Art rental
Oberlin's museum has a unique art rental program. At the beginning of every semester students camp out in front of the north gate of the college's Allen Memorial Art Museum to get first pick of original etchings, lithographs and paintings by artists including Renoir, Warhol, Dalí, and Picasso. For five dollars per semester, students can hang these works on their dorm room walls. The program was started in the 1940s by Ellen H. Johnson, a professor of art at Oberlin, in order to "develop the aesthetic sensibilities of students and encourage ordered thinking and discrimination in other areas of their lives."[54]
Film
The Apollo Theater's iconic marquee at night.
Thomas Edison's moving picture show was shown in Oberlin in February 1900.[55] Just seven years later, Oberlin's Apollo Theater opened, and became one of the first theaters to install sound equipment, for the 1928 release of The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie." The theater has since been a mainstay in the Oberlin community at its comfortable locale on south campus, and in 2012 became the centerpiece for The Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman Cinema Studies Center for Media Education and Production. It includes editing labs, an animation area, a recording studio and small projection screening room.[56]
Music
In addition to Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin has musical opportunities available for amateur musicians and students in the college. The entirely student-run Oberlin College Marching Band (OCMB), founded in 1998, performs at various sporting events including football games, women's rugby, and pep rallies throughout the year. There are a number of a cappella groups, including Pitch, Please (co-ed), the Obertones (all-male), the Acapelicans (all-female), Nothing But Treble (all-female), and 'Round Midnight (co-ed jazz). In addition, students in the college can form chamber groups and receive coaching through the Conservatory. Student composers also provide a demand for musicians to perform their work.
The college radio station WOBC-FM, and the party circuit (including the popular on-campus venue, The 'Sco) contribute to the campus music scene. Many alumni have pursued careers in popular and indie music, including members of the bands The Mars Volta, Rasputina, Come, Deerhoof, Liz Phair, Josh Ritter, Songs: Ohia, The Sea and Cake, Teengirl Fantasy, Tortoise, Trans Am, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Skeletons, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Due in part to both this and the school's proximity to Cleveland, the college attracts touring artists with a frequency nearly unparalleled among institutions of its size.
Political activism
Oberlin students have a reputation for being notably liberal, libertarian or progressive. The college was ranked among the Princeton Review's' list of "Colleges with a Conscience" in 2005.[57] Activism among the student body has resulted in a campus-wide ban on sales of Coca-Cola products.[58]
In the 1960s, Memorial Arch became a rallying point for the College's civil rights activists and its anti-war movement. Oberlin supplied a disproportionate number of participants in Mississippi Freedom Summer, rebuilt the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in the Carpenters for Christmas project, supported NAACP sponsored sit-ins in Cleveland to integrate the building-trades, and with the SCLC participated in demonstrations at Hammermill Paper.
Oberlin is also known for its liberal attitude toward sexuality and gender expression. Oberlin was ranked among the 20 friendliest campuses for LGBT students in The Advocate's College Guide for LGBT Students.[59] Several different student groups exist to support the interests of LGBT students and their allies.
The school hosts a student-run Sexual Information Center, where students may receive free or heavily discounted condoms and lubricant, confidential peer counseling on sexual issues, and free rides to clinics in the area. The Sexual Information Center sponsors Safer Sex Week, originally started in the 1980s as a response to the AIDS crisis. Oberlin's Drag Ball Committee hosts Drag Ball, which marks Transgender Awareness week. Both these events are well-attended by students, although they have drawn criticism from conservatives.[60]
A sampling of the school's past commencement speakers reflects its reputation for embracing diversity, ranging from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jesse L. Jackson to figures as varied as Pete Seeger and Robert Frost; even Adlai Stevenson appeared, a month prior to his death.
In 2013, after a string of racially biased postings on campus, president Marvin Krislov cancelled classes in response to student demands[61] and called for a day of reflection and change. In a public statement, he claimed that an investigation had identified two students believed to be largely responsible for the postings, who had been removed from campus.[62][63] In a police report of the events, two students, whose names have been redacted, admitted to some but not all of the offenses.[64]
Sustainability
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center, home of the environmental studies department
Oberlin College has demonstrated its commitment to the pursuit of sustainability on a number of fronts. In 2006, Oberlin became one of the character institutions to sign the ACUPCC and set a target climate neutrality date for 2025.[65] Oberlin's innovative Adam Joseph Lewis Center For Environmental Studies, a building the Department of Energy labeled as one of the "milestone" buildings of the 20th century, incorporates a 4,600 square foot (425 square meter) photovoltaic array, the biggest of its kind in Ohio at the time. The AJLC also features a Living Machine, garden, orchard, and parking lot solar array.
The school utilizes biodiesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles for various purposes, offers financial support to a local transit company providing public transportation to the school, and has been home to the Oberlin Bike Co-op, a cooperatively run bicycle center, since 1986. Each residence hall monitors and displays real time and historic electricity and water use. Some dorms also have special lamps which display a color depending on how real time energy use compares to the average historic energy use. The school's Campus Committee on Shareholder Responsibility provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to make suggestions and decisions on proxy votes.
In 2007, Oberlin received a grade of "B+" from the Sustainable Endowments Institute's annual College Sustainability Report Card, and was featured among schools as a "Campus Sustainability Leader".[66] In 2008, Oberlin received an "A-" on the annual College Sustainability Report Card.[67] It was also listed as the school with the greenest conscience by Plenty in their green campuses ratings.[68] In 2011, the College received an A on the Sustainability Report card.[69] Oberlin College participated in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) in early 2012. Oberlin College was one of only 43 institutions to receive a grade of Gold in STARS.[70]
According to a 2010 article in The Oberlin Review, renovated dorms may use more electricity.[71] This is the case for several dorms renovated during the summer of 2008.[71] The College architect, Steve Varelmann, has called the numbers "erratic and possibly unreliable."[71] According to Varelmann, a possible explanation for this phenomenon is that previously non-functioning equipment started functioning again after the renovation.[72] Students may also be at blame for their behavior: "What electronic devices are they using? Are they voluntarily reducing light usage? Are spaces experiencing increased use due to the improvements achieved from the renovation?"[73] John Scofield, professor of physics at Oberlin concluded that "We are building more and more efficient buildings, yet we're using more energy."[73]
Publications and media
Oberlin students publish a wide variety of periodicals. The college's largest publications are The Oberlin Review and The Grape. The Oberlin Review is a traditional weekly newspaper, focusing on current events, with a circulation of around 2,500. The Grape is Oberlin's student-run alternative newspaper. There is also a newspaper pertaining to the interests of students of color, called In Solidarity.
Magazines on campus include Wilder Voice, a magazine for creative nonfiction and long-form journalism,[74] Drivel Magazine, a satire and humor publication,[75] The Plum Creek Review, a literary review containing student-written fiction, poetry, translations, and visual art,[76] Headwaters Magazine, an environmental magazine,[77] and The Synapse, a science magazine.[78][79] Spiral is a magazine focused on genre fiction. The College also produces a quarterly alumni magazine,[80] while the Conservatory publishes its own magazine once a year.
The WOBC News Corps, a news division of WOBC-FM created in February 2010, produces local news segments that air bi-hourly. WOBC, a large student organization with significant non-student membership, also maintains an online blog that focuses on music and local events.
In February 2013, the college received a significant amount of press focusing on the so-called "No Trespass List," a secret list maintained by the college that bars individuals from campus without due process.[81] Student activists and members of the surrounding town joined together to form the One Town Campaign, which sought to challenge this policy.[82] On February 13, 2013, a forum at the Oberlin Public Library with over 200 people in attendance, including members of the college administration, the Oberlin city council and national press, saw speakers compare the atmosphere of the college to "a gated community." [83]
Athletics
The school's varsity sports teams are the Yeomen and Yeowomen. The name Yeomen arose in the early 1900s (decade) as a result of blending the former team moniker with the school's official motto. Early on in the program, football players and other athletes were known simply as Oberlin Men or "O" Men. Eventually, as the athletic department became more cohesive, the Yeomen mascot was adopted, drawing on the phonetic sound of "O" Men and the schools official motto of "Learning and Labor". As women's sports became more prevalent, "Yeowomen" was adopted to describe the mascot representing women's athletics. As of 2014, the school has announced that the albino squirrel will be its official mascot, although teams will continue to be referred to as "yeomen" and "yeowomen".[84] They participate in the NCAA's Division III and the North Coast Athletic Conference. Oberlin's football team was the first team coached by John Heisman, who led the team to a 7–0 record in 1892. Oberlin is the last college in Ohio to beat Ohio State (winning 7–6 in 1921). Though in modern times, the football team was more famous for losing streaks of 40 games (1992–1996) and 44 games (1997–2001), the Yeomen have enjoyed limited success in recent years.
The college also hosts several private sports teams, including the Oberlin Ultimate team. Oberlin Ultimate was founded in 1976 and is often among the top 10 teams in its region. Recently, leaders of the Athletic Department and various club sports have spoken out in favor of increased institutional support for the teams, requesting that the College provide access to professional sports trainers and team transportation.[85]
Cheerleading
In 2011, Oberlin began its most recent attempt to feature a cheerleading squad. In 2006, a cheerleader fell from atop a pyramid at a football game, initiating the demise of Oberlin's Cheerleading Club. That injury prompted the school to restrict the club's activities, prohibiting stunting and tumbling, after which participation fizzled out. The club's charter, however, remained intact and was used to bring the squad back in 2011. Tryouts were held in the spring of 2011 and the cheerleading team went active at Oberlin's first home football game that Fall, a 42-0 win over Kenyon College. The squad also cheers for the basketball team and participates in spirit building and service events across campus and in the community.[86]
Rugby
Oberlin has both women's and men's rugby teams, the Rhinos and the Gruffs, respectively. The Rhinos were formed in the early 1990s and have been competing continuously since then. The Rhinos have been one of the more successful Oberlin teams, defeating The Ohio State University 14–0 in Spring 2008, and winning the Teapot Dome Tournament. Rhino colors are green and black. The Oberlin College Men's Rugby team was founded in 1973 by Bruce Kostic Class of 1974. They won their first game defeating the Elyria Black River Rugby Club. Oberlin, formed as the Oberlin College Rugby Club (OCRC), was sponsored by the Oberlin College Rathskeller, then the campus pub. In its second season, 1974, the team complied a 3–2 record and carried a roster of 32 players, mainly football and lacrosse players.[87] The Oberlin Men's Rugby team disbanded their charter in the 1990s. The current men's rugby team was formed in the fall of 2006 as the Oberlin College Men's Rugby Football Club (OCMRFC) Gruffs mainly under the supervision of Keith Yoder and David Sokoll. Since then, the Gruffs have continued to grow as a formal, chartered, club sports organization of Oberlin College.
Ultimate
Oberlin has both men's and a women's Ultimate club teams, known as the Flying Horsecows and the Preying Manti[88] respectively. The Horsecows have made trips to College Nationals in 1992, 1995, 1997, and 1999. The Manti qualified for Nationals for the first time in 1997. Both teams qualified for Division III nationals in 2010. Both teams also maintain a tradition of emphasizing the spirit of Ultimate. After having an unsuccessful 2006–2007 season, the Flying Horsecows hired a coach to work them into shape, and succeeded in advancing to the Regional championship tournament.[89]
Notable people
Faculty
Alumni
See also
References
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^ As of June 30, 2013. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2013 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2012 to FY 2013". National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. 2014.
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^ url=http://www.oberlin.edu
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^ NAICU – Member Directory
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^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places.
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^ "Fast Facts - Oberlin College". Oberlin College. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
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^ "Oberlin College & Conservatory".
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^ Cityofoberlin.com
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^ Fletcher, Robert Samuel. A History of Oberlin College From Its Foundation Through the Civil War. Chicago: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, 1943. Print.
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^ "Constructing Black Education at Oberlin College". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ http://blackamericanweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/18489
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^ "Journal of Blacks in Higher Education". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ African Americans at Oberlin, Then and Now
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^ Cally L. Waite, "The Segregation of Black Students at Oberlin College after Reconstruction," History of Education Quarterly (2001) 41#3 pp 344-64. in JSTOR
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^ Hoagland adds that this innovation as also advantageous for men because it would uplift them spiritually. Ronald W. Hogeland, "Coeducation of the Sexes at Oberlin College: A Study of Social Ideas in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America," Journal of Social History, (1972-73) 6#2 pp. 160-176 at p 161 in JSTOR
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^ The culture of English antislavery, 1780-1860. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ "National Historic Landmarks Program - Oberlin College". Retrieved 8 May 2007.
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^ Brandt, Nat (1990). The town that started the Civil War. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0-8156-0243-X.
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^ "Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Monument". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ "Harper's Ferry Memorial". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ Brandt, Nat Massacre in Shansi, Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1994
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^ "Through The Years In Glacier National Park: An Administrative History (Appendix A)". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
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^ "Discovery and Exploration". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2006-02-23. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
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^ Oberlin College | Resed Housing | Gender Policies
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^ a b Oberlin College Archives | Published Resources | Women’s History Guide | Group 11
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^ Oberlin College Archives | Published Resources | Architectural Records Guide | Group 11
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^ Oberlin College Archives | Holdings | Finding Guides | RG # - Name (bdate-ddate) | Biography/Administrative History
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^ "Applying to Oberlin: Double-Degree Program". Oberlin College. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
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^ "Academic Departments and Programs". Oberlin College. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
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^ "Sciences at Oberlin". Oberlin College. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
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^ NEA News Room: 2009 National Medal of Arts - The Oberlin Conservatory of Music
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^ Short Tour: Allen Art Museum
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^ "Oberlin College Library". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ "Chaienergy.com - Chai Energy". Chaienergy.com. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ "Members - Oberlin College LaunchU". Oberlin College LaunchU. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ Angell, Sue (September 26, 2005). "Art Rental Still Going Strong After 60 Years". Oberlin Online: News and Features. (web link: Oberlin.edu)
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^ Blodgett, Geoffery. "The Early Apollo". Oberlin Online: News and Features. (web link: [2])
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^ Farkas, Karen (September 20, 2012). "Apollo Theatre in Oberlin reopens and includes new home for cinema studies department". Cleveland.Com". (web link: [3])
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^ "Colleges with a conscience". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ Taylor, Samantha (November 19, 2004). "College set to ban Coca-Cola". Oberlin Review (web link: Oberlin.edu)
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^ The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students is the best ever road map to gay-friendly campuses. Even if we do say so ourselves.
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^ Pearce, Jean (2003-11-05). "Radical Activist U: Oberlin College". FrontPageMag. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
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^ "Oberlin president finds hateful messages ‘personally upsetting’ - Cleveland Jewish News: Local News".
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^ a b c Rebecca Cable, Renovated Dorms May Use More Energy, The Oberlin Review, April 2010, p. 1.
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^ Rebecca Cable, Renovated Dorms May Use More Energy, The Oberlin Review, April 2010, p. 4.
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^ a b Rebecca Cable, Renovated Dorms May Use More Energy, The Oberlin Review, April 2010, p. 4.
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^ "Wilder Voice". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ Headwaters Magazine
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^ Oberlin: Students protest 'no trespass' list | wkyc.com
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^ [4]
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^ Secret 'No Trespass' list at Oberlin College raises concerns at forum | cleveland.com
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^ "Oberlin College Athletics - Oberlin is Going Nuts Over Its New Athletics Mascot". Oberlin College. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ Karlgaard, Joe, et al. (2007-10-05). "Club Sports Demand Equal Attention". The Oberlin Review. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
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^ "The Preying Manti". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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^ UPA.org
Further reading
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Barnard, John. From evangelicalism to progressivism at Oberlin College, 1866-1917 (The Ohio State University Press, 1969). full text online free
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Fletcher, Robert Samuel. A history of Oberlin College: From its foundation through the Civil War (Arno Press, 1971)
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Hogeland, Ronald W. "Coeducation of the Sexes at Oberlin College: A Study of Social Ideas in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America," Journal of Social History, (1972-73) 6#2 pp. 160-176 in JSTOR
-
Waite, Cally L. "The Segregation of Black Students at Oberlin College after Reconstruction," History of Education Quarterly (2001) 41#3 pp 344-64. in JSTOR
Primary sources
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Oberlin College. General Catalogue of Oberlin College, 1833-1908: Including an Account of the Principal Events in the History of the College, with Illustrations of the College Buildings (1909) Online
External links
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Official website
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Official athletics website
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Oberwiki, the Oberlin wiki
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Oberlin's Namesake, a multimedia presentation
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