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Tomorrow, March 14th, 2019 is the Defiance College Day of Giving. Michelle Tinker, the interim director of development and the coordinator of this event, will be sitting in Hubbard all day tomorrow! She is inviting all DC students to sign thank you cards for the alumni, faculty and staff, and friends of the college who donate each year to help support the programs and advancement of DC! Besides showing gratitude, students who sign thank you cards will be entered into a raffle for a prize!

Please join Michelle in giving back to those who give to us!

Students looking to share their academic experiences, April 9-10th of the school year, Defiance will put together the annual McMaster School for Advancing Humanity Symposium and Academic Colloquium!

During the annual Academic Colloquium, students will be spread amongst the campus in Dana Hall, Serrick, and the Pilgrim Library sharing the important academic experiences they have gained during the current school year.

Senior student Paige Sickmiller spoke on what she gained during the presentations last year, “I learned a lot and I’ve grown as a public speaker. I recommend doing it at least once if you ever get the chance”.

During the two days of presentations, students are encouraged to present either orally or using poster boards. Each presentation will offer different experiences allowing the audience to understand what opportunities are offered, being a Defiance College student. The theme behind this year’s Colloquium is “The Question of Individual Liberties as Critical to Improving the Human Condition”.

Before presenting, students must choose between presenting orally or with a poster, or students may work with groups and present on a panel.

Oral presentations are normally given with power-points allowing students to show examples of everything they accomplished through each slide. Poster presentations don’t allow as many picture examples are oral presentations, but they give the chance of explaining more concrete details. A panel presentation will host multiple students sitting at a table presenting on a college trip that the honors program takes and answering questions.

“My poster presentations go 10xs better,” said Paige. “I get to research my questions and format my findings in a creative way. Plus, I get to read straight from my poster and others can read it so I don’t panic as much.”

To be able to present during this day you have to complete the application process of choosing to present verbally or through posters, choose a faculty member that can help advise you on your project, and with the approval of your faculty member, you submit the application to McMaster Symposium and Academic Colloquium Application (if a student chooses to do more than one presentation, submit application for each).  If you would like to share your work through a poster presentation, allow your faculty advisor to send the completed poster to Brad Harsha, Assistant Dean of the McMaster School (bharsha@defiance.edu).

Brad shared, “It truly is a day to celebrate the academic success of our students.”

Dates to remember for this event are March 25th (poster application deadline) and April 10th (presentation day). For more information visit defiance.edu/mcmaster/honor/symposium.html or contact Brad Harsha.

Written by Allante Wheeler

Approaching midterms, Commencement is only three short months away. Dean Agnes Caldwell, Vice President for Academic Affairs, discusses important information graduating seniors should know before May 4th comes around.

The day before graduation on Friday, May 3rd there will be a ceremony practice held in the Weaner Center. Dean Caldwell explained this day saying, “Students will practice going through the ceremony, so they feel comfortable with the order of events, seating, and where things are.”

Following the practice will be the Senior Bash. “The Senior Bash is meant to celebrate the students and their time here at Defiance College,” said Dean Caldwell.

Michele Tinker, Interim Director of Development, explained the Senior Bash saying, “At this event, we’ll have finger foods, photo ops, beverages (adult and soft drinks), music, and the graduates will receive a commemorative gift.” This is a way to relax and celebrate with other students and professors before the student’s final departure from Defiance College.

Saturday, May 4th at 11 am Commencement will begin in the Weaner Center on Defiance College’s Campus with around 100 students graduating.

The day of Commencement, students need to be dressed in their caps and gowns before the start of the ceremony at 11 am. Students will be able to pick up their cap and gown from the registrar’s office in late April.

Before Commencement officially begins, the Baccalaureate will be held. During that time the Invocation, Responsive Reading and Meditation are performed, assisted by Rev. Jim Brehler.

During Commencement, one of the honorary speakers this year will be Dr. Terry Boyd, a Defiance College alum. Dean Caldwell stated, “because of his hard work he was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2017.”

After the ceremony, there will be a reception held at 1:30 pm with refreshments available.

Family and friends are encouraged to join in the Commencement celebrations. Tickets for this event are free, and seats are first come, first serve.

Written by Kenzie Hall

The political scheme of the United States has been at a standstill due to ‘the Wall’ and the students of Defiance College have offered some of their opinions on the issue.

The students at Defiance seemed to share mixed opinions on the Wall issue. During a break between classes, students were interviewed in the cafeteria regarding their feelings on the Wall. Students stated a desire for anonymity regarding their answers. Due to this, student names and other identifiers have been removed.

One student stated that she has “no idea about any details or anything on it because I live under a rock.” While this student did not have much to say on her solution to the Wall issue, others had plenty.

One student spoke in support of building the Wall explaining that, in reference to the money spent on illegal immigrants in recent years, “it would save us money in the long run because we have spent over 21 billion in each of the last two years, so over 42 billion”. The student also stated that “it would keep our country safer as a whole without drugs coming into it, not saying every immigrant is bad but making sure they are at least cleared through a checkpoint would be nice.”

Other students did not share the support. One student stated that the only way to fix the problem would be to “build a time machine, travel to the past, and then not vote for Donald Trump to be our president.” Another student believes that the money for the wall would be better spent on programs such as “health care, funding for job placement and job security, children in poverty and education.” Other students concurred that education would be a more suitable place for the money spent on the Wall.

   And finally, one student, a member of the Army National Guard, stated that “I will support the decisions the country makes. However, this Wall seems immoral to me. We are supposed to be the great American melting pot, a place where everyone is welcome to find their freedom. Building a Wall takes away those freedoms”.

   The executive order for ‘the Wall’ was issued on January 25th of  2017 by President Donald Trump. The goal of this order was to make sure that immigration laws were being upheld and protect the country as per President Trump’s executive order. To secure the Southern border, the executive order calls for immediate construction of a physical Wall to prevent illegal aliens from entering into the country. The creation of such a Wall is expensive, as Trump acknowledges and addresses, stating the government would “allocate all sources of Federal funds for the planning, designing, and constructing of a physical Wall along the southern border.”

   Students are offering up their opinions on a huge political debate. The students interviewed held a variety of different thoughts on the topic while also sharing in similarities when it came to where they believed the money should go.

Written by Jordan Osborne

Some Defiance College students are not work study eligible which doesn’t allow them to make money while in classes. Luckily, there are many businesses nearby that are hiring part-time students to fill their open positions.  

Planet Fitness on North Clinton Street offers not only a job motivating others but also a free black card membership to enjoy for the duration of the employment to use the facilities. With this free black card membership, you are able to work out, tan, us the massage chairs, and hydrobeds.

Through Planet Fitness you also become CPR/AED and Tanning certified. With CPR training you will learn how to revive someone that has stopped breathing and using  AED training to diagnose the issue and treat the individual through the application of electricity.

Planet Fitness’ Manager, Kaity Elderkin stated: “I look for self-motivated, positive people that talk to the guests and perform daily tasks such as answering guest questions, providing tours, and cleaning the equipment.” If this job and perks sound appealing stop in any Thursday from 9 am- 5 pm to attend an open interview with Kaity or call (419) 990-0500.

Another available position is a Chiropractic Assistant at A. Little Chiropractic Center on Ralston Ave. This small, busy office needs another desk assistant to help with its growing business. While working there the individual will gain knowledge of office life and how to use various computer systems.

The owner Alicia Little said, “We’re looking for an outgoing, self-motivated individual that enjoys talking to our patients and having fun. We teach you to use our chiropractic software and no other experience is required. Your pay would start at $10/hr”. To join this growing company call (419) 782-2272 to schedule an interview.

Applebee’s Grill and Bar on North Clinton Street is hiring for servers, hosts, and cooks. Through this company, various valuable skills are taught that will allow for excellent customer service.

One of the managers, Paul Spencer said, “We’re looking to fill a variety of positions with people that are hard-working, motivated, and friendly.” After being hired there is a small amount of computer training to help understand the computer system used to complete orders. If working in a restaurant sounds exciting, apply online at rmhjobs.com or call Applebee’s at (419) 784-2279 to speak with a manager.

Within a short drive or walk close to campus, it is obvious there are many off-campus employment options for students to take advantage of.

Written by Kenzie Hall

Collegiate student-athletes face many pressures within their day-to-day lives. Student-Athletes are required to take at least 12 credit hours and the GPA of the team is of the highest importance as most schools give out athletic department awards based on the academic success of each individual team. Student-Athletes also spend a certain amount of hours in the library each week, fulfilling study table requirements and working hard towards goals that they set for themselves.

Here at Defiance College, most of our student population is comprised of student-athletes. At any given moment, a trip to the library during a school day would introduce you to a building full of student-athletes attempting to complete study table hours between classes. The NCAA Division 3 philosophy statement features language that student-athletes hear all the time, stating “Colleges and universities in Division III place the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students’ academic programs”. The priority of a Division 3 institution is to place academics and overall experience of student-athletes at the most urgent level of the pyramid as Division 3 athletics are to be an “integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience” the philosophy statement describes. Division 3 student-athletes do not earn athletic scholarships but can earn academic scholarships. Due to this, it makes sense that Division 3 student-athletes are subjected to hours of study tables and are held to higher academic standards.

The student-athletes here at Defiance are heavily involved in extra-curricular activities on-campus, working to build resumes and prepare for the ‘real world’ following graduation. You’ll see many student-athletes working as presidents or managers for clubs on-campus such as the president of the Student Academic Advisory Committee is senior baseball player, Mason Rapp and the president of Student Senate being senior softball player, Ely King. Student-athletes also fill several jobs on-campus such as many of the tutors are student-athletes and every member of the Resident Assistant staff play one sport or the other. Ely King, president and active member in many organizations plus a Resident Assistant, discusses one of the biggest benefits for being a Division 3 student-athlete, stating that “being D3 allows athletes to expand their skill set and gain experiences through athletics but also through other organizations that have allowed them to be well rounded individuals”.

Freshman softball player, Kalin Hubble commented that the hardest part of being a student-athlete is “learning the ability to balance and organize what I have to do throughout the week. I have to balance academics and self care all while planning around what the team has scheduled”.  Learning how to balance all sorts of team activities on top of the priorities that student-athletes owe to their academics and other activities is one of the hardest lessons for students to figure out. Overall, the experience is worth-while as Hubble stated that “the ability to play the sport I grew up loving while expanding new understanding to future career paths and to form a family with those you play with, creating bonds that could last a life time”.

Student-athletes face a whirlwind of different commitments every day. The Division 3 student-athletes of Defiance College excel in all aspects, on and off the field. By upholding the values of NCAA Division 3, students are able to further develop their education and to compete in athletic events that create experiences that allow them to grow into successful adults who can change the world.

Written by Jordan Osborne

Defiance College recently transitioned its bookstore from the traditional store setting to a completely web based experience. The store remains open in Hubbard Hall throughout the week selling some apparel, hats, and accessories. The virtual bookstore allows students to order or sell textbooks. Additionally, professors are able to upload the required textbooks prior to the start of classes, so students can prepare in advance. Each class that a student is taking will be labeled under a tab following the textbooks the teacher assigns. The online bookstore offers a variety of prices including buying and renting used or new books.

A few students on campus shared their opinions on the new system.  Senior Kelsey Parker shared that the new website is easy to navigate. Additionally, she added that, “It’s nice to have another option to compare books for the best price.” In comparison Jennifer Nashalsky stated that she only used the website to see the required textbooks for each of her classes. Tyler Davie also commented on the bookstore. He shared that he likes that the website is convenient for ordering all of his textbooks from one site and that they all are affordable for the most part. However, he claimed that he misses the wider variety of apparel the bookstore had. Tyler shared that he would like to see more of a variety of clothing options in the store. In comparison, Adam Ramirez claimed that the bookstore is, “too expensive.” Lastly, senior Jackie Hartman stated she like the clothing options the bookstore has. She commented, “I’ve bought multiple sweatshirts from the store and they all were reasonably priced.” However, Jackie added that she has not used the online bookstore as she uses other web based sites for her textbooks. 

Written by Madysyn Creighton

One of Defiance College’s most storied and successful coaches will be returning to DC for Homecoming on October 5-6 this year.   In his post-DC career, Mee spent 25 years with the Washington Redskins organization.

His success as a coach is reflected in his DC record in 1964-66: 18-8 in football, and 38-11 in baseball.  The 1966 football team was the only one in all of Ohio to go undefeated that year.   The 1964, 65 and 66 baseball teams all took the Mid-Ohio Conference title, and the 1966 team nearly made it to the national playoffs.

After leaving DC, he became an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, and left there in 1970 to be a scout for legendary coach Vince Lombardi for the Washington Redskins.  Then he spent two years as head coach of Earlham College, and rejoined the Redskins in 1972 as an assistant coach for the rest of the 70s.  In 1981 he began a long run as Director of Player Personnel, spending a total of 25 years with the team.  He is a member of the NFL Scouts and Indiana Football Halls of Fame, as well as becoming a member of DC’s Hall of Fame in 1982.

Mee will be attending several DC Homecoming events, including a reunion of his 1964-66 baseball players, as well as the football game against Franklin.

Sources consulted for this story:

Indiana Football Hall of Fame site:  http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node/504

Defender, January 10, 1964:  https://tinyurl.com/ycxr4sco

Defender, 10-22-82:  https://tinyurl.com/y9osnwvo

Written by Barb Sedlock

(Defiance, OH) Spring is upon us, and that means that our very own Defiance College baseball team is gearing up for another season. The Yellow Jackets are excited to start, after about a month of being kept indoors for practices.

The Jackets are looking to improve on their previous season of 14-25 last season, and 11-14 in conference. They have been preseason ranked 9th in the conference, but this does not mean much to the players. They are coming back with a veteran infield, and some young talent that is making the season look like it will be a good one.

Before looking at the team itself, there have been a few changes to the conference schedule for the HCAC. Now, our Yellow Jackets will only play conference teams twice, instead of a three game series. This allows the Jackets to have an extra nine non-conference games, which has helped improve the strength of schedule with teams like Carthage, Marian, Ohio Wesleyan, and even the University of Toledo.

The conference tournament will also now be taking 5 teams into it, giving the top seed a buy, instead of just 4 teams. This gives the Jackets hope, because they have always been in the hunt towards the end, but cannot break the top four.

The Jackets are looking forward to having some returning talent this upcoming season, including a veteran infield. This will be led by Senior Glen Collier, Junior Micheal Gilliland and Tyler Weaver, and Sophomore Tyler Weaver. The Jackets also have Alek Menyhart, Micheal Reese, Daniel Tomalak, Jon Brown, and Troy Konwinski adding depth to the infield, and competing for a starting role.

The Jackets also have Mac Edwards, EJ Kissel, and Kody Fuller returning for time behind the plate, who will be challenged by newcomer Benny Bucklew. The Jackets also have Mason Rapp, Zach Johnson, and Derek Angelone to help add depth to the roster.

The outfield will be led by Junior Tanner Stippich, who has seen plenty of action in his first two years at Defiance. Grant Vickery will also be roaming the outfield, along with newcomer Nate Kaffenbarger, and transfer Garrett Sierra. Christian Meister, Luke Thomier, Tyler Hines, and Nolan Kestner will look to challenge the other outfielders and add depth to the roster.

The pitching staff will be led by first team all HCAC Paris Creek. Following Creek, Troy Konwinski will be  a staple to the staff who was the only other player to throw above 10 innings. The Jackets will also have Cody Nelson, Parker Houk, Kody King, Jon Brown, Garret Enders, and Zac Brazen who are all returners on the bump. They will also look to their young talent to help out, Micheal Reese, Jack Powell, Daniel Tomalak, Cohen Nies, along with the two transfers Grant Curavo and Will Bohlman.

We were able to catch up with First Team HCAC member Paris Creek, who had this to say, “I’ve been in the this program for three years and each year we talk about the talent we have, but have fallen short of our goals. As a leader on this team, I believe that we have the talent and will work harder, to go far and prove a lot of people wrong”

We were also able to catch up with Senior pitcher Cody Nelson, who had this to say, “The HCAC looks strong like always, but we have a lot of young talent that they will overlook. We are led by good leadership and coaching, and we are ready for anything our schedule has to bring.”

The Jackets start off their season THIS Wednesday at Sienna Heights for the season opener, before their trip down to Ft Myers Florida for Spring Break. If you see a baseball player, wish them good luck, and as always Go Jackets!

Written by Zack Bires