Vol. 12 Issue 4

backdrop magazine

SPRING 2019

LEADING

OHIO

Pg. 12

SOUTHERN, SAVORY and

SWEET Pg. 18

CAMOUFLAGE

P. 24

Letter from the Editor

Julie Ciotola | Editor-in-Chief backdropmag@gmail.com

I remember walking into my first Backdrop meeting as a shy freshman with no clue what I wanted to do or what I wanted to write. I had been to a slew of student publication meetings and knew I hadn’t found my place yet, and I was desperately hoping that this magazine would be different. Five minutes into the meeting, I knew I was at the right place — and I haven’t left since.

It feels like just a few months ago I was working as a staff writer, but here I am finishing my final issue as editor-inchief. This was a challenging and rewarding year for our entire staff (and one of the most rewarding of my life), and I believe our content reflects that.

In each issue, we’ve had writers push themselves to investigate issues, dig through documents and find hidden stories in Athens.

This issue, assistant copy chief Avery Kreemer broke down the complexity of Ohio’s heartbeat bill by combing through coverage and materials and speaking to state senators (p. 38).

We’ve had designers spend hours on illustrations, turning visions into reality. Creative Director Jessica Koynock did just that for this issue’s infographic on sleep (p. 20). And we’ve had photographers up at 5:45 a.m. shooting the images showcased in this issue’s story on Air Force ROTC (p. 22).

There are countless examples of the Backdrop team’s outstanding dedication to journalism. It amazed me as a freshman, it amazed me as an editor, and it’s the reason this publication will always have a special place in my heart.

Though I am lucky to have another year left in Athens, I will dearly miss our senior staff members and the late nights spent at production eating Insomnia cookies. I am confident that next year Backdrop will continue to grow as a publication, especially under the guidance of incoming editor-in-chief Ally Lanasa.

I hope you enjoy our final issue of the year, and if you’re leaving town for the summer, enjoy the warm months.

Athens will have a place for you when you return.

Happy Summer!

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SPRING 2019 » VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4

Contact Alecia Moquin 740.592.5262 or 740.591.6498 alecia@diversifiedproperties.net

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backdrop magazine

b

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JULIE CIOTOLA MANAGING EDITOR ALLY LANASA WEB EDITOR MICHAELA FATH COPY CHIEF LIZ HARPER ASSISTANT COPY CHIEF AVERY KREEMER ASSOCIATE EDITORS ALEXIS MCCURDY, ELEANOR BISHOP, GRACE DEARING, HALEY RISCHAR, LILLI SHER COPY EDITORS ELENA GOLUBOVICH WRITERS JESSICA DEYO, RACHAEL BEARDSLEY, RYLIE MILLER, SAMANTHA GOOD DIRECTOR OF MEMBER RELATIONS CORINNE RIVERS PUBLISHER ABIGAIL MULLIGAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA KOYNOCK ART DIRECTORS JYLIAN HERRING & MADDIE SCHROEDER DESIGNERS ABBY SUMMERS, ASHLEY LAFLIN, HALEIGH

CONTINO, JESSICA COORS, KAITLIN HENEGHAN, KALEIGH BOWEN, MAGGIE WATROS, MEGAN SYER, MORGAN MEYER, SAMANTHA MUSLOVSKI PHOTO EDITOR MAX CATALANO ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR KISHA RAVI PHOTOGRAPHERS BAXTER TURAIN & CAMILLE FINE MARKETING DIRECTOR KENDALL SCHMUCKER SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS ASHLEY LAFLIN, NATALIE MATESIC, SARAH TODAK

Want to advertise Interested in in Backdrop? working with us?

Send an email to backdropadvertising@gmail.com to get started.

SEE "TWO

Stop by one of our weekly meetings at 8 p.m.

Tuesdays in Schoonover 380.

FOLD" PAGE 32

Twins Ella and Rylie Cress share a smile during a playful moment. Photo by Camille Fine.

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backdrop | Spring 2019

Follow us!

Twitter & Instagram @BackdropMag

CONTENTS FEATURES EXCEEDING STANDARDS

There's more to Air Force ROTC cadets than meets the eye.. . . . . . . . . . . 22

WASTED YOUTH

Ohio's passage of the drinking age law in 1982 altered OU's well-known fest season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Q&A

PHOTO STORY

KINDRED SPIRITS

TWO FOLD

A new natural foods grocery store seeks to promote healthy living in Athens. .. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A look inside the daily life of twins Ella and Rylie Cress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

THE DROP

CALENDAR

BRANDING THE BRICKS

ON THE BRICKS

Red Tail Design crafts orignial logos and art for local businesses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Welcome summer with these events happening in Athens.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

IT'S IN THE ARCHIVES

SEX & HEALTH

OU archivist and historian Bill Kimok shares stories through artifacts and materials housed in Alden Library .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

SHE LEADS OHIO

Certificate program gives participants the skills and tools to excel in the workplace with confidence and courage.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

FOOD

POUR YOUR HEART OUT

Donkey Coffee barista Ken Jackson exhibits passion and sincerity with each cup of coffee he serves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

FINE DINING, GREATER IMPACT

Cover photo by Maddie Schroeder.

Zoe offers fine dining options and extends its impact beyond the restaurant industry to serve the Athens' community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

THE LIFE OF A HEARTBEAT BILL

What to know about the life of Ohio's most recent Heartbeat Bill.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX

Misconceptions about sex therapy run rampant, but here's the scoop .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

HISTORY

MASCOT MYSTERY

OU's first female mascot shares her experience as the historic Bobkitten, established in 1967 during a hall council meeting .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

VOICES

LEAN ON ME

RECIPE

Four Backdroppers reflect on their personal experiences during this year's spring break OU Civil Rights Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Curb those summer cravings with Backdrop's recipes for sangria and shrimp kebabs.. . . . . . 18

EXHIBIT A Art Director Maddie Schroeder showcases

KA-PEACH? KA-PEACH.

INFOGRAPHIC SLEEP REMEDIES

Sleep experts and studies suggest bedtime habits to improve quality of sleep.. . . . . . . . . . 20

SPRING 2019 » VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4

photos from the Arnold Classic expo . . . . . . . . 46

PHOTO HUNT Spot the five differences between these photos

at the Alden Library archives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

www.backdropmagazine.com

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Q&A

KINDRED Spirits

A local family hopes to use its fullservice natural foods grocery store to inspire its hometown to make health conscious decisions.

BY LILLI SHER | PHOTOS BY BAXTER TURAIN

WHAT IS KINDRED MARKET’S MISSION? The mission is to promote healthy living, [to promote] a healthy lifestyle in individuals and in the community, to promote local business and local producers. You know, cottage industry folks, produce producers, meat producers.

And [to] try to grow the local economy too; to have a positive impact.

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR FAMILY PLAY IN KINDRED MARKET?

My mother and my sister are business people, they’re entrepreneurs. My mother’s opened up a couple of different companies over the years. She owns Career Connections now, it’s a staffing agency, and my sister runs Career Connections as the general manager. … They’re just very talented businesswomen, and they really wanted to get behind the project. My brother is super into nutrition education [and] nutrition science, and that was something that was just born out of his own interests and things… so he was really into the idea too. As a group, we just tossed it around a lot, and then we were always saying that if we could find the perfect location for the store, then we would all try to jump on it and do it. And this was the location that we all talked about. Just the proximity to the east side, and being on East State Street, the huge parking lot, all of those things just made it seem sort of perfect.

RILEY KINNARD

R

iley Kinnard, who will soon be the general manager of her family’s Kindred Market located at 284 E. State Street, says she grew up in Athens during the “locavore movement,” which was when people began to consciously consume local foods. Her experience working for an organic food co-op in southern California inspired her to open a natural foods grocery store in her hometown. Kinnard, an Ohio University alumna, says the market is expected to open later this year.

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WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN KINDRED IN ATHENS?

We all live here. My family has kind of a unique family situation in that we all grew up here and we all chose to stay and grow roots here. We also all live on the same 80 acres. It’s a little much, I know, and nobody really had this as their plan, but it works out great. So we all have families here, we care about the community a great deal, and because we’re all going to be here, there was this itch to do something together that could leave a lasting impact on the community for good, so that’s why…we chose to open in Athens.

(L-R) Jeremy, Riley and Kristi Kinnard in front of Kindred Market, an enterprise that Riley is spearheading. The store will focus on organic and local food items for their produce, grab-and-go style meals, meat, herbal tinctures, alkalized water and bulk items ranging from cleaning supplies to coffee.

WHAT KIND OF ITEMS WILL YOU SELL AS A SPECIALIZED HEALTH FOODS MARKET? Everything will be natural. We’re super focused on organic.

All the produce will be organic, and I think the only time it won’t be organic is if it’s a local provider or producer who’s maybe not organically certified, but still uses sustainable practices. So, a mostly organic, natural foods store that’s focused on local and regional products as much as possible. …

We’ll have a really extensive bulk foods section, about 25 feet of bulk foods fixtures. We’ll have a cafe on the other side of the vestibule where we’ll do espresso drinks and have limited pastries. There’s a lot of bakeries on this street, [so] we don’t necessarily need to try and fill that void. But we will have a grab-and-go style kind of eatery where we won’t be making anything made-to-order, but we will be preparing fresh salads, soups [and] sandwiches on a daily basis…and we’ll have frozen foods and dairy. We’ll be a full-service grocery store.

Another cool thing we’ll have is a reverse osmosis and alkaline water machine. So, you come and fill up your jugs of water with really fresh, clean water, and alkalized water is a big thing. … It’s changing the pH of your body [and] helps fight all sorts of diseases and health problems. And then we’ll have a

cool health and beauty section, wellness [and] apothecary kind of area … The store is going to be really focused on promoting a zero-waste lifestyle, or at least plastic-free and less packaging, as much as we can. I mean, there’s a lot of products that we will be purchasing that are packaged, of course, but that’s why we’ve really wanted to go big on the bulk department in that we hope people will be reusing containers and bringing their own things for like health and beauty aids and cleaning supplies and things.

WHEN IS THE KINDRED MARKET EXPECTED TO OPEN?

April [or] May is a good time to open in my mind, anyway, even though it seems way late as to what our original plan was, because people are getting motivated and excited to be outside again. I really hope we’ll have a lot of foot traffic in the neighborhood, and people will come and check it out on bikes and also local growers and producers will have much more produce for us to sell and hopefully stock here. …

With the amount of excitement and encouragement we’ve gotten from the community, it would be really a bummer to disappoint people, so we want to do it right. b

www.backdropmagazine.com

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THE DROP Local designer creates visual identities for local businesses and organizations.

Branding THE BRICKS

BY MICHAELA FATH | PORTRAIT BY MAX CATALANO PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TIM MARTIN

A

thens native Tim Martin and his multifaceted design shop, Red Tail Design Company, have taken businesses, events and community groups to the next level, providing modern design concepts recognizable to almost anyone in southeastern Ohio.

Since opening his shop in 2016, Martin has developed websites, logos, signature prints and more for local projects and groups of all sizes.

Some of his most distinguishable projects include beer signs and menus for Jackie O’s, the Athens Chamber of Commerce’s website and logo, menu boards and tap handles for Donkey Coffee and Espresso and stainless steel products for Fluff and Court Street Coffee.

“My company has made me grow closer with a lot of business owners; we’ve become friends with a lot of people,” he says. “Athens is an especially supportive community. It’s been great for us to work together and help each other out.”

After graduating from Ohio University’s design program in 2010, Martin began work at Diagnostic Hybrids Quidel, an Athens biotech company, before later moving to Electronic Vision, a local web design and graphic design company established in 1985.

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One of Red Tail’s most notable projects was rebranding Ohio Brew Week’s website and logo.

The owners of Electronic Vision named Martin a senior graphic designer before eventually handing the business over to him as their company aged. Martin worked to rebrand Electronic Vision, and in 2016 Red Tail Design was born.

For Martin, his time at OU was invaluable in the development of his design and typography skills. He carried those skills and Electronic Vision’s legacy to Red Tail Design, where all current employees have an OU background as of 2019.

Martin has maintained strong relationships with a number of his previous professors, and he looks for recommendations from them for interns or new hires.

“Athens is slowly getting younger.

A lot of the older business owners are kind of moving out or retiring, but the demographics are really changing,” Martin says. “There are a lot of young, fresh ideas that are moving into the town.”

As Red Tail Design began to emerge in the area, Martin’s retail clothing shop, Ohio is Home, grew as well. What was once a small business that began in his Athens guest bedroom grew into a successful company of Ohio-themed apparel and accessories.

The Ohio is Home storefront was originally located in the front half of Red Tail Design’s location on Columbus Road. But as the company’s success grew rapidly over the last few years, Martin made the decision to establish a separate Ohio is Home storefront at 43 S. Court St. “The quality of our work is really just what has helped us grow on its own,” he says. “A lot of word of mouth and just us posting our quality work on Instagram. We’ve picked up work from out of state and out of country, so that’s just sort of organically grown for us.”

One of the biggest clients Martin has worked with is Brandon Thompson, the executive director of Ohio Brew Week and one of the main organizers

of the Athens Halloween Block Party on Court Street.

Red Tail Design developed an entirely new website for the Halloween Block Party and revamped the previous Ohio Brew Week website. Thompson says Martin and his employees were happy to listen to every idea Thompson had and successfully improved the navigation and overall presentation of both websites.

“I think that more people should look into the Red Tail Design Company,” Thompson says. “They have been taking on a lot of projects in the area because they really are passionate about improving local businesses and parts of Athens with their work. They want to be involved with projects that the locals care about.”

As for the future, Martin says Red Tail Design is currently at full capacity with the amount of work his staff can handle, but he hopes his company will continue to grow.

“The philosophy of design is really how to think and how to problem solve,” Martin says. “By just learning how to think the right way… [that] was a huge part in developing my career and creating a successful business.” b A wooden engraving for ACEnet, a community based economic development organization.

Tim Martin poses for a portrait..

www.backdropmagazine.com

9

THE DROP

The archives keep paper records of every student who attended the university in the 1800s on those notecards.

IT’S IN THE

archives

The ninth edition of Encyclopedia Britannica from the late 19th century. The archives hold rare books up to 800 years old in their climate-controlled back room.

OU’s archivist strives to find and teach the human side of history.

BY RACHAEL BEARDSLEY | PHOTOS BY MAX CATALANO

F

or William Kimok, history is at its best when it has a personal touch.

When Kimok gets to use archival materials to teach students about the human side of history, he considers his role as university archivist a success. For him, the most important part of history is what it can tell us about ourselves.

“I’ve had students tell me they hate

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backdrop | Spring 2019

history,” Kimok says. “I don’t know how you can hate history. It’s an inanimate thing, and you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for … the history of the people that came before you.”

The wide range of artifacts, records and objects in Ohio University’s Archives and Special Collections is staggering. The moving shelves in Alden Library’s Mahn Center house

rare books alongside records and photos from the university’s history.

As OU’s archivist, Kimok organizes and oversees the Mahn Center’s mass of materials. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees in history from the State University of New York at Albany before coming to OU for a doctoral degree. He never completed his Ph.D.

“As passive as this sounds, [the Ph.D] didn’t happen, meaning that … I just wasn’t up to that many more years in college,” Kimok says. “But at the last part of my graduate career here … I got a gig here in the archives as a student assistant to the records manager.”

Kimok became OU’s first official archivist in 2003. Though the university had employed many different archivists, no one was working solely on OU history until Kimok took the job, a role he has held for 16 years.

Kimok says his favorite part of the job is teaching. He enjoys working with the archives and special collections, but the job wouldn’t be rewarding if he were stuck on his own all the time.

“To me, even though it’s neat to be around old things and learn about history, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun, and probably not fun at all after a while, if I couldn’t use these historical items, this historical knowledge, to instruct students and help them to learn,” Kimok says. “Everything I do, I really try to gear it toward teaching.”

Hannah Reynolds, a student worker in the archives, says Kimok is an invaluable resource for people who want to know more about OU history.

She says that, chances are, he knows the information a person needs. And if he

“

“[History] isn’t just memorizing and regurgitating; It’s thinking critically.”

WILLIAM KIMOK, OHIO UNIVERSITY’S ARCHIVIST doesn’t, he’ll take the time to find it.

“He’s really an educator in Ohio University things,” Reynolds says of her experience. “If you need to know about something that happened at OU, you go to Bill to learn.”

Kimok helps students learn in a variety of roles. He is the instructor and academic adviser to students in his section of the University College class Mastering the University Experience.

The class helps undecided first-year students find a major and adjust to college life. He also teaches around 50 or 60 times a year when professors bring their students into the archives for workshops. On those days, Kimok focuses on showing students that primary sources are more than just newspaper articles and journal entries— they are firsthand accounts of life.

Kimok often teaches about women’s history at OU. He uses old student handbooks to illustrate the differences in education based on sex. Women had 76 pages of rules, curfews and

Ohio University Archivist William Kimok sits in the reading room on the fifth floor of Alden Library.

dress codes; whereas the men’s handbook had only 29 pages. He says men were taught to be scholars; women were taught to be ladies.

The archives also contain a wide range of artist books, or books that tell a story in a nontraditional, often nonlinear, way. For example, “How to Transition on Sixty Three Cents a Day” is an artist book by an Oregon-based author that tells the story of his gender transition through a collection of postcards.

“So many books from the old days are just old white men, and we want to have more stuff in our library, more connection to life as it really is, so that gives us a chance to get away from just one group of people,” Kimok says.

One part of the archives that Kimok is often approached about is The Ridges collection, or the “Spook Files,” as he sometimes calls them. People want to hear ghost stories, and Kimok tries to make that a teaching moment as well.

“I know there was the outline of the dead body at The Ridges, but that was a person,” Kimok says. “Think about this.

At one time that was a human being, so don’t just talk about ghosts and haunting. That was a human being. ...

Think about the humanity of it.”

Whatever the subject, Kimok hopes students will come away from the archives thinking about the humanity behind the history. “[History] isn’t just memorizing and regurgitating,” Kimok says. “It’s thinking critically. Sometimes [my teaching] works, and sometimes [students] go away and say, ‘That’s the most boring few minutes I ever had in my life,' which is okay, but we do hope that somewhere down the road they’ll remember they had the experience.” b

www.backdropmagazine.com

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THE DROP

Mallory Golski leads “It’s on Us, Bobcats” rally in September 2018

OHIO She Leads OHIO provides students with the skills and confidence to reach their full potential in and out of the workplace.

BY JESSICA DEYO | PHOTO BY BAXTER TURAIN

D

irector of the Women’s Center, M. Geneva Murray, knew there was a discussion to be had after she caught herself intentionally falling silent at a meeting for fear of being invalidated. In collaboration with a colleague, Murray searched for an explanation by observing women in daily life and found that it was very common for women to sell themselves short and apologize for asking questions.

Murray’s findings inspired her to contribute to the creation of She Leads OHIO, a professional leadership development program offered through the Women’s Center.

The program offers an array of workshops, recognized both locally and nationally, that advocate for a level playing field in and out of the workplace and gives participants valuable transferable skills. The program is encouraged for women, men and gender nonbinary students alike.

Mallory Golski, a senior studying strategic communications, says she never pictured herself so vocally advocating for the end of sexual violence on college campuses.

Programs like She Leads OHIO and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies courses inspired Golski to speak out.

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“If you had told me my freshman year that I would be standing up on those steps with a megaphone in my hand in front of a crowd of 500 people, I don’t know if I would have been shocked, but I certainly was not aware of the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual violence, particularly on a college campus,” she says. “I was so naive to that coming into school, so if you told me I would be standing up there talking about getting rid of it on college campuses, I would have been like ‘You’re crazy but okay, we’ll see what happens.’”

She Leads OHIO, a certificate program, requires its participants to attend four different workshops or events and complete mock interviews and leadership coaching through the Career and Leadership Development Center.

To fulfill the first requirement, students have the option to attend the Women in Graduate School Day Conference, offered each spring at OU, or Elect Her, a nationally recognized workshop offered in the fall. Elect Her is offered on campus through Running Start, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that empowers young women to run for office.

The Women in Graduate School Day Conference is for both undergraduate and graduate students and offers

academic insight and other transferable skills.

Stephanie Tikkanen, an assistant professor in the Scripps College of Communication, spoke about the imposter syndrome at the spring 2018 conference.

“Imposter syndrome is this feeling that you recognize you have skills and abilities, but you don’t actually feel that you deserve any of the awards or achievements and recognition you receive,” Tikkanen says. “It’s like, ‘Maybe I’m good at this thing, but I probably just got there by luck,’ or ‘I knew the right people; I was in the right place at the right time.’”

Imposter syndrome is a product of socialization, Tikkanen says, and strongly affects women in the workplace, even those who are well established. Tikkanen admits to falling victim to imposter syndrome herself while watching audience members pour into her conference room to hear her speak. She wondered why so many were attending. What made her more qualified to speak than those in attendance? Talking about it, she says, is crucial to learning how to combat it.

“When you don’t share it because you’re afraid of exposing yourself as a fraud, it will continue to hold you back until someone else can reassure you, ‘No, you are awesome, you should do these things,’” Tikkanen says.

Elect Her is a four-hour workshop Golski likens to professional development workshops. Offered once a year, Elect Her gives students the opportunity to hear from people who have worked on behalf of women who want to be elected. The workshop involves public speaking, elevator pitches and networking.

Golski, who has always had an interest in politics and potentially running for office, says the outside perspective was particularly helpful for receiving advice related to running for positions like student government and for the opportunity to build on interpersonal communication and professionalism.

Students are also required to take the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) Start Smart Salary Negotiation workshop for the second portion of the program. The workshop, offered regularly, is an introduction to the importance of initial salary negotiation. The workshop teaches participants how to articulate their monetary value in the workplace, not just for salary negotiations but for promotions and raises.

Golski says the salary negotiation workshop was eyeopening to the importance of initial salary negotiation to ensure a satisfying salary for the future.

“All college students are used to making minimum wage, or not making anything at all, and seeing a penny on the ground and being like ‘Yes, this is my lucky day,’” Golski says. “You hear this $30,000 salary and you’re like, ‘I’m a millionaire, this is great,’ and then you’re like, ‘Okay, let’s do the math there, that’s not a lot,’ and depending on where you want to live, that’s really not a lot.”

The third requirement of the program is a workshop that Murray holds close to her heart. called Stay Out of Your Own Way: How Gender Stereotypes Threaten our Success, the workshop is an offshoot of the program Murray and her former colleague developed that analyzed why women would often apologize simply for taking up space.

Murray incorporates the one-and-a-half-hour workshop into the certificate program to draw attention to the language used to communicate confidence while working to erase underselling phrases.

The final requirement of She Leads OHIO is intercultural knowledge programming. Events that satisfy the requirement vary by semester and are marked with a She Leads OHIO logo in advertisements. Events that have qualified in the past are the What Were You Wearing exhibit, Take Back the Night and the Monument Quilt.

“

We want people to think beyond themselves, to think about how this works in regard to working with people who are different from you.”

M. GENEVA MURRAY DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN’S CENTER That requirement hopes to teach participants how to work with and appreciate differences in culture, sexual orientation, gender, race and other facets of identity.

Murray encourages students to select events centered around experiences unfamiliar to them to build their cultural competency. She wants students to think beyond themselves.

“In order for you to be successful and to just do well in the world, you really have to know about diverse population and creating an environment in which everyone feels included and supported,” Murray says.

Women, men and gender non-binary students can and are encouraged to participate in She Leads OHIO. “This is just one facet that the women’s center offers and not a lot of people know about a lot of the programming that they offer or that they contribute to in other facets of OU’s campus,” Golski says. “Man, woman, gender nonbinary, race [or] ethnicity; no matter what your background is you can find a program that will benefit you.” b www.backdropmagazine.com

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FOOD

POUR YOUR

HEART

UT

Barista Ken Jackson serves his community with coffee and compassion.

D

BY ELEANOR BISHOP | PHOTO BY MADDIE SCHROEDER

onkey Coffee and Espresso is abuzz with life. It’s raining outside, the kind of unrelenting downpour that transforms the streets of Athens into surging rivers, but within those purple walls the deluge seems like a distant memory. There the intermittent rumbles of an espresso machine mingle with the music of Regina Spektor. Whiffs of sweet vanilla chai fill the air and someone is always on the move. The half door that separates the counter from the store is perpetually swinging on its hinges as workers leave and then return to their shifts or grab supplies from the downstairs storage.

Donkey manager Ken Jackson mans the register like a captain riding out the storm. With his wiry black beard, an abundance of silver piercings and green tartan kilt, he would seem at home on the bow of some kind of Scottish pirate ship. Although he would want people to know that the kilt is, in fact, Irish and would likely to offer to tell you a thing or two about the lesser-known history of the Irish kilt-wearing tradition.

Jackson has become a bit of an Athens icon; ask any Ohio University student if they know “the kilt guy” at Donkey, and they’ll likely smile and nod. Watch Jackson at work and it becomes clear he’s known for more than just his distinctive look.

He moves behind the counter with ease, frothing milk and operating the espresso machine like it’s second nature, and after five and a half years on the job, it should be. His skill leaves him with plenty of time to talk to customers. It’s easy to believe that everyone at Donkey is a regular, because whether it’s their first visit or their 500th, he greets every

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patron with the same cheery, “What can I get for ya?”

At about noon, a man with a large laptop bag makes his way to the exit. He stops deliberately by the bar and waits for a moment. Jackson looks up from the register.

“You leavin’, Jason?”

“Yeah.”

“Have a good one.”

Jason nods and prepares to face the elements. He’s not the only one; people make a point to say goodbye.

Jackson has a knack for making people smile and stick around. In between ordering chai lattes and iced coffees, locals chat with him about their upcoming projects, their kids and recent trips to the gym or the hospital. If it’s not too busy, they’ll park themselves at the counter for a bit.

“I know somebody’s drink before I know their name,” Jackson says. “And I strive to know their name too. Because, yeah, it’s great when somebody knows what you’re gonna get, but it’s also great when they know you.”

He believes that being a barista means more than just giv-

“

A coffee shop is a five-minute vacation in the middle of a hectic day.”

KEN JACKSON DONKEY COFFEE MANAGER

ing people the right drinks. “A coffee shop is a five-minute vacation in the middle of a hectic day,” Jackson says. “I get to be the flight attendant or the stewardess of whatever it is that gives you that sense of reprieve, and I like that. I like being able to let people let their hair down for five minutes.”

Jackson takes his role as steward very seriously. There is a trust built between him and his patrons, despite, or even sometimes because of, the fleeting nature of their interactions.

“Everyone has garbage going on in their life,” he says.

“And when someone has a family member die or whatever, they’ve built this relationship, that they might not want to talk to their coworkers about it, but they’ll talk to us.”

For the last 12 years, coffee has been a major part of Jackson’s life. But despite his current expertise, there was a time when he had only the most casual interest in coffee. Years ago, he worked in production at the General Mills plant in Wellston, Ohio. An on-the-job injury, that tore the tendons in both of his elbows, left him unable to return to work. Ohio workplace injury policies gave him two options for retraining: go to school or start a business. Jackson made a trip to Seattle that offered inspiration.

“I had seen drive-thru coffee shops there— kinda got hooked on one for a while,” Jackson says. “And I just thought, ‘You know what? We could make that happen.’”

Thus, Brew du Soleil was born. Jackson and his then-wife set up a drive-thru only coffee cart in an empty Athens lot near the weekly farmer’s market. Together they researched coffee and experimented with different espresso drinks.

The shop ran successfully for seven years, but after their divorce, Jackson decided it was time for a change.

“It was just not in the cards to keep things going that way,” he says. But he wasn’t done with coffee.

Chris and Angie Pyle, the owners of Donkey, were happy to have him. “I don’t know where we would be without him,” Chris says. He says Jackson is “one of the most ethical, moral people I think I’ve ever met.”

Jackson’s attitude fits perfectly with the Pyles’ values. The married couple opened Donkey 17 years ago with a mission to create a community space that served fair trade coffee with a commitment to social justice and the arts. The shop has a reputation for excellent customer service.

“Most coffee shops are kind of snobby, and we never wanted to be that,” Chris says. “Ken is not a snob at all.

He’s wonderfully relatable.”

The Pyles pride themselves on allowing Donkey employees to be their most authentic selves. Baristas don’t wear uniforms, but Jackson has developed one of his own: baseball cap, tank top, boots and of course, the kilt.

Jackson says that his wardrobe, like most things in his life, is multifaceted. The kilts connect him to one segment of his ancestry— his family is largely Irish and Cherokee—

and serve as a tool to meet new people.

“If you look or act different, people ask you questions,” hWe says. “And it gives you an open opportunity to tell them your story.”

In his many years serving coffee to the people of Athens, Jackson has observed the inner workings of a community.

"Our country was essentially started in coffee shops and taverns,” Jackson says. “The founding fathers were known for hanging out in tea and coffeehouses. That same thing happens here.”

From his spot behind the register, Jackson has seen families grow and teenagers age into young adults. He has served everyone from the greenest college freshman to the most venerable Athens townie. “It’s the police chief and the prosecutors and the judges, the teachers and the superintendent—I mean, everybody comes here,” he says.

And no matter who they are, they’re sure to be greeted with the low rumble of an espresso machine and a cheery, “What can I get for ya?” from the pirate behind the bar. b

Donkey manager Ken Jackson poses for a portrait behind the counter.

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15

FOOD

FINE DINING

GREATER I M PACT Since 2008, Zoe has enhanced the restaurant industry in Athens and supported local organizations.

BY ALLY LANASA PHOTOS BY MADDIE SCHROEDER It’s quiet at Zoe in the early afternoon, except for the continuous ringing of the telephone. Patrons are calling to make reservations. When the restaurant opens at 5 p.m., those callers will fill the unoccupied tables adorned with utensils and appetizer plates.

Unfailingly, locals will stop at half a dozen tables, greeting neighbors and sharing laughs, before being seated.

“I think it does have a community feel in the way that you don’t get a lot anymore, because of the way everything is structured,” says Scott Bradley, the owner of Zoe and an Ohio University alumnus.

The contemporary, urban feel of the red brick exterior of Zoe extends indoors to the dimly lit restaurant.

Circular high-top tables line the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking East State Street. Adjacent to the tables is a full bar in the shape of a trapezoid, decorated with potted

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backdrop | Fall 2018

sansevieria plants. Beyond the bar, square wooden tables are organized so the wait staff can move easily around the restaurant. In the back, a serving window exposes head chef Alex Ziff and the line cooks.

Bradley, who studied English at OU, named the restaurant after J.D. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey” and the film “New York Stories.”

In Greek, Zoe means “life,” which correlates with the restaurant’s motto: “Food is life.”

“I liked the fact that it was feminine, but it also felt like a strong name, distinctive, and at the time, it might have been important that it was easy to find in the phone book,” Bradley says with a laugh.

“

I’m really happy to be a part of a growing trend of women in positions of power, especially in the restaurant industry.”

ALEX ZIFF, ZOE HEAD CHEF

Zoe was established in May 2004 outside of Athens but relocated to 24 ½ E. State St.—next to Passion Works Studio and Precision Imprint — in September 2008. Bradley says patrons told him Zoe “upped the game” for restaurants in Athens once it moved uptown.

“I think we have a great food town, and I think [Zoe has] something to do with that,” he says.

Despite accolades for being the best fine dining and the best place for a date, Bradley is most proud of raising the quality of food and leading the standard for local food sourcing in Athens.

Bradley regularly buys produce from the Athens Farmers Market, Green Edge Gardens in Amesville, Ohio, and Integration Acres in Albany, Ohio.

Dairy products come from Snowville Creamery in Pomeroy, Ohio.

Bradley describes Zoe’s cuisine as “upscale comfort food” with options such as Ziff’s brine chicken breast served over organic grits from Shagbark Seed & Mill, located in Athens.

“I’m just really happy to be a part of this restaurant,” Ziff says. “I’m really happy to be a part of a growing trend of women in positions of power, especially in the restaurant industry.”

Zoe is making an enormous impact in Athens County beyond the restaurant industry. The restaurant

supports local nonprofit organizations and contributes to efforts to decrease food insecurity in Athens. Zoe has donated gift cards for raffle prizes at The Dairy Barn and food to The Gathering Place’s annual Community Illumination event.

Since July 2015, Zoe has been involved with the Athens Food Rescue, which collects leftover food from donors and transports it to partnered nonprofit organizations in efforts to reduce food waste. According to a report published in January by the Athens Messenger, Zoe has donated more than 1,100 pounds of food to the Athens Food Rescue.

Every week, Zoe donates frozen leftover food like carrots, mashed potatoes and rice to the Athens Food Rescue. The donations go to United Campus Ministry (UCM) for its meal program. UCM, a nonprofit organization at OU focused on spiritual growth and social justice, generally prepares to feed 25 to 35 people every Thursday for dinner and every Saturday for lunch year-round.

Zoe also donated appetizers to UCM’s largest fundraiser last year.

The Justice Jubilee, which took place in November 2018 at ARTS/West, celebrated the organization’s social advocacy work over the past 50 years.

“Basically, it was just a time for people to come together,” says Lacey Rogers, the assistant director of UCM. “And specifically this year it was our 50th anniversary as a nonprofit organization, so it was kind of a celebratory event where we brought out a lot of our archives… We had a couple speakers that we brought from UCM’s past to kind of give some words of wisdom and kind of share some things they used to do at UCM and their vision sort of for the future.”

Rogers is involved in UCM’s fundraising efforts and its different programming opportunities. Since it was founded in 1968, UCM has helped other organizations get established, including My Sister’s Place, the Gay Activist Alliance and OU’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program.

In addition to being an ongoing

partner with UCM, Zoe participates in the Souper Bowl hosted by the Athens Area Mediation Service (AAMS). Zoe donates two gallons of soup for the annual event. Attendees select their favorite locally made bowls and enjoy soup and other food and desserts donated each year to support the work of AAMS. The 19th Souper Bowl took place on March 24 at the Athens Community Center.

Bradley’s favorite project is his collaboration with Vinton County High School. For the past 15 years, Zoe’s staff has organized a traditional French dinner for the high school’s French club. About 40 students dine for roughly $20 apiece.

Throughout the years, Zoe has scaled back on some aspects of its fine dining atmosphere that were unsuccessful. However, two aspects of the restaurant have withstood time.

Since 2008, the restaurant has been a leading standard of high quality food and social advocacy.

“I’m very proud of the thing we do here,” Bradley says. b

Detail shots of Zoe Fine Dining.

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RECIPE

Ka-peach?

Ka-peach.

Celebrate the sunshine with Backdrop’s original recipes for your next Sunday barbecue.

RECIPES AND PHOTOS BY JESSICA KOYNOCK

T

he scattered sunny days sprinkled throughout Ohio’s spring season give us a glimpse of the warmer weather that’s still to come. Try these warm-weather brunch favorites to get a taste of summer. These sweet and savory classics will give you a sample of good Southern cooking in your own backyard. b

PEACH SANGRIA INGREDIENTS:

Ripened white or yellow peaches 2 tablespoons sugar (or alternative sweetener) 3/4 cup peach vodka 1 bottle pinot grigio 6 tablespoons lemonade concentrate Strawberries 1 liter of ginger ale Green apple and strawberries for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine fruit, spirits and lemonade concentrate in a large pitcher.

2. Refrigerate for eight hours or overnight.

3. Add 1 liter of ginger ale.

4. Garnish with green apple and strawberries.

5. Serve and enjoy!

Keep up to three days after serving.

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backdrop | Spring 2019

SHRIMP & PEACH KEBABS OVER STOVETOP GRITS

Grits INGREDIENTS: 1 cup quick-cooking grits A pinch of salt 1 tbsp butter 1/2 cup grated parmesan Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium heavy saucepan bring 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boiling.

2. Gradually whisk in grits, stirring constantly.

Stir until the mixture boils.

3. Reduce heat to low, add salt, cover tightly with a lid and cook for approximately 5 min, stirring frequently until thickened.

4. Turn heat off and whisk in butter.

5. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

Kebabs INGREDIENTS:

24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 2-3 large peaches, peeled and cut into chunks Olive Oil 1/2 teaspoon mild chili powder 1/2 a lime 3 ounces honey 8 kabob sticks

DIRECTIONS:

1. Juice the half lime.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice and chili powder.

3. Heat grill or grill pan on medium heat and brush pan lightly with olive oil.

4. Place shrimp and peaches on skewers, about 3 shrimp per skewer.

5. Lightly brush shrimp and peach kebab with the honey mixture.

6. Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes, flipping occasionally until shrimp is pink and curls.

7. Plate over grits.

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19

INFOGRAPHIC

SLEEP

REMEDIES

A

healthy sleep schedule can help students improve grades, fight depression and keep energy levels up. But having a steady routine is not always easy, especially with a busy schedule

INFOGRAPHIC BY JESSICA KOYNOCK

ESTABLISH A BEDTIME ROUTINE Go to bed at increase chances of reaching REM sleep.

The sleep cycle is made up of three stages of nonREM (rapid eye movement) sleep followed by a stage of REM sleep. In a normal night, the brain should go through all four stages several times, which each cycle lasting about 90-120 minutes.

AWAKE STAGE ONE The brain transitions from wakefulness to sleep. Heartbeat and breathing slows. This is the shortest stage.

STAGE TWO: LIGHT SLEEP (40-60% of sleep time) Body temperature drops and brain activity slows.

STAGE THREE (5-15% of sleep time) This stage is needed for a restful sleep. Heartbeat and breathing are at their lowest levels.

STAGE FOUR: REM

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLUE LIGHT Blue lights from electronic devices should be avoided at least half an hour before bed. Blue light delays the release of melatonin, a sleep-inducing chemical.

CRAMMING THE NIGHT BEFORE AN EXAM Six to eight hours of sleep provides adequate time for the brain to transfer information to long-term memory.

Students will retain more information with adequate sleep.

Devices that may disrupt sleep should be removed from arm’s reach at bedtime.

First occurs typically 90 minutes after the start of sleep.

Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure increase. Most dreams occur in this stage.

REM CYCLES PER 8 HOURS OF SLEEP

HAVE DESIGNATED SLEEPWEAR Sleep experts say designated sleepwear alerts the brain that it is bedtime.

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backdrop | Spring 2019

and stressful workload. Backdrop took a look at some habits preventing healthy sleep and ways to combat these issues — and hopefully establish a consistent sleep schedule. b

HYDRATION BEFORE SLEEP: College students often use caffeine and energy drinks to stay awake. However, the effects of these drinks can last more than seven hours, making it difficult to fall asleep later.

SET YOUR THERMOSTAT According to the National Sleep Foundation, the optimal temperature for your body to sleep at is between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting your bedroom at a lower temperature can aid in your body’s natural tendency to lower in temperature before sleep. However, setting the thermostat lower than 60 degrees can lead to restlessness throughout the night.

6

SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Mood swings Increased hunger and weight gain Trouble concentrating Weak immune system Memory issues Decreased balance TAKE A NAP! Although naps can refresh the mind and help students function better throughout the day, they should not exceed 30 minutes. Prolonged naps can increase sleep difficulties at night.

LIGHTING Face your bed away from the door and close your blinds to avoid any incoming light.

TRY A NATURAL SLEEP AID Sleep experts recommend drinking warm milk, decaf herbal tea or tart cherry juice to those who struggle to fall asleep. Each herbal tea contains different antioxidants to help relieve stress and anxiety and remedy insomnia.

According to Healthline, the most effective teas for sleep are chamomile, valerian root, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower and magnolia bark.

SEPARATE YOUR WORK SPACE

CREATE A COMFORTABLE SPACE Although college dorms have multiple purposes, space should be kept separate.Students should study at desks and use beds for sleeping and sex.

With the convenience that laptops, tablets and smartphones offer, we’ve become accustomed to work anywhere, anytime (including from our beds late at night).

Your bedroom should be a place of solace and relaxation.

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21

FEATURE

Exceeding STANDARDS Air Force ROTC cadets share their experiences as college students in the military.

BY JYLIAN HERRING | PHOTOS BY MADDIE SCHROEDER AND JESSICA KOYNOCK

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backdrop | Spring 2019

N

erdy, uptight, workout junkies—these are all phrases campus Air Force cadets use to describe how their peers perceive them.

Wing Commander Danielle Valaitis wants to dispel those notions.

“We aren’t just this weird, isolated community. … We have a lot of cadets who do some amazing things.”

Some of Valaitis’ duties as Wing Commander include recruitment, physical training, volunteering and transitory drill objectives. Upon her graduation in the spring, she will be stationed at joint base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, where she was offered a job as a manpower analyst under the force support squadron. There, she will analyze the soldiers’ in-combat needs and the overall effectiveness of the base. Her long-term goal is to work for a state department or the federal government.

Valaitis is one of six women in the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program (Air Force ROTC) at Ohio University and the only graduate student. Valaitis says her situation is “the best of both worlds” because she completed her undergraduate program how she wanted and was able to be a part of the ROTC program in graduate school. Comparing the two experiences, Valaitis says her demeanor is different now from when she was a standard college student.

As a host university, OU offers two ROTC programs: Army ROTC, which focuses on military science, and Air Force ROTC—also known as Detachment 650 — which focuses on aerospace studies. There are about 150 students enrolled in those programs, with 45 students in Air Force ROTC. The recruitment efforts mainly focus on high schoolers who have not yet made a decision about their career

path. Valaitis says that they don’t put effort in trying to recruit students after they come to college because those students probably already know what path they wish to follow.

Cadets volunteer to go to tables at events such as high schools’ majors fairs, sporting events and OHIO close-up days to talk to interested students. Cadets dress in uniform and pass out pamphlets, flyers, t-shirts and water bottles. Valaitis said they have seen improvement in recruitment statistics even this past year—there are five freshman girls— but, there is still work to be done.

The Veterans Center Awards have recognized OU as a military-friendly school since 2012, but Valaitis says there’s a disconnect between students in the program and the rest of their peers. She says OU students who study arts, history or journalism, for example, are often never going to have classes with the Air Force ROTC cadets and therefore never interact with them. This is where the

divide begins.

“I think it’s important to distinguish that people in ROTC aren’t any different than anyone else,” Cadet Ethan Black says.

“No one thinks they’re better than everyone else, which I think sometimes can be misunderstood.

We are just picking a career path earlier, but no one’s any different from a normal college student.”

Black chose OU before he decided to join Air Force ROTC. His mom pushed for him to go to college instead of enlisting right out of high school. Black is a junior studying meteorology with hopes of being a remotely piloted aircraft pilot. He said he has a good mix of friends in the program and within his major. “[ROTC] definitely brings friends in very quickly,” Black says. “I didn’t struggle with making friends in college because of that.”

Cadet Arquimides Segarra-Ibañez had a similar experience. Initially, he didn’t want to join the program

Wing Commander Danielle Valaitis stands for a portrait in Walter Fieldhouse.

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23

FEATURE

Camryn Bunting-Dorr, Robert Fee and Segarra-Ibañez perform small unit tactical drills during morning physical training.

LEADERSHIP LABORATORY: SMALL UNIT TACTICS RUSHING

Cadets designate a cover position and plan the fastest route to it. A rush should take three to five seconds to avoid being targeted.

BOUNDING

One cadet provides cover while another cadet strategically advances toward the targeted area.

24

backdrop | Spring 2019

HIGH CRAWL

Cadets simultaneously move their right elbow and left knee forward, then their left elbow and right knee while keeping their body off the ground and resting on their forearms

LOW CRAWL

Cadets keep their body flat on the ground giving them least amount of depth to avoid enemy fire.

and thought he was going to hate it.

But he says he has gotten a professional experience in his three years.

“Within a month I made the best friends, and I was in a routine and it shaped me,” Segarra-Ibañez says. “I feel like it developed me into a really good leader and a really professional person.”

Every Wednesday morning, Air Force ROTC has a leadership laboratory where juniors and seniors teach freshmen and sophomores how to be effective leaders through military procedures. It helps prepare them for field training: a mandatory month-long summer program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Air Force ROTC students from across the U.S. have to complete it and if cadets pass, they sign a contract and are considered a professional office course cadet.

Segarra-Ibañez is involved at OU outside of Air Force ROTC. He is an engineering ambassador at the Russ College of Engineering, where he talks to future students and their parents about the college. As a junior studying aviation, he can be found flying over campus in his free time.

“ROTC is my life because I want it to be my life,” he says. “I take a lot of pride in it.”

The typical Monday or Thursday for a student enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program begins with a 60-90-minute physical training (PT) session starting at 6 a.m. Afterward, cadets attend classes specific to their major, except for an extra class catered to their program each semester. These classes cover topics like military history and leadership. In the evening, students are encouraged to get involved with other clubs and organizations on campus.

“You’re not always going to have as much free time as the average college student,” Valaitis says, “but at the end of the day, the goal is to make sure that you’ve still enjoyed your time as a college student before entering military service.”

There are many students in the Air

Force ROTC program who are also involved with other OU organizations, and Cadet Lanae Lang is among them.

She’s a freshman studying sociologycriminology and a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. She says she’s always known she wanted to be in a sorority.

“I didn’t want my full four years of college to just be school and ROTC,” she says. “You can definitely be in other organizations and do ROTC. It’s just most people choose not to just for [the] sake of time.”

Lang says she sees parallels in her sorority and the detachment.

Both programs have events that support friendship and bonding, and both provide mentor and mentee opportunities and potential leadership positions.

Although Lang is in the minority as an ROTC woman, she says she’s treated with as much respect as the men in the program. Lang is accompanied by two other women in Air Force ROTC: the Detachment 650 Lieutenant Colonel Layla Sweet and Wing Commander Valaitis.

“I definitely think that girls can bring something different to the leadership table,” Lang says. “You know, we just think differently.”

Lang also says a huge aspect of Air Force ROTC is standing out in the program.

“You don’t want to just blend into the background,” she says. “You want to raise your hand. You want to be one of the first to volunteer for things. That’s how you advance in the program.”

Students decide to join the Air Force ROTC program for many reasons: financial need, interest in military service and opportunities for growth in the government. For Cadet Mihai Untea, a friend suggested it while he was in his freshman year at the University of Mississippi.

Untea said he planned on talking to an Army officer but the office was

closed. He ended up stumbling into the Air Force office and decided that it would be the right fit for him after speaking with the wing commander for over an hour.

Although he was unsure at first, he fell in love with the program and has made some of his closest friends there.

“I feel like my life’s been a lot of spur of the moment decisions,” Untea says, “but none that have been bad. I’ve enjoyed every one of them.”

“

At the end of the day, the goal is to make sure that you’ve still enjoyed your time as a college student before entering military service.”

DANIELLE VALAITIS WING COMMANDER Untea transferred to OU his sophomore year and now is involved with the German club and the Center for International Studies and the Global Leadership Certificate Program. The Global Leadership Certificate Program allows him to travel overseas in the summer to learn about environmental policy. Untea says he would like to bring the global aspect to Air Force ROTC because cadets could be sent a variety of places

after graduation.

“Especially now with such a huge, globalized world…I want to recommend programs like these to [the freshmen],” he says. “So they have more options that they can take later down the road.”

Volunteering in the Athens community is an invaluable part of being in Air Force ROTC. Valaitis says cadets volunteered more than 285 hours of their time in the 2017-18 academic year. Some of the events they’ve participated in include: the 9/11 Stair Challenge Memorial, a 2,074step challenge to honor the lives lost during 9/11; picking up trash after the Halloween block party; participating in Athens Area Stand Down, a program that assists the homeless; the Good Works Walk and helping veterans in the area through OU’s Veterans Service Office.

“ROTC is not just serving the military and the national military. It’s also serving the community which it’s in,” Untea says. “I feel like people don’t see that part of ROTC.” Air Force ROTC is primarily a military training organization, however, Valaitis says service is a core value within the organization. "Service Before Self" and "Excellence in All We Do" are two tenants cadets live by. “[The tenants] push cadets to take on responsibilities and roles that go beyond their normal academic and training demands,” Valaitis says.

Segarra-Ibañez said a common misconception about the program is that all they do is work out and get yelled at, which he explains is not the case.

There’s a concentrated focus within the program on building a safe and family-like environment. Cadets bond through morale events like paintballing, hiking and volleyball at Strouds Run, bowling nights

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25

FEATURE at Rollerbowl and flight dinners.

During early morning PT sessions, they show their support for one another by cheering each other on and encouraging one another to keep working toward their goals.

Black says the program and his fellow cadets have pushed him out of his comfort zone and made him more confident in himself. He says that has been beneficial because he’s naturally introverted, and the program has helped him develop extroverted characteristics.

Valaitis says that cadets relate with each other on a deeper level because they go through the same rigorous summer field training and it’s difficult for their non-ROTC peers to empathize with them.

“The rest of the community has no idea what you just went through or what goes on or what you’re doing,” Valaitis says. “Then you feel worse because you’re like ‘Who do I have to share this with?’”

Lang shares this sense of community, comparing Air Force ROTC’s team-like

bond to her high school swim team.

“I feel like they’re my teammates. I am always with them and we’re working towards the same goals,” she says.

Athens’ social culture is one thing that Valaitis says can conflict with their duties as military officers.

If a cadet is caught out on Court Street drinking underage or making questionable choices, it is up to the discretion of the lieutenant colonel to take further measures. Cadets can get in judicial trouble from the government for acting unruly because

LEADERSHIP LABORATORY: TACTICAL FORMATIONS FLANKING

Cadets surround the enemy, fighting from two or more directions, in an advantageous position.

WEDGE

Cadets advance in a triangular formation for optimum security. That formation is one of the most commonly used.

STAGGERED

Cadets walk in a zig-zag pattern to make it more difficult for enemies to target them.

26

backdrop | Spring 2019

Cadets gather at the end of morning training in Walter Fieldhouse.

being in the Air Force ROTC program is a professional position.

“There’s a lot more pressure on you to behave a certain way, even when you’re just trying to be a college student,” Valaitis says.

Upon a cadet’s graduation, they are sent to a base anywhere in the world. They get to indicate their preference, but ultimately the Air Force chooses where they need help and where the cadet will fit in best depending on their experience and education. Many of the cadets

said the opportunity to travel is a very exciting aspect of the program and their career choice. Black says he would like to start somewhere out west in the U.S. and eventually travel overseas.

Regardless of outside perceptions of the Air Force ROTC program, cadets say they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I definitely don’t think I would be enjoying my college experience as much right now if I wasn’t in ROTC,” Lang says. b

“

I definitely don’t think I would be enjoying my college experience as much right now if I wasn’t in ROTC.” LANAE LANG AIR FORCE CADET

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27

FEATURE

Springfest 1984 at the edge of intramural field.

Wasted Youth How a change in Ohio’s drinking age changed OU’s fest season.

BY HALEY RISCHAR | PHOTOS BY OCKER VAN TETS

A

heat wave of 90 degrees drew a sea of 25,000 people to the South Green intramural field on May 17, 1986. Food vendors and beer trucks lined the field, prepared to fuel students for a day of singing and dancing to live music. The wild crowd enjoyed the echoes of Jason and the Scorchers’ performance lingering over the distant hillside.

The grand event was known as Ohio University’s Spring Festival, more commonly referred to as “Springfest.” “[Springfest] was like a miniature Woodstock,” says John Evarts, a 1983 OU graduate. “Everybody was out in shorts and t-shirts with lots of drinking and smoking going on; it was just a bunch of college students getting together and cutting loose.”

Springfest was a free, annual music festival that began in 1979. After the idea received the approval of the Student Activities Commission (SAC), the budgeted $12,000, one-day event was set to take place on May 19. Entirely self-funded, the festival relied on donations and fundraising events.

To execute the demands of a self-supporting festival, roughly 30 students formed the Spring Festival Committee.

From beer and food vendors to security and bands, the committee ran the show. Throughout Springfest’s existence, acquiring the money needed to host the event was a struggle.

According to SAC Chairman Tony Pierfelice in a 1979 Post

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backdrop | Spring 2019

article, the hardest tasks for the committee was planning the celebration and raising the funds.

After nearly eight months of planning, the committee overcame the funding issues and hosted the inaugural Springfest, drawing approximately 7,000 attendees. Favorable weather lured in the crowd for headliners like McGuffey Lane, a top Ohio rock band, and Ian Matthews, writer of the hit song “Thunder Island.” The event was deemed a success even after the lead fundraiser, a raffle ticket sale, only collected $1,000. “[The students] take it for granted there will always be a Spring Festival,” said 1979 Spring Festival committee member Andy Golfield in an interview for the 1980 Spectrum Green yearbook. “They go to all the trouble of inviting friends from out of town, but they don’t take time to spend one lousy dollar for a raffle ticket.”

Jeffrey Anderson, a 1981 Spring Festival Committee chairman and current College of Business professor, says the committee spent a lot of time coming up with creative fundraisers to pay for the stage, bands and other festival expenditures.

Fundraisers included a series of competitions where students lip synced to a recording of a popular band’s song. The three finalists opened Springfest, warming up the crowd before the

headliners took the stage. The competition earned $440 in 1981. Along with SAC funding and other fundraisers, such as button sales, movie nights and an ACRN 48-hour radio marathon, the committee earned a total of $13,290 for the 1981 Springfest.

A popular trend among those fundraisers was a dependance on beer sales. At the time, it was legal for 18-year-olds to consume beer that had only 3.2 percent alcohol content, classified as low-alcohol.

In March of 1982, the General Assembly began to consider a bill that would raise the legal drinking age in Ohio to 19 for beer, thus eliminating the distinction between “high” and “low” beers.

The bill passed in October 1982, making 3.2 percent beer and 18-year-old drinking a thing of the past. To drink wine or liquor, students had to be 21 years old. For universities like OU, the law had a significant impact on residence life policies, most importantly the “F” permit, which allowed student organizations to sell beer.

“It was a way for the dorm council to make money for other programming, and kegs were cheap,” says Kristin McCloud, a 1984 OU graduate and previous Housing and Residence Life employee.

On July 17, 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, a law which required states to raise the drinking age to 21 at the risk of a 10 percent cut to their federal highway funding. If Ohio failed to pass the age requirement, the state was at the risk of losing $50 million in highway construction funding.

“The vast majority of well-attended student activities here involve alcohol, and in fact, couldn’t survive without alcohol,” said a 1986 Post editorial. “Indeed, this year’s Springfest committee started off so far in the hole because it didn’t have any beer profits from last year’s rained-out bash.”

Many OU’s fundraisers on or near campus involved alcohol at the time, supporting a large portion of the university’s social network. In early April, the 1986 Springfest committee was $16,000 behind their $24,000 production costs. The committee began seeking out sponsorships with Miller Brewing Co. and Stroh’s Brewing Co. due to a fear of a beach party fundraiser being unsuccessful.

The Spring Festival Committee relied heavily on profits from the annual beach party, which raised $4,000 in 1985. the beach party, known as the “World’s Largest Indoor Beach Party,” was a Springfest benefit held in Bird Arena. Two hundred tons of sand covered the arena floor for students to kick off their shoes while enjoying beer, live bands and volleyball games.

Due to poor weather during the 1985 Springfest, the 1986 committee was in debt. 1986 Springfest

Springfest 1986 videocrew films Jason and the Scorchers.

Springfest 1984 main act Paul Young excites the audience.

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FEATURE

“

They had bands, they had entertainment, but there were so many other bars and house parties that you could go to to drink and have fun.”

JAY MORRISON 1991 OU GRADUATE

The audience at Springfest in 1984.

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booking chairman Mike Webb believed the beer sponsorships might be the only way to raise the needed funds, according to a 1986 Post article.

In May 1986, Dean of Students Joel Rudy made the decision that alcohol would no longer play a major role in student organization fundraisers if the 21 drinking age was passed. An OU task force was formed to study the effects of the proposed drinking age on the university after student organizations were named in suits involving alcohol-related injuries and serving underage people.

In anticipation of the proposed legislation being passed, the University Planning and Advisory Council allocated an extra $15,000 to the Student Activities Commission for the 1987-88 school year.

“As it stands now, beer sales are the major source of funds for many campus activities, including Springfest,” says a 1986 Post editorial. “...The more people drink at a fundraising event, the more cash an organization adds to their coffers. It’s in an organization’s best interest, therefore, for people to get drunk.”

To prepare students for the possibility of the drinking age changing, the Department of Housing and Residence Life decided to decrease the amount of time that beer would be sold on Green Weekends. Green Weekends were fundraising events that took place on each of the residential greens. The weekends used live music, contests and their biggest contributor–beer sales–to raise money for Springfest and other charitable contributions.

In February, fundraising began for the 1987 Springfest.

After raising $46,387 the previous year, the Springfest fund had $4,050, according to a 1987 Post article. The committee projected costs to be about $20,000, but hoped for $30,000 to afford better bands.

Unfortunately, the 1987 Springfest lineup was not well-received among attendees. With only $11,000 spent on entertainment, the headlining act was a “mostly unheard-of band” called Little America. After the original headliner, The Replacements, dropped out due to misunderstandings between the Spring Festival Committee and the band’s agents, students were disappointed by the lack of popular bands.

Still, the event attracted nearly 15,000 people. “I think we outdid last year [financially], but it’s too early to predict how much money there will be for next year’s Springfest,” said Springfest Committee Chair Paula Schmelter in a 1987 Post article.

By 1988, Ohio had adopted the new drinking age requirement. According to the 1988 Athena yearbook, that year’s Springfest earned over $40,000, despite only selling 285 kegs as a result of the increased

The main stage at Springfest in 1984.

drinking age. A large amount of the profits had to be taken out to repair damaged equipment of a band that played at the beach party after sand was thrown at the group in protest of their folk style music.

The next year, the university restricted drinking alcohol at all school-sanctioned events. The change caused the 1990 Spring Festival Committee to apply for funds from a City Council ordinance that supplies grants to organizations working toward increasing economic development and tourism in Athens. The request was denied because the committee did not turn in the proposal on time, missing out on at leat $1,500 towards Springfest, according to a 1990 Post article.

Although the committee intended to follow through with the proposal, OU officials opposed the funding idea. At the time there were rules restricting the Springfest Committee from advertising outside of Athens, as the event was designed specifically for OU students. “It has always been our intent to keep Springfest a local event,” said Joel Rudy, Dean of Students, in the article.

“See, Springfest is meant to be an all-campus OU event, not an event for a minority of ‘suburban’ students’ tastes, or an event for Columbus residents,” said Daniel Spiegel, chairman for the 1980 Spring Festival Committee in a Post editorial. “Didn’t it bother you to see a fence around the Mill Street [South Green Intramural] fields last year? That fence and the admission charge represented exactly what Springfest shouldn’t be.” He ended the letter with a warning that the high expectations put on Springfest must stop or Springfest itself would become but a memory.

Springfest met its ultimate demise in 1990 when only 500 people attended. The Marshall Tucker Band, which Anderson describes as “past their prime,” headlined the final festival.

Students attributed the lack of interest in Springfest to a poor choice of bands, but more importantly, to the alcohol policy preventing the sale of beer.

Where Springfest failed to draw in crowds, events like Mill Fest, Palmer Fest and Lakeview Fest picked up the slack.

“People quit going to [Springfest] because, it sounds bad, but if there was no alcohol there people just weren’t interested,” says Jay Morrison, a 1991 OU graduate. “They had bands, they had entertainment, but there were so many other bars and house parties that you could go to to drink and have fun.”

The first street to begin the block party tradition was Palmer Street. When students found out Springfest was going to be non-alcoholic, the residents of Palmer decided that every house on the street would provide one keg. “[My girlfriend] was at 19 Palmer, and I just remember sitting around for a long time wondering if anybody was even going to come, then eventually the crowd from Springfest came over,” says Morrison. The first official Palmer Fest consisted of 15 kegs and about 500 people.

There are now six “official” neighborhood fests, each bringing in thousands of students and their guests. b www.backdropmagazine.com

31

PHOTO STORY

FOLD STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAMILLE FINE

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T

here is often a microscopic lens focused on the internal and external similarities between twins. “Twins are constantly forced to share, compete, and take each other into consideration in their daily lives,” according to the Twin Research Unit of Finland’s Department of Public Health. At first glance, one couldn’t tell 10-year-old fraternal twins Ella and Rylie Cress apart. Ella’s pair of purple glasses is the only noticeable external difference between the two girls. The twins live in a two bedroom home off of highway 56 with their grandma and mom.

The twins experience a heightened sense of competition and jealousy, according to their mother, but they also have a bond like no other, one that can only be formed through a lifetime of shared experiences. Ella and Rylie share a room, some toys and a lot of books. Their personalities are both “completely different,” and yet very similar, according to their mom.

This photo essay, Two-Fold: The Anomaly of Twins explores the evolution of power dynamics and interpersonal relationships between twins at a formative age. b

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PHOTO STORY RIGHT

10-year-old fraternal twins Ella and Rylie Cress pose for a portrait in the yard of their New Marshfield, Ohio home.

RIGHT

Rylie poses for a portrait at a Cherry orchard farm in Crooksville, Ohio.

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LEFT Ella and Rylie play fight in the back of Apryl's car while on their way back from cherry picking.

BELOW Ella poses for a portrait at a cherry orchard in Crooksville, Ohio.

LEFT Ella (left) and Rylie (right) share a moment while reading at the Athens Public Library.

Both girls are active readers and often visit the library.

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35

CALENDAR

OONN TTH THE HHEE As summer approaches, don’t miss out on a chance to make college memories by checking out these upcoming events.

Open OHIO Art Exhibit: Navigating Turbulence APRIL 11-20, 12 P.M.-5 P.M. The Dairy Barn is hosting an interactive art exhibit called Navigating Turbulence. Brought to you by university faculty and students, the installations are based on past Open OHIO conversations. Come admire five installations including “Turbulent Minds” and “Transforming Trauma.”

Athens Farmers Market APRIL 20-JUNE 29, 9 A.M.-12 P.M As the sun finally makes its way out from behind the clouds and the faintest hints of spring replace the gloomy days of winter, so does the Athens Farmers Market. Enjoy fresh produce from local farmers and handmade arts and crafts from the community’s local artists.

Edible Plant Hike APRIL 20, 11 A.M.-3 P.M. Learn about the plants that could make the difference between life and death in a tough situation by joining Outdoor Pursuits on a hike all about edible plants and their medicinal properties.

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BY SAMANTHA GOOD

Mozart’s The Magic Flute in Concert APRIL 23, 7 P.M. Enjoy a relaxing night of classical music in the Memorial Auditorium. The Ohio Opera Theater and The Ohio University Symphony Orchestra presents Mozart’s iconic "The Magic Flute." Tickets are free to Ohio University students and $10 at the door for the Athens community.

Black Sheep Improv Presents: Musical Improv APRIL 25, 9 P.M.-10 P.M. In Black Sheep's final show of the year, members will create and perform a new musical inspired by audience suggestions.

International Women’s Coffee Hour APRIL 30, 4 P.M.-5 P.M. The Women’s Center and International Student and Faculty Services offers an opportunity for women from over 100 countries to meet, play games, practice different languages and listen to music from all over the world. The event will be hosted in Baker 403.

A unique gathering place of students and community members Social Justice • Fair Trade • Local Art & Music • Spoken Word Musicians Open Stage Reader’s Choice Friendly Service Awarded Best Coffee House In Ohio By Ohio Magazine

www.donkeycoffee.com www.backdropmagazine.com

37

SEX & HEALTH

The Life of a

HEARTBEAT BILL A Republican-dominated legislature and an onboard governor will likely oversee the passage of a heartbeat bill in Ohio.

BY AVERY KREEMER | GRAPHIC BY KALEIGH BOWEN

O

n Feb. 12, several state legislators introduced a bill that would give Ohio one of the strictest abortion mandates in the country, outlawing non-emergency abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually around the sixth week of pregnancy.

The introduction of this “heartbeat bill” comes about a month after Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who voiced his support for such a bill, took office. In December 2016, then-Gov. John Kasich turned down House Bill 493, the first of the heartbeat bills to hit his desk, and instead signed Senate Bill 127, which banned non-emergency abortions after 20 gestational weeks.

Two years later, Kasich vetoed House Bill 258, the legislature’s second attempt at a heartbeat bill during his tenure. Instead, Kasich signed a proposal prohibiting dilation and evacuation, a widely-used abortion procedure.

Shortly after, Senate Republicans came up one vote shy of overriding Kasich’s veto and restoring the heartbeat bill.

Kasich vetoed those bills on the grounds that they went against prior decisions made by the Supreme Court and would inevitably be struck down by federal courts, only after a costly legal battle for the State.

S.B. 23, like the vetoed heartbeat bills before it, generally prohibits a person from performing an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected. It allows abortions to be performed in the absence of a fetal heartbeat or in the case of medical emergencies, but it does not make exceptions for cases of incest or rape.

The bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), argues that using a uniform benchmark to determine the viability of a fetus is critical for understanding when life should be protected under the law. She suggested that the concept of viability, as pertaining to a fetus, has changed over time—and in the time since 1973’s

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Roe v. Wade. Thus, so should the definition of viability under constitutional law.

Ohio’s current standard allows a physician to determine whether a fetus is viable or not based on its ability to maintain life outside the womb with or without medical support.

During the bill’s first hearing before the Senate Health Committee on Feb. 13, Roegner argued for a new standard in determining viability. “If government exists to protect the weak and vulnerable,” she said, “then the point at which government should begin extending that protection should be objective, clear, and universally applicable.”

Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) takes issue with the bill for its restrictive time frame, and she refutes the need for a new standard that would take away the ability for women to make their own personal decisions.

“I identify myself as being someone who believes—and is—pro-choice because I don’t believe I, or anyone else, can make this kind of decision for someone else,” Antonio said.

Additionally, Antonio is wary of the cost the state would bear in an unfavorable legal challenge.

“This bill and bills like it across the country will create a constitutional challenge,” Antonio said. “When the state takes on that challenge, there is a cost.”

Of course, the opposing sides of a heartbeat bill aren’t confined to the Senate. The Senate’s Health Committee received word from many representatives from special interest groups and interested Ohioans on both sides of the debate.

The Rev. Marian Stewart, a pro-choice clergywoman, denied the heartbeat bill’s roots in religion and asked the committee, “In this year when women celebrate the 100th anniversary of the right to vote, are you telling us we don’t have a choice when it comes to our bodies?”

Janet Porter of Faith2Action, who introduced the

10. 6. 18

KAVANAUGH CONFIRMED TO SCOTUS

11. 6. 18

DEWINE ELECTED GOVERNOR

12. 21. 18

KASICH VETOES HIS 2ND HEARTBEAT BILL

nation’s first heartbeat bill to Ohio back in 2011, said that the current political environment in the state and the nation is perfect for a heartbeat bill to pass, citing a willing governor and the approval of Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

“The bill is right,” Porter said in a letter to the committee. “The votes are there. The Governor will sign it. The time to pass the Heartbeat Bill is now.”

S.B. 23 passed through the Senate on March 13 by a vote of 19-13.

All nine Senate Democrats, including Antonio, voted against. Four dissenting Republicans did the same, including Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls).

“I voted no,” Dolan said, “because I didn’t believe that that bill would successfully withstand a court challenge and [thus would] move the pro-life movement even further backwards.”

Dolan said that the heartbeat bill would likely be blocked by the courts because it lacks an exception for rape or incest and that it would “forbid the woman any options before she even knew she was pregnant.”

“I just don’t think the bill is the method to get the [Supreme] Court to revisit Roe v. Wade,” Dolan said. “I could be wrong, but that’s why I voted no.”

After the Senate grants passage, a bill lands on the House floor, where it receives further consideration from the chamber and its pertinent committees. In this case, S.B. 23 was introduced to the House of Representatives on March 14 and referred to the Health Committee five days later.

However, this isn’t the first time a heartbeat bill was heard in the House in 2019. February 26 saw the first hearing for House Bill 68, a nearly identical heartbeat proposal from Rep. Ron Hood (R-Ashville) and Rep. Candice Keller (R-Middletown).

Keller highlighted Ohio’s oft-cited impact on the nation’s political course and urged the state to reaffirm itself as a pro-life leader in response to the “condoning” of “virtual

1. 14. 19

DEWINE TAKES OFFICE

2. 12. 19

3. 13. 19

S.B. 23 INTRODUCED

S.B. 23 PASSED, SENT TO HOUSE

infanticide” in New York, Vermont and Virginia. Hood’s tone was similar: “The time is now to stem the tide of death and save beating hearts with this bill.”

H.B. 68 has yet to progress past the first hearing in the House’s Health Committee. However, that same committee takes its turn on March 26 to bring in proponents and opponents alike to hear their testimonies on S.B. 23.

Antonio, who now sits on the Senate’s Health Committee, had previously spent eight years as a representative in the Ohio House. She, along with Dolan, believes the bill will ultimately make it out of committee, be approved by the House and then promptly sent to Gov. DeWine.

That would be the third heartbeat bill to land on the desk of an Ohio governor since 2016, and the one that will likely finally be signed into law.

S.B. 23 would go into effect 90 days after DeWine’s approval but would likely be blocked by a federal court’s mandate before it could take effect, said Jessie Hill, a professor at Case Western Reserve University’s law school.

“Every court that has considered one of these [heartbeat bills] has struck it down because the existing precedent is very clear,” Hill said.

Should the bill be blocked, the state would have an option to appeal, which would then move the case to the 6th Circuit US Court of Appeals. Another unfavorable decision for the state would likely prompt another appeal, which could only be heard by the SCOTUS. However, the Supreme Court would have to voluntarily take the case, which it has yet to do for any previous heartbeat bills.

Hills says that, while existing precedent is clear, it’s fairly unclear whether the Supreme Court would choose to hear this case, and what the ultimate decision would be.

However, Dolan thinks the future of the bill is more clear: “I think the courts will look at it, and I have a feeling they will strike it down. And that will be consistent with what other courts have done, thus there will be no conflict amongst lower courts and it won’t go anywhere.” b www.backdropmagazine.com

39

SEX & HEALTH

Sex therapy helps people identify and address insecurities about their bodies and sexual performance.

W

BY ALEXIS MCCURDY

hen thinking about counseling services, sex therapy might not be the first that comes to mind, and it may, in fact, feel taboo to talk about. Yet, it’s a service that can help various aspects of life and personal well-being.

But not all sex therapists are created equal. Marilyn Lawrence is a sexologist certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Lawrence explains in a Men’s Journal article that a person can go to a sex therapy workshop and get a “certificate,” but that does not mean the person is certified. For the best experience, she recommends therapists certified by AASECT, the Institute for the Advancement of Human Sexuality or the American College of Sexologists.

Once a good sex therapist is locked down, it’s up to the client to be open and honest.

Claire Postl, a certified sex therapist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, recognizes it can be challenging to approach the subject. She says clients may have fears confronting a person who perhaps knows more about sex than them because of an intrinsic bashfulness. “[The client] maybe will feel inadequate going into sex therapy, but it’s important to realize everyone has sexuality, including your therapist,” Postl says.

In short, a sex therapist is not there to judge.

Lawrence admits that there will be initial discomfort,

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and clients have to be prepared for that. Therapy will not work if the client isn’t ready to talk. Postl adds that sex therapy is very similar to a typical therapy session.

Because there is often a correlation between mental health and sexual health, a lot of sex therapy treatments used are based on mental health therapy practices.

“It’s a very similar atmosphere. There’s often a connection between mental health and sexual health.

So, we try to work through those anxieties and break down those barriers,” Postl says.

While some may think that sex therapy caters toward older people or couples, Postl insists that it includes everyone, couples and singles, from ages 20 to 70. For example, Postl finds her college-aged clients may have erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. But there is no key demographic— those issues can arise for anyone.

For college students, Postl says, there is often a misconception that an erection has to lead to intercourse. She says people tend to cut out the middle man (e.g. oral sex and kissing) and “put intercourse as the end-all-be-all.”

However, Postl argues people should be able “to flex” what happens. Foreplay doesn’t always have to lead to sex. That is where a lot of pressure, particularly for males, comes in. Foreplay can focus more on intimacy and connection if the person chooses.

Laurie Watson, a certified sex therapist and host of “Foreplay,” a sex therapy podcast, says that the first sex

therapy session is focused about what’s hurting the client.

Therapists often delve into a patient’s medical and sexual history, childhood and current relationship status during those preliminaries.

If there’s one misconception that Postl would like to dismiss, it’s that there is physical contact between the therapist and the patient.

“I have been confused for a sex worker, which there is nothing wrong with sex work, but that is completely false,” Postl says. “No one gets naked in my office. Unlike a health clinic, no one will show me their genitals.”

Watson says patients should speak up if they feel uncomfortable or if their sex therapist shows a lack of professionalism.

Using different models of sex therapy, sexologists will often assign “homework” to patients. That could include experimentation, such as role-playing, using sex toys or switching up positions. Health considerations could be taken at that stage.

A common sex therapy technique called sensate focus is often used to reduce anxiety and increase communication with couples.

The three-step process starts with nonsexual touching, which progresses to genital touching and penetration.

Postl says the model is about mindful sex and appreciating sensation and stimulation.

Postl says a cognitive approach can also be beneficial when addressing anxieties. Cognitive approaches make clients view themselves as a learner willing to have patience. Therapists may also employ a variety of communication strategies to be applied at home or assign a good old reading to further educate their clients.

The length of sex therapy varies for each person and their problems. Sexually focused problems such as dissatisfaction or climax difficulties typically take two sessions or less according to Watson. Postl argues issues such as erectile dysfunction can have a systemic root that requires more work.

Watson says issues related to relationship strain that lead to sexual discord could lead to up to six months of sessions, including couples therapy. Sessions relating to trauma-induced anxiety and stress last as long as the patient needs. Postl usually sees college students for one or two sessions.

“I love working with college students the most,” Postl says. “It is the biggest period of sexual development, the biggest peak in exploring sexuality and a pivotal point in sexual life. Being able to learn healthy sexual practices early on is so important.” b

COMMON PROBLEMS ADDRESSED DURING SESSIONS 1

2

Victims of sexual assault may feel lost within themselves and uneasy when entering new sexual relationships. Sex therapy can work on addressing past trauma and moving forward to healthy relationships.

Difficulties in orgasming.

MEN: this could address problems of incontinence or pre-ejaculation.

WOMEN: a session could focus on letting go mentally or how to better communicate with their partners to increase satisfaction.

3

Breast cancer or prostate cancer survivors have to readjust to their bodies for the second time. Sex therapists can help unearth new confidence.

4

Sex therapists can coach on techniques and how to better perform for one’s partner. They might have a couple sit together to discuss their frustrations.

5

Sexual discomfort or insecurity, which in turn hinders performance.

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41

ENTERTAINMENT

MYSTERY

MASCOT

Francesca Hahn fondly recalls her experience as the Bobkitten, Ohio University’s first female mascot.

BY GRACE DEARING | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FRANCESCA HAHN

S

Hahn turns her backside to the crowd and flips her skirt up in sync with the chant, “OH-IO” to reveal embroidered bloomers.

Hahn poses in her original Bobkitten costume — a simple skirt and white sweater with a felt ‘O’ ironed on the front.

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usan Jewett, a 1969 alumna, remembers having a 10 p.m. curfew and bed checks every night during her time at Ohio University. If she or her fellow female students received good enough grades, then their curfews were extended until midnight—but only so they could study later at the library.

“I mean, it was ridiculous because the library was open until midnight and the guys could all stay out,” Jewett says.

“I was part of the president’s committee to deal with the issue of women’s hours. So, the Bobkitten was part of that whole zeitgeist.”

With Jewett at the helm as president of her hall council, the residents of Howard Hall, an all-girls dormitory, were inspired to leave their legacy at OU by channeling their frustration into advocacy.

It was during a hall council meeting in 1967 when the idea to create the university’s first female mascot was suggested. The intent was for the Bobkitten to march equally with the Bobcat, which was created in 1960 by residents in Lincoln Hall, an all-boys dormitory.

Jewett, who studied fine arts, spearheaded efforts to design the Bobkitten’s costume, which consisted of the head (made of paper mache and chicken wire), a white sweater with a green ‘O’ patched on, a skirt and bloomers that read ‘OH-IO.’ The residents of Howard Hall never anticipated the Bobkitten would gain as much fame on campus as it did. In fact, the Bobkitten probably would not have made such a lasting impression if not for Francesca Hahn.

Hahn, another 1969 alumna, exuded an aura of confidence and pep that made her the perfect choice for OU’s first female mascot.

Her signature move—turning her back to the crowd and flipping up the Bobkitten’s skirt to reveal her embroidered “OH-IO” bloomers—made those bloomers a staple of Hahn’s fame.

“Soon, the Bobkitten became a campus celebrity, or at least her shapely legs did, otherwise her identity remained closely guarded among the Howard Hall women and a select few others,” writes Mike Johnson in his book, “Mascot, Minister, Man of Steel.” Johnson, a 1967 alumnus, who studied journalism and public relations, spent much of his time at OU

photographing and writing about the Bobkitten for his internship with the university’s athletic department.

As the primary sponsor of the Bobkitten, Howard Hall residents fiercely guarded Hahn’s identity, and the athletic director even gave Hahn her own locker space so she would not be seen carrying the mascot head across campus.

The mystery of the Bobkitten’s identity was so elusive that other schools began to wonder about the face behind OU’s new female mascot. Hahn specifically remembers Miami University’s basketball team growing desperate in their attempts to unmask her at one of the games she attended.

Throughout the entire game, Hahn says she noticed the Miami basketball team’s friendly demeanor. At the end of the game, the team rushed over, picked Hahn up and brought her into their van.

“They wanted me to take off my head and talk with them and say hello,” she says. “The OU team and fans were pounding on the door [of the van] and trying to get in. So, I turned around and took off the head and shook out my wet hair and tried to look decent, and we all had a good laugh.”

The Bobkitten also gained the attention of Dr. Vernon R. Alden, OU’s then-president, who frequently posed for photographs with the mascot. Dr. Alden asked Hahn if he could borrow the costume for his wife, who was a fan of the sassy character. Hahn agreed and says Mrs. Alden dressed as the Bobkitten for many Halloweens after that.

The Bobkitten’s popularity increased as the feminist movement of the 1960s surged. Between the publishing of Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” and the transformation of the popular Cosmopolitan magazine into a women’s magazine, women in the '60s were finding their voices. Hahn remembers protests and marches on campus as the women’s liberation movement grew.

Many women attending OU in the ’60s believed the Bobkitten was influential in showcasing newly liberated woman. With little resistance from the Bobcat and the

athletic department, Hahn was able to let the Bobkitten flourish in the spotlight.

“I think the Bobkitten was able to represent something for the feminist movement and the fact that it was accepted and the athletic department supported me was very important,” Hahn says.

Hahn attended football, basketball and hockey games as the Bobkitten and was showcased in the annual Homecoming parade and other smaller events throughout the year, like fraternity events. She even made an appearance with the Bobcat on The World of Cats, a PBS cable TV show.

Hahn remembers the day she was first recognized at a football game that she assumed was just like every other.

“The athletic director came out on the field with the football team at attention. He came to the podium and asked me to join him,” she says. “...He then made a little speech about the addition of the Bobkitten and indicated that I should wear an official green letter sweater to match the Bobcat and to represent the school well. I knew then that they had embraced the concept fully.”

When Howard Hall closed in 1976, Chi Omega sorority sisters took over the Bobkitten responsibility. In addition to Hahn, there were six other Bobkittens from 1967 to 1990.

As university athletics became more competitive at a national level during the ’90s, the Bobkitten went dormant, the costume was lost and it has not been seen since.

Hahn’s legacy as OU’s first female mascot transcends her other college experiences. Not only was she OU’s only female mascot for over two decades, but she exemplified the women’s liberation movement of the ’60s and gave students and faculty members lifelong memories.

“It was a truly great experience,” Hahn says. “All that sweating under the sun was worth every game, and even the sore shoulders could never take away the joy I had those four years of being the Bobkitten and the distinction of being the very first one.” b

Francesca Hahn proudly flaunts her Bobkitten costume and waves to her admiring fans with Rufus the Bobcat at a football game.

VOICES

Lean on me

Backdroppers share their favorite memories from the OU Civil Ride, which took students through southern cities that played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NATASCHA TOFT ROELSGAARD

JYLIAN HERRING In the days leading up to the trip, I became more and more envious of my friends who were flying to tropical locations for spring break. Yet, days after the trip, I found myself wishing I was back on the bus traveling with my new friends. The OU Civil Ride was a life-changing experience. I learned so much, not only about our nation’s history, but also about myself.

On the first day, we attended a service at 16th Street Baptist Church.

We learned in class that that is where four little girls died after the church was bombed by four Ku Klux Klan members. I had only been to church one time before this, and I dreaded the idea of a two-hour service. I had no idea what to expect when I sat

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down in a pew with my classmates.

During one point in the service, the reverend called for members of the church to welcome the visitors.

Many smiles and handshakes were exchanged throughout the room, but one woman’s gesture specifically stuck out to me. She walked toward me, wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight. In that moment, I felt so much love from a complete stranger. The hug sent chills down my body and brought tears to my eyes. I felt so welcome in her space and remember thinking to myself, how could anyone invade someone’s place of worship to hurt them and their loved ones? It was mind-blowing to me that the people who belong to

the church are so trusting of visitors, considering its history.

That moment was the first of many tears for me throughout the trip. Prior to this trip, I never thought I would be so emotionally drained by the end of the week. Going from different museums and talking to people who have lived through the Civil Rights Movement really put it into perspective for me. It’s really hard to put into words everything that I felt from this trip, and I found a sense of community with the people I shared those experiences with. Going back to my ‘normal’ life at OU made me more aware of how privileged I am and how unaware people are about the Civil Rights Movement.

ALLY LANASA

LILLI SHER

RYLIE MILLER

One of my professors urged me to enroll in Media and the Civil Rights Movement last semester because of my intersecting interests in social issues, race relations and the media.

While I read a lot about historic and contemporary struggles throughout the course and in my free time, I did not realize how much understanding I would gain from seeing the sites of such events in person, rather than just hearing about them.

While many moments from this trip were very jarring, one of the most impactful was the day that we traveled through Mississippi to see the lynching site of three Freedom Summer workers, as well as Bryant’s Grocery Store, where a white woman alleged that Emmett Till wolf-whistled at her. It was chilling to know that these sites are not properly memorialized because of the deep racism that still exists in those areas.

The descendants of people who inflicted those hate crimes seem to refuse to reconcile with their ugly pasts.

Many people want to believe that racism is a thing of the past, and that the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. ended the deep, systemic hatred that runs deep in the veins of the country. However, it is abundantly clear that racist bias and hatred are still alive and well today. This notion was crystallized for me when we visited the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum in Montgomery. While visiting the museum, I read that 1 in 3 black boys will be incarcerated in their lifetime and about the disproportionate incarceration of African-American people in the United States. Trips like the OU Civil Ride are important for people to learn about not only the history of the Civil Rights Movement, but also to learn how to confront the enduring legacy of racism in the United States.

It is hard to put into words how the experience impacted and changed my life. I signed up for the Media and the Civil Rights Movement course on a whim and with little knowledge about what was in store. Throughout the semester, I learned about the various places we would be visiting through written articles and documentaries. I had never been to any of those places before, so I was never able to fully understand what it would be like to experience it first hand, to stand in some of the same spots that historical events occurred or where courageous and inspiring leaders made their voices heard and fought for equality.

One of the most memorable aspects throughout the entire trip was walking through The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. It has been open to the public for a little less than a year, and I had been unaware of the message that it left not only with me, but with each visitor who takes the time to walk through the entire memorial. It is a commemorative representation of over 4,400 African-American men, women and children that had their lives taken away from them between 1877 and 1950. Walking through, reading all of the names and seeing all of the dates, some of which were relatively recent left me feeling all sorts of emotions.

The experience taught me many different things about our nation’s history along with knowledge about the Civil Rights Movement. I became more in tune with my emotions and learned a lot of life lessons in a short week. I was lucky enough to get to go on the trip with such an amazing group of individuals, who I am now able to call some of my very good friends. I became inspired to utilize the opportunities at my fingertips to make my voice heard and to keep doing and learning more.

Prior to the OU Civil Ride, I never attended a week-long class trip in college. I was anxious about the trip as our departure quickly approached. I knew a handful of students from previous classes or involvement in Backdrop, but most of our relationships were professional rather than personal. I never would have imagined that I would return to Athens with 17 new friends, bordering on family members.

By Thursday, we bonded through our close proximity on the bus and vulnerability during our evening debriefs, but I felt most connected to my peers at the murder site of the three civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. After our tour guide informed us of the graphic details of the Freedom Summer volunteers’ deaths, three of us held hands and bowed our heads to pray for peace. Then, the entire class huddled to pray for the eternal rest of the men’s souls and for love to conquer hatred. When we boarded the bus, one of the graduate students comforted me as I cried.

As we headed to lunch, the second tour guide led our class in singing Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” which ultimately became the theme song of our trip. When we arrived in Athens Saturday evening, we all huddled at the top of Baker to belt out the lyrics of “Lean on Me” one final time. We shared a group hug before individually enveloping each other. Tears rolled down my cheeks as our trip reached its finale and I squeezed my new family members tightly. Throughout the trip, we bickered occasionally, but that’s what siblings do. I am forever grateful for the experience and the amazing people it brought into my life. I will cherish the memories I made that week for a lifetime. b

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Exhibit A.

Maddie Schroeder, a senior studying visual communication, captured fitness enthusiasts at the Arnold Classic Expo.

LEFT

BELOW

Hafthor Bjornsson, known as "The Mountain" from Game of Throwns lifts a 410-pound stone during the Strongman competition.

Jen Pansky poses during her routine as the finale to the Men's Pro Wheelchair competition.

ABOVE

Ryall Graber practies her routine backstage before Women's Physique competition.

LEFT

A contestant flips her hair while turning around for Women’s Bikini judging.

46

backdrop | Spring 2019

PHOTO HUNT

Spot the five differences between these photos at the Alden Library archives.

PHOTO BY MAX CATALANO

1

ORIGINAL

2 3 4 5

1. Removed Newspaper on desk. 2.Changed carpet color. 3.Replaced image in frame.

4.Removed crease in chair. 5. Removed brand name of typewriter.

www.backdropmagazine.com

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Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery first opened its doors in 2005. Since then, we’ve expanded to include 3 unique Athens locations. Stop by our original Brewpub, located at 24 W Union Street, and sample 18 exclusive drafts made with locally grown ingredients. Right next door, our Public House restaurant features 30 different draft lines and a delicious, locally sourced menu that offers something for everyone.

Public House 22 West Union Street Daily 11am-11pm

Court St. Carpenter St.

ve.

Stimson A

Taproom & Brewery 25 Campbell Street Mon-Thurs 2pm-9pm Fri-Sat 11am-10pm Sun 12pm-7pm

House N. Congress St.

W. Union St.

BrewPub 24 West Union Street Tues-Thurs 7pm-2am Fri 4pm-2am Sat 2pm-2am

BrewPub & Public

Taproom & Brewery

Just a mile from our uptown locations is our Taproom and Production Brewery, located at 25 Campbell Street. With 16 additional taps, food cart, and a large outdoor patio, it’s a perfect retreat at the edge of town.

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www.jackieos.com