The ‘Turtle Panda Club’ drops in on SGA’s Club Day
Meghan Berneking
Assnt. Campus News Editor
Graphic by Amy Windhorst
The fake club was supposedly dedicated to saving the elusive “turtle panda.”
With over 100 clubs on campus, Club Day on the Mall, which took place Monday, Sept. 8, can get rather chaotic. A small group of students took advantage of this chaos in order to lure their peers into a prank of sorts.
Normally, the Newswire would make up a story like this for our April Fools’ issue, but luckily the founders of the alleged “Turtle Panda Club” did the dirty work for us.
Reportedly, some students obtained a table during Club Day and set it up along with the dozens of others under the guise of being a part of the Turtle Panda Club, a club not recognized by the Student Government Association.
The architects of this “club” formed a long list of e-mail addresses of interested students who signed up during Club Day. Afterwards, those on the list were sent pornography.
During Club Day, all of the clubs are required to go through a check-in process. In addition, all of the provided tables are labeled for each club recognized by the university.
“They must have gotten hold of the tables during set-up,” said Carter Johnson, Legislative Vice-President of SGA.
An eyewitness said the “club” was “kind of strange,” but not out of place. “They didn’t have anything set up, really, just a piece of paper and sign-up sheets. But they seemed nice and engaging to everyone that came up.”
The Turtle Panda Club apparently publicized itself as a club dedicated to trying to save the “turtle panda,” “as if it were some kind of animal,” said the eyewitness, “which I’m pretty sure it’s not.”
The sign stating the name of the “club,” sported a hand-drawn picture of the fictional “turtle-panda,” resembling an actual panda bear with a turtle shell on its back, according to the eyewitness.
The culprits have not yet been identified by SGA, though administrators are looking into the case.
“We’re not excited that it happened, but we believe we did everything we could to prevent those types of sabotages. We’ll just have to keep a better eye on everyone next time,” said Johnson. “We certainly don’t encourage it.”
But in the chaos of Club Day, keeping an eye on everyone may be easier said than done.
“I assumed they were legit because they were at Club Day, but I did think the club itself was a bit strange,” said Carter.
“What’s a turtle panda?”
Increase in cyclists leads to bike rack shortage
Physical Plant notes damages to campus greenery and statues
Madeline LaFave
Features Editor
A recent increase in bicycle use on campus has caused Physical Plant distress over bike-lock damage and destruction of campus greenery and statues.
A lack adequate bike rack space has been causing students to utilize anything available including trees, railings and even statues. “I was shocked to see a student had locked their bike to the [former president Father James E.] Hoff statue last week,” said Walter Bonvell, one of three Physical Plant grounds foremen on campus.
“I also saw a bike laying completely across one of the benches in the sitting area near the greenspace,” he said. “If that happens, no one can use those benches and that’s just too bad.” Bonvell said he was not unhappy with the influx of bikes on campus, but rather, he was disappointed with Xavier’s lack of effort in accommodating the situation, saying that it should not be Physical Plant’s responsibility to ask the students to respect campus.
“Once a tree is scarred, it is like that for life, just like skin, you know,” Bonvell said.
He has often left notes for students, and even called Campus Police to leave notes as well. As of now, no ticketing practice is in place, but that’s not to say it won’t be in the future.
“You park [your car] in an illegal spot, you get a ticket or a boot,” Bonvell said. “Maybe the same should happen for bikes.” The Student Government Association has recently communicated a willingness to help fund more bike racks on campus.
“We have even looked into moving some existing bike racks around from places where they are not being used to places where there is a saturation of bikes such as outside of Gallagher, Hailstones, Cohen and the residence halls,” said Senate Coordinator Esteban Gamboa.
Physical Plant asks that students be mindful of where bikes are locked, and avoid harming the flower beds and trees.
SOL promotes cultural awareness during Hispanic Heritage Month
Amy Windhorst
Managing Editor
Xavier’s Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) is reaching out to the
Xavier community with their presentation of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The 30-day celebration, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, celebrates Hispanic
culture and highlights a number of Latino leaders and role models.
“Our mission for Hispanic Heritage Month is based on sharing a glimpse of our culture with the Xavier community,” SOL said in a recent statement issued to the Newswire. With over 15 events spread out across five weeks, the month-long celebration leaves students plenty of opportunities to get a taste of Latino culture.
SOL is putting on the various presentations in conjunction with other organizations on campus.
Some of the collaborations include work with the Women’s Center and the Romero Center.
This past week, the organization found success with their showing of the film “Bajo La Misma Luna” (“Under the Same Moon”).
The film, which was shown on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in Albers hall, focused on issues regarding immigration.
According to SOL, the viewing “gave students the opportunity to learn and discuss issues that revolve around immigration—such as the dangers of today’s immigration, the economics of immigration, raids in the U.S. and the main causes/reasons of immigration.”
SOL touts such events as a means of integrating cultures on campus.
The upcoming “Black and Brown Fusion” event, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 25 in Ryan’s Pub, seeks to address the relationship between Hispanics and African Americans in the U.S. and on campus.
The relatively young organization, founded in 2000, is finding its feet after a dramatic spring 2008 semester.
SOL’s “Opening Many Avenues” initiative developed out of several harsh criticisms of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). At this time, the initiative seems to have come to a close.
For now, SOL and OMA have been reunited and are working cooperatively once again. Due to the newness of the relationship, SOL declined to comment on the details of the reunion.
During the remainder of Hispanic Heritage Month, SOL urges people of diverse backgrounds to participate in the events.
Upcoming programs include the previously mentioned “Black and Brown Fusion” gathering, as well as the ISS Latin Dance Party, which will take place on Friday, Sept. 26 in Cintas Center.
Police Notes
Sept. 14, 2:48 a.m. — A student urinating in the C-1 lot was cited for underage consumption.
Sept. 14, 2:30 p.m. — Campus Police and Physical Plant responded to a tree that fell into a house in the 1700 block of Cleneay Ave. There were no injuries.
Sept. 14, 8:11 p.m. — A student reported that his or her vehicle was keyed in the R-1 lot.
Sept. 15, 3:07 a.m. — Norwood Police reported that they arrested a student earlier in the evening who interfered with an investigation.
Sept. 15, 4:23 p.m. — Three juveniles trespassing in the Gallagher Student Center were issued trespass warning letters and sent home to their parents.
Sept. 16, 8:00 a.m. — A Physical Plant employee reported graffiti written near the front entrance to the Gallagher Student Center with chalk. A student who was advertising a personal business admitted to it and was cited for criminal mischief.
Sept. 16, 6:00 p.m. — A student reported receiving harassing emails from another student.
Sept. 17, 2:04 a.m. — A non-student reported being robbed at gunpoint at the bus stop on Dana Avenue and University Drive by two male suspects. Cincinnati and Campus Police officers were unable to locate the suspects after a thorough search of the area. Note: Campus Police wants to remind everyone to use safety while traveling at night; i.e.: don’t walk alone, be aware of your surroundings, etc.
Sept. 18, 11:21 a.m. — Campus Police assisted Cincinnati
Police with a two-car accident on Herald Avenue. There were minor injuries involving
two students.
Sept. 18, 3:57 p.m. — A student reported his or her bicycle,
valued at $400, was stolen near the entrance to the Learning Assistance Center.
Sept. 18, 4:07 p.m. — Campus Police and Cincinnati Fire and Rescue responded to the smell of smoke in the basement of Husman Hall. An investigation revealed that a cookout on the greenspace was the source of the smell. Two students who did not leave the building for several minutes were cited for fire safety violations.
Sept. 19, 10:45 a.m. — Physical Plant reported that a tree limb fell on two students’ vehicles in the Commons lot causing minor damage.
Sept. 19, 2:10 p.m. — Campus Police issued trespass warnings to two non-students on the academic mall who were observed handing out flyers and taking pictures of students.
Sept. 19, 11:45 p.m. — A student reported his or her cell phone had been stolen from the first floor laundry room in the Commons.
Sept. 20, 6:41 p.m. — Campus Police, Physical Plant and Cincinnati Fire and Rescue responded to a fire alarm in Schott hall. An investigation revealed a system malfunction.
Sept. 21, 1:28 a.m. — Campus Police cited a non-student laying in the C-1 lot for underage consumption. The subject was released to the student he or she was visiting.
Sept. 21, 3:37 a.m. — Campus Police assisted Residence Life with a student discharging the fire extinguisher on the second floor of Brockman hall.
Sept. 21, 11:42 a.m. — Two non-students observed climbing the fence near the old H&H grill to obtain scrap metal were issued trespass warning letters and sent on their ways.
Sept. 21, 9:00 p.m. — A non-student asking students for gas money in the Village lot was issued a trespass warning letter and sent on his or her way. Note: The suspect’s vehicle was checked and had more than enough gasoline.
Sept. 21, 11:15 p.m. — A student reported that his or her bicycle, valued at $225, was stolen from the bike racks at the Gallagher Student Center. The bike was locked at the time of theft.
Police Note of the Week
Sept. 15, 7:19 p.m. — Campus Police responded to the Hoff Dining Center for a fight between two students. The students were issued referrals, no contact orders and sent on their ways.
