Vol. 9, Issue 3 by Backdrop Magazine

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SPRING 2016

Nick Kellogg: International Playmaker

Students Compete to Solve Global Health Crises

By the Numbers: Safe Sex Around the World

From the Lens of a Front-Row Photographer

Contact Alecia Moquin 740.592.5262 or 740.591.6498 alecia@diversifiedproperties.net

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3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath house located at the end of a quiet southside street, central air, washer/dryer, plenty of offstreet parking.

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Like new! 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhouses featuring spacious open & bright floor plan, onsite parking with garage, deck and much more. Close to everything… bike path, OU, O’Bleness Hospital, easy access to all major highways.

19 Herrold Ave.

22 Blick Ave.

16 Blick Ave.

5 Atlantic Ave.

21 Herrold Ave.

Incredible central uptown Athens location! 15 person occupancy, parking included.

4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath house. Great uptown location, large front porch, central air, washer/dryer, onsite parking for all residents.

Hey Bobcats! I wish I could tell you that I’m writing this from my study abroad in Spain during winter break, but unfortunately I’m sitting in the Backdrop office the day before we go to print — as usual. I hoped to start off this letter with an inspirational anecdote about travel and experiencing new cultures; however, nobody’s got time for that. So here it is, our themed issue of the year. For those of you who don’t know me personally, one of my favorite things to do is travel — in fact, after graduation I’m making plans to backpack through Southeast Asia — so naturally, I’m excited to announce this year’s third issue theme: International. Our writers explored topics spanning from alumni working abroad to international students on campus and everything in-between. Read all about how Ohio University students compete to solve a major global health issue in Kaitlyn Pacheco’s feature, Taking the Global Initiative (Page 20). For everyone who has ever dreamt of taking a risk and following their passions, be inspired by the story of one Ohio University student working front row at music festivals across the globe (Page 40). Justin Holbrock tells the story of how one former Bobcat basketball star took his game to a new level overseas (Page 34). There are two things in the world that many people can appreciate: a good Mean Girls reference and sex. Amanda Weisbrod ties in all of the above in Gettin’ It Globally, an infographic that dives into global contraceptive usage (Page 14). In my four years with Backdrop magazine, I have never been more proud of an issue. The amount of work that went into this magazine is indescribable; this year’s theme presented multiple challenges from all standpoints, but the end product was completely worth it. Everything from the cover—shout-out to Karlee Proctor for the kick-ass creative concept—to Exhibit A, which is a collection of photos from students across the university (Page 42), took collaboration and the effort shows through each spread. I hope you appreciate it as much as I do. ¡Hasta luego!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Rebecca Zook

MANAGING EDITOR

Emily McIntyre

ASST. MANAGING EDITOR

Kaitlyn Pacheco

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Amanda Weisbrod COPY CHIEF

Alexandra Greenberg COPY TEAM Madison Eblen, Hayley Harding, Elizabeth Harper CONTRIBUTORS

Max Catalano, Daryl M. Davidson, Justin Holbrock, Michelle Jacobson, Maddie Schroeder

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Karlee Proctor

ART DIRECTORS

Andie Danesi & Lizzie Settineri

SEE THE PHOTO STORY

PAGE 28

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES » 16 International

Game Changer Ohio Rugby player Thushan Wickramasinghe brings experience and expertise to the team.

the 20 Taking Global Initiative Read how the Global Health Case Competition challenges students from different disciplines to collaborate and solve a countrywide health issue.

ON THE COVER

b SPRING 2016

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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MARKETING & AD DESIGNER

Natasha Rignalda

Rebecca Zook Editor-in-Chief backdropmag@gmail.com P.S. If you haven’t noticed by now, being editor-inchief is wearing me down.

DESIGN TEAM Katelyn Baker, Emily Caruso, Meredith Kern, Danielle Young

PHOTO EDITOR

Jilly Burns

Nick Kellogg: International Playmaker

Students Compete to Solve Global Health Crises

By the Numbers: Safe Sex Around the World

From the Lens of a Front Row Photgrapher

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Brianna Griesinger

ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR

Amanda Damelio

Cover Photo by Jilly Burns Creative Concept by Karlee Proctor Cover Art by Rebecca Zook

backdrop | Spring 2016

SPRING 2016 » VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3

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PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Tricia Tighe

Zachary Berry

EVENT COORDINATOR

April 18 – 22

Gabby Hollowell

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Mackenzie Smith

Check out senior week for networking events, free gifts for seniors, and celebratory activities throughout the week.

WEB MANAGING EDITOR

Cheyenne Buckingham

ASSOCIATE WEB EDITOR

VIDEO EDITOR

VIDEOGRAPHER

Marcus Meston

www.ohioseniorweek.org Want an advertisement in Backdrop?

Stop by one of our weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in Scripps 114.

SPRING 2016 » VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3

Experiencing Culture through Movement

Gettin’ It Globally Take a look at worldwide patterns and trends in contraceptive use.

In the Dawg House Go behind the scenes of a west side favorite that’s been serving locals since 1964.

Making Strides Overseas Read how one former Ohio basketball player took his game from The Convo to courts abroad.

ENTERTAINMENT » 38

BonjOUr, Marching 110!

Developing a Focus

Ohio Marching 110 prepares to take on France this summer.

One business student’s international trip helps reveal his love of photography.

VOICES » 42

Ailments Abroad Read how two students dealt with being sick while studying abroad in Spain and Nepal.

EXHIBIT A » 44

A showcase of creative works by fellow students.

RECIPE »

PHOTO HUNT »

Spanish Flavors Step into the kitchen and try your hand at traditional Spanish cuisine.

Spot the differences between images of one student’s experience in Ecuador.

PHOTO STORY » 28

Simply send an email to backdropadvertising@ gmail.com to get started.

Interested in working with us?

The Athens Lions Club faced major changes, but it continues to promote good eye health to the Athens community.

FOOD »

Alexandra Greenberg Lilly Rhodehamel

Seeing a Need

SEX & HEALTH »

WEB EDITOR

Chris Manning

Discover how two Ohio University professors incorporate their cultural experiences into classroom choreography.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS SPORTS »

International Ohio graduate students adjust to life as Bobcats.

THE DROP »

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER RELATIONS

Finding a Second Home

Adam McConville Briana Ekanem

Q&A »

Discovering Andalucía Scripps College of Communication students immerse themselves into Spanish life.

INFOGRAPHIC » 32

On the Bricks Cross some activities off your spring semester bucket list.

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? Q&A

Finding a Second

Home International Ohio University students share how they adjusted to Athens and embraced their inner Bobcat.

Did you see your first snowfall in Athens? AKR: Last winter was my first winter ever. I survived, but it

backdrop | Spring 2016

Tanvir Iqbal: I applied to three schools and I came to learn about OU because at my undergraduate school back in my country, Bangladesh, I had a friend who came to OU to finish his master’s. Right after his master’s, he got a job in this country with an initial salary of $65,000. When I heard that, I thought, I had to apply to OU too. Ohio University waived my tuition and gave me the funding so I can afford myself.

Although Tanvir Iqbal is a long way from Bangladesh, he’s found a new home right here in Athens with his new Bobcat family. After attending Number Fest, High Fest, Palmer Fest and more, Iqbal noticed a certain Athens spirit coming into him and wouldn’t change his newfound love for Ohio University for anything.

Second-year graduate student studying communication and development studies

Anna-Kaye Rowe: I grew up there, spent all my life there, born and raised. Manchester is a small town, fairly similar to Athens, Ohio. Manchester is a great place to grow up and raise a family. A lot of what we have here in Athens reminds me a lot of where I grew up, so adjusting to the new environment here really was not that hard for me. I thought where I was from was laid back and low key, but Athens is like that too; it feels like a community. If you go on Court Street, there’s a chance you’ll run into classmates, friends and professors. People stop and even give you a ride to the supermarket. This lady was like, “You look like an international student.” I was like, “Oh wow, what do you mean?” But she was right, and it was orientation time, and she offered to take me home with my groceries.

AKR: I love the [Marching] 110. When I found that “Gangham Style” video on YouTube, I shared that on Facebook and I was like, “Guys, this is my school. This is where I’m going and it’s awesome.” The marching band just makes you feel so good. They’re so into it; they are amazing, talented and it just shows the diversity, excitement and the passion that OU has. Outside of that, it’s really just the close-knit nature of Ohio and of Athens. … They go the extra mile on campus. I don’t think it’s because I’m an international student, I think it’s just because it’s what they do, and I find that people are really genuinely interested in you and helping you. It’s made my transition here a seamless process, and it’s something that I really have come to love about Ohio.

Second-year graduate student studying civil engineering

Anna-Kaye Rowe

How would you describe Manchester?

What brought you to OU?

Tanvir Iqbal

BY AMANDA WEISBROD | PHOTOS BY BRIANNA GRIESINGER

Moving from tropical Jamaica to icy Ohio wasn’t easy for Anna-Kaye Rowe, especially when she first encountered the ice the and snow that blanketed the city of Athens in January. But her fuzzy socks, hot cocoa and warm Bobcat spirit kept her somewhat satisfied through the freezing weather. To Rowe, Athens isn’t so different from her small hometown in Manchester, where everyone is like family and always willing to lend a hand to one another.

What’s your favorite thing about Ohio University?

was not the most fun experience. I had people give me tips, I got the appropriate winter clothes and I endured. Winter really made me wonder why on Earth I left my nice, beautiful, warm island to come here, because there were days when you’re cold, and you still have to go to class. It’s not like home when if it rains a lot, we decide not to go to work or school that day. Here, you still have to show up, you have to go to work and life goes on. It’s something I look back on and laugh about now, but it made me miss home so much more — believe me. Are you involved with the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR) office? AKR: I am one of the graduate assistants in the OMSAR office. OMSAR’s office serves the needs of students from multicultural backgrounds, diversity scholars and students who are from various experiences and backgrounds. We want to make sure they are able to benefit from a university education and benefit the most from the university experience. We provide them with scholarships; most of them are for the entire time they’re at Ohio University, as long as they meet certain requirements. We offer one-on-one advising, so every day the OMSAR office sees hundreds of students who come in for advising to make sure they’re doing well in school. We provide them with resources, tutoring and support so that we can keep them here, because that’s the point — it’s not just access, but retention. The OMSAR office is doing amazing things, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.

What do you think is the biggest differenence between Athens and Bangladesh? TI: The main thing was the weather, actually. In Bangladesh, it’s very humid and hot. And when I came here in January, it was really cold. The problem that I faced was the food, because in Bangladesh, you eat curry or stew every day; it’s kind of like a staple food. And when I came here, I didn’t know how to cook, actually, so I started to eat the way they eat here, and the food was very dry for me. I tried to get habituated with the food here, but I still am not. So every three or four days, I have to prepare some stew or soup. Have you had any issues getting to know new people? TI: There were no family or friends when I first came here, and the cultural difference was a lot. Actually, there’s so much cultural difference that if I start to talk about this, it will take all day. In Bangladesh, it is a very largely populated country, so density is really high. So when people talk in my country, Bangladesh, there is not much distance between two people when they talk. But in this country, I think there is a minimum distance when people talk. And when I came here and was trying to talk to people, I was really close and I saw they were stepping back, and I wondered what I was doing wrong. And my accent — we were taught English in my country — but the teachers that taught us were from my country, too, so all my life I spoke English with a south Asian tone. So when I came here, I found out that there are some guys that actually can’t get what I’m saying because of the accent. How do you feel about Ohio University after being here for a few years? TI: I thought that it would be hard for me, but the way that Ohio University welcomed me here — it was awesome. From the very beginning, everybody who talked with me, they’ve been really friendly with me. Until now, it’s been 12 months, and I did not experience any rude or racist behavior or something like that. When I started working here at OU, I was working a lot in the lab, like six or eight hours, but I tried to attend all those events that were going on. I attended the Number Fest, High Fest and Palmer Fest … and the most amazing thing was, I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but the Bobcat Pride just came into me. I had never thought in so much quick time that I would think like that. I like to think I’m a Bobcat, and I’m really proud of that. It changed me in a good way. b

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“

THE DROP

When I first joined 38 years ago, we had over 50 members. Because people were retiring, dying and moving on, we’re now down to 21.” TIM HARTMAN SECRETARY OF THE ATHENS LIONS CLUB

SEEING A NEED A local group promotes eye health while serving the community. BY EMILY MCINTYRE | PHOTOS BY JILLY BURNS

ewind to 2013 when Mike Harrington and his wife, Tina — both Ohio University graduates — packed up their home in Midland, Michigan, and moved back to where they were born and raised: Athens, Ohio. They wanted to be closer to their parents and become involved in the community they called home. As they unpacked their collection of boxes and belongings, Harrington came across several pairs of old eyeglasses. In search of a way to recycle them, he reached out to the Athens Lions Club and made contact with Tim Hartman, who was serving as the club’s president at the time. After notifying Harrington that Athens had a number of drop box locations for eyeglasses throughout the city, Hartman extended a special offer. “He said, ‘As a matter of fact, we’re meeting this Tuesday and we’re always looking for new members,’ ” Harrington recalls. “He asked if I’d be interested to come and [said] he’d buy my dinner.” The Athens Lions Club is a chapter of Lions Club International, which is the largest service club organization in the world with more than 1.4 million members in over 46,000 chapters. Through primarily providing eye exams and eyeglasses for people who can’t afford them, the club supports the blind and visually impaired by promoting good eye health. The local organization also participates in a variety of other activities and events such as the Special Olympics in the early spring, roadside pickup along Route 682, and assistance with the Athens Fourth of July parade. The chapter was chartered in 1946 when a group of business-

backdrop | Spring 2016

people from a Lions Club in Wellston, Ohio, came to Athens to recruit more members. Athens Lions Club President Larry Ball explains that in those days, Court Street was a hot spot for retail and other businesses; thus, many founding members decided it would be wise to start a chapter here in Athens. Though the club is active today, it has suffered quite a decline in membership over the past few decades as former members have grown much older and less mobile. The ability and willingness to commit to social organizations such as the Athens Lions Club have taken a plunge in recent years as well, which is a top concern for Harrington, Hartman and Ball. “When I first joined 38 years ago, we had over 50 members. Because people were retiring, dying and moving on, we’re now down to 21,” Hartman says. “Our youngest member is 40 and our oldest member is 85. Young people just don’t seem to want to join organizations.” At only 21 members strong, the Athens Lions Club hasn’t let its low numbers get in the way of its passion for serving the Athens community. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the WillowView Cafe of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. Harrington does his best to arrange for a guest speaker to come on those evenings, and the club reviews its agenda of upcoming events and local activities. Last fall, the club worked with art teacher Dana Dieterle at Athens Middle School to sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. The state chapter of the Lions of Ohio also developed a program last summer in which volunteers from the Athens Lions Club, the Alexander Lions Club and the Plains

Lions Club helped perform vision pre-screenings at Chauncey Preschool in Chauncey, Ohio. Each volunteer learned how to work the equipment and check the vision of preschoolers. “That was a lot of fun. We got to interact with the children, and there’s a series of activities we do to gauge their vision,” Harrington says. “We look at their depth perception and things like that, then the machine looks and records the spectrum of their vision and it prints it out.” Once screening results are produced, the school nurse can make a referral to the parents of a child who may need to see an ophthalmologist for further examination. If that child comes from a low-income family and needs glasses, Harrington says the club could provide funding for that pair of glasses or the eye exam itself. Vision pre-screenings are something that the club wants to continue doing every year in both the fall and spring as an effort to maintain its international commitment to promoting good eye health. This year, the club also wrote a check for $750 for the Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) at each of the four Athens elementary schools to go toward student activities as needed. Fi-

nance is a large component of the social group, so the members work hard to keep track of every dollar that comes their way. Each member pays $60 in district and international club dues for the whole year and receives subscription to the international LION Magazine. Usually, the Athens Lions Club does the majority of its fundraising in the summer at the Athens County Fair, where it runs the food booth near the grandstand. Its sloppy joe sandwiches are always a hit, thanks to the recipe from Rich Neumann, club treasurer and director of Culinary Services. Past fundraising efforts include rummage sales, craft shows during Moms Weekend, and door-to-door product sales. The club is currently part of Ohio’s District 13-K Lions Club, but this year, it will be transitioning into District OH-7. The region is undergoing a redistricting process in order to meet the minimum 1,250 members-per-district requirement, which is listed in the International Constitution. “Over the last 10 years, we have had seven districts that have dropped below that number. So we’re going from 11 districts down to seven in the state of Ohio,” Hartman says. For an organization that has faced some major changes, the Athens Lions Club hasn’t drifted from the international motto that keeps it going: “we serve.” “Obviously helping people out to the best of our ability is top priority. It’s a fun time to talk to people and listen to guest speakers and enjoy the camaraderie,” Hartman says. “That’s not quite as important as serving the community, but it keeps you wanting to go to every meeting and staying involved.” b

LIONS CLUBS IN ATHENS COUNTY Alexander Lions Club Athens Lions Club The Plains Lions Club Chauncey-Dover Lions Club Nelsonville Lions Club Trimble Lions Club Coolville Lions Club

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THE DROP

Experiencing Culture through

MOVEMENT Professors bring different cultures to life through dance. BY MICHELLE JACOBSON | PHOTOS BY AMANDA DAMELIO he arts are more than just a form of expression; they are used to learn about different cultures. That belief takes center stage during the lessons music professor Paschal Younge teaches to his students. Both Younge and his wife, Zelma BaduYounge, associate professor of dance, share a passion for the arts and use them as a language to bring cultures together. The dynamic duo promotes engagement in the arts by exposing students to different cultures. Badu-Younge’s goal is to help her students perform to their highest potentials and to create an environment that promotes open-minded thinking. That commitment stems from years of studying and performing. Individually, Younge and Badu-Younge have their own involvement with world cultures and understand the importance of dance and music. “World art forms have the potential to help students develop frameworks that support intercultural understanding — that is, developing critical awareness of one’s own cultural influences and exploring this awareness through dialogue and exchange with other cultural influences in an effort to foster tolerance and appreciation,” Younge says.

SETTING THE STAGE

Badu-Younge’s mother always told her daughter that she was dancing before she was walking. By age 5, Badu-Younge was taking dance classes in New York City. She danced from the early hours of the morning until night, and before long, she fell in love with the art form. She took several classes a day, mostly ballet and some modern dance. She attended intensive summer programs, including one at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. After living in Canada when she was younger, Badu-Younge wanted to return to continue her dance education. In 1980, she was accepted into York University in Toronto and continued focusing on modern dance. While there, she was also accepted into a Russian Ballet Academy. As a full-time student at the university and the academy, Badu-Younge became “completely obsessed” with dance. Badu-Younge later spent time teaching at Concordia University in Montreal, but soon realized she wanted to do more.

backdrop | Spring 2016

several ensembles, including instrumental and choral groups at the University of Ghana. Later, he came to the U.S. and worked at West Virginia University as the director of the World Music Center and African Music Studies. “Studying music at an early age was too much fun. It was a family tradition,” Younge says. “I found it to be rewarding and acquired so many social skills through the learning of individual instruments and playing in ensembles.” While teaching at WVU, Younge took his students to Ghana for a three-week summer program. There, he ran into Badu-Younge for the second time, while she was working on her research studies. The couple had crossed paths once before in Ghana, when Badu-Younge was a dance student and Younge was the principal instructor for the performing arts at the University of Ghana. “So, this dance affair was turning into a love affair,” BaduYounge says. “So then he helped me again with my research, because he is from there, so he knows his ins and outs and he speaks the language fluently, so it makes it easier.” The relationship escalated quickly and by summer of 2000, they were a married couple.

BRINGING CULTURE TO OU

Around the time of her father’s passing, Badu-Younge became interested in learning more about his culture and wanted to incorporate her heritage into her dancing. She decided that dance ethnology, the study of culture through dance, would be perfect. Because her father was from Ghana, Badu-Younge was determined to visit and learn more about Ghanaian dance. “You learn about people’s cultures through their dance. That’s the way I see things. Because through the dance there are certain movements that they do, certain things that they highlight,” Badu-Younge says. Luckily for Badu-Younge, that was around the same time Concordia University was offering a summer ethnology dance program in Ghana. The leaders of the six-week program recognized her abilities, and she earned her way into the dance ethnology program at York University.

Badu-Younge came to Ohio University in 2003 as an assistant professor of dance and founded the Ohio African Ensemble. Younge was eager to join the Ohio faculty after he saw one of his wife’s performances with the ensemble. Now, the pair is codirecting the group, which uses music and dance to teach African culture and history. “Different cultures have different approaches to teaching [and] different perspectives about the arts,” Younge says. “We expose students to learn how different cultures approach life.” When Younge first arrived at Ohio University, he noticed the lack of opportunity for students to experience and learn about different cultures. In response, Younge and Badu-Younge collaborated in 2011 to create the World Music and Dance Festival. The festival is a one-week celebration each spring that brings artists from all over the world to Athens. All OU students can participate in

workshops and learn from artists from countries such as Germany, Ghana, Canada, Brazil and France. Students also have the opportunity to showcase what they learned in performances during the festival. “Our goal is for our students to learn beyond the classroom, so they can naturally gain knowledge and respect for the arts,” Younge says. The couple also directs a festival called Nuit Blanche, which transforms the streets of Athens into an art gallery. Nuit Blanche is French for “white night.” The event is an annual all-night arts festival that engages people of all ages through creative experiences. Music, dance, theatre and visual arts are displayed throughout the streets. Local artists, members of the community, university faculty, students and guest artists from other countries have a chance to display their work during the event. The upcoming spring will be Nuit Blanche’s third appearance in Athens. “We try to bring what we experience abroad and bring it to Athens,” Younge says. “Nuit Blanche is another opportunity to engage with the arts. … You can read about different cultures, but experiencing it is another thing.” Younge explains that through their teachings, he and BaduYounge want their students to develop an intellectual and creative practice. Their research, performances and lessons are used to convey the importance of considering the arts when studying a group of people. That motive also translates into another ensemble directed by the couple. Azaguno is an ensemble-touring group that Younge and Badu-Younge founded in 2001. The Ewe people of Ghana define the term Azaguno as “a master drummer.” The group’s focus is on the research, preservation, education and performance of traditional African American, Caribbean and Latin American music and dance. They travel both nationally and internationally to countries such as Taiwan, Italy and Hong Kong. “The arts are very tied to culture. You can’t study culture without the arts. Not just the performing arts, but the visual. The arts are tied to the languages. Languages are tied to the traditions of the people. Once you study the arts, you are indirectly studying the people,” Younge says. b

CROSSING PATHS

Just like his father, Younge grew up in Ghana with a family of musicians. As a child, Younge was surrounded by almost every instrument possible, which allowed him to practice at home. Younge was accompanying a choir as a percussionist by age 8. In pursuit of a career in music, Younge studied at the National Academy of Music and the University of Ghana. After he graduated, he became the principal music instructor and director of

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Gettin’ It Gl bally

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015

backdrop | Spring 2016

LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

AFRICA

ASIA

EUROPE

PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED/IN-UNION WOMEN AGES 15-49, 2015

NORTH AMERICA

OCEANIA (AUSTRALIA & PACIFIC ISLANDS)

unmet family planning needs contraceptive use

percentage

7 15

60 22 22

40 64

75 59

of married women worldwide have unmet family planning needs

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

100

1/10

other

1/3

IUD

of married women worldwide use contraceptives

of married women use long-acting or permanent contraceptive methods

rhythm/withdrawal

WORLD

64%

implant

“DON’T HAVE SEX, BECAUSE YOU WILL GET PREGNANT AND DIE.” But seriously, safe sex is the best sex. In many countries around the world, women use contraceptive methods to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Long-acting or permanent solutions, such as sterilization and intrauterine devices (IUD), were the most popular methods used by married women worldwide in 2015, followed closely by birth control pills and male condoms. Contraceptive use has significantly increased since 1970, and projections over the next 15 years suggest growth especially in Africa and Oceania, where less than half of married women currently use contraceptive methods of any kind. Professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies Kay-Anne Darlington says access to contraceptives in Jamaica is similar to the U.S., but women seeking an abortion have to resort to other methods. “You can buy condoms from all pharmacies and even from roadside vendors [in Jamaica]. Access to the pill and other methods that have to be prescribed by a doctor is also the same [as in the U.S.],” Darlington says. “Abortion is illegal, but women who need an abortion know which doctors are willing to do it.” Ohio University graduate student Anna-Kaye Rowe also hails from Jamaica. To her, an important difference separates the sexual health programs in Jamaica and the U.S., even though the offered services and programs are similar. “I feel that young people here in the United States have more access to contraceptives and resources regarding their sexual, reproductive health and rights than in many other countries,” Rowe says. “In Jamaica, while these services and resources exist … the fear of being judged by a health care worker or vendor, the cost of contraceptives as well the prevalence of abstinence … limit young people’s access.” Take a look at 2015’s worldwide contraceptive use statistics and figures here. b

male condom

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY AMANDA WEISBROD

- Coach Carr, Mean Girls, 2004

injectable

100

percentage

SEX & HEALTH

female sterilization male sterilization pill

TRENDS IN CONTRACEPTIVE TYPES, MARRIED WOMEN AGES 15-49, 2015

WORLD

LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

AFRICA

ASIA

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

NORTH AMERICA

OCEANIA (AUSTRALIA & PACIFIC ISLANDS)

b FEATURE

INTERNATIONAL GAME CHANGER OU rugby’s addition of Thushan Wickramasinghe opens up a new playing field for the team. BY MACKENZIE SMITH PHOTOS BY MADDIE SCHROEDER

olitely making his way through the Front Room coffee rush for his interview, Thushan Wickramasinghe perfectly blends into the crowd of caffeine-hungry students waiting in line for their drinks. The black and green Ohio University rugby hoodie he wears proudly is the only indication of his involvement with the sport. His average build and gentle nature make it difficult to believe he has spent the past eight years playing one of the world’s most physical and aggressive sports. Wickramasinghe began his rugby career in Sri Lanka during his freshman year of college. Although his background may seem unusual to the standard American college student, his experiences are not necessarily characteristic of a typical Sri Lankan citizen either. The impact the game of rugby has made on Sri Lanka is unquestionable; it’s comparable to America’s infatuation with football. Wickramasinghe turned down the opportunity to play rugby in high school in order to pursue a collegiate education — an academic feat only 3 percent of Sri Lankan applicants accomplish. “If I had played rugby in high school, I most likely would have gone straight to play with a club team after I graduated,” he explains. “High school rugby is so demanding that students hardly have time for their studies.” Like most Sri Lankan seniors, Wickramasinghe took a three-

backdrop | Spring 2016

subject placement test when he was 19. He then received an offer to study physics at the University of Peradeniya, one of 12 colleges located on the island. It was at Peradeniya that Wickramasinghe was first introduced to the sport of rugby — the game that would have a larger impact on his life than he could have ever imagined. After receiving a degree in physics from the University of Peradeniya, Wickramasinghe decided to further his education by getting a master’s degree in the United States, specifically at Ohio University. Because there are many cultural differences between the education systems in United States and Sri Lanka, Wickramasinghe had to grow accustomed to a new way of learning. Wickramasinghe says there is a lack of education equality in Sri Lanka, and only the best students have the opportunity to advance their studies. Because only the top students are accepted into college, the system gives the phrase “survival of the fittest” a whole new meaning. However, Wickramasinghe says the Sri Lankan school system is more advanced. He says the material he teaches in undergraduate classes at Ohio University is information he learned in 10th grade. Schoolwork aside, coming to the United States was challeng-

ing. The differences between Sri Lanka and Athens are astronomical, and the transition Wickramasinghe had to make was not easy. Rugby was one of the few parallels he could draw between Sri Lanka and Ohio, so Wickramasinghe made the bold decision to join the Ohio rugby team to acclimate himself to the area and American culture. Before joining the team, Wickramasinghe’s only friends were his fellow graduate students, so rugby became not only a physical outlet, but also a social one. He uses the sport to relieve daily stress and strongly believes the two hours spent on the field each day are well worth his time. His average build was one of the distinct obstacles he overcame. “I was one of the biggest rugby players back home,” he says with a laugh. “Now, playing in the United States, I am one of the smallest.” Wickramasinghe was forced to acclimate to the more physical 15 vs. 15 games played by the university team and change his immediate approach to the game he knew so well, however, he welcomed the challenge. Applying his previously learned strategies to the Americanized game of rugby, Wickramasinghe’s international experience gave the Bobcats a much-needed edge. Soon, he not only became a valued team member, but a strong leader for the university-run sport.

“

I was one of the biggest rugby players back home. Now playing in the United States, I am one of the smallest.” THUSHAN WICKRAMASHINGHE RUGBY PLAYER AND GRADUATE STUDENT

While familiarizing himself with the physical differences between American and Sri Lankan rugby, Wickramasinghe also continually found himself practicing patience due to attitude differences between the teams. Ohio rugby players are unpaid, the sport is unfunded, and many of the athletes are first-time rugby players; all of those factors induced a minor culture shock when Wickramasinghe arrived at his first practice. Seeing the young men talk and laugh during practice, tease

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“

Thushan comes from a country where rugby is very popular and they have high level coaches, even for young guys. He brings that into our practice and that international style of play. He definitely brings a different perspective on the game.” COREY GÜT OHIO RUGBY TEAM CAPTAIN

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JIM GEORGE and talk back to the coaches, as well as run drills they didn’t understand were all aspects of the game that were foreign to Wickramasinghe. Because of the popularity of rugby in Sri Lanka, the game is held to the upmost importance. In his experience, there was no speaking on the field unless it involved the game, the coaches were present to enforce discipline and were to be respected, and every drill had a specific purpose. The lack of funding and popularity of rugby in the United States made the on-the-field demeanor incredibly different from international teams. When asked how playing for an American rugby team has changed his perspective of the game, Wickramasinghe immediately responded with “patience.” By bringing his international knowledge to the Americanized game, Wickramasinghe provides the emotional support and discipline the team needs. As captain of the team, senior Corey Güt believes Wickramasinghe’s international knowledge of the game has helped to propel the team forward in practice. “Thushan comes from a country where rugby is very popular, and they have high-level coaches, even for young guys,” Güt says. “He brings that into our practice and that international style of play. He definitely brings a different perspective on the game.” A different perspective seems to be just what the team needed. Because he was accustomed to a much more intense,

backdrop | Spring 2016

structured game, Wickramasinghe brought some necessary organization to the rugby players in Athens. A fellow teammate, sophomore Jack Nece, illustrates the impact Wickramasinghe has on the team by fondly describing his patient teaching methods. “Wickramasinghe will never make us do a drill without explaining it first,” Nece says. “There is always a purpose behind every play he makes us do.” For junior Evan Schmidt, Wickramasinghe’s patient and explanatory coaching technique was a literal game changer. Schmidt arrived at college without ever touching a rugby ball, so a tolerant coach was necessary to help him learn the game and learn it well. A friend convinced him to come to a practice during his sophomore year, and with Wickramasinghe’s help, Schmidt soon became a key member of the team. “Thushan was always out on the field playing with us. He wasn’t a coach, but everyone listened to what he had to say. It would be an understatement to say Thushan ran circles around us; but as he excelled, so did our team,” Schmidt says. “He was the on-field coach and he taught all of us the ropes, even in the middle of a match.” However, that calm, tolerant coaching style did not come with ease. Wickramasinghe had difficulty adjusting to a laidback team atmosphere. “This experience has taught me a lot of patience. Being a

senior on the collegiate Sri Lankan rugby team, there was a lot of anger and discipline,” he says. “If something was going wrong, I could punish the team because of my seniority.” “One day in Sri Lanka, a team member asked a friend for a ride home in the middle of practice. Talking about something that isn’t rugby-related in the middle of practice is unacceptable, so we punished the team with fitness for another hour,” Wickramasinghe says. The large amount of international rugby experience and immense amount of time spent with his teammates has made Wickramasinghe more than just another member of the team. When asked to describe the graduate student’s position on the Ohio men’s rugby team, sophomore teammates Hayden George and Alex Vihtelic only needed one word: mentor. Now with his academic career coming to an end, his future in rugby lies in question. Wickramasinghe’s decision to stay in the United States instead of returning home to Sri Lanka creates innumerable job opportunities, but limits the athlete’s options to continue his sport. Although his future with the rugby team is unclear, his passion for the sport remains inexhaustible. His dedication to the game was especially evident when asked whether he would rather coach a team or continue to play rugby. After a long, agonizing pause, Wickramasinghe finally laughs to himself, and replies, “Leave that blank.” b

RUGBY AROUND THE WORLD Here is a breakdown of the average heights and ages of rugby players around the world.

USA

URUGUAY

6 feet 2 inches tall 27.3 years old

5 feet 11 inches tall 26.3 years old

SAMOA

ROMANIA

6 feet tall 29 years old

6 feet 1 inch tall 28.4 years old

FRANCE

IRELAND

6 feet 2 inches tall 28.4 years old

6 feet 2 inches tall 28.2 years old

AUSTRALIA

JAPAN

6 feet 2 inches tall 27.3 years old

5 feet 11 inches tall 28.7 years old

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk www.backdropmagazine.com

b FEATURE

impassioned expressions showed they prepared for the solution to change their lives, too.

THE COMPETITION

In 2014, Dean of the College of Health Science and Professions Randy Leite had the idea to create a competition that would promote a heightened awareness of global health issues and prompt students from different disciplines to work together. The GHCC challenges students to research a particular country’s health issue and develop a working solution to combat the problem. The winning team is awarded the fully funded opportunity to travel abroad and implement its approach with partners from the host country. The teams of four students have two weeks to research and conceptualize a functional solution to a specific country’s realworld health problem. At the two-week mark, each team submits a draft of their proposal for judging and the six teams with the most promising pitches are invited to compete in the GHCC. Those six teams are given one additional week to build upon their ideas and prepare presentations. Three weeks of sleepless nights culminates in one pitch to a panel of judges that includes representatives from Doctors Without Borders and the discussed country’s ambassador. The winning teams are announced at annual Awards for Excellence in Global Engagement Gala. Once the stress of competing fades, the reality of having to solve a countrywide health issue sets in.

2015 WINNERS Keith Phetlhe Kumba Gborie Kingsley Lims Nyarko Kingsley Antwi-Boasiako

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS *Editor’s note: Kate Clausen is in the writer’s sorority.

TAKING THE A GLOBAL INITIATIVE The Global Health Case Competition gives students the opportunity to solve health issues overseas. BY KAITLYN PACHECO PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KATE CLAUSEN, JAMES CONKLE, LAUREN DICKEY AND KUMBA GBORIE

backdrop | Spring 2016

t 9:30 a.m., the four members of Team Media for Health strode through the door of Baker 503 and captured the attention of everyone in the room. They exchanged knowing glances and murmured advice with one another as they walked down the aisle of folding chairs to take their spot at the front of the room. Their confident entrance cut through the nervous energy that had settled over the Global Health Case Competition (GHCC). The judges, who were mingling in the aisles, suddenly straightened their blazers and returned to their table in the middle of the conference room. Student photographers aimed their cameras at the four students who had taken control of the room. The team members aligned themselves in speaking order along the window-paneled wall, as their presentation, “Roll Back NCDs 4 a Healthier Botswana,” filled the screen. They swayed slightly as Vice Provost for Global Affairs Lorna Jean Edmonds explained they had 15 minutes to present their proposed solution to the 2015 case study — developing a response to the escalating rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Botswana. At the word ‘go,’ the four members of Team Media for Health took a collective breath and explained their proposal’s potential to change thousands of lives in Botswana. But their

In November 2014, 14 teams of Ohio University students competed in the inaugural GHCC. Of those teams, four undergraduate students stood out by proposing a holistic approach to lessening the incidence of vector-borne diseases in Guyana. After working together on case study projects and traveling to Vietnam through the Global Leadership Center, entering the first-ever GHCC seemed like a natural next step for Kate Clausen, Noah Rosenblatt, Seth Baker and Morgan Stanley. “We didn’t know anything about medicine or global health, but we knew how to really dig in and do research and talk to people and find out as much information as we could,” says Clausen, a senior studying organizational communication studies. The group began the two-week research process by identifying its goal: to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Stanley, who is currently working toward her master’s degree in political science, came across research that identified eucalyptus trees as viable resources for combatting water-related diseases. Planting eucalyptus trees that naturally consume large amounts of water can reduce the risk of malaria, which is transmitted by mosquitoes that breed in water. The team merged that idea with relatively new information that suggested carbon nanoparticles created by treating the charred remains of wood wool could be used in standing water to eliminate mosquito larvae. “We found our bits and pieces, and as we developed them, we noticed there was a natural cycle to it,” Clausen says. According to the winning proposal, the cycle of using eucalyptus trees begins with planting them in high-risk areas to decrease the amount of standing water. The trees would be routinely harvested

to ensure they do not negatively affect the native tree population. Lastly, the wood from the eucalyptus trees would be used to produce carbon nanoparticles that would be put back into the ecosystem. After tackling the environmental characteristics of its proposal, the team wanted to add an aspect of student and community involvement. It recommended that Ohio University build upon its partnership with the University of Guyana by creating new research collaborations and study abroad programs. “We knew that if we could get the government and the important parties in Guyana to want to do this, it would work,” Clausen says. “The methods had been proven; it was natural.” After winning the competition in November, they spent the next few months preparing to present their proposal to government officials in Guyana. The purpose of their two-week trip was not to get their hands dirty, but to create relationships with important stakeholders and educate them about an alternative way to combat vector-borne diseases. Vibert Cambridge, professor emeritus of Ohio University’s School of Media Arts and Studies and native of Guyana, has been a part of the university’s engagement with Guyana since 1989. While his main role was to facilitate the execution of the case study in Guyana, Cambridge was also one of the judges of the 2014 competition. “The winning team’s idea was a community project that tapped into the current development of thinking in Guyana,” Cambridge says. “It was not about pesticides or chemicals; it was about a strategy based on an organic approach in harmony with the environment.” Cambridge was also instrumental in arranging several meetings between the students and principal government officials in Guyana. The team had two meetings a day during the two-week trip and met with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Guyana and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They also met with persons from the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministries of Health, Education, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Guyana’s office of the president. Accompanying the team to each meeting were Tania Basta and Guyana native Calvin James, both of whom are professors at Ohio University. James began every meeting by introducing each student and the purpose of the team’s visit before giving the floor to the members to present their proposal. “Everyone we met with was blown away by the idea. Both the level of intricacy of the proposed solution and the team proposing

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LAST YEAR’S WINNERS Seth Baker Kate Clausen Morgan Stanley (3 of the 4 members)

it,” Rosenblatt says. “It was refreshing because they believed in us [students] despite our age.” The group also held open community forums for citizens and local organizations to provide feedback on an issue that affects their everyday lives. Rosenblatt says the most memorable meeting in Guyana was with Permanent Secretary McKenzie, whose position is immediately under the Minister of Natural Resources. “He loved the idea and immediately began taking action,” Rosenblatt says. “Instead of pointing us in another direction or directing us to speak with someone else, he called some of his colleagues to get actions into motion.” Although they hope their successful meetings with government officials will result in the implementation of a government program, they left Guyana knowing their proposal gave the local communities an innovative way to use their own ecosystem to combat vector-borne diseases. According to Cambridge, the university is planning a followup trip to Guyana this summer in which students from various disciplines will use GPS technology to map eucalyptus areas and establish long-term research initiatives. For the team of four students, the research and interest in the project did not end with the competition. The team recently started a business regarding the carbon nanoparticle research. Through fundraising from private investors and crowdfunding sources, the group obtained a provisional patent on its intellectual property that allows 12 months to solidify the patent. Rosenblatt says the next step is to create a team of researchers to lead the initial studies regarding the solution. “The biggest thing that I’ve learned from this whole experience is that an individual like [me] can make an impact on the world,” Clausen says. “And I want to.”

backdrop | Spring 2016

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS

Team Media for Health walked confidently into this year’s GHCC because they had something to make them stand out from competing teams — first-hand knowledge and experience with the issue being presented. The 2015 case study, which was to design a way to manage the growing number of NCDs in the African country of Botswana, hit close to home for winning team members Kingsley Antwi-Boasiako, Kumba Gborie, Kingsley Lims Nyarko and Keith Phetlhe. Phetlhe is from Botswana, Gborie is from Sierra Leone and both Lims Nyarko and Antwi-Boasiako are from Ghana. When the group members came together in the fall, they realized that while they represented a diverse range of ages and majors, they shared a personal goal of wanting to improve the quality of life in Botswana. When case study details were released on Oct. 19, the team immediately identified early detection and prevention as avenues to combat the spread of NCDs. Antwi-Boasiako explained the crisis best during the group’s presentation: NCDs are a public health emergency in slow motion. Chronic diseases that cannot be passed from one person to another, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes, account for 38 million deaths each year. The team found that NCDs claimed over 5,920 Botswanian lives in 2014, and most of those affected were not aware they had the illness until it was too late. Their resulting approach proposed the use of a government internship program, mobile clinics and a media campaign to reduce the number of people affected by NCDs. The proposal taps into in-country resources that can be used to educate local communities on how to detect and prevent the onset of NCDs. By taking advantage of an existing government-sponsored internship program, they could recruit volunteer interns to administer tests and distribute information about NCDs. That idea would require an agreement with Ministry of Health Republic of Botswana, but has the ability to educate more people about the causes of NCDs. “We found out that with HIV and AIDS, which is a communicable disease, that there were volunteers who were trained briefly [and] could perform basic testing,” Phelthe says during the group’s presentation at the GHCC. The team members also replicated communication strategies used in their native countries to minimize HIV and AIDS and applied them to the issue of NCDs in Botswana. The use of mobile clinics was one of those success stories, and they proposed strategically placing them to bring health care to remote communities. In order to garner community involvement and educate a younger demographic in Botswana, the team had the idea to create a 30-minute radio talk show. Each week on “You and Your Health,” doctors and other knowledgeable guests would discuss various topics related to NCDs such as detection, treatment options and prevention methods. Radio is the most popular type of media in Africa, and the team’s goal is to broadcast the show in English and Setswana to reach the most listeners as possible. Along with the weekly radio show, a minute-long, made-for-TV skit would be produced to further educate viewers about the dangers of NCDs. They relied on their own experiences, especially Phelthe’s, more than any textbook or database. For them, the case study was about more than developing a theoretical list of solutions — it was about

“

To be honest, from the word ‘go’ we were confident, because we actually knew the issue because we’ve actually been there; we’ve been a part of it.” KUMBA GBORIE A MEMBER OF THE 2015 WINNING TEAM finding a way to help people in their own communities. “To be honest, from the word ‘go’ we were confident, because we actually knew the issue because we’ve actually been there; we’ve been a part of it,” Gborie says. When the winning team was announced at the Awards for Excellence in Global Engagement Gala, Team Media for Health was not

alone onstage. Team Horizon, made up of team members Camille Smith, Kyra Hall, Jared Roese and Kira Remy, was announced as the second place team. The judges recognized similarities in the two teams’ proposals and extended the opportunity for Team Horizon to accompany Team Media for Health to Botswana in June. Both groups incorporated media outreach strategies, and the eight students will be working together during spring semester to integrate the best aspects of each proposal into one attainable plan. Although both teams’ proposals will change slightly as they combine them, each half of the partnership offers equally relevant ideas. Team Media for Health provides an innate understanding of how to align the group’s ideas with the current thinking of people in African countries, and Team Horizon brings a budding relationship with the CDC in Botswana. “This solution that we create is something that could ultimately make the greatest impact for people across the world,” Hall says. “That was ultimately our motivation through the whole thing — [not] just to say we did it, but to say we did it and now we get to work toward making a difference.” As the anticipation builds, they’re grounded by the thought of eight students from Ohio University producing a government program that could save thousands of lives in Botswana. “One of the major goals that I want to achieve is this idea that we have, this idea to roll back NCDs through prevention and early detection — I want to see that succeed in Botswana,” Gborie says. b

2015 SECOND PLACE WINNERS Camille Smith Kyra Hall Jared Roese Kira Remy

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FOOD

Dawg House In the

Owner Larry Young shares the history behind his classic restaurant. BY ZACH BERRY | PHOTOS BY BRIANNA GRIESINGER

henever their feelings of hunger begin to manifest, students at Ohio University do not need to travel far to find plenty of dining options Uptown. Court Street is home to a long list of eateries, and the list only grows longer with the introduction of each new restaurant. However, hidden in the west side of Athens is a restaurant that has operated for more than 50 years. Since 1964, Larry’s Dawg House has supplied hot dogs to hungry locals. The secret to the restaurant’s longevity is tied directly to its business philosophy of tradition. Larry’s Dawg House originated as a small hot dog stand owned by local businessman Ralph Leach. At the time, Leach was also the owner of a small grocery store. However, according to current restaurant owner Larry Young, Leach soon found the hot dog operation to be much more profitable. He shut down the grocery store and began selling hot dogs for nine months out of the year. The hot dog operation switched hands when Young acquired the business from Leach in 1972. Under Young’s management, the establishment widened both its menu and its operation. “I’ve expanded it since I owned it,” Young says. “I put all the inside seating in, did away with the walk-up window, and put the drive-thru in.” The design of the restaurant has changed very little since those adjustments were made. A bright red and yellow roof adorns the exterior of the building. Inside, the dining area is reminiscent of a classic, family-owned restaurant. Larry’s Dawg House’s atmosphere results in a time capsule effect, transporting customers back to the 1970s when they enter

backdrop | Spring 2016

for lunch or dinner. While the menu has items such as hamburgers and fish to increase variety during the winter months, the steamed hot dogs continue to be the main draw of the restaurant, according to Kelly Perry, a cashier who has worked at Larry’s Dawg House for 27 years. The restaurant offers its other specialty, ice cream, through the Mr. Softee Ice Cream Truck. The truck, owned by Larry’s Dawg House, caters ice cream to various events, especially during the summer months. Perhaps the most profitable change for Larry’s Dawg House arrived in the form of “Weenie Wednesdays.” Every Wednesday, Larry’s Dawg House offers hot dogs to customers for 99 cents. Although Young figured the weekly incentive would increase sales slightly, he says he was ultimately blown away by his customers’ responses. “They love ‘Weenie Wednesday,’ ” Young says. “I don’t know why, but they love it. I never dreamed that 99 cent hot dogs would be such an attraction!” In some ways, the brightly colored restaurant is an attraction of its own. Young says he often serves customers who come far and wide to dine at the eatery. “You’d be amazed how far they come from,” Young says. “There are people who come here every Sunday from Pomeroy. I can’t believe how far people drive! This place is not a drive-by; this is a destination.” Young says the customer base is mostly composed of local families whose members span across multiple generations. Joyce Collins has been a regular customer of Larry’s Dawg House for nearly 50 years.

“My grandparents always brought me here for a hot dog,” Collins says. “I’ve just always kept the tradition of eating good food.” One customer base that the restaurant still struggles to attract is Ohio University students. Before she began working there two years ago, Meredith Hamsher, a fifth-year senior studying community health services, didn’t even know Larry’s Dawg House existed. “During the summer, we’re actually busier when the students aren’t here,” Hamsher says. Hamsher and Perry attribute the lack of student customers to the restaurant’s distance from campus, but Young offers an additional explanation. “I think students like to deal with names they know,” he says. “They’re hesitant to deal with local businesses.” While many students choose to get their hot dog fixes at O’Betty’s Red Hot or Mike’s Dog Shack, Young views them not as competition, but rather as a separate niche market altogether. “O’Betty’s charges $3 for a hot dog,” Young says. “If I charge that, we wouldn’t have any customers!” The customers who are loyal to Larry’s Dawg House seem to be pleased with its commitment to client satisfaction and familyfriendly atmosphere. “Honestly, I think as long as Larry’s here, the place will be very successful,” Hamsher says. But, another change in ownership may be just around the corner; Young has expressed interest in retiring from the restaurant business in the near future. “I’m not a kid anymore,” Young says. “I’m not going to do this forever, so somebody else is going to have to take it over.” Just as Young continued and improved upon the success of Leach’s hot dog operation, the staff members at Larry’s Dawg House are confident that Young will be able to find an heir to continue the local favorites long legacy. “Even when he leaves,” Hamsher says, “I think as long as he leaves it to someone who has the same integrity as him, it will stay successful, and people will want to come back here.” b

“

This place is not a drive-by; this is a destination.” LARRY YOUNG RESTAURANT OWNER

RECIPE

TORTILLA DE PATATAS

(Recipe provided by Carmen Rodríguez of Cádiz, Spain)

INGREDIENTS:

7 potatoes (Backdrop used Russet potatoes) 4 eggs ½ onion 1 small green pepper olive oil salt

TOOLS:

2 frying pans of equal diameter (Backdrop used six inch pans) Note: Since most college students do not own a traditional deepfrying tortilla pan, substitute with skillets. Time to Make: 1 hr | 4-6 servings

DIRECTIONS:

Spanish Flavors BY CHEYENNE BUCKINGHAM | PHOTOS BY SARAH WAGNER

Spice up your kitchen with these international dishes.

entury-old bistros, bakeries and tapas bars line the historical streets of Seville, Spain. Restaurants, some older than the United States, offer traditional Spanish cuisine. One common dish found throughout Spain is tortilla de patatas or tortilla española, a quiche-like, potato

backdrop | Spring 2016

omelet that can be served for lunch or dinner. Of course, a trip to Spain would not be complete without a classic cup or two of café con leche to sip on at any time during the day. Students can enjoy these Spanish delicacies at home or at Sol Restaurant. b

First, peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices, about one centimeter thick. Next, cut the slices into small squares, place them in a bowl and add a dash of salt. Then, toss the potatoes into a frying pan laden with olive oil, place on the stove and turn on low heat. While the potatoes are frying, dice the green pepper and onion into small, thin pieces. When the potatoes start to feel soft, add the peppers and onions. While this is frying, beat the eggs in a separate bowl. After a few minutes, remove the veggies from the pan and drain them in a colander. Place the peppers, onions and potatoes in the same bowl as the eggs and then pour the mixture back into the pan. Cook for six to seven minutes. Grease the other frying pan, and use it to cover the pan containing the mixture. Slowly pick up the hot frying pans and flip. Cook for four to five minutes. If a fork easily goes through the potatoes, the tortilla is ready to serve.

CAFÉ CON LECHE

(Recipe provided by Sol Restaurant)

INGREDIENTS:

Snowville Creamery whole milk sugar Café Bustelo coffee grounds

TOOLS:

Stovetop espresso maker

DIRECTIONS:

Fill the bottom of the espresso maker with water. Place one scoop of coffee grinds into the middle section of the espresso maker and place on high heat until water boils. Next, pour just a splash of it into a measuring cup, filled with ¼ cup of sugar. Stir until a peanut butter-like consistency develops. Then pour the rest of the espresso slowly on top and gently stir. Fill a coffee mug up ¾ of the way with milk and then pour the espresso mix on top.

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PHOTO STORY

Discovering Andalucía WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY REBECCA ZOOK

Every winter break, the School of Media Arts and Studies sends a group of Ohio University students abroad to work on a documentary project and immerse themselves in another culture. This year, 10 students traveled to Seville, Spain, to script a documentary and write a short story adaptation over a 29-day period. The teams of two worked on documentary subjects ranging from fútbol to street musicians. b

View overlooking La Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

backdrop | Spring 2016

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ABOVE Integrated media major Rylee Axner was one of the 10 Ohio University students who traveled to Spain over winter break. She and her partner, screenwriting and producing major Marissa Donovan, investigated the popular myths and legends surrounding various locations throughout Spain.

backdrop | Spring 2016

TOP LEFT

ABOVE

The city of Seville is the capital of the Andalucía region, which stretches across southern Spain. It includes Seville, Granada, Málaga and everything in-between. The southwestern city is best known for the orange trees that line nearly every street. The Seville oranges are bitter in taste and primarily used in marmalade.

Junior Marissa Donovan sorts through photographs in Granada.

LEFT

The “NO8DO” symbol that can be found on everything from storm drains to taxis is the logo for the city of Seville. Meaning, “no me ha dejado” or “the city has not abandoned me,” the motto is said to have been given to the city by King Alfonso X for the loyalty of the citizens.

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INFOGRAPHIC

ON THE

BRICKS

Your guide to the upcoming events happening around Athens BY CHRIS MANNING AND EMILY MCINTYRE

MAC Tournament Starts March 7

Both the Ohio men’s and women’s basketball teams have a chance to make the MAC tournament the weekend after spring break. The tournament is in Cleveland, but if you’re in northeast Ohio, head to Quicken Loans Arena to cheer on the ’Cats.

Glow Golf Tournament Wednesday, March 9 On March 9, head to Golf Clubhouse for the secondever Glow Golf Tournament. From 9 p.m. until midnight, participants will play nine holes with clear golf balls with miniature glow sticks inside.

Green Beer Day

Wednesday, March 9

Miami may be green with envy that OU also celebrates this day-drinking tradition, but that won’t stop Bobcats from guzzling pints (or pitchers) at the uptown bars in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

backdrop | Spring 2016

Ohio Baseball Home Opener vs. IPFW Friday, March 11, 4 p.m. Last year, Ohio’s baseball had one of its best seasons ever. Catch its first home game of the 2016 season on March 11 against IPFW, a member of The Summit League.

Mill Fest Saturday, March 12 Partygoers clad in Ohio apparel and sports jerseys will flock to Mill Street to ring in fest season. Grab a red Solo cup and head to the nearest keg for some cheap beer and a wild time.

Cole Swindell

Friday, March 18, 8 p.m. at Mem Aud With multiple No. 1 hits such as “Let Me See Ya Girl” and “Chillin’ It,” heartthrob Cole Swindell has recently made his way to the top of the country music charts. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45.

Startup Weekend Athens March 18 - 20 The Ohio University Innovation Center invites individuals to pursue their passions for entrepreneurship. Pitch startups, receive feedback and present a collaborative business plan to a panel of judges.

Moms Weekend Choral Concert Saturday, April 2, 2 p.m.

Trying to avoid the mob of moms on Court Street? Tune in to The Singing Men of Ohio, Section 8, University Singers, Women’s Ensemble and Title IX at their free concert at Mem Aud. www.backdropmagazine.com

SPORTS

NICK KELLOGG Career Highs* Points: 26 (2x) Rebounds: 11 Steals: 5 Assists: 6 Blocks: 2 3-Pointers: 5 Field Goals: 11 In the 2014-15 season he started 21 games, shot 45.5 FG% , 36.8 3P% and 71.7 FT% with Batumi-RSU. In the 2015-16 season he’s started in 18 games, currently has a 34.9 FG% , 34.4 3P% and 82.5 FT% with Wikana Start S.A. Lublin. He was first on the team in points per game with 11.2 (minimum 10 games played). *ALL STATS AS OF FEB. 5, 2016 Source: www.RealGM.com

backdrop | Spring 2016

MAKING

STRIDES

OVER SEAS BY JUSTIN HOLBROCK PHOTOS PROVIDED BY NICK KELLOGG

After taking his game abroad, Nick Kellogg continues to stand out on the court.

s he walked off the court in St. Louis, Missouri, during the Sweet 16 round of the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament, Nick Kellogg realized his talent stood out on one of the sport’s biggest stages. “That was a pretty big moment for myself,” Kellogg says. “I mean people told me I was good. I didn’t really think I was that good.” Although Ohio lost that game in overtime to top-seeded North Carolina, it would become clear that Kellogg had underestimated his talent. Four years later, as he sits alone in his apartment in Lublin, Poland, he reflects back to that moment. His face is unshaven and he’s wearing a light gray hoodie with four green letters spelling out “Ohio” across the chest. It seems fitting that he’s bundled in that particular hoodie because he’s now more than 4,700 miles away from home. But being on his own is something Kellogg has gotten used to since graduating from Ohio University less than two years ago. After graduation, he decided to play basketball professionally on the heels of his senior season where he made the most 3-pointers in school history. Kellogg also finished as the all-time leader in 3-pointers made in Mid-American Conference history. Despite playing as a shooting guard in college, Kellogg’s 6-foot-2 frame limited him to playing point guard at the professional level, a position he hadn’t played since his senior year of high school a St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio.

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Without much hope of making an NBA roster after college, Kellogg packed his bags. At 23 years old, he signed a deal to play overseas in Batumi, a small port city that borders the Black Sea in the country of Georgia. His first experience living outside of Ohio came as a shock to Kellogg, who spent most of his life in Columbus and Athens. “I was scared about just being on my own, not knowing where to go, not knowing anything about anything to be quite honest,” Kellogg says. “I was just out there in the middle of a foreign country.” Kellogg began his professional career with Basketball Club Batumi, which is one of eight teams that competes in the Georgian Superliga. The league was founded in 1991 and BC Batumi won four straight championships from 1999-2002 and a fifth in 2004. One of the biggest challenges about playing for BC Batumi was that the majority of the players did not speak English, with the exception of two of Kellogg’s teammates. His coach, Mikhail Kobeshavidze, spoke even less English. “[He] knew literally like how to say ‘hello’ and … ‘bye’ and that was it,” Kellogg says. There was one thing, however, that made Kellogg feel more at home. “I think the way I dealt with it best was just, you know, trying to tell myself at the end of the day it’s basketball,” he says. “That’s what I love to do.” Despite being in a foreign country and communicating through a difficult language barrier, Kellogg didn’t miss a beat on the court. In his first season, Kellogg was selected to the Eurobasket.com Georgian League All-Imports Team and earned the opportunity to play in the 2015 All-Star Game. But the pieces of succeeding as a pro were already in place before Kellogg ever picked up a basketball. His dad, Clark Kellogg, was a Big Ten MVP at Ohio State University. Clark was drafted as the eighth overall pick in the 1982 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers and was selected as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds during the 1982–83 season. With his experience and expertise, Clark offered his son valuable advice on what it takes to play basketball at the professional level. “Being a pro is more than just performing on game night. It’s everything about your preparation, your mentality, how you give to your team, how you give to your teammates. There’s a lot to being a pro;

“

Being a pro is more than just performing on game night. It’s everything about your preparation, your mentality, how you give to your team, how you give to your teammates. There’s a lot to being a pro; that’s why very few can do it.” CLARK KELLOGG COLLEGE BASKETBALL ANALYST AT CBS

that’s why very few can do it,” Clark says. It’s been an adjustment, but the success Nick achieved in Georgia allowed him to take the next step in his basketball career. Following his first year, he moved to Poland where he joined MKS Start Lublin to play in a more competitive league. When he’s not on the court, Nick spends some of his time keeping in touch with his friends and family in the U.S. Although Poland is six hours ahead, Nick finds a way to talk to his mom every day. “He’s a momma’s boy, man,” Nick’s former Ohio teammate Treg Setty says with a smile. Nick doesn’t talk to his dad every day, but the two recently had a special moment of their own. Clark, now the lead college basketball analyst at CBS, was able to take time off from work during the third week of January to visit his son in Poland. Before he left for the trip, Clark was excited about spending the week with his son for more than just the opportunity to see him play basketball again. “I was looking at it more as just a dad being able to spend some time with his son who’s chasing his dream in a far away land,” Clark says. Thinking about seeing his son for the first time, Clark has only one thing on his mind. “I’ll give him a great big bear hug and hopefully he won’t break me in half. When he’s hugged me like this in moments before, he’s almost crushed me,” Clark says with a joy in his voice. “He’s a pretty big guy; I don’t think I’ll break him in half,” Nick says, smiling from ear to ear. Nick’s family may get to see him more often in the years to come, depending on his next career move. Although making an NBA roster isn’t attainable for him right now, playing in the U.S. is still a possibility. He has considered coming back and playing in the NBA’s Development League, also known as the D-League, which serves as a quasi-official minor league basketball organization of the NBA. The league started with eight teams in 2001 and now consists of 19 teams that are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team. Nick expressed concern that the money in the D-League isn’t as good as it is overseas. In the D-League, salaries remain flat at $13,000, $19,000 and $25,500 for the league’s three player classifications. For younger players, overseas salaries are typically thousands more than the D-League’s maximum salary.

Most overseas basketball players, including Nick, don’t have to pay taxes and their teams cover all expenses except food. He says if the money continues to be in a place that he’s comfortable with, it would be hard for him to turn that down. Playing in the D-League does have the benefit of being a part of an NBA organization, which opens the door to more exposure to NBA scouts and competing against other potential NBA players. Even with those perks, Nick is realistic when it comes to his future. “Those chances of being called up are still, you know, far and few between, because there’s so many good guys out there,” Nick says. When thinking about his son’s ability, Clark was reminded of a few current NBA players such as Spurs guard Patty Mills and Bulls guard Aaron Brooks who are both shorter than Nick at 6-feet tall. But to get to their level he said his son’s ball handling and his performance as a finisher when attacking the rim, must continue to improve in order to separate himself from a crowded field. “He’s got to develop as a point guard to have a chance to be an NBA player. Obviously, he’s got a really good shot. He’s a pretty tough kid; he defends well, but I think it’s just there are a lot of players like him in the NBA,” Clark says. While there’s always room for improvement, Nick’s ability on the court was evident during his time in Georgia and has carried over to his performance in Poland. As of Feb. 5, he leads Start Lublin in points, assists and steals per game. Life after basketball is something Nick also given a lot of thought to. “I definitely want to stay connected to the game in some form or fashion, whether that be coaching or, you know, actually following in my pop’s footsteps [sports broadcasting],” Nick says. Right now, however, Nick is focused on the present and playing the game that he loves. Joining the D-League is a viable option for him, although it remains to be seen where the former Ohio standout will be playing next season. “It’s hard to say where my heart’s leaning either one way or another, but I have enjoyed the overseas experience,” he says. Nick’s overseas experience may continue for years to come or end faster than his four years at Ohio University. But no matter what country or state he’s in, Nick will find a home at the same place he always has — on the basketball court. b

Ohio Basketball Alumni Abroad, Where Are They Now? JAVARAEZ ‘BEAN’ WILLIS Germany, Artland Dragons Senior stats in 2014-15: 14.8 points, 3.2 Assists per game

IVO BALTIC * Croatia, KK Cedevita Zagreb Senior stats in 2012-13: 6.9 points, 5 rebounds per game

D.J. COOPER France, AS Monaco Senior stats in 2012-13: 14 points, 7 assists per game

MAURICE NDOUR Spain, Real Madrid Senior stats in 2014-15: 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds per game

STEVIE TAYLOR Italy, Janus Basket Fabriano Senior stats in 2014-15: 7.6 points, 2.7 assists per game

REGGIE KEELY Slovakia, Espirit Kosice Senior stats in 2012-13: 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds per game *NO LONGER PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL

backdrop | Spring 2016

Statistics and headshots provided by Ohio Athletics.

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ENTERTAINMENT

BonjOUr, MARCHING 110

The most exciting band in the land packs its bags for France. BY ADAM MCCONVILLE | PHOTOS BY MADDIE SCHROEDER

r. Richard Suk, director of the Marching 110, stands at the bottom of a filling lecture hall in Schoonover Center. Around him, members of the band take their seats, chatting as they remove their band jackets and set their instruments aside. Dr. Suk taps the microphone clipped to his shirt, and the talking dies down. Grinning, he throws his arms wide. “Bonjour!” he drawls brightly — the band members laugh along with him. It’s not often that the Marching 110 members meet in an academic setting without using their instruments, let alone for a crash course in all things French, but the most exciting band in the land has to prepare to become the most exciting band on foreign shores. On May 1, the Marching 110 will begin its march to France, where it will give three performances over the course of 10 days. Joshua Boyer, the assistant band director, says the trip is the start of a two-year celebration for the Marching 110. In 1967, then-band director Gene Thrailkill made iconic changes to the band’s uniform style and song selection, reviving a traditional uniform while modernizing the music. “2016 is actually our 50th season,” Boyer explains. “So [the celebration] kicks off in 2016 and continues into 2017, which is the 50th anniversary. … We wanted to do another international trip, and … we thought Paris would be a place that we thought the students would really enjoy.”

backdrop | Spring 2016

The upcoming trip will not be the first time the Marching 110 takes its routine overseas. In 2013, the Marching 110 visited Dublin, Ireland, Rome, Italy, and even played a special performance at the Vatican. Kayla Theis, the head administrative assistant for the Marching 110 as well as a senior studying anthropology with an environmental studies certificate, attended that trip. “When I went to Italy and we went to tour the Vatican, honestly, I had no idea half the time what I was looking at,” Theis says. “We didn’t have the time really to sit and learn all the history and the significance of it all — why it was important and why it was built.” That is one of the reasons why this year, the Marching 110 members go to class together on Thursday nights. In partnership with the Office of Global Opportunities, the band directors created a course designed to educate students about their upcoming trip. Titled Wind Bands Abroad, the three-credit-hour course covers rudimentary French language skills and the history of the places the band will visit in addition to providing rehearsal time. The music selection for the Paris shows — one at the base of the Eiffel Tower and a half-mile solo parade through Disneyland Paris — incorporates high-energy, contemporary music similar to what the band plays at football games. At the Nor-

mandy American Cemetery, however, the band plans to play a more subdued selection of patriotic songs. But before the band can play anything, the 230 people on the trip must first arrive safely at their destination. The Marching 110 is working with the Office of Global Opportunities as well as a travel agency called Music Festivals to plan for student accommodations. The agency is responsible for coordinating hotels, meals, flights and bus transportation for band members and any parents who will be accompanying them on the trip. The organizers must be prepared for anything. Despite the excitement surrounding a trip abroad, the terrorist attacks in France have cast a shadow on the trip. The Charlie Hebdo shootings occurred on Jan. 7, 2015, almost two weeks before Dr. Suk announced the upcoming trip to France at the band’s end-of-season banquet on Jan. 19. In total, mass shootings and suicide bombings in France resulted in the deaths of over 150 people in 2015. Such events gave members pause, if only for a moment. “It made me a little nervous, obviously; it’s kind of a scary situation to go into,” says Blayne Weddington, a senior studying music education and the clarinet music section leader for the 110. “And I know my parents were a little nervous too.” The organizers of the trip do have a precedent from which they can draw in the event of an attack: in September of 2001, the Marching 110 postponed its visit to New York City because of the 9/11 attacks. The trip was rescheduled for two weeks later and the band played at the first New York Giants game after the attacks. Boyer stresses that if the university deems it unsafe for the band to go abroad, then it won’t. “It [will] definitely be something that we look at and continue to look at,” Boyer says. “If something were to happen, or any concerns be raised, we would go back and talk to the university.” Weddington and her family reached a similar conclusion. “We all sat down and talked about it,” she says. “We’re just going to keep an eye on what’s going on.” She believes the fact that she will be going on the trip with her brothers, who are also in the band, helped to ease her family’s worries. In addition to her biological family, Weddington will be among the close-knit community of her fellow Marching 110 members. Band members are expected to keep an eye out for one another when they explore Paris in between performances. “[The directors] just want us to be safe and look out for each other,” Weddington says. “We’re a huge family; it’s like having 250 brothers and sisters looking out for you.” The course and the trip add to the experience the Marching 110 members will have when their feet hit the ground in France by building upon the camaraderie they already share. Until then, they will learn together, practice together and hear more of Dr. Suk’s stories. As the band members listen on the first night of class, Dr. Suk explains his experience at Disneyland Paris while visiting France to map out the details of the trip. As he walked through the amusement park, he watched small performance groups draw excited crowds. That amused him, he says, because if visitors reacted so strongly to smaller groups, he couldn’t imagine their reactions to the most exciting band in the land. b

PAYING THEIR WAY A breakdown of the cost for one Marching 110 member to go to France*

Total Cost: $2,383

Program Fee: Airfare, airport

67% transfers, accommodations,

daily breakfast, welcome and farewell dinners, additional group dinner, in-country transportation, excursions and international medical health insurance Out-of-Pocket Costs:

24% Passport, personal expenses and not-included meals

9% Instructional & General Fees *The spring semester class (Wind Bands Abroad) is counted toward spring semester tuition for full-time students, so it is not included in the total cost.

Source: Office of Global Opportunities, Student Budget Worksheet

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ENTERTAINMENT

DEVELOPING A FOCUS One student rediscovers his passion while abroad. BY GABBY HOLLOWELL | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ROB BERRY

fter spending two and a half years studying the ins and outs of business and sitting through countless hours of accounting and economics, something unexpected happened to Rob Berry. While studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, last year, he developed a passion for photography that began to overshadow his interest in business. During the spring semester of his junior year at Ohio University, Berry ventured to Barcelona with the College of Business’s Global Consulting Program. Although he had his intentions set on expanding his horizons in the business world, Berry discovered that his passion for photography and music began to take center stage. In high school, Berry and his friends experimented with their parents’ digital cameras, and Berry picked up photography as a hobby. One of those friends, Ohio State University student Alex Broadstock, now has his own photography business and collaborates with Berry. Together, they photograph adventure-themed outdoor weddings in the summer. Berry and Broadstock grew up doing everything together, from playing soccer to attending concerts. “It wasn’t until later that we developed a love for photography,” Broadstock says. “Rob’s parents bought a digital single-lens reflex camera, and we spent one snow day exploring a train yard and taking photos. I always think back to that day as the catalyst of our obsession with photography.” Several years later, Berry convinced Broadstock to pursue photography as a vocation and start his own business. “I took him alongside me to all the weddings I shot, and he slowly began to find a deep passion for photography as well,” Broadstock says. “It was a very organic discovery.”

backdrop | Spring 2016

When Berry started at Ohio University, he chose to major in business, a subject that would give him a wide range of options when choosing a career path. Prior to leaving for Barcelona, Berry purchased his first professional-grade camera, a Canon EOS 6D. With his new camera in tow, Berry attended several music festivals and concerts while in Spain. His photographs were published on two blogs: A Music Blog, Yeah? (AMBY), a small startup blog focusing on independent, up-and-coming alternative bands, and Your EDM, which focuses on electronic dance music. Your EDM is the most-trafficked EDM website in the United States. On those blogs, Berry showcases his photos alongside contributors’ concert reviews, concert coverage and interviews with musicians at shows worldwide. Between the two blogs, Berry has the opportunity to photograph many different artists and attend concerts for free. Berry also writes for the blog of Prime Social Group, the promotion company that produces Number Fest and Country Night Lights. Sydney Sevdalis, Prime Social Group’s press coordinator, is a fan of Berry’s talents. “Rob’s photography and writing skills make him a double threat in the music world. He’s a fantastic guy with a great sense of humor and an admirable work ethic,” Sevdalis says. While studying in Spain, Berry traveled to Seville for a weekend and attended a concert where a band known as The Prussians noticed his work. “I just went up to the front with my camera and started taking pictures,” Berry says. “It was a smaller show, so there were no press passes. I talked to [the band] after the show, got their contact information, and sent them the photos. They really liked them.”

Berry used the photos he took at the show to apply to become a photographer for AMBY. The blog’s owner, Alicia Atout, was instantly impressed with his work. “He knows how to capture a moment,” Atout says. “The quality of his work always looks incredible.” While in Barcelona, Berry photographed several shows, including Abroad Fest, Odesza and a Two Door Cinema Club DJ set. After experiencing life behind the camera at various shows, Berry admits being a photographer is nothing compared to the experience of being an audience member. “I don’t know that I enjoy the show in the same way as if I was in the audience,” Berry says. “I’m just so focused up there; it’s like a different world. I’ve gone to see a band as a spectator, and then when I finally get to shoot them, it’s completely different.” With graduation only a few months away, Berry is still wondering where his career path will take him. His career goal is to own his own business, but in the sense that he would work exclusively with musicians. “I really like interacting with the artists,” he says. “So if I could do something where I could follow around an artist and document their whole life, I think that would be the coolest thing ever.” For a short-term goal, Berry is interested in finding a way to tie business and his love of photography into a viable career choice, such as a creative marketing job. “I know there’s money in business,” Berry says. “I can take a regular marketing job and make a lot more money than I would with photography. But photography is so much more rewarding for me.” Even after rediscovering his passion, Berry never gave thought to changing his major or pursuing a degree in photography. “I’m not sure that if I came into this school wanting to be a photography major that I’d know as much as I do now,” he says. “I think the passion and the drive alone made me want to watch a billion YouTube videos until I learned everything I could, rather than learn-

ing it in a structured environment.” Like any hobby, photography takes practice. While in Spain, Berry’s goal was to post a photo each day to Facebook and Instagram. “You’re forced to create,” Berry says. “The demand to do it all the time is what made me better.” Broadstock believes that a photographer such as Berry can only get better by continually practicing and gaining real world experience. “I think his trips abroad have also inspired him to shoot more and edit more, which developed his skills tremendously,” Broadstock says. The saying “practice makes perfect” held true for Berry; the more he practiced, the better he became. Soon, he attracted the interest of bands and other musicians. “I started getting good and realizing I had some value because artists would then find me and say, ‘You were there? Can we use your photos?’ and that was something crazy for me,” Berry says. Another friend of Berry’s, Jared Ruschmann, watched Berry’s love for photography grow since they were in high school. Not only did he see the beginning of Berry’s talent for photography, but he also had the opportunity to travel with him and watch his passion take form. “I feel like I have traveled the world with Rob. From sleeping on planes, in cars, in hotels … and walking around places no one will ever see in their lifetime was a crazy experience,” Ruschmann says. “I truly think he has found his calling in photography. He loves music, and he loves to travel and take photos.” Although photographing music festivals is something Berry currently does on the side, he hopes to continue his passion. “[The field] is really saturated, and there are kids like me doing it for free, so why would anyone pay me?” Berry says. “Getting into shows for free is worth it for me. I love music, so I would be going to these shows and festivals anyway. I love photography, so I might as well get closer.” b

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Abroad Ailments

VOICES

BY BRIANNA GRIESINGER

Two Backdroppers share the horrors of getting sick abroad. PHOTOS BY REBECCA ZOOK AND RAM PRASAD HUMAGAI

BY CHEYENNE BUCKINGHAM

I am dying. That’s the only plausible explanation for why I am feeling like this. My chest is tight and aching, and my throat feels like it has been gradually closing since I arrived. No oxygen seems to be traveling to my lungs. Worst of all, I feel like I am losing sight of myself. The year 2015 was by far the most challenging of my life, and I thought traveling abroad to Spain over winter break would serve as the pivotal moment in my junior year that would end the poor health streak I have been riding first class on since January. But instead I felt numb, confused and defeated. My story begins on Christmas Eve. I asked two of my girlfriends if they would take a taxi with me to Hospital Fátima, which was only about a mile and a half across town. I had not been able to breathe fully and deeply for the past four days. When I reached the front desk, I desperately said in broken Spanish, “I cannot breathe well and I need help.” After some paperwork, I got into a room where I explained to the doctor, to the best of my abilities, that I thought I might have allergies. A smile of acknowledgement spread across his face, and

backdrop | Spring 2016

he held up his hand, making pumping motions with his thumb. A shot, I thought. Needles never bugged me. But when he brought the fake shot to his butt, my badass demeanor plummeted. In Spain, there is no personal space. Or privacy, I soon learned. With the door wide open and an incredibly attractive doctor watching me, I had to pull down my pants in order to get a large needle inserted into my left butt cheek. After that whole endeavor, I picked up an allergy medication. Luckily, there were plenty of pharmacies on my street; however, many were closed on Christmas Eve. Breathing heavily and limping from a terribly stiff butt cheek, I finally found one open about a mile around the block. Ah relief, I thought. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning of my decline in Spain. I woke up feeling even worse than I did the day before. I struggled to take a deep breath, I couldn’t eat much and it felt as though I was hit by a semi-truck. I decided to go on a 30-minute walk to relax. When I came back, I climbed the four dreaded flights of stairs to get to my room, and before I could make it to the bed I collapsed onto the hardwood floor. Cue hospital trip number two. I was prescribed an inhaler, which I again picked up at the pharmacy. Unfortunately, the only pharmacy that was open did not have the proper prescription, so instead she gave me an inhaler with a smaller dosage and told me to take four puffs every 12 hours. Easy. All was well, until I took my third round of four puffs and went into an uncontrollable shaking spasm. I really couldn’t breathe, my face was crimson red and my body was so cold that it felt like I was submerged in the Arctic Ocean. Somebody just kill me. I sat in a wheelchair at a new hospital and waited to be seen by a doctor. I looked like I just skied down the slopes of Mount Everest, wearing three layers of clothes with a face the color of a burner on high heat. In the room I begged for a chest x-ray, and I got it. “Bronquitis,” the doctor muttered in Spanish. Gee, I never recovered from the case of bronchitis I had over Thanksgiving break. Feliz Navidad to me. I finally got the antibiotics I needed and by the time New Years Eve rolled around, I gathered enough strength to enjoy the night with my friends. Coming down with an ailment abroad is not, by any means, ideal. However, it helped me get back in touch with my inner strength, and I could not be more grateful for that. And it sure makes one hell of a story. b

Travel is not glamorous. That’s the best way I can possibly describe the summer I spent in Nepal. Living in the small, landlocked country tucked between China and India came with a whole slew of challenges, but nothing could compare to the day I encountered a Nepali ice cube. Stepping into Nepal is like stepping into the past. There are no paved streets and no street names. Air pollution from the dirt roads and lack of a garbage removal system makes it hard to breathe, especially considering the high elevation. Nepal is home to Mount Everest, a huge trekking industry, and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. It’s a third-world country that cuts electricity nationwide for hours each day and all running water throughout the cities makes both tourists and locals sick. After about a week of living in the capital, Kathmandu, I started to venture out on my own. I needed to learn the bus system so that I could get to and from my internship office at the Kathmandu Post in the Kantipur district of the city. The buses were, to some extent, unpredictable and my incountry guides weren’t much help as they drove their own motorbikes. So, left to my own devices, I headed to the nearest main road. I looked for the golden buses I was told to scout out on the left side of the road near the temple with the old dogs. I was not entirely sure of where I was going or how I would get back home. I paced back and forth on the street, from one bus to the next, afraid to stray too far. Desperate for an excuse to do anything but actually get on a bus, I found a sweet little coffee shop on the side of the road.

After all, what better than to have a drink in a café, break out my journal, and write down the inner panic I was experiencing? A honey melon smoothie? Sounds great! I wrote in my journal as I peacefully sat in the corner, examining the small café cluttered with businessmen and teenagers. I sipped my drink but it was so unbearably hot outside that I just couldn’t take the overwhelming sweetness of the honey. I needed something to rinse away the syrupy taste that filled my mouth, so as innocently as could be, I used my straw to push an ice cube to the top of my glass. With my dirty fingers, I pulled it out and plopped it straight in my mouth. Ew, I thought to myself. That tastes funny. I figured the ice must’ve been frozen in a freezer with a strange smell. Regardless, I couldn’t stay there all day hiding, putting off my dreaded bus experiment. I packed up my bag and headed on my way. OK, I have to do this. I already took a break from the heat — it’s now or never. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself, I still didn’t want to. I was so nervous my stomach started to churn. Get on the bus. I don’t feel good. What if I get lost? It’s going to get dark soon. Just get on the bus. If you go home now you can ask for more details on the bus instructions again in the morning, but if you go home now you will have failed your only goal of the day: to make it to the office. Just do it, take a leap of faith and get on the bus, if nothing more it’ ll be another Nepali learning experience. Crap. I really, really don’t feel good. No, I need to go home. Forget the bus. Get home. Now. Uh oh. Hang in there, Bri. You’re so close to home. It’s okay, focus, you got this. Shit … is this really happening? It just happened. It just started to happen. Yes, I was still walking home. Yes, there were people in the streets. I had to bow my head and just face the fact that this was happening. There I was, unwillingly crapping myself in public, an uncontrollable display of shit. Hey, it’s Nepal right? People do gross things like this in the street everyday. OK maybe not this gross, and especially not in this neighborhood, the home to the Prime minister of Nepal among others of the nation’s wealthiest. If I had any sense of control over what my bowels decided to do that day, you better believe I would’ve done all I could not to look like that foreign girl. And yet there I was, covered in the results of swallowing that lone Nepali ice cube. All I was left with was one final prayer that no one would be home when I showed up. I walked in the big blue gate and directly into the shower, clothes and all. I scrubbed my body head to toe and went to bed, grateful that I didn’t run into any of my housemates. For months I didn’t tell anyone; I was too embarrassed to even bring it up. And so that is the story of that one time in Nepal when I crapped my pants in public all thanks to one tiny, evil ice cube. But hey, shit happens. b

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PHOTO HUNT

EXHIBIT A

EXHIBIT

PHOTO HUNT PHOTO BY REBECCA ZOOK

From Scotland to Senegal, four students share their experiences abroad through photography.

Find the differences between these photos of an Ohio University student posing with alpacas in Ecuador.

1 Chris Walter // Morocco

3 Macy DiRienzo // New Zealand

Bre Thomas // Scotland

McKenzie Powell // Senegal

backdrop | Spring 2016

McKenzie Powell // Galapagos Islands

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b BACKDROP

Office of Global Opportunities

Experience The

GET INVOLVED WITH

Backdrop is an entirely student-run lifestyle magazine. Gain real world experience by taking part in any of our departments: Editorial •Design Photography •Advertising Marketing •Video •Web Business •Public Relations Join us for our regular meetings in Scripps every Tuesday @ 8 p.m.

Email Us! General Inquiries: backdropmag@gmail.com Web questions: backdroponline@gmail.com Editorial questions: backdropmag@gmail.com Advertising questions: backdropadvertising@gmail.com

World How many people from other countries do you know? What countries and cultures do you want to learn about? Where do you want to go?

NOW

is the time for you to: * Plan when YOU will travel abroad. * Meet OHIO students from around the world. * Look into our International Studies programs. * Learn another language. * Join an international student group. * Learn more about the Global Leadership Center programs. * Get to know your fellow Bobcats from around the world. * Take advantage of the numerous Global Opportunities available to you at OHIO.

Design questions: backdropmag.creative@gmail.com Photography questions: photo.backdrop@gmail.com

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For more information, please visit: www.ohio.edu/global

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1-4pm No Appointment Necessary!

nal o i t a n INter

d e s a b & Us rams Prog

Or stop by the Walter International Education Center (next to Baker Center) or the Yamada International www.backdropmagazine.com House (at the top of Jeff Hill)

47 ohio.edu/goglobal

2016

2016 - Top 100 Brewers in the World

2016 - Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Brewery, Brewpub and Taproom

backdrop | Spring 2016 25 Campbell Street

Taproom

Athens, Ohio 45701

BrewPub

22 West Union Street Athens, Ohio 45701

@jackieosbrewery | www.jackieos.com