On April 3, 2023 Interim President Wayne Webster announced that Brian Webb was hired as The College of Wooster’s inaugural Director of Campus Sustainability, starting August 1, 2023.
Webb currently serves at Houghton University, a Christian-based university in Houghton, NY, that “provid[es] an academically challenging, Christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences to students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds.” Webb currently serves as the Director of the Center for Sustainability within the Center for Faith, Justice and Global Engagement along with being an assistant professor of environmental studies.
His previous experiences include work as a missionary with New Missions Systems International, a missionary and charity organization, from 2001 to 2005, director of intercultural student programs at Houghton College from 2007 to 2012 and director of educational programming at Blessed Earth, “a Christian nonprofit focused on creation care,” from 2010 to 2012. Webb also founded two organizations, Climate Caretakers, a ministry focused on educating Christians about the climate crisis, and Christian Climate Observers Program, an organization that aims “to train, including with a Christian perspective, a new generation of Observers for the Paris Process so that the Church may make the most effective contribution possible to all subsequent [climate observer programs].”
“We are incredibly excited about the experience, knowledge, sheer enthusiasm and track record of success Brian brings to this critically important role on Wooster’s campus,” said Interim President Webster. “He is a proven leader, with the ability to connect across constituencies through unique experiences and insights and help build a shared sense of commitment for environmental stewardship that permeates an institution.”
The College’s sustainability coordinator position originally emerged from one of the College’s five “major recommendations for immediate implementation” in the 2019 Sustainability Plan. The other plans are to form a renewable energy exploratory committee, conduct an external energy audit, create a revolving green fund, incorporate sustainability into campus culture and establish relevant goals.
While students have criticized the College’s enactment of these recommendations, the College received a financial gift to hire a sustainability coordinator in November 2023. Following the College’s reception of the gift, administrative members and students put together a job prospectus and description for the position.
According to the College’s official job description of the position, “The Director of Campus Sustainability provides leadership to promote practices and policies that allow for more sustainable behavior at The College of Wooster.” This broad mission is embodied in the creation of a “Campus Sustainability Action Plan,” a plan whose creation is in the hands of the sustainability coordinator. The plan, as guided by the coordinator, would work with the facilities, campus dining and the city of Wooster to reduce the area’s carbon footprint. Additionally, Webb will be responsible for the maintenance of a sustainability budget, chair the campus sustainability committee and establish a renewable energy exploratory.
Webb is also a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education. According to his professional webpage, his “research focuses on the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of evangelical Christians on the topic of climate change,” and he is “particularly interested in how evangelicals form their beliefs about climate change, what types of communication techniques can influence their beliefs and how evangelicals compare to other demographics in the United States and around the world.” He holds a bachelor of arts from Berry College and two masters degrees, one from Minnesota State University and the other from Harvard Extension School.
Wayne County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
During the April 5 weekly Wayne County Board of Commissioners meeting, the commissioners issued a proclamation reflecting upon the recognition of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM has been recognized as a dedicated awareness month nationally since 2009.
The Voice spoke with Response Specialist and Victim Advocate Gayle Byrne, MBA from OneEighty. According to their website, OneEighty serves as Wayne and Holmes counties’ center for assisting individuals with “domestic violence & sexual assault, addiction, rape crisis, mental health, housing and prevention and education services.” Byrne was in attendance representing OneEighty at the Commissioners meeting on Wednesday.
“The Wayne County Commissioners are important local allies in this effort,” says Byrne on their proclamation. “[They] urge residents to take action in the fight against sexual violence – starting with believing and supporting survivors.” OneEighty shared an entire calendar of events happening during the month of April with The Voice, which included days of remembrance for victims of sexual assault.
Multiple clubs on campus are hosting events to raise money for OneEighty during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Voice spoke to COWBelles club head Jane Wight ’23 about their upcoming a cappella benefit concert for OneEighty. “The OneEighty benefit and relationship that we have formed with [OneEighty] is a very important one,” Wight explained. “We hope to do all we can to raise knowledge and awareness.” COWBelles’ annual benefit concert will be held on Sunday, April 30 in Gault Recital Hall, and will feature multiple a cappella groups in collaboration.
“Sexual assault is a crime that is highly politicized, and to many, it’s not a point of concern,” explains Amy Falk ’25, the incoming president for Wooster’s Sexual Respect Coalition (SRC), another organization that is working to raise awareness about sexual assault through events on campus. Falk echoed Byrne’s sentiments of raising awareness, adding that the Commissioners’ recognition of SAAM will “go a long way towards legitimizing the fight against sexual assault in Wooster.” The SRC will host Take Back the Night on April 20, the organization’s annual vigil for sexual assault. A representative from OneEighty and Wooster’s Director of Prevention and Advocacy Emily Hiner will speak at the event. The event also serves as an opportunity for survivors to share their stories in a “safe, confidential space.” Scots in Harmony, another one of Wooster’s a cappella groups, will also perform at the event, showcasing their set-list of songs which all focus on the theme of dating and domestic violence. The SRC will also be observing Denim Day on April 26 and tabling outside of Lowry.
Anti-Lilly & Phonics “It’s Nice Outside.” Photo courtesy of Spotify.
Jack Freer, Contributing Writer
In early 2018, I was just starting to explore the wider world of music, and YouTube had taken me on many paths down classic rock, soul and jazz. I was surfing YouTube and found the album “It’s Nice Outside” by Anti-Lilly and Phoniks. While nodding my head to the laid-back beats and chill flows, something clicked. It was like nothing I’d ever heard; it captured emotions I’d never felt through music before. I immediately started to explore the wide world of hip hop and discovered one of my favorite genres. This album was the ultimate touch off point to my study of hip hop-centered musical subjects, including storytelling, lyricism, flow, history, culture and production.
“It’s Nice Outside” is beautiful from top to bottom, with a massive unfolding study that examines rapper Anti-Lilly’s headspace. I’d never heard an album that mirrored the way I think and captured so many of my daily emotions. Hearing someone who stressed about being in their head too often was a massive revelation. I had never felt that sense of connection to an artist before. I got to hear his thoughts on a wide variety of subjects, and slowly examined the deeper themes and philosophy of his stories. It’s a cliché, but I genuinely believe this was the first time I truly “listened” to music. In a subjective and abstract way, I finally felt like I was a part of the music, and the music was me.
The production by Phoniks pulls from classic hip hop, jazz and soul samples to build some of the most emotionally charged beats I’ve ever heard. Ranging from dreamy to soul-searing, Phoniks creates a masterpiece. Every beat is built on similar practices, but each has a distinct emotional purpose. Phoniks masterfully builds songs through sampling classic artists such as Chet Baker, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Herbie Mann and Wes Montgomery. These samples become punchier by adding record wear, low-key snares and highlighting particular instruments to accompany Anti-Lilly’s airy flows.
Anti-Lilly masterfully unravels his experiences and mindset. Utilizing incredible lyricism, he reflects on depression, self-reflection, fame, religion, personal evolution, racial equity and workplace inequality. The album features other artists as though they’re competing against each other, matching Anti-Lilly’s skilled and varied flow (some highlights coming from Awon, LC and Devante Hunter). Some songs, such as “Company Cigarettes,” lean on narrative storytelling, while others are more subtly poetic, such as “Nobody’s Perfect.” I love revisiting the album and finding double meanings and call backs in different lines. The range of emotion is fascinating, with braggadocio, disgust, sadness, melancholy and joy all taking unique roles across the album.
Interim President Wayne Webster is leaving his post to serve as Albion College’s 18th president beginning in July
Left to right: Interim President Wayne Webster pictured at the student-center ribbon cutting with Alegnta Mezmur ’23, Noah Golovan ’23, and Kennedy Pope ’23
Audrey Pantaz, Contributing Writer
On Tuesday, March 4, Interim President Wayne P. Webster emailed College of Wooster faculty, staff and students to announce his appointment as the President of Albion College and his subsequent move away from The College of Wooster on July 1, 2023. Webster’s move is in conjunction with the beginning of the tenure of Dr. Anne McCall as the incoming 13th president of The College of Wooster.
Webster has been a part of the Wooster community for the past six years, serving as the Vice President for Advancement since 2017 and Interim President following former President Sarah Bolton’s appointment as President of Whitman College beginning in July 2022. During the past year, he led the opening of the new Lowry Center, unveiled a redesigned mascot and reconfigured the College’s Human Resources department (HR).
Webster will serve as the 18th president at Albion College in Albion, MI, beginning in July. Webster expressed “mixed emotions” in his departing email on Tuesday about his divergence from the College. Webster wrote of his animation about “leading another nationally-ranked residential liberal arts college as president and joining a small community on the move” while acknowledging that he will miss “Wooster and the amazing community who welcomed [him] so warmly six years ago.”
During his time as Vice President for Advancement, Interim President Webster led the fundraising effort for the $36 million student center renovation, unveiled under his leadership as Interim President in stages throughout September 2022-February 2023. When asked about his proudest achievement at The College of Wooster, Webster said, “Easily my involvement with the renovation and the expansion of the Lowry Center from conceptualization, design, selecting architects, leading the efforts to raise the money to make it happen, etc. Being the President the year it was opened and dedicated was a real treat.”
Webster, as with most higher education administrators, is actively working to adjust to the profound changes in higher education brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and a rapidly evolving culture. Webster led a budget alignment process in the past year, which forced administrators and the campus community to examine how we can adjust to the changing field of liberal arts education. Webster shared,“We have been nimble, and that’s what it will take for liberal arts colleges to be successful moving forward.”
During the 2022-2023 school year, Webster has worked to implement a restructuring of HR at The College of Wooster. In February, Webster worked on updating the employee handbook for college faculty and staff. The updated manual, published last month, examined policies that were at least five years out of date to make them more equitable for all employees, most notably the process by which employees accrue paid time off. The handbook is just one aspect of Webster’s mission to “create greater transparency” this year. As an additional change to HR, the chief HR officer position was updated under Webster’s lead to incorporate that person as a board member. In Webster’s words, this allowed more accessible communication that “will introduce viewpoints into our conversations more readily, and that will benefit all.” In conjunction with many staff and faculty members, Webster worked to examine “how decisions are made, what data informs those decisions and gaining input into those decisions.” He described this process as “something that will stay with [him] throughout [his] career.”
On July 1, incoming president Dr. Anne McCall will begin her tenure at the College. Dr. McCall currently works at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where she is the provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. McCall’s career began at Tulane University where she taught French and Women’s Studies before becoming Associate Dean. The administration of Wooster and Interim President Webster anticipate McCall to be a great fit for The College of Wooster. Webster shared that McCall and himself have been in communication since her appointment, and she is “already starting to see opportunities to make Wooster stronger moving forward.”
Above all, Webster values the students of The College of Wooster and wishes them well. He shared that the most rewarding aspect of his interim presidency was “getting to know more students.” As a parting message for the Wooster students he has come to know, Webster said, “You’re so creative, impressive, kind, and you’re going to change the world in meaningful ways. Thank you for welcoming me into this role so warmly.”
Poster for Rachel Rose’s “Lake Valley” available for viewing at the Ebert Art Center. Photo courtesy of The College of Wooster.
Elizabeth Heatwole, Contributing Writer
Quietly sequestered within the confines of The College of Wooster’s Ebert Art Center lies a world of botanical fantasy. The most recent exhibit to grace the Art Museum’s Burton D. Morgan Gallery is one that is fittingly reminiscent of spring and the renewal that accompanies it.
“Lake Valley,” an eight-minute film by artist Rachel Rose, combines studio art with animation, following a family’s rabbit that undergoes a quest while dreaming. The work is the definition of mixed media, as the story is propelled in front of a backdrop of paper flowers, ink and collage, all meticulously pieced together by Rose. Animation is introduced through the twitching motions of the rabbit and acts as a mechanism to bring the film’s collage aspect to life.
As the short film opens, one is met by an animated scene of average family life. However, the film quickly progresses into a world of fantasy, exemplifying the breadth of visual discovery within Rose’s work. The rabbit explores a dreamscape that stands in stark contrast to its suburban home. Colorful creatures creep along the underbrush of paper greenery, and unfurled flowers present themselves as larger-than-life, filling the screen to greet the audience. The collage functions as a means to further the plot of “Lake Valley,” evoke emotion and provide visual interest. “I learned about ‘Lake Valley’ by Rachel Rose as part of my research on artists for Essential Matter which closed April 2. All the artists in that show strategically source and transform the materials from which their work was made, however the new artworks continue to draw meaning from the original purpose of their materials,” said Museum Director and Curator, Dr. Marianne Wardle.
Constant scene development engages viewers, aided by gentle sound effects. “Lake Valley,” a film without dialogue, enhances its journey through sounds of bubbling water, rustling foliage and the noises of animals. Though a story with lighthearted visuals, “Lake Valley” focuses largely on drawing a connection from the characters to the audience by presenting a commentary on seeking new experiences as a solution to loneliness. Existing below its surface of beautifully crafted visuals and comforting audio, the film is influenced by children’s literature and psychology. Kayla Stevens ’23, Museum Assistant and Programming intern, commented on the combination of factors within the work, saying, “You can approach and engage with the film in different ways.”
Along with an overarchingly peaceful experience, “Lake Valley” perpetuates the world-experience of a child through its shifting perspectives, moving audience members from third person to first person perspective in an effort to emulate the feelings of young children as they navigate an adult world. Rachel Rose’s 2016 short film is multi-hyphenate in its ability to both stand alone as a work of art, encompassing childlike wonder and to pose deeper questions that probe the mind of the viewer. “Lake Valley” is on display at The College of Wooster Art Museum until May 14.
If you have ever been the president of a group here on campus, you know that while there are fun things about the job, it comes with many responsibilities with varying levels of importance. For COWBelles a capella, our most important event is the OneEighty benefit concert. Since 2017, the group has worked to put on this benefit concert in the spring semester to raise both money and awareness for the organization.
Jane Wight ’23
Despite the efforts of multiple groups on campus, if you ask the average student what exactly OneEighty does as an organization, most people wouldn’t be able to give you a specific answer other than the fact that they help victims of domestic violence. With an organization such as this one in our backyard, we should be knowledgeable about the services they offer and who they support. Outside of helping victims of domestic violence, OneEighty also provides services for those struggling with mental illness or addiction. OneEighty strives to help those in crisis not only when in an emergency, but throughout the healing and recovery process, as well as prevention work to educate the community.
OneEighty offers resources to students as well as the surrounding community, regardless of whether or not they are insured, providing financial support and coverage to individuals who may not be able to afford the services themselves. To show our support and to thank the organization, we host the benefit and welcome other a capella groups such as After These Messages, A Round of Monkeys and more! This year, we wanted to expand on this tradition and plan to welcome other organizations on campus whose mission statements also align with OneEighty’s to participate in the benefit, such as The Period Project and The Sexual Respect Coalition. We hope that with the addition of other campus organizations and the new expansion of this event, attendees will be able to learn more about OneEighty as an organization, and how their presence in our town has a positive impact on the community.
We believe that supporting OneEighty has so much importance for us as a group with a large population of members who exist within a multitude of marginalized communities, and our mission statement and purpose align closely with those of OneEighty. We want to continue to give a platform to an organization that does an incredible amount of work to help our community be a safe space for everyone. During the benefit concert, we give a short performance of songs dedicated to OneEighty At the benefit concert, there will be informational pamphlets about OneEighty, the services they offer, who they can help and information about domestic violence. By attending this benefit you could help to raise awareness for the organization which would then increase accessibility for so many others in the community that are unaware of the services offered by OneEighty. There is no charge to attend the benefit, but to show our support and thanks to OneEighty any donations that community members are able to give will be collected by a representative from the organization. The benefit concert will be on Sunday, April 30 in Gault Recital Hall in the afternoon, please look out for further details regarding the exact time.
I am an alumnus of the College of Wooster (’22), who contacted the College recently regarding the placing of the Wayne County Pregnancy Crisis Center (PCC) in its list of pregnancy care options for students. I don’t need to restate the coercion, manipulation and other unethical tactics utilized by this organization, as concerned members of the Wooster community have already stated this. However, I wanted to shed light on the PCC organization, who funds them, and what they truly stand for, as what I discovered is very concerning.
The PCC lists many churches which donate and sponsor it financially. To no surprise of my own, I found that a multitude of the churches are not just anti-choice, but are also viciously spewing homophobic rhetoric. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the PCC donors, but merely what I found while researching only a small portion:
Fairlawn Mennonite Church is a proud member of an organization of churches called CMC Rosedale; an anti-abortion, anti-gay organization, where in their mission openly states that “It is in violation of God’s will to engage in sexual relationships outside the marriage of one man to one woman. The Bible forbids lust, pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexual practices and other sexual sins.” St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception equates abortion to the Holocaust, stating “Abortion is today’s equivalent of mass human extermination. There are those who deny the Holocaust happened…denial of reality is nothing new for Satan.” Oaks Church’s beliefs page states “We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other and that Scripture prohibits and threatens with judgment the style of life that embraces any other practice of sexual intimacy.” Wooster Nazarene church believes that “the practice of same-sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God’s will for human sexuality” and that “homosexual behavior is immoral.”
I had hoped that administrators would have done research into the affiliations of organizations assisting students with such sensitive topics as pregnancy care. For an establishment endorsed by The College of Wooster to be financially backed by some of the most cruel, hateful organizations in this country is deeply worrying. With the continued inclusion of the PCC as a pregnancy resource, many current students and alumni, including myself, would feel that homophobia and anti-choice rhetoric is not a deal-breaker for the College of Wooster.
Unsurprisingly, there are many fabrications regarding abortion and abortion side effects on the PCC’s website. Nationally, some of the most common lies stated by Crisis Pregnancy Centers such as the PCC are the “link[s] between abortion and mental health risks, preterm birth, breast cancer, and future infertility.” The PCC promotes many of these falsehoods, which I would like to systematically debunk. There is no significant link between abortion and mental health, other than the determination that “women receiving wanted abortions had similar or better mental health outcomes than those who were denied a wanted abortion.” There is no connection between abortion and future pregnancy complications. While they fear-monger sepsis as a potential adverse event, the rate is estimated to be 0.00087%.
Even if all of the lies were true, the fact remains that this organization attempts to remove the pregnant individual’s right to choose. Students do not receive healthcare at the Wayne County PCC but instead are fed lies, fear and guilt. Wooster needs to do better.
For many College of Wooster employees, driving to the College for work is a daily task that may take employees upwards of an hour to complete before a day on the job.
Sources within the dining staff, who wished to remain anonymous, estimated that roughly 75% of hourly dining workers live outside of Wooster’s city limits, with 25% living within the city. Sources also told the Voice that several dining staff members face daily commutes that total a roundtrip of nearly two hours. In April, 2022, one custodian said that several of their colleagues’ commutes were upwards of an hour long. “Our people had to drive in to work,” said the custodian, “some live at least 40 minutes, if not close to an hour away.”
Marjorie Shamp, Director of Campus Dining and Conference Services, told the Voice that several staff members asked her about relocating closer to Wooster. “One such employee was looking for a rental that would accommodate a pet,” said Shamp, “but [the rentals] were reasonably priced, and [the employee] found it difficult.”
When asked for comment on the general locations of the College’s employees, the College’s Human Resources (H.R.) department declined to comment, citing that “we are unable to provide the requested information.”
For the College’s faculty, Leslie Wingard Cunningham, Wooster’s former Dean for Faculty Development from 2021-2022, said that candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and visiting faculty positions had little to no difficulties finding housing in Wooster. “Most [candidates] were very pleasantly surprised by the cost of living in Wooster and surrounding places,” said Wingard Cunningham, “that was much lower than the towns from which they would be moving.”
Additionally, Wingard Cunningham said incoming faculty members had a multitude of options to find homes in Wooster. “They also knew it was highly possible to rent the furnished homes of professors on research sabbatical for a semester or a full year,” she said, “and considered that a wonderful option while they got the ‘lay of the land’ in Wooster, Ohio and other cities outside of Wooster from which they might commute.”
While several faculty members live upwards of an hour-and-a-half from campus, Wingard Cunningham said that these employees “are dedicated to their Wooster jobs as well as thriving both personally and professionally.”
While Wayne County housing is cheaper relative to other metropolitan and micropolitan areas in Ohio, Wooster city officials delivered a presentation to the Wayne County Housing Authority on March 15, 2023, stating that “Wayne County has a lack of housing,” where “many employers are now hiring entry-level workers from outside of Wayne County, but when new hires cannot find affordable housing, they leave to avoid the time and money costs of commuting.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stated that affordable housing is “housing where the occupant is paying 30% or less of the gross income on total housing, including utilities.”
To learn about the relationship between college employees’ annual salaries and affordable housing in Wayne County, the Voice made an information request to the College’s H.R. department for the average annual salaries across departments at the College. Jenn Williams, Director of Benefits & HRIS, declined the Voice’s information request, citing that “HR does not share that information.”
According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)’s 2018-2019 compensation survey, professors at The College of Wooster make an average of $98,000, associate professors make $77,300, assistant professors make $63,200 and instructors make $55,900.
While the Voice does not have access to staff members’ annual salaries, a source within dining that a “safe minimum average” in dining is roughly $31,200 with a starting wage of $15.
Following the Great Recession of 2008, Jonathan Millea, Wooster city government’s development coordinator and Wooster Growth Corporation’s project manager, said that Wooster’s homebuilding market, as with much of the nation’s, was “basically destroyed.” With people leaving the housing industry, many housing units were unable to be maintained due to a loss of investment.
Wooster is a unique example in Northeast Ohio, however, where the population has increased by 4.26% from 1999 to 2020, as surrounding cities such as Akron, Youngstown, Cleveland, and Canton have seen their populations’ decrease by the thousands, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Millea credited Wooster’s positive population growth to con BREAK OFF tinual “innovations and advancements” made by employers in the area, such as Schaeffler Transmission Systems, Gojo Industries, American Axel Manufacturing, and Western Reserve Insurance Group. These employers have created more job opportunities “for wages to go up as demand for workers goes up.” Wayne County’s housing market, however, has not been able to keep pace with this economic growth. “As your demand for jobs are growing, you’re going to need to pay more for workers,” said Millea “and, if those workers don’t have a housing opportunity to locate here, it means you’re going to be looking for most of your new hires, either encouraging somebody to come over to your company or you’re going to be reaching out further into the marketplace.”
In Wooster, the majority of workers live outside of the city, and employers have continually expanded their search for workers into cities like Massillon, Canton, Barberton and Akron, according to Millea. Due to expensive commuting rates from these cities to Wooster, more workers look for houses in Wooster, leading to an increased demand for affordable housing.
The increased housing demand has led numerous employers to speak in front of city council and call for additional housing in Wooster’s city limits. This led to aggressive efforts from the city to look at areas in the city for regional developers to establish developments. “We’ve worked hard to try and evaluate sites that are open for development,” said Millea, “and we’ve tried to promote that to regional developers.”
According to the city’s presentation, there are several projects with regional developers to potentially provide employees with approximately 700 housing units in Wooster and Wayne County.
Millea, however, told the Voice that there are a multitude of “constraints” to these developmental plans, claiming that “[t]here is, in general, an anti-development sentiment that we have encountered at more of a county level where the thinking is that ‘we don’t want to have any expansion of our city’s limits.’” For regional developers who require at least 60 acres for the possibility of housing developments, “there is not enough space to move the needle to accommodate the need that’s going to provide a more affordable housing opportunity for somebody who may be commuting to The College of Wooster from 45 to 60 minutes away,” said Millea. To the east of Wooster is a large swath of agricultural security area which protects farmland from non-agricultural development and provides tax benefits to the area’s landowner, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. To the west of Wooster’s city limits is a floodplain that “basically blocks development to the west.”
When asked by the Voice on how the city will make sure these developments are affordable for employees searching for houses in Wooster, Millea said that price points “are going to be significantly higher than what one will find with an older, pre-existing unit.” With new structures, however, Millea said that demand is slightly satisfied, lowering “pressure of appreciation for other real estate prices in terms of rent elsewhere.” When new housing developments stabilize the marketplace, Millea said that “a good number of individuals […] who purchase a home will already own an older home elsewhere in the community, either in Wooster or Wayne County.” This cycle creates spaces for Wooster employees to become homeowners.
While wages have grown in recent years, Millea said that “our wages were very low, and that was one of the reasons we had trouble attracting developers, because [developers] sentiment was ‘well, the wages need to go up in this area before we can afford to build.”
Within Wooster’s city limits, there are multiple barriers that present themselves to affordable housing. One of the organizations combating the shortage of affordable housing is the Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority (WMHA). As stated on their website, “WMHA manages and administers several rental assistance programs,” and collaborates with other agencies such as OneEighty and Wayne County Job and Family Services. In an interview withthe Voice, WMHA director Debra Catlett presents landlords as key players in the affordable housing issue. According to her, the main holdup is that there are “simply no units available, if they are, they’re rented on the open market because they can get more money, so there aren’t as many landlords working with our program.” Because WMHA has to adhere to federal HUD standards and pricing, more landlords choose to rent in the public sphere to charge their own rent, which can be much higher than what is actually affordable for those affected by the housing issue. According to the 2022 Fiscal Year Fair Market Rent Documentation System, the HUD standard of rent for a one-bedroom living situation was $598 per month, but has risen to $719 per month for the 2023 fiscal year. This discrepancy will only exacerbate the unaffordability of renting. WMHA offers vouchers to help support this increase.
According to the City of Wooster Official Zoning Map, there are six zoning districts devoted to residency within Wooster’s city limits: R-1 Suburban Single Family Residential, R-2 Single Family Residential, R-T Traditional Residential, R-3 Attached Residential, R-4 Multi-Family Residential, and R-5 Manufactured Home Park.
While there are a few differences between the two, Manufactured Homes are commonly known today as mobile homes and the “R-5 Manufactured Home Park” term refers to mobile home parks in Wooster’s city limits. According to the “City of Wooster Official Zoning Map,” there are two R-5 Manufactured Home Park Districts in Wooster’s city limits: Shelmar Mobile Home Park and Melrose Village Mobile Home Park. However, there used to be another–Larwill Mobile Home park–which was abruptly shut down, forcing all residents to relocate.
Attorney Doug Drushal offered insight into the situation, stating “The city administration and mayor and director of administration were opposing [mobile homes], and their stated reason was that sometime before 2018, there was a third mobile home park in Wooster, on Larwill street, and it unquestionably became a nightmare for the city in that they had several hundred thousand dollars of unpaid water bills to the city and all the mobile homes there were in a sad state of disrepair.”
According to The Daily Record, Larwill Mobile Home park was made up of three parcels of land owned by Richard and Carolyn Lawrence–but when the park fell into disrepair, the property was foreclosed in 2013 and it was found that the Lawrences owed more than $250,ooo in taxes, fees and utility bills. Carolyn Lawrence reportedly blamed the disrepair on tenants unable to pay their rent, as well as vandals who destroyed property and interfered with maintenance. As John Scavelli, Director of Law for the city administration, explained during one city council meeting, “Manufactured homes are supposed to be able to be moved. After a period of time, they can’t be moved anymore, so what you have are people that…have to lose whatever equity they have in that rented home.” By the time the property was foreclosed, many Larwill residents were unable to move their homes, both due to age and the poor maintenance of the park. By 2016, footage from The Daily Record showed Larwill Mobile Home park with many of the immovable trailers still there, rusting. On the side of the road laid overturned couches with stuffing spilling out of torn upholstery, alongside cardboard and insulation littering the grass. Since the transfer of the land to the Wooster Growth Corporation in 2017, all that remains of Larwill is a grassy lot.
Opposition to the building of manufactured homes instead favor modular homes, and have cited the Larwill incident as a grounds to nix the building of more affordable mobile homes.
In November 3, 2022, the City of Wooster requested an approval from the City of Wooster Planning Commission to City Council for Text Amendments to Chapter 1109 (Principal Use Regulations) of the Planning and Zoning Codes, allowing mobile home parks, specifically Shelmar, to accept more tenants and therefore create more affordable housing opportunities.“The owners of Shelmar contacted me to work on changing the ordinance which itself had been changed in 2018 to allow existing mobile home parks to stay the same but not to expand even within their own land that was properly zoned R-5,” said Drushal. “It was kind of a crazy law that was intended to shrink mobile homes.”
Drushal said that changing the city law to provide “an option for affordable housing [is] not for everybody, and it’s something that’s not going to take over the town, so to speak, but you can have a decent, clean, nice, new place to live in a mobile home park that’s well kept, clean and affordable.”
With the renovation of the Lowry Center nearing completion, I have had a lot of heartfelt, disappointed and even irate conversations about what went well and what could have been done better. I have talked with people about the parting of Mom’s Truck Stop, as well as the carpeting and the blinding, fluorescent lights beaming throughout. This is not to negate what works, as I and others have enjoyed the comfortable seating and natural light of the second floor. But, by far, a massive shortcoming to the expansion of Lowry that rarely came up in conversation was the front entrance to the building itself. Drab, concrete slabs and gray paths lead up to the student center. The atmosphere appears alienating without even walking into the building.
What is most puzzling to me is the lack of any amenities or infrastructure for a space meant to work with all of the students on campus. Kauke, Andrews and Taylor are examples of buildings on campus with a bike rack, cigarette butt disposal and emergency call box. The front of Lowry has none of these. Bicycles are usually haphazardly leaned against the building itself or nearby streetlights. Look any closer around the so-called “benches” and you will be greeted by a river of cigarette butts lining the grass. None of the students or staff involved here are the problem. These problems are structural.
What I believe the outside of Lowry needs is placemaking or the way that places need an actual sense of place, a uniqueness that makes an area attractive. In some ways, the desolate area has some of these qualities. An important need of placemaking is foot traffic, which a student center would certainly have, and this is the case for Lowry. A possible solution for the outside area could be events, especially related to the arts. Chalk art events, art shows and public performances could breathe some more life into the area. An example of this might be the sidewalk chalk events hosted at the Cleveland Museum of Art, fostering a sense of community by showcasing that anyone can jump in and create art. As the weather gets nicer, even an area like the front (or back) of Lowry could be host to creative placemaking on campus.
In the academic literature on placemaking, creative placemaking is a common example. But that’s the tip of the iceberg for the potential ideas for the outside area around Lowry. Flea markets, retail or even donation events could spark a tradition of temporary commerce around the student center. Even outdoor seating for campus dining and general socialization could play a role. As long as the accessibility of Lowry continues, these types of pop-up projects could create not only a livelier space but a place that acts more as a hub for the College.
I believe the narrow paths of the entrance itself are the biggest obstacle to these types of initiatives, with Beall Avenue being a stark reminder that creating communication with pedestrians and buildings is complicated by a greater car-dependent society. Pedestrianizing at least a section of Beall could be an intriguing solution, yet the Wooster Community Hospital complicates this idea due to the need for a road. Regardless, a path to proper placemaking is possible.
No amount of mulch or swag-wagon appearances will fix the fact that the outside of Lowry has a great opportunity to build a greater sense of community on campus. Placemaking is a viable and realistic solution to create an environment that’s more than just foot traffic. At the very least, a bike rack, cigarette butt disposal and emergency call box would be a good start.
Image of the Flag Procession at ASU’s Ubuntu. Photo courtesy of Morgan Hunter.
Morgan Hunter, Contributing Writer
“When we rise, we transcend.” Audience members of all ages, identities and stories filed into McGaw Chapel Saturday evening, eager for the night that would unite them. As the lights dimmed and the first performers took the stage, captivating silence took hold. This was no mere college club exhibition; this was the African Student Union (ASU)’s biggest event of the year. This was Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is an annual event dedicated to showcasing the diversity and power of celebrating African identities through dancing, singing and fashion. Performances began with students demonstrating Traditional Ethiopian Tigrigna Dance, truly starting the evening off with a bang. Throughout the production, the audience lay witness to other groups representing specific countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire or Zimbabwe, as well as other student groups representing specific dance styles, such as the Afrobeats or Waist Warrior Dance Groups. The set list was lengthy and diverse, not only demonstrating the wide range of African identities but also the vastness of talent so many individuals on campus have to offer. One singer, Byera Kashangaki ’24 explains that despite setbacks, “I was determined to be part of a spectacular production. I hope [the audience members] were able to feel my emotion as I was singing and conveying this message.” About halfway through the evening was the Flag Procession. Students lined up in the side aisles of McGaw, eagerly anticipating the country of origin to be announced, beckoning them to take to the stage and wave their flag with pride. One by one, students were seen showcasing their cultural ties, all the while beaming from ear to ear without fail.
The intensity of cheering radiated throughout the crowd as the professional drumming ensemble GOREE Drum & Dance took the stage. GOREE Drum & Dance is a premier dance and performance company based out of Columbus that aims to keep the authenticity of Traditional West African Dance alive, even traveling to Senegal every two years to train and learn the techniques. Audience members sat in anticipation as they were led in call-and-response rhythm games, clapping along and inevitably tripping over the short beats and fast tempos of the masters. As the two additional members took the stage, those in attendance gazed, wide-eyed and awestruck at the captivating performance. For more information on GOREE Drum & Dance, find them at goreedrumdance.org.
As attendees filed back into their seats after a brief intermission, the lights dimmed; it was time for the fashion show! Students donned clothing unlike any that had already been showcased earlier in the evening. Blazers, dresses, shirts and gowns shined with the rich colors and patterns of traditional African fabrics. Following the final models disappearing behind the curtain, a new face took the stage, none other than Emeka Anyadiegwu, founder of Obioma Fashion. Thanking the crowd, Anyadiegwu explains that these garments are not just clothes; they instead represent his brand, one that prides itself in its Fair-Trade values, ethically sourcing materials and creating jobs for Nigerians. Each piece was designed by combining Western fashion trends with traditional Kente fabrics. For more information, refer to their website, myobioma.com, and their Instagram, @myobioma.
An event of this size is no small undertaking. ASU board members started planning and working on the 2023 production as soon as they were elected back in the spring of 2022. While there were setbacks and frustrations, all were motivated by their dedication to their performances and the excitement for the community to partake. “We hope that they take away the fact that Africa is a diverse continent. Africans are often displayed in the media as single-layered people, yet we are a complex, multi-layered and multi-dimensional concoction of many cultures and tribes,” ASU Co-President Anesu Munyanyi ’23, shares. “We wanted this event to represent that even though we are all part of numerous disparate cultures, we can still produce something that unifies us as Africans.”
The Wooster Voice 