Students drive drunk...in realistic simulation

By Jenna Jarkin on 2/11/2010 Anyone who has spent time immersed in American culture has no doubt heard the warning, "Don't drink and drive." Those words can lead to saving a life. That's why the DUI simulation at Olivet Feb. 3 was significant. The simulation was held by a group called PEER Awareness. The group is based out of Grand Rapids and its purpose is to instruct students at high schools and colleges around the country about the effects of distracted driving, including the effects of alcohol. With more and more young people distracted with things such as music, smart phones, and friends, many seem to forget that driving needs to be the number one focus of the person behind the wheel.
Check it out, this guy's doing something!


Spokesperson Denis Pepin of the PEER Awareness group said, "Our programs allow students to become part of the experience, impacting them on a level unlike any other." The program’s simulators use age, weight, gender, and the amount of hypothetical drinks consumed to make the "ride" as realistic as possible. The simulation at Olivet involved using a real car set on top of sensors, as well as computer technology with visual goggles to enhance the experience. Freshman Zach France said that it helped him to make wiser decisions in future.

There was also a challenge involving wearing goggles that made the participant’s eyes feel like they had drank three times the legal limit. While the participant was wearing the goggles, the PEER sponsor tried to get them to walk a straight line and catch a ball. It sounds easy but no one was able to do these tasks, proving that too many drinks lead to impaired judgment. Freshman Tyler Gray mentioned that it was very intense and hard. It was a very silly thing to watch people miss catching the ball, but at the same time it was a good example of how dangerous drinking and driving can be, he said.
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Pledging goes Awry

by Christine Moulton The two-week pledging process at Olivet College is now over and the Greek houses on campus have each welcomed their newest members. But while some houses are celebrating another generation of new brothers or sisters, others are recovering from losing individual pledges or their entire pledge class. This includes Alpha Xi Omega, better known to students as Elite.

According to Linda Logan, vice president and dean of Student Life, and senior Vernon Davis, president of ISC (Intersociety Council), Elite did have a pledge class, but in the first days of pledging an incident occurred. The incident, which has not been disclosed by the college or Dr. Logan, led to a judicial hearing and may also lead to the closing of Elite's fraternity house which is located on Shipherd Street behind Soronian.

How does the process work when a Greek house has been shut down? "Most times, there is a hearing based on a specific incident," said Logan. "Other times, if needed, college administrators can intervene and close a house for specific reasons. The process is through a hearing or administrative action."

The house is not shut down at the present time. "They have the right to appeal the judicial decision as per handbook guidelines," Logan said. Specific details regarding whether or not the house will actually be closed for the remainder of the semester are not being released because the case is still in the appeal time frame. According to the Student Handbook, students have the right to appeal a judicial sanction within five days of the hearing.

At the present time, Elite has 12 active members. An e-mail to President Dejaun Dykes regarding the situation went unanswered.

Career networking helps transition from sweats to suits

By Alex DeFinta on 2/11/2011 Every student dreams about getting a good job after graduating, and the Olivet College Career Services Network has something for anyone looking for their dream job. Located in the Student Resource Center, the mission of the Career Services Network is, according to information on the center's Web site, "to develop, manage, foster and disseminate career, internship, job and graduate and/or professional development opportunities for the Olivet College campus and alumni". And it's all free and as simple as taking the time to sit down and chat.

From local and national job postings to career assessment and exploration, resume and cover letter building and editing to overseas studies, internships, job-shadowing and interview skills development, the Career Services Network has the tools and resources to figure out what to do after the gowns and mortarboards are hung up. "You don't graduate if you leave college and go home to live with your parents," said Joanne Williams, director of Career Services Network. But most freshmen have little to no idea about what to pick for their major, let alone what to do for the rest of their lives. "We offer students a link into career opportunities and a chance to explore areas of interest to them," said Rhonda Miller, associate dean of the Student Resource Center and dean of Student Retention. Faculty and staff can also take advantage of the free services provided by the Network.
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New Academic Deans Named

By Christine Moulton on 2/11/2011 Over the past few months, Olivet College has experienced many changes, including a new president in December. The most recent change came Feb. 5, when an e-mail from college Provost Maria Davis announced the appointments of both Karen Chaney and Ronda Miller to associate deans for academic affairs.
"We have some wonderful professionals in the faculty and staff here at Olivet," said President Steven Corey. "But, Provost Davis has selected two of the very finest."

Chaney, professor of religious studies and ethics, received her master's of divinity degree from the Harvard Divinity School and her Ph.D. in ethics and social theory from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. While at Berkeley, she served as the program director at the Center for Ethics and Social Policy and was a faculty coordinator at the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Chaney is also the director of the Liberal Arts Core (LAC) program at Olivet, and according to Davis's e-mail, "will act on faculty matters in the absence of the dean."

"I've had a chance to hear a little about Karen Chaney's vision for what's possible in supporting our faculty in their efforts to facilitate learning," said Corey. "Her administrative skill combined with what learning in a value-based environment could look like will be wonderful in support of our faculty and students."

Miller, who for the past two years has led the college's retention and academic success programs and is the founding director of the Gruen and Speare Student Resource Center, received her master's of arts in family life education from Western Michigan University. "She has a wealth of experience in facilitating student success, including 12 years in the Lansing Public School District where she worked with at-risk students," said Davis.
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Students survive lazer battle in MacKay

By Eleri Thomas on 2/11/2011 MacKay Gymnasium was dark. Bright lights flashed all around as red beams of light shot back and forth through the darkness. Speakers blasted favorites such as "Baby Got Back," "Don't Stop Believin'," and the Star Wars theme song. From 6 p.m. to midnight Jan. 25, students came out to play Lazer Tag. Lazer Tag is played by a team of people who shoot at an opposite team with infrared-sensitive guns. If a player is hit, the opposite team gets a point. The team with the highest points at the end of the round wins. The guns used in this event were slightly larger than hand guns and were connected to a pack that was strapped around the torso. Also connected to the gun was a headphone-shaped mechanism to wear around the neck, which provided a target for the opposite team.

Once hit, a player's gun would stop working and they would have to go charge. Each side had one`` device for recharging guns. The darkness made it difficult to see the other players, and there were many obstacles scattered over the gym to hide behind. About 100 people attended this event.

Shy Hunter, freshman, helped work the event. "I liked the fog machine and the lights," said Hunter, "and they played a couple of my favorite songs."
Event DJ, set up crew, and host was Chris Lloyd. Lloyd is road manager for The Smith Agency of Grand Rapids. "It's close to home, and I love this school," said Lloyd.

Brock Jackson and Blake Tindol, both sophomores, played on the same team. "I had fun. Our team dominated. We were undefeated," said Jackson, sophomore.
"The game was very physical. There was a lot of running," said Sean Gould, sophomore. "However, the music made it."
Stephanie Wymer, sophomore, also enjoyed herself at this event. "It was a nice change from events where we have to sit in the auditorium," said Wymer. "I hope it comes back."

Halls go head-to-head in competitions

By Chris Staab on 2/11/2011 Let the games begin! For the past two weeks, during pledging season, there has been a competition between the residence halls as Dole, Blair, and Shipherd Hall residents have had an opportunity to compete in the Residential Games. The Games have included events such as the three-legged race, the egg toss, dodge ball, the sack race, trivia night, and a scavenger hunt.

Blair Hall resident and freshman Alex Wasick said participating in dodge ball was fun and worth his time, because he had a chance to take part in an activity that everybody he knows loves, and he also had the chance to score points for Blair Hall. He said that he was happy to be a part of something fun and positive.

Blair Hall RA (Residential Advisor) junior Aaron Watkins was one of the individuals in charge of organizing the Residential Games. Watkins said that the games where designed to give students who are not pledging the opportunity to participate in fun activities while others are pledging. Watkins also detailed some of the games. He said the three-legged race is one where two people have one of their legs tied to their partner's and they use their free legs to race as best as they can. The sack race consists of people wearing large bags and hopping to a certain point before others can get there.

Watkins said he thinks the games are a great way for residents to come together, get to know each other a little better, and work as a team. He said that the best way to build community is through competition, and that is exactly what the Residential Games offer to students who are residents in any of the dorm halls.

Josh Kofflin, a freshman and resident of Blair Hall, said he participated in the scavenger hunt and dodge ball. He said that he had a lot of fun participating and hopes to be able to participate next year as well.
Senior Allison Kortz said Shipherd Hall took first place in all events except trivia, which went to Blair.

Students Perform Eve Ensler's 'Monologues' fundraiser

By Riana Rowles on 2/11/2011 It's February, and Valentine's Day is steadily approaching. In honor of the holiday, Olivet College will host a benefit in support of the SIREN/Eaton Shelter in Charlotte. The benefit will be in the form of two performances of Eve Ensler's special V-Day production of "The Vagina Monologues," the first starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, and the second at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $8 for the performances, but Olivet College students may attend free with a donation of a canned good. This will be Olivet's fifth time doing the benefit, a production that generally takes place every other year.

According to Dianne Thomas, director of the Women's Resource Center, "the Vagina Monologues is an Obie award-winning play by Eve Ensler." Thomas went on to explain the purpose of the play. "It is part of a national campaign to eradicate sexual violence against women, and it uses Valentine's Day as a day to celebrate women," said Thomas. "The "Vagina Monologues" was first performed by the writer as an off-Broadway play. The play is broken into different monologues with unusual titles, such as "My Angry Vagina" and "Because He Liked to Look at It." Each monologue draws from interviews with women, and [they] range from funny to painful to newfound wisdom. Each tells a story of compassion, humor, integrity and the strength of women. The stories include growing up, life during wartime, different ethnicities, different ages and different sexual orientations."

Thomas explained that there are a total of 16 monologues which will be read by a dozen different women. Participating are Olivet college sophomores Kazette Chan and Rebecca Jones and juniors Tajalli Kelley-Graves, Elizabeth Mitchell, Ja'Nae Hawkins and Amy Zesiger. Also in the cast are Chartwells employee Marsha Frost and Lin Collins, alumnus Michelle Erskine, Kim Forde of Marshall and Trisha Harris of Olivet. The play will be directed by Joanne Williams, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, and produced by Thomas, director of the Woman's Resource Center. Judy Fales, library assistant, said, "I have attended the performances every year and look forward to this one." She has previously donated furniture to be used in the productions.

"The Vagina Monologues" is a continuing story because they keep adding new characters that reflect the political climate changes, such as the woman in the burqa," Fales said. She also mentioned that although Olivet College is small in size compared to MSU and a couple of other colleges, it regularly presents this event, which is celebrated worldwide.

Professor and Student attend MPA Convention

By Echo Staff on 2/11/2011 Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication Joanne Williams and sophomore Sarah Phillips, editor of the Echo, took a trip to Detroit on Friday, Jan. 28 too attend the annual Michigan Press Association Conference, held at the Renaissance Center.

Gov. Rick Snyder spoke at the conference and outlined his plan as Michigan's new statesman. The governor opened the floor for questions, many coming from the college students in attendance.

The conference featured big names in media, including Pulitzer Prize winners M.L. Elrick and Jim Schaefer from the Detroit Free Press, Bob Sacks, and more, as well as newspaper owners and publishers from throughout the state. Echo staff members were honored for their writing efforts in the 2010 Michigan Press Association (MPA) collegiate editorial contest, earning three award mentions.