The Campus

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor

Alex Weidenhof is a senior history major and an ardent defender of the serial comma. Oddly enough, though he enjoys journalism and has been on The Campus for three years, he has not taken a class on it, mainly because he forgets to during registration every semester. Alex mainly covers topics around Public Safety, which he enjoys because, like history, it gives him a cynical, pessimistic view of the world. He has also reported for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, writing on important subjects such as professional cornhole, tugboats and Wild West reenactors. As a former copy editor, he is a pedant who is precise about commas, subject-verb agreement and dangling modifiers, though as this bio shows, he cannot edit his own writing.

All content by Alex Weidenhof

Allegheny’s newest competitive team? It could be esports.

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 15, 2018

A group of Allegheny College students plans to bring a new competitive team to the school, and with it, physical changes to parts of campus. Its competition? E-Sports. Though its constitution was tabled...

Matt Platz, candidate for director of Public Safety, during his presentation Wednesday Nov. 7, 2018

Matt Platz, candidate for public safety, speaks to students, staff

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 8, 2018

Since August 2015, Allegheny College’s Office of Public Safety has had two permanent and three interim directors. Wednesday, Nov. 7, marked the final stages of the search for a new permanent director. Jeff...

Graduates ask college to rescind Graham civility prize

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 25, 2018

A group of Allegheny College graduates are calling on the institution to rescind South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Prize for Civility in Public Life, which the college awarded him in 2013. In a letter...

Nesset reaches settlement with child pornography victims

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 18, 2018

Kirk Nesset, a former professor of English and creative writing at Allegheny College who pleaded guilty to charges related to child pornography, has reached settlements with eight victims who filed a civil...

Pereira

Former counselor Pereira found guilty

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 27, 2018

Luiz Heleno Pereira, 53, was found guilty on two counts related to his having sexual contact with an 11-year-old boy, court records show. Pereira was Allegheny College’s associate director of admissions...

Students protest handling of racial bias incidents

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 20, 2018

Over 25 students joined in a protest against the college’s racial discrimination and sexual assault policies in front of the main entrance of the Henderson Campus Center at noon on Monday, Sept. 17. The...

New additions to campus: MicroFridges aim to cut cost

Masha Serguievski, Alex Weidenhof, and Steven Heine September 13, 2018

Beginning with the fall 2018 semester, Allegheny College has provided students living in traditional-style dorms with MicroFridges — a microwave and refrigerator combo. For those not living in a traditional-style...

Smith

Students pay tribute to Smith’s work, legacy

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 13, 2018

Andrew Bloeser, assistant professor of political science, and Allegheny students held and helped organize an hour-long discussion on the final work of Bruce Smith, the late professor emeritus of political...

Not only did this year’s incoming class set a record for international students — at six percent of the class — it also saw an increase in the number of countries represented. Pictured in the graph above is the number of countries represented by students during year of matriculation.

Class of 2022 most diverse, selective in admissions process

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 13, 2018

Setting and tying records for metrics measuring the incoming class’ diversity, Allegheny College’s 494-student class of 2022 has been one of the most competitive in recent history. Cornell LeSane,...

The crisis of America

Alex Weidenhof, News Writer September 13, 2018

The United States is in the midst of three separate — but not wholly discrete — constitutional crises. One crisis, perhaps the most obvious and largest, was something neither members of the Constitutional...

Allegheny to find new, permanent public safety director

Alex Weidenhof, Senior News Editor September 6, 2018

Allegheny College has formed a search committee to find a new leader for the Office of Public Safety, which has been without a permanent director since fall 2017. Title IX Coordinator Gillian Ford heads...

Former Allegheny student sentenced to up to 2 years in correctional facility, probation

Alex Weidenhof and Kelsey Evans September 5, 2018

“Society expects better and there’s got to be punishment for it,” President Judge Anthony Vardaro told Moses Alcantara Garcia, 21, during his 30-minute sentencing for an April on-campus sexual assault...

Courtesy of Crawford County Correctional Facility

Former student pleads no contest to assault charges, faces jail time

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 30, 2018
Moses Alcantara Garcia, who has been incarcerated in the Crawford County Correctional Facility since his arrest with a $40,000 bail, will be sentenced Sept. 5. He faces up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
This photograph, taken by William Bulger in 1937, shows Bentley Hall just a decade after its 1925 renovation.

Renovated Bentley to blend old and new

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 30, 2018
We want to make (Bentley) a 21st-century building and one that’ll get us through the next century.” —CLIFF WILLIS Director of Major Capital Projects, Allegheny College

The Campus was there for the last Bentley reconstruction

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 30, 2018
The two renovations — this year’s and the one nearly a century ago — share many similarities. At that time, modernization meant electric lights and indoor plumbing, not geothermal climate control and adding elevators.

ASG president, vice president discuss goals, challenges

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 23, 2018

With the 2018–19 academic year about to commence, Allegheny Student Government’s incoming administration is eager to begin its role in governing and advocating for the student body. ASG President...

Former associate director of admissions is arrested

Alex Weidenhof, Copy/Enterprise Editor February 1, 2018

Allegheny College’s former associate director of admissions and coordinator of international recruitment has been arrested on charges that he engaged in sexual contact with an 11-year-old. Luiz Heleno...

Baskan, college resolve discrimination lawsuit

Alex Weidenhof, Copy/Enterprise Editor January 25, 2018

Altay Baskan, '20, and Allegheny College reached an agreement Thursday, Jan. 25, to resolve a lawsuit he filed against the college and Assistant Dean of Students Joe Hall. Hall was dismissed as a defendant...

Federal Title IX investigation ends after lawsuit

Alex Weidenhof, Copy/Enterprise Editor January 25, 2018

A Department of Education investigation into Allegheny College’s handling of Title IX cases, which was opened June 3, 2015, has been closed upon request of the student who filed it. One investigation...

Government sends request to garnish Nesset’s accounts

Alex Weidenhof, Copy/Enterprise Editor January 25, 2018

The federal government has sent the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania a request to garnish Kirk Nesset’s retirement accounts to pay his restitution due to victims as a result...

Lawsuit against Allegheny College to enter mediation

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 31, 2017

A lawsuit filed against Allegheny College in United States District Court — the second in 2017 — will proceed in front of a federal magistrate judge. The college is accused of and denies charges of...

Crime logs misidentified some sexual assaults

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor April 20, 2017

Allegheny College’s daily crime log has misidentified some sexual assaults and omitted others entirely. The college is required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime...

City of Meadville supplied ballistic vests to public safety

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor April 20, 2017

After discussing the issue of arming public safety officers in a June 21, 2016, meeting with Meadville officials and reportedly several times afterwards with students, Allegheny College acquired ballistic...

Police respond to suspicious person in fraternity house

Joseph Tingley and Alex Weidenhof March 15, 2017

Allegheny College Public Safety and Meadville City Police were called to investigate a report of a suspicious man entering the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house on Highland Avenue around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday,...

Residence Life reallocates funding for RA positions

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor March 9, 2017

The Office of Residence Life will reallocate funding for the 2017–18 academic year to hire a fourth assistant director of residence life, restructure the current resident adviser positions, add four...

For the 2016–17 academic year, the former Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house was leased by the college to house first-year female students. The college, according to Associate Director of Residence Life for Housing Gretchen Kerr, has no plans to continue to use the house for the 2017–18 academic year.

Fraternity proposes return to campus

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor March 9, 2017

Members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity’s national organization met with Allegheny College community members to discuss the possible recolonization of the fraternity to the college’s campus on...

Investigation continues into assault of students

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor March 9, 2017

The two men who assaulted Anza Kisyanto, ’17, and Mike Eltma, ’20, outside of Ford Chapel on Feb. 22 have not been apprehended yet by the Meadville City Police Department, though the investigation...

Director of public safety researches security cameras

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor March 2, 2017

Director of Public Safety Ali Awadi has brought forth the possibility of installing security cameras to Allegheny Student Government’s Student Life Committee, according to Sens. Alexia Porche, ’19,...

Nesset responds to civil court suit

Joseph Tingley and Alex Weidenhof February 23, 2017

Former Allegheny professor Kirk Nesset has filed a motion to have a civil case against him dismissed, according to court documents. The motion, which included a letter from Nesset to the U.S. District...

Special Report: Sexual assault survivors share stories of college process

Angela Mauroni, Joseph Tingley, and Alex Weidenhof February 17, 2017

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on sexual assault at Allegheny College. The first installment was published last Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. The U.S. Department of Education’s...

The Association of American Universities reports that 23.1 percent of female undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault while in college. 5.4 percent of male undergraduate students also experience rape or sexual assault while in college. Nobody in this photo illustration is a subject in the story.

Special Report: Sexual assault survivors speak on Title IX experiences

Angela Mauroni, Joseph Tingley, and Alex Weidenhof February 10, 2017

Editor’s Note: This article is the first of a two-part series examining sexual assault on Allegheny’s campus. The second installment will be published next Friday, Feb. 17. Allegheny College is currently...

College holds discussion on executive orders

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor February 2, 2017

Allegheny College students, faculty and administrators gathered in the Pelletier Collaboratory at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to discuss implications of President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders...

New lighting to be installed on North Main

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor February 2, 2017

Allegheny College’s efforts to improve student safety continue after the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recommended a number of changes be made to the portion of North Main Street that runs...

Populism led to Donald Trump’s presidential victory

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor February 2, 2017

President Donald Trump was elected by running on a campaign of populism—that is, promising to empower middle America. Yet, despite some significant accomplishments of populists, it is necessary to remember...

College crime log fails to meet federal guidelines

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor December 2, 2016

Allegheny College’s daily crime log, which in accordance with federal guidelines is supposed to include crimes which have occurred in the last 60 days, has not fully complied with these guidelines regarding...

Car-sharing company replaces missing vehicle on campus

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor December 2, 2016

A new Zipcar vehicle arrived on campus on Nov. 21, replacing a car that had been removed from the college by the company earlier in the month, according to Dean of Students Kimberly Ferguson. Ferguson...

Jonah Raether, ’18, reacts to President-Elect Donald Trumps lead prior to the final outcome of the election in the Grounds for Change coffee shop early in the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.

National election stuns campus

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 10, 2016

Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The business mogul and reality television star defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, former U.S. secretary of...

Jonah Raether, ’18, reacts to President-Elect Donald Trumps lead prior to the final outcome of the election in the Grounds for Change coffee shop early in the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.

Trump

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 9, 2016

Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The business mogul and reality television star defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, former U.S. secretary of...

Editorial: The duty to vote

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 8, 2016

The Founding Fathers had a revolutionary idea in 1789. Every four years, American citizens would have the opportunity to peacefully overthrow their government. Nearly 8,000 men died in the revolution...

Sixth District representative candidates Peter Zimmer, the Democratic nominee, Brad Roae, the incumbent Republican nominee, and Lester Lenhart, a write-in candidate, stayed after the forum to speak with audience members on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

CPP holds forum for sixth district candidates

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 3, 2016

Three candidates vying to represent the 6th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District—encompassing Crawford County and parts of Erie County—met to debate on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the Tippie Alumni...

College creates new counseling position

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 3, 2016

Allegheny College opened a search for a multicultural counselor, a new position, to work in its Counseling Center, posting the job opening on its website on Oct. 21. Applications will be accepted through...

Critical thinking: A needed skill in political discourse

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor November 3, 2016

“The current view is that liberals have a whole set of statistics which theoretically may be right, but it’s not where human beings are,” said Newt Gingrich in an interview with CNN during the Republican...

Library staff works to control mold infestation

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 27, 2016

A sheet of plastic hangs across a section of Pelletier Library’s first floor, indicating that the section is closed. This area, containing the compact—or mobile—shelving units and approximately 25,000...

College digitizes Ida Tarbell archival collection

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 21, 2016

Paula Treckel, professor emerita of history, delivered the 21st annual Pelletier Library Lecture, entitled “The World of Ida Tarbell” in the Collaboratory on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Vice President for Information...

PennDOT holds pedestrian traffic forum

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 21, 2016

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the City of Meadville and Allegheny College hosted a public meeting to solicit input regarding traffic along the North Main Street corridor in Schultz Banquet...

College could face further fees for car-sharing program

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 13, 2016

Allegheny College’s contract with Zipcar, a vehicle-sharing program that began on campus on Sept. 13, sets a monthly guaranteed revenue to Zipcar of $3,000, according to a preliminary copy of the contract...

Campus crime reports updated and expanded

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor October 13, 2016

In its 2016 Annual Security and Fire Report, the Office of Public Safety, added two sections not previously included in the 2015 Clery Report. The department added a more detailed section specifically...

Gateway combines conference funds

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 29, 2016

Career Education and the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities, which previously had separate funds for students attending conferences, combined those funds into URSCA’s...

Noah Dawgiello, ’19, and Natali Salaytah, ’19, dance during the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the campus center lobby on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016.

[Photo] Students bring a slice of Islam to campus

September 29, 2016

Noah Dawgiello, ’19, and Natali Salaytah, ’19, dance during the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the campus center lobby on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016.

Bonners to request community partners pay for services

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 22, 2016

Allegheny College’s Bonner Program, which provides community service to Crawford County nonprofit agencies and other local sites, has begun considering requesting  those partners provide financial compensation...

Darnell Epps, associate director of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice Center, displays a poster, titled “Struggle for Liberation,” to hang in the Henderson Campus Center during a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

IDEAS Center encourages collaboration among diversity organizations

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 8, 2016

Editor’s note: justin adkins spells his name in all lowercase. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice Center held a meeting among leaders of student diversity organizations on Wednesday,...

Vehicle-sharing comes to campus

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 8, 2016

Two vehicles from Zipcar, a vehicle-sharing program that allows students to rent cars for an hourly rate, arrived at Allegheny College on Tuesday, Sept. 6, according to Dean of Students Kimberly Ferguson. Ferguson...

Trump, making race wars great again?

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 1, 2016

Many of Donald Trump’s critics have called his immigration ideas racist, fascist, even anti-American. Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, in an interview with the New York Times, compared Trump’s...

Jeffrey Cross, professor of psychology and neuroscience, sets up his lab on the bottom floor of the recently renovated Carnegie Hall on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Cross said a benefit of his lab is a direct connection to the animal colony through another room.

Carnegie Hall undergoes second phase of renovations

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 1, 2016

The second phase of renovations to Carnegie Hall occurred between May and August, 2016, as workers improved the main and bottom floors of the building. In 2014, the second floor of Carnegie was renovated...

Diversity center plans fresh start under new director

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor September 1, 2016

Editor’s note: justin adkins spells his name entirely in lowercase, and we have preserved this spelling. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice Center underwent personnel changes...

Class of 2020 to be most diverse in campus history

Alex Weidenhof, News Editor August 25, 2016

Allegheny College continued increasing diversity among its first-year classes with the incoming class of 2020. According to Cornell LeSane, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions, 590 students...

It’s not romantic; it’s racist

Alex Weidenhof, Junior Editor April 28, 2016

Although it is the basis for Disney’s Splash Mountain and its song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” won an Academy Award and is a household song, Disney would rather we forget about its 1946 live-action/animated...

New York Daily News Berns Sanders

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor April 21, 2016

Voters are flocking to a candidate whose talking points reach out to the most extreme wings of his party, who has no ideas on how to implement his policy ideas and who will further divide American politics...

Landon Plyler tosses a bean bag in a game of Corn Hole, an activity ran by the Allegheny Football table in Diamond Park.

Gators 4 Kids hosts third annual Funkapalooza community carnival

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor April 21, 2016

Gators 4 Kids hosted the third annual Funkapalooza carnival in Diamond Park on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., raising $401 for Weekend Nutrition for Students. WiNS provides food-insecure Meadville...

Allegheny releases class of 2020 estimates

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor April 14, 2016

Allegheny College sent out more than 3,000 acceptance letters to prospective students this past year, according to Sue Stuebner, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the college. Of...

Property tax exemption adversely affects Meadville

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor March 10, 2016

Allegheny College held over $42 million in tax-exempt property in 2014, releasing the college from what would have been a $921,883 tax bill, according to Nancy Mangilo-Bittner, a Meadville city councilwoman. City...

Tamara Kolesnichenko paints a customer’s nails on March 4, 2016. Kolesnichenko opened Tamara’s Salon in June 2015 to make a dream become reality.

A fresh cut at life

Alex Weidenhof, Allegheny College March 10, 2016

Every time Tamara Kolesnichenko opens the door to her salon, she enters into a world of possibilities that were once unthinkable. Kolesnichenko was born in the village of Kupelya in Ukraine. After marrying...

College encourages faculty and administration participation in Service Saturday events

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor February 25, 2016

Service Saturday, a monthly event organized by Civic Engagement in the Allegheny Gateway, continues on Saturday, Feb. 27. Dave Roncolato, the director of Civic Engagement, said the program, which has...

Allegheny students play increasing role in Admissions

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor February 18, 2016

With the class of 2020 receiving acceptance letters from Allegheny College, the  admissions office has continued preparing current students to represent the college to prospective students. “There’s...

Faculty workshop aims to create active learning in class

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor February 4, 2016

Twenty-three faculty members attended a workshop hosted by Allegheny College on Saturday, Jan. 30. This workshop aimed to create spaces of active learning in science and mathematics classrooms. The...

College chaplain Jane Ellen Nickell gives a sermon relating to the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. in Ford Chapel when Reverend Irene Monroe was not able to come due to in-climate weather on Jan. 24, 2016. The sermon was part of a week-long observance dedicated to the life and activism of King.

MLK celebrations bring diverse groups together

Alex Weidenhof, Junior News Editor January 28, 2016

Allegheny College hosted several events celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day during the week of Jan. 18, 2016. While past celebrations of the national holiday on campus have consisted of a single day,...

Alum acredits Allegheny with discovering career path

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer December 3, 2015

As an associate regional director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Ryan Reczek, ’03, is active in St. Jude’s community engagement and fundraising throughout western and central Pennsylvania,...

Community grades safety and security’s performance

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer November 19, 2015

On Oct. 27, Jeff Schneider, former director of Allegheny College’s safety and security, left his position. Sean Kennedy, who has been hired by the college as the interim director, began his job on Nov....

Language program teaches Crawford County fifth graders

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer November 19, 2015

Students enrolled in a 200-level or above foreign language course at Allegheny College can participate in the college’s World Language Program, which gives students the opportunity to teach a foreign...

College is pressured to divest

Alex Weidenhof, Contributing Writer November 5, 2015

While Allegheny College has committed itself to having a carbon-neutral campus by the year 2020, several students have raised concerns about the college’s investments in fossil fuels and related stocks....

Like it or not, the US is in a proxy war with Russia

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer November 5, 2015

President Obama spoke in a press conference on October 2 regarding the United States’ involvement in Syria. “We’re not going to make Syria into a proxy war between the United States and Russia,”...

Mass shootings are not black and white issues

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer October 22, 2015

Citizens of the United States have witnessed far too many mass shootings, especially in the past five years. Every time a shooting occurs, almost universally perpetrated by a white male, pundits and politicians...

Counseling center offers array of services

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer October 15, 2015

On the first Monday of each month, the Allegheny College Counseling Center hosts therapy dogs, one of its most popular programs. While many students are aware of this program, many others do not utilize...

Scientists discover new species of human

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer October 15, 2015

Deep in a South African cave, scientists discovered 15 partial skeletons of a new species of human, Homo naledi. According to the British Broadcasting Corperation, the new species, which lived as long...

Meadville anti-discrimination petition lies stagnant

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer October 15, 2015

Of Pennsylvania’s 2,561 boroughs, towns and municipalities, 34 have ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Neither the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or...

Bernie Sanders still stands a chance

Alex Weidenhof, Staff Writer October 15, 2015

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has pulled even with Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic nominee for President, in several primary states, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. Many supporters...

Resentment and Paranoia in the United States

Alex Weidenhof, Contributing Writer October 1, 2015

       The recent arrest of Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year old Muslim high school student, for bringing a reassembled clock to school is a tragedy. But it is not exceptional. The United States has a long...

Senators are elected for each class at the start of every academic school year and are sworn in by the Allegheny Student Government cabinet at a general meeting. This year, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 was the inaugural meeting for the class of 2019’s new senators.

Freshmen senators join ASG

Alex Weidenhof, Contributing Writer September 24, 2015

Allegheny Student Government held its first meeting with representatives from all four classes on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The newly elected class of 2019 senators were inaugurated at the meeting. Mark Meyers,...

No democratic government should endorse such a symbol

Alex Weidenhof, Contributing Writer September 17, 2015

Shortly after the sesquicentennial anniversary of the end of the Civil War, a growing national consensus holds that the meaning of the Confederate flag is inconsistent with ideals that democratic governments...

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Alex Weidenhof