Author: Hanna Young

Written by: Ryan Imbrock Director of Marketing and Public Relations,

The Defiance College Social Work Program will be hosting its 22nd annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This year, a drive-through event will be held in the Hubbard Hall parking lot on College Place. All proceeds will benefit the PATH center.
 
At this drive-through event, you will be able to purchase a handmade bowl that is filled with other donated goods – such as coupons to local businesses, cookies, and more. Each bowl will cost $10. Brandon Knott ’97 makes the bowls in his studio, It’s Knott Pottery.
 
Empty Bowls is an important fundraiser held by the College. In 2019, it raised the most money to date -$7,000 to benefit the PATH Center. Empty Bowls has created a way to give back to those in need while also demonstrating a drive to create change.
 
The PATH center serves the surrounding six-county area. Monday through Friday, a hot meal is available to those in need. Currently, The PATH Center has begun delivering meals to those who are not able to access take-out. The Center relies solely on donations. It is estimated that the current kitchen budget only allows for 21 cents per day per meal.

If you are unable to attend the event but would still like to donate to this cause, please see the virtual link: https://fundraising.idonate.com/defiance/emptybowls22.

For more information about the Empty Bowls fundraiser, please contact Tess Salisbury, Director of Social Work, at tsalisbury@defiance.edu.

Chartered in 1850, Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and
business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The four pillars of its mission guide the College: To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve.

Written by: Emily Vargo

In today’s world, fashion is everywhere. To most of us, the style has become a part of our way of life, and we couldn’t even imagine life without it.

However, over the years, fashion designers have had to break down barriers to have the life of fashion we have today. One fashion designer did just that and is still an icon today, and her name is Coco Chanel.

Chanel was born in Saumur, France, on August 19, 1883. Chanel’s real name is Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. When you think of Coco Chanel, you may think she grew up in a wealthy family and had a wonderful childhood, but that wasn’t the case. Chanel’s mother was a laundrywoman, and her father was a street vendor that always traveled. Chanel was one of six children, and they all grew up in a run-down one-room home.

At the age of 11, Chanel’s mother passed away. The children did not attend school, and Chanel was sent to an orphanage with her two sisters while her two brothers were sent to work.

Chanel was sent to the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Mary, which was found to care for the “poor and rejected.” It was not a great place to grow up, but this is where Chanel learned to sew, which is crucial for her future career.

At the age of 18, Chanel went to live at a boarding house for Catholic girls in a town called Moulins. Chanel found a job as a seamstress, and on the side, she sang in a cabaret. While singing at the cabaret, this is where Chanel inherited the name Coco because she often sang, “who has seen Coco.” However, even though Chanel tried to have a singing career, her voice didn’t cut it.

At the age of 23, Chanel met Etienne Balsan, an ex-cavalry officer. Chanel became Balsan’s mistress and lived with him for three years. Chanel experienced the “rich life” and lived in luxury during this time.

In 1908 Chanel had an affair with one of Balsans friends, and this person installed an apartment in Paris for Chanel and started her first shop. It is also believed that Chanel No. 5 was based on this man.Their affair lasted for nine years until he married another woman and then died in a car crash in 1919. His death was devastating to Chanel, and she would later say the day he died, she lost everything.

In 1910 Chanel opened a boutique where she designed hats and some clothing. Her business took off in 1912 when an actress named Gabrielle Dorzait wore one of her hats in a play. In 1913 Chanel opened another store for deluxe casual clothing suitable for leisure and sports. In 1915 Chanel opened another store in Biarritz, dedicated to wealthy clients, leading to an award in 1919, where Chanel was registered as a couturière.

Chanel would meet famous people throughout the years and spend time with British aristocrats and those in high society. In the years to come, Chanel would be in many affairs and controversies but was admired by many due to how true she was to herself.

However, there was a time when she almost lost it all. During World War II, Chanel closed all of her stores, leaving 4,000 women without a job, and she made it publicly clear that she did not like the Jews. She was also a mistress to someone high up in the Nazi ranks and was described as having “Hailed Hilter’.

During this time, she had legal battles over her perfumes, and the controversial ties with the Nazi party made many questions her loyalty and intentions. She gained complete control of her perfumes and earned war fair profits of her No. 5 perfume. In 2014 it would be revealed that Chanel was a spy for the Germans during World War II.

In 1954 Chanel came back with a comeback in fashion design. Even though no one forgot her controversies, everyone fell in love with Chanel again. In Paris, France, on January 10, 1971, Chanel passed away at the age of 87 due to an illness.

*Editor’s note–The anti-sematic actions of Coco Channel are abhorant and The Defender does not condone this behavior.

Written by: Elizabeth Patrick

I am excited and proud to introduce you to Judy Lymanstall. She has been the Executive Secretary to the President for many years.

Judy was born and raised right here in Defiance Ohio. She comes from a very large family of ten people including six brothers and one sister. Growing up, needless to say, Judy believed that there was never a dull moment and always said that she had seven fathers.

In April 2022, Judy and her husband will be celebrating thirty-seven years of marriage. Judy and her husband are proud that they have four children, two of which are married, one that is engaged, and four grandchildren.

When it comes to education, Judy has taught at both Ayersville Local Schools and the International Business College. Judy has been employed with Defiance College as the President’s Executive Administrative Assistant since May 2003 and will be celebrating nineteen years this coming May. She has served two interim presidents and three presidents during her time here.

Here at Defiance College, Judy also is the advisor for the DC Student Habitat for Humanity Chapter. She also has traveled with different students as part of the Collegiate Challenge for several years working in locations such as Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Judy began her career in the world of banking, then worked for an attorney and prior to DC, she was employed with the Campbell Soup Company. The Campbell Soup Company was located in Napoleon, Ohio, and she worked there for seventeen years mainly in Payroll and Human Resources. During her time with the Campbell Soup Company, she also had a few brief stints in various other offices throughout the plant. In conclusion, throughout Judy’s career, she has worked at a variety of different places with a variety of different roles and responsibilities.

In Judy’s free time she enjoys going to garage sales and finding unique items to refurbish. Judy also likes building things, gardening, farming, cooking for large groups, crafting, watching a good movie but most importantly spending time with her family.

Judy didn’t really know that Women’s history month existed but she feels it is important to recognize the achievements and strengths of women in this world. Judy also believes that it is important to provide solid role models for the young ladies of today who inspire to make their mark on the world. To finalize, Judy enjoys doing a variety of different activities outside of her job here at Defiance College.

Written by: Elizabeth Patrick

I am excited and proud to introduce you to Amber Baldwin. Amber is currently a senior at Defiance College and is from Defiance, Ohio.

Some things she likes to do for fun include: kayaking, watching movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood where her favorite one is Brief Encounter, getting coffee with her friends, and cuddling with her cat Millie. She also likes watching, reading, and learning about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

She currently is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and has a minor in music.

She chose Defiance because of their business program and smaller class sizes. She also loved how everyone was so welcoming and kind when she toured Defiance for the first time. She plans to continue school at DC to get her MBA and, after graduating, earn a job in human resources.

Amber is very involved in the clubs and organizations that Defiance offers. She is involved in the orchestra where she plays the clarinet, The Defender as a staff writer, Book Club member, Student Senate where she is the senior class president, and she is an active member of the Carolyn M. Small Honors program.

Amber is also a student worker in the music department at Defiance College. In her free time, she volunteers as a docent at the Andrew L. Tuttle Memorial Museum located just across the bridge in downtown Defiance.

Amber believes that it is very important for people to celebrate Women’s History Month. She also believes that women have made so many sacrifices through the years to make the world a more inclusive place, and they should be recognized for that.

To wrap it up, Amber is very involved in the clubs and organizations that Defiance offers and believes that it is essential for people to celebrate Women’s History Month.

Written By: Amber Baldwin

According to the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is happening at the fastest rate ever.

The report also found that hazardous weather is happening more often than ever before, and it is expected to increase. All of this is causing the amount of water and land species worldwide to decrease. It is also not just plants and animals that are having issues.

Humans are hurting too. Many people have to relocate because of hurricanes or wildfires destroying their homes. There is also an increased risk of hunger and malnutrition because of droughts. If nothing is done now, the earth will reach the 1.5 degrees Celcius tipping point.

If that happens, nothing will be able to help the world anymore. But there are many ways that people can help with this climate crisis.

Shopping locally and buying sustainably for food is one easy way people can decrease their carbon footprint. During the warmer months, there are farmer markets in the Northtowne Mall Parking lot and downtown.

Another way people can help is by buying fewer new clothes and wearing clothes longer. Shopping at Goodwill and thrift stores will help too. About 8 to 10 percent of the global carbon emission comes from the fashion industry.

A third way that people can help is by voting for and supporting climate activists. Voting in Ohio takes place in May and November.

Lastly, people can help by just talking to others about climate change. There is a higher chance that people who have different opinions will open their minds when listening to someone they know and trust. Start a conversation today!

Written by: Emily Vargo

In this day and age, most everyone can vote. However, this wasn’t alway the case. Growing up, we were all probably told at some point that women didn’t use to have the right to vote here in the United States,, but women couldn’t vote in many different places.

At one point, women could not vote in Great Britain, but one strong woman set out to change that. This woman is Emmeline Pankhurst.

Emmeline was born in Manchester, England, on July 15, 1858. Growing up Emmeline’s teacher called her Emily which was the name she preferred to be called by. (I may be biased, but Emily is a really cool name).

Emily was one of ten siblings and the eldest of five daughters. Emily’s father was active in local politics during her upbringing. During Emily’s childhood, her parents supported women’s suffrage however, when it came to their daughters, their suffrage views didn’t apply. They wanted their sons to get a good education while they wanted their daughters to marry young and be good homemakers.

At age 14, Emily went with her mother to a public women’s suffrage meeting where Lydia Becker was speaking. Emily was very fond of Becker, so she insisted on going, and her mother let her. A year later, she went to Paris and attended École Normale de Neuilly, where she could learn subjects such as chemistry as well as bookkeeping and embroidering.

On December 18, 1879, Emily married Richard Pankhurst, who was an advocate for women’s suffrage. They moved to London and had five children together, and even though Emily tended to her family and house, she would find time to work in politics, especially in the women’s suffrage movement.

Emily and her husband created the Women’s Franchise League, which was dedicated to all women. The group was considered a radical group due to their support for equal rights for women in areas such as divorce and inherence. This group didn’t last very long because of fights and tension from other groups, which caused members to leave.

In 1893 Emily and her family moved back to Manchester, and Emily started to work with several political organizations as her person and gained respect in her community.

For a while, Emily was active in thWomen’s’s Liberal Federation until 1888, where she then joined the Independent Labour Party national. One of her first activities of being part of the LPN was distributing food to poor men and women through the Committee for the Relief of the Unemployed. Then in December of 1894, she was elected to the position of Poor Law Guardian in Chorlton-on-Medlock. Emily was able to witness the working conditions firsthand and was appalled. Immediately Emily began to change the working conditions for the better.

On July 7, 189Emily’sy’s husband Richard passed away. She had to take a new position in the family and get a paid job to help the family. Emily got a job as a birth and death registrar. This job led her to write an autobiography and gave her the courage to run and get elected to the Manchester school board.

On October 10, 1903, Emily and serval colleagues founded Women’sen’s Social and Political Union. The organization was only open to women and focused on winning the vote directly. This group would eventually be known as a political party. This party would host rallies, protests, and make newsletters.

Emily was arrested several times due to protesting and spitting on officers.

Many people in her political party had to learn how to protect Emily because police would go straight for her during protests. Eventually, in 1918, women had the right to vote. If it wasn’t for Emily, it would have taken women much longer to have the simple right to vote.

Despite her hardships, she never stopped fighting fowomen’s’s rights, leaving an amazing legacy behind.

Written by: Ryan Imbrock, Director of Marketing and Public Relations,

Nearly 200 northwest Ohio students from 19 different high schools converged on Defiance College on Thursday, March 3, to learn how to become stronger leaders in both the classroom and in their
communities. The conference included an engaging, student-focused leadership presentation by keynote speaker Ted Wiese.

Known as one of America’s best youth leadership development speakers, Ted Wiese works with thousands of students every year to teach and enhance their leadership skills. With wit, wisdom, real-life stories, and a whole lot of fun, his programs leave students with information and skills to take back to school, ideas to put into action, and something good to talk about in the days and months ahead.

After taking part in Wiese’s presentation, students moved into the tabletop discussion portion of the conference. Students, along with their high school advisors, had three rounds of discussions. They covered a wide range of topics, from class elections to service projects to school spirit ideas. Students were randomly mixed during this discussion period to help spur ideas.

Students returned to their “home” tables at the end conference to share ideas. They were then tasked with developing a written plan to take back to their respective schools for further discussion and possible implementation.

Students received lunch and a tour of Defiance College while at the conference.

Chartered in 1850, Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The four pillars of its mission guide the College: To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve.

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” -Lucy.

Written by: Amber Baldwin

Lucille Ball was an actress and comedian best known for her role as Lucy Ricardo in the tv show I Love Lucy. She also helped pave the way for female comedians and CEOs by never giving up and believing in herself. She also worked incredibly hard with everything she did.

Lucille Désirée Ball was born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, to Henry Durrell Ball and Evelyn “DeDe” Ball. When Lucille Ball was three, her father passed away from typhoid fever. Her mother married Edward Peterson four years later. He suggested that Lucille Ball audition for a chorus line when she was twelve. During the audition, Ball decided that she wanted to be an actress. Then, when she was a teenager, she attended the John Murray Anderson School for Dramatic Arts in New York City. However, her teachers thought she was not good enough and told her she wasted her time and money.

This did not discourage her. In 1928 she became a model for Hattie Carnegie. But her modeling days soon ended when she came down with rheumatic fever and could not walk for two years.

Her illness did not discourage her, and in 1932 she went back to New York City to continue to work as a model and audition for Broadway.

Ball’s modeling work as Chesterfield Girl led to her first movie role as a Goldwyn Girl in Roman Scandals (1933).

This movie took Lucille Ball to Hollywood, where she decided to stay after filming to keep playing minor roles in other movies. By the late 1930’s she was receiving more prominent roles and became known as the “Queen of the B Movies.”

In 1940 Lucille Ball starred in the picture Too Many Girls with Cuban bandleader and actor Desi Arnaz. The two started dating and were later married that same year.

Since Arnaz traveled with his band while Ball made movies and radio shows, they did not get together that much. When CBS wanted to take the radio show Lucille Ball was in and turn it into a TV show, she agreed to do it, but only if Desi Arnaz could play her husband in the show.

People at CBS did not think it was a good idea to show an American and a Cuban married to each other. So, Ball and Arnaz created a vaudeville act that traveled the country and formed their own production company called Desilu. They filmed a pilot episode to convince CBS to let them do the show.

After this, CBS finally agreed to let them do the show. I Love Lucy ran from 1951 to 1957. It was followed by the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, which ran from 1957 to 1960. Arnaz and Ball were the power couple of the 1950s.

In 1960 Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz divorced, but they still owned Desilu together. Desilu was responsible for TV shows such as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, My Three Sons, Star Trek (she was the only one who would risk taking on the show, so without Lucy, there would be no Star Trek), Mission: Impossible, and The Lucy Show. The Lucy Show, of course, starred Lucille Ball, and it ran from 1962 to 1968.

Desi Arnaz also sold his shares of Desilu to Lucille Ball in 1962. This made her the first woman to be a major production studio president and CEO. She sold Desilu in 1968 to Gulf+Western, known today as Paramount Television.

From 1968 to 1974, Lucille Ball performed on the TV show Here’s Lucy with her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.

During the 1970’s she also was the lead in the movie Mame, performed in television specials, made many guest appearances on other TV shows, and became an assistant professor at California State University, Northridge.

Lucille Ball starred in her last TV show, Life with Lucy, in 1986. On April 26, 1989, she passed away from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Throughout her life, Lucille Ball received many awards and honors, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an International Radio and Television Society Gold Medal in 1971, Female Star of the Year in 1973, a Crystal Award in 1977, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy in 1987, and Woman of the Year in 1988.

Even after her death, Lucille Ball is still being recognized and celebrated. She has received awards and honors such as the Career Achievement Award in 1989, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989, the Desert Palm Achievement Award in 1990, and the Legacy of Laughter Award in 2007. She was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997 and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

In Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, NY, there is the Lucy-Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center. Every year during the week of her birthday, her hometown also has a comedy festival.

In 2021, a movie was made that takes place during one week of production of I Love Lucy called Being the Ricardo’s. Nicole Kidman plays Lucille Ball, which can be found on Amazon Prime Video.

Ball was also a recent star of the month on the Turner Classic Movie or TCM channel. TCM also has a podcast called The Plot Thickens, and their most recent season focuses on telling her life story. A new documentary called Lucy and Desi is coming to Amazon Prime Video on March 4. It is directed by Amy Poehler.

Written by: Emily Vargo

March is National History Women’s Month. To kick off this month, I want to talk about one of my heroes. This amazing woman happens to have the same birthday as me, which is an amazing coincidence. This woman was born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She would become an advocate for those with disabilities and prove many who doubted her wrong.

This amazing woman is Helen Keller.

At the young age of nineteen months old, Helen contracted an illness and became deaf and blind. Until age 7, Helen didn’t have much communication. She used more than 60 signs at home, and she would communicate with the cook’s daughter because the child understood Helen’s signs.

The Kellers wanted more for Helen and went to see Alexander Graham Bell. He advised them to contact Perkins Institute for the Blind, located in South Boston. The school asked Anne Sullivan, who was visually impaired, to become Helen’s instructor.

On March 5, 1887, Anne arrived at Keller’s house. Anne started signing letters in Helen’s hand right away. She first started with a doll that she bought for Helen as a gift. Helen became frustrated because she didn’t understand that every object has a name and meaning.

This is something that Helen wouldn’t understand until Anne made motions of letters on her hand while cold water was pouring on her palm. This is where she knows that water had a meaning and that all things had a word and meaning.

After this realization, Helen wanted to learn as much as she could. She begged Anne to teach her what everything was and meant. Even though Helen could not see nor hear, this did not mean she wasn’t in touch
with the world. She could understand music by feeling beats and vibrations. She had a connection with animals through her sense of touch.

Even though she could not hear, she would eventually find her voice and speak. In 1894, Helen and Anne moved to New York, and Helen attended Wright-Humanson school for the deaf. Then in 1896, Helen moved back to Massachusetts and went to the Cambridge School for Young Ladies until 1900, where she attended Radcliffe college of Havard University. Then in 1904, Helen graduated and was a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa. After college, Helen would learn to speak and give speeches to tell her story.

Helen and Anne were companions until Anne passed away in 1936. Then Polly Thomson was hired to be Helen’s companion, and they would be companions for the rest of Helen’s life.

Helen used her voice to advocate for those with disabilities and many other causes. She became quite involved in politics and was a member of the socialist party. She had radical views for the period, but she was never scared to share her ideas. Besides being educated and advocating for others, Helen wrote and published 12 books and several articles. One of Helen’s most famous books was her autobiography that she wrote at age 22.

The autobiography, The Story of My Life, was published in 1903 with the help of Anne and Anne’s husband. She visited many countries during Helen’s life and met countless famous people.

On September 14, 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson awarded Helen the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She received awards for her charity work for the blind and deaf throughout Helen’s life.

Helen passed away June 1, 1968, leaving an inspirational story for all to read and many more to look up to.

She also was an inspiration for me. Growing up, no one was like me. I didn’t know anyone who had a hearing impairment or eye issues. Learning about Helen and learning that we had the same birthday gave me someone to look up to and hope for the future.

“Pay It No Mind” – Marsha P. Johnson

Written by: Elizabeth Patrick

On the last day of BHM, I am excited and proud to introduce you to Marsha P. Johnson.

Marsha was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Marsha was an African American transgender woman and revolutionary LGBTQ rights activist.

One of the main events that Marsha was known for was that she was credited for being an instigator in the Stonewall riots. Growing up as a child, Marsha dealt with many challenges due to her Christain upbringing.

After graduating high school, Marsha moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. While in New York, she was homeless and prostituted herself to make ends meet.

Throughout her struggles, she found joy as a drag queen amidst the nightlife of Christopher Street. To save money, Marsha made most of her costumes herself.

She quickly found success and was an influential and inspirational person in the LGBTQ community, where she served as a drag mother. She helped the homeless and struggling LGBTQ youth and toured the world as a successful drag queen with the Hot Peaches.

She was known for her outlandish hats and glamorous jewelry. She was also very fearless and bold.

Despite her difficulties with mental illness and numerous police encounters, whenever she was asked what the “P” in her name stood for and when people pried about her gender or sexuality, she answered back with “pay it no mind.”

Sadly on July 6, 1992, at the age of 46, Marsha’s body was found in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers. The police ruled that she had committed suicide despite claims from her friends and other local community members that she was not suicidal.

However, twenty-five years later, Victoria Cruz, a crime victim advocate of the New York City Anti-Violence Project reopened the case. Johnson’s story is featured in Pay It No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson (2012), available free on YouTube, and The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Netflix) and Happy Birthday Marsha (2017), which is streaming on Amazon Prime.

In 2015, the Marsha P. Johnson Institution was established. Its mission is to defend and protect the human rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming communities. For more information on the institution, check out their website at https://marshap.org/.

To finalize, Marsha is honored as a Stonewall instigator, a drag queen, Andy Warhol model, an actress, and a revolutionary trans activist.