Winter 2008 (Vol. 1 Issue 1)

backdrop magazine

vol.ume 1 issue 1 winter 2008

p.26

p.11

p.23

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p.46

p.37

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entertainment : hype : culture : sex : art : humor : health : music : life

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ALL ORDERS ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE BY DELL. Offer subject to your school’s continuing participation in the Dell Education Personal Purchase Program. Prices, specifications, availability and terms of offers may change without notice. Taxes, fees, shipping, handling and any applicable restocking charges are extra, and vary. Offers may be combined with other select offers or discounts. Valid for U.S. Dell Education Personal Purchase Program new purchases only. Dell cannot be responsible for pricing or other errors, and reserves the right to cancel orders arising from such errors. Dell, the Dell Logo, Dimension, Inspiron, XPS and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel and the Intel inside logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows Vista are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ©2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by U.S. copyright laws without the expressed written permission of Dell is strictly forbidden.

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ALL ORDERS ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE BY DELL. Offer subject to your school’s continuing participation in the Dell Education Personal Purchase Program. Prices, specifications, availability and terms of offers may change without notice. Taxes, fees, shipping, handling and any applicable restocking charges are extra, and vary. Offers may be combined with other select offers or discounts. Valid for U.S. Dell Education Personal Purchase Program new purchases only. Dell cannot be responsible for pricing or other errors, and reserves the right to cancel orders arising from such errors. Dell, the Dell Logo, Dimension, Inspiron, XPS and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel and the Intel inside logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows Vista are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. ©2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by U.S. copyright laws without the expressed written permission of Dell is strictly forbidden.

backdrop Editor-in-Chief Ashley Luther Managing Editor Steve Zeisler Senior Executive Editors Meredith Lockwood Andrew Eisenman Creative Director Tara Melvin Design Director Gina Beach Photo Editor Sarah Amato Advertising Director Meghan Montgomery Public Relations Director James Rice Copy Chief Susannah Sachdeva Associate Editors Entertainment | Veronica Norton Hype | Shamus Eaton A-Town | Laura Yates Sex + Health | Megan Lorenz Contributing Editors Annie Beecham Abby Clary Shane Barnes Greg Gallant Brittany Timmons Camille Sciria Will Cooper Danielle Zeisler Jenna Siska Holly Sweeney Sandi Combs Brittany Bowles Jess Tyroler Lydia Gutierrez Photographers Ali Winberry Mariel Tyler Katherine Tyler Alanna Geoghegan

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Adviser Jack Brady

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Letter from the Editor: I’ve known I wanted to work in magazines since the awkward age of 13. My father brought home a French Elle from a business trip, and although I was into metallic eyeshadow, alternating neon braces and Montell Jordan mix tapes at the time, (yes, it was only a phase) that four-color glossy stole my heart. There’s just something about holding on to a tangible piece of human culture, displayed through the pages of beautifully photographed and tactfully written issues and volumes. It pains me when I hear professors deliver the deafening diagnosis, “print journalism will be obsolete in coming years, yada, yada, yada.” In my mind, and in the minds of the Backdrop staff, magazines are something to refer to, cherish and pass along.

With that said, my peers and I created Backdrop as a way to chronicle our iconic college years, while getting independent, real-world experience in a print magazine setting. All of the photography, advertising sales, writing, editing, modeling, designing, distribution and marketing is done by students. In essence, Backdrop’s content is motivated by its audience: YOU, the OU student body. We want to write about subjects that we want to read about, and I believe Backdrop accomplished that. Still, no class at this university could prepare us for the stress levels and caffeinated blood streams that come with the territory of launching our own magazine. Yet, here we are. We’ve created a monster.

In this first issue, I hope you take a look at the quality material our staff has brought to the table in months and months of planning and hard work. We’re really proud of everything, but definitely check out the Athens’ Cribs story and the Failed Resolutions column; those two are sure to make you laugh.

Lastly, I just want to say thank you. None of this dream would be possible without the dedication of the entire Backdrop crew, and the support of Jack Brady, our advertisers, our parents, friends, professors, energy drinks, millionaire relatives, The Beatles, pizza delivery guys, Steve Jobs, Skyline Chili, and most of all, you.

Cheers,

Ashley Luther Editor-in-Chief

Want to be a part of Backdrop?

Friend Backdrop Mag on Facebook today!

Submit your letters, story pitches, photographs, designs, ideas and commentary to:

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23 departments Entertainment

sounds like 5 coming attractions 7 live from studio c 9

Hype

keepin’ it real estate 11 threads from the big 3 15

Features

the naked truth 23 cut & paste 26

Sex/Health

sex column 29 r-u informed? 31 xxxs & ohhhs 33 highway to health 35

A Town

Exhibit A 37 Sh!ts and Giggles

hot for teacher 41 websh!t 42 the ifiles 43 failed resolutions 43 say what? 45 ruthless rant and rage 45 sh!t show 46

lost in translation 17 quarter queen 20 station stackup 21 The annual consumption of chicken patties and nuggets is 61,290 lbs. in OU dining halls.

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entertainment

SOUNDS LIKE...

BY GREG GALLANT

Jet + The Hives Wheels on Fire

Elliott Smith + John Frusciante Winter Makes Sailors

Showmanship is not Sean Gardner’s biggest strength. He’s not exactly the consummate professional either, but don’t be fooled by his humble approach. In between blunt song introductions and his fiddling with an arsenal of rare instruments, shows of his one-man band Winter Makes Sailors are packed with the type of well-crafted tunes that make the coffee shop crowds take notice.

Comparisons to Elliott Smith are instantly apparent. Sean’s vocals are eerily similar to Smith’s. In addition, Sean’s lyrics are always melancholic, often desperate and at times self-deprecating.

Tracks like “Take Me West,” accounting Sean’s time with a down-and-out hitchhiker, will surely please fans of Smith’s work.

Sean claims that his biggest influence, however, is the solo work of Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante. This is not to say RHCP fans will love Sean’s songs; Frusciante’s solo work is a far cry from mellow stadium rock. Winter Makes Sailors draws on the stripped- down sound and rich guitar strumming of the Peppers’ axe-slinger.

Although the solo act is based in Columbus, Sean frequently makes the trip to Athens to perform. Calm and humble on stage, he gives fans their money’s worth by packing his shows with brief, punctuated songs, sure to entertain most breeds of indie music fans.

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In an era where the independent music scene is growing increasingly experimental, it’s getting harder to find a traditional rock sound. Recently, though, several bands are recreating a classic sound, and not one of them better represents pure rock and roll than Athens’ own Wheels on Fire.

Formed in 2005 by brothers Mike Chaney on guitar and vocals and Matt Chaney on drums, the band is a throwback to the rumpus experience of ’60s and ’70s rock ’n’ roll. Additional guitar work from John Garris, stylized organ from Susan Musser, and the bass playing of J.J. Reed fill out the group.

Wheels on Fire will surely remind fans of recent rock revival bands like Jet and The Hives. With heavy bass, bass-cymbalsnare drumming, and bouncing chords on organ and guitar, the sound captures quintessential rock basics. Utilizing interjected tambourine tracks like “Train on Fire” and “Old Crow” achieve the neosouthern rock sound standard of counterculture America.

Their heaviest influence, though, seems to come from the 60s blues rock of the British Invasion. Mike’s voice has a sharp bite, similar to Mick Jagger, and the song “Poor Little Rich Girl” evokes the essence of the Rolling Stones. The use of organ in songs like “Cryin’ Bleedin’ Dyin’” will please fans of The Doors and other keyboard-heavy ’60s bands.

Arcade Fire +Neutral Milk Hotel Russenorsk The combination of folk and indie music has been growing in popularity for some time, but Tim Race gives Russenorsk something that bands in either genre typically don’t have: a show-stopping voice. Race’s pipes bring together the band’s neo-folk tracks, colored by the improvisational cello work of Jack Martin, and fueled by Zach Inscho on drums.

The distinct style that Russenorsk uses to construct their driving rock tunes is very similar to that of Arcade Fire. Set list fixtures “Long Winter’s Coming” and “No Crash” seem to be straight off Arcade Fire’s Funeral album. Tim loops a guitar riff or two, Jack and Zach enter in time, and the song slowly builds on itself, conserving energy for an explosion at the end.

Tim’s lyrical strategy is difficult to classify. While the words are not necessarily vague, much of the meaning of the songs is derived from how the words work with, or against, the mood set by the music and vocals. This style is comparable to Jeff Mangum, the lyricist for Neutral Milk Hotel. On the band’s folk rock ballads, Tim utilizes an acoustic guitar sound also similar to NMH. Tim and Jack built an audience for their live shows last year, and now the addition of Inscho’s percussion has added even more energy to the set. The band’s range of emotions and versatile musical ability make Russenorsk appealing to a diverse group of listeners. b

The OU’s main campus has 1,045 toilets and 430 urinals.

Backdrop | Winter 2008 |

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COMINGATTRACTIONS getexcitedaboutthemostanticipatedflicks,tunes,showsandgames The Dark Knight

Despite tragedy, the caped crusader still returns July 18 in Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Dark Knight, the highly anticipated sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins. Starring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne by day and Batman by night, the sequel should be even more gripping than the first. The late Heath Ledger takes on The Joker, who threatens the security of Gotham City, in possibly his darkest and consequently most intense role to date. Other cast members include Morgan Freeman, Anthony Michael Hall, and Maggie Gyllenhaal who will replace Katie Holmes as a revamped Rachel Dawes, the love interest of the cloaked vigilante.

Coldplay

Coldplay’s new album, rumored to be named Prospekt, is due out in April or May, but may be delayed due to a rocky relationship with their record label. The mellow band, famous for their rainy day sing-alongs, has released three albums: Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) and X & Y (2005). The soon-to-be-released album is rumored to have a Hispanic feel, as the band is recording in Barcelona. Sources say they have been recording in churches and cathedrals, experimenting with acoustic guitar rather than the piano used in previous records. Whatever the sound, this album is promised to be Coldplay’s most exciting and innovative thus far.

Shine a Light

Set to release early this year, Shine a Light is the next documentary from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. The film will take a look at the illustrious career of what is said to be the greatest rock and roll band in the world, the Rolling Stones. This is Scorsese’s second documentary in the past three years. The first of which was the award-winning No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005), which was praised for its in-depth and gritty look at the life of the legendary musician. Surely this is one to look out for, as Scorsese will most assuredly show a side of the Rolling Stones that few have seen.

Matisyahu

The hardest working Hasidic musician in the business has announced that he has plans for a new album, which is untitled as of yet. Hot off the success of his previous album, Youth, and the charttopping single, “King Without a Crown,” Matisyahu has released little information about this new CD, set to release in early 2008. Matisyahu is known for mixing the flavor of reggae with the soul of hip-hop to create a genre of his own, which uplifts and exults Judaism and a spiritual lifestyle.

The mainstream success of the devout artist is telling of his talent, and fans — both religious and not — are highly anticipating the new material from the wholly original artist.

Weezer

Weezer fans will be thrilled to know the band is finally starting to confirm plans about a new album with a tentative release date of this spring. The group was rehearsing throughout last spring and summer, and officially entered the studio last July. Karl Koch, the webmaster of Weezer’s Web site and longtime friend of the band, raves that the sound is traditional Weezer, but with an infusion of new styles that will surely give Rivers Cuomo admirers a new reason to love the quirky quartet from Los Angeles. Plus, all four members are expected to contribute to the songwriting process. Bass player Scott Shriner said that, “Weezer fans truly have something to look forward to.”

COMPILED BY ABBY CLARY, SHANE BARNES

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It is illegal to sell or own chewing gum in Singapore.

The fourth season of the hit culinary competition series from Bravo is mixing it up in The Windy City. Hosted and judged by veteran foodies, the show looks to find the perfect recipe of creativity, craft, and cool in 16 contestants. The show is set up into two challenges: Quickfire and Elimination. In the Quickfire Challenge, contestants must work under certain stipulations, scenarios and time limits. Elimination Challenges test the contestants’ ability to create individual dishes or sometimes several course meals to present to the judges. Judges Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Ted Allen return this season.

Fans of Project Runway will most likely enjoy this crafty cook-off as it is made by the same production company and is similar in style.

Grand Theft Auto IV

From the makers of America’s favorite video game series comes another addition to the debauched world of Liberty City. This game, which has been called a “spiritual successor to GTA III,” will put the players in control of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European, new to Liberty City. Fans will once again make their way through the underground, piling up massive amounts of money, women and body counts on the way. Owners of Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 can look forward to hours of decadent entertainment. Unfortunately, the game is delayed until late April. But hey, you never know whether or not the making of a crime lord is going to go as planned.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Set to release May 22, devoted fans can reignite the saga with the fourth installment, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This series has come a long way since 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Sean Connery, who played Jones’ father, will not be rejoining the cast. Karen Allen, however, will be reprising her role as Marion Ravenwood. New faces include Shia LaBeouf and Cate Blanchett who will play “sidekicks.” Sources say that Blanchett is definitely “not a love interest.” The ultra-secretive plot has been kept under wraps mentioning only Soviet Union agents as villains who tap into the psychic power of the Mayan crystal skulls to “blossom a brand new age.”

Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas, this epic film is sure to satisfy and animate an enthusiastic fan base.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Only one earth year after leaving the magical world of Narnia, the four Pevensie children are pulled back into the enchanted world only to discover that 1,300 Narnian years have passed and the blissful reign they left behind has been conquered by the sinister King Miraz, who reigns unmercifully.

The four must set off to find Aslan, the wise and gallant lion in order to defeat the evil king. They are joined in their adventure by young Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the throne and nephew of King Miraz. William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, and Skandar Keynes reprise their roles as Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund respectively. The much-loved metaphorical stories euphemize religion and colonialism. The second installment is set to release May 16.

Get Smart

Despite being based off the 1965 Mel Brooks-scripted TV show, Get Smart is not outdated. The spy spoof stars Steve Carell as the ever-eager but not-so-stealthy sleuth, Maxwell Smart. When the US spy agency CONTROL is thwarted by malevolent crime organization KAOS, the identities of the spies are jeopardized and The Chief, played by film veteran Alan Arkin, is forced to call on the clumsy Smart to accompany Agent 99, the “lovely-butlethal” female secret agent embodied by Anne Hathaway. The two must work together to foil KAOS’ plan for world domination, and with Carell’s uncanny comic timing, hijinks are bound to ensue. Also, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson takes an entertaining turn as the “stalwart superstar,” Agent 23. The sure-to-be-hilarious remake is set to debut June 20. b Around 31,000 pieces of chalk are used in OU classrooms per year.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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Live from Studio C...

IT’S FRIDAYS LIVE!

BY STEVE ZEISLER

WHERE

RTV building 5th floor

WHEN

Fridays @ 6:45

WEB

fridayslive.net This famous tagline kicks off Ohio University’s late-night comedy show taped every Friday night in the Radio Television Building. The show is produced by OU students for OU students, yet not many students actually know it exists. This year’s cast members include Drew Crabtree, Lauren Salandra, Danny Cox, Brandy Hayes, Gabe Ross, Kristin Shirilla, Caitlin Corns, Craig Reck, and Casey Williams. A handful of the cast members sat down with Backdrop to share their thoughts on this hilarious show.

Backdrop: Which characters does Fridays Live continue to make fun of?

Cast Members: Hulk Hogan, George Bush, Steve Irwin, Anna Nicole Smith, and Britney Spears. Usually the ‘dead people’ jokes are funnier, but we present them in a tasteful manner.

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BD: What controversial subjects has Fridays Live covered?

Cast Members: Jesus Christ. We said “Jesus Christ” in one of our skits and got taken off the air. We have to keep it ‘TV-14 and under’ for WOUB, but we are allowed to say ‘bitch’ once per quarter, and we save that for the end of the season.

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BD: Describe Fridays Live in two words.

Brandy Hayes: Fucking Hilarious.

Danny Cox: It’s more fun than funny.

Kristin Shirilla: Two words, Danny. Can you count?

BD: Are the Fridays Live parties quirky and fun like the shows?

Cast Members: We hired a stripper once.

It was a ‘strippers and rock stars’ party. The stripper put the tips in her shoes, which were clear and had a compartment to fill with water and goldfish.

BD: Any plans for promoting the show?

Caitlin Corns: I have an idea. We pick up drunken people on Court Street, take them to a tattoo parlor, tattoo ‘Fridays Live in Studio C’ on their stomachs, and make them walk around to show people their tattoos.

If you’re into skits that poke fun at politics, religion, and people such as Hitler, go visit Fridays Live every Friday night starting at 6:45 p.m. in the RTV Building, Studio C (5 th Floor). The show then airs again at 10 p.m. b

Apples are more effective at keeping people awake in the morning than caffeine.

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The entrance to 15 S. Congress, a church turned residence.

keepin’ it real [estate]

BY SHAMUS EATON AND ANNIE BEECHAM

Invited into the lavish homes of some of the poshest places in Athens, Backdrop got an inside view of three happening houses.

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Holy House 15 S. Congress Landlord: Patrick Rose 5 rooms $1500/qtr

I

t is said that the first miracle was changing water into wine, but transforming the interior of this old church on North Congress Street into an inviting space for college kids could be considered the first miracle in Athens off-campus housing. The front entrance of this two-story, five bedroom house might be a bit spooky at first glance, but if you can get past the vines and wooden double doors, you’ll find yourself in a surprisingly quaint, loft-style retreat.

“It’s a little creepy,” said resident Sarah Erickson. “I was sleeping the other night and had dreams that it was haunted.” Sarah is adjusting, and is happy to report that neither her nor any of her four roommates have had any strange encounters. In fact, they have not let their initial church-living jitters hold them back from embracing their unique home at all. The front bushes and double doors are littered with Halloween decorations every October, which Sarah

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very day is just another day in the neighborhood for the 11 girls that live at 15 North Congress. This is because their house, one of the largest on campus, looks like it was transported from upper-middle-class suburbia and dropped in the thick of Animal House row. Surrounded by average Ath-

admits i s a kind of a “duty” that comes with the territory. The roommates have also stayed true to the property’s roots by plastering images of nuns about the house.

Although the house is a far departure from your traditional Sunday worship spot, it owes much of its charm to its religious roots. The addition of a staircase and a catwalk that lead to the three upstairs loft rooms leaves the kitchen and living rooms open to the original high ceilings. The dramatic architecture paired with the swapping of pews for comfy couches and area rugs ens houses, where broken windows abound and slanted porches are the norm, the brass outdoor lighting and pristine aluminum siding that top off this property make it the envy of all its neighbors.

“People call it the ‘Dollhouse,’” said resident Lindsey Berner. “It’s probably nicer than anything I’ll ever live in.” With 10 bedrooms, five full baths, and a kitchen suited for a culinary master, this palace, renter Jillian Cosentino admits, is nicer than what most of the residents go back home to.

Lindsey and Jillian agree that living with 11 girls is a lot to handle at times, but the size of the house accommodates them all. They make sure to stay on top of the little things too. “We have chores every Sunday,” Lindsey said.

The girls have to keep their massive space looking pristine in order to

makes “The Church” the perfect spot for social hour.

“We host a lot of company,” Sarah said, noting that this sometimes means unexpected guests hoping to get a peek inside her blessed home base. “We’ve actually had people stop by thinking it really was still a real church.” In light of having a house with so much character, the girls of 15 S. Congress can’t help but grant a curious passerby forgiveness.

b Dollhouse b Address: 15 N. Congress b Landlord: John Wharton b 10 rooms/ 11 tenants b $1600/qtr host the amount of soirées that a house like theirs calls for.

And we’re not just talking the average weekend pre-game. The girls really embraced the upscale neighborhood feel of their home last November when they hosted a Thanksgiving feast that rivaled grandma and grandpa’s.

Fine dining only feels fitting in a downstairs that features an island, two sitting rooms, two full refrigerators, hardwood cabinets and two huge porches. A first-time guest could literally get lost in this luxurious crème de la crème of student houses. And that’s without journeying upstairs to check out the 10 bedrooms, each with their own funky architectural flavor.

It is clear that the “Dollhouse” is a cut above the rest, so feel privileged if you ever get invited to chill in this abnormal abode. Just remember to wipe your feet.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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i Bump Set Sleep i Address: 7 W. Carpenter i Landlord: John Wharton i 5 rooms i $1800/qtr

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fter a hard day of kicking ass on the court, some of Ohio Volleyball’s finest come home to one of the freshest flats in Athens. Teammates Amanda Anderson, McKenzie Mauck and Molly Mangan share their classy space with ex-teammate Allie Meczka and longtime friend, Kristen Domino.

Nestled above Broney’s Alumni Bar and Grill, this two-story, five-bedroom apartment is fit for a king. The lavish interior is accessed through an entrance just a stone’s throw from Broney’s outdoor beer garden, and can only be entered with a buzz-in from the girls upstairs.

“Having to buzz people in is nice,” said resident McKenzie. “We do get a lot of random buzzes, but it helps us screen who’s coming in.”

Being in good enough favor with these girls to get buzzed in should not be taken lightly. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll find yourself in this after-hour hostess’ heaven.

Everything in the place is in mint condition, from the stainless steel hardware in the kitchen to the hardwood floors and recessed bulbs that light the living room.

Those wood floors stretch throughout the apartment to each of the five bedrooms, which feature a fresh coat of paint on the walls and spacious closets.

If a resident grows tired of the cozy confines of their bedroom, they have almost too many outdoor porches to keep track of. If balconies on both stories overlooking the Courtside Apartments and bar aren’t enough to feed one’s need for fresh air, these girls are only a flight of stairs away from an unbelievable view of the Court Street bars and Athens’ stars. The rod iron enclosed sundeck is bigger than the court the girls practice on every day, and is the perfect place for a fair-weather gettogether.

All the current residents agree that besides the location, the rooftop escape is one of the biggest perks to the property. And who would disagree after their first visit? It is a perch comparable to Pride Rock in The Lion

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King with drunken revelers on Court Street instead of hyenas providing the view and jealous glances up to the good life.

“We’re allowed to have 50 people out there at a time,” resident Amanda said.

“This place is perfect for smaller get-togethers.”

If you were to walk past the address you might not even notice it… and that might be a good thing. Ignorance is bliss, and after seeing this Park-Avenue -worthy pad, it might be hard to go home to your Aunt Cathy’s hand-medown floral couch and Bob Marley poster.

As they show off their latest addition, a mounted deer head with a feminine touch, the girls comment on how most people don’t even know their apartment exists.

Perhaps, for the sake of the rest of the population living off campus, this property is a secret best kept out of reach, high above the corner of Court and Carpenter Street. b

In 2007, the Ohio University Athletic Department

dropped

55 student athletes to save

$75,000

50 of those 55 students were paying full tuition

you do the math bringbackohiotrack.blogspot.com

27 S. Court Open Mon-Fri 8-9, Sat-Sun 10-9 Phone: 740-593-3838

BA GEL Street Deli

“changing the world, one bagelwich at a time!”

Largest combination of sandwich possibilities in town!

Made to order salads, soups, tofu and more...

“Your Doorway to A World of Treasures” Uptown Athens at 38 N. Court St. www.bali-karma.com 740-594-KARMA (5276)

Arts * Attire * Gifts * Jewelry

THREADS from the BIG THREE

BY WILL COOPER

P

ersonal style is your external identity, and for some, it’s wearing what you stand for on your sleeve. Lately, it seems like mega textile conglomerates that line the storefronts of your local mall seem to be selling quick-dying trends that mesh your true colors into a crowd. However, there are hometown shops that still believe in the good of fashion and personal expression­­— and they aren’t that far from Athens. We’ve hit up six of Ohio University’s freshest style makers to find out where to find the most funky, original threads in the underground stores of the big three; Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Cleveland Heights native, Aisha Johnson, turns heads with her gear. Her style is typified by her taste for luxury and her appreciation for ’80s vintage styles. Aisha says Rihanna, Kelis and Kanye West inspire her. With a strong loyalty to brands like True Religion and Rock & Republic, Aisha keeps her eye out for the hottest denim stitching and dark washes. “You will never see me in Baby Phat,” Aisha said. Instead, you might catch her sporting skinny jeans, high-top Adidas kicks and a Married to the Mob tee.

For Aisha’s style, make a trip to Cleveland’s hottest hip hop boutique, Next. The store in the Beachwood Place Mall contains their widest selection of urban chic brands. “Next’s name is its philosophy,” said owner Robert Rosenthal. “[We] test brands when no one else will.” The store strives to stay progressive with their lines. “If you’re not taking risks in fashion, then you are following a risky strategy,” said Rosenthal. The boutique carries pricy premium denim brands like PRPS, a slew of limited Nike products and Billionaire Boys Club apparel – and be on the lookout for hot new brands like Alife, quirky shoes and apparel fit for the concrete jungle.

Sophomore Ryan Jones of the Cleveland suburb Shaker Heights also digs Next. “There is a movement away from the baggy Rocawear hip hop look,” he said. “People want to dress more highend and fitted.” Ryan pays attention to brands, but style takes precedence. Evisu and LRG are staples in his closet, and bright colors make a statement in his wardrobe. Ryan’s clothing speaks with a conscience, and he finds his most fierce pieces at Brigade.

Brigade is an anti-corporate fashion establishment with two locations in Cleveland, one downtown and one on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. Brigade has two in-house brands: Wrath Arcane and Silent Chaos. Wrath Arcane, taken literally, means “secret anger,” or “forgotten rage.” Its founders believe that people have forgotten the fact that changing their environment for the better will change their lives for the better. Brigade’s initial goal was to bring in designers with individual views. “We want our customers to feel that they are buying more than just a trendy piece of sportswear,” said an employee.

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“People that shop here have an activist attitude,” said another employee. Brigade’s mission is to promote “shopping independent.”

These brands focus on quality and a fundamental opposition to the conformity of popular culture. Brigade also has exclusive sales of top streetwear brands like Maharishi and Umbro. The store has a killer Web site and is commited to selling “functional streetwear and everyday non-disposable fashions.” With conviction like that, Brigade is ready to combat the corporate fashion industry.

Whereas Cleveland is knee deep in streetwear brands, Columbus has a totally different vibe going on. Take pre-law major Lindsey-Audrey Mills. She gets fresh in clothes by Juicy Couture, Joe’s Jeans, and C&C California. Lindsey is a true jeanologist, with an eye out for the perfect wash and fit. When shopping for jeans, Lindsey’s motto is “the more rips, the more fun.” She said, “Style is evolving, but jeans and a T-shirt are forever.”

And the only store in C-bus that can satisfy her hunger for True Religion, Juicy jumpsuits and high-end T-shirts is Columbus’ own Dr. Mojoe.

Dr. Mojoe was started by Jason Monus in November 2002. After graduating college, he felt there was a need for a shop that sold premium denim brands. It expanded to five stores in Ohio and now has a redesigned Web site, drmojoe.com. They carry every denim brand that matters, from Seven for All Mankind to Citizens of Humanity. They also have a wide selection of vintage print Tshirts. Their collection of retro-chic clothing even produced Lindsey’s most prized T-shirt, featuring Prince in his much-loved movie Purple Rain. They carry styles seen in big department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, but in a smaller, boutique setting. The cool thing about Dr. Mojoe is that it’s a store started by people who love the things they sell. To Monus and company, premium jeans and vintage style T-shirts are not a trend, but a way of life.

Kappa Alpha Psi President Gregory Turner is also a trendsetter from Columbus. Greg attended an Afrocentric school and grew up in the culturally diverse Short North district of Columbus. This

Cleveland

When glass breaks, the cracks can move faster than 3,000 mph.

Left: sophomore Aisha Johnson wears Next & sophomore Ryan Jones wears Brigade Center: junior Greg Turner sports Take2 Apparel & sophomore Lindsey-Audrey Mills dons Dr. Mojo

Columbus

Cincinnati

has had a lasting impression on his personal fashion. The small, independent boutiques, art galleries and live music influenced his style. Greg creates his own statement by mixing military garb, casual dress and beaded necklaces. For shoes, he said, “I like to try out new brands like Jump, Draven, and creepers styles.” Greg frequents vintage consignment stores in the Short North District, like Take 2 Apparel, to find exclusive pieces for his wardrobe.

Take 2 was started by Charlie Gray to satisfy the demand for a consignment store where you can find stylish clothes in great condition. Take 2 also carries big name brands like Diesel, but for a better price. On the first Saturday of every month the store takes part in the Short North district’s Gallery Hopping event. Thousands of people flood the streets, just north of downtown along North High Street, and peruse through one-of-a-kind stores. If you’re looking for a shop that prides itself on having a personal relationship with its customers and the community, Take 2 is the place. You never know what you’ll find.

When talking with Austin Young and Elizabeth Westendorf, who both hail from Cincinnati, you find that the nasty Nati also produces some stand-out styles. Austin told Backdrop as a youth he was “really into punk, spikes, and nail polish.” A rocker at heart, Austin started playing guitar in the fifth grade; he said his love for music defines his style. Don’t be surprised when you see him in tight jeans and a band tee, and Austin is never caught without his decorative belt buckles and his high-top Nikes. “I hate popular trends…they basically influence me to go in the opposite direction,” he said.

Austin’s clothes channel his musical tastes, while Elizabeth’s clothes are used as a medium to express political messages. She supports local designers that make T-shirts to raise awareness The annual consumption of French fries in OU’s dining halls is 283,737 lbs.

Right: sophomore Elizabeth Westendorf & sophomore Austin Young sport digs from Mustard Seed.

about Cincinnati’s institutional problems, like poverty. As a communications major, she understands the interplay between icons, symbols and logos. She told Backdrop in reference to fashion, “A lot of people don’t know what message they are sending.” She said this is why she takes time to be conscious of what she wears and does not blindly follow brands or become stuck on logos. “I’m definitely not a label whore,” she said. Elizabeth said that subtlety is key, but “I like having individual pieces that make you look twice.” With influences like Kirsten Dunst and the Olsen twins, her closet is never without classic ballet flats and cigarette jeans.

Both of our fashion-forward Cincinnatians spend a lot of time at Cincinnati’s own Mustard Seed boutique. The Mustard Seed is a renowned consignment shop in the Gas Light District, seven minutes from downtown near Clifton. Austin describes the shop, saying, “their clothes put a different spin on ordinary fashion.” Christie Reinshagen-Wallace started the Mustard Seed in November 2004 because she wanted to bring the vintage store concept from L.A. to her hometown.

The Mustard Seed sells very high-end, gently-used vintage clothing by designers like Louis Vuitton and Prada. Contemporary styles and designs are sold for a third of the price!

More importantly, it has very funky, original pieces. “I just want to create a great experience for people when they come to my store,” said Wallace. She describes her boutique’s setting as eclectic-hipster-urban. And just think, it’s a great way to recycle.

There’s more to style than just the mall. Supporting local businesses isn’t only a great way to help the community and fight the monstrosities of cookie-cutter fashion, it’s a way to stay fresh. b

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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Students recount their worst study abroad horror stories Stuck in a Mexican Jail

administrators were disappointed that Chris would attend a protest in Chris Stenken, an Ohio University alumnus, said he found himself the first place; a risky decision on his part, but an experience he would in the wrong place at the wrong time last spring while studying abroad never forget. in Merida, Mexico. During the last week of his program, Chris and his friends decided to attend a protest being held in response to George Open Water Bush’s visit to Mexico. Although the first day of protesting had been Senior Adam Ciccone studied plant and marine biology in Andros mostly peaceful, chaos ensued on the second day, when Chris and his Island, Bahamas over winter intersession. The course required hours friends happened to be there. After police had little success calming of snorkeling and other activities on small boats, often a few miles the rioters, reinforcements arrived, jumping out of the back of trucks off the main island. During the last snorkel of the trip, Adam became and arresting anyone around ­­— Chris Stenken was around. Running separated from the main group of snorkelers.

“I had been off by myself for a while and when I came up I couldn’t into a shoe store to escape the mayhem, Chris was mistaken for a rioter, see the boat or anyone else,” he said. Lost in the middle of the ocean, punched, kicked and even clubbed by police, then thrown into a pattyAdam remained calm. wagon.

“I looked to see where I was, got my bearings and “They beat me the whole way to jail… began to swim to the nearest cay [small island].” After for 20 or 30 minutes against a wall after They beat me the whole swimming for an hour, surviving a leg cramp and we got there, and then threw me into way to jail... for 20 or 30 fighting the current for over a mile, Adam washed up the cell. I tried to say I’m a tourist-- it minutes against a wall after on the windward side of the cay.

Fortunately, another group of students was exploring didn’t do anything,” he said. we got there. the cay on the leeward side of the island. Adam hiked Anyone who has spent a night in a across the cay and was able to reach the other boat Mexican jail ­— perhaps in Tijuana or —Chris Stenken just as it was pulling up the anchor. Although Adam’s an MTV spring break destination — has ordeal was over, the group he had been snorkeling with empathy for Chris’ situation. He spent was hysterically searching for him the entire time. the next two nights and half a day in jail, where he was barely fed and his “We all thought he was dead. People were looking over the edge of injuries were left untreated. He feared he would miss his flight home, the boat for a floating body in the water,” said senior Nathan Jackson. fail the quarter, or worse, be stuck in Mexican jail forever. Thanks to Once the snorkeling boat met up with the other boat, the situation had the US Consulate, Chris was able to obtain a lawyer and resolve the thankfully resolved itself, but Adam’s momentary disappearance left matter. He was released with no formal charges. Chris holds that he everyone emotionally shaken.

“I think everyone else was a lot more worried than I was during the couldn’t do much because he wasn’t from Mexico, but many university whole thing,” he said.

17

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40% of people at a party will snoop through the medicine cabinet.

Hellion Foreign Children

When senior Maria Gallucci traveled to Pamplona, Spain in the winter of 2006, she wanted to immerse herself in all of Spanish culture -- even the primary schools. She volunteered in a first grade classroom during her trip, and one morning the children got the best of her. The class’ teacher had slept through her alarm, so Maria was left to fend for herself temporarily…or so she thought. After failed attempts of “head, shoulders, knees and toes,” Maria went to find help.

As soon as the door cracked, the rambunctious first graders tried to make a run for it, climbing over desks, screaming and going crazy.

“I couldn’t leave them, and then all of a sudden, of course, I couldn’t speak Spanish anymore, so I didn’t know how to discipline them,” she recalled. Maria was overwhelmed, stuck in a room full of unruly nonEnglish speaking children; she was stunned and began to cry. Finally, 45 minutes later, another teacher rescued her from the madness, but Maria was still shook up from her unforgettable morning.

Chinese Con Artists

Senior Brett Zelman had just finished a two-week internship in China through OU’s College of Business, when he and a friend decided to stay another two weeks to travel the area. Exploring the streets of Shanghai, two young women approached Brett and his friend saying that they were students from Beijing and wanted the

two men to help them practice English. Sounds pretty un-sketchy right?

After a bit of time at a local coffee shop, the girls coaxed the men to a local bar with them for drinks. Brett recounts that they got to the bar and he only ordered one beer. Then the two girls started to order shot after shot. “They must have pounded twenty shots,” he said. Midway through the chug fest Brett wondered what this might be costing them. The bartender demanded 7,500 Yen (about $1,000).

“You pay now. I don’t like fucking Americans,” the bartender yelled, and refused them an itemized receipt. The two were physically threatened by the bouncers and told to pay immediately.

After putting the $1,000 on his credit card and returning to the hotel, Brett and his friend were talking about their ordeal when another tourist overheard their conversation. She explained to them that she had just read about a scam in Shanghai, ripping off tourists the exact same way Brett had been conned. Brett and his friend consulted hotel security and then went back to the bar to take pictures of the whole operation. As soon as they started to take pictures, the owner of the bar, the scam “boss,” attacked them. Brett explained that this kind of scam is punishable by life imprisonment for some, and upon threatening to take the pictures to the embassy, a deal was made between the two sides. Brett received his money back in exchange for his camera’s memory card—an expensive, yet exciting, 512MB. b ­­—Sandi Combs and James Rice contributed to this article

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THE QUARTER

Queen

Subject: Charlene Cravens Attire: navy blue slacks, a light blue button-down short sleeve shirt and black shoes Equipment: radio, handheld computer, and ticket bag Mission: To rid Athens of carelessly parked cars and uphold the city’s mighty and just parking laws Prowling the streets in starched blue outfits, parking enforcement officers, born with a sixth sense for expired meters, are usually seen meticulously tracking parking spots with their James Bond-style handheld computers. This device allows the officer (or should we say, spy) to see if a vehicle has been parked in the same place more than two hours. Visitors to Alden who wish to study longer or uptown employees working hard for their minimum wage must scurry outside and move their vehicle to a nonadjacent spot to avoid being penalized.

One might think only heartless, overzealous souls with a penchant for dispensing doom to indebted college students would ever consider taking the job of a parking enforcement officer in Athens. However, when Backdrop followed Charlene Cravens on her route this past fall, we came to find a kind-spirited person not unlike our own mothers or “Auntie Joes.”

Cravens, 46, has been passing out penalties for over 20 years. She dispenses roughly 50 tickets a day, primarily for expired meters and violation of the two-hour parking limit. At the Athens Police Department, Cravens shares this responsibility with three other full-time meter maids. According to Cravens, many people believe a vehicle can

be parked in a spot for over two hours and when the payment expires, adding more money to the meter is sufficient. These drivers are mistaken. The correct procedure is to move the vehicle to a non-adjacent spot and feed that corresponding meter.

For Cravens, there is life outside the uniform (and parking is free after 6 p.m. anyway). Cravens is a family-orientated mother who chose her career for the pay benefits and to better her home life. She has two sons, 12 and 15, and a not-sosecret craze for Keanu Reeves and the Rolling Stones. Though monitoring the concrete jungle of Court Street and beyond seems like a job for a city slicker, this mighty meter maid is equally at home strolling through the rolling hills of southeast Ohio. Cravens graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Before becoming a meter maid, Cravens experienced a diverse array of employment, working at Carol Lee’s Donuts, a flower shop, and Audio Bus. Despite the duty of punishing preoccupied parkers, Cravens enjoys her job.

While walking the streets, Cravens likes to see familiar faces. She often chats with regulars who get coffee at Perks. She also

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS ABOUT PARKING

1-2

parking meters destroyed by cars each month

$35-$50

amount a street parking meter can hold depending on the variety of coins in it

The average lifespan for an umbrella is under two years.

760

assists the community by giving directions and answering general questions. Small things such as these make her feel connected to the area and its inhabitants.

As one can see, Cravens isn’t the coldhearted bitch students probably think she is. During Backdrop’s trip with Cravens, she came across a car on Court Street that had a university parking permit parked at an unpaid meter. Court Street is not included in campus parking so Cravens began to write the vehicle a ticket. Halfway through the citation, the car owner and her daughter returned. They were visiting campus and were unaware Court Street was not part of campus. Because the family was unfamiliar with the area, Cravens decided not to issue the ticket. In fact, Cravens admitted her friendly personality is not well suited for personally distributing tickets.

Parking tickets and meter money are put into general funds which are used to pay the salaries of parking enforcement officers. The average pay of a meter maid is $14 to $15 an hour and in 2006, Athens’ general funds totaled $412,563.50.

So, next time you find that annoying ticket stuck on your windshield, don’t think of it as a fine, think of it as a donation to the Athens community. b

parking meters in Athens

$450,000 made from meters per year

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STATION STACKUP

comparing college radio

BY SHANE BARNES

Music is a fundamental aspect of the college experience. Open mic nights, power-hour snippets and overplayed bar favorites all contribute to campus music culture; but it’s the college radio, (and all of its indie-progressive-undergroundness) that defines the college rock movement. Every noteworthy college has a station, but what may come as a surprise is how dramatically different each campus’ music scene really is. So put in those earbuds and get ready to be rocked by three major Ohio college radio stations.

BEARCAST UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

The University of Cincinnati’s BearCast is only a cub. First broadcast in 2000, the station is only available online. Run entirely by students, the station is not stringent when it comes to playlists, and broadcasts a diverse variety of music. DJs air from 10 a.m. until midnight, after which standard rotation is played.

Genre-wise, the station plays primarily CMJ (College Music Journal) Top 200, hip hop, alternative, rock, and metal, sometimes all within the same show. However, they don’t only play prerecorded music; BearCast frequently hosts on-air interviews and in-house live sets.

Dustin Ostermann, a UC senior electronic media major, and BearCast’s general manager, calls live sets “a treat for fans” and adds that, “it’s great to connect with the bands we play on our station.” So far, some pretty popular bands have played live on BearCast: Hawthorne Heights, Pensive and the Bowmans have all rocked out on the station.

21 |

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Even more bands have been interviewed on-air, including indie pop favorites Of Montreal, and Hanson­­—everybody’s (former) guilty pleasure. In addition, BearCast also features an artist of the month, currently The Whigs, a garage rock band from Athens…

Georgia, that is. The station has interviews scheduled with The Fall of Troy, The August and Norma Jean for later this year.

Although BearCast is new to the scene, as of August its Web site had received over 2 million hits. Though this number does not signify actual listeners, it does represent growing popularity for the fairly new station.

BearCast has one real goal in mind: to increase its following on campus, and so far, they have tripled the amount of station promotion.

Advertising is now broadcast over Cincinnati’s JumboTron during football and baseball games and the station is broadcast for an hour at the campus recreation center.

UC STUDENT INTERNET RADIO www.bearcast.uc.edu

The only nation whose name begins with an A but doesn’t end with an A is Afghanistan.

CMJ’S TOP TWENTY MUSICIANS RADIOHEAD YEASAYER DAFT PUNK SAY HI WHITSUNDAYS KATE NASH BOB MOULD MAGNETIC FIELDS WEEN SOUNDTRACK (juno) HIVES BONNIE PRINCE BILLY BAND OF HORSES DENGUE FEVER LUPE FIASCO SIGUR ROS SOUNDTRACK (i’m not there) GRIZZLY BEAR GORILLAZ COCONUT RECORDS

WZIP THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON Akron’s WZIP takes its music seriously. An average of 100,000 daily listeners makes 88.1 WZIP the number one college radio station on traditional airwaves. The station is run by a mixture of students and staff with certain top positions, specifically a general manager, engineer and station secretary, filled by university employees. Compared to other college stations, the students at WZIP have less creative freedom. The biggest limitation is what students are permitted to play; the station has a set rotation, and student DJs must play from that selection of songs. They primarily follow what is called a ‘churban’ format, which consists of contemporary and urban hits. Currently, the top songs during the daytime are Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music,” Jupiter Rising’s “Electropop,” and Webbie’s “Independent.” The playlist takes a harder turn in the evening with Night Rock, which currently features artists like Six A.M., Serj Tankian, (founder of System of a Down), Chevelle and

Flyleaf.

WZIP general manager Tom Beck said he believes the structured format is essential to an effective learning environment.

“We look at it this way: if the student goes off to college, it should be worthwhile,” Beck said. “Most colleges treat broadcast education like it is fun and games, which isn’t very good education.”

He added that the education of teachers or clinicians should be no different than that of a broadcasting student.

Though some may find Beck’s mindset a bit stale for a creative environment, it’s warranted: the station isresponsible for pleasing a lot of people, and has done so pretty successfully.

Beck realizes the station’s popularity and its drawing power for the university as a “recruitment and retention” tool. Overall, WZIP provides a sound learning environment that more than makes up for its apparent lack of freedom.

ALL CAMPUS RADIO NETWORK OHIO UNIVERSITY Of these featured stations, ACRN is the most devoted to live music. The station caters to underground music and plays primarily small label bands (or at least bands that have maintained their distinct sound despite mainstream pressures). Like BearCast, ACRN broadcasts exclusively online, though steady listeners are lacking.

“Listenership is not consistently strong. There will be spikes of listeners during certain shows, but overall it’s not too high,” said general manager Bryan Olinger, a senior telecommunications major.

ACRN has secured most of its audience through live events, and one of the station’s top priorities is scheduling events with well-known, talented acts.

“We’ve got a strong connection with the local music scene,” Bryan said, adding that several station employees also play in local bands. This relationship enables ACRN to host a variety of shows throughout the year. One such event is the $2 Prom, a casual and imaginative throwback to high school proms, and one of the station’s most popular events. The station also hosts several Battle of the Bands events throughout the year, and the annual two-day Lobsterfest.

The most recent fest brought well-known artists to Athens, such as Kevin Devine, the New Amsterdams, Murder By Death, Oh My God and Owen.

The station has become well known for its ability to book solid bands that the station’s nine-day celebration, ACRN Week, was featured in an article on Pitchfork, a well-known Web site for music critics, last April.

The station has brought publicity to local bands like Southeast Engine and Nostra Nova. It’s through such high-class, live entertainment that ACRN has become what Bryan calls a “sense of identity for a lot of people.” b

Donald Duck cartoons were banned in Finland because he doesn’t wear any pants.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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the naked truth ou stereotypes revealed and refuted

With an undergrad population composed of 16,000 18 to 22 year olds in their soul-searching prime, it’s inevitable that stereotypes will run rampant. Everyone’s motivation for choosing Athens is a shade different from the kid down the dorm hall, and these subsequent dynamic personalities have a way of revealing themselves and resenting others.

It’s only natural for the ‘Co-ed Cutie’ to have tunnel vision on her way to class, decked out in her Chanel sunglasses, VS Pink Sweats, Northface, and Uggs. How can she acknowledge anyone else when she is on the phone finalizing the jello shot recipe for tonight’s formal?

Had she looked up she might have noticed the “Hipster,” cynically walking down Richland Avenue in his gender-defying jeans. He walks with a

purpose that says, “you don’t know music and I’m above this midwestern public university.” Unfortunately for him, he’s stuck here along with “The Bro” who’s fighting for position on the sidewalk on his way back from a lift at Ping. He quickens his pace to catch the 6 o’clock Sportscenter while visions of Jager dance in his head. Meanwhile, the ‘New Age Hippie’ floats by, smelling of Nag Champa and dragging her Chacos.

So what’s stopping the cutie from taking off her shades to appreciate the fade on this hipster’s denim? Why can’t this frat boy stop by Jackie O’s and sip on a raspberry wheat? Chances are he’d like it, and the world would be a better place. We asked two students, well versed with Athens’ stereotypes, to tell their tales of snobbery and scrutiny.

The Dis-Union BY BRITTANY BOWLES I hate going to The Union. The bar might appear quaint on the outside, but inside there is such a menacing air of elitism that at any moment, I expect a beer bottle to be chucked at my head because I’m not hip enough.

On the few occasions I have gone in, I always feel out of place. I don’t have the right clothes or the right haircut. I’m not up to date on what cool, indie bands are “in” at the moment. Among the hipsters that frequent The Union, I feel that I stick out like a sore thumb, and I don’t like it.

The last time I was there I saw my friend’s sister’s band play. I wasn’t thrilled to go, but I promised to make an appearance. Normally ,after a couple of beers, I quickly get over my hipster-phobia. Beer has a way of taking the edge off of things. It also makes me extremely social and talkative.

From my position at the back of the crowd, I could see a girl with a really cool upper back tattoo. I love tattoos, so I decided to engage her in a conversation about her ink. After the band finished their set, I took advantage of the relative quiet to approach her.

“I really love your tattoo!” I told her, enthusiastically.

She looked me up and down, scrutinizing me. Her lips never cracked a smile. Her eyes looked contemptuous.

“Thanks,” she said, rather snootily and turned away to take a sip of her beer.

I couldn’t imagine what I had done to earn such scorn, but I had a feeling it had to do with the fact that I, unlike her, didn’t have a cool upper back tattoo, wasn’t wearing a “vintage” dress that looked like it came out of my grandma’s closet and hadn’t chopped my hair into a “fashionable” bob, probably last seen on a flapper circa 1925 in a seedy jazz club.

After the night was over, and I was back home, pleasantly buzzed yet irritated, I began pondering the events of the night. The girl’s rudeness had pissed me off, because I thought that it stemmed from the fact that I wasn’t a hipster like her, I (internally) began to rip her apart. In my mind I made fun of her clothes, and I made fun of her haircut. I stereotyped her as an elitist indie snob to make myself feel better. But by doing that, what had I accomplished? I had merely succumbed to exactly the same sentiments that had probably caused her initial rudeness to me.

That night both of us were guilty of stereotyping, and all it did was further a divide between two individuals who, differences aside, really want the same thing: to be accepted.

So though I might have thought she had a horrible sense of style and a really bad haircut, and she probably thought I was an unfashionable, un-hip nerd, it should not mean that we show each other any less respect.

After all, differences make the world go round.

Open Minds BY JESS TYROLER

We open our minds to learn in the classroom partly because there is the reward of good grades involved. The problem is that outside of the classroom, we often won’t open our minds to learn about each other. Is this because there is no reward involved?

Perhaps the disconnect is that we simply don’t notice the little things we do and say that further our own ignorance. Most of what we say is shaded propaganda straight out of our mouths. For instance, when we are talking about the boy who lives down the hall, instead of saying he “comes from a different culture” and has not become accustomed to the U.S. yet, we describe him as the guy who, “doesn’t take enough showers and listens to weird music way too loud.” We may call the group of assorted volleyball players at Ping the “Asians.” And we’ve all heard students accused of being at OU only because of the color of their skin.

Stereotyping is merely part of classification, and classification makes it easier for us to control the flow of information constantly bombarding us. When we use stereotypes everyday, we are closing our minds and using separatism, but it’s human. We are not trying to hurt anybody most of the time; it is just easier for us to *continued on next page

*continued from page 24

accept and be accepted faster.

Some stereotypes we use in a positive manner. There is the “pretty, smart sorority girl,” and the “interesting, individual, alternative kid.” These characters represent some of the ideals young people aspire to our society. For this reason, we conform ourselves in appearance to fit these stereotypes; it’s easier to literally bear our hearts and minds on our sleeves. In this manner, we find others with the same ideals.

But we cannot forget that the above examples are also stereotypes that can further ignorance and hatred. They are just as easy to use, and they are just as lazy of us to use, considering how untrue they really are.

I have been called a “Mexican” by someone trying to anger me. Using race as an insult is unacceptable. By stereotyping, I knowingly and unknowingly break people up. They are no longer complicated individuals worth getting to know, they are merely a cookie-cutter version of how others see them. The worst part is that when an individual manages to disprove a negative stereotype (perhaps a minority attending OU because of a merit-based scholarship) she becomes merely the exception to the rule.

We are all in the position to be stereotyped both positively and negatively, be it by our race, our religion, our gender or our sexual orientation. The secret here is this­—we are more alike than we may like to admit. We are, by and large, the children of middle-class working families, we all have to fulfill the same requirements to graduate, and we all desire to be accepted for exactly who we are. We just happen to express ourselves with different words and in different ways.

Finally, I will take responsibility for the propaganda that comes out of my mouth, and use it in a way which doesn’t shove others underneath my feet. My propaganda for you: I’m an individual, a mixture of words that define only me.

I am a geek, a partier, a Jew, a college student, even a bitch. But I am also a shower-reader, a chicken-for-breakfast eater and a little neurotic.

Who are you? b

cut&paste DISPLACED OU ATHLETES ADJUST TO LIFE BEYOND ATHENS

When Ohio University made the decision to

cut four varsity sports in January of 2007, it brought an abrupt end to many things.

It was an end of rich traditions, an end to close-knit teams and an end of collegiate athletic careers. But for some, the decision

really only marked the beginning. It was the beginning of a journey that would send them on an unenviable path from campus to campus in search of a new home that would harbor their efforts at fulfilling athletic dreams they once thought lost.

After the dust had settled, over 30-once-proud Bobcats were prepared to say goodbye to their Athens roots. They would trade their green and white for the colors of new alma maters across the country where they would again have the chance to play; an opportunity they knew they deserved, but would never again take for granted.

Bobcats to Bearcats Shannon Lynes, a sophomore lacrosse player and Maryland native was unsure about her future for months after the cuts. However, as the quarter wore on, it was her past that guided her to the decision to transfer to a startup team at the University of Cincinnati.

“I thought about all I had done for lacrosse in my life. I thought back to the middle school camps, high school, everything,” Shannon recalled. “I made a lot of sacrifices. I wasn’t ready to give up on that.”

Fortunately for Shannon, four other OU players were not ready to give up on their talents either — or on each other. Shannon was joined in the fall by former Ohio teammates Lyndsey Marshall, Jess Kazaks, Lynsey Burton, and Lauren Kelly.

“It’s made it awesome,” Shannon said of their Bobcat bond. “Three of us live together. It makes a difference to have people who came from the same situation you did. We are comfortable with each other on and off the field.”

These days, Shannon is happier than ever about that time on the field.

After suffering an ACL injury that kept her sidelined in her freshman season at OU, Shannon was determined to see her Division I aspirations through.

The team, in its first year, is meshing according to Shannon, who is looking forward to their inaugural season. Her first practice with her new team reminded her of why she made her choice to leave Athens.

“It was snowing. I was so excited,” she said. “If anything, these cuts have made me appreciate playing with these girls that much more. It feels so good to be back on a lacrosse field.”

Trading the Bricks for the Beach The feeling of losing his team is still fresh in Matt Greco’s mind.

“It felt like getting stabbed in the heart,” said the former distance swimmer. “When it came down to making a decision, I couldn’t bring myself to give any money back to the university.

I wanted to get away.” And Matt did just that. He landed over 1,000 miles away, at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Family Reunion - Lynes (15) joins former OU laxers Jess Kazaks (1), Lynsey Burton (1), Lauren Kelly It didn’t take long for Matt to realize he wasn’t in Athens (21), Lyndsey Marshall (25), and Shannon Hadaway - now at Duquesne, for a preseason game.

Men’s Swimming and Diving Luke Herlehy | Arizona State University Andrew Belton | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Tom Ferrigno | Bryant University Stephen D Arrigo | Eastern Michigan University John Schafer | Villanova University Brandon Stakleff | Akron State University Ben Schick | Towson University Derick Schmitt | University of Pittsburgh Scott Sargent | University of Louisville Cameron Hansbarger | Home in IN Jim Bayne | Local school in Texas state Matt Greco | Florida Atlantic University Lacrosse Danielle Hale | U of Louisville Jen Heup | U of Louisville Colleen Nevin | U of Louisville Kendra Burawski | U of Louisville Lauren Kelly | U of Cincinnati Jess Kazaks | U of Cincinnati Shannon Lynes | U of Cincinnati Lynsey Burton | U of Cincinnati Lyndsey Marshall | U of Cincinnati Kari Fasick | College of William and Mary Melissa Minsahll | Ohio State University Nikki Antonious | Mount Saint Mary College Lacey Jennings | Towson University Julie Roguski | Towson not playing Lauren Roguski | no longer enrolled Megan McGarvey | University of Maryland Shannon Hadaway | Duquesne

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Where are they now?

Former Bobcats spread out across 13 states and 18 schools

Men’s Track and Field Will Rover | University of Kentucky Jordan Sharpe | Eastern Kentucky University Curtis Leuenberger | Ohio State University

| winter 2008 | backdrop

A can of Spam is opened every four seconds.

Matt Greco (right) recovers between events with his new teammates at his first meet as an Eagle at Florida Atlantic University in sunny Boca Raton, Florida. any longer.

“It was culture shock,” he said. “This is one of the richest suburbs in south Florida. Everything revolves around the upper class.”

Matt said the social scene has been one of the biggest adjustments.

“There’s no 50-cent draft night at Pawpurrs, that’s for sure,” he joked.

“But in all seriousness, I miss the college atmosphere. I miss being around my peers and not adults. It is largely a commuter school and I go to class with a lot of 30-somethings. People drive up to an hour to meet up on the weekends.”

In the pool, Matt has faced some major adjustments as well. After suffering an ankle injury in the fall, he has undergone surgery, been forced to rest, but is close to being back to form. Matt calls the injury a “minor setback” in the big picture.

Overcoming obstacles has become the norm for Matt, and he said this is the reason his parents let him go so far away. He said his parents had seen him overcome a lot to keep swimming and it helped them understand his ambitions -- even if that meant a southern migration.

“They made a big sacrifice too,” Matt said of his parents, who are now nearly 20 hours away. “They don’t get to see me swim as much. It used to be a three-hour drive. Now it’s a three-hour flight.”

On top of his injury, Matt has fought hard to adjust to both a new style of workouts, which are a far departure from Ohio’s distance-oriented program, and to a new team that Matt realizes will never replace what he had in Athens.

“I try to stay in touch with the guys as much as possible. People don’t realize how close we were,” he said of his Ohio team. Despite losing nearly $1,500 on a lease, struggling to get credits to transfer and dealing with the logistics of going to school 20 hours from home, Matt said losing this “family” aspect has been the hardest.

“More than anything I wish I still had a team at Ohio,” he said. “And I guess I miss the snow a little.”

for it.”

Jen points to one major force responsible for this change: Coach Kelly Young. “I had heard she was crazy coming in, but I had no idea,” Jen said of her new coach. “From the outside she might seem crazy, but when you’re on the inside you realize she just wants the best from everyone, on and off the field.”

The goalie admits that it is not just Young keeping her in check, but also 22 other athletes, who are all three years her junior. Moving to a first-year start-up program found Jen joining forces with three fellow Bobcat transfers Danielle Hale, Colleen Nevin, Kendra Burawski, and over 20 freshmen girls entering the college arena for the first time.

“I’m the only 21-year-old on a team of all 18-year-old girls who are trying to adjust to college. It was nerve-racking,” she said.

This forced Jen to quickly assume more leadership and responsibility than she knew she had within her.

“I can’t believe how much more responsible and mature I’ve become just by being put in charge of a young group like this,” she said. “If I mess up, I mess up an entire team.”

The freshmen Cardinals surprised Jen as much as she surprised herself.

“I really can’t believe how much the girls have matured from when they stepped on campus until now. I don’t see them as freshmen anymore,” she said. “I see them as young women.”

After a rigorous fall schedule, these young women are ready to play some lacrosse. And so is Jen. “I think we are definitely going to surpass people’s expectations,” she said. “We’ve put in so much work and the coaches have prepared us so well. It’s going to be insane. I can’t wait.”

The new team, paired with an athletic department that has welcomed them with open arms, has helped Jen move past her experience in Athens.

“Our athletic director was just named Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year. Coming from a situation where I felt our administrators were some of the worst at treating us fairly, I knew that this was a good sign,” she said.

Jen notes that despite being a year removed and in a great program, it is still hard to forget about what she went through.

“All the girls know what happened to us at Ohio and they understand what a horrible experience it was. For a while they saw us as the Ohio girls and it didn’t sit well with us,” recalled Jen, noting that their situation set them apart from the others.

“Now after everything we’ve already been through and accomplished as a team, we’re all Louisville girls. We’re all Cardinals,” she explained. “We’ve instilled in them that they need to play like there’s no tomorrow and cherish everything they have here because you never know what could happen.” b

New ‘Cardinal’ Direction Jen Heup packed her bags for the University of Louisville in search of a new lacrosse team and a new athletic department. What she found was a new lifestyle altogether.

“When I was at Ohio I thought it was so stressful balancing lacrosse and school,” said Jen. “It doesn’t even compare. I’ve never known discipline like this, but I know I’ll come out a better person The home team must provide the referee with 36 footballs for each national football league game.

— Shamus Eaton Editor’s Note: Shamus was a member of the men’s track and field team that was cut from OU Athletics last year.

He chose not to transfer and is currently a member of the men’s cross country team . backdrop | winter 2008 |

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sex+health

YOU WANNA PUT THAT WHERE?

H

BY ANDREW EISENMAN

udson Health Center is packed; swirling with sickness like a SubSaharan hospital. I tuck my nose in my shirt to shield myself from the coughing, sniffling, sneezing carriers of the common college cold, which spreads across campus like mono in the San Fernando Valley.

Reason for today’s visit: STD test.

Now—before you stone me to death on College Green, or close for business when you see me out on the town—prior to this visit, I have had no symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection. But, about a month ago, I awoke with my hands covered in stamps, and the leg of an unfamiliar female draped over my torso.

“Are we in my bed or yours?” I asked, wiggling away from the uncomfortable prickly pad against my hip.

After she left, I scavenged my room for a used contraceptive: a condom, a diaphragm, a balloon—anything.

An STD is the scarlet letter of the 21st Century, and I was going to be the new Hester Prynne.

Any half-credible online source says it’s pointless to get “the test” within a month of your last unprotected sexual encounter.

The incubation period for infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea is one to two weeks, but symptoms may not appear for a month.

So I wait the length of February — because no one said which month was the industry standard — and I’m on my way to Hudson. Call me neurotic. Maybe I am. The fact that sex has become a game of Russian roulette makes my bowels churn like tires in mud.

A nurse, dressed like an elementary school teacher, summons me to her quarters and begins taking my blood pressure. Pumping the sphygmomanometer, she whispers, “You really want the swab test?”

Back in the waiting room, a few minutes later, another nurse waddles in and mispronounces my family’s name as if it were spelled the same as a racial slur. She drags my hopeless corpse through the health center’s corridors and into a physician’s office. The doctor is short and bald with a pearl-white goatee, and he’s standing in

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| winter 2008 | backdrop

silhouette between half-open curtains and it’s bowl of ice cream, and I keep thinking I am very Stalin-esque. never having sex again. From the undressed “So?” he says. window a pair of skaters are wide-eyed and “I want to, um, get tested,” I say. slackjawed, watching the doctor conduct some He grins and leads sort of masturbatory exorcism. me into the adjacent “This is horrible!” I yelp, stretched out, toes examination room, curled, Lamaze breathing. which is lit like The entire procedure lasts only a couple a morgue and seconds. He removes the swab, which makes furnished with a “thoonk” sound as it exits, and it’s all over. a blood-red “Relax,” he says. “Your blood pressure’s so gurney. I sit, high you might start squirting.” cursing God. Squirting what, exactly? Urine? Blood?

The doctor Brain matter? drapes a white “I don’t know if I can thank you for this,” cloth over I say, pulling up my pants, feeling cold and my waist uncomfortable, likea a hermaphrodite at a and shuffles public pool. He laughs and marks another toward his notch on his penis probe. tools. With his There’s a twenty-four hour waiting period back to me he says, for the results. My guess is they want you to “Your size will determine which use that day to evaluate the recklessness of cotton-tipped swab we use.” your sexual behavior, to sleep (or not) on the My scrotum tightens instantly, hardening feeling of foreign objects in your pee hole. to the texture of an armadillo, and I begin The next day I call Hudson’s STD Hotline. to sweat.

A moody receptionist answers.

“For the big boys,” he says and turns toward “Your test results came back negative,” she me, holding up the biggest Q-Tip I have ever says. seen. It’s what you’d use to clean an elephant’s “Like, negative, as in not good?” ears; it’s a barbell for quadriplegics. It’s going “No,” she says coldly. “Like, negative, to cause irreparable as in you have neither damage unto my phallus.

Chlamydia nor “There is no way An STD is the scarlet gonorrhea — this time.” that’s going to fit,” I say, Yes, I am clean and letter of the twenty- clear, panicking. and besides He grins again, first Century, and I was writhing pain the next revealing in his other hand certain I was the new time I urinate, there’s something that looks like Hester Prynne. something to be gained two toothpicks welded from this experience. end-to-end. Patting the I’d rather spend a night hips of the gurney, he says, “I want you to hold handcuffed, on Viagra, with Lorena Bobbit on to the sides here, OK?” in a room full of scissors than go through this I clench the padding tight, as if he’s about again. But I won’t go celibate, either. The to deliver a baby rhino from my anus, and his real risk is in our choices, which no Fearhands disappear under the white cloth. The God-Because-Sex-is-a-Sin commercial can last thing I hear is a quick wisp. make for us. It’s our responsibility to be safe.

The rest of my body goes numb. The pain is Indeed, the current method of testing for centered and pulsating in the tiny canal of my sexually transmitted infections is a primitive, penis. The doctor scrapes the Q-Tip inside my Pavlovian way to teach a lesson, but it’s sphincter urethrae the way a fat kid spoons a effective nonetheless. b

“

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R U-Informed?

Busting myths about Plan B and the “abortion pill”, RU-486

BY BRITTANY TIMMONS

M

ethods of birth control and abortion were being implemented not long after people first began bumping uglies. The oldest illustration of a man using a condom was painted on the wall of a cave 12,000-15,000 years ago. You would think that by now we would have this protection thing figured out. Today, women are given the option of taking emergency contraception in the form of a pill. Over the last few years, controversy has spurred and rumors have

circulated, claiming that the postcoital medication Plan B, also referred to as “the morning after pill,” has the same effects of a Mifepristone-induced abortion, commonly referred to as taking an “abortion pill.” This is simply not the case.

“It’s confusing because they are both pills [but] they are completely different medications,” said Beth Morrow Lonn, director of patient services for Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio. “One prevents pregnancy and one ends pregnancy.”

Prevention

M IF EP RE X

flavors of love

Birth control is usually associated with condoms and pills.

However, there is a plethora of options out there and it’s okay to mix and match. Think of it as a sundae bar. Each different form of birth control is a topping. Sure you could use just one topping but sometimes mixing a couple different varieties creates the best sundaes. Chocolate syrup and peanut butter go together like condoms and spermicide (and some condoms taste just as good). But then again, maybe you’re allergic to peanut butter (or spermicide) so you decide to go with strawberries (or the ring). Everyone has his or her favorite flavor, but it’s a good idea to figure out what method is best for you. Here are just a few ideas.

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| winter 2008 | backdrop

Plan B is a form of emergency contraception that prevents unwanted pregnancy when a primary form of birth control fails. It is also frequently used in cases of sexual assault. Individuals take the medication after they’ve had unprotected sex to prevent ovulation or fertilization. For this reason, the pill has become a best friend during “oops” moments. However, it is important to note that emergency contraception will not affect someone who is already pregnant, and it does not prevent an individual from contracting sexually transmitted infections.

Plan B is available over the counter if you are over 18 and is safe for most women to take. With this pill, timing is everything.

If taken within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse, Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 95 percent. After 72 hours, the

The Male Condom OK, so basically this one is for everyone.

The Lowdown: A condom is worn on the penis during sexy time. (I.e. during intercourse) Pros: They cost about $0.50 a pop. This method is about 85% effective at preventing pregnancy. It allows the guy to participate in the baby prevention process. Need we say more?

Cons: Some dudes say condoms are uncomfortable; but a 30second interruption is by far better than an infant.

The Injection (Depo-Provera) For the forgetful broad who’s not afraid of needles.

The Lowdown: Your doctor administers a shot of progestin into your bum or arm every 12 weeks. With typical use it prevents pregnancy by 97%. Each shot costs between $30 and $75 plus a trip to the doctor’s.

Pros: It helps prevent cancer of the lining of the uterus. No pre-sex prep required. Periods may become lighter and fewer.

Cons: You need to keep up with your appointments. It could take over a year to become pregnant after receiving your last shot. Some women experience heavier unpleasant cycles.

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ge effectiveness is lowered to 89 percent. Plan B can reduce the chance of pregnancy up to 120 hours after intercourse, but the risk of pregnancy increases the longer you wait. Although Plan B isn’t recommended as a primary form of birth control (see the chart below for some more efficient options) it’s a great idea to keep a dose around for unexpected accidents.

“We always say back up your birth control with emergency contraceptive. You never know when something will happen,” Lonn said. “Even if something happens you want to be able to deal with it.”

You can get Plan B at your local Planned Parenthood clinic or pharmacies such as CVS. It will put you out about $25-$60.

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Termination

RU-486, or Mifepristone, is a method of abortion used after a woman has decided to terminate a pregnancy by taking a pill.

According to Lonn, pregnancy usually occurs five to six days following intercourse. By this time, emergency contraceptives fail to affect a developing embryo.

Medication abortion happens through two steps. First, Mifepristone terminates the pregnancy by blocking the hormone, progesterone, which is needed to maintain pregnancy. Next, Misoprostol is taken, causing the uterus to contract and empty. Medication abortion is highly effective when used to terminate early pregnancies with a 96 to 97 percent success rate. It can be taken until 49 days after the pregnancy begins.

Many women choose medication abortion over other forms of abortion because it doesn’t require surgery or anesthesia.

Side effects are similar to those associated with a spontaneous miscarriage and include dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, and bleeding.

Mifepristone is not available over the counter. The cost of medication abortion ranges from $350 to $575 including doctor’s visits, tests, and exams. b Spermicide For the couple who’s not afraid to get a little messy.

The Lowdown: A cream, film, foam, jelly, or suppository containing spermicide is inserted in the vagina blocking the uterus and stopping sperm. It is 71 percent effective with typical use and 85 percent effective with perfect use. It costs about $8 for application kits and $4-$8 for refills.

Pros: It’s pretty easy to insert, it’s available at drugstores and can be incorporated into the pre-gaming festivities if inserted by a partner.

Cons: Depending on the brand, both the penis and the vagina may experience irritation. Plus, it’s probably gonna get messy.

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Contact Info: Planned Parenthood- Athens Clinic 1005 East State Street, Suite W Athens, OH 45701 (740) 593-6979

**All views regarding the beginning pregnancy reflect a definition accepted by the United States medical community. For more information check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.hhs.gov.

The Diaphragm The Lowdown: A physician will fit you girls for this soft dome shaped latex cup that fits snuggly in the vagina, covering the cervix. They are used with a spermicide. They are 84 percent effective with typical use and 92 percent effective with perfect use. It will put you out about $15-$75 plus the cost of spermicide.

Pros: It fits in a purse. Partners can’t usually feel it. It has no effect on the woman’s hormones. It can be inserted hours before show time.

Cons: This option is out if you’re allergic to latex, silicone, or spermicide. It can’t be used while Aunt Flow is in town, and it may be pushed out of place during intercourse. It also may require refitting.

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The Ring (NuvaRing) For the non-smoker who doesn’t mind getting up close and personal with her cooch.

The Lowdown: You insert a small flexible ring into the vagina and leave it in place for three weeks. Then, it is taken out for one week to allow for menstruation. There have not been any long-term studies done on the ring, however, it is assumed that with typical use it is 92 percent effective. Cost is about $30-$35 a month.

Pros: It may cause lighter, shorter periods. Once it’s in, there’s no preparation necessary for knocking boots.

Cons: Vaginal discharge, irritation or infection may increase.

You can’t smoke.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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& Ohhhs

Passionate Kisses switches positions and scores new busiBY CAMILE SCIRIA

“You cannot escape sex,” said Ann Sowers, owner of Passionate Kisses adult toy and novelty store at 21 Kern St. “And it’s not that big of a deal,” she continued, completely at ease in a store full of toys that she’d never bring home to her four-year-old son. Sowers happily indulges curiosity in her X-rated business, noting that “everyone has sex. Otherwise we would not be on this earth.”

At 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, the store is mostly empty. Sowers explains that people usually come in on their lunch breaks or after work, including an increasing number of college students as the evening wears on. Having moved in early October from its original location on Richland Avenue to its current Kern Street location, Passionate Kisses now draws even more students than before.

The store is brightly lit and the atmosphere shockingly unintimidating. You hardly even notice the sex swing hanging from the ceiling.

A sign posted above the black strappy contraption requests that customers don’t try it out themselves. But when someone asks, Sowers happily allows a test swing and explains the proper use of what may otherwise result in a less-than-sexy tangle: Two seat belt-like straps cradle one partner’s back and derriere, and stirrups on each side support the feet. (Sowers recommends a girl-on-top position as one fun option for using the swing.) A sturdy spring suspension allows for gentle bouncing in addition to the free horizontal movement of the swing. If you want one of your own, it will cost you $145.

For those with less abundant budgets — or slightly less adventurous interests — countless other cheeky treats beg to be discovered, including a wall full of T-shirts sporting messages like “My best friend vibrates” and “Please tell your boobs to stop staring at my eyes.” While these lines may not work at the bars, there’s something undeniably ice breaking about poking fun at sex.

Speaking of poking, at Passionate Kisses, vibrating penis-alternatives abound. All colors, all shapes. Fat and thin. Light-up, waterproof, smooth or ribbed. Straight, or strategically bent at the tip to hit just the right spot. With rotating heads, or with rotating beads

33 ||

in a flexible shaft, or with clever little extensions to hit that other spot. Depending on the model, the good vibrations can cost anywhere from $16.99 to $72.99. Don’t forget the batteries.

You might also be interested in the wide assortment of lubricants available.

“People ask a lot about the different lubes,” said Sowers. “Some of them break down toys, some of them don’t, some are edible, some are warm, some are cool.”

And some are flavored. Can’t pick just one? Try a variety pack of prepackaged portions, including flavors like coconut, strawberry, wild cherry, grape and orange. Perhaps the most interesting, though, is the convincingly phallic package of Slick Stick. At $18 a tube, Sowers calls it the “best” lube because it contains aloe.

Not all the goodies are for below the belt. On a rack nearby you’ll find little tubs of substances called Nipple Nibblers. These tingly, flavored sensitizers also work marvelously as lip gloss, Sowers noted. The variety of tempting alternatives is seemingly endless: edible tattoos ($3.50), “for men who don’t know what foreplay is”; the Colt Hand Job Stroker ($15.99), a tubular sheath with little rubber nubs inside for enhanced stimulation; scandalous women’s apparel ($25-$30), from traditional lingerie to costumes like Little Red Riding Hood and Dr. Naughty; weighted orgasm balls ($7.99) with easy removal cords — I’ll let you figure out what those are for.

Serious about your studies? Or just need to do some research to figure out the orgasm balls? Refer to Passionate Kisses’ erotic magazines and instructional books. For group study sessions, you can also find a range of sexy games, and a large selection of adult movies, which Sowers said are extremely popular. Many movies qualify for a “2 for $20” deal, so you can find out what happens to “Long Dong: She-Male” and “Freak-a-ho.”

The average bra size today is a 36C. Ten years ago it was a 34B

RAUNCHY RATINGS Cherry Pop ($2.99) Add this tiny packet of powder to 8 ounces of water for an energy drink to keep you going, all night or all day.

Raunchy Rating: You probably don’t even have to put it in a drawer.

Pleasure Mitt Massage Kit ($24.99) For a twist on the traditional massage, use this vibrating, textured jelly mitt and its accompanying lavender vanilla creamy massage oil to tickle and tease each other from head to toe.

Raunchy Rating : Hide it under the bed in case your roommate wanders in.

Ann Sowers is the proud owner of Passionate Kisses But maybe those plots seem a little too, um, deep, and the occasion only calls for some minor misbehavior. Lighthearted bachelorette party supplies include goofy games and decorations, like caution tape or banners depicting muscular (cartoon) men. You can also find hilariously inappropriate greeting cards for the bride, or for whoever else might appreciate one.

Bachelorette party or not, groups of 10 or more women can arrange for a private sex toy “home show” by Sowers herself or one of her knowledgeable staff members. Sowers said she books at least one home show per week. For women who may not have access to a suitable location (i.e. the sorority mom says “Hell no!” or the dorm room’s just too cramped), Passionate Kisses features a private room that can be reserved for such events. Through a home show, Passionate Kisses’ erotic inventory is thoroughly explained and made available to women in a fun, laid back setting. It may be an appealing way for naughty novices to satisfy their curiosity, especially if the thought of walking into the store alone seems daunting, although Sowers maintains that it shouldn’t. “Don’t be shy,” Sowers said. “If you make it a big deal, that’s when it becomes embarrassing.”

There’s far too much inside the store to mention here, so for your pleasureseeking purposes, Passionate Kisses is open from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to midnight Friday and Saturday. If you’re still a little timid or afraid of being recognized, you can always go disguised as Dr. Naughty. b

45% of any dollar bill you have ever owned has been in a stripper’s G-string.

Tickle Your Fancy: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual SelfPleasure by Sadie Allison ($18.00) ­‘Nough said.

Raunchy Rating: Keep it in the very back of your underwear drawer, wrapped up in a couple of pairs you haven’t worn for 6 years.

3 Gates of Hell ($19.99) Resembling something from a medieval torture chamber, the 3 Gates of Hell is made of three metal rings connected by a leather strap, designed to surround a hard penis and, supposedly, intensify the male orgasm.

Raunchy Rating : Don’t even put it away; if anyone ever breaks into your room, the sight of it combined with the name on the package will probably scare them away.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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Highway to

BY MEGAN LORENZ

Cold and flu season is upon us in full force. Even when you take every precaution to wash your hands and keep yourself free from germs, you may end up catching a cold. When you start to feel those familiar symptoms, follow this roadmap for a speedy recovery.

When Your Nose Starts Running: Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs

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| winter 2008 | backdrop

he

2

If you slacked on taking your vitamin C or your immune system simply couldn’t stand up to the germs, by now you’re sniffling. If you don’t want the sniffles to continue, get yourself some Zicam gel swabs.

These swabs will get you over your cold three times faster, according to the Web site. (This figure is based on clinical trials). These little gel-covered Q-tips really do work; my roommate gave them to me last year when I started to get sick. The feeling of sticking one of these up your nose is comparable to snorting Jell-O, however, once you get over the weird feeling, these little contraptions can be a lifesaver.

When Your Roommate Gets Sick: Ester-C Tablets (500 or 1000 mg)

When your roommate starts sniffling and you know you’re next, stock up on your vitamin C supplements. A great alternative to suffocating your roommate in a cloud of Lysol every time she enters the room, vitamin C is proven to strengthen immune system functioning, which helps ward off those pesky colds. There are plenty of vitamin C supplements out there. According to the product Web site, Ester-C boasts 24hour immune system protection. (To put it simply, the vitamins stay in your body for 24 hours.) If you start popping these tablets as soon as your roommate starts spreading germs everywhere, you may be able to prevent a cold.

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alth

5

When You’ve Taken Every Drug on the Market and You Still Can’t Breathe: Go to the Doctor

When Your Cold is So Bad You Just Can’t Sleep: Nyquil Liquid

If you’re lying awake at 3 a.m., coughing, blowing your nose and considering throwing yourself in front of a bus, get yourself some Nyquil. It treats all the same symptoms as Tylenol Cold, however, it doesn’t have a decongestant, (the formula was changed to keep it available over the counter). If all you want is sleep go for the Nyquil. This stuff will put you in a coma for the next eight hours. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you can take it before class and make it through the day. Believe me, you will be asleep 10 minutes into your first lecture.

3

If your head is near explosion and you’re falling behind in your classes, it may be time to get some professional help.

We spoke to a registered pharmacist, who pointed out that a cold is a virus, so there is no magic prescription cure. However, some prescriptions can greatly help your symptoms.

If the doctor is concerned that you have a sinus infection or may get one from your cold, he may choose to prescribe you an antibiotic known as Azithromycin, or the “Z-Pack.”

This medicine can prevent or shorten the length of a sinus infection. If you are suffering from a severe cough with your cold, a doctor may prescribe Hycodan, which relieves the symptoms of cold-related coughing.

Another winter illness that shares symptoms with a cold is the dreaded flu. The pharmacist we spoke to asserted that you will know when you have the flu; the general achiness makes you feel like you were hit by a truck. There are a few prescriptions on the market that can lessen the severity and shorten the length of the illness. One such flu prescription is Relenza, a medicine that is inhaled. If you get to this point, listen to mommy and get your butt to the waiting room.

When You have a Full Blown Cold: Tylenol Cold MultiSymptom Daytime

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

4

If the gel swabs failed you and your cold has gotten worse, it’s time to go for the big guns. By now you have an all-out cold, complete with sore throat, coughing, congestion, and headache. Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom will take care of all that. It is available in a few different forms, for those of you who want options. Buy the product in rapid release gel caps if you need relief now. You can also buy the product in regular gel caps. For those of you who have problems swallowing pills, the medicine is also available in liquid form. The daytime version will keep you alert enough to stay awake during your classes.

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exhibit a

exhibit Showcasing the university’s most artistic minds

a.

“Elementary Conjecture” by Bill Anderson Mixed-media on wood

Artist’s Statement: Automobile production was a publicized rubric for the United States’ general production and state during the early ’50s as the U.S. became involved in the Korean War. The ads of the ’50s did not yield their fervor to push the American family ideal through their products despite the hurting economical/popularity status of the US. Even in a similar state of conflict, 50 years later, the youth of America have swollen houses, trophy partners and expensive cars paraded through all manner of media. This piece points out that there is a crucial difference between the reality of our life and the expectations we’ve been given for the future. Now that the two have become so fluidly married, it is more important than ever to scrutinize where our dreams are made and how we came to dream them.

Haikus by Elodie Freeman vests and corduroys

humans, machines and morals

ears-gaged-with-wood-boy i want you to ask me out we can go hiking

no words have ever caused me to retch more than these: “FOR THE GREATER GOOD.”

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by Gina Beach OU students consume 780,000 baked goods from dining services annually.

“Chaos” by Jamie Smith Chaos does not fall far from Redwood standing straight and tall Intertwining branches etch deep lines

of wisdom Every twig stuffed to the brim with life well lived Reaching toward the infinity of faith With the whistle of optimism leaves veined and green struggle through drought The worry that lines every thought

laughs offering melodies of advice with each accidental to

fallen

chaos Roots encircle pain and anxiety dusting away the tears and Redwood with

Rhythmic

love takes broken wings of broken fears and mends the shattered words to send Chaos to the stars

“Zebra Sunset” Serengeti, Tanzania Photo by Wes Cronk

New York City, NY Photo by Ryan Sitler

Submit original artwork, poetry, short stories, cartoons, scores and mantras to backdropmag@ gmail.com, subject: Exhibit A Photos by Sarah Amato www.sarahamato.com

In Uruguay, intoxicated is a legal excuse for having a traffic accident.

backdrop | winter 2008 |

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Ohio U Adrenaline Ad

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sh!ts and giggles H

ave you ever been in a public place and had to fart badly? You held in that fart until the time was right to release it. And remember how good you felt when it came flapping out? You shivered. You laughed. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll appreciate our Sh!ts & Giggles section.

Hot for TEACHER Q&A with OU’s most smokin’ professors

Gabriela Castaneda-Jimenez Spanish Instructor

Backdrop: Do you consider yourself to be “hot?”

Gabriela Castaneda-Jimenez: No. I was kind of surprised and embarrassed (about being chosen).

BD: What’s your one flaw?

GCJ: Talking too much.

BD: Do you have a pet peeve?

GCJ: When students don’t bring their homework to class.

SS: What is your most useful beauty trick?

BD: Loads of mascara.

SS: Have you ever had a student come onto you?

BD: No… not directly.

SS: Do you work out often?

BD: No, I’m very lazy, though I need to and am always willing to. It was my New Year’s resolution.

COMPILED BY SUSANNAH SACHDEVA

Akil Houston African American Studies Professor

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Backdrop: Do you consider yourself to be “hot?”

Akil Houston: I’ve never thought about it actually.

BD: What’s a flaw you have?

AH: Maybe being too critical.

BD: Do you have any pet peeves?

AH: Yes, several. Students who don’t read is one.

BD: Do you work out often?

AH: I try too, doesn’t always work out though.

BD: What’s one beauty trick you use every day?

AH: Brush my teeth. Make sure I’m clean.

BD: What kind of shampoo do you use?

AH: Chamomile shampoo, cruelty-free products.

BD: Did you win a high school superlative?

AH: I think I got “Most likely to overthrow the government.”

BD: Have you ever been hit on by a student?

AH: Yeah, actually I have. It was kind of strange. It was awkward. She asked for help with homework and then asked for my number.

BD: What celebrity would you compare yourself to?

AH: Looks-wise, maybe Lennox Lewis when I had long hair. Maybe, personality-wise, KRS-One.

WEBSH!T

COMPILED BY JAMES RICE

Check out these sweet Web sites while you pretend to take notes on your laptop during lecture

UMBRELLAMARKET.COM If you’re into independent art, clothing, prints and unique gifts, then the Umbrella Market is your calling. Created by a group of artists, filmmakers, photographers and former skateboard illustrators, this online store has quirky gifts for morbid, humorous types. Their street/punk/unorthodox/sometimes strange, yet awesome illustrations grace the tops of tees and hats and the site also sells prints, calendars, accessories and DVDs, all for college-friendly prices. If you’re looking for atypical clothing or art (for guys or gals) that nobody else will be wearing, you can find it at Umbrellamarket.com; well... at least until everyone reads this.

GREENFORCEUSA.ORG Sick of working at lame jobs over winter break? Feel like you don’t want to have any part of sitting in a cubicle at an entry-level desk job after graduation? Need to take a quarter off and get the hell out of Athens? Sick of reading this boring, typical question lead?

It is hard not to think about at least one of these questions during your time at Ohio University. Your next life-changing adventure awaits you at greenforceusa.org. The organization allows people in life transitions or those simply seeking an escape from their lives, the opportunity to challenge themselves in a completely different and foreign setting. Spend six months in the Amazon working on wildlife conservation, ice climb in Ecuador or work at an orphanage in India. These are just three of the experiences Greenforce offers.

With programs ranging from two weeks to six months Greenforce can fit any schedule. Check out greenforceusa.org and broaden your horizons. Seriously, the world has a lot more to offer than Court Street.

TOMGREEN.COM My bum is on your face… that’s right, the Tom Green show is back and better than ever. This time, the cracked-out Canadian is broadcasting his talk show from his converted living room.

The set is legit, complete with studio lighting and bleachers for a live audience; not to mention his house is huge. It’s good to see that the former MTV host hasn’t wasted his money in his down time, but with the funds he must have received from classics like Freddy Got Fingered, it would be impossible for even Bobby Brown to squander his fortune. Tom Green’s House Tonight airs daily on the web at 9 p.m. The guest list has included Perez Hilton, Val Kilmer and Tony Hawk, and the show has matured with its original audience, lacking many of the obnoxious antics of its MTV predecessor. Fans can not only view the show from tomgreen.com, but also read Tom’s blog and purchase his original music, which he also makes at his house, (apparently he doesn’t leave). With a serious lack of new funny material on TV, Tom’s show will quench your comedic thirst.

Most elephants weigh less than the tongue of a blue whale.

backdrop | winter 2007 |

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THE iFILES

What are you listening to on your iPod? COMPILED BY VERONICA NORTON Name: Becca Adams Major: Finance, Media Management Hometown: Cincinnati Destination: Donkey Listening to: Spoon “Don’t Make me a Target” Where: Bromley Lobby

Name: Jodie Johnson Major: Undecided Hometown: Cincinnati Destination: Library Listening to: Gym Class Heroes “Shoot down the stars” Where: Outside Scripps

Name: Samantha Baker Major: Undecided Hometown: Urbana, Ohio Destination: Wilson Hall Listening to: Kansas “Carry On My Wayward Son” Where: Baker Lobby Name: Jonathan Nelson Major: Graduate student in international studies Hometown: Chicago Destination: Meet a friend Listening to: Radiohead “In Rainbows” Where: Baker Lobby

Name: Brian Goren Major: Psychology Hometown: Owings Mills, Maryland Destination: Library Listening to: Journey “Don’t Stop Believing” Where: Baker Lobby

Laura’s FAILED Resolution Realities

I

BY LAURA YATES

’m a senior and my college career is coming to an end. So over winter intercession, in between “America’s Next Top Model” marathons and reading teen fiction (Twilight, anyone?), I took the New Year’s resolution concept to heart.

I decided that by the ripe age of 22, I should have at least some level of respectability and responsibility.

I made four simple yet important resolutions geared toward personal maturity and self-improvement.

And now, a month into the school year, I am sorry to report I have failed in each and every one. So read on, fellow OU students.

May you be a better person than me.

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RESOLUTION #1: I will study instead of going out on Tuesday nights.

REALITY: Dollar shots and late classes on Wednesday. ‘Nuff said.

RESOLUTION #2: I will stop resenting my housemates when I hear them having sex.

REALITY: I’m happy when they’re happy, but let’s face it -- being awoken by their rhythmic love beats is crossing a line. Plus, if I’m not getting any, neither should they.

RESOLUTION #3: I will stop accepting drinks from random guys uptown.

REALITY: I hate awkward bar conversation and chances are I’m not going to go home with you just because you bought me a $2 beer, (unless you’re really cute). Therefore, I should just skip the “so what’s your name again” five minutes of agony and buy my own drink. But really, when the time comes, who is going to turn down a free drink?

By the way, I’m partial to Rolling Rock.

RESOLUTION #4: I will no longer slyly check out my “competition” at Ping.

REALITY: You know you do it; glancing at elliptical displays next to you to see how many calories your neighbor has burned. It’s shameful and counterproductive and oh... wait, you’ve got 50 up on me? Time to step up my resistance level to five, bitch. b The Guinness Book of World Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from public libraries.

SAY WHAT? Which campus celebrity would you want to hook up with?

Where is the worst place to be caught naked on campus?

Mickey Hart, nicest guy in the world.

—Brian Ostrander, senior

Second floor of Baker so I’d have to go up the escalators (during class change) with the people piling on to them witnessing…and it’s winter time.

—Kara Fry, 3rd year graduate student

The woman who works at Cornwell Rentals, she’s hot.

—Jim Fuhs, senior

On Court Street.

— ­­ Kim Bernard, junior

I would prefer to not randomly hook up with anyone… plus there’s no one that really stands out to me.

—Kaiti Sparks, sophomore

In a parallel universe where she wasn’t married and I wasn’t gay, Dean Fidler of the HTC. She’s amazing, intelligent, compassionate and the dean of the best college on campus.

—Micah Mitchell, 1st year graduate student

COMPILED BY MEREDITH LOCKWOOD AND TARA MELVIN

Ruthless RANT & RAGE Geez, It’s Frickin’ Freezing Out!

D

uring the winter, you’ve got to love the endless cycle of putting-on and peeling-off several layers of clothing every time you step into your cozy 80-degree classroom (a little too cozy when you’re insulated well enough to be mistaken for an Eskimo) and then exit back out into what feels like Antarctica. The end result of all this is a messy hairdo and sweaty clothes…there’s nothing worse than being damp with sweat in the middle of winter. The winter also gives us ladies a hard time finding our boyfriends among the masses of North Face fleeces donned by a plethora of party-going fellas. Yet, gentlemen surely enjoy the surplus of girls wearing little but a miniskirt, high heels, and a half unbuttoned

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BY ABBY CLARY

blouse (apparently covered with thick enough “beer coats” to shield them from even the coldest winter nights).

Thus, it should be no surprise why Hudson has long enough waiting lines to compare with lines outside the bars on Homecoming weekend. So just remember, when you slip and fall outside of Bentley Hall due to brilliantly designed, iced-over steps, think to yourself: spring is just around the corner.

Wanna vent? Send your ruthless rants and rages to backdropmag@gmail.com, subject: Rant & Rage

Aztec emperor Montezuma had a nephew, Cuitlahac, whose name meant, ‘plenty of excrement.’

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HEY! HAD A ROUGH NIGHT? IS THERE DOCUMENTED PROOF? BACKDROP WANTS TO SEE IT!

SUBMIT YOUR SH!T SHOW PICTURES TO BACKDROPMAG@GMAIL.COM