and virtually for the March on Washington. It marked the 57^th year since Martin Luther King Jr led the march and gave his famous “I have a dream” speech. Among the speakers where Martin Luther King III, members of George Floyd’s family, and Reverend Al Sharpton. Reverend Sharpton called on the President to act on the injustices surrounding Breona Taylor, George Floyd, and many others by asking President Trump why he does not “call their names”. 

**The 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment happened this week as well. The 19^th amendment gave the right to vote for white women. It was ratified on August 26, 1920. Forty-five years later, in August, the Voting Rights Act became law which outlawed discriminations against voters and allowed all citizens the right to vote. 

** “Black Panther” star, Chadwich Boseman, passed away Friday after a long battle with cancer. Along with “Black Panther”, Boseman acted in several other films including “Marshall” and “42”. He kept his diagnosis secret, and his death came as a shock to most fans. He was 43. 

** In Defiance College news, classes began last week to a new format with classes being in-person and virtual. Some students enjoyed the new ways while others thought it would take getting used to and wasn’t a fan.

“I was very stressed out and overwhelmed. I think they (the professors) could have given us a little more information earlier [as to] which group we would be in” one student said.  

Jess L states, “I am the type of learner where I prefer in-person classes because I learn better that way—from the interactions…that are offered for in-person classes” 

“I recognize the need to keep everyone safe, but I do prefer in-person classes more,” Jess said. 

Reflecting on the past spring semester, Professor Engel, Assistant Professor of English and Director of Composition, hoped to just make it through the semester in person as he felt the online format limited his strengths in teaching. “It’s harder to build community, read a classroom, and make minor adjustments to respond to students’ needs in an online course–especially when we had to make the shift so suddenly. I think this semester will be better because we all have planned with the idea that we might need to transition at some point” expressed Dr. Engel.

The new structured classes are temporary and once COVID is better controlled or over, classes will resume normally. 

Written by: A.D. Johnson

This is the year of a U.S. Presidential Election Year.  Election Day will take place on November 3, 2020.

The people running for President that will appear on the Ohio ballot will be Donald Trump (R), Joe Biden (D), Jo Jorgensen (L), and Howie Hawkins (G). 

To get ready for Election Day, students can make sure they are registered to vote and find their polling place.  All students who are eligible to vote can be registered by clicking this link to sign up https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/ 

It is very easy to register, and it only takes a couple of minutes.  The deadline to register in the state of Ohio is October 5, 2020. 

Even though Election Day is November 3, students can still do early voting and mail-in voting. 

For Ohio, this begins October 6, 2020, and ends November 2, 2020.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the state of Ohio is October 31, 2020. 

For more information on absentee voting and early in-person voting for Ohio click this link https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-voting/

If you are not from Ohio or want more information on voting, click this link https://www.vote.org The site has information and provides other links that can take you to each states’ deadlines, dates, and rules.  There is also more information on registration, polling centers, and you can even sign up to get reminders to vote. 

Happy voting everyone!

Written by: Amber Baldwin