Spring 2010 (Vol. 3 Issue 3) by Backdrop Magazine

backdrop volume 3 issue 3 // spring 2010

S U ITE D FOR SPRING IN THE STUDIO:

SOUTHEAST ENGINE

MIKE POSNER PUTS A RAP ON 7 FEST COURT STREET SHUFFLE GUIDE THE TUNNELS BELOW CAMPUS

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Floor plans, photos and more info: backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

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backdrop magazine

Editor-in-Chief

Publisher

Annie Beecham

Susannah Sachdeva

Design Director

Photo Editor Peter Larson

Wendy Goldfarb

Managing Editor

Marketing Director

Emma Frankart

Will Cooper

Web Editor Alec Bojalad

Associate Editors Elizabeth Sheffield Allory Williams

Copy Chief

Advertising Directors

Assistant Design Directors

Keith Sluss Robert Doll

Tasha Webber

Brittany Thomas Rohan Kusre

Associate Managing Editor

Associate Web Editors

Niklos Salontay

Associate Marketing Directors

Lauren Byrwa Kim Amedro

Assistant Editor

Steven Zeisler Allory Williams

Megan Helgeson

Contributors Douglas Bair, Brian Grady, Ryan Joseph, Daniella Limoli, Lauren McGrath, Rebekah Meiser, Shannon Miranda, Aadam Soorma, Amanda Vogt

Designers Douglas Bair, Jacqueline Cantu, Katherine Smidamsky, Matthew Ware, Jillian Bode, Melissa Brettell, Alexander Helbach

Photographers

// FROM THE EDITOR Though women forge a love-hate relationship with the swimsuit, one scan of Ohio University greens when the temperature breaches 60 degrees, and you’d think a bikini is mandatory spring quarter dress code. The barely-there piece or two of waterproof fabric is iconic of warm weather and definitive of the Front-Four-turned-South-Beach crowd. As tribute to the approach of the summer months, this issue celebrates the skimpy garb through Peter Larson’s camera lens. With Stroud’s Run as its backdrop, our Suited for Spring photo essay is tasteful, natural and vintage-inspired (quite unlike Swimsuit Issues of notoriety). Most of our other stories follow suit (no pun intended) by maintaining the same free-sprited, spring quarter vibe. As the quarter closes, shuffle season is reaching its peak—usually teary-eyed seniors making one last foray of Court Street before graduation. Lizzie Sheffield’s Shuffle Guide explains the ins and outs of Ohio University’s right-of-passage drinking escapade. (Of course, to become educated about the topic, we completed our own shuffle in the name of thorough reporting.) You’ll find a perfect accompaniment to the Shuffle Guide with Susannah Sachdeva’s roundup of the finest drunk-food establishments in town. And to complete our homage to the bar scene, read Emma Frankart’s Rant & Rage on the laments of being a bartender. However, once students make their exodus en masse from town in June, the bars won’t be so bumping—if you’re planning on keeping your Athens address for the summer, you’ll need to read Niklos Salontay’s Summer Guide. Though I’m a senior, I’ll be sticking around for a fifth year. It will be a victory lap in the most literal sense; the bonus year is to finish my track and cross country eligibility. As a student-athlete, I’ve spent countless weekends on the road competing at distant universities, and from this perspective and my observations of students at other campuses, I have gained a unique appreciation of our school: OU students have a completely different college experience than anyone else. No other campus can match the beauty, bar scene or general good feeling that emanates from Athens. This issue is a tribute to the ridiculous rituals (A 21 bar shuffle? All day bingedrinking block parties?) that are the social norm only in Athens, Ohio. To Swimsuits, Shuffles & Spring in Athens,

Mariel Tyler, Charles Yesenczki, Katherine Tyler, Joel Prince, Pat McCue, Ricky Rhodes, Conor Lamb, Phil Walters, Josh Armstrong, Erica McKeehen

Marketing Staff Bethany Cook, Hannah Croft, Lauren McGrath, Amanda Vogt, Cameron Scheetz, Aaron Diebold, Megan Helgeson, Alex Lubetkin, Shannon Miranda, Brenda Evans, Molly Schneider, Brian Grady, Danielle Morris

Editor-in-Chief backdropmag@gmail.com

Copy Staff Megan Helgeson, Travis Boswell, Melissa Weiler, Aadam Soorma, Lauren Conover, Caroline Luna, Gina Mussio, Addie VonDenBenken, Ben White

Adviser

ON THE COVER:

Swimsuit by Playa by LaBlanca; Coral necklace by Zad, $36, available at The Other Place

Mark Tatge

spring // 2010 // backdrop

“Military patrol” was an Olympic sport during the first Winter Games in 1924.

// CONTENTS

this & that

The Biggest Clique on Campus

H4T: Hot Humanitarians

Plan C

Getting Schooled

Cribs: Letter Worthy

Gawking at Greek houses

entertainment 12

The Bear Necessities

Mike Posner: Hip Hop Scholar

She Bears doesn’t stray from roots

Tandem with Tanda

hype

Diamond in the Rough

What Lies Beneath

ending extras

Farmers’ Market Fresh

Books, Bars... Baby?

The tunnels below campus Au naturale recipe

features 28

Tipping Point

a-town

The Shuffle Guide

The Fourth Quarter

Drunk Food Roundup

Life & Debt

Suited for Spring

7Fest singer spills all

A guide to Summer in Athens Students face mounting debt

sex & health 41

Smokin’ hot profs, saving the world A day as a fifth grader

Chinese students stick together

In the studio with SEE Backdrop’s drunken adventure Late night buzzed bites

Swimsuit season at Stroud’s Run

A tour d’Athens with expert cyclist Robert Maddox’s draft dreams

Exhibit A

Crossword/Sudoku

iDo

Rant & Rage: You Got Served

Showcasing creative minds Backdrop’s brainbusters Students find love online Tips from behind the bar

this & that // HOT FOR TEACHER

HOT Humanitarians With beauty, brains and passion for their BY REBEKAH MEISER & LAUREN MCGRATH professions, these faculty members get PHOTOS BY JOSH ARMSTRONG high marks from students

he executive director of Ohio University’s Empower Campaign, Andria Sherrow is an earnest activist who oozes both inner and outer beauty. What is attractive about your positions with Ohio University and the Empower Campaign? I’m a lecturer, so I’m not really, technically a professor. What’s attractive about what I get to do is that I get to talk about how important anthropology is to me and about how anthropology influenced the Empower Campaign. How long were you in Uganda? I was there six months [the first time]. And now we’re there every year for differing periods of time.

Andria Sherrow

You go back and forth a lot; is it hard to readjust to Athens? Yeah, I go back and forth at least once a year. So, yes, it is difficult to adjust back to Athens—it isn’t as much now as it used to be ... jet lag is a bitch. It’s a really long flight; it’s 24 hours of travel, and I really hate the travel part. When I get back, I have to take about a week and just chill because I confront a lot of serious and difficult scenarios. What’s your favorite part of the culture there? I love the people, I really, really do. And the food is fantastic. It’s a completely different world, but it’s like a different home. Favorite hobbies? Gardening, horseback riding, yoga— definitely yoga—and dance. Modern dance. I studied modern dance. What is something people wouldn’t know or expect when they first meet you? I don’t think that people can expect that I can survive—that I have survival skills. I know how to survive in the wilderness on my own. I could totally make it. They see my slingback heels and clothes and don’t think I can totally rough it. What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re in Athens? We just moved to a farm, so I love to garden, and my favorite place is O’Betty’s ... There’s also a good political climate ... and a lot of people do some serious, social-changing work here, and I think that’s really cool. Any special routines or questions to keep yourself looking attractive? I think it’s all in the attitude, I have no specific routine. I think relaxation, getting a lot of sleep and yoga is the best thing to do. Why did you agree to do this interview, and what was your initial reaction? I was flattered. I agreed to it because I love Backdrop, I really do. I love the whole flavor and all the features. I’m very flattered. I didn’t expect it.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

In 1961, the entire US figure skating team died in a plane crash over Belgium.

Marc Scarcelli

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rof ’ of political science Marc Scarcelli believes his cooking is better than any restaurant, has been in love with the same woman for more than 15 years and is a self-proclaimed romantic. Although he’s aware of his reputation for looking good, he shies away from his notoriety as a “hot teacher.” What is interesting about political science? Student interest is going way up in the field. I would like to think that the real primary strength of political science is that it is so engaged with very current and also very pressing issues, such that it drives student interest...and brings a lot of students to me. Cats or dogs? I’m a dog person. I have two dogs. They’re a German shepherd mix. They’re sweeties. I have a lot of fun with them. They’re sisters. What do you love about springtime in Athens? I just transferred last fall; this is my first year here. I look forward to it with great anticipation. There is just so much forest and hills everywhere you look here that I’ve got to think it is going to be a lovely transition. I take my dogs out for a walk every day, so I spend a lot of time outside. At the movies, which armrest is yours? I’m left-handed, so generally the left. What are your guilty pleasures? I’m fond of both fine wine and good food. I came here from UC Davis, which is only an hour and a

half from the middle of Napa Valley. It spoiled me rotten as far as excellent wine goes. Now I’m shipping it in, but then struggling to keep it safe and well-stored with the temperature just right. It’s actually something that stresses me out a little these days. What is a pet peeve of yours inside the classroom? The sheer amount of energy that I put into teaching is pretty enormous, thus I find it downright rude when people can’t even be bothered to be paying attention. If you could change your name, what would you want it to be? I wouldn’t. I love my name. How long have you been married? We have been married for almost nine years, but we have been together for almost 15 years. Has a student ever hit on you? No, I don’t normally think of myself like that. My brother Joe, he’s the cute one in the family. But no, I’ve never had any issues with students in that way.

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this & that

GETTING SCHOOLED

A Backdrop writer pulls a “Billy Madison”

BY ALEC BOJALAD, PHOTOS BY JOEL PRINCE

t’s one of those so-hot-that-sweat-stingsyour-eyes days in Coolville, Ohio. The sizzling blacktop is populated by energetic fifth graders chasing one another around the playground, eventually falling into the soft embrace of the thousands of rubber tire shreddings that make a sort of poor-man’s woodchips. Every boy and girl at Coolville Elementary is having an absolute ball…except for me. I am standing below a net-less basketball hoop, half-heartedly lobbing a soccer

spring // 2010 // backdrop

ball through the rusted rim all by myself. Apparently as a 19-year-old fifth grader, I am as much of a loser as I was as a 10-year-old fifth grader. I hated being a fifth grader. Sure, snack time was always nice, but my classmates didn’t particularly care for me. I was that kid who tucked in his shirt, had his pants rolled up to his shins and showered infrequently. I still remember the time when Katie Kirker made fun of my heavy breathing during a timed multiplication test and the time Craig Chavis wouldn’t let me play football at recess. But instead of putting all that behind me and becoming a semi-functional adult, I decided to revisit the scene of the crime. Thanks to the generosity, or insanity, of the afterschool program Kids on Campus, I was able to spend an afternoon as an Appalachian fifth grader. My new peers seem to be much nicer

than Craig and Katie. They are: the “bestest friends ever” team of Michael and Justin, the virtually silent Celeste, the recently suspended Joey and the exasperated mother-hen, Brittany. I soon give up my solo hoopshooting as a lost cause and venture into the jungle of metal pipes that constitutes a playground. I see Justin and Michael perched atop the slide. “Hey Michael, Justin, do you guys remember me?” Michael pauses a moment to push Justin face first down the slide, then responds. “Yeah, you’re that reporter guy.” “I sure am,” I reply, “do you remember my name?” “It’s Nate,” the bespectacled Justin says as he climbs back up the slope. At least he didn’t make fun of my breathing.

A perch of stone is 16 1/2 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and one foot high.

“I hated being a fifth grader...I was that kid who tucked in his shirt, had his pants rolled up to his shins and showered infrequently.” Alec Bojalad Fifth grader for a day

Snack time consists of a bag of Cheez-Its and fruit punch juice boxes. I push my Cheez-Its across my napkin and watch as a girl, covered in dust and rubber tire chips, punches the boy next to her. “Hey! Stop manhandling him!” I declare, suddenly feeling very old. “Well, he pushed me when we were outside,” she says, pointing out her ragged appearance. “Well…that’s not an excuse to...” The boy then slaps her shoulder violently, and she smiles. “Do you guys think all this aggression towards each other is just misplaced affection?” I ask. She hits him in his gut. Nobody punched me in the gut during grade school. As part of our “enrichment,” my pintsized peers and I are off to the Coolville

Elementary computer lab. I am fully expecting a small, dimly lit room lined with ancient word-processors. What I get is a small, dimly lit room lined with shiny new eMacs. “Hey, Reporter, play Bloxorz!” Michael says. “What the fu…I mean what the heck is Bloxorz?” I ask. “Oh it’s awesome! Here, let me show you.” He grabs my keyboard and journeys to one of the few corners of the Internet permitted by the browser’s content controls and presents to me a complicated geometric game. Bloxorz completely and utterly defeats me. Suddenly I have a horrifying flash of me being yelled at by these fifth graders in their Southern drawls, so I switch over to an oldschool Mario game.

A cord of wood is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high.

Thankfully, I don’t share an actual class with any of my classmates, so they do not know that I am trying to detect a wireless signal with my laptop instead of doing homework in the library. Michael walks over to me cautiously. “That’s a cool laptop,” he stammers. “Yeah, it gets the job done…do you want to play with it?” I ask. “Sure!” Before I know it, Michael is playing Bloxorz on my laptop, Justin is interviewing Celeste and Brittany with my voice recorder and Joey is Google-ing car logos on my phone. “You know, you’re pretty cool, Reporter,” Michael says as he briefly looks up from my laptop. I realize what I had been doing wrong a decade ago—the key to having the most friends is having the best toys.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

this & that // CRIBS

hile walking through the Sigma Kappa house, it is astonishing to see the plethora of colors splashed on the bedroom walls. Each sister has made her room unique in some way, and this one was especially well-decorated. The bright purple room with black and white accents gives off a very chic vibe. The beds are bunked to allow for more floor and desk space below, and the shelving and picture frames create a homey feel.

letterworthy BY AMANDA VOGT PHOTOS BY RICKY RHODES

ost college students are used to living with a few roommates, but Greek-life living takes it to a whole new level. With upwards of 40 students living in one house, the interior design and décor could be boring and sterile, but these two houses show that is not always the case. We take you inside the Sigma Kappa sorority and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity houses to share with you what few outsiders get to see—the inside of the most polished houses in Athens.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

he tenants in this frat bedroom enjoy the open floor plan. Lofting both beds off of the ground frees up more room to lounge and to work. Luckily for these guys, they have new wood floors and recessed can lighting under each bed; the comfortable black futon doesn’t hurt either. One of the beds even has curtains that go all the way around it for added privacy.

Liberty Magazine used to put its article’s reading times at the start of their stories.

hat sets Greek houses apart from most other off-campus student living spaces are their well-decorated, formal living rooms. Mostly used for special occasions, these proper rooms give both sororities and fraternities a certain air of sophistication. The upscale furniture, bay windows, grand pianos and fireplaces contribute to the overall traditional aesthetic and make quite the statement.

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his room has bright blue walls with a white tree-like mural in the corner. It is filled with flower buds and birds flying around it, accentuated by three white-globe, pendant lamps hanging at different levels. The desk area is neatly organized and creatively spiced up with crisscrossing ribbon on a polka dot backsplash. The wood floor and paneling add a rustic contrast to the otherwise edgy design.

The frilled shark remains pregnant for three and a half years.

room off the kitchen on the main level suits all members of the house by acting as a public gaming room. According to Phi Kappa Psi President Jake Mosher, a wealthy alumnus graciously donated the large flat screen TV and entertainment center. They use the room to play Wii Super Smash Bros. tournaments, while sitting on one of the most comfortable, L-shaped suede couches in the room.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

entertainment

THE

Bear

Necessities Local band She Bears claws their way into the music industry

n the sparsely lit room that is the Union Bar & Grill’s top floor, the five members of Athens band She Bears crowd an old, wobbly table, each with a drink in hand. They casually sip as the opening act of the night, Scubadog, prepares the stage for their set. Relaxing before She Bears is set to take the stage, lead guitarist Alex Douglas describes the band’s first show in April 2008—a house show off East State Street, complete with three kegs and day drinking. “We kinda had this growing reputation of being this drunken band,” Alex says. The other four band members— lead singer Stephen Zefpha Pence, drummer Alex Eiler, bassist Ryan Franz and keyboardist Caitlin McGlade—give their respective accounts of the show, each member capable of finishing another’s sentences, thoughts and anecdotes. Caitlin explains the pre-performance rule that the band created at that pivotal house show: Each member was mandated to have four beers in both hands at all times. Discussing her journey into the woods after the show—and the subsequent encounter that she had with poison ivy—her anecdote ignites a new round of chatter, laughter and reminiscing of She Bears’ earlier days. As they speak, the band members don’t appear visibly belliger-

spring // 2010 // backdrop

BY RYAN JOSEPH PHOTOS BY CHARLES YESENCZKI ent an hour before their set—but that point is moot. She Bears is an Athens band set apart from their fellow musical peers; they’re a group of Ohio University students and close friends who recently scored a record contract with independent record label, Deep Elm. Despite different musical backgrounds and influences, the band’s specialized brand of Athens indie-pop depends on its cohesiveness. “When we write songs, it’s not one singular person who brings in a whole song that’s already put together,” Alex says. “And on stage we’re all so close I can have fun with our songs when we play. We can act a little goofy on our instruments and nobody will get mad as long as I don’t screw up too badly.” This reliance on one another garnered the band’s Deep Elm signing and debut album, “I Found Myself Asleep,” which was released March 23. The band loves the fact that Deep Elm is completely independent: It is not owned by any of the larger, more ubiquitous record labels. Although a record-label signing by a band garners a “sell-out” stigma by some fans, She Bears does not feel that their signage will distance themselves from their Athens roots. “We’ll always be an Athens band at heart,” Stephen says. “We’re supportive of other Athens bands, and I feel like everyone supports us. Getting signed

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is just the next step you take if you want to go farther.” More important than keeping respect, Alex thinks that She Bears’ signing could help put this state’s Athens, Ohio, on the indie-rock map like the music scene did for another state’s Athens, Georgia. “We are not the only—or first band—from this town that has potential to be successful. If we become successful, perhaps more bands will follow.” As Scubadog ends and She Bears are about to assemble their equipment on stage, the members polish off the last of their drinks. Stephen shifts to the band’s equipment behind the booth as the others begin to follow suit. Before leaving, Alex mentions that— more than anything—their recent signing will fuel the band’s drive to be as successful as it can be. “I think most bands do get cocky and do take themselves more seriously,” he says. “For us, I think we recognize our weaknesses. We can keep things in perspective—not let the title of being a signed band get to our heads. Despite our success, we have no right to be portentous for we have much more that we need to achieve.”

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Mike Posner

entertainment

HIP HOP Scholar BY SHANNON MIRANDA

ike Posner, a 22-year-old singer and M songwriter from Southfield, Michigan, sucessfully juggled college life at Duke

University and signing a record deal. Posner began singing two years ago and now plays at colleges around the country. Organizers of 7Fest scored him to headline this year’s fest, and Posner couldn’t be happier. Posner claims Ohio as his second home, and feels he owes a special tribute to his Ohio fans—and 7Fest is the perfect way to do just that. Posner’s debut, as-of-yet untitled album will be out this summer. Where did you go to school and what was your major? I graduated early in December from Duke University. My major was Sociology, with a minor in rock stardom. Are there any artists that inspired you to get into the music industry? Countless people inspire me. Growing up, I listened to everything from Nas to Jay-Z, The Beatles, Sting, Marvin Gaye … I could go on and on. How do your family, friends, and fans feel about your hit “Cooler Than Me” debuting on the radio this past April? There has been overwhelming support. It is important for my fans to remember that they really are responsible for me getting on the radio and com-

ing to this next plateau in my career. This is just the tip of the iceberg for me and I’m going to do a lot of big things in big ways in the years to come. They should be proud of every step that I make because they are just as responsible for it as I am. Which artists have you worked with so far? Big Sean, Wale, Bun B, 3OH!3, Freddie Gibbs and XV. If you could work with one artist, whom would you choose? André 3000. His brain just seems to work different than everybody else’s. He’s come up with some of the most creative music in the last decade. Was it hard to balance your schoolwork and your music? It was definitely difficult to stay motivated. Most kids are at school

In the wild, female bobcats raise their young alone.

to find a job, but here I am with a job already. Already making money. Already doing my job. I knew that it was going to be hard, but I wanted to send the right message to other [college] kids. Many kids write me on Facebook and Twitter and tell me that I am the reason that they stay in school. That makes it all worth it. How do you feel about being chosen to headline 7Fest? It’s just an honor. From the start, Ohio has shown me so much love. Ohio has been one of the places that has held it down for me. When I am there, it kind of feels like a second home. It feels like you are surrounded by good people. It’s going to be a perfect way to end the school year for me. I hope that it can be that way for other people as well.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

a-town

FOURTH QUARTER

THE

A GUIDE TO SUMMER IN ATHENS BY NIKLOS SALONTAY

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATTHEW WARE

he annual summer exodus that steals away most of Athens’ student population leaves an unmistakable hole in the city’s operations. Suddenly, the collegiate-fueled shops of Court Street are forced to decide whether they should grind on, cut back their hours of operation or recede into hibernation for the season. Student holdouts find themselves gliding from the bar stool to the bathroom with unusual ease during warm, quiet nights. Even the Hocking River shrinks under the high sun. But a ghost town makes for cheap real estate, and the handful of summertime festivals that capitalize on the underwhelmed facilities of Athens County can provide some welcome relief to anyone suffering from the dog-day doldrums.

JULY 11-17

OHIO BREW WEEK

f you come across a friend who can show you a wallet full of cash one month into summer vacation (no less than three days after their last payday), beware. This person is a summertime anomaly, probably having trudged through weeks of traumatically dull mornings and lonely nights sipping on piss-water booze in order to conserve cash while sobbing quietly on their porch—only the moon around to pass judgment. They are not yet lost. Take your friend to Ohio Brew Week—a well-timed op-

spring // 2010 // backdrop

portunity to spend seven days getting classy “crunk” whilst sampling more than 100 different craft-brewed creations from all over Ohio. Twenty-eight pubs participated in the celebration last year, which was attended by nearly every brewery in the state. Among the “unchuggable” festivities planned are several featured speakers, a barbecue cook-off and the “Brew Choo Choo”—a microbrew party train fueled by hops and local music that rolls along the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. In this year’s “Best of Athens” contest, Athens NEWS readers voted OBW the “Best Local Event or Festival” in town, dethroning the long-reigning Halloween block party. It’s an impressive feat considering, “How about that Hallow-

een party?” has served as the kindling of choice for awkward conversations between students and alumni for the last 40 years. But hey—who doesn’t love beer and trains? PRO TIP: Clevelanders understand the important role that beer plays in enjoying your surroundings. Take a swig of the Burning River Pale Ale from the Great Lakes Brewing Company or the Voodoo Monkey Chocolate Stout from Fathead’s Brewery, if you get the chance.

LEARN MORE AT: www.ohiobrewweek.com

New Zealand has no native land mammals.

THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER Croquet on College Green

JULY 18

Read The Caine Mutiny

BOOGIE ON THE BRICKS

f you imbibe in all of Brew Week’s activities, you and your friends will have to decide between seven microbrewed afternoons or your life savings. Luckily for you, there’s still plenty to enjoy without spending a dime on the Sunday after Brew Week, at Boogie on the Bricks. Live music plays on the Court Street stage from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Local, acts, usualy non-student, grace the stage, covering a variety of sounds from country and blues to R&B and rock. While local artisans display their works

AUG 19-22

PARADE OF THE HILLS

month after the festivals in Athens draw to a close, the Parade of the Hills festival draws folks from around the region to Nelsonville’s Public Square for a slew of parades, pageants, contests and concerts that are definitely worth the short trip north. The earlier days of the festival are less exciting. Wednesday is dominated by the “Little Miss Parade of the Hills” pageant and a small opening parade in the afternoon, while Thursday sees a pie-baking contest (you can buy the

for sale—everything from bracelets to records—children run in circles with smiles peeking through painted faces. If the word “boogie” wasn’t a dead giveaway, Boogie on the Bricks is a familyfriendly event with an inflatable bounce house and climbing wall for the kids. You can still get beer and pizza during the Boogie. Yeah, it’s fun for Dad, too. PRO TIP: The Dragline Brothers look to be the most promising act. Show up to the stage at 4:45 p.m. to check them out. LEARN MORE AT: www.boogieonthebricks.com.

Frisbee golf near Ping Go fishing at Dow Lake

THINGS NOT TO DO THIS SUMMER Lawn darts near children Re-read Twilight Frisbee golf competitively Eat a fish caught at Dow Lake

creations in a charity auction afterwards) and a bicycle parade. Things pick up on Friday with events from both sides of the culture spectrum: The Ohio State Fiddling Contest (featuring fiddlers competing for a spot in the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest) and the Miss Parade of the Hills Contest (featuring 16 to 19-year-old princesses). The best day of the festival is its last. It opens in the morning with a 5k run, aptly titled “Run for the Hills/Race for Life,” but as long as you can make it into town by 6 p.m., you can catch the “Grande Parade” which serves as the high point of the festival. Expect marching bands, jazz bands, floats, high school groups, politicians and free candy. The coronation of Miss Parade of the Hills

The RuBot II can solve a Rubik’s cube in as little as 21 seconds.

follows the parade, giving everyone who couldn’t make it on Friday one last chance to gawk upon the finest teenage beauty these hills have to offer. Every night of the festival ends with a firework show, which might be worth the 15-minute drive in its own right. Local acts and cover bands perform on the festival stages every afternoon as well. PRO TIP: Slip into the high hills of nearby Wayne National Forrest for some uninterrupted firework viewing. LEARN MORE AT: www.paradeofthehills.org

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

a-town

Life&Debt

Debt-burdened college students are especially feeling the current economic fallout. As the cost of higher education climbs higher than ever, students find themselves drowning in mounting debt.

BY AMANDA VOGT

ccording to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the recession had been building since 2007. It is one of the longest downturns we have had since the 1930s. “I am stressed out beyond words,” freshman Molly McKinney says. “I have to be careful what I spend on everything.” In a time when the average cost of attending college is in the tens of thousands of dollars, students and their families are already making sacrifices to make ends meet. Add to that the repercussions from the worst recession in 70-odd years, and it only makes the situation worse. “There is an air of uncertainty of everything material … and that drags you down,” sophomore Kyle Hollar says. “I’m paying for room and board and also expected to pay back 50 percent of my tuition loans.” On top of the basic costs of attending college, additional costs of textbooks, class materials and

“It’s going to be at least $8,000 a year to pay back my loans... basically, I will be living below the poverty line.” Molly McKinney Freshman music major professional equipment can add up quickly. “I have to budget for books and make sure I need something before I buy it,” Kyle says. And as a video production major, he is also responsible for other expenses like cameras, film and a computer that’s able to handle editing software. “You’re expected to have top-of-theline equipment to get stuff done, and yes, it is pricey.” Adding to the stresses of daily expenses are the looming deadlines students face in paying back loans after graduation. Though deferment options are available, those who wait too long run the risk of building an incredible amount of interest on already outstanding debts. Senior Matt Tokarsky says he hasn’t had to sacrifice anything academically, but he now has more loans than he was expecting to have—and that scares him. While 50 percent of his loans are in his parents’ names, he is personally responsible for paying back the other half. As for Molly’s loans, her parents co-signed on all of them, but she will have to pay them back by herself. “My Dad and I just did the math, and it’s going to be at least $8,000 a year to pay back my loans—and that is assuming I get at least a $10 an hour job. So basically, I will be living below the poverty line.” Faced with statistics like an unemployment rate near 10

spring // 2010 // backdrop

percent, Molly is understandably concerned about her debt. “I’m scared of the job market because my major doesn’t have that many job opportunities. I feel like I need to find other options,” Molly, a music major, says. “I think it’s already hard to get a job. It’s impacting everybody, and me for sure.” In Kyle’s opinion, finding a seasonal job over the last year has proved to be difficult enough, and he anticipates trouble finding a permanent job when he graduates in two years. “All I can do is hope that the industry is back to where it was. If it does rise or slump, I think it will happen within the next couple years.” Applying to some type of graduate school, such as law, is another option for students to take instead of jumping directly into the job market. “Most people I know are pursuing post undergrad,” says Matt, who is planning to take a year off to work or intern. “I know people who are entering post-undergrad education for the soul purpose of staying out of the job market for a few more years.” Though the costs of college are adding up while budgets are slimming, it’s important to realize that there are options. Whether it’s finding a seasonal job or pushing back your entrance to the job market for a couple of years, it’s possible to get through successfully. And the light at the end of the tunnel while we wait for the recession to fully turn around: Current college students will truly understand and appreciate the value of a dollar—and that’s one thing that can’t be taught in class.

2010 college 80.3% ofgraduates will be jobless

9.7% the current

United States unemployment rate

SOURCE: www.bls.gov

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backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

a-town

THE

BIGGEST CLIQUE ON CAMPUS

BY BRIAN GRADY

ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW WARE

n just four years, the group has multiplied from 26 to 464. This is not Iconverted the number of alcoholics in Athens, nor is it the number of students who from PCs to Macs. It is the number of undergraduate Chinese students on campus, according to the Office of Institutional Research. The Chinese community is possibly the largest “clique” on campus. Every clique has its niche, whether it is fashion, a sport or hula-hoops. The Chinese niche is, well, Chinese—the Mandarin dialect. Naturally, with a niche comes exclusiveness. Instead of the cultural mosaic the university boasts, this campus epitomizes the clichéd junior-highschool-dance model. Not all domestic students know Mandarin, and not all Chinese students are motivated to practice their English, as sophomore exchange student Rose Zhou says with disappointment. Having studied English intensively in Beijing, she is, of course, an exception. “My main purpose of studying abroad is to improve my English,” she says. For many Chinese students, going to school in the United States is the backup option. Chances of being accepted into a prestigious Chinese university are slim due to overwhelming competition, but there is an alternative path that promises employment.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

“An American university diploma is really persuasive in China,” Rose says. Like most American students, the objective for studying abroad is to reserve a place in the job market. A résumé does not specify how many American friends a person makes or how fluent he or she becomes in the country’s native tongue. For these international students, learning English is often a second priority—a trick learned along the way. “Even for those American and Chinese students who want to be here for that cultural interaction, there is a language barrier,” says Bruce Douglas, Residential Director at Scott Quadrangle, the culturally oriented residence hall on campus. Douglas has devoted the past two years to helping international students adjust to student life at Ohio University. While the Residential Assistants put up bulletin board fliers promoting “Root Beer Pong” and “How to be a Gentleman” seminars, Douglas is constantly trying to crack the language barrier. It is an

intimidating mission; he is impeded by two pillars that hold the Chinese clique together. The first is “the OPIE effect.” Housed in Gordy Hall, the Ohio Program of Intensive English is a partand full-time program set up for students unable to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). With the appropriate TOEFL score, international students can enroll in academic courses at American universities. Without it, they are sent to OPIE, directed by Gerry Krzic. “In essence, what you [Americans] have learned in a 12-year period [is what] we’re trying to give to these students in one year,” Krzic says. But Krzic faces the most rapid surge of Chinese students that he has seen in 20 years of working at the university. “In some [OPIE] classes, you have two students from one country then 10 Chinese students,” Kyrzic says. “Students, understandably, slip into Chinese more.” There is no English median in an internationally homogeneous classroom.

The word “tycoon” is based on “taikun,” a title used by Japanese Shoguns.

The

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Chinese underclassmen come to America, but spend all day speaking Mandarin with other Chinese students. In this setting, they establish friendships that may very well last four years. The clique is cemented, the barrier fortified. In effort to avoid social stagnation, sophomore Cayman Guo left “China Hall,” as he dubs the Gordy Hall and Scott Quadrangle combination. Swerving around the university’s two-years-on-campus rule, the China native slapped down cash for the dorm room and pays rent for an apartment near uptown Athens, where he now resides. Sporting a Nissan GT-R that he purchased for $97,000, Cayman (featured in our last issue) is launching an auto trade discount site for a national audience. “Since I moved off campus, I have to face many different people like the leasing office, the postal man, the car dealers,” he says. Cayman claims to have learned more about American culture and the English language than he could have imagined if he were still living on campus. His assumption is true to an extent, because back in OPIE, students face another challenge beyond obtaining fluency in a new language. Native language provides a sense of security and familiarity, not unlike a comfort food. A Chinese student trying to learn English in Athens is like an American attempting to manipulate chopsticks at China King. After a few unforgiving attempts, they usually revert to the fork. Likewise, after a few weeks fumbling an unfamiliar language, Chinese students tend to slip back into their comfort zones. “It’s more difficult for Chinese students, because in my mind, they’re a little bit afraid that if you start a conversation, it may go over their head. It’s all about saving face,” Douglas says. Huirong Huang, nicknamed “Popo,” knows the feeling. During fall quarter of this year, she stood in line at the DMV, waiting to take the test for her driver’s license. A young officer asked what color her car was. She was left speechless. “I thought, ‘My color is not white. It’s not black. What is it? I don’t know how that works,’” she explains, finally coming up with the word “Shiny-shiny!” The policeman burst out laughing, shortly figuring out that she meant “silver.” Popo kept her composure, earning a 100 percent on her driver’s license exam. She laughed. She learned. “I went to England before, but England’s style is too slow. I’m one of those people who are like hurry up, hurry up!” Popo says. “I’m a girl who never feels shy.” She is not one to let language barriers stand in her way. Patience with an ambitious mindset is what it takes to cross the language barrier. Douglas says that the number of “individuals from both sides who will stick it out and make connections,” like Popo, are few. And there are many connections to be made. Cayman likes cars. Popo loves to dance. Their interests are not unlike those of the average American student.

Wednesdays, 11:003:00 Baker Center New inventory this spring! chandelier earrings, wallets, scarves, baskets & more!

Black Alumni Reunion Jewelry Fundraisers Friday, May 21 from 126pm at The OU Inn Saturday, May 22 from 91pm in Baker Center

New Pendants!

All jewelry is

$3 to $25

Thank you to our supporters and graduating seniors

a-town

PLAN

BY DANIELLA LIMOLI

PHOTOS BY ERICA MCKEEHEN

“You can’t swallow this,” the woman says while she tears out a stick of gum and hands it to a little girl with long blond hair. The two-and-a-half-yearold begins to chew and darts off to resume her exploration of the indoor playground at The Market on State. The woman could easily be confused for a babysitter, but this is more than just an after-school job. “We’ll see how this goes,” she says as she watches her daughter play. Shauna Clark was 17-years-old when she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter, Addisyn. She was the new girl in her high school and had been with her boyfriend for less than a month. “It definitely wasn’t planned,” she says. She spent nearly her entire senior year carrying her baby and gave birth a month after graduating. In the spring, Shauna will become one of only 2 percent of teen moms who earn a college degree by age 30, according to the Hewlett Foundation. She attends the Meigs County branch of the University of Rio Grande so she can stay close to her home and her part-time job. Chelsea Schott, an Ohio University senior, didn’t have her now one-monthold son on her agenda either when she learned she was pregnant last July. However, surprise quickly turned into necessity for Chelsea and her boyfriend Dave. “I never felt that panic stage like I wanted to cry for days,” she says. “It was more like, ‘This is what we have to do to get things ready for him.’” As she cradles her son with the contentment only a mother can possess, it is easy to see that she has no regrets. The closest she has come is feeling overwhelmed.“There were points where I thought life would be a lot easier if it hadn’t happened,” she admits. With a relationship barely older than their own child, the couple has been thrust into adulthood.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

Yahoo! is an acronym for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.

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“He doesn’t feel like a chore... I thank God for him every day that I wake up.” Chelsea Schott, OU senior

However, both Chelsea’s and Dave’s grades actually went up when they learned she was pregnant. She adds that Dave has been a great rock. “He’s been super excited since day one,” she gushes while her son Jackson starts to cry in her arms. The couple had only been dating for three months when they discovered they would soon begin the journey of their lives. They moved in together shortly afterwards. For them, adoption was barely an option. After the drama of the MTV reality show Teen Mom and the delivery room scene from Knocked Up were burned into our retinas, the idea of carrying a baby is probably right up there with carrying a live grenade for most young women. “I was expecting it to be nine months of hell,” Chelsea laughs. But she admits that, if anything, she was overly prepared. In reality, the lack of support from OU was one of the most difficult aspects of her pregnancy. “I was really surprised, there was no help at all,” she says. “I was given no support.” Chelsea was incredibly disappointed to find that there were no support groups, tutoring or allowances available for expecting and new mothers. She was left to the mercy of her professors. Without the support of Addisyn’s father, Shauna relies on the help of her family and her ex-boyfriend’s parents while she is at school and work. “I think of it as a business,” she says, her petite frame leaning against the cushy support of the bench. “We have days where she goes with him. (Her father and I) don’t really talk.” Shauna’s ex-boyfriend’s parents pushed for marriage, but she had different plans. “I had to get away from him,” she admits. Bubble wrap is the result of a failed attempt to create plastic wallpaper.

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“And that’s horrible I know. He and I just had nothing in common.” The rockiness only continued when she gave birth alone. When Addisyn’s father did come to the hospital, he demanded a paternity test. “And that was really hard in high school because he kept saying, ‘Oh, it’s not mine,’ and ‘She was with someone else,’” Shauna says. “It was really hard because I knew the truth and people thought I was some skank trying to put a baby on him.” She says she felt judged by her classmates. Despite the trials of being a young, single mom trying to work while going to school, Shauna wouldn’t take back a day she has had with her daughter. “I can’t imagine life without her,” she says. “She’s a part of my life and she always will be. I just hope that she has a happy childhood and she has things I didn’t. That’s why I’m going to school, because I know I won’t find a decent job if I don’t.” One might expect at least a hint of resentment from someone whose role changed from bar-hopping to bottle-heating almost overnight. You couldn’t be more wrong. “I just really want him to know that, even though he wasn’t planned, I don’t feel any differently about him,” Chelsea says with tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s just this rush of unconditional love toward him.” While she has had to make some adjustments—Playskool merchandise now stands in what would be a prime beer pong table location—Chelsea would never give up what has become her new identity. She doesn’t just accept it, she adores it. “He doesn’t feel like a chore or like a jail cell or anything like that,” she says as her son cooes in her embrace. “I thank God for him every day that I wake up.” backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

hype

Beneath What lies

BY DOUGLAS BAIR Beneath Ohio University exists a mysterious

PHOTOS BY CONOR LAMB labyrinth of tunnels. Other than those whose job

it is to tend to this underground maze, few have accessed the passages.

blistering hot cloud of steam blasts out from behind the door, hitting their faces and greeting the two men to the tunnels. Swatting to clear the air, their eyes adjust and stare down the endless darkness with help from the occasional flicker of a swinging halogen light that unveils the walls of piping. One of these pipes could kill them. The danger signs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lie about the lethal electricity racing through the high voltage conduits. Nathan (his name has been changed to protect him and his on-campus job) squats down first to squeeze between the walls of piping as his partner-in-crime, Alex (also an alias), follows suit. The men muddle through the tunnel, following the endless rows of pipe until it splits with scaffolding and ladders shooting off the main drag.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

own in the tunnels, it’s a tighter fit coffee cups occupied the conference than the university’s budget. Overall, rooms. With the solitude and sinister of they connect about 80 percent of campus emptiness, they began unlocking doors buildings, minus a few outliers, such as in search of Baker’s tunnel entrance. the Ping Center, due to the expensive bill “We randomly unlocked just about of adding a new section to the tunnel. every closet and door,” Nathan says, The oldest section of the tunnels (lined “until we reached the second floor.” with aged “Nelsonville” and “Athens” With each passing conference room, bricks) dates back to the original 1804 the two men became more anxious, Cutler Hall and webs out to other with purpose and speed in their steps. campus buildings, including the newest “Behind the conference hallway, there’s section beneath Baker University Center. a hallway totally for maintenance with A nearby halogen light bulb flickers. a mechanical room that has a doorway, Instinctively, Nathan’s hand snaps to which connects the building to the the flashlight at his waist, and he turns tunnels,” Nathan says, as he retells his back to exchange wide-eyed, adrenaline- undercover operation. filled stares with Alex. Pitch black would It was one of Nathan’s keys that consume the two in the event of a unlocked the first set of doors at the end power outage. of the hall of conference rooms. Now in They shouldn’t be here—it’s not the maintenance hallway, more locked their turf. Nathan and Alex are a doors faced the pair, most of which just breed of their own; adventuresome college students who secretly “That’s the important part lurk through the seven miles of maintenance of a tunnel. You have a way tunnels beneath campus. in and out at all times.” However, students have different motives and Clyde Pierce entrance routes to the Assistant Director for underground tunnels, Maintenance and Operations from hatch-breaking (anyone who has stepped foot on campus has seen or heard these square metal hatches that interrupt the sidewalk opened to broom and dustpan closets, panels) to James-Bond-style infiltration. except for the one that his partner’s key Nathan and Alex preferred the more unlocked—the mechanical room. difficult mode of access and unearthed With two doors behind them, they their entrance to the winding tunnels knew they were close to something. in one of the highest security points There it was. At the back of the room, a on campus: Baker University Center. single door glowed with promise. None Breaking one of the silver hatches of Alex’s keys soothed the lock, which left would have been child’s play to these only Nathan’s shorter ring of keys. two, so Nathan sought the challenge of Fiddling through long and skinny outwitting the multi-locked barriers of molded metal, he noticed one he never high security. had to use before. He didn’t recognize the Their on-campus jobs gave the pair numbers on the back, which meant no access to a large, clanky set of keys to one had ever explained to him what the Baker. With two sets of keys, the odds key opened. It was a perfect fit. of unlocking every imaginable door “I mean, with a crafty fellow, it wasn’t were in their favor. The only thing that that hard I guess,” Nathan says as he tries stood in their way was the location of the to downplay his secret-op skills. entrance—privileged information held by few. ith more authority than trespassing After devising their undercover students, another breed of crafty operation, they decided to infiltrate the fellows enter the tunnels—OU’s system during a night shift, when only Tunnel Maintenance Crew (part of silence rode the escalators and forgotten the Maintenance and Operations

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department.) The crew consists of five men who pick up their “marching orders”—their slang for work orders— every morning as early as 6 a.m. These “marching orders” range from routine pipe inspections and cleanings, to above-ground removal of concrete slabs to fix larger portions of the pipes. The contents racing within these pipes vary from water, to fiber optics, to air, to steam, to high voltage, which altogether present a plethora of possible problems for the crew. It is just one of the many facets about this underground system. “That’s the important part of a tunnel,” Assistant Director for Maintenance and Operations Clyde Pierce explains. “You have a way in and out at all times.” Pierce has adopted the life of a Tunnel Crew member for 15 years and has come to know quite a bit about the underground system of campus. “You have to be cautious when you are down there,” Pierce says about the risks a crew member assumes upon entering the tunnels. Yet, he points out efficiencies, like tunnel lighting, that help lower these risks. However, when the crew clocks out with the onset of dusk, the tunnels are left solemn, waiting for their next visitors.

[

There are only 17 paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

athan and Alex stick to the main drag of tunnel for another 10 minutes then decide it’s time to return to their shift before someone radios them. The two don’t feel their mission will be complete unless they find a different way out from their own entrance. Rather than retrace their steps back to Baker, they climb up the nearest ladder to a square with light glowing around it. Nathan reaches the top of the ladder first and pushes the silver hatch up, revealing the night sky and a familiar set of trees. With Morton Hill to his right, he turns around to find himself behind the abandoned Oasis. Beyond that, Baker gleams for their return—above ground this time). It’s official. The two students are now tunnel keepers: They have a way in and a way out.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

hype

farmers market

FRESH BY EMMA FRANKART

PHOTOS BY KATHERINETYLER

5-year-old girl is clutching a handful of candy sticks made from locally collected honey and running to catch up with her mother. “Mommy, is this organic?” she asks as she tugs on her mother’s skirt. They are at the Athens Farmers Market, so the answer is almost certainly yes. The brainchild of city employees John Millar and Harold Dodd, the Athens Farmers Market is one of the largest openair markets in Ohio and has been around for nearly 40 years. After relocating several times, the Market found its home in 1998, three years after switching to its year-round operation schedule. The Market is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from April to December for the same hours. While visitors shop for gourmet dog treats, dandelion jelly or pumpkin butter, they can listen to local musicians. With merchandise stored in the backs of their vans, vendors give the Market an organic feel to match its food. The Athens Farmers Market is a great way to take advantage of one of spring’s greatest opportunities: a plethora of fresh produce. And what better way to celebrate graduation this June than by grilling out with some of Mother Nature’s best offerings? All of the ingredients in the following recipes—with the exception of basic household staples like flour—can be found at the AFM this spring and summer. And if you find that you are still missing something after your visit, just swing by the grocery store on your way home; the produce might not be as local, but it will still taste just as great.

48 winter | 2010 | backdrop

Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here

Guac-o Taco Burgers with Spinach Salad Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

For the burgers: 1 pound ground beef mild cheddar cheese dash of cumin and chili powder 4 Kaiser rolls 2 avocados 1 tbsp lime juice ¼ cup chopped red onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1 jalapeno, sliced thinly 2/3 cup chopped cilantro

For the salad: 3 cups spinach 1 cup radish greens 1 cup sliced radishes ¼ cup carrots,grated ¼ cup sliced strawberries For the dressing: 1 cup strawberry vinegar 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp honey

or this meal, start with dessert. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and combine the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into cubes and add to the oatmeal mixture with a whisk, until it’s chunky, but not fully mixed together. Grease a baking pan, and add the strawberry and rhubarb. Top with the crisp mixture and bake for 40 minutes. Start on the guacamole next. Halve the avocados and remove the pits, then use a spoon to scoop out the fruit. Mash it with a fork, making sure to leave it a little chunky. Add the lime juice, red onion, garlic, jalapeno and 1/3 cup of the cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, and mix everything together. Cover the guac by putting plastic wrap directly on its surface and stick it in the refrigerator. Time for the hamburgers (note: if you’re

For the dessert: 1 pint of strawberries 2 cups coarsely chopped rhubarb 1 cup oatmeal 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup flour ½ tsp cinnamon 1 stick of butter

vegetarian, you can pick up a pound of Soysauge from Casa Nueva’s booth). Mix the meat with the other 1/3 cup of chopped cilantro and a dash of cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper, then form it into four patties. Fry up the burgers in a pan on the stove, or grill them outside. While the burgers are cooking, throw the salad together. Tear the spinach and radish leaves and combine with the radish slices and grated carrot. In a small bowl, whisk the strawberry vinegar, honey and olive oil with a fork until it’s fully combined. Garnish the salad with strawberry slices. Pour the dressing directly on the salad just before serving. When the burgers are done, put them on the Kaiser rolls and top with the cheddar cheese and guacamole. Now just sit back and enjoy the tasty treats of the Athens Farmers Market!

48 Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here

backdropmag.com | 2010 | winter

features

BY WILL COOPER PHOTOS BY CHARLES YESENCZKI

TIPPING POINT

IS THE NEW SOUTHEAST ENGINE ALBUM A BREAKTHROUGH OR A STEP BACK?

Adam Remnant can’t sing anymore. His vocal chords are raw and he’s getting red with agitation inside the vocal booth at Athens’ 3 Elliott Studio. His sly, sweet twang has been replaced with the charred squawks of an Ohio coal miner with black lung. It’s a cold and wet Saturday in February and the second day of recording. In spite of the band’s preparation, Southeast Engine has been dogged with one complication after another while trying to cut their fifth studio album, and the stakes are high. Presently, the record is untitled, and the band is unsigned after fulfilling their two-record contract with Misra Records. However, it’s not all gloom and doom: they’ve just acquired Eric Carter of Uncle Booking, one of the top booking agents in indie rock, who works with notable groups such as of Montreal and Deerhoof, and they have the ear of some powerful indie imprints. This new album could be the record that pushes Southeast Engine from notable regional act to national acclaim—that is, if they can finish it.

spring // 2010 // backdrop

The boys pile back into the control room to hear the tracks they’ve just laid down. Leo Deluca leads the way; his urgency is his greatest asset as the drummer of the band. The computer screen casts a glow across the room that is encased in glass and filled with knobs and buttons. Producer Josh Antonuccio controls this dizzying array of electronics with the precision of a heart surgeon. The reels of the tape machine spin backwards as organist Billy Matheny and bassist Jesse Remnant, Adam’s little brother, take a seat on the couch. Adam squats on the floor off to himself, and Leo taps his pen. Josh presses play, and the music begins. The tune is called “New Growth.” It’s a dulcet folk song, slated for the last third of the album. Ironically, it seems to encapsulate the band’s position through its ruminations on the promise of spring; a time of nativity, a time for development. Adam cries in the song, “Just as nature intended, new growth is what I am looking for.”

Apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide.

The song also epitomizes Adam’s complete conceptual vision for the new album. In “New Growth,” as with all the other songs on the album, Adam’s words investigate history while bursting with the urgency of now. “I imagined a family living in southeast Ohio in the early 30s. The new songs are written from their perspective,” Adam says. “You hear about people living in the 30s having pictures of FDR in their house. I think Obama is a similar figure. I think the same element is at play now, people feel it’s got to get better. It can’t be like it was.” Adam scrawled this entire album out on the waterproof notebook tucked in his flannel shirt pocket, composing its music on demo tapes months before. The band developed their accompanying arrangements and expanded the palette of Adam’s songs into complete rock songs. Together they know exactly what they want and when it sounds right. Unfortunately, “New Growth” just isn’t there yet. Frustrated, Adam digs his hands in the pockets of his weathered Wranglers. Back in 2007, Adam stood at a crossroads. Due to drastic budget cuts, the teaching position he scored at Federal Hocking Middle School after graduating from Ohio University had been eliminated. Simultaneously, Southeast Engine had finished recording their third album, A Wheel Within A Wheel. One part of his life was dying, while another was coming into its own. By the time Southeast Engine began recording A Wheel Within A Wheel, they had grown from their humble origins in the Athens folk scene in 2003 recording in home studios and practicing without a PA, to touring, opening for indie rock royalty the Wrens and laying down tracks at 3 Elliott Studio. However, as far as the band had come, getting signed to a label was something that never seemed viable. They’d submitted demos and samplers to labels in the past, never resulting in a contract or even feedback. Inspired by the do-it-yourself ethic of the 90s indie scene of Dayton, Adam and Leo’s hometown, Southeast Engine self-released its music. Their first two albums, Love is a Murder, A Mystery of Sorts and Coming to Terms with Gravity, were recorded, promoted and distributed independently. It appeared that A Wheel

An ostrich’s eye is the same size as its brain.

Within A Wheel would be no different. But things were about to change. After scoring a few opening spots with the Wrens, they had established a friendly relationship. Urged by the everenterprising Leo, members of the Wrens made favorable remarks about the Athens band to their label, Absolutely Kosher Records. Concurrently Absolutely Kosher Records owner Cory Brown had taken over the management operations of Misra Records, which needed new artists for its roster. Brown signed Southeast Engine to Misra in February and released A Wheel Within A Wheel in October. A Wheel Within A Wheel not only marked the band’s first record contract, it also signaled a musical breakthrough. This album showed the early developments of the deep philosophical introspection and biblical, allusion-laden lyrics that would typify the band’s next and final release for Misra, 2009’s From the Forest to the Sea. And A Wheel Within A Wheel also expanded the bands musical vocabulary, squelching the Americana tags of critics by combining the grit of Guided By Voices, an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio with the heart of Appalachia. Since the band released A Wheel Within A Wheel with Misra, it has garnered acclaim from the national indie music press. Views of their MySpace have broken the 100,000 mark, and they’ve played big gigs such as the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. However, they still maintain day-jobs in Athens, and they are not above

playing for the bartenders and sound technicians on tour. Their music is a labor of sacrifice. “I think there was a naïve part of me that said, ‘We’re going to get signed to a label, everyone quit your day-job,’” Adam says. “But there is a big step that has to be made between being in a band because you love to and doing it where you’re making a living out of it.” To make ends meet, Adam works in construction and carpentry for a small local company called Stalwart Construction that he owns and runs with five other OU graduates. Busybody Leo does a little bit of everything to stay afloat, from releasing records with his own indie imprint called Moon Jaw Records, distributed by Absolutely Kosher Records, and booking events and bands for the Athens institution Donkey Coffee and Espresso, to assisting a local man with physical disabilities. All this so that he and his band mates can take the time when it’s needed to step on stage or in the studio and share their music. “It’s not about fame and money, but getting these curative songs to the people,” Leo says. Above Adam hangs a yellow poster meant to keep track of the band’s progress. It’s the second day of what is intended to be a three-day recording stint. Surprisingly, they are not in dire straits yet. With all the hurdles they’ve faced in this process, they’re lucky to have finished one track of the 10-song album. They arrived at 3 Elliott at 10 a.m. on a

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

Friday morning in February. In musician time, it felt more like 5 a.m., but the band was itching to get started after meticulously arranging the record in marathon rehearsals and slaying a hometown crowd at Casa Nueva a week before. The first obstacle they faced was malfunctioning equipment: None of the band’s guitar amplifiers would work. Fortunately, Frank McDermott, owner of Blue Eagle Music on Court Street, was able to rush in and repair the amps. Once the amps were fixed, Billy sat down to play the studio piano only to find it was out of tune. Piano tuning is a tricky process, and according to Leo, there are only three people in Athens who can do it right. With the clock running out, the band opted to record the songs that don’t feature the ivories. In rapturous live, one-take bursts, they were able to nail some key songs to keep them on track despite the inconvenience. The morning of the second day of recording, respected local singer/songwriter Bruce Dalzell came to tune the piano. While

spring // 2010 // backdrop

the boys waited for Bruce to work his magic, the hopes of making progress came to a halt as the power mysteriously went out for about four hours throughout Athens. When the power returned, the anxious band jumped back into the studio with an understandable urgency. Adam, ready to get the ball rolling, chose to tackle the most trying vocal song on the album. It is a rocking piece of music called “1933” that provides piss and sweat that would rival Springsteen in his prime. While the band was pushing this jam to the brink, Adam stretched his vocal chords to the point of no return, ruining them for the rest of the evening. And so here they are at 3 Elliott with less than half the album finished, one day left for tracking and Adam has a blown voice. The play back of “New Growth” is finished, and Adam is not satisfied. Southeast Engine piles into the control room of the studio to hear back “New Growth.” It’s Sunday evening, day three of recording, and Adam’s voice has had time to recover. Josh presses play and Adam’s voice rises over the music in confidence, lulling the mind with images of a country disappeared. The Appalachia Adam sings about here may have been lost with the passage of time, but in this musical reverie it blossoms. Adam stands, his hands in his Wranglers, nodding his head. The rest of the band follows suit. Leo taps his grey New Balances to the beat. This is the one, this is the take. The reels on the tape machine roll forward to Josh’s right, as he cracks a smile with the computer reflecting on his skin. In the air is an electricity of triumph; things are falling into place. They still don’t have a record label, or a title. The future is largely unwritten, but in this moment their faces show what is really important to Southeast Engine: the music.

Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here Fun fact goes here

THE SHUFFLE GUIDE

features

BACKDROP’S DRUNKEN ADVENTURE XXX

hough Athens, Ohio, is better known for its bounty of bars than abundance of brainiacs, Ohio University students are not unintelligent. They couldn’t possibly be, because figuring out the logistics of the right-of-passage drinking tradition simply referred to as The Shuffle is akin to rocket science. How is one body to consume 21 drinks over the course of a singular evening, tag every bathroom stall along the way and make it to his/ her respective bed conscious and with all belongings intact? It’s difficult, to say the

least, and not just anyone can do it. The Shuffle has been attempted by thousands, but completing it successfully requires an understanding of the ins-and-outs of shuffling. And a successful shuffle requires detailed planning, an arsenal of supplies and, this is the key — drunk food. Read on to experience Backdrop’s Drunken Adventure as a first timer attempts the Shuffle — and since greasy food is a shuffler’s secret weapon, you’ll want to study our Drunk Food Guide. No, Ohio University students certainly are not dumb.

// GETTIN DRUNK

THE SHUFFLE GUIDE BY ELIZABETH SHEFFIELD

PHOTOS BY PETE LARSON

ike beer pong, the rules of a shuffle are subject to change depending on the players. Some say you drink only beer; some say you must have matching outfits; some say you count the Oak Room and Buffalo Wild Wings as bars. For a rookie shuffler, all these uncertainties make for difficult planning. So, when asked to organize my own first shuffle, I chose to consult my peers on proper drink-a-thon etiquette — then decided to completely ignore their advice and “document” the whole shit show as an example of what (not) to do. BACKDROP SHUFFLE SQUAD Annie Beecham, Susannah Sachdeva, Pete Larson and Emma Frankart Start time: approximately 5:40 p.m. Finish time: “I just got to my house. Tankesd.” Sent at 11:18:51 p.m.

ATTIRE: Shuffle squads have made it a custom to wear matching outfits. Apparently required costumes and outfits, when paired with alcohol, make for optimal drunkenness (See: Halloween, Green Beer Day and themed parties). I was too lazy to plan a theme, but felt that this in no way impaired my drinking abilities. I do suggest that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes that attach to your feet. No flip-flops, no heels. You will regret it. You will be drunk. You will want to be comfortable. SUPPLIES Sharpies: that’s plural. You’ll lose at least one. Cash: we spent roughly $40 each. Friends: it’s just plain dumb and flat-out alcoholism if you do this alone. Camera: Although optional, this device really helps piece together your adventure the next day. I also chose to bring a voice recorder along with me. I was afraid I wouldn’t remember enough to write this article. I was right.

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Pablo Picasso was a held suspect in the theft of the Mona Lisa.

THE COURSE: This may be the only aspect of my shuffle in which I used strategy. An authentic shuffle includes the bars on Union Street. I live on Court Street. Union Street has a big hill, big hills require a functioning inner ear, and that’s something I just can’t count on after roughly 10 drinks. So, I made sure we started our shuffle at the bottom of Union and worked our way toward the end of Court Street, minimizing the final distance between my bed and me. Make sure that the home stretch of your half-mile crawl is truly a home stretch. This is key. Between your bathroom floor and your starting point, you’ll need some sort of itinerary, namely what to count as a “bar” and what to eat. In my shuffle, booze doesn’t make the bar. It’s about the ratio of food to alcohol. If the establishment boasts more food patrons than alcohol patrons, you probably shouldn’t be intoxicated there. Using this rule of thumb, our shuffle included 19 bars. As for what to eat, I recommend sticking to the classicss in the second half of this guide. When it comes to drunk-food, sometimes going out on a limb is really just putting yourself over the edge.

THE ALCOHOL: This is simultaneously both the most and least important part of a shuffle. Alcohol is the constant variable in the shuffle equation and is a large contributor to the fun factor. Typically, what you choose to drink can really influence the outcome of your night. During a shuffle, this is true — to an extent. I suggest you don’t have a shot of whiskey at each bar, even if, like myself, it’s your go-to drink. Beyond that, after 19 some rounds, it really doesn’t make a difference what you’re drinking: You’re going to be very drunk. So, in step with my inability to plan ahead, we all took turns selecting and buying the rounds, more than often going with the shot of the week — or, in the case of Red Brick, “the shot of next week”. See my drink list for inspiration/deterrence. I’d like to recommend the “Bend Me Over” shot (whiskey + Amaretto + sour mix), point out the “Scooby Snack” (no idea what it is, great name), and forewarn you of whatever the hell “Windex” is. (That one was alarming to see on my drink list the next morning. What else do you expect from the makers of the Junction Punch?)

THE AFTERMATH: Let’s put it this way: I spelled Kentucky with a “C” the next day. I initially woke up at 4:30 a.m. fully clothed on top of my sheets. I had no idea how I had gotten there. I woke up again around 10 a.m. No vomiting, no hangover. Maybe a bit drunk. I spent the rest of the day giggling and incompetent. All around, my only regret was not passing out on the floor. See, permanent markers are only permanent on fibers, like paper and cloth, or, say, bed sheets, and are less permanent on things like skin. The next morning my white bed sheets bore smeared duplicates of 19 pink tally marks and a navy blue penis (thanks a lot, Pete). I also do not recommend drunk showering to avoid this problem. Beyond an impromptu laundry load, I genuinely had one of the best adventures of college, and will try my best to remember as much of it as possible.

Pearls dissolve in vinegar.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

// GETTIN FOOD

DRUNK FOOD ROUNDUP BY SUSANNAH SACHDEVA

PHOTOS BY PETE LARSON

fter that shuffle and/or night on the town has come to an end (preferably at Tony’s, if I may insist), it is high time for some “drunken nomming”— the act of consuming drunk food, that is. Uptown student favorites include the Burrito Buggy, Pita Pit and the Munch Box (in good weather), but for this round-up, I’ve chosen the classics: O’Betty’s, Goodfella’s, Souvlaki’s and Big Mama’s. Four entirely different cuisines with four entirely different

Greasy food is key when your night of heavy drinking is coming to an end. And the best buzzed bites are those that you can’t find in any other town but Athens.

sets of followers, all of whom demonstrate their love for their eatery of choice late at night every weekend. In case you’re new to this scene, we’re here to familiarize you with must-haves of drunk eating in Athens. Writer’s Note: This article is dedicated to the employees of Athens’ late-night restaurants for continuing to serve food while enduring the cursing, debauchery and tom-foolery of the drunken OU student.

SOUVLAKI’S: Owned by a Lebanese family, this Mediterranean restaurant is home to trés tasty gyros, as well as a smattering of appetizers to please even the pickiest eater. I’ve been a fan of the mozzarella sticks and baklava recently, but it’s always a good move to try the spicy fries or falafel. And never forget to buy a massive pickle out of the jar by the register to satiate your hunger until your order is ready. Regardless of what you get, sitting in the booths watching Robocop (or whatever whack movie or show they have on that tiny TV) makes the visit that much better. Something else unique about Souvlaki’s is that the owner is there most nights, serving up the food himself— with a bit of help, of course. You’ll often catch his wife by his side, as well. And note the pictures of his adorable daughter scattered around. That’s a true family business. Located: On State Street next to Tony’s Tavern, across from Casa Nueva Prices: Gyros are $4.75; Fries are $1.95 and up

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Dog tags are always worn in pairs.

GOODFELLA’S: Large and in charge, this pizza can soak up most alcohol your stomach may contain on any given inebriated evening. Don’t take that literally, but students do tend to treat Goodfella’s as a remedy for drunkenness. While it doesn’t cure a case of the spins, it tastes like it damn well could. Thick dough with tomato sauce, cheese and a hefty, crunchy crust: they aren’t messing around. We should keep in mind that drunk food is definitely not light on the calories, especially here at Goodfella’s. But, in the end, it’s usually worth it.

Located: Two locations. One on Union Street across from Follett’s University Bookstore. One on Court Street across from the C.I. Prices: $2.00 a slice; 3 for $5.50

O’BETTY’S: Hot dogs sound like a simple enough food item, but O’Betty’s makes them into so much more than that. The way they make hot dogs is a form of art. My obvious passion for this tiny hole-in-the-wall eatery is hard to hide. Its entrance, spanning only 9 feet wide (because this building—the smallest in Athens—actually used to be an alley!), makes it easy to pass by O’Betty’s without even noticing the literal hole-in-the-wall. I did just that my freshman year, but I quickly learned that I could no longer go without “nomming” on a Dixie and cheese fries on a semi-frequent basis.

Located: Across from Casa on State St. Prices: Hotdogs are $2.50 and up; Fries are $2.00 and up

BIG MAMMA’S: Athens-renowned for their creative and crave-able burritos, this Court Street mainstay has a massive and dedicated following of students. I—it’s sad to say—have never been a big fan of burritos and have thus managed to avoid eating at Big Mamma’s for my past 3 ½ half years here at OU, much to the dismay of many of my friends and associates. Recently, things had to change, and I caved under pressure. And thank God I did. One taste of the Chipotle Ranch Mamma and I quickly regretted not supplementing my trips to O’Betty’s and Souvlaki’s with a quick walk up the street to Mamma’s once in a while. Live and learn. Located: On Court Street across from the Athens County Municipal Court Prices: Burritos are $3.25 for Baby (12 oz) or $5.99 for Regular (24 oz)

The first airplane hijacking occurred in 1931 over Peru.

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

features

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sex & health

Riding

Tanda

Tandem with BY AADAM SOORMA

PHOTOS BY PATRICK MCCUE

Katsu’s Tips for Beginners

Hunched over the sleek handlebars of a Masi Gran Criterium customized-competition-style road bike, Katsuhiro Tanda, or Katsu as he is commonly called, eats up more and more ground with each powerful revolution of the pedals.

is muscles, flexed and visible, appear to slide like fluid under a glistening layer of lean, shaved skin. A pair of thin, red gloves cushions his tightly clenched fists as he powers through the winding Appalachian hills. Katsu, a tested endurance athlete who covers nearly 300 miles per week on a mere 23 millimeters of rubber, began riding competitively in ninth grade. Now, at 23, the cycle cross rider’s life is consumed by one thing: competition. “I just want to get faster,” Katsu explains. “On a heavy training week, I’ll spend about 20 hours a week on the bike and race on the weekends.” Unfortunately, not all of us have a VO2 max among the world’s elite. Fear not. A senior studying computer science and business, Katsu feels that spring is the best time to try what he

calls “the hardest sport ever created.” “As long as you get a bike that is fitted to you and has been properly tuned up, just get out and ride. For the first year or two there are no specifics or secret training tips. Find out what’s comfortable for you and just get time on the bike,” Katsu says. Having seen his share of nontraditional cyclists try their luck at his demanding hobby, Katsu’s main advice is to not get discouraged. “So many times I’ve seen very good runners and swimmers try cycling and quit because they are so much better at their respective sports. It took me a year and a half to get my ability. It’s a steep learning curve—I sucked at first,” Katsu admits. Follow Katsu’s tips to find cycling success.

The blue whale is estimated to have a surface area of 1,890 square feet.

“Have your bike in good working order, starting with properly inflated tires. Know that you have the right to be on the road... Ride predictably, and look up the road, rather than two feet in front of you. Always ride with traffic, not against it.”

Cycle Cross Defined

“Cycle cross is generally run in all conditions, including riding through mud, getting off the bike to run and essentially going all out for one hour. You have to balance strength, endurance and tactics as there is very little rest time. You can beat a stronger person by being patient and playing your cards right.”

Cycling vs. Running

“It’s different from running as you can race every weekend. You wouldn’t compete in back-toback marathons two weeks in a row. But cycling doesn’t have the same high-impact as running. On recovery days, I love riding the Athens bike path.”

backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

DiamondRough

sex & health

In The

Robert Maddox held his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player as firmly as he holds his glove every time he’s on a baseball diamond. And as a senior in high school, it nearly became a reality. Unfortunately, the Atlanta Braves chose not to sign. BY STEVE GARTNER

PHOTO BY PHIL WALTERS

obert Maddox remembers well the day he received the call from the Atlanta Braves during the 2007 MLB draft. It was a warm, June day, and Robert, then a high school senior, had a baseball game later that afternoon. His draft pick didn’t come until the 34th round. For the Euclid, Ohio native, the initial shock of being drafted was overwhelming. “I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Robert said. Robert wasn’t as close to achieving his ultimate dream of playing in the MLB as it first seemed, though. The Braves didn’t offer him a signing bonus, and he was placed in a “draft and follow” category that would give the Braves a deadline to offer him a contract that summer. When Robert hadn’t heard any contract offers back from them by the August 17 deadline, he chose instead to go to Ohio University. “I took it hard,” Robert, now a junior, said. But he knew all wasn’t lost. He had a baseball scholarship with the Ohio University Bobcats and a chance to work under veteran coach Joe Carbone. He also had three years to grow into a baseball player who could compete on the next level. (Generally, once a player enters college, they are not again eligible for the MLB draft until completion of their junior year.) Despite the great athleticism and talent that allowed him to be drafted out of high school, Robert would need every bit of the three years before his next opportunity to go pro. He was far from a perfect baseball player. “I had a lot of weaknesses,” Robert admitted. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to improve his draft stock as he accepted the hectic lifestyle of a collegiate student-athlete—at least three years of baseball boot camp while simultaneously facing the aca-

demic pressures of attending a university. Robert showed early on that he could do more than survive the jump to the next level. He showed he could succeed, earning the starting position at first base for the Bobcats; but this is not to say that the transition to college baseball was entirely seamless. No longer was he the star and no longer could he relax all week for a few weekend games against underwhelming competition. He had entered the grind of real baseball. And as a starter his freshman year, Robert had to mature by the hour. “You play one game and you may have to be out there for another two or three hours,” Robert said. “It helps you mature a lot more quickly.” That growth included eventually accepting a new position. With an overwhelming number of first basemen and Robert’s realization that he wouldn’t play unless he made a switch, he moved to left field. Robert quickly became familiar with the new position after only one season. While his draft prospects didn’t pan out immediately after high school, the setback ultimately proved advantageous to Robert. “[Not receiving a contract in 2007] was a motivating factor for me—especially this year.” And this year is certainly a pivotal one for Robert as his draft prospects are high. Robert doesn’t hesitate for a second when asked if he has any regret about coming to Ohio instead of pursuing a career in the minor leagues right out of high school. “I’ve matured mentally and physically. I’ve learned to control my emotions.” But don’t expect him to hide his emotions in June when he will more than likely receive another life-changing phone call.

exhibit b

ending extras

Showcasing the university’s creative minds...

The Strangers BY MOLLY SCHNEIDER In the eyes of a stranger on a late Sunday afternoon This town is dead quiet with beer cans all strewn, Fallen from their tables like a collapsed house of cards. Stale beer and vomit are the smells filling the air, Of which, only strangers must beware.

Brain Cells BY SAM BROWN

Shoe-a-holic

BY AMANDA GIL

The people awake wander round like they’re strays, Stumbling up Court Street like they’re still in a daze, These people look like zombies no less than the living dead, Two of which are still asleep on a concrete bed. Stranger, this late afternoon tells you little of we, Let me tell you of our lives while you stop to pee. Athens shuffles through life like it does through the bars, Put us on T.V. we’re sure to be stars, We’ll make the news on a national station, Just ask Taxi K to the A B we’re the best in the nation.

“S” is for Sandwich BY EMILY WICKSTROM

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Juicy Fruit was the first item ever scanned using a bar code.

Across 1. Ingredient for Farmer’s Market dessert 4. Mike Posner’s alma mater 5. The act of scrawling the name of your shuffle on bar’s bathroom wall 8. The Other ______, provided clothing and accessories for swimsuit photo shoot 13. Venue of She Bear’s first show 14. End of Brew Week party, abbr. 15. Hot professor 16. Access point to underground tunnels 17. Street fest that ended in 2009 riot 18. Program to assist international students pass the TOEFL 22. Optional bar for a shuffler (2 words) 23. Brew Week beverage 24. Memorial Day weekend locale for OU students (2 words) 26. Court Street bar crawl 28. Title of ‘Exhibit a’ poem 29. Popular summer week in Athens (2 words) 30. During a shuffle, take a ‘Hot Nut’ shot here 33. Backdrop journalist spent a day at this elementary school 36. Unemployment rate, rounded 37. The act of consuming drunk food, ‘Drunken ________” 38. Opposite of ‘he’ with Bears. (2 words) 40. Place to get late night $2 slice of pizza 44. The best day to attend the Parade of the Hills festival 45. Front Four during Spring quarter, South ______ 46. Popular Athens band, abbr. 47. ‘Exhibit a’ food representation 49. Hot Professor 50. Shot taken at Red Brick during Backdrop +,-.// shuffle, Shot of _____ Week

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ending extras

Use tidbits of info from the Swimsuit Issue plus spring quarter common knowledge to complete our Spring Quiz. Don’t worry—you won’t be graded on this one.

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Down

BRAIN BUSTERS //

48. A shuffler’s best friend

Domestic cats have 30 muscles in each ear.

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backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

#!"

BY ALLORY WILLIAMS

Finding a compatible life partner in the midst of the Athens bar scene is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. These couples bypassed the bars for the Internet, using popular dating sites to snag their special someone.

t’s usually late into the evening before Lauren McWhorter, a senior commuter from Ohio University, pulls into her parents’ driveway. Tired after a long day of classes and working the night shift at the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, she enters the house and begins her nighttime routine: catching up on family gossip, playing with her 3-year-old son, Michael, and putting him to bed. Once Michael falls asleep, Lauren gets ready for her date. But unlike most pre-date customs, she doesn’t primp. She doesn’t spend hours agonizing over an outfit, the right hairstyle or the perfect makeup application. She simply walks over to her laptop, turns it on and logs onto ChristianMingle.com, her online dating site of choice. In South Carolina, nearly 500 miles away, OU graduate Paul Crumrine waits in anticipation. When he sees “Learningtobreathe” sign on, he eagerly sends her a message. Renissance777: Hey there! Lauren smiles as she responds. Learningtobreathe: Hey, back! For weeks, Lauren and Paul chat online before they talk on the phone. Most conversations pertain to topics in their profiles: their favorite foods, the coincidence of their both attending OU, their favorite places on campus and little good-to-knows about each other. So, when Paul came to Ohio to visit his family for Christmas, and they met for their first date, most of the ice had been broken. That only left the tension of meeting for the first time face-to-face. “I think that normally when you meet someone for the first time, you spend it trying to get the awkward questions out of the way,” Lauren says. “We didn’t have to worry about that. We just had to see if our lives fit together and how he would react to Michael, my son. In the past, I’d meet someone and have a lot of chemistry. We’re together for a while and then I find that there are these really important things we don’t see eye-to-eye on. Paul and I didn’t have to deal with that. We knew who we were and where we wanted to go.”

spring // 2010 // backdrop

In December, Lauren and Paul got engaged—one year after their first chat. The July wedding will take place at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, where they had their first date. While Lauren and Paul’s online romance ended in marriage, both believe this will not always be the case for younger generations opting to use online dating venues. They speculate some may be looking for a hook-up, but more than likely, younger people using online dating sites are just looking for relationships, not marriage. Sierra Legrier met her boyfriend six months ago on Plentyoffish.com when she decided that she was tired of conventional dating methods and was willing to try something new. After witnessing several of her friends find success in the cyber dating world, she chose a site and made a profile. “I think a lot of people our age are starting to make profiles, but for some people it’s just something to do for fun,” Sierra says. “I don’t think everyone is seriously interested in trying to meet someone and be in a serious relationship as much as it’s just something to check, like Facebook.” Whether looking for marriage, relationships, one-night stands or another social medium to add to a daily interactive diet, online dating sites seem to be making their way into the list of reasonable answers to, “so…how’d you two meet?” Dating websites are no longer the last resort for older generations or the overwhelmed businessperson. When one is obligated to any kind of schedule, meeting new people isn’t always that easy, even for college students. Slipping into the same routine often means running into the same people. So why not try something new? Why not online? “For some people it might be a last resort, but that’s not a reason to discredit it. Especially if it helps you find the person who you’re supposed to be with,” Lauren says. “Just because you meet online, doesn’t mean it’s not organic or real. You still put yourself out there. You still bare your soul to someone and hope it will work out.”

Mr. Monopoly also goes by the name “Rich Uncle Pennybags.”

ouGot Served RUTHLESS RANT & RAGE //

ending extras

Emma Frankart bitches about bartending

pring has sprung, and for many of you, this means lots and lots of alcohol. While imbibing in everyone’s favorite vice is fun for you, others get less of a kick out of it. We’re loved, we’re hated, we’re envied, we’re yelled at; we’re the bartenders of Athens, and we have a few complaints. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. Bartending is fast-paced, social and, most of the time, it’s a blast. But there’s always that one customer who makes it his or her mission to make my life hell. And that customer gets ignored...or kicked out. I’m here to tell you how not to be the person that every bartender hates—and how to benefit from being the type of customer that bartenders love. 1. Be honest. If you’re not 21, don’t waste my time with an obvious fake ID. If the haircut or color is different, if you’re 18 and your ID says you’re 26, if you can’t even tell me “your” address or birthday, drink at a house party. I know we’ve all been there, but from this side of the bar I can tell you that having a bad fake makes you look pretty stupid. And if you get caught with it you’ll get arrested, and the bartender gets fined $1,000. 2. Be patient. Weekends can get crazy, and sometimes waiting for a drink can take more than a minute. But standing in front of the beer taps and shouting your order while I’m busy pouring seven Irish Car Bombs is not going to make me serve you faster. Wait your turn. Good bartenders know who’s been waiting the longest and most patiently. If you really are getting ignored for no reason, try to make eye contact with me. A lot of times, I don’t realize that someone wants to order because he or she

BY EMMA FRANKART

Towel Day, a tribute to the late Douglas Adams, is celebrated on May 25.

is talking to someone else. 3. Be grateful. Unless you see me pour Skyy into your rum and coke, don’t criticize my bartending. Usually, I’m doing it right and you’re just drunk. If you think I didn’t pour you enough alcohol, say you’d like it stronger and ask to buy another shot. Chances are, you’ll get it for free if you at least offer to pay for it. And don’t try to barter prices with me. I don’t set the prices; I just charge what the owner tells me to charge. If I don’t know you and you ask me for a shot of Jack, “suggesting” that I only charge you a dollar, I’ll probably walk away. For perks like that, see tip No. 4. 4. Be generous. Or at least reasonable. Don’t tip me 25 cents on a 5-round, $25 bill. That’s just rude. We make less than $4 an hour; our livelihood comes from tips. Poor tippers are remembered—and ignored. The general rule of thumb is: If you order a beer or a simple mixed drink or shot, a tip of 50 cents to $1 is fine. When you’re buying drinks all night, tipping every other or every third round is fine. If you order hugely complicated drinks, you better leave me something nice. And last, but certainly not least: 5. Be courteous. I’m not one to judge, but if you cause a scene your ass will get kicked out faster than you can say, “close my tab.” This means making it to the bathroom when you have to throw up. It also means you shouldn’t start throwing things, pouring your own beers or screaming at me. It’s my job to help you have a good time, but have some common sense, people. This is a bar, not a zoo. Following these guidelines doesn’t have to make your night boring. You can have a why-did-I-wakeup-with-two-strange-girls-and-half-a-Goodfella’spizza-in-my-bed kind of night without pissing off your bartender. And if your bartender likes you, well, you might just find some unexpected perks in your night out. Free shot of Jameo, anyone? backdropmag.com // 2010 // spring

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