Vol. 16 Issue 2

Mia Walsh | Editor-in-Chief backdropmag@gmail.com

Hello again all,

Another semester at Ohio University is coming to a close. Between exams, papers and packing to go home, this time can feel like a mad dash to finish. Despite the felt crunch time, our staff has spent many nights up in Schoonover Center to create a brand new issue of Backdrop

With the impending winter season, I implore you, readers, to consider the stories within our issue. Some may be as familiar as a home-cooked meal, others may be different perspectives that could challenge you. Consider how you can help the planet this holiday season as you read Backdropper Sean Eifert’s piece about how sustainability is a gift that can help the planet (pg 10). Consider how censorship in classrooms, a topic our Copy Chief Caroline Gillen investigates, may impact K-12 schools statewide (pg 16). I even ask you to consider what makes a great companion as you read Backdropper Katrina Carlson’s piece about peculiar pets (pg 6).

I have always enjoyed the winter as it is a time for contemplation. The first snowfall in Athens is something to look forward to. The layers of white and blue shadows cover all but they seem to make the lights shine that much brighter. Consider walking down Court Street to College Gate for the first, or for our Fall graduates, the last time. Soak in the splendor of its beauty before you kiss Athens bye for now, or bye forever.

Even so, before students leave campus for a well-earned break, grab a blanket, a warm drink, and a new issue of Backdrop. Make good choices, bobcats. And we will see you again soon

Best,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MIA WALSH

MANAGING EDITOR CAROLINE BISSONNETTE

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR MCKENNA CHRISTY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS KRISTEN ABBEY, CAROLINE BISSONNETTE, MCKENNA CHRISTY, CAROLINE GILLEN, GRACE KOENNECKE, MIA WALSH

COPY EDITORS CAROLINE GILLEN, GRACE KOENNECKE

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS RORY BALL, LAINE DANNEMILLER, HELEN WIDMAN

PHOTO EDITOR ELLIE HABEL

WEB EDITOR JOSIE DONOHUE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR RACHEL RECTOR

ART DIRECTOR DREW FOLLMER

DESIGNERS ABBY BURNS, CARMEN CHO, DREW FOLLMER, SARAH HEINK, ALLY PARKER, RACHEL RECTOR, ELLIE SABATINO, PEARL SCHAFER

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR JOSIE DONOHUE

PHOTOGRAPHERS JACOB DURBIN, ELLIE HABEL, PEARL SPURLOCK, MIA WALSH

WRITERS KRISTEN ABBEY, RORY BALL, CAROLINE

BISSONNETTE, KATRINA CARLSON, JOSIE DONOHUE, SEAN EIFERT, CAROLINE GILLEN, LAUREN KEY, CHANISE KIMBLEY, AMBER

PHIPPS, OLIVIA RIGNEY, HELEN WIDMAN, DARCIE ZUDELL

CONTENTS

FEATURES

SAPPHIC SPACE

Students detail the founding of new student organization, Lavender Menace.........................................................................................................................16

RIGHT TO LEARN

New Ohio Bill could change the future of school curriculum......................20

THE DROP

PECULIAR PETS

Nowadays, it seems like the most popular pets are the most peculiar..................................................................6

BUMPING BEANS

Jukebox Java encourages post-pandemic human interaction..................................................................................8

COMMUNITY

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Gift sustainability this holiday season.............................10

CLAY CREATIONS

OU student, Layne Moorman, has found success through her handcrafted earrings.............................12

SPORTS

LEVELING UP: E-SPORTS ARENA

A newly established Esports Arena provides space for gamers... .....................................................14

RECIPE

TO-FRY-FOR

Quick and tasty air fryer recipes for any time of day..............................................................................................24

THE BEAT

ROCK ON, REBELS

DJs of OU’s ACRN hold out hope, live and in stereo.............................................................................................26

OPINION

NOT BROKE? DON'T FIX IT

All this Backdropper wants for Christmas is for its music to stay the same. .......................................................28

HAPPY PLATES

One Backdropper shares the best places to get a hot meal that feels like home.....................................................30

VOICES

LESBIAN LITERATURE

Lavender Menace president, Chanise Kimbely, shares how media helped them grow into their identity..................................................................................32

EXHIBIT A

Art therapy student shows off paintings......................34

CALENDAR ON THE BRICKS

Attend these events around Athens this winter......35

BETTAS AND SPIDERS AND SNAILS

Nowadays, it seems like the most popular pets are the most peculiar.

BY KATRINA CARLSON | PHOTOS BY ELLIE HABEL | DESIGN BY ALLY PARKER

obody bats an eye at the sight of a dog strolling around College Green. Social media platforms are filled with cute photos of Ohio University cats such as Pumpkin. These fluffy friends are not alone on campus, however. Some students embrace abnormality and adopt pets that are a little less likely to be seen around town.

“A wild or exotic animal is one that does not belong to one of seven domesticated species: dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, sheep or goats,” according to American Humane. Under these guidelines, exotic pets are more common than most may think.

Mitchell Smith, a senior studying wildlife and conservation biology, owns a giant African land snail named Shelldon. While some may not consider such a common outdoor animal to be good grounds for a pet, Smith finds snails captivating.

“I just think they’re so much different than other animals,” Smith says. “They just fascinated me. Since high school, I

found some snails and I just had to keep them as pets [It’s been] kind of a snowball effect for the past few years.”

Smith’s interest in snails has been helpful in his academic journey at OU. Owning a snail has helped him understand his major more deeply by putting to practice what he has studied.

“I think it’s helped me, in a way, to focus on certain aspects of school and definitely within my specific major … It’s one thing to read a textbook and to learn, but then it’s another thing to actually have an animal to take care of,” Smith says.

Shelldon has lived with Smith and his roommates for more than a year. Some of the snail’s favorite activities include munching on blueberries and carrots, climbing up walls and acting, Smith says. Shelldon is the star of Smith’s YouTube channel dedicated to educating viewers on the wonders and intricacies of snails.

“The channel is called Slug Master Studios and Shelldon is

Pictured is Shelldon, a giant African Land snail owned by Ohio University student Mitchell Smith.

featured in it; he’s quite a good actor if you ask me,” Smith says. “Basically, I try to make short videos that revolve around Shelldon or snails in general to talk about them and give different fun facts and what snails might be thinking.”

Those who are curious in learning more about snails should visit Smith’s YouTube channel. While many have never considered it before, they may start thinking about a snail as a pet.

Another owner of an untraditional pet is Emma Mathy, a freshman studying psychology, who has a blue crowntail betta fish with an interesting history. Mathy obtained their fish, Tank Jamison, by rehoming him from improper conditions before moving into their college dorm.

Like other fish, crowntail betta fish have specific tank requirements that ensure their health and wellbeing. According to Fishkeeping World, monitoring the fish’s water temperature is important because “it will ensure the betta’s metabolism is correct.”

After taking in Tank, Mathy set him up with a water heater, filter and natural plants, which provide him with sufficient enrichment and stimulation. Mathy takes great care in providing for Tank and has noticed improvement in the health and activity of their fish.

“He’s gotten here and gotten healthier,” Mathy says. “He’s gotten darker colors because fish tend to lose pigment when they’re stressed out, so because his basic needs are being met now, he is a more colorful and lively [fish].”

Mathy encourages other OU students to adopt their own fish.

“Definitely get a fish in college,” Mathy says. “Betta fish are super easy to take care of once you understand how to take care of them, and they’re just cute.”

Julia Miller, a junior studying media arts production, was looking into fish adoption, but changed her mind when she saw an available tarantula. Although most people would not dare to choose an arachnid as a pet, Miller feels quite the opposite toward her eight-legged friend.

Spiders are known to be the source of fear for many individuals. Miller says that there were mixed reactions from her roommates after she brought home her tarantula, Lady Di.

“One of my roommates was happy that I got one, and the other one, I still think that she is upset with me for it, but she’s [mostly] gotten over it,” Miller says.

Regarding the stigma around spiders, Miller responds by saying that they are typically more scared of humans than humans are of them, and spiders are not as aggressive as people believe. “They need love too,” Miller says. “They have their own personalities.”

Miller describes Lady Di as being quite shy, which she says is typical for many tarantulas. Miller explains their relationship as more co-existent than anything; Lady Di does not prefer being touched very much. Instead, Miller enjoys watching her in her enclosure.

One aspect of owning a pet in college that Miller has found favorable is the increased responsibility it takes to care for another being, which she says has been helpful in getting her ready for real world situations.

The benefits of owning a fish, as Mathy describes them, are the relaxing feelings they get from watching Tank, as well as the feeling of accomplishment they get from properly taking care of their pet.

While these pets may not be seen walking down the street, they are still a prevalent part of students’ lives on campus. Many people may see these pets as strange but to these students, they provide the same companionship as any other animal. b

Mitchell Smith is a senior at Ohio University majoring in wildlife and conservation biology and has owned his pet snail Shelldon for a year and a half.

Pictured is Lady Di, a tarantula owned by Ohio University student Julia Miller. Miller describes Lady Di as quite shy and that she doesn’t prefer to be touched very much.

B umping Beats & Java Beans

Founded on love of coffee and music, Jukebox Java encourages post-pandemic human interaction.

BY RORY BALL

DESIGN BY RACHEL RECTOR

When the country began to slowly reopen after the pandemic, Sean Smothers traveled to Chicago. At a mall, he watched a hopeful guy, phone ready in hand, approach a girl of similar age and ask to take her out sometime. A normal thing to do in a safe and public place where people have made connections for decades. Or so his brother, Will, thought.

Smothers, however, was taken aback, questioning why some random man would approach a girl like that in public. But then it occurred to him, “Why do I think that’s weird?”

This seemingly insignificant encounter changed Smothers’ perspective entirely. From the peak of the lockdown to almost normal excursions in public again, Smothers realized how divided Generation Z has become. He saw it in himself, too. It seemed everywhere he went people were constantly waiting for a notification, interacting more with the world they created online throughout the pandemic than the real world around them.

After Chicago, in October 2021 Smothers launched a small business, Jukebox Java, because he noticed someone needed to spearhead a movement to reconnect Gen Z. Smothers’ mission with Jukebox Java is to bring those serendipitous face-to-face run ins back to life. “I want to make people look up again,” Smothers says.

Jukebox Java combines his two favorite things, coffee and music, to bring students together.

“Coffee is for getting up in the morning and pursuing whatever you’re good at and chasing something,” Smothers says. “It gives you that energy.”

On every homemade cup of cold brew, Smothers recommends a song that he enjoys, using his SoundCloud and DJing background as a song selection guide.

A tablecloth comes first. The logo of Smothers’ small business Jukebox Java covers a folding table one might use for a college game day tailgate. An eye-catching bright white vinyl record offsets the black fabric; Jukebox Java is the artist, Come Back to Life is the song and a record peaks out from its sleeve.

Backdropped by College Green, Smothers’ lean body darts back and forth, collecting supplies to fuel college students passing Alumni Gateway. Smothers fetches individually packaged bottles of cold brew from an insulated cooler.

During Jukebox Java’s early beginnings, he personally wrote recommendations on each plastic cup but with an adjustment, Smothers now purchases the containers in bulk and places a QR code that easily links customers to the song of the day. Now, Smothers can focus on the customer and sparking conversations between buyers instead of worrying about onspot mixing, pouring and song generation. The opening chicka-ooo of a JBL speaker followed by the alternative melodies of Goth Babe’s “Casita” means shop has finally opened for the day.

In the 2020 report “The dangers of social distancing: How COVID-19 can reshape our social experience” in the National Library of Medicine, Kevin Sikali considers the effects of isolation on how Americans view socialization. Sikali, a graduate of Villanova University’s business school, delves into the escalation of social distancing from a safety precaution to a divider in Americans’ everyday lives. As a businessman himself, Sikali shares similar worries as Smothers.

“If we, as a society, do not find a way to maintain physical and emotional connections when facing similar pandemics, the irrecurrence once or twice every decade would only worsen their negative effects on us, and it may make people feel that being isolated and distant is safe, while being outgoing and social is risky behavior,” Sikali says. Smothers watched this scene unfold before him in Chicago. There is inhibition among

young Americans to create new bonds and seek uncomfortable, yet life changing, experiences.

Most importantly with Jukebox Java, Smothers wants to change this, especially with his slogan

“Come Back to Life.” The sentiment resonates with each customer that Smothers engages in conversation with. He spends time pitching the company and himself openly to everyone who walks by no matter the reaction he will receive.

“Before I started, it wasn’t the fear of doing it that got me to [start the company],” Smothers says. “It was the fear of not doing it, of what would happen if I didn’t.”

Zach McGuinty, a senior studying outdoor recreation and education and recreation management, has been a recurring customer of Jukebox Java since its beginning. McGuinty is an outdoor connoisseur whose passion for exploration took a jarring halt due to the pandemic. He appreciates Smothers’ use of business as a force to bring young people together.

Not only is coffee vital to 62% of Americans’ daily routines, according to the National Coffee Association, but Smothers’ use of a song sparks conversation between buyers.

“Coffee literally gives us energy to talk to each other,” McGuinty says. “And each customer receiving the same songs gives folks something to enjoy and talk about together.”

Smothers revitalizes what it means to talk to a stranger again. Jukebox Java is all about the music and how it can spark conversation between even the most unlikely pair. Best put by Smothers himself, “We could speak a different language, and we could still share a song together.” b

O’ COME ALL YE

Gift sustainability in a big red bow this holiday season.

BY SEAN EIFERT | PHOTOS BY PEARL SPURLOCK |

thens is centered around connectedness and comradery. Every person tends to look out for one another no matter the circumstance. This is shown, in large part, by how the community emphasizes the importance of sustainability.

With initiatives to make solar energy a normal practice in the city, or thrift stores trying to reduce waste, there are strong efforts from Athens to manage the amount of damage done to the environment. This mentality is not unique to Athens, but it is one that much of society can adopt.

During the holidays, waste seems to be prevalent in so many ways. People waste money, food, energy and make other decisions that are detrimental to the environment. The holidays are centered around love, and people show it in various ways. Like Athens, however, the world can show that love by caring for the environment during this highly wasteful period.

In an effort to make sure the holidays are decorated and joyful, many lose sight of the one thing that is affected by the decisions made during the holiday season: the environment. Much of the effort put into decorating houses, giving gifts and other traditions can have negative effects on the environment.

Of the stores in Athens, no business does it quite like UpCycle Ohio Thrift Store. Run by Rural Action, an organization centered around bringing sustainability to rural areas of Ohio, UpCycle is centered around placing sustainability at the forefront of decision-making. UpCycle also focuses on making sure that waste is managed in a proper way, reducing harm to the environment.

Sadie Meade has been UpCycle’s manager since 2020 .

“I think sustainability, particularly in the month of October, becomes something that is about costume-making,” Meade says. “We’ve been doing a huge social media push to get people to make their own costumes in the Maker Space and use reclaimed materials instead of going to Spirit Halloween.”

Clothing is one of the main things that gets tossed during the holidays, especially after buying clothes for Halloween costumes that only get used once, as Meade says. People also

tend to purge their clothing in the face of lower temperatures.

“Seasonal garments are a huge part of sustainability,” Meade says. “Not buying a new winter coat every season is great or buying something that is new to you, but not necessarily new.”

Clothing is not the only way that people are wasteful during the holiday season.

DESIGN BY ELLIE SABATINO

Sadie Meade poses for a portrait at Ohio UpCycle on November 3, 2022, in Athens, Ohio.

Sam Crowl is the associate director of sustainability at Ohio University and also a council member on Athens City Council. Crowl handles the University’s holiday sustainability events. He shares other various ways people can be wasteful during this period.

“One of the biggest things we see [during the holiday season] is waste,” Crowl says. “Just being conscious of those issues, and finding solutions to them, it doesn’t take a lot. If you’ve got extra food from Thanksgiving, find someone that could use a meal.”

Like Crowl mentions, food waste is another huge problem during the holiday season, but there’s more.

“There’s so much wrapping paper that ends up in the landfill,” Crowl says. “It’s not recyclable the way that it’s made. I use a lot of comics from newspapers to wrap gifts, or a brown paper bag.”

Even changing the way many people give gifts has a lot to do with changing waste production during the holidays.

“When we’re participating in expected gift giving, there’s a key part there, which is it’s expected,” Meade says. “This concept of, ‘I don’t know what to buy you, but I have to buy you something,’ you’re giving one more object to manage in my household.”

Meade says that focusing on buying items people may truly need for themselves and in their homes can help prevent wasteful gift-giving during the holidays.

“It comes back to being intentional with the things that live in a space with you and respecting other peoples’ space in that same way,” Meade says. “I encourage people to buy consumable goods as gifts.”

Sustainability is something that does not come easy to most people. Like any practice, it takes time to develop. Sometimes, it takes breaking traditions.

“Unless you’re thinking about sustainability, and thinking about the environment, you’re not likely to change those traditions,” Crowl says. “It’s really about habits people have. What a lot of personal sustainability is about is teaching people; showing them easier, cheaper, very sustainable actions. You just have to learn them and pass them along; it can make big changes.”

The way that people use energy during the holiday season can additionally affect the waste that is made during this period.

“As it gets darker, we feel drawn to more light,” Sarah Conley-Ballew, the sustainable energy solutions director at Rural Action, says. “We can embrace that darkness, and not necessarily put up the Griswold Christmas. Even though you may be able to afford the extra 20 strands of Christmas lights, it’s not really in the best interest of the energy consumption it takes to light those things up every night.”

Conley-Ballew also says excess heat consumption can contribute to the increase in waste during the holidays.

“People have a tendency to jack up their heat, which can hurt a person’s wallet,” Conley-Ballew says.

People can accidentally leave lights on in the house or use

up energy that puts carbon in the air. When the holidays roll around, energy consumption is high, and it’s because there’s so much added light and heat in and around houses. It goes further than that, however.

“Be intentional about keeping holiday decorations to a minimum,” Conley-Ballew says. “Candles are timeless and lovely, and don’t require fossil fuels to produce and burn.”

People can simplify the holidays while maintaining the same level of decoration. The holidays do not have to be exuberant but can be beautiful in the number of intentional decisions that are made to be more sustainable.

What better time to be intentional than the holiday season? This holiday season, everyone can try to make sustainable decisions and help reduce the amount of waste produced to manage the effects of poor decisions that harm the environment.

The holidays are about love that goes into taking care of friends and family. In a similar way, the environment needs to be cared for, especially in a time when it seems to be neglected most. During this holiday season, be intentional and give the gift of longevity to mother nature by making decisions that sustain, rather than waste. b

Top & Bottom: Ohio UpCycle on November 3, 2022, in Athens, Ohio.

CULTIVATION OF

Self-made business woman and OU student, Layne Moorman, has found success through her handcrafted earrings.

BY AMBER PHIPPS | PHOTOS BY ELLIE HABEL | DESIGN BY ABBY BURNS

he lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still prevalent even years later. The world is still recovering, and people are finding ways to use the events that altered everyone’s lives to create something worth waking up every morning for. Whether it’s discovering a new hobby or appreciating face-to-face interactions, the pandemic taught people how to find the light in a dark tunnel.

Disruptions in people’s lives lead them to seek new activities that ground them. Sometimes, these newfound hobbies generate more than a way to be distracted and busy.

The pandemic has allowed people to find their niche and develop it further beyond just a hobby to do for fun, but into a way of living. From home-based bakeries to handcrafted jewelry, small businesses were started because of COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines.

One businesswoman has set herself apart from the rest of the industry of handcrafted jewelry and hobby-turned-businesses. Layne Moorman, a senior studying psychology at Ohio University, turned her passion for making polymer clay earrings into a business she runs from her home. What started out as a craft she enjoyed doing during the pandemic-caused online classes is now a business called Clay Creations that she manages on her own as a student with a fulltime job.

“I really enjoyed it and so I just started doing some more research [and] learning a little bit more about it,” Moorman says.

Moorman’s aunt had sent her some polymer clay materials that she played around with and crafted into earrings.

“Within a couple of weeks, a couple months, I had made about 70 pairs,” Moorman says.

Putting the time and effort into making the polymer earrings was one way to focus her energy on doing something creative with the extra time she had. Her classes were all remote and like so many other students during quarantine, she tried to find new things to occupy her time.

“It took a little bit more of a leap of faith just because I had to put in the time designing the website,” Moorman says. “It was a little bit nerve wracking and a little bit more of a risk.” But Moorman quickly saw the rewards that came with taking the risk, pursuing what makes her happy and taking that step forward.

When she started selling the earrings, things quickly shifted

from a simple quarantine hobby into filling orders and managing a business during her free time between work and classes. Once the earrings were crafted, she set up her website and started selling on multiple social media platforms. The expansion of her business allowed for even more customer interactions and collaborative opportunities. Currently, people around southeast Ohio are buying her handcrafted creations and providing support for Moorman and her aspirations. Tori Burkitt has a costumer supporting Moorman’s business from the beginning. Originally from Cincinnati, Burkitt purchased a pair of polymer clay earrings from Facebook before the business had a website.

“It was a very positive experience,” Burkitt says. “She’s always been very pleasant and easy to work with. If there’s ever an issue, she’ll get it taken care of.”

Burkitt is a constant supporter of small businesses and continues to purchase from the website and some of the other storefronts Moorman collaborates with.

“I would definitely recommend them, and I have recommended her products to some of my friends, and they

Layne Moorman is a senior at Ohio University who started a business creating polymer clay earrings.

now purchase her earrings as well,” Burkitt says Moorman attributes her success to the positive feedback and continuous support from her small town and those that purchase her products. She works with a few local storefronts in her area that provide a space for her to sell her polymer clay creations.

In Chillicothe, Dauntless Roots Plants Company is one of those storefronts selling Moorman’s products. Owned and managed by Katelyn Smith, the business was also started during the pandemic in the winter of 2020.

While Smith focused on selling plants, her business has expanded and reached new heights upon establishing a storefront where she can provide a shop for other business owners, such as Moorman, to sell their products.

“We live in a world where everybody can do crafts or side hobbies, but [Moorman’s] pieces are just truly authentic and unique and I’ve never seen anybody who can create pieces like she does,” Smith says.

Smith has been providing a storefront for Moorman’s products since the start of their business journey. Since 2020, both business owners have seen tremendous amounts of change within the store once quarantine restrictions were lifted.

“[There’s] more foot traffic, but also being able to do stuff in person and have that social connection with the public and the community has definitely been a big thing that has happened,” Smith says.

After returning to in-person activities, Moorman manages her time wisely due to the boutique she works at, the classes she’s enrolled in as a full-time student and the polymer clay earring business she runs.

Despite her busy schedule, Moorman wants to inspire others to pursue any passions that bring them joy.

“It really is not relevant to where I want to go in my career,” Moorman says. “It’s something that I love so much and it brings me so much joy.”

Coming out of a pandemic has allowed some people to find their passions and discover the importance of pursuing happiness. Even though Moorman is unsure about what the future has in store for her, she plans on continuing her hobby as an artist and creator as well as her goals in the psychology department. b

Layne Moorman is pictured wearing a pair of her homemade polymer clay earrings. Clay Creations is the name of Moorman’s business and all of her products can be found on her website.

Layne Moorman holds up a pair of earrings that she has created. Moorman’s earrings can be purchased through her website or through storefronts such as The Village Brew Coffee House in Piketon, OH, Rainbow Boba in Waverly, OH, Cranberry Boutique, in Chillicothe, OH, Dauntless Roots in Chillicothe, OH, and Deeply Rooted Cafe in Frankfort, OH.

LEVELING UP

LOCATED IN SCRIPPS HALL 001

A newly established Esports Arena provides gamers with a space.

BY OLIVIA RIGNEY | PHOTOS BY JACOB DURBIN DESIGN BY CARMEN CHAO

cripps Hall is the new home of gaming culture and the Bobcats Esports Club at Ohio University. The club is a student-run organization that offers students a chance to pursue their gaming passion in a university setting.

The goal of the Esports Club is to encourage the positive impacts gaming culture can have by bringing people who share a love of video games together. While players can connect competitively on the screen, the members can also hang out and game together utilizing OU’s new resources.

“We were founded back in 2017 by three folks who saw a gap in the gaming community,” Pat Daley, Bobcat Esports Club president says. “We had different clubs for different games all over campus, but we wanted a unifying vision and singular direction to take esports culture as a whole.”

The new addition to OU’s campus opened on Sept. 12 of this year. The beginning steps for making the arena a reality started in 2017. Approval from trustees to do the construction was granted in 2019 and the physical construction began in 2020.

Esports Director Jeff Kuhn is an expert in all things virtual and augmented reality, as well as gaming, and wants to make OU’s gaming community welcome to all. Many OU students have a passion for gaming but do not have anywhere on campus to practice it.

“If you love music, there’s a place on campus to go. If you love theater, if you love books, there are these places you can go and be with other people that love that thing. But there’s never been a space for gaming,” Kuhn says.

The Esports Arena is a welcoming environment illuminated by LED lights where students have access to consoles and computers built for gaming.

Overview of the Esports arena.

“We do have varsity level competitive teams, but with the Esports Arena, everybody should feel welcome to come and play games,” Kuhn says. “Whether you’re just a casual Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing player, or you’re a highly competitive Valorant player, there’s a sport for you here.”

“The team captain is somebody who makes sure that they’re all playing, the team is in the right mindset and working together as a team [to] communicate clearly,” Kuhn says. “But we also have coaches, who will be … who works with the schedule to practice. We have different levels, but they’re all designed to help support the team.”

Student coach, Liam McCamish, joined the Bobcat Esports team in spring of last year during the involvement fair. His love of video games inspired him to take a chance on stepping up to coach the Valorant team.

“Discipline is something that we’re learning about a lot. Most of the time, we were in here on average nine to 10 hours a week. It’s not so much just a game, it’s playing a sport. Representing the university. Our goal back here is to win,” McCamish says.

The team utilizes practices to refine their skills before going up against other college esports teams.

“We just started off by playing the game. But now we’ve been playing it so often that we know every map. We go into a private game and run through setups, called dry runs, just running and practicing what we do,” McCamish says. “Most of the time we scrimmage against other collegiate teams that aren’t in our league that we don’t play and can try stuff on them.”

The Scripps Hall gaming arena has 30 computers located in the front that anyone can sit down at to play a wide variety of online video games.

The back of the arena houses the varsity space where the Rocket League and Valorant teams compete in the MidAmerican Conference (MAC) competitions. Both teams held tryouts in the beginning of the school year to comprise their new rosters and find leadership within the team.

The popularity of esports at the collegiate level has grown immensely over the past few years. According to Digital Trends, the industry of esports was projected to see 29.6 million views this year. Viewers can tune into popular streaming services like YouTube or Twitch, which the Bobcat Esports team utilizes frequently. The MAC only introduced esports in the 2020-21 school year but has not slowed down since.

Whether viewers are watching esports because they are fans of the game or just like the content itself, the entertaining nature of gaming connects people worldwide.

“Broadcasters and producers put on a full sporting event,” Kuhn says. “We try to have both; it groups the casual and the competitive together.”

The Bobcat Esports Club is about 500 members strong. Additionally, the club’s Discord, a useful online messaging social platform, has over 1,000 members.

“Students are engaging in gaming culture, but they could just be doing it in their dorms by themselves,” Daley says. “[Now] they have an opportunity to come here and play on state-of-theart systems around other people. It’s that social engagement.” b

Mackenzie Huey and other members of the Esports team playing League of Legends on November 4, 2022.

CONTENT WARNING: CONTAINS SLURS AND DEPICTIONS OF HOMOPHOBIA

More Than A Menace

Sapphic Students detail their experience starting student organization, Lavender Menace

BY KIRSTEN ABBEY & DARCIE ZUDELL

PHOTOS BY ELLIE HABEL

DESIGN BY ELLIE SABATINO

avender Menace, an organization for all women-lovingwomen and women-loving-people, was brought to fruition this year by co-creators Chanise Kimbley and Emily Moores.

The organization meets bi-weekly on Thursdays to connect by playing games, watching movies and studying. Lavender Menace was created with the intention of providing sapphics with a place to exist, free from the expectations of a culture that normalizes heterosexuality and excludes queerness.

The president of Lavender Menace, Kimbley, is a transfer student and sophomore at Ohio University studying psychology. Kimbley said they got the idea from their old college, Northern Kentucky University, where there was a similar group to Lavender Menace.

“It was a group for sapphics to hang out,” Kimbley says. “And I was really excited about it, and I loved that group a lot so when I transferred, I was a little disheartened to find out there were no sapphic groups on campus at OU.”

The turnout for the first meeting on Sep. 1 was overwhelming. Alesha Davis, a junior studying journalism and English and the treasurer of Lavender Menace, expected a slow start to the new club but was greeted by more than 30 new members.

The response from members has been fiercely positive. Adelle Stratton, a sophomore studying history, joined at the beginning of the year and likens the organization to lesbian spaces in past decades.

“It reminds me of lesbian clubs in the 80s,” Stratton says. “[And] things like that, where that was the only place that lesbians could really meet at; it feels more like a university version of that, especially with them falling out nowadays.”

Ariel Williams, a sophomore studying plant biology and the assistant social media manager of Lavender Menace, says that as a queer woman, she observes a detachment of lesbians from the queer community.

The denial of safe space for lesbians is seen throughout history, and it was the basis of the Lavender Menace protest in 1970.

Betty Friedan, the author of The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963, made homophobic comments about queer women in a New York Times interview. Friedan preached that lesbianism posed a threat to feminism.

Friedan referred to lesbianism as a lavender menace. In response, women from Radicalesbians, Gay Liberation Front and other intersectional feminist groups banded together to protest the National Organization for Women (NOW). This protest and the reclaiming of the label Lavender Menace is the inspiration for OU’s new group.

“There is a bit of separation in the LGBTQ community when it comes to sapphic identifying and the rest of the community,” Williams says. “It’s not as noticeable, but it’s definitely there.”

Micah McCarey, the director of the LGBT Center since 2019, says he is excited to welcome Lavender Menace at OU. The LGBT Center is an inclusive space for all queer students; however, McCarey agrees that a dedicated safe space for sapphic people is important.

“It feels safest and most comfortable for folks who are still navigating their identity to be in a space that’s free of folks who might be perceived as potentially oppressive or representative of oppressive groups,” McCarey says.

Lavender Menace is not the first lesbian club on OU’s campus, but the Swarm of Dykes (SOD) might have been. Created in 1997, SOD chose a shocking name to garner attention to help humanize the queer community. According to advertisements for the club, “SOD is a group that works to challenge injustices in the system through creative resistance.”

Without losing its social aspect, Lavender Menace acknowledges the politics involved with LGBTQ identities by having open space and discussion for them.

“There’s more of a focus on you know, women’s issues and transgender issues, really specific on the gender portion because what I find in bigger LGBT spaces, a lot of it is still centered on masculine ideals,” Davis says.

Moores, the vice president of Lavender Menace and a junior studying film, says that “queerness is inherently political.” And that the organization seeks to educate others in its own way.

Emily Moores is the vice president of the new organization on campus, Lavender Menace.

Moores says that while they would be interested in including more political action into the organization, there is more emphasis on creating a social atmosphere. This is the key difference between the SOD and Lavender Menace. The purpose of SOD was to create controversy and to bring attention to taboo subjects. However, SOD started to decrease in membership as gay rights issues on campus started to lose relevance.

Since the 1970s lesbians have watched their spaces dwindle. “I remember looking at this statistic recently, where for every 10 gay bars, there’s like one sapphic bar,” Davis says.

According to data collected in a 2019 report by Greggor Mattson, an associate sociology professor at Oberlin College, out of over 60,000 bars in the United States, only 21 of those are designed for sapphics.

Though being unapologetically queer is becoming more common, young queer people at OU still enjoy a space where they can escape judgments, even if those judgments are not as apparent to those outside of the community.

The executive members of Lavender Menace also describe difficulties connecting with others on campus, as well as incidents of hate. Moores says there are situations where they had been verbally attacked for being queer.

“I was simply sitting and eating pizza once and someone called me a dyke,” Moores says. “I was like, I don’t know you, I’m just eating my pizza.”

Davis says her experience on campus has been “bizarre” and provided an anecdote about a man whom she rejected.

“He said, and I quote, ‘lesbian? I thought you were a woman,’” Davis says.

“Having a space for specifically sapphic identities, it’s monumental,” Stratton says. “Because we don’t have those. We don’t have those spaces normally in everyday life. And when we do have those spaces, they’re normally invaded.”

Stratton is referring to straight people occupying queer spaces. Their presence, matter the intention, inherently makes space no longer safe for queer people. Lavender Menace is unique in the way it is inclusive, while also providing a sanctuary for the historically oppressed.

Even though lesbian spaces tend to disappear, the need for them does not. Without a place be open and safe, there is loneliness associated with not having easy access to others with similar experiences.

Stratton’s first year at OU was isolating, they said, because the way to connect with other queer people was through symbols such as flags or apps.

“That’s the easiest way to specifically find other people,” Stratton says. “We didn’t have a space things like that until this year.”

Lesbianism does not erase someone’s womanhood. And while womanhood doesn’t equate to lesbianism, the ideology that women and lesbians are completely unrelated identities has haunted lesbians like a proverbial poltergeist. This type of ignorance can be experienced or observed every day by queer people. Debilitating circumstances, such as growing up in a homophobic household, are not uncommon for young queer people. Williams says before coming to OU,

“I just wasn’t really surrounded by other LGBTQ people,” Williams says. “So, coming to campus and meeting Chan and starting Lavender [Menace] and meeting other women loving women, it’s definitely helped with finding my people, and my chosen family.”

OU students fight for even more identity-specific safe spaces to assure all students feel safe and understood away from any toxic forces at home.

There’s a fundamental difference between general queer spaces and ones designated for distinct identity. There are experiences that can only be attributed to a certain identity or label. Lavender Menace distinguishes these unique perspectives as a motivation for the club.

It is a space made by sapphics, for sapphics, and the members can unashamedly speak about their identities.

“Lavender Menace has become a space where you just meet people like you,” Stratton says. “And it’s nice to have that community because a lot of like straight girls, they have those sororities where they have that sisterhood.”

The opportunity, Stratton also says, allows for members of Lavender Menace to realize they are not alone in their experiences.

Lavender Menace is a place for sapphics to be unapologetic for their struggles because for many this extends further than

THE CLASSROOM

How Ohio House Bill 616’s enactment could change the future of school curriculum statewide.

BY CAROLINE GILLEN | DESIGN BY ABBY BURNS

ublic education in Ohio may be facing some drastic changes, as the effort for bans and censorship curriculum continues. In April, two Ohio lawmakers proposed a version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which includes a ban on conversations surrounding various topics in schools such as diversity, equity and inclusion.

Ohio House Bill 616, or HB 616, will ban language in the classroom involving critical race theory, intersectional theory, the 1619 Project and other concepts the state’s Board of Education defines as “divisive or inherently racist.”

HB 616 is commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This comes from the removal of speech regarding sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade classrooms. Meanwhile, fourth graders all the way to high school seniors cannot conduct conversations about sexual orientation or gender identity in any manner that is not considered ageappropriate or developmentally important in accordance with the state’s standards, according to HB 616.

The proposal of HB 616 has sparked debate among officials in the Ohio House of Representatives. State Rep. Brigid Kelly shares her opinion concerning the bill on Ohio’s House of Representatives’ website.

“Students can’t grow into well-rounded, educated adults ready to join diverse, thriving workforce when the ability to think critically and the desire to recognize and celebrate each other’s differences has been banned in schools,” Kelly says.

Many teachers fear the removal of conversations involving diversity can destroy a teacher’s ability in making the classroom a safe place for all types of students. Derek Burtch, an Ohio University alumnus and English teacher at Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, shares his concerns about the effects of HB 616.

“In my opinion, it’s just an attack on public education,” Burtch says. “Not discussing racial concepts, which completely

ignores talking about anything that has to do with racial identity, impacts student lives.”

Unlike the original bill created in Florida which only mentions the censorship of curriculum, the Ohio “Don’t Say Gay” bill uses both the words “curriculum” and “materials.” The addition of “materials” could mean the banning of books involving anything parents or school administration declare as a violation of HB 616.

“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes” is a famous saying used to encourage people to try and understand another’s viewpoint different from their own. The original saying was derived from an 1895 poem written by Mary Torrans Lathrap called “Judge Softly.” The meaning behind the poem is relevant today.

Atticus Finch, a character in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper

Lee, tells his daughter Scout a very similar saying in the novel. Finch is a lawyer who ignores societal pressure and defends Tom Robinson, a Black man, in a court case for being wrongly accused of sexual assaulting a white woman. Finch chooses to see the racist motivations of the white woman’s accusations, which the rest of the town could not do. Finch encourages Scout not to judge someone before standing in their shoes and encourages her to take another perspective and have empathy, which is a major theme in the novel.

There is talk of To Kill a Mockingbird being banned in schools because it includes topics that lawmakers consider too intense for students. Sheltering students from books that involve intense topics hinders their ability to embrace empathy and prohibits them from fully understanding the world around them.

“Growing and learning doesn’t happen without un-comfortability,” Burtch says. “It’s part of the process.”

In one of Burtch’s classes, he shares a TV show that talks about suicide. He skips any part of the show that depicts death by suicide because he believes there is a way to teach about these intense topics without traumatizing a student. Students should be exposed to these uncomfortable topics in hopes of helping them understand the severity and possible prevention of certain issues.

“There’s people who don’t want to talk about suicide, but the reality is that it happens,” Burtch says. “Why are we censoring students from learning about things that are impacting their lives in a very deep and meaningful way?”

If HB 616 ends up passing, it will completely change the future of education. The bill puts education in the hands of state officials and parents, which prevents students from learning from different

perspectives and creating their own judgments. A well-rounded education should include not only a variety of different courses, but also a diverse number of perspectives so that students are given room for educational discourse and opinions.

Burtch describes a well-rounded education as being student-driven; students, especially in today’s world, have been exposed to numerous different narratives and information. An education that supports the interest of students will have the most success in teaching students lasting information and interpersonal skills.

Sarah Braun, former president of Athens High School’s Queer-Straight Alliance Club and a current freshman studying art history at Ohio University, is also worried about how HB 616 will affect the school system and education.

“I would be concerned about how students are able to find resources and connect with teachers and actually have help and support specifically in the high school setting,” Braun says.

Another fear that surrounds the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is that it will prevent students from talking about things that deeply affect their lives. It will only further impact marginalized students who are already harmed by school systems. “Racism is learned, and homophobia is learned,” Burtch says. “If you can’t talk about those things, then the status quo, the dominant culture [and] narrative perpetuates, and right now, we can see that it’s a white supremacist patriarchal heterosystem as a society that causes gay students to not feel safe at school and students of color don’t feel safe in white-dominant suburban schools.”

Tony Riley, a life sciences teacher at Athens High School, discusses the possibility of the bill targeting marginalized students.

“A public school is a place where we should lean into those issues that may be portrayed as controversial that aren’t necessarily controversial and provide a safe and open environment where those types of things can be discussed and taught,” Riley says.

According to the Statehouse News Bureau, protestors have called HB 616 to be an “educational gag order.” Protestors share their concerns that the bill will do nothing but create more division and harm to the students that the bill is trying to “protect.”

The bill may do just the opposite by creating an environment where students are scared to challenge perspectives and create their own opinions that may be outside the status quo. Haley Perkins, a sophomore studying early childhood and elementary education, is a future teacher who says that the classroom should be an accepting place for students.

“[HB 616] could make students feel as though they’re not being able to express themselves at school properly and not be able to be themselves,” Perkins says.

Another big concern protestors have about the bill is the educators that will be penalized for teaching or mentioning any of the banned subjects. The bill currently stands in a relatively vague stance that there aren’t any clear lines for teachers to follow.

“At the high school level, we had some teachers that really pushed for a more accepting school culture and that’s how we got to have some positive experiences,” Braun says. “I would be concerned for the ability of teachers in the future to do what they did for us.” b

BY HELEN WIDMAN | PHOTOS BY MIA WALSH | DESIGN BY PEARL SCHAFER

Check out these quick and tasty air fryer recipes for any time of day.

Last year, my sister received an air fryer for her birthday—so naturally, I’ve gotten to use it too. The recipes below are a combination of my family’s favorite air fryer recipes, whether you’re just looking for a quick lunch idea or just want more air fryer inspiration. Enjoy!

BACON & EGG OPEN-FACED SANDWICH

INGREDIENTS

ƒ Slice of bread

ƒ An egg

ƒ 1-2 slices of uncooked bacon

ƒ Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Lightly toast your bread beforehand.

2. Crack the egg onto the toast and delicately wrap the bacon around it.

3. Lightly grease the basket and fry at 350-400 F. for 10 minutes, until the egg and bacon are cooked.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

PESTO SANDWICH

INGREDIENTS

ƒ Ciabatta bread roll

ƒ Pesto sauce

ƒ Mozzarella balls

ƒ Sliced tomato

DIRECTIONS

1. Open the ciabatta roll and spread pesto on both sides.

2. Place desired amount of mozzarella balls onto the sandwich.

3. Lightly grease the basket and fry at 400 F. for five minutes to melt the cheese and warm the sandwich.

4. Top with sliced tomatoes and enjoy! Add a slight drizzle of olive oil or vinaigrette for extra flavor.

MINI PIZZAS

INGREDIENTS

ƒ Small slices of naan bread

ƒ Pizza sauce

ƒ Mozzarella cheese, shredded

ƒ Additional pizza toppings of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Spread pizza sauce evenly onto the naan bread.

2. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly onto the sauce.

3. If desired, dress the pizza with other toppings, like mini pepperonis.

4. Lightly grease the basket and pop it in the air fryer for five minutes at 400 F. to make mini pizzas!

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER BITES

INGREDIENTS

ƒ Half a head of cauliflower, chopped into bite-size pieces

ƒ Frank’s Red-Hot Sauce

ƒ Stick butter

ƒ Flour

ƒ Salt

ƒ Garlic Powder

ƒ Dried parsley

ƒ Dipping sauce and/or celery sticks

DIRECTIONS

1. After chopping up the cauliflower into bite-size pieces, grab a bowl to mix the wet ingredients.

2. Melt the butter (roughly a tablespoon) and mix in a good amount of the hot sauce. The measurements will vary depending on how big your pieces are or how much you want to make, but make sure

there is enough to coat all your cauliflower.

3. Pour the wet ingredients over the cauliflower and use your hands to coat them evenly.

4. Mix some flour, salt, garlic powder and dried parsley together and sprinkle on top until the cauliflower is coated evenly.

5. Lightly grease the basket and fry at 350 F. for 15 minutes or more, depending on the strength of your air fryer. You can shake out the fryer every so often to check on them. Be sure not to overfill the fryer and work in batches if necessary.

6. Serve with a side of ranch, bleu cheese or celery sticks for a delicious snack! b

UNCOVERING ROCK LOBSTER Radio Rebels

Live and in stereo, the DJs of Ohio University’s AllCampus Radio Network hold out hope for fellow rockers. The longest student-led campus radio station continues to turn tables for those who tune in and take a seat.

BY LAUREN KEY

PHOTOS BY JACOB DURBIN DESIGN BY PEARL SCHAFER

ucked away on the third floor of Baker University Center, the All-Campus Radio Network [ACRN] studio features a window into the world of a DJ.

When the lights come on inside the booth, those who look may catch a glimpse of the on-air action. Listeners, however, may not have the luxury of knowing the mixer behind the microphone. This raises the question, who are these radio rebels, and what sets their live streams apart from one another?

ACRN’s Programming Director, Lily Manoukian, is the first DJ to be unmasked. While she is commonly known as DJ Lily Manilli in the ACRN world, outside the booth Lily is a junior studying music production and the recording industry at Ohio University.

“One of my friends was interested in joining the programming department and having a radio show I thought it sounded cool, so I started going to meetings with her,” Manoukian says.

A year later, Manoukian finds herself hosting the “Lily Hour” every Monday from 5 to 6 p.m.

“I try to listen to a variety of music, and I try to share that [on my show],” Manoukian says.

But avid listeners of Manoukian know that Indie rock is the true star of her show, explaining her current fascination with the alternative band Peach Pit and their recent album From 2 to 3. Additionally

influencing her line-up is her mood.

“I think my show is specific to however I’m feeling when I decide to make a playlist,” Manoukian says. “Whenever I have a show, I curate a playlist specifically for it. Most DJs also do that.”

Another aspect of Manoukian’s show that makes it enticing is her goal to introduce listeners to new music. ACRN’s platform enables Manoukian to not only reminisce on “retro” music but also cater her cue to music trends apparent among students.

Manoukian asks the question “what are people listening to today?” and by doing so she can provide music lovers with a voice on the station and incorporate her own knowledge of local, underground bands.

One issue Manoukian believes the DJs at ACRN help to combat is the phenomenon of “solo play.” Despite popular streaming services influx of music, individuals tend to rely on the same few artists’ vocals and messages, such as that one friend who plays Juice World on repeat.

“I think it is important to broaden our horizons,” Manoukian says. “Listening to music that your friends or a stranger listen to is great for that.”

Also caught behind the scenes is DJ Earworm, whose studio name may have something to do with their habit of tying fake worms on strings and throwing them onstage at concerts in hopes to gain the attention of performers.

Beyond the booth, Earworm is recognized as Ella Franks, a freshman studying graphic design along with music production and the recording industry.

Confident in her passions, Franks made the decision to host a show at ACRN to immerse herself in the music scene that initially drew her to OU. Her true spark of inspiration came from Andrew VanWyngarden, the lead musician in the American rock band, MGMT, who had his own radio show during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Franks hosts ACRN’s “Blue Mondays” segment on Mondays at 7 p.m. and believes it is important to lay in to the discomfort of handing someone else the aux for a change.

DJ Lily Manoukian prepares to rock the mic from her desk chair.

While being appreciative of her own decision to expand her music repertoire, Franks says that “putting trust in the hands of someone else’s taste,” enables people to talk more fluently about music and gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

Following a different theme each week, Franks attempts to make her show for everyone.

One goal Frank has as a DJ at ACRN is to never run out of themes, a hope that her 350 Spotify playlists have so far accomplished.

Her future at the station will consist of a deeper dive into the artists who influence her life. Franks admits that the artists she enjoys are often “hard to get into,” but she envisions her show as an intro-level outlet to rethink bands that upon first listen may seem unconventional.

Franks continues to step into DJing with an intention that causes her to simply “show up and enjoy” her work at ACRN.

OU alumnus Dan Farkas, not operating under any special pseudonym, is a once record spinner and reporter at ACRN. Although Farkas notes the versatility of his experiences at the station, doing at least five shows during his time there, Farkas recalls the once “Revolving Door” of music that he and other DJs would facilitate.

Rotating shifts in a collaborative effort allowed each person “to go in and make it [their] own,” Farkas says. “I think there’s something to be said for that.”

Now, as a nationally recognized leader in strategic communication at The Ohio State University, Farkas says that his previous involvement in ACRN taught him to sink or swim when faced with the challenge of how to take something from nothing and make it his own.

One aspect of the organization that sources across the board agree remains the same is its inclusivity to students of all backgrounds and interests.

“It doesn’t matter what your major is,” Farkas says. “If you have a passion for the product, there’s a place for you.”

While it may seem that radio is a dying industry, the passionate people behind its operation are not. Farkas, sturdy in his beliefs, says that how we receive content will continue to change, however, quality and persistence should not.

“Regardless of how many people listen or don’t listen, it gives you reps,” Farkas says. “It creates relationships. Those two things, regardless of [the] industry are essential to getting the gig you want and moving forward. At the end of the day, what matters is how you can tell an impactful story.”

In her element, Manoukian sheds the title of student and adopts that of sound engineer.

Classic Comfort & Joy

All this Backdropper wants for Christmas is for its music to stay the same.

BY CAROLINE BISSONNETTE | DESIGN BY RACHEL RECTOR

The steam of a fresh cup of hot chocolate fills the cold winter air as falling snow glistens in the starlight. Christmas is coming. The soft hum of Christmas music plays in the background as students submit their final assignments of the semester. Finally, it is time to take a deep breath and enjoy the “most wonderful time of the year,” as Andy Williams put it in 1963.

Despite how annoying the obvious holiday cliches may be, they remind us of the way we tend to feel around Christmas time (for those who celebrate). We may not feel the same way about Christmas as we did when we were children, but the cheerfulness exists within us still. Old, classic Christmas songs make this cheer more prominent.

Despite being born in the early 2000s, most college students listen to Christmas music that originates decades before they even had ears. Modern Christmas tunes get ignored by radio stations that play music from the 1900s instead. And rightfully so.

Modern Christmas songs are completely unnecessary. I don’t remember ever listening to a Christmas song released after 2000 and thinking that it is better than older Christmas music. I am in no way religious, but I bet Catholics will agree with me. We have started to stray away from the appreciation of Christmas for what it really is. In his popular Christmas song “Mistletoe,” Justin Bieber compares himself to the three wise men, following his heart in the same way they “followed the star.” He goes on to compare his love interest to Jesus.

Does this not make religion seem trivial? I thought religion was the entire reason Christmas existed.

Religion aside, there are statistics that prove modern Christmas music does not compare to the old classics. Taylor Swift, for example, released a Christmas song in 2019 called “Christmas Tree Farm.” According to Spotify statistics, the song has 83 million streams as of October 2022. Also released in 2019 was Swift’s seventh studio album Lover. Of the 18 songs on Lover, all but one of them have more streams than her Christmas song. People were likely busy listening to “Jingle Bells,” which was originally written and composed by James Pierpont in 1857, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Newer Christmas songs cannot provide the same sense of nostalgia as the beloved classics. Christmas is all about traditions. Many of us do the same activities, spend time with the same people and generally have similar Christmas experiences every year. From a young age, we are exposed to Christmas songs from earlier years; Christmas songs our parents would have listened to. This makes it hard to introduce newer songs into our Christmas mix.

According to a study I conducted in which 50 Ohio University students were asked whether they prefer modern or older Christmas music, 37 of them answered in favor of the classics. This came as absolutely no surprise to me. If my friend asked me if I wanted to listen to Christmas music in the car and they started playing Gwen Stefani or the Jonas Brothers, I’d probably just have them drop me off at home. Apparently, many OU students would agree.

Musicians often couch to rerecord their own versions of the classics, rather than coming out with their own fresh content. I am not complaining. I appreciate their awareness of the influence of older Christmas songs. I would rather hear Ariana Grande sing “Silent Night” than whatever “Santa Tell Me” is. We don’t need to bring Santa into this. He’s not even real.

The intensity of our modern society, however, is very real. Surprisingly, most Christmas songs from arguably one of the most socially unaware times in our nation’s history, 1940-1980, have withstood the test of time. “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” written by Frank Loesser, has not . If you are alive, you probably know what’s wrong with this song. Lyrics such as “Say, what's in this drink?” and “Ah, you're very pushy you know?” in reference to a man trying to get a woman to stay the night make the problematic nature of the song hard to ignore.

Instead of just leaving the song in the past and “canceling” it, as the kids say, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson rewrote the song in a more politically correct way. I would have preferred to acknowledge the song’s issues and leave it behind, but I appreciate the sentiment of wanting to keep the classics alive. There are always exceptions, folks!

This remake of the song, though, only proves the stronghold the old classics have on us. Our society and our Christmas spirit thrive on the nostalgia these songs bring. This year when we are enjoying our old classic tunes to get us in the mood for the holidays, maybe we can try to throw in a new song. Only one though. And it can only be Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.” We shouldn’t get any newer than that. b

FIND YOUR HAPPY

Backdropper Josie Donohue shares her favorite places in Athens to get a hot meal that feels like home.

BY JOSIE DONOHUE |

BY PEARL SPURLOCK | DESIGN BY ALLY PARKER

he holidays have finally arrived. Whether you’re going home or staying in Athens, I believe an important part of the holiday season is eating delicious comfort foods.

Growing up in Meigs County, my family often drove to Athens to eat at its charming restaurants to spend time together. Through the years, I’ve tried a lot of eateries in the area, so this is a list of local restaurants that make me feel like I’m getting a home-cooked meal in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

PHOTOS

Miller’s Chicken is a great local spot if you’re craving an American-styled fried chicken meal. The restaurant has homestyle food such as chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, green beans, mac and cheese and more. There is a seating area inside that is intimate and gives off the feeling of eating in a kitchen dining room, or you can take it to go.

When I was young, my grandparents and I would pick up Miller’s Chicken and have picnics at Strouds Run and Dow Lake in the fall. After eating that delicious chicken, we’d search for buckeyes in the colorful leaves. Today, my mom and I will occasionally pick up some chicken and rolls and make a drive through Amesville to visit the picnic spot.

If you’re craving a taste of Italy, look no further than this underrated Italian eatery located on The Plains. Little Italy’s menu features pizzas, subs and salads. Take out and eat with friends at home or eat inside for a home-cooked meal atmosphere.

For one year when I was homeschooled in second grade and my mom worked on The Plains, she would take me to get Italian subs from Little Italy to eat at home for dinner. They were always so fresh, steaming hot and delicious even after we got home.

The restaurant is a quick drive from campus, and students without a car on campus may use the Athens Public Transit on Line 6 with pickups on Court Street, W Union and Columbus Road.

This comforting spot is little known to Ohio University students but popular among locals. Rumored to be one of Joe Burrow’s favorite spots to eat when he attended Athens High School, there are various homages to the Heisman Trophy winner at the restaurant such as banners on the wall and a menu item named “The Burrow.” This order was once called “The Western”, and is an omelet “stuffed with ham, cheddar jack cheese, onions, and green peppers,” according to the Gigi’s menu.

Other items on the menu features breakfast items such as pancakes, waffles and biscuits and gravy and lunch specialties like sandwiches, salads and burgers. Recently, I tried out one of the specials which was a Philly cheesesteak sandwich with french fries and it was delicious and hot. Many people like to come here with their families to catch up and get food that fills them up.

The walls are adorned with a chalkboard with the daily special written and signs that give off a country kitchen vibe. There are tables, booths and a bar onlooking a TV to emulate the feel of a diner.

Every small town should have a delicious burger, fries and ice cream restaurant. In Athens’ case, Larry’s Dawg House has all that and more served hot daily. With the speediness of fast food but the quality of homemade food, Larry’s is an Athens staple. On Weenie Wednesday’s, you can even stop by and grab a hotdog for a dollar. .

My favorite thing at Larry’s is the ice cream. Get it in a cup, in a cone with sprinkles, in a milkshake, with toppings for a sundae, with specialty flavors in an arctic swirl and more. My sister and I like to share a banana split on a hot summer day with some french fries or onion rings. Bonus points if you dip your french fries in the ice cream!

This place has a strong hometown, vintage vibe where people of all ages enjoy the American fried food that we all crave. b

Little Italy Pizza

A veggie pizza from Little Italy Pizza in The Plains, Ohio. Located at 10 S. Plains Road, a short walk if you get dropped off at the Plains Library.

Miller’s Chicken in Athens, Ohio. Located at 235 W. State St. Which is near West Green not far from Heritage Hall.

Gigi’s breakfast in The Plains, Ohio. Located at 105 N. Plains Road. Students can use the Athens Public Transit on Line 6 for a drop-off at Poston Road.

Larry’s Dawg House in Athens, Ohio. Larry’s is not far from campus located at 410 W Union St.

Miller’s Chicken

Gigi’s Country Kitchen

Larry’s Dawg House

My Love Letter to Lesbian Literature

BY CHANISE KIMBLEY DESIGN BY DREW FOLLMER

relationship with queerness stirs up a lot of emotion inside of me. I find myself caught in moments where I’m so proud of being a lesbian I could scream. I’ve also found myself caught in moments of shame surrounding my identity. These moments are typically triggered by one thing: Media.

As a queer person of age twenty, I’ve consumed a decent amount of queer media. Some pieces I find beautiful and emotionally moving, and others I find horrific to say the least. My love for my identity has been shaped by the media I’ve consumed, and I think it’s important that queer representation in media continues to shed a positive light on our community.

In this essay, I will specifically discuss a few sapphic books I’ve read. I want to shed light on my experience with finding queer, specifically sapphic stories that speak to me. Once I found stories that spoke to me, I began to speak up for myself. I found love for myself by reading about people who have lived through my experiences.

My initial exposure to queer media was full of trial and error.

Around age thirteen, I exclusively read fan-fiction about gay men to avoid confronting my own sexuality while still consuming queer media. The erotic stories about boybands and fictional characters gave me an outlet to explore queerness without addressing what queerness meant to me personally.

Around age fifteen, I had my first experience consuming a piece of lesbian media. I excitedly sat down to watch Abdellatif Kechiche’s Blue is the Warmest Color. After watching the three hour long movie, I found myself feeling a sense of shame. From the scenes of violence toward a queer teenager, to the gratuitous, prolonged sex scenes, I felt as though my identity was something to be ashamed of. My identity had been reduced to antiLGBTQ violence and pornography.

For two years, I scraped the bottom of the barrel on Netflix to find lesbian centered movies that helped me feel seen, but nothing was appealing. The only representation I could find contained nothing but sex scenes, or gratuitous sex along with grotesque plot twists. After my trial and error period with queer movies, I turned to reading, which eventually became my safe haven.

My romantic relationship with lesbian literature began with reading the graphic novel Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Bechdel’s story of coming out while dealing with family adversity gave a sense of humanity to my identity. Bechdel’s exploration of her identity helped me see that my identity was not something to be ashamed of, but rather a part of myself to be explored and eventually proud of.

This sense of humanity continued to grow when I was recommended to read Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. In Feinberg’s writing, the life of protagonist

Jess Goldberg is explored, chronicling their discovery of their own sexual and gender identity. My discovery of my identity as a non-binary lesbian began as I made my way through Jess’ story. For the longest time, I grappled with the idea of being a lesbian while not feeling entirely like a woman. I felt as though my sexual identity would become invalid if I didn’t perform femininity the way I was expected to. Reading Stone Butch Blues helped me fight against the notion that lesbians have to feel connected to womanhood.

My romance with lesbian literature continued to blossom last semester as I read my first true lesbian romance novel: Nancy Garden’s Annie on my Mind. The story of Annie and Eliza kept me captivated all the way until the end. Although the story has its faults, the true love between the two girls filled a space in my heart that no heterosexual romance could. Being in a relationship myself, reading about the tenderness of a lesbian relationship helped me feel validated in my own relationship. The innocence of two teen girls falling in love was polar opposite to the media I had previously consumed; media surrounding gratuitous sex scenes between young women. Even after enduring adversity and extreme criticism about their relationship, Annie and Eliza continue to love one another into their young adulthood.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Annie on my Mind, lies the graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki. The story of Freddy and Laura is one of utmost importance to me. In Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, protagonist Freddy embarks on a journey of self-love and self-discovery as she musters the strength to not allow Laura Dean to break her heart anymore.

You may be wondering why a story about an unstable relationship is important in my romantic relationship with lesbian literature; the answer is, reading a story about a toxic lesbian relationship with themes of self love was exactly what I wish my high school self was exposed to. Because of media like Blue is the Warmest Color, it was difficult for me to understand that I, as a lesbian, deserved romance and mutual love, along

with loving myself enough to know what I deserved in a romantic relationship. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me is a beautiful example of lesbian relationships not being overly romanticized or overly sexualized.

My relationship with lesbian media has taken a lot of turns, as a romantic relationship does. Through my discovery of lesbian novels, I’ve been through a journey of self discovery through falling in love with my identity. Not only do I love myself, but I love my queerness. My identity as a lesbian is something I love in a way that I couldn’t have discovered without seeing my identity properly represented in media. I’ve made the great discovery of what my queerness means to me: it means I’m free.

Exhibit

Lalia Williams-Riseng is an OU senior studying art therapy. She says, “in my work, I enjoy painting figures and landscapes, and exploring the way the two interact. I have a lot of respect and reverence for the planet we live on, and I worry about its future a lot in the present moment. In my paintings, I tend to either create an environment of harmony, or one of destruction and chaos, in reference to the way our future on this planet feels uncertain.”

ON THE N E TH O

Check out these entertaining and educational events this winter.

YELLOW DIRT: NEW PAINTINGS

BY JOHN FEODOROV

EXHIBITION: SEPTEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 18, 2022, FROM 10 A.M. –8 P.M .

In an installation at the Kennedy Art Museum, Navajo artist John Feodorov’s paintings are reflective of the environmental impact of uranium mining. Using pink, yellow and brown paint, Feodorov captures the damage inflicted by the radiation caused by uranium mining on Navajo land..

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

DECEMBER 2, 6 P.M. –8 P.M..

On the corner of Washington and Court Street, the city of Athens will be hosting a tree-lighting ceremony. Join the city in celebrating the holidays with a visit from Santa Claus, along with horse-drawn carriages. This is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit!

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS ON THE BIG SCREEN

DECEMBER 1 -22

Hosted by WOUB, the Athena Cinema will show classic Christmas movies to celebrate the oncoming holidays. The entry fee to enjoy films such as Elf and A Christmas Story is either a canned good or a cash donation for local food pantries.

TROMBONE DAY 2023

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 4 P.M.

International Soloist Yu Tamaki Hosowill be coming to perform at Glidden Hall. Originally from Japan, Tamaki has been performing as both a soloist and in concerto since 2018. This performance is a part of Trombone Day, an all-day event OU is putting on for trombonists of all skill levels. The entry fee is $5 for those who register before Jan. 22. On-site registration is available with a $10 fee..

WINTER BREAK

DECEMBER 10 -JANUARY 17

Safe travels to those going home, and to those staying in Athens, look out for icy bricks.

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