Senate Notebook is a new addition to the news section. The goal is to keep students informed about decisions Student Senate is making and the student concerns brought up during meetings. Senate meets Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in Founders Hall 65 (Hoover Room). Guests are welcome to join.

Upcoming Events promoted by Student Senate

Feb. 1: Senate Open Forum, 7:00 p.m. Stewart Room. The first event of this kind offered by Senate, Open Forum is for students to bring any concern or complaint they have that the Student Senate might change. Attendance will determine if the event will continue in the future.

Feb. 9: Not-So-Newly-Wed game, 7:30 p.m., Stewart Room. Sponsored by the sophomore class.

Feb. 16: Reader’s Theater. Sponsored by the multicultural group. Participants can bring a piece of African American literature to read aloud.

Senior early childhood education major Katie Bush took an oath to be Student Senate Vice President for the remainder of the semester at a Senate meeting on Jan. 25. President Robert Book read the oath while Secretary Ezra Tkach held the Bible. Bush was elected mid-term on Jan. 18 after former Vice President Samson Toe resigned due to time restraints. (Photo by Chelsea Weikart)

Opinions of the Senate

Opinions of the Senate are brought about by student concerns and are letters written to a higher authority asking or suggesting that something be changed or altered. After discussion and consensus, Senate writes and as a whole approves this opinion and sends it to whomever it may concern.

In January, Student Senate sent out two letters.

1. To the president’s cabinet, Senate sent out a letter requesting that SIR surveys be implemented again as a way of giving instructors positive and negative feedback, and giving students a voice. Senate is awaiting reply.
2. To Pastor Randy Heckert and the president’s cabinet requesting that there be more student-led worship during chapel services. They request that Mr. Pitzer do more directing rather than leading worship services and students have more of the stage presence. Senate is awaiting reply.

Other topics:

1. Senate unanimously passed the cheerleading club constitution.
2. Senate unanimously passed the chess club constitution.
3. The request for more student space was discussed and several things brought to the table, one being that the RDs are already petitioning for space to be remodeled to better fit students needs. This issue was tabled until details are more clear as to the direction Senate should take.

Chelsea Weikart is managing/news editor for The Aviso AVW.

Women lined the walls, filled the chairs and the floor of Myer’s Lounge to hear a faith-based perspective on sexuality from Christian sex therapist Sarah Young on Jan. 26.

Young was invited by Ali Walls, resident director of Fox and Whittier, after the resident directors wanted to host a talk for students on sexuality much like the men had last fall after a chapel focusing on the negative effects of porn.

Walls knew Young from her college days at Indiana Wesleyan when Young was her resident director, and later when Walls served with Young’s former church.

Sex therapist Sarah Young spoke to a room full of women about the importance of a Biblical perspective of sexuality on the Jan. 26. (Photo by Kim Farkas)

“We just wanted to allow some honest conversation that wasn’t covered up by what women should think and say but really just authentic,”  Walls said.

There were no men allowed at the event.

“The turnout is a lot more than we expected, so we are excited to continue the conversation in the future,” Walls said.

Sophomore communication arts major Erin Montgomery was one of the participants at the talk. She came with a group of friends and said it is a cause she finds important.

“I think it’s something we need to be aware of in our generation and the sex-saturated society we live in,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s something we need to be strong together as young ladies and try to emulate Christ in every way.”

Young had an informal way of approaching the topic talking about her own family.  She talked about the way women interpret culture and how that in turn affects expectations, the struggle of pornography and how crucial ages 18-23 are for correcting one’s sexual misinterpretations.

“She did an excellent job on being lighthearted and yet being serious about what we were talking about and the subject of it all,” Montgomery said. “She didn’t a make you feel intimidated. She was just sweet and compassionate, which made me respect her and what she had to say.”

Young took questions from the audience and gave hope at the end of the conversation.

“God never meant for us to feel regret or shame, but that’s what happens on this side of heaven when we get outside of his plan,” Young said.

She urged women to deal now with the misconceptions they might have from their parents, others or the media of sexuality and what it is worth. A common phrase of hers was “your sexuality is worth more than that.”

Young went to the Institute for Sexual Wholeness in Atlanta where she received her master’s degree. She lives with her husband, who is a youth pastor, and their two daughters in Michigan.

Chelsea Weikart is managing/news editor for The Aviso AVW.

The name “Bod Pod” sounds almost extraterrestrial. And the looks of it don’t suggest much else, either. What looks like a “miniature space ship,” as one student described, is actually the newest technology for measuring body composition.

This new tool was purchased through a joint effort on the part of the Natural Science Department and Malone for roughly $48,000.

According to Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Steve Wirick, the Bod Pod is the gold standard in research to which every other fitness tool is compared to.

“It’s safe, easy and incredibly accurate,” Wirick said.

The brand new Bod Pod provides accurate measurements of body composition. The Bod Pod is available for use by students, faculty/staff, and the community at large for a fee. (Photo by Kaitie Fox)

Most students may be familiar with the fitness assessment that is required for the Personal Wellness course. What’s the difference between the old test and the Bod Pod? According to Wirick, the Bod Pod is not only more accurate, but it measures body composition of lean and fat tissue as opposed to BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index. Although BMI has its place in research, Wirick said body composition is more accurate and important for your overall health.

The Bod Pod is also easier and quicker than the BMI fitness assessment. According to Wirick, it takes five minutes and all that is required is to sit in the machine and breathe normally.

Wirick hopes to utilize the Bod Pod not just on campus, but also in the community. It has already been active in exercise science courses to train students.

“We want to take it to the community [and] offer services for people to understand their body, what it means and make changes,” Wirick said.

The Bod Pod is also an important and useful tool in athletics as it helps the teams increase their performance, according to Wirick.

Exercise Science major Erin Milano used the Bod Pod in a personal fitness assessment and praised its value at Malone.

“I was so excited,” Milano said. “It’s getting us as a community geared toward better lifestyle goals.”

Milano also looks forward to the opportunities the Bod Pod can provide to Malone.

“It’s nice that now were on equal footing with higher universities,” Milano said. “It’s going to help the exercise science students get a leg up on grad school and the professional world.”

According the Milano, results are easy to understand and participants do not need to know anything about the technology in order to understand their results.

“It’s an overall… enjoyable experience. It’s better to know exactly where you stand and what you need to work on,” Milano said.

[READ:] An exercise science student explains how big the acquisition of the Bod Pod is for Malone and the community.

Before doing the test there is certain protocol that must be followed. Participants are required to do a two hour fast from eating, drinking and exercise before doing the assessment. There also is a specific dress code. According to Wirick, all information and results are confidential. The cost for the Bod Pod assessment is $15 for students, $20 for faculty and staff and $25 for the general community. For more information, e-mail Steve Wirick at swirick@malone.edu.

The Bod Pod promises to give Malone a new advantage in fitness assessments and natural science studies as well as encourage the Malone campus to take that step toward having a better and healthier lifestyle.

Steena Hymes is a senior staff writer for The Aviso AVW.

The Bod Pod has the potential to benefit Malone's exercise science program greatly. However, its benefits could also extend to athletics and the community as a whole. (Photo by Kaitie Fox)

As a university that prides itself in academics, our exercise science program should try to educate its students in the most up-to-date technology for the field.

When Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Steve Wirick first mentioned the Bod Pod last spring in Human Fitness Assessment, I honestly had no idea that it existed or what it could do. However, once he told us that institutions like the Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University use this technology, I realized how important it would be if Malone purchased a Bod Pod.

Wirick went on to explain that the Bod Pod is the most accurate body composition test to date, even more accurate than using a caliper, which can easily be used incorrectly if one is not experienced.

The reward for having experience operating the Bod Pod can possibly give Malone’s students a leg up as exercise science students apply to graduate school for physical therapy, as athletic trainers or even as personal trainers.

Benefits of using the Bod Pod continue even further into our athletic program. Malone’s athletes can have a more accurate idea of how fit they are, allowing coaches to focus on more sports-specific training. Staff and members of the community can also use the Bod Pod.

I believe that the Bod Pod will be very beneficial not only to Malone but to the community as well. I can only eagerly wait to see exactly what exciting opportunities the future will hold concerning the Bod Pod.

[READ:] Senior staff writer Steena Hymes takes a closer look at the Bod Pod.

Erin Milano is a contributing writer for The Aviso AVW.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Contraband was released on Jan. 13. The film is rated R for violence, pervasive language and brief drug use.

Contraband is most definitely a Mark Wahlberg movie. Like many modern action-hero movies, Wahlberg’s main character, Chris Farraday, is unrealistically amazing at everything. He is an ex-smuggler — one of the best — who is trying to become a family man for his two sons and wife, played by Kate Beckinsale.

However, his young brother-in-law Andy gets mixed in with a tough thug, owing him $10,000. If the debt isn’t paid, the gangster is going to come after Farraday’s whole family. To make that much money, Farraday plans to run one last smuggling operation on a cargo ship from Panama to the United States. He leaves for Panama with his best friend Sebastian (Ben Foster) in charge of his family — who is under threat from the gangsters.

Unsurprisingly, nothing seems to be going right for Farraday in Panama. Tons of action ensues. And of course, those closest to Farraday are not as trustworthy as they seem.

As far as typical action-hero movies are concerned, Contraband is a cut above the rest.  The action is over the top, but it is intermixed with the suspense and danger of Farraday’s family as well as some clever plot twists and accurate smuggling procedures that show the movie to have a decent amount of “brain” for an action movie, a genre usually known for just “brawn.”

Contraband also makes full use of its R rating.  There is no real nudity or sexual tension, and the violence of the movie isn’t too bad as far as modern movies go. There is plenty of action-related violence, but none that is overly brutal or bloody. The big issue for me was that the f-word and other curse words are used commonly, almost unnecessarily common. The low-life characters in the film probably would speak in this sort of uncouth dialogue in real life, but I grew tired of the ‘f’ this and ‘f’ that.

Though Contraband is a true rip-roaring child of Hollywood, I was interested to find that the director Balthasar Kormakur structured the movie as a remake of an Icelandic film, Reykjavík-Rotterdam.  Balthasar also starred in this Icelandic pre-cursor film.

On an entertainment level, Contraband kept me attentive from beginning to end.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Adam Sharpnack is a contributing writer for The Aviso AVW

Gaumer specializes in functional pottery but also does more decorative pieces.

“I have a ceramic cowboy boot,” Gaumer said. “That’s one of the pieces in the show.”

The boot fits with Gaumer’s usual themes, though it’s atypical. An Arizona native, her pieces have Southwestern influence. Earth tones and Native American inspiration are common.

Gaumer's pieces never have more than three colors on them. Simplicity is key. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Gaumer)

“That really shows throughout all my work. That’s something that I’m known for,” she said.

During high school, Gaumer took ceramics classes all four years. However, she didn’t really explore other art forms until college.

“The transition from just pottery to other types of media was really rough,” Gaumer said.

Gaumer said that her attraction to pottery and three-dimensional art comes from a structured and organized personality. Each step in the process is vital to the quality of the final product.

“If you can’t master the first step, it’s going to screw up the next step and the step after that,” she said.

She said she finds the work relaxing. She enjoys both the “instant gratification” of being able to make a pot in five minutes but also likes the longer construction pieces. Her cowboy boot took two months.

Her show “Sophisticated Simplicity” features a number of pieces. All of them share a common theme of simple construction and basic colors.

“There’s three colors at the max that I put on my pieces,” she said. “I like things clean. I like that look.”

She cites professors Barb Drennan and Claire Murray-Adams as big influences. She says Drennan and Murray-Adams give her that “personal connection” and “know her style.”

“I adore them. They push me to keep doing my stuff and give me encouragement,” Gaumer said.

Gaumer works on a piece. She also works with fibers on occasion. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Gaumer)

With a minor in psychology, Gaumer had considered art therapy. She has an internship at the Massillon Museum and is enjoying trying that kind of work out.

In Costa Rica, Gaumer and others with be helping and organization to clean up beaches. In addition to fun activities including climbing a volcano and zip lining, the group has a goal of experiencing culture.

“I’d love to help any way that I can, so that’s exciting,” she said.

This is her first time out of the country.

Her interests outside of art center on spending time with her family. She finds that difficult with school and work though.

“My life is kind of wrapped up in the arts right now,” Gaumer said.

The show is at the Mola Gallery on 4^th Street NW during First Friday on Feb. 3.

Nick Skiles is arts & entertainment editor for The Aviso AVW

With five games left in the regular season, the Pioneers already have more wins than they did all of last year during a tumultuous 8-22 season. First year head coach Jason Mishler talks about how the Pioneers have improved, their expectations and about getting better each and every day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tina Oprean is a staff writer for The Aviso AVW.

Michael Garwood is a video editor for The Aviso AVW.

PEDIGREE: This week’s Pioneer Focus belongs to freshman Breaststroke/IM swimmer Chase Hooley for his record-breaking results this season in the pool.

One of the top men’s Pioneer swimmers, Hooley has set or been a part of setting three of the eight men’s records in the last few meets at Wooster and Ashland.

At Ashland, he was a part of the 4×200 medley relay time comprised of  junior Casey Meeson, freshman Royce Kantner and sophomore Jesse Martin that posted the record-breaking time of 1:42.01 in the event, which was just a hair off the record of 1:42.65 the foursome set earlier this year. Also at Ashland, Hooley set a new standard by swimming in a time of 27.36 in the 50 breaststroke.

Then at Wooster on Jan. 21 he broke one of his own records by swimming a 1:00. 29 in the 100 breaststroke. His previous record best was 1:00.90.

Get to know the Wooster High graduate from Apple Creek, OH, Chase Hooley…

Freshman Chase Hooley races in the 100 breaststroke earlier this season at the Ohio Independent Championships on Nov. 5, 2011. Hooley set a record that day, which he would later break again, with a time of 1:02.30, and won the individual title for the race. (Photo courtesy of Andy Smith)

Q: Favorite food? 

A: A tossed salad with Italian dressing.

Q: What made you fall in love with swimming?

A: I don’t love it, I’m just decent at it.

Q: Favorite fast food outlet?

A: Chipotle

Q: Biggest Superstition? 

A: I always knock on wood.

Q: Biggest difference between college and high school swimming?

A: The practice times and the intensity.

Q: Who is your biggest role model?

A: My grandpa because I have always looked up to him.

Q: Who is the most influential coach you have had?

A: Coach Ben Chalot from ages 6-14.

Q: Least favorite rule at Malone? 

A: Visitation hours.

Q: Favorite sport to watch and your favorite team?

A: College football and The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

A: Hopefully in a teaching job and married.

Chris Sherwood is sports editor for The Aviso AVW.

Student Senate approved senior early childhood education major Katie Bush as the new senate vice president for the spring 2012 semester on Jan. 18. The appointment comes after former Vice President Samson Toe resigned during a senate retreat over winter break.

Toe said that the time constraints were too much for him to handle with his spring semester schedule.

“This semester I am unable to meet the time demands put on me by this position,” he said.

Upon leaving, Toe expressed appreciation to Student Senate.

“One of the things that I’m most proud of is the staff that I’ve hired with Robert [Book],” he said. “The directors that we’ve chosen are wonderful people and I feel extraordinarily fortunate for being able to work under Chris Abrams as well. I’ve learned lessons I will be able to carry with me the rest of my life.”

Senior early childhood education major Katie Bush (right) meets with Senate members informally for an introductory dinner on Monday night. Bush will be sworn in as Vice President of Student Senate on Wednesday. (Photo by Chelsea Weikart)

The announcement on Jan. 17 came after a weeklong process of interviews following a campus-wide e-mail advertising the need for a new vice president.

A steering committee of six members of senate and two faculty, Director of Student Development Chris Abrams and Department Assistant of Student Development Sandy Johnson, conducted the interviews.

There were eight applicants and two were finalists in the search. This contrasts the last election for Student Senate where President Bob Book and Samson Toe were the only candidates.

“I hope the response begins to show a trend for the future, of an interest in getting involved in student government,” Abrams said.

Book said that the number of applicants will hopefully carry over into elections at the end of February.

“One of the things that really floored us in her interview is that she was really honest about not knowing,” Book said.

Although inexperienced in Student Senate, Bush had qualities that Senate was looking for.

“Her leadership qualities are just through the roof and her ability to juggle all of those responsibilities at once really impressed us,” he said.

Bush transferred to Malone as a sophomore. Because of post-secondary credits, she is finishing her bachelor’s after three years and is starting master’s courses. Bush served as a resident assistant and a cheerleader during basketball season as well as Maxamoose in basketball season.

Bush is currently student teaching at Barr Elementary in Plain Local School District.

“I never saw myself in a role like this, so I want to do my best, just as in anything I do,” she said.

After her involvements with cheerleading tapered off, Bush said she wanted to get involved in some other capacity.

“I’ve really wanted to work on listening to others and caring about what they have to say,” she said. “When I looked up what Senate does it said that they are ‘a voice to the student body,’ and it hit me, to be the voice of the student body you have to be a better listener than you are a speaker.”

“Everything really fell in place, it was exactly what I had been praying for,” she said.

Bush will be sworn in at the next senate meeting on Jan. 25.

“Hopefully the response is because people have seen what Senate has been doing so far,” Book said.

Book said that this interest to run for a candidate in Student Senate will hopefully carry over into elections next month. He announced at the Senate meeting on Jan. 18 that he and Brandi Bonfert will be running for president and vice president in the elections for next year.

Chelsea Weikart is managing/news editor for The Aviso AVW.

Aside from this weekend’s snowstorm, there hasn’t been much cold weather this winter. And while that may make it more comfortable for students as they walk to and from classes, it also means they haven’t been able to take advantage of the newly constructed ice skating rink located on the campus tennis courts.

According to senior Bible and theology major and student body president Bob Book, the ice skating rink provides students with something to do on campus during a time of year when there aren’t many options.

Student Senate anticipates the grand opening of the ice skating rink, which will occur whenever the weather permits. Until then, this sign and a locked gate prevent students from entering the tennis courts where the rink is set up. (Photo by Chelsea Weikart)

“There isn’t too much going on on campus in the wintertime or in the community,” Book said. “Aside from sledding down the hill, I think it gives students a really good opportunity to have something that they can do outdoors, and to get a little bit of exercise and have fun and feel like they have somewhere they can go.”

Book said the idea for purchasing an ice skating rink came from Instructor of Youth Ministry Dr. Bill Quigley, who approached Book in August. Quigley had been attempting to persuade student senate to push for an ice skating rink for years. This year, the idea became a reality.

Book said members of student senate worked in conjunction with the physical plant to ensure an ice skating rink was a feasible option.

Although the weather hasn’t been very cooperative so far this winter, Book said he hoped the rink would become a feature at Malone for years to come.

“If it wasn’t something that we saw as a long-term investment, I don’t know if it would have even been done,” he said.

The construction of the ice skating rink fell to director of physical plant Jim Palone and his staff. Palone said the tennis courts were chosen as the location for the rink due to their solid surface and slope for drainage.

In addition to constructing the rink, physical plant staff members are also responsible for clearing any snow off the rink’s surface and ensuring the rink remains level after it is used. For this, Palone said staff will use a tool he called “a poor man’s Zamboni” (in reference to the popular ice hockey machine). The tool is basically a broom which sprays water on the surface to fill in any crevices created by ice skates.

Vice President for Student Development Dr. Chris Abrams said the ice skating rink can be expanded in the future. Because of the slope of the tennis courts, the depth of the rink ranges from 4 inches to 8 inches. (Photo by Chelsea Weikart)

However, all that maintenance requires that the rink actually remains frozen for an extended period of time—something that unseasonably warm temperatures have for the most part prevented from happening.

“If we don’t get four inches of ice on this thing, it’s not going to be usable,” Palone said. “We need to get a good, hard freeze.”

Palone said the ice skating rink is one of many recreational facilities on campus the physical plant staff are responsible for maintaining. He commended service and grounds supervisor Russ Thorn and the rest of the physical plant staff for the work they’ve done to maintain the rink so far.

Palone said he was uncertain whether the rink could be counted on for a year-to-year basis.

“I’d like to see it work,” he said. “I’d like to see us offer something kind of unique to Malone that students would like to do and they would enjoy. I just don’t know if this is it. But we’re going to give it the good ‘Malone try’ and see what happens.”

Vice President for Student Development Dr. Chris Abrams said he was hopeful the skating rink would become a yearly fixture on campus. He also suggested that the rink could be expanded to a larger size in the future.

“I’m hoping not only is it something we do year after year, but that we find ways to improve it,”  Abrams said. “It’s a bit of a trial in some ways right now.”

According to Abrams, the ice skating rink cost the university less than $6,000.

“Even if it’s not this winter, in the future, the benefit will outweigh the cost,” he said.

Abrams said he has heard students suggest building an ice skating rink in previous years. Although the rink hasn’t gotten much use this winter due to the weather, Abrams said the rink is well worth the effort.

“We need to give things a try for students,” he said.

Jesse Peek is editor-in-chief for The Aviso AVW.