THE MORE Y{OU} KNOW Summer Magazine August 2022 WHO WHEREWHYWHATWHENHOW
In The New Political’s 2022 summer magazine, we took the five W’s (and one H) that every journalist knows to share a slice of Athens, both on and off Ohio U’s campus. From bridging the political divide near, far, then and now to the various local vendors and small businesses, our staff worked tirelessly to bring you this magazine. I am more than proud of the TNP team this year and trust that we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest of journalistic standards. I know they will continue to do the same as they continue their careers. With that, The New Political brings you, The More Y[ou] Know, where we hope you can learn something new about the
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At Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, I’ve always felt a healthy competition amongst the students. My peers have always pushed me to be a better journalist and seek new heights, whether it be taking on a new beat or applying for a higher position.leadershipButitcan be hard to keep up. Taking on too much responsibility and losing focus on class work is something I’ve seen happen to plenty of fellow students, even myself. The one thing that can be hard to remember is that we are not here for ourselves, we are not here to just add another hit piece to our portfolio. We are a vital part of keeping the communities we serve informed. Athens has a plethora of local coverage thanks to the dedication of local journalists from the Athens News, Athens Messenger and the CountyAthens Independent. It’s important that, now more than ever, we both learn from and support their efforts in keeping Athens informed. While we should still stand proud of our accomplishment, we must not forget the bigger picture we help to maintain.Allthemore so, it is vital to be an informed community member, both as a journalist and a student. As students, we enter Athens for a short period of time, but it’s important to remember that it has been here long before us and will be here long after us. Not only are we joining a cohort of our fellow students, but we become a part of the community for a short while. A community that we will cherish and remember for years to come.
FROM THE EDITOR:
Around the same times every year, the announcement tweets and congratulatory LinkedIn notifications flood everyone’s timelines. All your friends scatter across the world for a new real-world learning experience or internship. The hard work and late nights during the school year pay off for a taste of what your post-graduation life may hold, after spending what seems like years in the newsroom for a new addition to the resume. But in all that time hustling for the next opportunity, it can be easy to lose focus on what we are here to do: public service. It’s one of the Society of Professional Journalists pillars we all come to learn and love.
MADELINE HARDEN, Editor-In-Chief
OUR TEAM SocialDirectorAssistantAssistantManagingEditor-In-ChiefEditorNewsEditorNewsEditorCopyEditorDigitalEditorOpinionEditorOpinionEditorofSocialMedia/PRMedia/PRCoordinatorSpeacialProjectsManager Staff Writer Madeline Harden Izzy EvanJackClaireKellerDelVitaSlemendaGallagher Jude Shreffler Brenna Nye Aya ZachCatheyDonaldson Henry Jost Megan Arnold Emily Zeiler Audri Wilde CONTENTS WHATWHO Mac Shack is coming to Athens ...............................................12WHENWHERE Slava Ukraini: Despite all odds, OU students return to Ukraine to support defense efforts ................................................3 Cricket Jones: What makes her chirp? ...............................................7 Inflation Navigation: Economic funding in times of need ...............9 Retro Report: Free Speech at Ohio U .......................................13 WHY The health of Ohio University’s political discourse: A hopeful diagnosis ...............................................................16 Empty lunch bags and why abortion access affects poverty ..........18 HOW How to register to vote ..........................................................21 SUMMER MAGAZINE VII, AUGUST 2022 2
The pride that Yakmchuk and Zenchenko feel for their country is evident in their decision to willingly enter an active warzone. Designed by Emily Zeiler
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Slava Ukraini: Depsite all odds, OU students return to Ukraine to support defense efforts
By Audri Wilde Staff Writer
On Feb. 24, two graduate students at Ohio University watched in horror as Russia launched an invasion on their home country, Ukraine. Three days later, they made the difficult decision to returnOleksandrhome.
After 14 years, Yakmchuk and his family moved to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, where Zenchenko grew up. Zenchenko fondly remembered Kyiv as the huge city where she spent her childhood having fun. She recalled walking with her best friend and their dog through the streets. Zenchenko was “homesick from the first day,” upon her arrival at Ohio U.
“They are prepared but not enough,” Yakmchuk said. Before their departure, he and Zenchenko, along with several other Ukrainian Ohio U students and students in their MFA program, worked to gather monetary donations, as well as food, tactical medicine and other supplies. Using these donations, Yakmchuk and Zenchenko were able to fill suitcases and deliver them to soldiers upon their arrival in Ukraine.
“Les” Yakmchuk, grew up in the small village of Lopatyn, located in the countryside of western Ukraine. The area’s weather is “a lot like Ohio,” and many people have jobs as farmers. Others used to work in the mines that dot the landscape, but many have since closed, leaving people without work. Yakmchuk noticed Lopatyn was very similar to Athens, Ohio, where he and his partner, Olena “Lena” Zenchenko, lived while attending graduate school. “We had a farm. I had two cows, some chickens, and goats, and dogs and all kinds of animals. And I never bought meat or milk in my life,” Yakmchuk said in a video interview where he called from Kyiv,WhileUkraine.his family has since sold the animals, they still have the farm. Yakmchuk hopes to return the farm to its former glory in the future. “I have a dream to make it like new and make it work again; I really want to come back.”
However, on Feb. 27, Yakmchuk and Zenchenko returned to Ukraine under vastly different circumstances, making the trip back to Kyiv to provide support to Ukrainian forces on the frontlines.
Yakmchuk explained: “Every day we are just in huge stress because sometimes they’re bombing cities during night. So you can’t properly sleep.” He describes the vicious and persistent cycle of alarms sounding, going to take shelter, and then returning home, only to hear another siren half an hour later. “You can stay home, you can ignore it, but who knows what’s going to happen?”
Despite attempts to cope, the two realize that much of the situation is out of their control. In the face of adversity, they have had to come to terms with the fact that their identities as students are of the past, at least for the time being.
“If I see that my country needs me in the military, well, I will,” said Yakmchuk
Opening his online calendar, Yakmchuk was stunned as he looked at the due dates and plans he had input before he departed from Ohio U. “I was like, ‘Oh my god … I had a life before this.’”
“Everybody, all my friends (are) volunteering. I mean, everybody’s doing something,” Yakmchuk said. Both stated that volunteers have mostly been working to bring goods and supplies from other parts of Europe into Ukraine. Other volunteers have taken up arms in the territorial defense of their country and communities have come together to provide food and housing for refugees displaced as a result of the warfare.
“I think we’re doing our best because we can’t do anything else,” Zenchenko said. “This is the fight (for the) existence of this Comingcountry.”toUkraine, Yakmchuk and Zenchenko both acknowledged the possibility that Yakmchuk might have to learn how to use a gun. In an effort to defend itself against Russia, the Ukrainian government banned most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.
Yakmchuk and Zenchenko are not the only ones to return to their home country.
Although he was fearful upon returning to Kyiv, Yakmchuk’s fear had since waned. This concerns him. “If you don’t have fear you will die,” Yakmchuk said. He worries he will begin to accidentally ignore sirens as a result of this lack of fear, mentioning that, on the 12th day of the invasion, he began to overlook soldiers.
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Yakmchuk noted that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian natives have since returned to the country to help Ukrainian soldiers defend the country against Russia’s invasion.
To deal with the stress, Yakmchuk has been practicing yoga and meditation and has been seeing a therapist. Zenchenko began reading to distract her mind and escape to a “safe zone” as tensions rose between Russia and Ukraine.
“I think, emotionally, it’s got to be a bit frightening to think about having to use that tool,” Ohio U’s Director of International Services and Operations Diane Cahill said in a video interview reflecting on the two’s decision to return. Nonetheless, the two returned, fully prepared for the worst. Although Zenchenko did not believe her partner would be selected to help Ukraine’s armed forces due to his lack of military experience, the possibility lingers.
“I was, growing up, really proud of my country and really proud to be Ukrainian,” Zenchenko said.
Alost has stayed in touch with the two over Microsoft Teams, checking in on their well-being and offering to help in any way that he can.
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“It’s one little touch of normalcy,” Alost said about Ohio U while the two have been away. “Or at least a window into a normal world, or a world that was normal for them, before all this unfolded; I think that has a real value to them.”
Cahill worked with the students to set up a table in front of Baker Center, where they worked to inform Ohio U students about the situation. There, Yakmchuk and Zenchenko urged students to call Outline of Ukraine with Les and Lena’s hometowns starred. Graphic by Emily Zeiler.
“Now I have more problems than filmmaking, I would say,” said Yakmchuk, reflecting on the current state of his country. However, by coordinating with their MFA program director and professor in the School of Visual Communication, Stan Alost, the two plan to return to Ohio U.
Before returning to Ukraine, Yakmchuk and Zenchenko were both working toward earning their MFA in Communication Media Arts. Yakmchuk focused on filmmaking, while Zenchenko, coming from a graphic design background, concentrated on informational and interactive design.
Following the news of the invasion, both Cahill and Alost privately reached out to support the students. They provided Yakmchuk and Zenchenko with resources and worked to help them navigate the situation, which they knew was emotionally tumultuous for the graduate students. “They were very outgoing and engaging and happy people. I guess that’s the biggest shift to have seen. As there was the threat, they were a little more concerned, but then as the invasion unfolded, incredibly distressed and really anguished,” said Alost in a phone interview. “They didn’t want to leave, but they also felt that they had to go back and help their parents and their country.”
their local senators and persuade them toward action. They highlighted that, although sanctions against Russia have been helpful, Ukraine requires aid from other countries in protecting its skies from Russian missiles and bombs. It was then, as they rallied support from passersby, that Cahill noticed the two were thinking of “Ileaving.have never spoken with someone who visibly seemed pulled to another place,” Cahill said. Alost recalled the painful conversation he had with the pair before their departure. “It’s heartbreaking to see them worried about whether or not we would take them back.” He assured Yakmchuk and Zenchenko that they were more than welcome to return to their studies when they saw fit. “As a parent, I looked at them and thought, you know, I would tell my children, ‘Don’t come back here,’ and I think they had probably heard that,” Alost said. “But I also looked at two people that really, they’re proud of where they’re from. They’re proud of their country, and they just felt like they had to go be a part of Yakmchukhelping.” and Zenchenko are holding out hope for their return.
“(I want to) come back to Ohio to finish my studies, to continue my education, to continue doing filmmaking and to rebuild my country,” Yakmchuk said. As the sound of sirens filled the air, a video call with Zenchenko was cut short as she had to make her way to a bomb shelter. “I’m sorry, this is the alarm,” Zenchenko said moments before hanging up. For now, the two continue to support the soldiers on the front lines as they endure life in the war-torn country that they call home, hoping to soon see Ukraine return to its former glory. For support, international students can visit International Student and Faculty Services or email isfs@ohio.edu. The Office of Global Affairs and International Studies is available to support students who have been affected by these events. Students may also contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 740-5931616 for additional support.
AudriandUincludingimpactedUkraineinvasionTheprideflagsUkrainianataDCparade.Russianofhasmany,OhiostudentsLesLena.PhototakenbyWilde SUMMER MAGAZINE VII, AUGUST 2022 6
Jones uses the handles of spoons to make rings and the curved part as earrings. Jones’s spoon rings, one of her most popular items, were created after finding a bent one at her home. Rather than throwing the spoon away, she was inspired to make a ring.
“I wake up every morning thinking about jewelry,” Cricket Jones wrote on herJoneswebsite.stands on the corner of Court Street and Union Street by the Alumni Gateway showcasing her creations to Athens residents and visitors every week. Her art ranges from earrings to poetry, but her most popular items are her spoon rings. She calls these rings “reenlightened wearable art.”
WHAT MAKES HER CHIRP?
Most of the flatware Jones uses she collects herself. Often finding them at antique and thrift stores, some even coming from across the globe. No spoon is off-limits to Jones. Her art is not limited to spoon rings, she makes jewelry from other scrap
Upcycling old products into something new has been a growing trend in recent years, especially as more consumers buy second-hand.
UpcycleThat.com defines upcycling as, “the act of taking something no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function.” Upcycling aims to lessen the amount of trash in the world and gives old objects the chance to be in a new home.Jones started creating flatware from jewelry 11 years ago when her friend Debby Fulks, owner of Court Street Coffee, offered her wall space in the café to feature her art. Although she now sells most of her pieces herself, café-goers can still purchase some items at “Cricket’s Corner.” Now Jones creates jewelry from all types of household wares.
CRICKET JONES
Designed by Madeline Harden
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By Claire Del Vita News Editor Cricket Jones, pictured above, sells handmade jewelry made with recycled items to passersby. She sells her arts on the streets of Athens, festivals and fairs across Ohio and in local Athens businesses. Photo provided by Cricket Jones.
Every day on the way to their classes, Ohio University students walk past a multitude of different individuals. In the midst of fellow students, vendors and occasional anti-abortion activists, one woman stands out from the rest.
“I love turning family flatware etc. into jewelry for them,” Jones wrote on Facebook. “Those pieces usually end up meaning the most of any jewelry they will to making jewelry, Jones’s art extends to writing poetry. She has written two books, including “Woo Woo Love,” which she published last year. Her passion for writing poetry began in fourth grade and extended throughout her life, leading her to graduate from college with a degree in creative writing.
Inown.”addition
“I love words and language… it is such a creative expression,” Jones said. “My mind is always playing with words.”
Spoon rings are one of the eclectic jewelry items Jones sells. In addition to creating jewelry, Jones also writes poetry and is a published author. Photo provided by Cricket Jones. the past year, with her being able to take on part-time employees to help her run her stand. She also had a booth at the Columbus Arts Festival, which offers artists around the country a space to showcase and sell their products to Ohio natives.Jones has plans to participate in other festivals and markets around the state and across the country.. She also appeared at Brew BQ on July 15, which closed out Athens Brew Week. Those living in Columbus can also find her and her rings at the North Market downtown on some Saturdays.Making jewelry is one of Jones’s greatest loves, and she cannot see herself ever getting tired of it. It is her full-time job that does not feel so much like one.
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metals as well. Jones can turn watch faces and the internal watch pieces into earrings, and recycled copper wire into bracelets and ring bands. Custom pieces are her favorite to make as she feels they have an impact on her clients.
Jones’s business has expanded over
“I wake up every thinkingmorningaboutjewelry”
including Red Tail Design and Dirty Girl Coffee.Red Tail Design is a company located on the north side of Athens that specializes in woodworking, graphic design and branding; Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Fluff Bakery and Butcher’s Bites have all received branding help. Many of the services from Red Tail Design require efficient supply chains and reasonable prices. Wooden boards, cutting materials and packaging are just a few of the items the company relies on daily. The owner, Tim Martin, described price hikes when ordering Baltic Birch plywood, a material essential for wood making.“Before the pandemic, I was paying $15 a sheet. When the pandemic hit, it jumped to about $30 a sheet, because of import issues,” Martin said. He noted that once the war with Russia and Ukraine hit, the material was unattainable.
ACEDC gave Martin’s business the first part of the $125,000 grant when the pandemic started, and a more recent grant was given for an instrument vital for branding and designing. “We recently got another grant to purchase a laser from ACEDC and JobsOhio,” said Martin. “That was Inflation, supply chain issues, labor shortages and price surges have been felt globally, but an organization in Athens County continues its aid to local businesses.Athens County Economic Development Council (ACEDC) is a group made up of local representatives, including Athens Mayor Steve Patterson, that gives economic aid through grants andInfunding.theU.S., the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen steadily since October 2021. This means costs of everyday goods for consumers have been increasing, directly relating to inflation. With the CPI at 8.6%, the highest rate since 1981, small businesses can use all the help they canACEDCget. started in 2008 after economic development shifted away from the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. The organization has multiple sectors that are able to regulate businesses and land grants. The Ohio Department of Development, JobsOhio and OhioSE Economic Development, all of which provide funding for businesses in some form, work with the organization to assist projects in Southeast Ohio. Recently, a grant of $125,000 from ACEDC was given to Athens businesses, Written and Designed by Evan Gallagher Copy Editor ECONOMIC FUNDING IN TIMES OF NEED
INFLATION NAVIGATION:
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At the beginning of the pandemic, Dirty Girl Coffee was able to find assistance. The contribution through ACEDC was also executed by JobsOhio.
“Green coffee shipments have been delayed five months, running us critically low on certain inventory items,” said Jane Cavarozzi, owner of Dirty Girl Coffee, adding, “Coffee costs have risen significantly.”DirtyGirl
SUMMER MAGAZINE VII, AUGUST 2022 10 WHAT
Kathy Hecht, City of Athens auditor, has seen the shift in revenue of local businesses through the pandemic, and now with “Overall,inflation.ourbusiness tax revenue is down from last year at this time but still much higher than in 2020. I expect it will even out by the end of the year,” said Hecht. She was speaking on the state of tax revenue as of May 31. Despite economic uncertainty, future projects are being funded in the region.
An assessment for redeveloping land around Bailey’s Trail, turning a Chauncey school building into a restaurant and lodge and a planning grant for the City of Athens are all on the agenda for ACEDC. Some products created by Red Tail Design are pictured to the right. Red Tail Design is a local business impacted by the ACEDC. Photo provided by Tim Martin
Dirty Girl Coffee, just over 20 minutes northeast of Athens in Glouster, has dealt with economic and supply woes similar to Red Tail Design, like price hikes and changes in supply shipped.
definitely a huge help.”
Coffee has been eyeing expansion before the start of the pandemic, and a JobsOhio grant helped with navigating the process given the current economic conditions They are now hoping for another grant from the Finance Fund of Central Ohio.
While ACEDC cannot control the rates of inflation in Athens County, the organization is aware of the issue and has advice for policymakers. Mollie Fitzgerald, executive director of ACEDC, notes that members “hope that state and federal programs continue to incentivize onshoring or manufacturing and improvements to supply chain challenges.”Being a public and private organization, ACEDC is able to partner with local companies, as well as government institutions. The City of Athens government, as well as the Athens County government, work with ACEDC for economic development and projects.
Committed to providing an education that emphasizes professional excellence, critical thinking and social responsibility. News and Information • Includes broadcast news, magazine, news writing & editing and online journalism. • Provides flexibility for students wanting to work in any aspect of news media. Carr Van Anda • Allows journalism majors to create an individualized course of study within the journalism framework. Strategic Communication • Provides a broad preparation for learning to communicate messages on behalf of clients. • Provides experiential learning by working with 1804 Communication as well as other campus publications. Twitter: Instagram:scrippsjschoolscripps_jschoolLearnmoreat:scrippsjschool.org Majors:
Keystone’s Mac Shack is coming to Athens to serve hungry Athenians and Ohio U students. The Cincinnati staple is known for its Mac ’n Cheese, but serves up other foods as well. food and an array of signature macaroni and cheese dishes until 3 a.m. on the weekends.“We’ve had tremendous success with Keystone’s Mac Shack near the University of Cincinnati’s campus, which has become a beloved destination for students, professionals and visitors. We strive to replicate that success in Athens. We’re excited to bring our comfort food to southeast Ohio this summer,” Dan Chroncion, 4EG managing partner, said about the opening of the new location. Chronicon will be managing the new location, along with Executive Chef Ray. The Athens location hopes to open its doors at the beginning of the school year and is currently looking to employ Athens residents before the grand opening. “It is important to me that we have a great brand and a great team,” Chronicon said.
4EG is hoping the Athens and Cincinnati locations will be a launching pad for future franchises in college towns around the midwest in the distant future.
Henry Jost Director of PR and Social Media Senior Writer Spread designed by Izzy Keller
Keystone’s Mac Shack will be located in between Jimmy Johns and the Athena Cinema on Court Street.
University of Cincinnati’s favorite late night restaurant is joining the rest of the beloved midnight snack spots on Court Street this October. Mac Shack of Keystone has become a staple cuisine for many college students since 2016, when it first opened its doors in TheCincinnati.MacShack is owned by Four Entertainment Group (4EG), which owns other popular franchises throughout Ohio. 4EG hopes to add a successful franchise in Athens by serving up soul
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If you love macaroni and cheese and soul food, then you are in for a treat.
MAC SHACK COMES TO ATHENS
The future home of Keystone’s Mac Shack, Court Street’s newest eatry. Picture taken by Henry Jost.
Retro Report: Free Speech at Ohio U
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Ohio University students have garnered a reputation of being boisterous, party-going individuals. Their loudness is not limited to fun times, however, as the school has a long history of students using their voice to protest issues of importance to them. From the Vietnam War to worker’s rights and even now with tuition increases, racial tensions, and the fight for abortion rights. Ohio U students are making noise for good, exercising their constitutional right to freeThespeech.first example that often comes to mind for many regarding students protesting on college campuses are demonstrations opposing the Vietnam War during the 1960s and 1970s. While many Ohio U students partook in this resistance, their use of free speech has also involved campus issues.
Protests marked the move from Chubb Library, now Chubb Hall, to Alden Library. Photo taken from Ohio University Digital Archives. Spread designed by Izzy Keller
The construction of Alden Library broke ground in 1966, the then new library would replace Chubb Library, now Chubb Hall. It opened in 1969 and was named after Ohio U’s outgoing president, Vernon R. Alden. While the event was marked with excitement for many, the library’s opening day also gave around 200 students the audience they needed to protest university social regulations.Whatexactly these social regulations were was not specified, but Dan Cordes, a protest leader, mentioned dorm autonomy and others brought up women’s hours. These established a curfew for the female students of Ohio U and restricted when they could study in the library. They were later abolished in 1971 after this protest and others the same year, according to an Ohio U housing and residence life archive. In addition to the library sit-in, some students participated in a hunger strike. Student body president, Alicia Woodson, emphasized that the only thing the students had control over was their own bodies.
By Claire Del Vita News Editor
“It is important that the general climate of the University should be one which helps prepare students in a realistic way for their futures. It means preparing them to live with change,” Alden said according to the same issue of The Post. “And that means the University itself must be prepared to face changes in its offerings, its policies and procedures, and its relations to the community, the nation and the world.”
I take only reflects the position the Board of Trustees have taken,” Johnson said, according to a 1969 copy of The Post. “Personalities do not enter into it. If I am to be the terrible image of the Board of Trustees, this is all right, as long as I feel I am representing the board’s views. I go to bed at night and sleep quite well. What others say about me, I couldn’t care less.”
Alden acknowledged the ongoing protests, and the university’s need to change in his farewell speech, a sentiment that should still hold true today.
It should be noted that President Alden made an active effort during his term to protect students’ free speech. In 1962, Alden established a “Speakers Policy” which defended free speech and expression on campus, according to an Ohio U student affairs post.
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Ohio University students have a long and rich history of protesting national, state, local and campus issues. Image was taken from the Ohio University Digital Archives, specifically from the front cover of the May 26, 1969 copy of The Post.
Fred Johnson, the Board of Trustees chairman at the time, was the main target of the protest. Students bombarded him with questions, to which he replied with brief“Anyanswers.position
Despite Alden’s progressive stance, the university continued to add demonstration regulations to the student handbook. Even going so far to restrict what could be on posters, banners and handouts as Vietnam War protests increased during the late 60s and 70s.
Journalism Minor • Learn about the role of journalism in society. • Learn about basic theories and practices of newsgathering. • Prepare for career opportunities in which media literacy and basic journalistic concepts are required. Advertising and Public Relations Minor • Provides introductory knowledge and skills to create purposeful communication to help a business fulfill its mission. • Prepares students to pursue career opportunities in advertising, public relations, and marketing. Learn more at: scrippsjschool.org Twitter: Instagram:scrippsjschoolscripps_jschool Minors:
SUMMERZeilerMAGAZINE VII, AUGUST 2022 16 The Health of Ohio University’s Political Discourse: A Hopeful Diagnosis Opinion
. WHY
From the increasingly bizarre political theater that parades the halls of Capitol Hill to the uproar and fanfare that dominates school board meetings nationwide, America has a serious and debilitating case of division.
Congressional Democrats and Republicans are the most polarized they have been in 50 years. 3 in 10 Americans rank polarization as the top issue facing the country, and over 70% believe that America has become so polarized that it can no longer solve the major problems facing the country. This illness spares no victims, but universities are one of the biggest targets of concern. Long designed as training grounds for the developing mind to reason and participate in open debate, there has been a national trend of stifling debate and de-platforming those with controversial views on college campuses.
**Editor’s Note: Zach Donaldson is a member of the Ohio University ACLU Campus Action Team
Zach Donaldson Assistant Opinion Editor
A recent poll by College Pulse showed that almost 66% of students say it is acceptable to shout down a campus speaker to prevent them from speaking, and 23% find it acceptable to resort to violence to achieve the same end. These developments are deeply concerning, reflecting a society where educational institutions and their student bodies defer intellectual challenges for comfort. In a campus as large and politically active as Ohio U, informed public debate in Athens may be more important than it has ever been. Curious about attitudes towards cross-political engagement among the student body, I sat down with the leaders of four different student organizations across the Spread designed by Emily
think that there is a very diverse range of political views. I think that it’s easy when you are involved in a political org to enter into this echo-chamber of people who have similar ideologies, and I am definitely a victim of that.”
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leaned more left, even though we are non-partisan…that could just be the nature of the ACLU.”
Republicans to moderate a debate on climate change. She noted that there were sparing responses, but the organization plans on integrating and promoting similar events in the future. Cahoon and Smrdel also shared ways that university-sponsored efforts could platform discussions, including a public forum for a host of political orgs to debate specific issues and an involvement fair-esque event for political organizations to recruit and engage with potentially interested while not perfect, many symptoms of a healthy civic life, diversity of perspective, openness to debate, and mutual respect, were present on Ohio U’s campus. Eased COVID-19 restrictions should expand each group’s agency to interact with one another and hopefully cut into the deficit of informed discussion that many of the leadersUltimately,referenced.the burden falls on us. If we as young people adopt values of free speech, creative problem-solving and civil discourse, we may be able to begin changing the narrative on public dialogue. If we recede into our respective camps much like our predecessors, I fear our story will follow a similar refrain.
When I asked if they felt that Ohio U suffered from a lack of informed public discourse, all leaders agreed that Ohio U had room to improve on fostering debate. Gifford attributed the problem to fear of “conflict and heated debate instead of, nice, healthy, solution-finding kind of debate” while Cahoon noted that many who have only lived in Athens or
Opinion SUMMER MAGAZINE VII, AUGUST 2022 18 WHY
Agurgling stomach and the sound of consistent swallows are the noises that hunger provokes in individuals. As one who has experienced food insecurity, these are some noises I would hear from my body growing up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the lack of consistent access to food for a healthy life. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 8 Americans are food insecure. I vividly remember bringing only carrots or a granola bar for lunch, sometimes even less. It was hard to understand my situation then, but looking back, it hurts me even to imagine anyone being in that situation. However, I know many cases of children in the same, if not worse, positions. As a teenager, I was fortunate to have a friend who noticed what was happening and started bringing more food in her lunch for me. To this day, I still appreciate the kindness that I received from her and herOnfamily.June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a case that affirmed the constitutional right to women’s access to abortions. This overturning resulted from the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , which was filed in 2018 to challenge a law in Mississippi that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. After filing the case, Missippi brought it to the Supreme Court to uphold its ban and rule that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. The landmark decision Roe v. Wade was made in 1973. Since then, states across the nation have placed limitations that restrict access to the procedure.Onemay ask, “How does limited abortion access relate to more children and families living in poverty?” When you look at first-hand studies of women denied an abortion and the reported costs from the government a family is expected to pay for a child each year, the correlation becomes clear. My experiences growing up made me appreciative of accessible food, but it also raised concerns about starting a family without financial security. The cost of food, clothing and medical insurance adds up quickly. In 2015, the USDA released a report stating the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is approximately $288,610. Over 18 years, parents can expect to pay $12,978 every year. The minimum wage in Ohio for nontipped jobs is $9.30 an hour. A person working full-time at 40 hours a week for minimum wage is expected to make $19,344 a year before taxes. This would make it impossible to raise a child and keep up with other expenses such as rent and transportation. Though this is higher than the national minimum wage of $7.25, it is still near impossible to work only one full-time job and raise a child.
Written and designed by Emily Zeiler Special Projects Manager
I remember how I felt during each meal of my childhood, with these phantom feelings plaguing me today. I hope that my worst fears of the aftermath of Roe v. Wade do not occur, though all the evidence is pointing in the opposite direction.
The numbers show that there is a correlation between denied abortions and poverty. This can ultimately lead to food insecurity too. With more families experiencing food insecurity, more children will be forced to experience what I did as a child, discomfort from a hungry stomach and the embarrassment of not having as much food as my peers. With access to abortion being held in the hands of the state, more women will face hardships as they struggle to raise children they may not be able to afford.
According to an economic study from Brookings, women who live below the poverty line are three times more likely to become pregnant (9%) when not trying to conceive than those of a higher incomeCaitlin(3%).Myers, an economist from Middlebury College, spoke on a social experiment conducted on five states and the District of Columbia that had allowed abortion for several years before the landmark decision in 1973. This experiment yielded results such as fewer teenagers giving birth, and getting married at a young age.
Some states, including Ohio, have banned all abortions with the exception of cases where the mother’s life is threatened the fetal heartbeat can be detected. Oftentimes under these laws, women who may have conceived a child from incest or rape are forced to carry the baby to term, despite the emotional harm it may cause them.
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Shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a 10-year-old child living in Columbus had to travel to Indiana to receive an abortion after she got pregnant as a result of rape. This case was met with shock and scrutiny around theRestrictingcountry. access to abortions will disproportionately affect people of color and those who have lower incomes. More affluent people may have the means to travel to other states where abortion has not been restricted.
Myers also reported her research, “found that even an increase in travel distance of up to 100 miles could prevent 20% of women from reaching a provider.” She also calculated that approximately 100,000 women who are lower income will be denied an abortion after the first year of Roe being struck down.With the childhood poverty rate currently at 17%, there is a chance this number will climb as more families cannot afford to feed their children. Endless hunger is a feeling no child should have to experience.
The Turnaway Study, which followed women who were granted or denied an abortion for 10 years studied the impact the procedure had on their lives. The study found that the women who received an abortion were not harmed in terms of health and well-being, whereas those who were denied were found to be in a worse place regarding health and finances. Some of these financial hardships were a lower credit score and increased bankruptcies or evictions.
If you are unsure, check boe.ohio. gov/athens/ and click on the “Voter Registration Information” tab. Then, click on “Am I Registered?”
1. Are You registered?already
The 2022 midterms are rapidly approaching, and Ohioans have a particularly important role in this year’s elections. In Ohio, a perspective voter must register 30 days before a general or primary election. If you are not yet registered to vote, or not registered in Athens and wish to be, here are some questions to ask: Designed by Izzy Keller Managing Editor
3. Choose a way to register You can register in-person, online or by mail. The registration form and a link to register online is available on the Athens Board of Election website. There are a variety of places to register in person, one of them is the Board of Elections. Finally, to register you need: a valid form of state identification, your name, date of birth, your address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
In order to change your name or address, you must fill out a voter registration form. Again, this change must be made at least 30 days before an election. There are some exceptions, so be sure to check with the Board of Elections. To vote in the November general election, be sure to register by October 11, 2022questions?
In the United States, only 18-year-old citizens can vote. In Ohio, a voter must be a resident for at least 30 days and have registered to vote at least 30 days before an election.
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4. any address or name changes?
HOW TO: Register to vote in Athens
2. Are you eligible to vote?
Reach out to the Athens County Board of Elections, located at 15 S. Court St. You can also call them at 740-5923201.
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