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The student news site of Allegheny College

The Campus

The student news site of Allegheny College

The Campus

The student news site of Allegheny College

The Campus

Olivia Blakeslee, Copy Editor

Olivia Blakeslee is a senior majoring in English with a minor in journalism in the public interest. This is her fourth year on staff, and she is serving as the copy editor. In her free time, she can be found working out less than a former sports editor should and trying to get her life together in a Google Calendar.

All content by Olivia Blakeslee

Looking forward while looking back: Campus community reflection on art controversy

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor April 17, 2020

In February of 2019, a student artist stirred conversation and controversy. A year later, the campus community is still partaking in the conversation that began with an image from an art project he and...

Karneval: German House event brings celebration of acceptance, humanity to campus

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor March 5, 2020

From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, the lobby of the Max Kade International Wing of North Village I was filled with pretzels, potato salad and Allegheny students in costume. The event was an effort...

ABC awards advancement by Alleghenians

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor March 5, 2020

A month-long campus celebration of Black excellence reached its finale with the Association for the Advancement of Black Culture’s first-ever awards show on Friday, Feb. 28 in Shafer Auditorium in...

MOCAA strives to make Allegheny feel like home

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor February 28, 2020

Black History Month is coming to an end, but the work of student organizations on campus that made much of the month-long programming at Allegheny possible is not. One of those groups, the Men of...

50 years of excellence

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor February 13, 2020

February marks a handful of recognizable dates: Groundhog’s Day on the 2nd, Valentine’s Day on the 14th and this year, Leap Day on the 29th. One celebration — the celebration of Black excellence...

Alumnus publishes book, talks modern journalism

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor February 7, 2020

Victor Pickard, ’95, sees the commercialized foundation of journalism as its crux. “The commercial media profits by selling audiences to advertisers, and one of the most surefire ways to attract audiences...

APO strengthens ties between campus and community

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor February 7, 2020

The Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity recently initiated their 500,000th member at the University of California, San Diego. The January milestone marked the continued growth of one of the largest...

Faces old and new: ‘Sex Education’ dives deeper

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor January 30, 2020

Netflix’s “Sex Education” season 2 opens with protagonist Otis Milburn’s, played by Asa Butterfield, sexual awakening, an outbreak of chlamydia at Moordale High and single parents navigating the...

Allegheny grad voted Lawrence County commissioner

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor January 30, 2020

When reflecting on Morgan Boyd, ’18, and his career since leaving Allegheny College, Quigley Hall Building Coordinator Sarah Holt knew exactly what to say. “He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and...

Fiction writing professor joins English Department

Olivia Blakeslee, Features Editor January 24, 2020

When Assistant Professor of English Mari Christmas first took a creative writing class — her only one as an undergraduate — she said, laughing, that she “didn’t do so well in it.” Fast forward...

Men’s rugby club tackles competition, welcomes newcomers

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor April 18, 2019

They come for a sport but stay for a team. The members of the Allegheny men’s rugby team have a diverse set of athletic backgrounds, but they say the team environment is the key to success. “Something...

Allegheny Aikido combines club sport and martial art

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor April 4, 2019

The David V. Wise Sport & Fitness Center is home to 21 varsity sports, four intramural sports and 13 club sports. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays each week, the only martial art among...

Ross named director of athletics and recreation

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor March 7, 2019

Working with a national firm, a search committee comprised of Allegheny students, faculty and staff chose to bring 23 years of Allegheny experience to the helm of the athletic department with the hiring...

Gator football welcomes 35th program head coach

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor February 21, 2019

Gator football has improved its record from a winless season to a 6-4 winning season in fall 2018. As the team moves forward, players will be led by new head coach Rich Nagy, who hopes to continue this...

Men’s basketball clinches playoffs after victory over Denison

Olivia Blakeslee and Willy Walker February 14, 2019

Allegheny men’s basketball secured a place in the 2019 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament with a 90-75 win over Denison University on Saturday, Feb. 9. The win punched the Gators’ ticket for...

Men’s basketball triumphs over Wabash

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor February 7, 2019

When Allegheny Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bob Simmons addressed visiting trustees ahead of the Gator’s Feb. 1 game against the Wabash Little Giants, he was frank about the challenge of facing a...

Men’s basketball seizes on old lessons, new talent

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor January 31, 2019

Allegheny men’s basketball is looking to capitalize on the talent of the first-year class and upperclassmen experience to improve its 7-11 record in the 2018-19 season. Head Men’s Basketball Coach...

Hammer resigns as head football coach

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor January 24, 2019

Head Football Coach William Hammer will be leaving Allegheny College after three increasingly successful seasons. Hammer announced his resignation on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. Hammer began his new...

Cross country closes season with national meet

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor November 29, 2018

Allegheny Cross Country raced to the end of its season at the 2018 NCAA Division-III Championships Saturday, Nov. 17 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Gator women raced as a team and finished 13th overall,...

‘Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ an unfortunate twist on classic tale

Olivia Blakeslee, Sports Editor November 15, 2018

It seems some stories are harder to tell than others — harder to update, anyway. “Some locks are harder than others,” Drosselmeyer tells protagonist Klara in the most recent adaptation of “The...

Allegheny swimming demonstrates strength against Division II competition

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor November 15, 2018

The Allegheny swimming and diving team brought Division III strength to its annual Allegheny Gator Invite on Friday, Nov. 9, and Saturday, Nov. 10. The Gators faced Division II Edinboro University...

Gators seal win in final moments of homecoming game

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor November 1, 2018

Allegheny football ignited a crowd of students, alumni and community members alike at their home Blue and Gold Weekend Game against DePauw University on Saturday, Oct. 27. Gators snatched  a victory...

First-year volleyball student-athlete Claire Klima, ‘22, kneels in her team lineup during the national anthem at a home game on September 22, 2018.

First-year athlete aims to start conversation

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor October 18, 2018

Allegheny volleyball player Claire Klima, ’22, is hoping to start a conversation that begins on the court and expands onto campus. The first-year athlete has been kneeling during the national anthem...

Becky Dawson, assistant volunteer swimming and diving coach, takes a photo on her cellphone while coaching the Allegheny team. Dawson also serves as a faculty athletic representative and teaches classes at Allegheny.

Volunteer assistant coaches donate time, experience, passion to athletic department

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor September 27, 2018

Allegheny College’s athletic department employs 39 head and assistant coaches and 11 administrative staff. The department also lists seven other members among its staff: volunteer assistant coaches. These...

First-year brings military experience to gator football

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor September 20, 2018

Aaron Burnside, ’22, is donning a new type of uniform. The 24-year-old defensive end joined the military after graduating high school and is now bringing five years of army experience to the Allegheny...

Two newest varsity sports recruiting for debut seasons

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor September 13, 2018

Allegheny’s 22nd and 23rd sports are poised to become parts of the athletic department and the greater campus community. The Allegheny Women’s Field Hockey and Men’s Lacrosse coaches are currently...

Search for new athletic director is currently a work in progress

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor September 6, 2018

Allegheny College’s search for a new athletic director is currently in the early stages of a multi-step process. Executive Vice President Eileen Petula said the process is still taking shape and few...

Gators defeated in 2018 season home opener

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor September 6, 2018

Gator football fell to visiting 25th-ranked Rennsalaer Polytechnic Institute at its home opening game on Saturday, Sept. 1. The 2018 season opener at Frank B. Fuhrer Field ended with a 40-19 loss against...

Zavolta joins tradition of alumni turned coaches

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor August 30, 2018

New Assistant Women’s Softball Coach Jessica Zavolta, ’18, will become part of a group of Allegheny athletes who have returned to their alma mater to coach the sport they played as undergraduate...

Allegheny women’s tennis team seeks new athletes

Olivia Blakeslee, Senior Sports Editor August 23, 2018

The Allegheny Women’s Tennis team is seeking new athletes to become a part of the 2018-2019 roster. Students interested in joining the team are asked to attend an informational meeting before the official...

Updates underway for Allegheny athletic facilities

Olivia Blakeslee and Jake Reidenbach August 23, 2018

Allegheny athletes can anticipate new and updated facilities both inside and outside in the coming months. The David V. Wise Center is currently undergoing a resurfacing of its blue courts, while Robertson...

Campus clubs strive to create inclusive spaces

Olivia Blakeslee and Ellis Giacomelli April 26, 2018

The Association for Asian and Asian American Awareness, A5, and the Chinese American Friendship Society provide different avenues for cultural representation and understanding among American, Asian and...

A look inside: Allegheny Information Technology

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor April 19, 2018

A recent campus-wide issue with Apple devices challenged the IT department following an update that caused a disconnect between Apple devices and the college’s wireless system. Many of the college’s...

Max Kade International House Spotlight: Chinese House

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor April 12, 2018

The Chinese House looks to enhance the learning community centered around a language and culture that originated 7,000 miles from Meadville, Pa. “The reason we have Chinese House is [because] we wanted...

Multiple works of sculptures by Olivia Xie, ’19, exhibited her “Chinese Zodiac” collection in the Henderson Campus Center Bowman~Penelec~Megahan Art Gallery on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

Art gallery hosts annual student art show

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor April 5, 2018

The Doane Hall of Art has been host to graduate students, a Lebanese artist and Tibetan monks. On Tuesday, April 3, however, it hosted the work of Allegheny’s own artists in residence. This year’s...

Max Kade International House Spotlight: German House

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor March 8, 2018

The German House creates a home for culture and language study for its residents in the Max Kade International Wing of North Village I. Maggie Dugan, ’18, is a resident of the house, which is one of...

Walden Pond, pictured here on Oct. 4, 2008, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 as a result of Thoreau’s memoir, “Walden; or, Life in the Woods,” which he wrote after spending two years living on its shores.

Guest scholar blends science, literature in lecture

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor March 1, 2018

Scott Hess, professor of English at Earlham College, drew a crowd of faculty and students across disciplines at his talk on literature and the environment at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the Quigley Auditorium. The...

‘Coming Home’ transcends cultural, language barriers

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor February 22, 2018

The 2014 Chinese drama “Coming Home” proves love, family and loss transcend cultural differences. Screened Feb. 14 at the Movies at Meadville as the third installment in the annual International Film...

A love story: Explicable systems, inexplicable feelings

Ellis Giacomelli and Olivia Blakeslee February 15, 2018

Mystery chocolates disgust or delight, roses dance across the country and drug store shelves are ravaged for cards containing strangers’ poetry. Together, these breed a frenzied phenomenon — Valentine’s...

Max Kade International House Spotlight: Arabic/MENA House

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor February 8, 2018

Bringing Middle Eastern and North African culture to northwestern Pennsylvania is no small feat. The students of the Arabic/Middle East and North Africa House in North Village I, however, are doing just...

Global Health Studies welcomes candidate speakers

Olivia Blakeslee, Junior Science/International Editor February 8, 2018

The Global Health Studies Department hosted a series of lunch talks as part of the hiring process to fill an open position for a new faculty member over the past two weeks. Each of the three candidates...

International Club prepares for annual dinner

Olivia Blakeslee, Staff Writer November 16, 2017

The Allegheny College International Club will open up a world of culinary and cultural experiences to the campus community with its annual International Bazaar on Sunday, Nov. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Schultz...

2017 Energy Challenge sets new records

Olivia Blakeslee, Contributing Writer November 9, 2017

The eighth annual energy challenge charged Allegheny students up to achieve a 14.2 percent reduction in electricity consumption, saving $16,700 for use in more eco-friendly projects on campus. Events ranging...

Scheimer and Jasienski join athletic staff, help create support system

Olivia Blakeslee, Contributing Writer October 19, 2017

The athletes of Allegheny College have a system in place to promote their athletic success, beginning with coaches that oversee their day-to-day improvement. To ensure that this improvement continues,...

Gilman Scholarship provides opportunities for study abroad

Olivia Blakeslee, Contributing Writer September 28, 2017

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers annual scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens. Scholarships, worth up to $5,000, will be awarded to as...

Making sense of America’s obsession with Diana and Kate

Olivia Blakeslee, Contributing Writer September 14, 2017

Few individuals are capable of giving a detailed account of the complications their mother went through while pregnant with them; few even have interest in acquiring this information. However, millions...

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