The Beat of a Different Drummer

African musician, teacher opens new world for ATI students

There's a distinctive sound that wafts through the corridors of Halterman Hall during winter quarter -- the sound of African drumming. For the past six years, ATI has hosted visiting instructor Divine Gbagbo, a Ghanaian musician and teacher. Gbagbo teaches drumming as part of the Music Cultures of the World class. Gbagbo is head of the music department at Mawuko Girls Senior High School in Ho, Ghana. He is also a composer, with more than 50 choral compositions to his credit. 

"The focus of the class is the non-entertainment uses of music in African cultures," Gbagbo explained. "We talk about how music is used to facilitate work and make labor easier, how it is used in games and sport, and how it functions as a symbol of authority."

Gbagbo says he really enjoys introducing ATI students to African music because of the way they respond to it. "The students are from such a different cultural background, and I admire the way they are able to keep all the complex rhythms straight when they're drumming."

Gbagbo also speaks to other classes at ATI. "He speaks to my Agricultural Issues in Contemporary Society class about African agriculture," said faculty member Linda Houston. "We've had several students sign up for the Ghana study abroad trip as a result of Divine speaking to the class."

ATI's relationship with Gbagbo began eight years ago during one of the study abroad trips to Ghana led by Houston and another ATI faculty member, D. Elder. "We were walking past a high school," Elder said, "and we heard some folks singing on the porch of the school. Divine was teaching them 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' by singing all the parts to them." They met up with him again at a conference, where the choir he conducts was scheduled to sing.

Now, in addition to teaching at ATI during winter quarter, Gbagbo also assists with the study abroad trip to Ghana. "He makes a lot of arrangements for us for guest instructors," Elder said. "But he also acts as our cultural liaison and translator. He makes sure we don't do anything culturally insensitive because we don't know better."

As to his presence on ATI's campus, Houston says, "It's so much more than just drumming." Student Audrey Ackerman couldn't agree more.

"Mr. Gbagbo has taught us the importance of working together while drumming, as well as letting our individuality show through," said Ackerman, a second-year floral design and marketing major from Oregon, Ohio. "He has a very contagious passion for a life filled with music. This has been my favorite elective, and I hope I get the chance to go to Ghana this summer."

--By Frances Whited

Professional Golf Management Program Tees Off at ATI

Aspiring golf pros now have another option

The Agricultural Technical Institute and Ohio State's Department of Horticulture and Crop Science are teaming up to make the professional golf management (PGM) program even more accessible. Beginning in autumn 2010, students will be able to complete the first year of the PGM program on the Wooster campus. Students who complete the first year successfully will be able to transition to the Columbus campus for the remaining three years of the program.

Because ATI is an open-enrollment campus, the option to start in Wooster will enable students who want to be golf pros but choose not to start on the Columbus campus as freshmen a chance to realize their career aspirations. Students who wish to start the PGM program in Wooster still have to provide proof of an 18-hole golf handicap of 10 or better.

The first-year PGM-specific courses will be taught by Professor Ray Miller, director of the PGM program, and Chris Walsh, assistant director and formerly the PGA golf pro at the OSU Golf Club, so students on the Wooster campus have the opportunity to interact with Columbus faculty before transitioning to Columbus. "We also have the goal of enabling Wooster students to be active in the Columbus PGM student organization," explained Gary Anderson, professor of horticultural technologies, who will be advising Wooster PGM students. "We want as much as possible for our students to have the same experience as the Columbus students."

Wooster PGM students will have playing privileges at Hawk's Nest, ATI's 18-hole public course, similar to the privileges Columbus PGM students have at the Scarlet and Gray courses.

"This is truly a cooperative effort between Columbus and Wooster," Stephen Nameth, ATI director, said. "We think the potential benefit for both campuses is enormous

--By Frances Whited