Eyeing Her Finnish Line</h1> <article> <h1>Eyeing Her Finnish Line</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:37:47 +0000</p> <span>Eyeing Her Finnish Line</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-22T13:37:47-04:00" title="Friday, May 22, 2020 - 13:37">Fri, 05/22/2020 - 13:37</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Holiday traditions, unusual names, and passed-down recipes provide the strongest points of connection to Maggie Kinabrew’s Finnish heritage. The senior soprano hopes a Fulbright award to study opera in the Scandinavian nation will shore up ties to her maternal homeland.</p> <p>Raised in a family fascinated by genealogical research, Kinabrew has come to learn a great deal about most corners of her personal history. It is the Finnish side, traceable four generations back to farming settlers in Washington state, about which she knows the least.</p> <p>“These people, and the place they come from, have always been a point of interest for me,” says Kinabrew, who was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, and now lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Occasionally, my grandmother speaks of the distant relatives we still have there, with whom she writes letters. My mother, when prompted, recounts the story of how she gave me a Finnish middle name to avoid the difficulties she’s had with her first name—<em>Aliina</em>. And whenever we sit down to a meal of Finnish pancake or celebrate the eight days of extra stocking stuffers we call Finnish Christmas, I find myself wanting to know more, to explore the country and culture of this family I don’t know.”</p> <p>For Kinabrew—her middle name is <em>Maija</em>—the Fulbright honor supports participation in a graduate-level opera program at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, named for the solitary Finnish composer she knew as a young singer.</p> <p>“I had been interested in traveling to Finland to pursue the country's art song repertoire since my sophomore year, when I discovered the songs of Jean Sibelius,” says Kinabrew. “I was astounded that the songs of this famous composer, whose prolific output numbered in the hundreds, were rarely if ever performed in the United States. When my voice teacher, <a href="/node/7031">Salvatore Champagne</a>, suggested that I would be a good candidate for the Fulbright grant, I realized that this project would be a wonderful utilization of a Fulbright year.”</p> <p>Kinabrew intends to study Finnish song and opera repertoire, comparing it to that of American composers of the same era. Ultimately, she hopes her research will culminate in a series of recitals that showcase Finnish music for audiences in Helsinki and the U.S. She also looks forward to immersing herself in Finnish culture—including opportunities to dance, which she has studied in various forms since age 6.</p> <p>Kinabrew is one of <a href="/node/251036">five conservatory students</a> named Fulbright Finalists for 2020-21—more than any other year in 91ֱ�� history. She is the only one among them who, in light of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, has elected to decline her award. Instead, she will begin a graduate assistantship with Carol Vaness at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music this fall. She hopes to successfully reapply and complete her Fulbright studies after earning her master’s degree.</p> <p>"I had a hunch Maggie would be the perfect Fulbright candidate: a wonderfully talented singer with a strong academic background," says her teacher, Robert W. Wheeler Professor of Voice Salvatore Champagne. "Maggie was thrilled to have received an award to study in Finland, but given the circumstances this year, it makes perfect sense for her to pursue her studies at Indiana. Two wonderful opportunities immediately upon graduating from 91ֱ��—one can hardly wish for more. Brava, Maggie!"</p> <p>A double-degree student in vocal performance and math, Kinabrew was a regular onstage in 91ֱ�� Opera Theater productions, appearing as Tytania in Britten’s <em>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</em>, Cunegonde in a Bernstein revue, and as Taller Daughter in Missy Mazzoli’s <em>Proving Up</em>. In February of this year, she sang Strauss lieder as part of 91ֱ��’s Danenberg Honors Recital (pictured). Away from campus, she took part in the 91ֱ�� in Italy summer festival and the Miami Music Festival, in which she sang the title role in Handel’s <em>Teseo</em>.</p> <p>She also relished other creative outlets at 91ֱ��, taking part in a tap ensemble and earning the informal title “Tasty Things Maker” (as well as treasurer) at the Pyle Inn co-op, where she regularly baked for more than 100 fellow students.</p> <p>“91ֱ�� has been such an amazing place for me to be for the past four years!” Kinabrew beams. “I am so grateful for my professors, both in the conservatory and the college, whose dedication to their craft and enthusiasm for teaching have inspired me in innumerable ways. I have always been a person who enjoyed school, but being at 91ֱ�� showed me the power of devoting my energy to things outside of just classes, and I feel far more confident in my individual ability to achieve a project like this one with the skills I have learned here.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-22T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/22/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Soprano Maggie Kinabrew ’20 bolsters ties to her ancestral music through a Fulbright opportunity in Helsinki.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32971">Opera Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/salvatore-champagne" hreflang="und">Salvatore Champagne ’85</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Scott Shaw</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>History to Consulting: Samir Husain ’18</h1> <p>eulrich — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:27:43 +0000</p> <span>History to Consulting: Samir Husain ’18</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-06-24T10:27:43-04:00" title="Monday, June 24, 2019 - 10:27">Mon, 06/24/2019 - 10:27</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Were you involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?</strong></p> <p>I was an officer and captain of the 91ֱ�� Tennis Club for three years. Besides that, I was the president of the Muslim Students Association and also was involved in the <a href="http://oberlinhillel.org/khc" target="_blank">Kosher Halal Co-op</a>.</p> <p><strong>Why did you decide to apply for graduate school in commerce?</strong></p> <p>I didn’t want to pursue academia or a job in history or politics. I was interested in working with data as an analyst, and the Master of Science in Commerce program at the University of Virginia seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to build on my history degree. It also let me pivot into something different and pursue a career path.</p> <p><strong>What was your experience like?</strong></p> <p>The experience was good! I graduated recently, since it was a one-year program. It was very rigorous and difficult but worthwhile in the end.</p> <p><strong>Do you feel like any of your experiences at 91ֱ�� prepared you for your work in graduate school now?</strong></p> <p>91ֱ��’s academic rigor really helped me gain a lot of great time management skills which were really essential in this program. I also think the liberal arts system and my extracurricular activities improved my communication and collaboration skills, which were also essential for this program and for business overall. My experience working at the Career Development Center also boosted my professionalism and knowledge of various industries and the job market. Most of my hard skills came from business school, but critical thinking and communication skills—which I think are the most important ones—came from 91ֱ��.</p> <p><strong>What are your future career plans?</strong></p> <p>I very recently started a job at a boutique consulting firm called Maryville Consulting Group, so this is where I’m starting out my career. Consulting is a great place to start in terms of personal and professional growth, so I’m very excited to be here. The company culture and work is great, even though expectations are very high.</p> <p>Long-term, Husain hopes to work in the video game industry as an analyst or a project manager. “However,” he says, “I’d like to get as much as I can out of this job before I try anything else out!”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-06-24T12:00:00Z">Mon, 06/24/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erin Ulrich ’18</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>At 91ֱ��, Samir Husain ’18 majored in history with a minor in Middle East and North Africa studies and an international studies concentration. Now, he’s working as an associate consultant at Maryville Consulting Group in St. Louis, Missouri.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2403">Career Exploration & Development</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25446">Middle East and North Africa Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Samir Husain ’18</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Samir Husain</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Jeremy Simon ’17: Environmental Outreach and Cross-Cultural Learning</h1> <p>eulrich — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:59:56 +0000</p> <span>Jeremy Simon ’17: Environmental Outreach and Cross-Cultural Learning</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-06-07T09:59:56-04:00" title="Friday, June 7, 2019 - 09:59">Fri, 06/07/2019 - 09:59</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>His travels have taken him to Thailand, Bhutan, China, and Vietnam, among other countries—all in the span of fewer than two years. Jeremy is currently the student affairs manager at the School for Field Studies in Bhutan, where he has been working for the past year.</p> <p><strong>How did your 91ֱ�� experiences guide you toward outdoors and outreach work?</strong></p> <p>I spent three of my four 91ֱ�� <a href="http://www2.oberlin.edu/wt/" target="_blank">winter terms</a> abroad, learning experientially about a range of topics, from exploring my family’s history in Eastern Europe to studying traditional ecological knowledge in Thailand. From these experiences, I discovered the value of learning through hands-on experiences, the importance of cross-cultural understanding, and the transformative power of international travel. I was interested in helping to foster the growth and learning that can occur during an international immersive experience, which led me to pursue a job as a program leader for Rustic Pathways, a company that runs service and travel programs across the world. Two days after graduating from 91ֱ��, I left the United States for a summer contract in Thailand and Laos, which has resulted in a year of leading programs throughout Southeast Asia and Mongolia. I am currently working as the student affairs manager for the School for Field Studies in Bhutan.</p> <p><strong>What else were you involved in at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p>I was a member of <a href="http://www2.oberlin.edu/stuorg/osteel/" target="_blank">91ֱ�� Steel</a> throughout my time at 91ֱ��, which consisted of my most important community of friends. Through OSteel, I got the opportunity to travel to Trinidad one winter term to perform in the annual Panorama steel pan competition. I also worked for the bowling lanes and participated in league play. I was a member of OSCA throughout my time at 91ֱ��, eating exclusively at Old Barrows. I spent some late nights and early mornings on the waves as a <a href="https://www.wobc.org/" target="_blank">WOBC</a> DJ and spent afternoons volunteering at Eastwood Elementary as an <a href="/node/55496" target="_blank">America Reads</a> volunteer.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Jeremy Simon ’17<br> Photo courtesy of Jeremy Simon</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p><strong>What are some of the best things about your work?</strong></p> <p>I work in an always changing and fast-moving environment, which has given me opportunities to spend time in many different places, meet new people, and learn constantly. While leading programs, I work closely with a diverse team of both local and Western program leaders, which gives me me a unique opportunity to work cross-culturally. I value being able to learn from the people I work with and the environments we visit. One of the most meaningful components of international program leading is helping to foster growth and development amongst participants. I really enjoy being able to travel for work and have learned to appreciate the transitions that come with a changing work environment.</p> <p><strong>Do you have advice for students figuring things out or who want to pursue a similar career path?</strong></p> <p>Most of the opportunities that I have had are because of people I met during my first week as a program leader with Rustic Pathways. It felt like the world of international education and program leading exploded in front of me, and I started to learn about many different opportunities. I think talking to people and learning from their experiences is really valuable. Also, do not feel pressured by a society-imposed timeline or expectation of what you should do post-college. Try out a job for a bit, if it does not work, try a new one! If you want to take time off and travel, feel validated to do so; you just spent your whole life in the education system. Make sure you enjoy what you are doing!</p> <p>In the future, Simon hopes to work in youth mental health fields or wilderness therapy.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-06-07T12:00:00Z">Fri, 06/07/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Andrea Wang ’19</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Since his time at 91ֱ��, psychology graduate Jeremy Simon ’17 has led teen service and travel programs across Southeast Asia, combining his interests in cross-cultural experiences, youth engagement, and the environment.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Jeremy Simon ’17 with fellow trip leaders in Bhutan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Jeremy Simon</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Producing Radio at NPR: Anna Bauman ’17</h1> <p>eulrich — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 17:52:04 +0000</p> <span>Producing Radio at NPR: Anna Bauman ’17</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-06-06T13:52:04-04:00" title="Thursday, June 6, 2019 - 13:52">Thu, 06/06/2019 - 13:52</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>What did you focus on during your time at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p>Outside of classes, I played on the Ultimate Frisbee team, baked bread for Old Barrows, and served as a <a href="https://serve.oberlin.edu/agency/detail/?agency_id=30701" target="_blank">Ninde mentor</a> and Spanish tutor at 91ֱ�� High School. During my senior year, I cohosted a talk show on WOBC with my friend Dana Brandes-Simon called <em>Converse</em>, where we conducted long-form interviews with 91ֱ�� community members.</p> <p><strong>What do you do as an associate producer for <em>On Point</em>?</strong></p> <p>Each week, I’m tasked with producing two hours of live radio from concept to finished project. My responsibilities include pitching stories, conducting research, booking standout guests, editing sound, writing scripts, and creating a narrative arc for the show. Sometimes I have a few days to prepare, other times news breaks at 8:00 a.m. and we work as a team to pull a show together by 10:00 a.m. After over a year on the job, a deadline will never scare me again.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Anna Bauman ’17 answering calls in the studio.<br> Photo courtesy of Anna Bauman</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p><strong>What has your experience at NPR been like so far?</strong></p> <p>Working at <em>On Point</em> has been an exhilarating and challenging creative experience. Since we broadcast 10 hours of live radio a week, we cover most anything you could think of. I’ve produced shows on a range of topics including Beyoncé, the Mueller Report, and artificial intelligence. It feels like I extended my liberal arts education into my job. Reading and staying informed is a job requirement.</p> <p><strong>Do you have any advice for 91ֱ�� students who might be interested in pursuing a similar career path?</strong></p> <p>Leverage all of the resources at 91ֱ�� you can! My senior year internship at WCPN was the perfect starter kit for working in radio. They immediately threw me into recording in the field, pitching ideas, and writing short stories for live broadcasts. While 91ֱ�� does not have a journalism major, there are so many classes that can help you think critically and become a better writer. Take a class in creative writing! While a subject may not be explicitly related to radio, you’ll still use many of the analytical brain muscles that will take you far in the field. Obies are also all over the audio world. Send them an email! Buy them a coffee or talk over the phone.</p> <p>In the future, Anna hopes to continue covering the news on the radio and maybe even venture into podcasting.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-06-06T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/06/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jane Hobson ’22</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>At 91ֱ��, Anna Bauman ’17 majored in history and minored in politics and gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. During her senior year, she landed a reporting internship for Cleveland’s 90.3 WCPN <em>Ideastream</em>. After graduation, Bauman decided to continue with radio and took an internship with <em>On Point</em>, WBUR-Boston’s and NPR’s live national call-in show. Bauman is no longer an intern there—she’s an associate producer.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2407">Club Sports</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25361">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Anna Bauman ’17</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Anna Bauman</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Lifelong Cooperation</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:02:52 +0000</p> <span>Lifelong Cooperation</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:02:52-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:02">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:02</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For more than 60 years, the housing and dining co-ops of the <a href="http://osca.wilder.oberlin.edu/">91ֱ�� Student Cooperative Association (OSCA)</a> have provided a haven for students seeking politically conscious communities and alternative dining options. In recent years, the high cost of urban living has motivated former 91ֱ�� students to seek out co-ops after graduation. Co-ops are more affordable than independent housing, and sharing bulk food is more economical. The built-in community also draws many OSCA graduates who use urban co-ops as a social landing pad in an unfamiliar city.</p> <p>This was true for recent graduate MJ Robinson ’14, who moved to Providence, Rhode Island, after graduation. New to the city, they were looking for a living space that was radical, social, and affordable. “I eventually started trying search terms like ‘co-op’ and ‘queer,’” says Robinson. “I was interested in what co-ops outside of 91ֱ�� might be like, and I wanted to know I was going to live somewhere that was not only safe for me but also a place where I might find others with strong radical politics.” Robinson’s keyword search led them to Westmyn Co-op, located on the west side of Providence.</p> <p>Westmyn is a 15-person co-op situated in two apartments in the same building. Similarly to most co-ops, Westmyn makes collective decisions by way of deliberative democracy. It is smaller than an 91ֱ�� co-op, so it can afford to have a slightly more relaxed process of reaching consensus. Robinson explains, “Although we nod to consensus-based modes of decision-making at our weekly house meetings, which are led by alternating facilitators, we usually come to our decisions quite quickly in a more conversational style.”</p> <p>Although Westmyn is different from OSCA, Robinson’s experience living in 91ֱ��’s co-ops and working as food buyer instilled in them a valuable set of skills. “OSCA taught me to love food and the social aspects of making and sharing it instead of eating simply because I had to,” Robinson says. “I learned a lot of skills that were, and continue to be, applicable outside of the co-op, such as how to respectfully facilitate and participate in difficult group discussions.”</p> <p>Like Robinson, Keith Spencer ’09 left 91ֱ�� seeking a radical urban community. Joining a co-op was the natural choice. OSCA was the tipping point in Spencer’s decision to attend 91ֱ��, and he spent his four years living in Fairchild and Harkness houses. “OSCA was a very different environment than anything I had ever experienced—there was a freeform sort of organized chaos and a social permissiveness I really enjoyed,” says Spencer. “Especially in Harkness, I found that the dominant culture was very accepting and alternative in a way that is hard to describe—it was a totally alternate universe from the world I had lived in.”</p> <p>After graduating, Spencer moved into a nine-person co-op located in a duplex in West Oakland, California. Like Robinson, Spencer found his co-op to be a rare source of radical community and affordable housing in an increasingly pricey urban environment. “The Bay Area is very expensive, and the landlords are very exploitative, so holding together as one co-op is also a great way of saving money, labor, and maintaining solidarity against landlords,” says Spencer. Like Westmyn, Spencer’s co-op is smaller and more loosely organized than an OSCA co-op, but Spencer says it is as functional as any co-op at 91ֱ��: “It's very organized, in some ways more than OSCA—at least, as most of us are beyond college age, we tend to have our lives figured out a bit more.”</p> <p>But co-ops like Spencer’s and Robinson’s don’t emerge out of nowhere. David Tisel ’13 works at an affordable housing nonprofit in Washington, D.C., which helps finance and provide technical assistance to new co-ops. “D.C. is expensive, and living in a group house is one of the only affordable ways to live in the city at this point,” says Tisel, who spent time at Keep Cottage and Old Barrows co-ops while at 91ֱ��. And Sneha Narayan ’10 currently serves on the board of the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO), where she helps provide support and training to people starting new co-ops around the country. A Pyle Inn alumna, Narayan spent time living in a co-op herself after graduation and says it helped her find community in the town of Evanston, Illinois. “It’s hard to meet people in a new city when everyone’s living in an apartment by themselves,” says Narayan.</p> <p>For many, OSCA has been not only a source of community at 91ֱ��, but also an introduction to a larger national community of co-opers. Such organizations as NASCO and the <a href="http://www.ic.org/">Fellowship of Intentional Communities</a> provide resources for finding co-ops around the world and even starting new ones. The <a href="https://alumni.oberlin.edu/Default.aspx">TAPPAN Network</a>, 91ֱ��’s alumni network, is also a valuable tool: Recent graduates often find co-ops by reaching out to other 91ֱ�� alumni. Students leave 91ֱ�� seeking vibrant, radical communities, and co-ops tend to fit the bill providing a hub where they can eat sustainably, live affordably, and find a community.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2015-03-18T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/18/2015 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Sky Kalfus</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Alice Liu</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sharing the Wealth</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:18 +0000</p> <span>Sharing the Wealth</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:18-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Being a college student doesn’t come cheap, as prices continue to rise for essentials like textbooks, clothing, and sometimes a bike to get around. However, over the last few years, several student organizations such as the Bike Co-op, the Free Store, and the Book Co-op (SWAP) are becoming increasingly popular options for those looking for more affordable ways to get supplies. In fact, these groups offer all of their goods for free and are even starting to attract the attention community members.</p> <p>Textbooks often take a big toll on wallets when returning to campus, leading many to search online for better deals than the college bookstore. Recently, SWAP has provided an alternative way to get textbooks. Instead of asking for dollars, SWAP uses a point system that enables students to “sell” old books for a set amount of points, which can then be used to acquire new books for the same amount for which they were sold.</p> <p>According to management team member and second-year student Natalie Hartog, the co-op aims to allow people to acquire and donate books without exchanging money. “Unlike the bookstore, which makes a profit off students renting books, we have a point system,” Hartog says. “You get points for donating any textbooks you might have, and then can use those points to take out new books. Since each book you take out costs the same as someone sold it for, everyone’s getting a fair deal.”</p> <p>The co-op is also trying to involve people from the community by offering books other than textbooks. SWAP manager Joe Martin says his main hope for the co-op is for it to become something local residents also use to get books. “While we would like to eventually be more popular than the college bookstore, our more concrete plan is to be an organization that involves people in the community,” Martin says. “We have some non-textbooks, but we want to make it something everyone uses.”</p> <p>While textbooks aren’t that high in demand for local residents, there are other stores that offer a wider variety of goods, such as the Free Store. Located in the basement of Asia House, the Free Store contains everything from clothes to toys to old computer monitors. Anyone can go in and take up to three items per visit without spending a dime. Students can also donate items, which is where the store gets most of its merchandise.</p> <p>Free Store worker and second-year Beth Minahan explains that the idea behind the Free Store was to change the cultural norm of throwing something away, even when it may be useful to someone else. “We’re trying to reduce consumer culture and reduce how many people go out to buy something new when there are so many items circling around that aren’t used and are being put in landfills. So instead, people can bring anything here.”</p> <p>The Free Store has also branched out to encourage 91ֱ�� residents to use the store, which Minahan said is good since college students might not have as big a need for clothes as other community members.</p> <p>Besides books, clothes and home goods, another item many 91ֱ�� residents need is a functional bike to get around. Thankfully, there’s the Bike Co-op, a group that offers to fix your bike for no money. Primarily an educational space, the aim of the Bike Co-op, located in the basement of Keep, is to show volunteers how to fix bikes by themselves and invite those interested in working on bikes to train for a few hours each week. After working nine hours, volunteers get to make their own bike, choosing from the co-op’s extensive collection of frames, wheels and other parts.</p> <p>Co-op mechanic and fourth-year Peter Schalch says using the bike co-op is a good investment because it teaches students how to fix their bikes in the future. “People don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to fix their bikes, and I think it’s cooler and smarter to come to us instead, since you don’t have to pay for the parts and you can do it for the rest of your life,” Schalch says.</p> <p>Walking around the basement of Keep, it’s almost like a sci-fi movie seeing the hundreds upon hundreds of bike frames and wheels people can recycle to make new bikes. One thing Schalch says the Co-op prides itself on is the sustainability of reusing old parts. “Obviously riding bikes is green, but the bike industry—not as much. We’re kind of like a recycling center. People bring us their broken bikes, and we will do things that other shops wouldn’t, like taking a wheel apart to save some little parts,” Schalch says. “It’s a stark contrast from just ordering a bike online and then throwing it away later, so I think that part of what we do is great.”</p> <p>The Co-op has also done a lot to reach out to the surrounding community. Schalch and a few others held a summer camp for young kids, whom the mechanics taught to build bikes they then used for bike trips. Locals also use the Co-op, but typically just on the weekends when it is open during the afternoon.</p> <p>Everyone is looking for more affordable college supplies, but groups like the Bike Co-op, the Book Co-op and the Free Store understand that locals need these things too. One thing Schalch thinks is great about the combination of a college and small town like 91ֱ�� is the fact that they help each other. “The fact that college students can give back while also forming these groups that are a lot of fun, is great. It’s really cool to see how we’re bridging the gap to bring everyone together,” Schalch says.</p> <p>Schalch added that, over the last couple years, he has enjoyed seeing how more locals have gradually been using the co-op, as well as in the summer when they host a bike-repair summer camp for local kids.</p> <p>These organizations afford students the opportunity to help each other and tap into the common goals between students and locals to make the 91ֱ�� community a more accessible place where no one comes or goes empty-handed.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-12-19T12:00:00Z">Fri, 12/19/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Louis Krauss</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2369">Environment & Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2417">Co-ops</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Matthew Lester</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>