Let's enjoy the snow while we can!

Howdy! Alright, today, I am taking my blog to a whole new direction. This blog may seem a little boring for those of you who are enthusiastic about the snow but I felt that for this time of year, the topic would be rather appropriate. So let's enjoy the snow while we can!
My story begins with me walking around the OWU campus. My classes just finished and I do not want to start my studies immediately. In order to rid of my study habits, I decided to venture throughout town in search of something to do. I went into a couple of local shops and I really liked what I saw. I vowed to come back when I had more time and money on me. Then, I went into Gulla's to eat some lunch. By this time (I would say it is around the 2-3 hour), I was starving and I needed a little extra energy in my system. I finished off some deep-fried pickles and a hearty fish sandwich to prepare me for some more time outside.
I ventured into downtown Delaware to find the Common Ground Free Store (on E. Central). Once I received directions, I left the downtown area to emerge in an area of town that was relatively vague for me; I saw this portion of Delaware only when I did the Crop Walk earlier in the school year. Anyway, I made my way through the piles of ice and snow on the sidewalk to reach my destination. However, the Common Ground was closed and I needed to get back to OWU before 4:00 (for the Ted Kooser question and answer session). I decided to take a shortcut through this path I saw ahead. Along my path, I experienced an incredible feeling- a feeling that makes me reminisce and enjoy the beauty of life in general.
I had my camera on me and the rest of this story is told in the pictures. At the end of this path, I received a history lesson on the Underground Railroad. Seeing this and thinking about the message it portrays, I became extremely humbled just to be in the presence of history, my history. The place where I was standing was once the place where my ancestors travelled in order to get to freedom. Wow. Standing on living and breathing history. That's what I call an eye-opening experience to a long and winding road.
I believe that the pictures explain themselves. I hope that you can appreciate the trail I travelled and why it is so significant to me. I found peace with myself and I found out more about my history. That is just an incredible feeling and I am glad to have experienced it here in Delaware, OH.

Enjoy!
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

The prospectives are here and it is my mission to help them feel that OWU is home to them!

Long title, longer story. It is not my story but of those students that are in the process of making one of the most important decision in their life. It is the story of the thousands of college students that are looking for a place to call home. I am just here to help them in any way that I can- a mere spectator. I love the atmosphere at this time of year because this is when the admissions office starts to get really busy and so do I. I am a risk-taker and I took a risk by hosting students this week. Without further ado, I will supply the goods about the ongoing of this week.


This week is when the prospective students from around the U.S. come to OWU and compare this institution with the other institutions they have in mind. I was once the prospective student, confused and worried if I was making the correct decision. Now, I am home and I am totally satisfied with my decision. Hopefully, these students will feel the same way as I did a year ago.


I hosted two perspective students this week- both very different and similar. I love the feeling of showing them everything that OWU has to offer whether it be the House of Black Culture, the fraternities on the Hill, or a good meal at OWU at Cafe 1842. I participated in two events last week and this week: Multicultural Weekend last Thursday-Saturday and the Chicago Fly-In on Sunday. Both events were worth the time I spent with these two guys- I am humbled by the experience of hosting them and I am glad that I have crossed paths with them.


I tried to show my prospective students every side of the campus- academically, socially, and everything between. Even as the student, I learned a couple of things about myself- some of these things that I learned about myself stunned and shocked me. I learned that I can be humbled and that I am as vulnerable as anyone here at OWU. I was glad that I learned of this and I want to comtinue about myself.


Anyway, Multicultural Weekend was fun, to say the least. There was a lot on the itinerary for the prospective students to do- go to movies, attend classes on their potential major, go to the fraternity houses for a taste of fraternity life, and attend to the magnificent parties thrown on campus (especially the parties by Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha- sorry I didn't get pictures- those parties were awesome. Thank you for throwing them!) Overall, Multicultual Weekend was awesome and I thank the admissions team for setting up this event.


The Chicago Fly-In just ended today and I am still feeling the effects of my adventure with the Chicagoans. Exposing my prospective student (he knows who he is!) to the campus made him feel on top on the world and I am so happy for that. Yesterday, the prospectives went to Gameworks in Easton Shopping Center courtesy of the Admissions Team and I actually went to have fun and experience life. Sometimes, even the most industrious students has to take time off his studies to pursue a moment of adventure and fun. I have pictures of the event (see above).

1. GAMEWORKS!!! Those people who live by one, congratulations on experiencing one of the coolest places to be at. Those people who don't, get near one and experience. You will love it.
2. Winner's Lounge: This is where we dined and rested after we destroyed ourselves dancing or skiing. This is also where I was born (figuratively, of course).
3. Player's Lounge: This is what I am in all the senses of the word. PERIOD.
4. WCSA freshmen represent: Drew Farrell and I stop for a photo. We are some pimps. Quote me on that!
5. The crew from Chi-Town. Nice group photo of everyone. Note: prospectives, this could be you! I love the admissions team.

Being the typical college student at OWU, I had fun then returned to the dorms to start my work on the five page paper I have to turn in for my Topic: Spanish Conquest of America class. Finally, I chatted with my prospective to feel out any concerns and comments. I love what I'm doing!!!!

To conclude, I think that this is one of the best opportunities to give back as a student of OWU. To be able to influence a person's decision to spend four years of his or her life is almost unfathomable to me. These are the people whom you may be hanging out with talking about astrophysics or a concept that affects their lives. This is unbelievable and I am living proof that being active and influential in a person's life will help everyone from the OWU community to the students themselves to realize that WE ARE OWU!



Thanks,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

Wow! What an awesome weekend!

I would just like to say that I am eternally blessed that I would get the opportunity to leave Ohio Wesleyan for the weekend and experience life in Detroit. The places that I visited left a burning expression on my soul that could potentially affect many decisions at my time here at Ohio Wesleyan as well as in my general life. The experience I had with the people on the trip will be etched into my memory forever. I know I can't explain everything that has happened on the trip but through these pictures and the commentary accompanying this, I believe that the you, the reader, will get some feeling of what I experienced during the weekend in Detroit.
Let me explain why the trip to Detroit exists. I am a proud member of Black Men of the Future and throughout the fall and spring semesters, I have worked hard to secure my place as a prominent voice for the Black male on this campus. Whether I am representing issues of the Black male on campus through WCSA or supporting one of our own events, I have a responsibility to make the voices of Black males on campus heard. I am passionate about my involvement with Black Men of the Future because this organization is who I am. I am Black and I am proud to be Black; I will do what is best for my people on this campus. I realize that I may not make the best decisions but I will always stick to who I am and where I come from; this organization fosters this purpose with an undying passion that I believe in.
Black Men of the Future decided to take a break from the work of Ohio Wesleyan to enjoy and experience life. We went to Detroit, the hometown of the Motor City and Motown. I need to get away from campus and Detroit was my anecdote. I was speechless so I will now let the pictures take over my dialogue.

1. One of the reasons I went to Detroit was that I had family up there. My aunt Naomi Wheat lives in Detroit and I had been anxiously waiting to go and talk to her on a one on one basis. We exchanged pictures and pleasantries. I also received another gift box of food to take back with me to Ohio Wesleyan. I always need food to eat just in case. I am thankful that God has brought us together again.
2. The crew from Black Men of the Future. This is not all of us and I'm sorry that I left some of our most prominent members out. However, the people in the picture have helped me maintain my sanity and hopefully, vice versa. From left to right, Duane Ramseur, Dave Gay, Will Alford, me, Adam McKinney, Brandon McMickens, and Kenny Williams, secretary of BMF.
3. The next two pictures is of the room I stayed in. We lived in the Hilton Garden Inn for fourty-eight hours and believe me when I say we were living it up!
4. The next two pictures depict a shot from the Detroit Pistons versus the Toronto Raptors. This is not a fake picture; I have the ticket stub in my room along with a holographic cup. For most of the game, we were sitting next to some die hard Toronto Raptors fans. Good thing Detroit won to calm them down.
5. Here I am, providing a mysterious glare to the camera. Hey, everyone!
6. The next pictures consist of my visit to the Motown Museum. I was so honored and excited to be in a place with such awe-inspiring history. I can't describe the feeling when I stepped foot in the same place as all of the talent of Motown had years earlier. I cherished every second I had in the museum. I know some of the history behind Motown and there was a lot of history that I didn't know or my facts were misconstrued. I am so glad to say that I visited history. (I'm sorry but the Motown Museum is much better than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame- the Motown Museum relates to my experience as a person and as a listener of music a lot better). The first picture is of a young Stevie Wonder.
7. The second is of Berry Gordy directing Diana Ross and the Supremes. Amazing.
8. Hitsville, U.S.A. This picture explains a great deal about the success of Motown. The house that churned out talent after talent after talent.
9. Motown Studio A. This is where the musicians practiced from sun up to sun down. To me, this sign signifies a lot of work and a ton of dedication perfecting the craft of songwriting, music making, and storytelling.
10. The last picture I took at the Motown Museum was of the piece "My Girl," by the Temptations. This piece has the notes to the music for everyone to recognize and play.
11. The GM center, one of the tallest building in the downtown area. I took this picture before I headed out for a night on the town. Night life is fun in Detroit.
12. 8 mile road- three words. Do You Represent? The picture is blurry but hey, I was riding in a car doing fifty miles a hour to the Pistons game. Can you blame me?
13. Finally, the Yin Yang Twins. If you know the Yin Yang Twins, then you know what they are capable of. I was in a club yesterday, getting my groove on and enjoying my life in Detroit. Oh yeah, the club was truly in an altered state; if you know the club scene in your town, then you know what I am talking about.

I hope you enjoyed my trip. Wow, I had the time of my life (no exaggeration here!). If you join an organization and you put forth the effort to truly be of that organization, you will be rewarded. This is just another benefit for being a student leader on this campus. I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone and contribute to a cause that is calling you to help them. I just want to let you all know: I LOVE MY ORGANIZATIONS!!!!

Take care,

Hasani Wheat

Class of '10

Sleeping and Relaxing

My pictures above are self-explanatory- I'm getting comfortable or I'm knocked out.


"I have had a good night's sleep ever since that final in Spanish." "Sleep is something that you do for recreation." "Sleep is my antidote for all things at college." "I think that the bed is a good place for me after class." "After I go to sleep, I think I will take a nap." "Sleep is something to be desired especially after that three hour discussion class." If you know about any of these scenarios or if you can make up a scenario like that, you know what it is like to be a college student at Ohio Wesleyan.

On average, I get four to six hours of rest a night. This is the average amount of sleep the average college student with six classes gets. I also tend to dream about material that I study about in classes. My dreams are pretty weird- they have loops and variants interloping with tangents and derivatives, conquistadors with Englishmen they would never hang out with otherwise, and other crazy dreams that are just so out here.

Anyway, I am not in my room most of the day so you will likely see me studying one minute then passed out in any place that is not a health hazard (i.e. someone's futon, desk, floor would be where you can spot me.) On the days that I have to write a lot for my classes, you can definitely find me taking a nap (or several) next to my drafts. I don't mind sleeping but sometimes I wish I could make it happen less often for the amount of reading, writing, and speaking I need to be able to do is an insane amount.


Like most people, I like to be comfortable when I am sleeping. I like nice, thick blankets. I like big, fluffy (for the lack of a better word at this time) pillows that gives my head support. I like any other things that will help me sleep better. I think every college has to have this in order to be successful in his classes, unless you are a total machine that only needs lubrication. Don't get it twisted; I can work like a robot, but when I see one of the Small Living Units or a fraternity house and I am dead tired, you can guarantee you can find me perched on a couch or a bed. I NEED REST TO GET GOOD GRADES HERE. Believe that.


Alright, I am not going to keep you long; I have to reading the Odyssey, a book about Christopher Columbus, and a course packet from one of my history courses. Oh, and of course, I am going to be watching the Bears and the Colts for the Super Bowl duke it out on that big screen plasma T.V. Yeah! That's enough of my shenanigans for the day.



Take care of your bodies,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10