Outdoors in Indiana: Turkey Run State Park

On March 29th, my friend Ally O’Neill and I took our first journey to Turkey Run State Park.

It is the furthest away of the many locations I will be writing about this year. Although it is an approximately two hour drive from campus, it is well worth it if you have the time.

Turkey Run does not offer primitive campsites. However, they have over 200 electric sites that are spread out over a wide area, so we had no trouble locating one that was both beautiful and off of the beaten path, site 170.


170 sat atop a steep valley, providing a lovely overlook when we sat by the fire.

Although it was on an out-of-the-way loop of the Turkey Run campground, the park was full enough that there were campers at a few of the nearby sites. However, this became a positive situation. Some of our neighboring campers, down for the weekend from Purdue University, joined us for dinner and conversation.

It just goes to show that, even if you’ve fled to the wilderness, friends will find you in the darndest places.

The following day, Ally and I packed up our campsite, drank a couple of cups of coffee, and headed off to the main part of the park.

The only disappointing part of our trip occurred at the park’s Saddle Barn. Although Turkey Run State Park does offer guided horseback rides through the park, the employees there said that they could not take us out due to drizzling rain. So, we decided to go for a hike.


Turkey Run offers 11 hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from “Easy” to “Rugged” and in distance from 0.5 to three miles. We decided to hike down trail 2, a “Rugged” trail only one mile long that is described in the park’s brochure as a trail that “follows under cliff edges. A trail for the more adventurous. Be careful!”

We knew we had found the trail for us.


One of the highlights of our hike was the so-called “Gypsy Gulch.”

Within the gulch was one of the most unique and colorful waterfalls I have ever seen. Although much of the water flew over the side of the cliff in an expected manner, some of it simply trickled down the sides of the rock. The oxidation effect that resulted on the stone below resulted in streaks of red, green, black, brown and orange.



Because the water that poured further out from the rock was moving at a high velocity and wide angle, it was possible to stand directly underneath the brink of the cliff where the waterfall began without getting wet. The perspective of the forest offered from that vantage point was as relaxing as it was beautiful.


The ruggedness of the terrain provided Ally and me with many opportunities for climbing, scurrying, dangling, and jumping. It certainly wasn’t a trail for the faint-hearted or poorly-balanced, especially considering the slickness of the rocks and moss in the drizzle. Nevertheless, our excursion truly felt like an adventure of the highest order.


In the end, it was an experience that could not have been improved upon, and it was worth all of the time and effort that were involved.

Turkey Run State Park is located on S. R. 47, two miles east of S. R. 41.

Remember… the world is right outside the door. Let’s go!









(This article appeared in the April 4, 2008 edition of the Oak Leaves)

JOAK LEAVES: Squirrel Chasing Addiction Brings MC Student to Financial and Personal Ruin

This article was published in the Friday, April 4th edition of the Oak Leaves. This is part of a satirical section of the paper that is titled "The Joak Leaves," and should not be considered to be "real" news. I repeat... Chris Webster is still a student at Manchester College in good standing.

Chris Webster, formerly an MC sophomore who was majoring in art, has been diagnosed with a condition known as Compulsive Rodenita Sciuridae Disorder (CRSD). The symptoms of this diagnosis have, because of an obscure MC rule, brought Webster to financial ruin and forced him to drop out of Manchester College.

CRSD is characterized by an irresistible need to chase squirrels whenever they are seen.

Although typically the sufferers of this disorder can lead normal, functional lives by moving to an urban environment and avoiding parks, that is not an option for students who wish to remain at MC. However, the college’s administration has mandated that students who chase squirrels are to be charged $25 per offense.

Webster is now living in the alleys and on the park benches of North Manchester. His access to Spartan Cash has been rescinded, and he has been known to say, “I’m cold and I want to go home.”

Advocates for Webster assert that he is dealing with an addiction, and that the college should be helping him rather than punishing him. “I do have a squirrel chasing problem,” Webster said. “I just want to catch them and pet them. I find it strange that I have been fined for this, because it has proven very hard to actually catch a squirrel. It would help if I was better at climbing trees; I might have [MC junior] Russell Holl give me some lessons on that.”

Danette Norman Till, the director of MC’s counseling services, laments the manner in which Webster’s diagnosis is being handled by the administration. “Like many mental health disorders, it is possible to deal with the symptoms of CRSD,” she said. “However, given that he is one of the first to be diagnosed, there are no known treatment protocols established. Nevertheless, punishing him for a diagnosed condition is detrimental to his healing process and the development of life skills that could help him overcome his difficulties.”

His former roommate Martin Baldner Yohn, a first-year student, was one of the first to notice the changes in Webster. “No one really noticed at first, but eventually all he wanted to do was chase squirrels,” Yohn said. “I do still see him every once in a while, scurrying from trashcan to trashcan. Honestly, by now he’s become something like the squirrels themselves.”

In the words of first-year student Lindsey Baugh, “It’s not Chris’s fault. Those squirrels taunt him, taunt him I tell you!”

First-year Katherine Pea understands that there is a distinct difference between chasing squirrels and actually catching them. “Is it really Chris’s fault that squirrels lay at the bottom of the food chain and are incredibly fun to torment?” she asked. “Anyway, has anyone actually seen a person CATCH a squirrel? It is impossible! I suspect that sometimes the squirrels actually intend to egg us on. From a squirrel’s point of view, ‘YOU WILL NEVER GET THIS, YOU WILL NEVER GET THIS!’”

Campus Pastor Steven Crain believes that, given Webster’s lack of access to food following the rescinding of his Spartan Cash, the campus should be actively assisting him through this difficult time. “As his campus pastor, I will supply Chris with squirrel traps, a small grill and several recipes for BBQ squirrel. We can have a Simply Brethren Squirrel Roast. It’s the pastoral thing to do.”

Chef Chris Fogerty agrees. “As the MC Executive Chef, I will tutor him in the preparation of said squirrels, so that they may be finger lickin’ good for the Brethren BBQ.”

However, not all of the MC community agrees with these conclusions. “The monster deserves what he gets!” exclaimed sophomore Kyle Watson. “To prey on innocent squirrels for sport… without regard for the victims’ families! With Chris now out of the picture, a more beautiful future is available to the squirrels.”

Sophomore Maggie Winey elaborated on this sentiment. “As a result of being chased, much harm is caused mentally to those squirrels who are being pursued,” she said. “A squirrel that is chased by a human experiences much mental trauma, because they normally see humans as friends and not enemies.”

Junior Nicolas Kauffman, a current participant in the BCA program to Mexico, agrees that the prohibition of squirrel chasing is a benefit to the college. “As Manchester’s recruiting agent in Mexico, it has been my experience that MC’s happy squirrel population is among the top draws our college has to students in this region,” he said. “I am concerned what Webster’s activities could eventually do to our enrollment.”

Nevertheless, there are students who believe that the whole issue has a sinister undertone that is dangerous to ignore. “I think they take pleasure in throwing acorns down trees at the people below,” said first-year student Nadia Nubani. “They might even have an army formulating.”

First-year Nathan Driscoll speaks of a bizarre interaction that he had with Webster, and of its potential consequences. “Chris has told me that squirrels are evil tyrants who are threatening to take over the college,” Driscoll said. “He told me that ‘Those creatures are plotting to overthrow the administration and run the college themselves; that will only be their first step towards world domination.’

“At first I wanted to dismiss him as a lunatic, but then he showed me the scars he has received from his furry nemeses,” Driscoll continued. “He said that about two dozen squirrels had jumped him and threw acorns at him, bit his kneecaps, ripped out numerous arm and leg hairs and stabbed him with small, broken tree branches. I think it’s time for everyone to know the truth. After all, how do we know that the squirrels haven’t already taken over the administration?”

Senior Drema Drudge had even more information regarding a potential squirrel conspiracy. “I think that the reason Chris is getting so persecuted is that he has found out the deep, dark secret the administration has been trying to keep: the squirrels are actually all of the professors who have ever retired,” she said. “They love Manchester so much they get turned into squirrels in a secret ceremony held every May in the underground tunnels, complete with tiny gowns and mortar boards.

“Chris had better be careful-- they’re pretty serious about keeping this secret away from the students,” Drudge continued. “Better he should take a few bites (and possibly even contract rabies) than risk the wrath of the administration.”

First-year Ally O’Neill has noticed the suspicious behaviors of the MC campus squirrels, as well. “One of the first things I noticed about them was their boldness; they stand, tails flicking, right next to the sidewalk,” she said. “Sometimes it’s all I can do not to take off after them. I completely understand Chris’s actions. Those insubordinate little rodents know exactly what they’re doing.”

Regardless of one’s opinions regarding CRSD, it is apparent that squirrel chasing is an important issue for campus life at MC. We truly do not yet know what could still develop from this situation, but it cannot be ignored any longer.

Compassion, Change and College: MC Senior Drema Drudge

Drema Drudge, a senior here at MC and a so-called "non-traditional student", is an exceptional woman.

After graduating from high school, Drema attended MC for a while. However, she and her husband Barry became aware of the dire need for foster parents. They decided to volunteer as foster parents on a short term basis, but ultimately committed themselves to the long-term care of emotionally handicapped children.

They initially adopted a girl who, had they not provided a home for her, would have likely been institutionalized. Then, a few years later, they adopted a boy. “So, that kind of interrupted things, as far as college was concerned,” Drema said.

The process of being foster parents provided them not only with challenges, but with opportunities for learning and growth. “The man from Allen County Child Protective Services said that she [their adopted daughter] was the third worst case he’d seen in 25 years,” Drema said.

She and Barry rose to the challenge, however. “She’s had a happy ending,” Barry said. “She’s now in college, married and doing very well. She is so intelligent.”Drema is currently homeschooling their son, who will enroll in the public high school next year. She homeschooled both of her children for part of their educations.

As their children grew up and came into themselves as more mature people, Drema was able to return to school. She returned to MC at the beginning of 2007’s fall semester, and will be graduating this spring with a major in English/writing.

During her time away from college, Drema and her family lived for five years in Nashville, TN. “We really loved the multicultural aspect of living there,” Barry said. “We saw so many perspectives on life through the ways the people there were conducting their lives. We realized, you know, that they were really wonderful people. Then, we came back here and, well, we love the people here, but we felt the difference, the lack of diversity.”

Also during this period, Drema wrote three unpublished novels; in her words, “two horrible, one not so bad.”

“Also I had built a bit of a freelance writing career in my ‘spare time’,” she continued, “though I have now shifted my focus to work primarily on my fiction."

And, she says, the pace has been just right. “It’s been good for me to have some distance between high school and college,” Dreema said. “I think a lot of the time if someone goes to college right out of high school, they tend to think of it on some level as an extension of their high school experience without realizing how important and meaningful college can be.”

Which is not to say that her return to college has been without frustrations. For one thing, although the age difference between herself and MC’s many traditional students is often unapparent, it nevertheless exists. “There are moments when I feel like everyone else,” she said. “And then there are moments when one of the other students will say something so… incredibly young.”

Furthermore, it has required that members of her family adapt to the growth in her life. Although this primarily affects her husband and son, of course, it also has resulted in changes in her relationships with the members of her extended family. “I’ve had family members who, as a result of all the growth that’s happened in me since I returned to college, have some extra difficulty relating to me,” Drema said. “You know, ‘Who are you? You’ve changed.’”

However, the benefits have far outweighed the frustrations. “It’s been so worthwhile,” she said. “I’ve learned almost as much from the students as I have from the professors—and I’ve had fabulous professors.”

“It’s funny how people who are necessary for your growth find you at the right time,” she continued. “There have been incidental comments by professors and students that have transformed my way of thinking towards people, towards my writing and towards my faith.”

Barry feels that there is a connection between this willingness to question herself and her beliefs and the benefits that she has gotten from her college experience. “I think that her growth in her writing and in her academics started when she began to allow herself to go anywhere with her writing, when she stopped saying, ‘No, I can’t go there,’” he said.

“We’ve been on a journey for many years of expanding our lives on so many levels, and Drema’s experiences in college have kind of rammed that up another level.”

Following her graduation this spring, Drema will be going on to graduate school at Spalding to pursue an MFA.

Outdoors in Indiana: The Hidden Wonders of Winter Hikes

These last few months, I’ve noticed that I always get the same response when I tell someone I’m on my way out to go for a hike.

“Isn’t it a bit cold for that now?”

The short answer is, no. The long answer is, there are wonders to be discovered while in the forest during the wintertime that are completely denied to people who only wander to the out-of-doors during the warmer times of the year.

Take, for instance, Saturday, March 8. Three of my friends—Brittany Carpenter, Ally O’Neill and Zachary VanWinkle—and I decided to take a short trip to Salamonie State Forest for a hike up to the top of Hanging Rock and a trek around the Three Falls Trail (see “Outdoors in Indiana” articles from September 21, 2007 and November 16, 2007).

Not all of my companions were equally enthusiastic about the venture. “When I was first asked if I wanted to go hiking, I was very unsure,” Zachary said. “I was mostly unsure of my friends’ sanity, because it was freezing and there was snow on the ground.”

But he was willing to be persuaded by the rest of us, and less than an hour later we were trekking across unbroken fields of snow, towards hills, rivers and waterfalls.

Now, I have been on the Three Falls Trail a plethora of times, but that day it was like discovering a previously unseen winter wonderland. The river flowed beneath a thin crust of ice; the ice was shimmery and traced with patterns of starbursts on top and the ripples of trickling water underneath.

About a mile into the trail, there is a steep drop-off down into a valley; I call it the “As You Wish” hill, my own tribute to The Princess Bride. Because we could see a frozen waterfall just a short distance beyond the bottom of the hill, we decided to slide down it and see what exploring there was to be done.

The journey down was an adventure unto itself. We swisssshed down swiftly: no sleds were required. “That slide is better than anything you will be able to find at the local park!”, Zachary exclaimed later.

If you have never climbed underneath a frozen waterfall, you should strongly consider doing so. Although the icy and snow underneath our gloves was cold, our cheeks were warm and our breath danced with our giggles whenever we slipped.

The sound of water dripping was audible underneath the heavy solidity of the ice; it was so profound it is difficult to not wax poetic about the movement found within stability. I’ll leave it at this: when it comes to waterfalls, direct experience is really the way to go.

So-called “bad” weather provides us with an opportunity to see familiar things in a new way. Although the comfort level may not have been equal to that of a mellow stroll in June, the discoveries, challenges and new perspectives that are offered by hiking in snowy, rainy, or icy conditions far outweigh the difficulty.

The hike even affected Brittany’s perspective on Indiana and the area surrounding Manchester College. “Until my hike at Three Falls Trail, I had thought that Indiana was generally kind of ugly,” she said. “The frozen waterfalls were some of the most gorgeous sights I’d seen in quite some time, and there was absolutely nobody around. It was very refreshing to experience such peace and beauty only minutes from Manchester’s campus.”

Of course, spring has now officially started and melting has begun. However, it is hardly unheard of for there to be an early spring frost. If this does occur, I will humbly recommend that you consider breaking out your hiking boots and a good pair of gloves and seeing what you can discover.

After all, the world is right outside the door…. Let’s go!

Indiana Collegiate Press Association Award

Yesterday, my journalism professor Dr. Katharine Ings informed the Oak Leaves staff that five of its writers have won writing awards from the Indiana Collegiate Press Association.

I am one of those five students. The other students from Manchester College who received awards are Adam King, Matt Penner, Jessie Hickerson, and Alina BigJohny.

We do not yet know which or how many awards we may have won, since several of us had multiple articles submitted.

The award ceremony will be at the Indiana Collegiate Press Association's conference in Terre Haute, IN on March 29.

Decision Regarding $50 Raise in Student Activity Fee To Be Delayed until Spring of 2009

The Student Budget Board held a forum last Friday to discuss a potential $50 increase in the student activity fee.

Although no long-term decision has been made, it has been decided that the SGA’s vote on the matter will be delayed until the spring semester of 2009.

Sophomore Jason Elliott, the president of the SBB, had a lot to say about the context for the proposed change. “We originally thought about raising the student activity fee because the requests from clubs were $10,000 above what we are allowed to give, which is about $25,000 per semester,” he said.

“The result was a decrease in every student organization’s budget by 30 percent,” Elliott continued. “The organizations were quite irate.”

The proposed raised fee is an effort to avoid having to encounter this problem during upcoming semesters.

Students were not silent about this semester’s budget cuts. “SBB should be comprised of a member of each organization, or at least someone that is knowledgeable about what each of the clubs need,” said senior Heidi Gonyea. “When I have to put $100 of my own money into an organization [Alpha Psi] each year, there is a problem.”

First-year student Zachary VanWinkle agreed: “I am not opposed to an increase in the student activities fee, but I would like to be ensured that the money they currently have is being used efficiently and wisely.”

Goynea cloncluded, “The school may eventually be getting an extra $50 from each student for student activities, but I doubt some organizations will see even a penny of that increase."

Although SBB believes that unnecessary requests and budget padding is a significant contributor to the original problem, it is not ignoring student concerns about the unfair distribution of funds.

Starting this semester, the president and treasurer of each club can have an opportunity to sit with the SBB and go over the club’s budget in order to have a chance to justify their need for each item and to communicate the club’s budgetary priorities.

“We hope that this will prevent ill-directed and unnecessary anger towards SBB, because people will have had a chance to meet with us,” Elliott said. “If we could have eliminated the problem of budget padding, then this problem wouldn’t have arisen, at least not to this degree.”

Another concern arises from the ease with which students can create their own clubs, which results in an abundance of organizations requesting funding. “I'm the President for AAA,” said junior Jahan Monirian. “I understand the need to raise the activity fee, but it would be nice if there was a set number of clubs or some way to filter out clubs which aren't bringing much to the table.”

Other students have focused on the benefits of club participation, asserting that they far outweigh the costs involved in raising the fee. “I am president of two clubs, and quasi-active in about three others,” said junior Russell Holl. “I definitely care about them. I think clubs are a great outlet.”

Sophomore Brittany Carpenter agreed. “I think clubs are a very important part of a school, especially one as small and homogenous as Manchester,” Carpenter said. “Although it is getting more and more important to keep costs low at our school, clubs increase opportunity and awareness on a campus in many different ways, and it is difficult to put a price on that.”

One unresolved issue that was brought up during the forum involved the disparity with which the raised fee will affect some students, particularly international students and students from lower socio-economic classes.

Although student opinions regarding the matter are diverse and strongly held, attendance at the forum was low. “There were only about 10 students there, so either people didn’t know about it or didn’t care,” Elliott said. “This, of course, is also a big issue.”

“One student, Katie McCann, said to me that she felt honored to have even been asked her opinion about it,” Elliott said. “It is not usually the case that students are asked for their feedback in tuition and room and board rate changes, but we gave them a chance to speak their opinion about this fee.”

(This article appeared in the March 7 edition of The Oak Leaves)

MC Baseball Team's Season Opens in South Carolina

The Manchester College baseball team’s season started this week.

Although in recent years the team has gone to Florida for the start of the season, this year will be different. The team will be traveling to Myrtle Beach, SC. They left on Thursday, Feb. 28 and will be gone through Sunday, March 2. Their opening game was Thursday against Concordia College (MI).

Several of last year’s varsity players graduated in the spring of 2007: Scott Tarnowski, Matt Talarico, Tyler Wolfe, Marcus Miller, Jordan Adams, Jason Carmichael, and Zac Bireley. As a result, this year’s lineup will include several first-year students: Wes Bucher, David Tatham, John Smolinski, Trey Forbes, Jay Sheets, Eric Roof, Curtis Mallory, JT Podell, and Andy Hughes will all be joining the team on its trip to South Carolina.

This year’s players expressed excitement about the upcoming trip, particularly because it offers a chance for them to spend time together as a team. “I’m excited to go and get to know the first-year players a little better, and to spend time with the team,” said junior Shawn Baker. “We always have a good time on road trips because we are so close.”

It is also particularly exciting for many of the players precisely because it is the start of a new season. “I’m excited about starting the season!” said junior Jared Baker. “There’s nothing like opening day. It’s a new year; everyone has a chance to go all the way.”

One anticipated benefit from the trip is the chance to leave the grey, cold and fickle Indiana weather. “I am the most excited about leaving the snow behind,” said senior Shaun Carrico, “and
replacing it with some decent 60 degree weather.”

But that coin has two sides; the dismal Indiana weather has meant that their practices have, so far, all been indoors. “The thing I’m the most nervous about is going from practicing inside to playing games right away without having a single practice on the field,” said sophomore Kaz Kalita. “Everything is different outside: throwing, fielding groundballs for infielders, reading the ball off the bat for outfielders, and even hitting.”

“But I’m confident that my teammates and I can adjust quickly down there in Myrtle Beach,” Kalita concluded.

Sophomore Adam King is not only excited about the prospect of playing baseball and seeing the east coast; this trip is giving him a chance to meet members of his family for the first time. “I have family in Myrtle Beach who I’ve actually never met,” he said. “They’re coming to watch me play.”

Like many of his teammates, King started playing baseball when he was four or five years old. “It’s a great game, the best in my opinion,” he said.

Nevertheless, he hasn’t lost his perspective. “It took an ESPN: The Magazine article about Morgan Ensberg, a major league ballplayer, to make me realize how minor baseball was compared to some other things in my life. Striking out or making an error doesn't mean the end of the world,” King said.

This perspective helps him sustain his joy for the game, which he said has “always been a means of pure enjoyment.”

The time on the road is a great way to start the season, according to junior Jeffrey Mendenhall. “We’re going to have a few days of thinking about nothing except for baseball,” Mendenhall said. “I believe that it will help to set a tone for the rest of the season.”

(This article appeared in the February 29 edition of The Oak Leaves)

Destruction of Snow Phallus Bemoaned by Its Creators and Their Fellow Students

There was a new arrival to the MC campus during the evening following the Super Bowl. Although the visitor seemed cold and hard, there was an air of artistry and dedication surrounding the area. By the morning, there was no remaining trace of the visitor ever having come at all. What was this mysterious stranger? It was a giant snow penis, constructed by Manchester College art students.

Very few members of the MC community got a chance to see the snow construction, however, because it was destroyed by campus security and maintenance before the start of Monday’s classes. It had existed for less than seven hours before it was removed.

The demolition of the snow phallus has since been protested by the students who created it, as well as by their fellow students who wanted to see the campus’s infamous penis.

Sophomore Chris Webster conceived of the idea for the construction of the snow phallus. “No one that I called wanted to just go outside and play in the snow, but when I changed my request and asked if they wanted to help me build a big, giant, throbbing [penis] on the mall, they were all for it,” Webster said. “It started out as play, and ended up as art.”

Martin Yohn, a first-year student, was one of the friends that received a call to come help. “I immediately put on everything warm that I owned and met Chris, followed closely by Brian [Kunze] and Joe [Dwars],” Yohn said. “It must have been amusing for any passersby to see four figures, spaced evenly on the sidewalk around the mall, each with a 40 pound ball of snow being pushed and forced along the path in front of them.”

Dwars’ sense of humor and desire for novelty contributed to his participation in the construction of the penis. “I decided to join in because I thought it was hilarious to do a snow penis when everyone else was just making snowmen, and I wanted to make something everyone would be talking about, kind of like immortalizing us and the penis.”

Construction of a snow phallus of such a magnitude required some creative problem-solving in order to achieve the right shape and level of realism that was envisioned by its creators. “You would be surprised at the amount of consideration that is involved in sculpting a hard-on out of snow,” Yohn said. “We had to ask ourselves questions like, how big should we make it? How long? Should it be vertically or horizontally erect? Should we even tackle the issue of hair?”

“The shaft was multi-balled, and then unified—we put three or four balls in a line and then filled in the spaces,” Webster said. “Marty and I demanded that it be huge; we didn’t want just a tiny [penis] for the corner.”

“Once we had it together, it was all about rubbing the [penis] thoroughly to make sure it had the right shape—you know, good and strong,” Webster continued. “Then, from there we added on veins, to make it throbbing.”

All of the people who were up and around on campus late enough to witness the creation of the phallus were amused, supportive and impressed. “Everybody who saw the penis loved it and loved the idea,” Dwars said. “We even had a bunch of people stand and watch and even pack some snow on.”

Kunze and Webster agreed that their fellow students seemed more enthusiastic than offended. “While we were making the penis, a group came to the mall, and we all threw some snowballs back and forth,” Kunze said. “After a while, they went off to make a wall across the road in front of the Union. Everyone who walked by or stopped to watch was amazed by the snow penis.”

“The people who witnessed the assembly of the [penis] were all pretty supportive,” Webster said. “Some people rode it, but that was before it had the veins on it yet. Others asked us why we were making a giant penis on the mall in the first place. Still others joined in and helped with the construction. Some other people were talking about making a giant vagina, too, but then they realized it would be too difficult.”

Although students’ opinions regarding the snow penis were varied, there seems to be a consensus among many students that it was not necessary to destroy the snow art. “I can see how the penis could seem offensive, but college is a time for people to be more explorative and open-minded,” said sophomore Maggie Winey. “I’m a little pissed off that I didn’t get a chance to see it in person.”

First-year student Zachary VanWinkle sees the destruction of the phallus as an indication of the power dynamic between students and the administration. “I think that the way the college reacted to the snow penis reveals that anything that is deemed inappropriate is subject to censure by the college’s administration and staff,” VanWinkle said. “Although this may be their right, we live here, and we should have the right to freedom of expression.”

Junior Natasha Miller was one of the most outspoken students in favor of the existence of snow phalluses on campus. “I have no problem with penises,” Miller said. “In fact, I am very fond of them. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of them (like this snow penis) around campus.”

Likewise, first-year student Epigmenio Sanchez regrets that the penis was destroyed so promptly. “A big snow penis on campus is actually pretty funny,” Sanchez said. “It would have been nice to be able to see it myself, and maybe even get a few photos of myself with the penis.”

The creators of the snow penis were saddened by the removal of their creation. “When it was tore down we were all upset, because we really didn’t feel like anyone had the right to demolish our snow penis,” Dwars said. “After all, there’s a bunch of art that has penises and other genitals in it. We were also pretty pissed that not a whole lot of people got to see the penis, because what we wanted to do was make the campus laugh.”

Chris Webster agreed. “I felt a great disappointment towards this college when our penis was destroyed,” Webster said. “It was art, and I had hoped it would be respected, but it wasn’t. It was throbbing—I mean, c’mon, you have to at least respect that.”

Webster also had advice to offer to other potential snow artists. “If I was to give any advice to future snow masons, it would be this: wear gloves. Good ones.”

(An edited version of this article appeared in the February 22 edition of The Oak Leaves)

Scout Fuller Fund for Social Justice to Provide an MC Student with Opportunity for Service-Oriented Internship

On March 1st, applications for the 2008 Scout Fuller Fund for Social Justice Summer Service Award are due; all Manchester College students who will still be enrolled for the 2008-2009 academic year are eligible to apply.

The recipient of the award will receive up to $2000 of expenses directly related to a service-oriented internship, as well as up to an additional $3000 cash award to help cover expenses during the 2008-2009 school year.

This fund is in memory of Josephine “Scout” Wollman Fuller, the daughter of Abby Fuller (associate professor of sociology) and Neil Wollman (former professor of psychology), who died following a seven-month-long battle with cancer on July 7, 2007 at the age of eight.

“The idea for the fund originated very soon after Scout’s death out of a desire to perpetuate her legacy of concern for others and strong sense of justice,” said Abby Fuller. “We have all found it very meaningful to create and run the fund; it has given us something positive to do in the midst of our grief.”

In a tribute written for Scout’s Caring Bridge website, Abby said that “Scout was scrupulously honest, and could be indignant when others were not. She had a strong sense of fairness and was troubled when people were not treated equally…. She had philosophical discussions with her dad about evolution, about the spiritual world, about the importance of helping others…. It is Scout’s sensitivity to others, though, that was perhaps her defining quality.”

“We decided to give an award to an MC student for a summer internship or volunteer experience because as an MC prof, I know that there are many capable and motivated students who must work during the summer,” continued Fuller. “So, we decided to not only pay for the internship/volunteer experience but also to award extra money for the student to use the following year.”

“Scout inspired me,” said Neil Wollman. “We learned from each other, and she’s continued to inspire me in a lot of ways even after her death. For instance, I’ve been thinking more about how I interact with others, becoming calmer in certain ways, so there’s definitely been a personal involvement…. But there’s also been an effect in my work with social concern projects. Wherever I can, I try to think about Scout and how I can remember her and honor her in certain ways. This fund, likewise, is a way of remembering her and honoring her.”

“I feel that there are still a number of ways where it seems as though Scout is still around, helping other people,” Wollman continued. “It seems impossible to completely accept her death, but it is made easier to accept because of this sense that she still has a presence that reveals itself in ways that are helpful to people, and creative, and to a fair amount that means that she is showing her power continually and carrying on some of her character.”

A touching account of Scout’s story, told by members of her family, can be read at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/scout.

Information on the Scout Fuller Award for Social Justice, including a link to the application, can be found at http://www.scoutfullerfund.org/pages/apply-for-the-2008-summer-service-award.php.

(This article appeared in the February 15 edition of The Oak Leaves)

Growing Divide between Liberal and Conservative Students Results in Conflict, Conversation

On January 28, a message titled “Some Nice Conservative Opinions about Manchester” was circulated on Facebook. This message, written by a self-avowed “Conservative [sic] Republican,” damned Manchester as a “Hippie Palace… controlled by gay liberal vegans,” and declared that “the bottom line is basically that people need to grow the [expletive] up.”

Although the majority of Facebook notes stand on their own, without response, this particular message yielded almost a dozen replies within the first 18 hours. Remarkably, many of these responses were from liberal students who felt empathy over the writer’s sense of alienation, and included many offers for further conversation.

These messages indicate that dissent within the student body regarding politics and lifestyle is more prevalent than is apparent from the average classroom discussion. Because these matters are primarily discussed in informal settings and online forums, it is likely that much of the faculty and staff are unaware of the disputes at all. However, there is clearly both a need and a desire for a forum for discussion between liberal and conservative MC students.

The original message stated that the writer’s experience at MC has led her to feel that “if your [sic] not a liberal then the gays basically assign you as to what you are supposed to believe and think and if you don’t do as they say they degrade [you] as a human…. They order you to recycle and never eat meat and to stop buying name brand clothes,” she wrote. “I can understand the hate of soldiers and the abuse of children from parents, but for one Caucasian HUMAN to treat another Caucasian HUMAN so badly for how they dress and for what they eat? That’s terrible.”

She also expressed confusion regarding the presence of Christian homosexual students; “Last time I checked Christianity protested against homosexuality.”

One of the first replies, written by sophomore Zach Blatz, warned future readers to avoid automatically responding in a judgmental and hostile manner. “[The writer] is obviously saying this because something happened,” he said. “Why are we, as accepting ‘liberals,’ going around attacking people for not being just like us?”

First year student Zachary VanWinkle was easily able to see the parallel between the writer’s sense of alienation in a liberal environment and his own experience of alienation as a homosexual in a conservative environment. “There are some very misinformed and troubling arguments in this piece,” he said. “But if I reverse the role, I can try to understand. Kendallville is not a liberal heaven, and especially not a place to be gay or vegetarian.”

“I am not sure where [the writer] came from, but know this-- I never felt safe or at home in Kendallville,” VanWinkle said. “I am safe and can be who I want to be here. I can be gay, liberal, and a ‘label whore’… But you should speak out. Voice your opinions, or else how will you and I communicate and find common ground?”

Senior Anna Simons, referring to another poster’s comment, wrote “Thanks for the reminder that ‘mean people are suffering.’… I think it’s probably [one of] the easiest truths to forget. I think we forget it because we get angry, too, because we suffer also and then we get mean sometimes.”

“I can understand this person’s feeling that she is surrounded by differing assumptions and wanting to rail against those,” Simons continued. “I often feel that way too, and sometimes
feel like the only response I can make is to take just as strong a position on the other side and act like just as big an asshole. One of the scariest and most important things we can do as members of a human community is to learn to really listen to each other.”

John Fagan, a sophomore religion major, spoke out on behalf of moderate and conservative students here at MC. “I will be honest about the letter written by the first year student; I don't disagree on every point made,” Fagan said. “Yes, I think that her letter was racist and narrow minded and all around poorly thought out, but a valid point was made [regarding] the overwhelming unbalance in the liberal to conservative population of the student body.”

“In my experience here, I have found that it is to be expected that if one is to express a conservative view point in a group setting, one should be prepared to be attacked much more aggressively than [if a liberal student were to express] his/her point,” Fagan continued. “Furthermore, in my opinion, I feel a forum of discussion between the two sides would be excellent. I would have much to say, given that the discussion was properly mediated.”

“I have learned so much already about people and how different they can be,” said sophomore Erica Nisley, a self-professed conservative Mennonite. “In no way, however, have I ever felt that a certain group of people has overbearing control of the environment here.… As for the groups on campus who support clothing not manufactured in sweatshops, recycling, and encourage us not to waste as much food, they're just being proactive with their values. It may not be your style, but its their's. They're doing something to better the lives of others in a way they see fit.”

“As far as Christianity goes, the Bible contains passages that don't condone homosexuality, but then there are also the passages that speak about the love of your fellow human beings,” Nisley said. “Which matters more, your orientation or your common humanity? No matter where you go to school, no matter where you live, you'll come into contact with people whose views are so much different than yours. You're going to have to learn to live with them.”

First-year student Matthew Bennett said “I am a conservative Christian…. However, I have adapted to the culture of the school, and am not angered by it…. While I believe homosexuality is immoral, I do not believe hatred and violence against those who choose that lifestyle is warranted.”

“The note spoke of the way the author felt that certain groups were seeking to force her to adapt to their points of view. I have not felt that I have been pressured to accept their agenda or to conform to their beliefs,” said Bennett. “While the sort of tolerance I possess may not be what some want it to be, I am tolerant on several levels…. Not all conservatives are full of hate, just as not all liberals are full of hate towards others. Hopefully more of us will realize that, and we can all go through our days without hard feelings towards one another.”

Kendal Sue Kosta Mikel, an MC alum from the class of 2007, observed that prejudice tends to produce conflict rather than knowledge. “I feel sorry for this person, who seems to be completely misinformed,” Mikel wrote. “It’s sad if she was mistreated by someone in a certain social group, however, she should probably understand that generalizing people is not going to solve her problems. She does not want people unlike her to say that because she is a conservative
she fits into a specific ‘box,’ so why does she believe this about others?”

Mikel concluded by observing that some of the important things that students are able to learn during their time at MC include a deepening understanding of “who [we are], what [we] really believe and, most importantly, why [we] believe those things.”