A Budding Future

Farewell from the 2022-2023 editors

BY: MADELINE HARDEN, EDITOR-INCHIEF @MADDIEHARDEN620

IZZY KELLER, MANAGING EDITOR @IMKELLE13

Like all good things, the Harden and Keller administration must come to an end. We joined The New Political after attending the same interest meeting, clicked immediately working collaboratively on everything from investigations to design spreads. Who would have thought that Zoom meeting from our respective dorm room would

have led to leading a publication together. We have built a strong partnership, working relationship and friendship through The New Political.

Working under some of the most talented journalism students and professors, we have gained such thoughtful and important experiences that we are more than proud to pass on to our capable replacements.

As we get ready to move on from our positions, we cannot overstate the confidence we have in the three individuals selected as our replacements.

Henry Jost is one of the most dedicated,

hard working people we know. His love for politics, journalism and of course The New Political will help to create the most successful year for TNP yet. He will make an exceptional editor-in-chief. In the past two years, we have enjoyed watching Jack Slemenda grow as a journalist, editor and leader. Nicknamed “coal shoveler,” Jack has shown us that he will not only get the job done, but get the job done well. Finally, Claire Del Vita is not only an incredible writer and editor, but she has the ability to be creative in her writing and continuously raises the bar. No matter when either of us end up,

we will be sure to continue to support our staff, student and local journalism. We must thank TNP for the experiences we gained, the people we’ve met and the stories we’ve shared. It has been an honor to lead our staff for these past months and we are thrilled to see where it goes. We hope you enjoy our spring print as we continue to empower and educate Athens and beyond.

Signing off,

Hello from the 2023-2024 editors

BY: HENRY JOST, INCOMING EDITORIN-CHIEF @HENRYJOST5

JACK SLEMENDA, INCOMING MANAGING EDITOR @JACKSLEMENDA

CLAIRE DEL VITA, INCOMING DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @CLAIREDELVITA

HENRY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

In our newest print product, A Budding Future, we explore the very best parts of our community. Just like Athens, e New Political continues to grow. As the end of the school year comes to a close, we as a

publication re ect on the many late nights spent editing away in the newsroom. e crucial 2022 midterm elections, the weekly city council meetings, and the appointment of a new Ohio University president made it a rollercoaster for news content, but I could not be more proud of our sta ’s top tier coverage.

JACK, MANAGING EDITOR: I can’t speak highly enough of my time already at e New Political. is incredible sta of writers, editors, designers and photographers have taught me so much about the world of journalism already. I am honored to be a part of this amazing executive sta and humbled to be the next managing

editor of e New Political. Together as a sta we are going to continue to produce amazing work for the Athens community and beyond. We are the independent voice for Athens, and that voice will continue to grow louder and stronger with this executive team.

CLAIRE, DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR:

A Budding Future is a culmination of stories from great student journalists who put blood, sweat and tears into the nished product. I could not be more proud of everyone involved and cannot wait for my next year at e New Political. e past three years I have dedicated to this publication

have made me a stronger writer and editor and I am so grateful to have had the chance to be a part of it.

To a budding future,

Making Respect Visible: LGBTQ resources, history and culture at Ohio U

BY: RACHEL YOUNT, STAFF WRITER @22RYOUNT

AsJune approaches, Pride is beginning to flourish in Athens. From drag shows to pride flags hanging from apartment windows, it seems like the vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community is visible everywhere you look. It is reflected in the stickers on students’ laptops or pins on their bags–little bits of queer self-expression permeate the culture of Athens.

For example, for the past two Octobers, Donkey Coffee has hosted an art show celebrating LGBT history month. The show has featured a variety of artistic mediums, LGBT themes, and LGBT artists.

Similarly to Donkey, numerous places on campus are generally recognized as LGBT friendly and affirming places. Brenen’s Coffee Cafe flies a pride flag outside, Import House has a trans flag on their dressing room door, and Tony’s Tavern has a trans flag hanging in the window. Other shops, businesses, and even churches can be seen expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community in Athens.

However, the queer culture on Ohio U’s campus goes far beyond pride memorabilia sold in shops up and down Court Street. The university carries a rich history of LGBTQ+ activism, and it currently offers a vast array of resources for students.

The LGBT Center, found in Baker Center room 348, is a space for students to congregate that affirms diversity and cultivates a safe and civil environment. At the entrance to the LGBT Center, there are countless fliers with information for clubs, organizations and resources. There are several clubs and community meet ups for specific communities that fall under the umbrella of the LGBTQ community and allyship. An example is Shades, a club that focuses on multicultural identities as well as gender and sexuality. There is also a group for trans students, a group called Lavender Menace for those who fall under the sapphic umbrella, and community gatherings for people who are asexual, aromantic and everything in between.

The LGBT Center also has several study rooms, along with a community art wall, a library containing several shelves of queer literature and a clothing exchange. The center’s purpose is to provide an environment for students to make new friends and be surrounded by openminded and supportive people.

For students uninterested or intimidated by clubs, the center offers a place to make friends and connect with the community. The LGBT Center’s website details the resources they offer so that students can become and define the queer culture on

campus for themselves with the people they may feel most comfortable with.

Dr. Micah McCarey is the Ohio U LGBT Center Director. When asked about what genuine allyship looks like, McCarey called back to Ohio U’s recent “Make Respect Visible” campaign, discussing active, intersectional allyship, as opposed to passive tolerance.

“It’s not enough to just call yourself an ally, you have to be actively doing things to support the LGBTQ community,” said McCarey.

In discussion about the establishment of safe, community spaces for LGBTQ students, McCarey elaborated on the nuance of the concept of a “safe space.”

“The notion of a safe space creates some challenges in communities because they’re aspirational,” said McCarey. “It’s about trying to do better and better, but not expecting perfection. It's our intention to be as safe as possible, and that’s not just something you can put on a sticker. You have to be able to demonstrate that you’ve educated yourself through how you speak with people, and how you serve people.”

McCarey also described the importance of the LGBT Center within the context of community, sharing that the center is available for more than just resources or needing help with a specific problem. “It’s truly to enhance your life, to give you more friendships and to help you learn about people with different backgrounds,” said McCarey.

Cassie Badgett, a student who works at the LGBT Center, shared, “the center has allowed me to be more comfortable with my identity. I learned more about myself by working here. Being here has helped build my confidence and know that it’s all right, no matter what. So, it’s been really great, being here, working here and just coming to hang out.”

A significant upcoming event for LGBTQ students is Pride Graduation, a celebration of LGBTQ graduating

students on Monday, April 24. Students can register at the LGBT Center and find a rainbow tassel, a stole, and a pin from the Alumni Association to spruce up their caps and gowns.

Badgett shared their experience at last year’s Pride Graduation. “It was a very heartwarming event because everyone was so supportive and loving. It was such a great celebration of everyone’s accomplishments, I loved it so much. I highly recommend anyone in the queer community come, either to support others or to graduate and experience that,” Badgett said.

One place where people are doing advocacy work is Student Senate, which has an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Commission. The positions of commissioner, vice commissioner, and senator provide a stable position of relative authority on campus from year to year, ensuring that some people in leadership positions are looking out for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

Like all Ohio U students, LGBTQ+ students have access to Ohio U’s counseling and psychological services to pursue mental wellness. Ohio U’s LGBT Center has access to a resource through the LGBT center called GLOW. GLOW is a drop-in support space that meets via Microsoft Teams during the academic year. It does not require an appointment or commitment and focuses on open dialogue about navigating life as an LGBTQ student.

Since the 1970s, the LGBTQ+ community has found a home at Ohio U through various student-organized organizations. In 1972, the Gay and Lesbian Association (now referred to as Spectrum Plus) was formed, and sexual orientation was added to the university’s non-discrimination policy in 1980.

In 1997, an activism group called Swarm of Dykes was formed, emphasizing confrontation to promote tangible social change through education. In 1998, the

LGBT Center was established, followed by numerous other organizations of allies and sub-communities within the LGBTQ community.

Another important organization for LGBTQ+ history in Athens is the United Campus Ministry (UCM) located on college street. Before the LGBT Center was organized, UCM was a community space for LGBTQ+ students. The organization continues their advocacy work today.

Great strides have been taken in the last several decades to promote safety and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people in the City of Athens. However, according to Human Rights Watch and the ACLU, legislation restricting transgender healthcare and queer education are proposed across the country. In the wake of this political climate, the importance of preserving the safety and liberty of LGBTQ+ students is becoming vital to the conversation about safety culture on campus.

Historically, when minority groups were excluded from mainstream spaces and culture, they carved out their own communities and fought fiercely to maintain them. With increased awareness and acceptance, LGBTQ+ culture has been largely adopted into the mainstream.

This can be observed through the tendency of businesses and corporations to market themselves as allies during pride month, because it is now profitable for them to do so.

McCarey discussed the importance of remembering that the fight for the right to exist is not over simply because of a cultural shift toward tolerance. Performative allyship that is withheld when it is no longer profitable pulls focus from larger systemic and legislative strides toward equality. McCarey noted that genuine allyship and activism on campus are as vital today as they have been in the past to promote the safety and rights of LGBTQ students.

The New Political’s ‘2223 staff EDITORIAL

Madeline Harden, editor-in-chief mh361519@ohio.edu

Izzy Keller, managing editor ik926119@ohio.edu

Claire Del Vita, news editor cd750919@ohio.edu

Jack Slemenda, assistant news editor js741920@ohio.edu

Zach Donaldson, opinion editor zd322220@ohio.edu

Henry Jost, director of PR/social media and senior writer hj574419@ohio.edu

NEWS

Rachel Yount, staff writer Zach Hampu, staff writer

OPINION

Jessica Horner, opinion writer

Julianna Rittenberg, opinion writer

Cara Finnegan, opinion writer

Mark Harris, opinion writer

DIGITAL

Megan Arnold, social media manager

Annabelle Sorge, designer Abbie Kinney, designer Ayden McDougle, digital content creator Kennedy Simmons, SEO manager Follow

Student Senate executive election results

BY: IZZY KELLER, MANAGING EDITOR @IMKELLE13

Handle’s running mate Greek Life Senator Isaac Davis won the election to be the next vice president. Davis defeated Academic Affairs Commissioner Dylan Demonte and Governmental Affairs Commissioner Dan Gordillo. Davis received 500 votes, Demonte won 317 votes and Gordillo got 284 votes.

under the Freedom of Information Act; however, the request was denied by Chief Justice of Student Senate’s Judicial Panel Soren Starkey.

For full election results, scan the link below!

OnApril 7, the Student Senate Judicial Panel announced who will lead Student Senate during the 2023-2024 academic year. The announcement comes after a number of controversial issues facing the Senate.

Women’s Affairs Commissioner Megan Handle defeated University Life Commissioner Clay Lewis and Treasurer Trinity Robinson to be the next president. Handle won 507 votes, Robinson received 317 votes and Lewis got 287 votes.

INSTAGRAM: @THENEWPOLITICAL

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Athletics Senator Reagan Farmer won the election for treasurer, running on the Lewis-Gordillo-Farmer ticket. Farmer defeated Black Affairs Commissioners and SAC Delegate-at-Large Arthur Bargainer, who ran on the EMPOWER Ohio ticket with Robinson and Demonte. Farmer edged out Bargainer by four votes. She received 470 votes and Bargainer got 466 votes.

Notably, the election, which was supposed to take place on April 4, was pushed back a day due to technological issues. While the candidates expressed concerns about voter turnout due to the problem, the election still saw a massive uptick in student participation, with over 1,000 students casting ballots.

The results for the voided April 4 election were requested by The New Political

Letters

After a tumulteous election season, Megan Handle, Isaac Davis and Reagan Farmer are elected to top positions.

STUDENT SENATE ANNOUNCED THAT MEGAN HANDLE, ISAAC DAVIS AND REAGAN FARMER WILL HOLD EXECUTIVE OFFICES DURING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

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The tune of Appalachia: a combination of community and place

BY: ZACH HAMPU, STAFF WRITER @ZACH_HAMPU

Eastern Kentucky natives Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers have achieved mainstream success in recent years, with each receiving multiple Grammy nominations and topping the country charts with an album. Their success seems to have opened the door for other Appalachian artists.

As country fans have looked beyond Nashville, there has been a boom of talent in the region, or maybe it is just that Appalachia is finally receiving its due attention. Artists from the region such as Cole Chaney, Charles Wesley Godwin, JR Miller, Logan Halstead, The Local Honeys and Tim Goodin are all quickly gaining fans.

Chaney is a young country artist from Boyd County, Kentucky, which sits on the eastern border of Kentucky against West Virginia and southern Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the county’s

population at 47,899 in 2021.

Chaney has followed in the footsteps of Childers and many other Appalachian artists. Like Childers and the even younger Halstead, Chaney has played around Lexington, Kentucky, on Red Barn Radio and recorded an OurVinyl session.

He is just about to turn 23 years old, but he has been playing music full-time since he quit his job as a welder at 19.

Chaney released his debut album, Mercy, in 2021 and has been generating buzz in the industry. Bloggers at Whiskey Riff, a prominent outlet covering mostly independent country music, have referred to him at various points as a “rising star,” “hidden gem” and “force to be reckoned with.”

Chaney expressed gratitude for Childers’ breakthrough: “People will always compare me to Tyler, especially coming from one county over from him, and that’s something I’ve come to love and embrace, where my ego once wanted me to deny and run from that. He blazed the

trail for guys and gals like me to do what we love, and I’m forever grateful for his passage through the frontier that I’m now traversing.”

Because Appalachia is a region that is difficult to clearly mark the borders of, it makes sense that the same can be said of its music. Artists from as far as Canadian Bella White and Alabamian Drayton Farley blur this border through their sound and engagement with Appalachian artists.

Lexington, Kentucky and The Burl, a historic Lexington music venue, have been important to many of these artists’ careers, yet Lexington falls one county outside the Appalachian Regional Commission’s borders of the region. A strict, geographical definition is probably not equipped to encompass the region, community or genre.

Nonetheless, a sense of community seems to be central to Appalachia and its music. Up-and-coming acts commonly tour with and open for more established artists, as Childers did with Simpson, Chaney has

for 49 Winchester and Brother Smith has for Nicholas Jamerson.

Prior to Childers’ rise to stardom, Jamerson and Kris Bentley inspired artists with their duo Sundy Best, albeit reaching a more local audience. Chaney pointed to Jamerson as his biggest influence early on.

Aaron Smith, of the band Brother Smith, said of the relationship that, “people are raising other people up as performing artists instead of just trying to outdo you or write better songs than you. When I first met (Jamerson and Bentley,) they talked a lot about using the Sundy Best name as a platform to help other Kentucky artists and friends of theirs just achieve what they want to with their music careers.”

Madylin Goins, a Kentucky native, singer, college student, Lexington news station employee and photographer, has worked with acts such as Childers and the Turnpike Troubadours, echoed this idea of community.

“It’s really cool to see when you’re at these festivals, we always joke it goes like

COLE CHANEY PERFORMING IN GOINS’ FRONT YARD. PHOTO BY MADYLIN GOINS.

one big family reunion,” Goins said. Festivals featuring primarily artists from the region such as the Laurel Cove Music Festival and the Master Musicians Festival have grown, and philanthropic efforts for the region like the Hickman Holler Relief Fund, established by Childers and his wife, Senora May, have been widely supported by artists.

“Cole (Chaney), when he first moved to Lexington and was trying to get places to play and didn’t know anybody, he would come play in my parents’ front yard. My parents would invite their friends over, and we would sit in the front yard and listen to Cole play, and that’s how Cole was introduced to people around Lexington,” Goins described.

An emphasis on storytelling is another common element of Appalachian music.

“Storytelling was a major aspect of my life growing up,” Chaney said. “I’ve always described someone’s ability to capture an audience and tell a story as currency, a very valuable and increasingly rare quality found in a person.”

Chaney has been praised for this ability, and it is a large part of the reason that he is compared to Childers.

This storytelling often reflects a regional pride, also seen in the collaborative relationships between many Appalachian artists, while also addressing the area’s flaws forthrightly.

Chaney’s songs are quintessentially Appalachian. His lyrics are replete with references to hollers, mountains and hills, to coal, family and suffering. Some of his songs may be bleak at times, but Chaney always seems to have hope, whether it is by speeding up to get out or slowing down to enjoy what is in front of him.

Chaney described the creation of his debut album, “Mercy”, as therapeutic. He expresses a strong desire to escape his home in “Leave” and “Mercy” that he felt after high school and during his time as a pipe welder.

Conversely, he looks fondly on his home in “Another Day in the Life” and “Back to Kentucky,” and he said this is more

reflective of his attitude now. Chaney currently lives in his hometown and called it “refreshing.”

Sturgill Simpson, the aforementioned pioneer, seems to have undergone a similar yet longer development. His music has explored genres and themes from traditional country to psychedelia, motown and prog rock influences. However, his three most recent releases are as Appalachian as it gets: two LPs that are largely bluegrass versions of his prior music and an album length folk ballad set in “the trails of ol’ Cantuckee hills.”

Childers wrote the foreword for Kentucky author Silas House’s book “Clay’s Quilt,” in which he asks: “You can

take the boy out of Lawrence County, but who else would claim him? And what else could I be but a backslid Baptist honkytonker from Hickman Holler?”

Going beyond just another display of community engagement, Childers also conveys an ethos evident in his and many of his Appalachian peers’ work.

This kind of regional pride and identity has served the Appalachian music community well and is a reason to be optimistic about its future. Chaney declared, “The Appalachian music community is absolutely very strong and self-sufficient, much like most other things in Appalachia.”

COLE CHANEY WARMS UP WITH WOLFPEN BRANCH BEFORE HIS DEBUT AT EXIT/IN IN NASHVILLE.

PHOTO BY MADYLIN GOINS.

It’s really cool to see when you’re at these festivals, we always joke it goes like one big family reunion ”

TYLER CHILDERS FILLS IN FOR TOWN MOUNTAIN AT FALLSBURG SUMMER STAGE. PHOTO BY MADYLIN GOINS.

“We start the fire:” Ohio University students continue the legacy of resilience and persistence

BY: IZZY KELLER, MANAGING EDITOR @IMKELLE13

College Green has served as a forum for the voices of Ohio University’s students throughout its history,” reads a plaque dedicated to free speech on College Green. “Whether supporting civil rights, advocating for the abolishment of women’s curfews, or in protest, students have and will continue to play a vital role in shaping Ohio University.”

While universities are often lauded as places for expression and free speech, Ohio U students, throughout the school’s centuries-long history, have shown their dedication to social change. Two notable protests, the Racism at OU protest in March 2022 and the Artifacts protest in January, grabbed students’ attention.

The Racism at OU protest followed a number of racist incidents taking place in Ohio U dorms in March 2022. The student-led protest marched from Peden Stadium to Cutler Hall to address Ohio U’s administration about the incidents.

Joi Foy, an Ohio U sophomore studying journalism, was one of the organizers of the protest. Foy is also the president of the Black Students Communication Caucus. She became involved because of her friendship with Resident Advisor Chris Brown, who was the RA during the incident in James Hall where a resident

urinated on his door.

One of the most poignant takeaways for Foy during the protest was the unity she felt among the multicultural community. She notes that “we have the power to make our voices heard and we have the ability to put pressure on the university to make changes within the systemic things that aren’t okay than OU.”

“So, that was like my first experience of seeing the black community truly come together and be truly passionate about something and work together for like a common cause,” Foy remarked, reminiscing on the protest from her freshman year. “That was something that was really beautiful to me.”

From the steps of Cutler, protest organizers pleaded to Ohio U President Hugh Sherman to step up and address the growing crowd around him. Other speakers included then Student Senate Treasurer Trinity Robinson and members of the Ohio U football team, who all called on the university to take the racist incidents seriously.

In the wake of the protest, the President’s Student Cabinet for Inclusive Excellence was created to give a student perspective on university plans, according to The New Political.

Foy’s only regret from the protest is that it did not turn into more. “I think within the Black community, we could’ve done better with using the protest as a launchpad for some other things, like

some conversations and possibly events that could’ve happened surrounding it,” Foy said.

Foy stresses the work isn’t over at Ohio U, that it’s up to students to speak out and harness their power.

“But honestly and truly, we (the students) are the ones that make this university what it is. And I think that when it comes to us protesting and things like that, I think that it’s like us taking our power back,” Foy said. “ I think sometimes the university forgets that we wouldn’t be running if these students were here.”

Another, more recent example of students organizing for change, but within the Athens community, was the Artifacts protest.

On Jan. 21, a protest organized by Ohio U students and Athens community members outside Artifacts Gallery on Court Street voiced outrage against the shop’s owner. Amy Mangano, the owner of the boutique, was accused of being a trans-exclusionary radical feminist or a TERF.

Ohio U junior Rylee Lee, who uses they/she pronouns, began their advocacy when they saw anti-trans literature in Mangano’s store and later organized the protest.

“It just rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t enjoy the thought of leaving my fellow women behind just because other people don’t think they fit into this cookie-cutter of what a woman should be,” Lee said.

While credited as an organizer, Lee

claimed she only set aside a date and place for the protest and credits other protest goers for bringing protest chants, acting as legal observers, writing with chalk on public sidewalks and passing out literature about transgender rights.

“I think we (students) kind of start the fire, we see a problem, and we rally. And the (Athens) community members are like ‘Finally! More bodies to fight this issue with,’” Lee said.

Later on, the protest moved to the Athens County Courthouse. While the protest was largely peaceful, there was an altercation between a female counterprotester and Ohio U Student Senate university life commissioner Clay Lewis. He decided to press charges for assault against the woman, because he doesn’t believe that people should be “intimidated” or “bullied” for protesting.

“It’s troubling seeing people who have such little other things to do that they decide to go out, do that. You know, they’ll go in the store, try to intimidate protesters and then come out and assault people,” Lewis said of his alleged assault. “It’s disappointing because it shows that they’re not capable of helping express a more creative dialogue … and it angered me of course because she assaulted me.”

According to Lee, Lewis is known for attending every protest on campus, from large events from the Artifacts protest to smaller events, like when preachers or anti-abortion activists stand on College

Editor’s note: Please note that this story contains depictions of transphobia and racism.

OHIO U STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROTEST IN FRONT OF ARTIFACTS GALLERY ON MARCH 31, 2023. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

Green.

“I have a reputation to be known as the speaker guy, because I tend to go out to these protests–especially the ones where they’re just out there for attention because it’s fairly obvious,” Lewis said of his activist endeavors. “I’ll go out there and mute them out (with music). I make sure that people are laughing at them, laughing at their message, especially if it’s a hateful message and I don’t say a word.”

Following the protest, Mangano, who uses the Twitter account @ AtheistAthenian, used social media to share her thoughts on the protest. She offered support to the counter protester who allegedly assaulted Lewis, and she posted personal Instagram pictures of Lewis with a clown sticker over his face on Twitter. The tweet had a demeaning caption that questioned if the picture was taken from the men’s or women’s restroom. Finally, Mangano also posted a screenshot

of an email accusing Lee of bullying and libel that was sent to her music fraternity.

Lewis and Lee aren’t deterred by Mangano’s reaction or impending court case. Lewis says the incident has “encouraged” him to continue to attend protests. He’s come to realize why some do not come to protests, join organizations or take a stand. Lee follows a similar tune.

“The price I have to pay is this woman’s (Mangano) screaming and clawing her way to take down anybody with her. The

price other people have to pay is death,” Lee said. “Trans women are dying, trans women are being killed. This is but a minor inconvenience in my life, which is much less than somebody literally dying. So absolutely, this is worth it and I’d do it again.”

While the students who inhabit Ohio U’s Athens campus shift, the spirit of resilience, compassion and change persists through the school’s 200-year legacy.

STUDENTS LISTEN TO MAURICE SWIFT SPEAK AT THE #RACISMATOU PROTEST IN MARCH 2022. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL

Ohio U Students are changing the party culture narrative

BY: HENRY JOST, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PR @HENRYJOST5

Ohio University is infamous for its party school status, but in recent years Ohio U has been bumped from top of the charts. Forty years ago, Ohio U provided alcohol for student events, now students are leading the movement to sober alternatives.

The drinking culture has changed since 1980, when the drinking age was 19 years old and most students were legally allowed to imbibe. For example, in April 1982, Ohio U sponsored a big beach bash party in Bird Arena, and used the money from beer sales to sponsor the Spring Music Festival.

In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Drinking Act was passed by Congress, which raised the national drinking age to 21 years old. The act was passed after the federal government tried to bring down the percentage of drunkdriving fatalities.

Flashforward to 2022, the party school legacy still lives on, but there are those who are actively trying to dispel the current portrayal of Ohio U by providing sober alternatives to partying for bobcats. University Life Commissioner Clay Lewis is one of the students fighting for more clear-headed options.

“There isn’t anything that we have on a regular basis to really make sure that we are helping convert this culture change into something where it’s more of a sober living-type situation,” Lewis said.

In an effort made by Ohio U to promote individual safety and educate students about the use of alcohol within this culture, The Office of Health Promotion has adopted a new initiative called Green Dot. “The Office of Health Promotion is all about creating proactive interventions to lessen harm on our campus,” said Associate Director for Prevention and Education for The Office of Health and Promotion Ann Brandon. The Green Dot initiative aims at building individual knowledge and skills that could lessen harm related to alcohol use and prevent interpersonal violence, according to its website.

Besides arts and craft night and the occasional sporting event, there are currently few sober activities that occur on a regular basis, especially when the weather is cold. While there are plenty of activities off campus, most students do not have the luxury of having a car on campus.

“There are plenty of opportunities here at Ohio U outside of just partying. No one comes to the school for the sole reason to party. This is a place to get your education, not to go wild for four years,” Lewis said.

One of these opportunities taking place is the Bobcat Festival. In February Student Senate voted on a resolution, led by Lewis, to acquire space and supplies for the event. The festival was held in Walter Fieldhouse with a projected cost of $4,329.68.

“This event is just something for people who want to feel included to be able to come out. Because there is quite a large population on this campus that don’t go to

the bars, especially on weekends and the effect is that many can feel left out,” Lewis said.

The festival featured a range of activities, including billiards, mini-golf, giant Jenga and a large inflatable blow up for tug of war and jousting. Snacks were provided as well as a drawing every hour where students could enter their name into a raffle to win prizes like an Echo Dot or a Chipotle gift certificate.

“There are a lot of reasons to come to this, and so part of the hope is by doing this is that we’re making this more an inclusive environment for everybody,” Lewis said.

The event attracted just a small number of students, most of whom appeared to have brought their moms. The festival was mainly advertised to students on social media and by fliers hung up across campus. The event was originally set to be held at

an earlier date, but was moved to Saturday April 1 to coincide with Mom’s Weekend. Hannah Mielcarek, a sophomore at Ohio U attended the event with her mom after seeing a flier hung up in the Living Learning Center.

“There is nothing really to do when the weather is crappy out, so it’s always nice when the school plans fun things like this to do,” Mielcarek said as she played miniature golf.

While the turnout was small, Lewis is hoping that Bobcat Festival will be the first of many sober alternative events to take place in the near future on campus.

“Honestly, as of right now there’s not that many fun options and that needs to change. We have a culture here beginning to change and I think we could be creating more events,” Lewis said.

BOBCAT FESTIVAL IN WALTER FIELDHOUSE

OHIO U STUDENTS PLAY VOLLEYBALL AT THE BIG BEACH HOUSE IN BIRD ARENA.

PHOTO FROM CENTER STAGE 1982.

PHOTO BY HENRY JOST, THE NEW POLITICAL.

How is Bill Hayes? He’s leading young people to change America and finding new ways to eat

BY: JACK SLEMENDA, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @JACKSLEMENDA

A66-year-old man born and raised in Athens county is leading the next generation of people on political reform and the future of packaged eating.

Bill Hayes–an Ohio University alum, avid outdoorsman, an Independent, a

former candidate for Athens County Commissioner and a local volunteer–has not let his loss on the Athens County Commission slow him down.

Hayes has maintained the same goal throughout his political career: seeing the current state of politics within the United States change. He attended a Forward Party meeting in March to discuss various topics, but primarily a canned food drive for victims of the East Palestine train derailment.

When asked what brought him to that Forward Party meeting, Hayes responded, “I am all for helping anyone, especially younger people, who understand that the current situation of politics in America is absolutely intolerable and that we must do something to change it.”

Hayes previously ran for Athens County commissioner as an Independent candidate. During his 2022 campaign for county commissioner, Hayes got over 10% of the vote. A big feat for any third-party candidate.

“Here I am in the bluest county in the

state, in a country that is torn, almost to the point of a civil war, red versus blue and I got over 10% with a Republican and a Democrat running,” Hayes said.

Despite not winning the Athens County commissioner race, Hayes learned a great deal and wants to pass on what he learned, primarily to younger people that want to see a change in the electoral system.

“One of the reasons why I’ve run for office, locally, is to learn about the process. I got to tell you, I was stunned to find out it cost me $140 dollars to get on the ballot, that’s it. You got to give $80 to the local board of elections and you have to grease the ethics committee with 60 bucks,” said Hayes.

Aside from paying these fees, the only thing left to do for an aspiring candidate is to get the signatures, said Hayes.

“If you are a Democrat or Republican you only need 80, because they control the electoral process in Ohio. Last time I had to have I think 235 signatures, valid signatures, to get on the ballot and you have to go through them with a finetoothed comb, because if they find any issues with a signature they’ll throw them out, seriously. I had to do this three times,” Hayes said. “I wanted to learn that to help other people get on the ballot.”

Danny DeLuca of Red Brick Tavern, University Rentals and a member of Forward is taking Hayes’ advice to heart.

“Any insight from an Independent candidate is going to be very helpful for the Forward Party in general because we’re basically running as Independents almost. We are going to be not left, not right but forward, so we’re going to basically take on that block of independent thought … his knowledge of how it works is going to be very helpful for any future candidates that we’re going to have, especially on the local level,” DeLuca said.

A big goal of the Forward Party is to establish ranked-choice voting, however,

when Hayes was asked if it could help Independent candidates or candidates of parties other than Republican or Democrat he said: “Even if we have ranked-choice voting in Ohio today, or anywhere, it won’t make a bit of difference if we don’t get more people involved in running. If you only got two candidates, ranked-choice voting doesn’t matter. If you got three, it might have some effect. If you got five ranked-choice voting really counts.”

Through attending several different meetings for local political groups like Forward, Hayes wants to see his mission of more candidates on ballots come to fruition. However, his own name will not be on any ballots going forward.

“You know, if I can get younger people involved I’d rather see them do it,” Hayes said of his political future. “I’ve got other projects that I’m working on around here in economic development that I really want to put more time and effort into. I can be more effective with them outside of office than I could in office.”

One of these projects Hayes has been working on, outside of growing the ballot, deals with retort pouch canning. Retort pouch canning is the same process that is used to make Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRES) for the U.S. military.

“I have found out that this process is being done by people all over the world, in their own kitchens. I have a case of 1,000 of these pouches sitting in my house right now! I have met with some officials from ODA (Ohio Department of Agriculture), not USDA I don’t want to meet with them, to learn about all their different regulations and all the hoops we’re going to have to jump through with them…I want to get a retort pouch canning facility going here in this county,” Hayes said.

Hayes’ goal for this facility would be to give local farmers another outlet to get their produce and goods into the market, a market he claims is stable.

“You can sell this stuff year-round to survivalists and disaster relief people and this can be the financial incentive to create a greenhouse here in this county,” Hayes said.

It may be the end of Hayes’ political career in Athens County, but politics will not hold him back from serving the people of Athens and teaching young people how to create a change in the election system.

“

Bill Hayes was a staple in local elections, now he wants to pass along the baton.

“ 11

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Airy v. Ohio U: How mental health crises are dealt with at Ohio U

BY: MADELINE HARDEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @MADDIEHARDEN620

Froma rainy day in Athens, Ohio, I FaceTimed with Jordyn’s mother, father and stepmother as they described Jordyn as an older sister, a daughter, a lover of pets and a friend.

“None of the adults that were in Jordyn’s life had any idea of the impact Jordyn had with her classmates, because the amount of kids that came to her funeral and the wake up and said Jordyn was always there for me. She always made me laugh. She helped me through this. She helped me through that,’” Katie Airy, Jordyn’s stepmother, said. “So many people came and told us what a positive impact Jordyn had on their life.”

In September 2019, Jordyn died in her dorm hall at Ohio University and in August 2021 her family’s lawyer, Ray Marvar, filed a lawsuit for wrongful death in the Ohio Court of Claims. The suit argues Ohio University could have prevented her death if it had followed proper standards of care, according to their lawyer.

Four years ago, 18-year old Jordyn Airy was gearing up to enter her first year at Ohio U. Jordyn enrolled in the “Transition Success Program” (TSP) for academically at-risk students. As part of this program, Jordan had a designated dorm, Wilson Hall, according to her parents. The New Political asked Ohio U’s University Communications and Marketing (UCM) back in March, with 2 emails and phone calls, and we still do not have a definitive answer, if this program still exists.

According to Jordyn’s mother, Robin Airy, Jordyn wrote a letter to the university noting her past struggles with mental health and her eagerness to attend Ohio U, which is why she became a part of TSP. Upon moving Jordyn into Athens, her parents felt confident in her becoming a member of the “Bobcat family.”

The lawsuit argues that parents of students and the university enter a “special relationship,” as students enter their years at Ohio U. The lawsuit cites

materials from Ohio U promoting parent involvement and outreach when needed, especially in crisis.

According to Robin Airy, outside Jordyn’s room was a poster with the Resident Assistant (RA)’s phone number if it was ever needed, Robin Airy said she took a photo of the number.

The New Political tracks the Jordyn Airy case from where it started to where it’s going:

TIMELINE

On Sept. 7, 2019, Brad Airy reached out to RA Ashley Spiller via text message requesting a wellness check at 2:07 p.m. after not hearing back from Jordyn since the previous night, according to the lawsuit. After the message was marked “read” and receiving no response, the lawsuit said Brad Airy called and left a voicemail on Spiller’s cell phone.

Spiller shared the messages with supervising Resident Director

Jeremy Miller, who informed her to not communicate with Brad Airy and to knock on Jordyn Airy’s door, according to the judge’s decision on a summary judgment motion from Ohio U. Spiller received no response from the knock or from a following text message to Jordyn Airy.

At 3:54 p.m., still with no responses, Brad Airy called Ohio U Housing and Residence Life, then learned that it was closed for the weekend, according to the lawsuit.

At 5:53 p.m., Brad Airy made another call to Spiller and left a message, then called another time a few minutes later, according to the lawsuit and still received no response.

At 6:07 p.m., after seven telephone calls and text messages, Brad Airy received a phone call from Miller where he reprimanded Brad Airy for contacting Spiller, the lawsuit stated. Brad Airy then emotionally demanded a wellness check be performed on Jordyn Airy.

It never leaves you and it never will,” said Brad Airy, father of Jordyn Airy as he discussed the upcoming trial. “I don’t know what she looked like as an adult and how successful she would have become and that is mind boggling knowing that her life was stopped.

The response in opposition to the motion for summary judgment included an excerpt from Ohio U’s incident response guide for residence life and housing employees, which explains “that if a parent reaches out about a student, an employee should encourage the student to contact their parent, but if the employee is unable to make contact with the student the employee should inform the parent they failed to make contact.”

At 6:30 p.m., Miller and Spiller performed the wellness check and found Jordyn Airy deceased, then called first responders, according to the lawsuit.

Brad Airy, after hearing no follow-up about the wellness check, proceeded to make five phone calls to Miller between 6:56 p.m. and 8:02 p.m. All with no answer, according to the suit.

Brad Airy then makes two phone calls to the Ohio University Police Department at 8:04 p.m.. and at 8:33 p.m. According to the lawsuit, both times he was told they were too busy to talk with him.

At 8:54 p.m. and after 13 phone calls and texts, OUPD notified Brad Airy of his daughter’s death by OUPD as he was driving down to Athens, according to the suit.

Robin Airy noted she was first notified of her daughter’s death from one of Jordyn’s former high school classmates who had learned via a social media post, as she was driving down to Athens. She added that it was before the formal notification from OUPD.

At 9:15 p.m. Brad Airy arrived at OUPD in Athens from Dublin, Ohio, according to the lawsuit.

Robin Airy also shared that she was unable to identify the body upon arrival in Athens and was told by OUPD that officials transferred Jordyn’s body to Dayton for autopsy.

The Autopsy and Coroner’s Report lists the time of death at 6:40 p.m. the evening of Sept. 7 and states death occurred within minutes of intoxication by prescription medication.

AFTERMATH AND GOING FORWARD

Jordyn Airy’s parents noted in an interview there was minimal communication with the university following her death, aside from arrangements to gather Jordyn’s belongings and the attendance of two university employees at Jordyn’s funeral.

The suit posited that if Ohio U had followed their own protocols and upheld the standards of communication and care when Jordyn’s parents requested a wellness check, then the university could have prevented Jordyn Airy’s death. Ohio U did not meet the emergent and immediate response to a mental health crisis, according to the lawsuit.

In October 2022, Ohio U filed for a summary judgment citing that Jordyn’s death was not foreseeable to the university, and therefore, the university cannot be held liable for Jordyn’s death. Judge Patrick E. Sheeran denied the motion to avoid a trial and the trial is set to begin April 10.

Although the university does not comment on pending litigation, it offered a brief response after two emails and a phone call with an outdated recorded voicemail message of its former– and deceased–Ohio U’s University Communications and Marketing Director Jim Sabin.

The New Political also attempted to find the physical office of Ohio U’s UCM, as its address was not listed online nor in its voicemail. I went to Culter Hall to ask for its location and the front desk worker also struggled to find an address, it wasn’t until her supervisor advised me Ohio U’s UCM’s offices are located at the Ridges, about a mile off campus. The supervisor told me he would also reach out to UCM to update its website to include an address.

As of publishing, there is still no address available on UCM’s site. .

“This case is a tragedy that has deeply impacted all who were involved. The University will present its defenses to the allegations in court when the case goes to trial, and it will present evidence that the facts of this case are not as alleged in the lawsuit,” according to an email from Ohio University Communications and Marketing sent the day after my visit to Cutler Hall.

The Airys along with Marvar hope to see accountability and a reform within Ohio U’s practices from the training of RAs and emergency response to mental health resource access and communication.

Brad Airy said Spiller is also a victim in this case because of the poor training and instruction from the university.

“The parents are not interested in the money; they want to see OU change this, to admit they have a problem and do something about it. So this doesn’t happen again,” Marvar said.

Mavar mentioned testimony from the university revealed no internal review of the standing university practices following the death of Jordyn Airy on campus.

“This is an opportunity for them (Ohio U) to be a leader in how to deal with these very serious issues that not only continue to exist, they’re getting worse,” Marvar said.

According to the American Psychological Association, student mental health is in a crisis.

“Death of students is not going away. It’s going to increase,” Robin Airy said. “We will not be the last parents to have to go through this. And we don’t want any parent to have to go through this.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to connect with a trained counselor or visit the NSPL site.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ROBIN AIRY

BY CLAIRE DEL VITA, THE NEW POLITICAL.

It’s more than just the birds and the bees: comprehensive sex education in Ohio

BY: CLAIRE DEL VITA, NEWS EDITOR @CLAIREDELVITA

In light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last June, the #MeToo and Times Up movements and society deep into the fourth wave of feminism, the discussion of comprehensive sex education (CSE) is more lively than ever. Molly Wales, Athens City School District’s nurse, hopes to bring awareness to the importance of and need for national implementation of CSE.

CSE is “developmentally and culturally responsive, science-based and medically accurate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality, including human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual health and society and culture,” according to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SEICUS).

Very few states offer sex education that is considered comprehensive, but the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act (HR 3312) would create federal funding for and the promotion and implementation of CSE. HR 3312 was introduced in 2021 by Rep. Barbara Lee and Sen. Cory Booker, but has yet to be passed.

While most states offer education programs on sex and relationship health to students, only 30 states mandate it and seven of those have laws that include education on sexually transmitted infections and healthy relationships. Ohio is not one of them.

According to the Sex Education Collaborative (SEC), Ohio schools teach sexual education with an emphasis on abstinence. There is no requirement for the lessons to be comprehensive, students are not required to learn about consent and there does not have to be any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity, the SEC also says.

Ohio legislators are pushing for a bill that would restrict this kind of education entirely. HB 616, often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, if passed, would ban

instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity and Critical Race Theory.

LGBTQ+ and nonbinary youth are often left out of the narrative. Only seven states—California, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington—and Washington D.C. require sex education to be inclusive of LGBT youth, according to SEICUS. Five others—Delaware, Iowa, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Wisconsin—require some instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The lack of inclusive sex and relationship education for LGBTQ youth reinforces heteronormativity and gender stereotypes and increases the likelihood that they will be bullied or discriminated against, according to the LGBTQ+ YOUTH NEED report. CSE entails that lessons and the language used must be inclusive of LGBTQ and nonbinary youth. It would also distance from the longstanding patriarchal view that currently surrounds sex and relationship education, allowing for focus on female pleasure as well, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Gabbie Buhay, a junior studying psychology at Ohio University, shared that most of what she knows now about sex and relationships she either taught herself, learned from friends or media.

This is a common issue for many students who have found themselves let down by their sex education and having to teach themselves more than they should, especially amongst LGBTQ individuals.

According to a study by the Institute for Public Policy Research, only 35% of 500 respondents said that school was their main source of sex and relationship education.

53% of respondents to the same survey believed that “all children have a right to education about sex and relationships”, 50% believe that “sex education should be on the curriculum” and 44% also believe that “relationship education should be on the curriculum”.

Buhay works in the Ohio U Women’s Center, a place not just for women, but for students of all identities to have a safe space on campus. She emphasized the importance that inclusive language has in both the realms of sex, relationships and even her job.

“I think it’s more important than ever

to be aware of inclusive language, even when it comes to sex, because it can make or break someone’s concept of themselves or other people,” Buhay said. “My college education has really helped me expand my already existing knowledge and apply it to my job.”

Athens City School District follows Ohio’s guidelines but Wales, the district’s school nurse, created a comprehensive curriculum for students beginning in fourth grade. Her program was approved by the Athens City School District’s Board of Education and implemented in 2018. While she cannot go outside of what the board approved, Wales is always changing how she teaches as times change and as she learns more from her students.

“I’m learning more as I teach, I get a much better idea of what my students need in real life. You know, I’m their parents’ age, so I can’t pretend to actually know what sexuality is like for a young person,” Wales said.

Wales also attends the National Sex Ed Conference every year. The Center for Sex Education is Planned Parenthood of

It is not our goal to tell them what to do or to teach them values, rather just simply give them the information they need to make healthy choices for themselves, whatever path that they’re on.

GRAPHIC BY CLAIRE DEL VITA, THE NEW POLITICAL.

GRAPHIC

New Jersey’s national education division. Aside from hosting the conference, the center publishes sex education materials and provides membership services through the Sex Ed Network, which offers downloadable lesson plans.

“I am constantly updating and just trying to keep everything evidenceinformed, in terms of current evidence, and then making sure it actually reflects the needs of my students instead of just what I think they need to know,” Wales said.

Under Ohio guidelines, students are also taught that adoption is the best option for unwanted pregnancies. Parents can even opt their children out of receiving any sexual or relationship education. These are all outlined in Ohio Revised Code sections 3313.60 and 3313.6011.

There are many forms of contraception available that prevent pregnancy. Most contraceptives are geared towards women or vagina-owning individuals, like the pill, intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants,

patches or vaginal contraceptive rings. There are less options for men or penishaving individuals who either can use a condom or get a vasectomy. Contrary to belief, vasectomies are meant to be irreversible, so this should be noted when considering this method. The Center for Disease Control provides a list of birth control options available in the U.S., many of which are covered by insurance.

“There are lots of negative ramifications associated with what our sex ed in the state is, it does a total disservice,” Bria Brown, a licensed professional counselor at the Ohio Center for Relationship and Sexual Health in Cleveland, said. “People are not getting the information they need.”

She compared it to not getting the proper information on healthy eating. If a person is not taught about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, they could go their whole life eating poorly.

“If you don’t know how sexuality works, or how that functions, or what is going to be best for you and learning about consent and these other important things. Well then, you’re just operating from what you don’t know, which is the reality for many people.”

In Athens city schools, the conversation over what sex is, consent and healthy communication within relationships

are introduced in middle school. While puberty is discussed with fourth and fifth graders, Wales explains menstruation to sixth graders. She also discusses vaginal sex and how fertilization occurs with her students at this age, however she goes more in-depth with these topics once they enter the eighth grade. Peer educators from Athens High School help Wales teach to this level.

“We also go a lot more into sexual decision making, how values play into sexual decision making, the talk about healthy and unhealthy reasons to engage in sexual activity,” Wales said.

Eighth graders are taught about methods of birth control, protection from sexually transmitted diseases, local testing and contraception resources, and sexual harassment and abuse. Wales emphasizes to middle schoolers that pornography is not a healthy or accurate representation of sex and relationships. A flex credit course is available to high schoolers where they meet weekly to deep dive into different topics. Each year Wales expands on previously discussed subject matter with

to Resources to Recover. Alternatively, a healthy relationship with sex can in turn have a positive impact on mental health. Physical intimacy can reduce stress and research indicates that intercourse can release oxytocin and similar moodboosting, naturally occurring chemicals.

“People knowing that they can be calm in their body, that alone, can absolutely solve the problem for a lot of clients and we may not even have to move on to intensive therapy,” Brown said. “A lot of times just giving education and filling in those gaps for people, dispelling myths, can be enough to help them work through a lot of challenges.”

CSE is needed to achieve this level of sexual and relationship clarity for many individuals, according to the Journal of Adolescent Health. Both Brown and Buhay agree that there should not be an age limit to learning about our bodies, healthy

her students based on what will be most relevant to them at that point in their life.

“It is not our goal to tell them what to do or to teach them values, rather just simply give them the information they need to make healthy choices for themselves, whatever path that they’re on,” Wales said.

Brown emphasized the close relationship between sexual, mental and relational health. The World Health Organization even includes mental health in its definition of sexual health, “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality.” If a person has previous qualms with their mental health, including anxiety, depression or other stressors, it can have an effect on their sex life.

“Being able to feel relaxed in our bodies is actually essential to our sexual functioning, which is something that none of us are really taught. We’re actually taught the opposite, that it’s some kind of performance,” Brown said.

Depression and anxiety can lower a person’s libido, or their desire to have sex and affect sexual performance, according

relationships and sexual wellness. Brown explained that there are certain conversations that are best to be had at an older age, but there is no shame in teaching a child about body changes and boundaries as early as their parents desire.

“Sexual health is health,” Brown said. “If we don’t know about our bodies and how they work and the importance of somebody asking for consent and us enthusiastically giving it, then that is so detrimental to our overall well-being.”

CSE not only promotes health decision-making in children, teens and young adults, it also keeps them safe from abuse, coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, according to the United Nations AIDS website. “There’s a fundamental lack of factual knowledge that is leaving our young people unsafe, so I really do strongly believe in giving them information in a novel and medically accurate way that they can then take in the context of their own lives and know how to make healthy choices,” Wales said.

Sexual health is health.

MY FRIEND SAM COLBURN

PLAYING POOL AFTER MILLIRON FEST. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

PHOTO BY JACK SLEMENDA, THE NEW POLITICAL.

PHOTO BY JACK SLEMENDA, THE NEW POLITICAL

VIEWS FROM A MEAL OF A LIFETIME. PHOTO BY MADELINE HARDEN, THE NEW POLITICAL.

HENRY JOST TAKES A PICTURE OF ME, TAKING A PICTURE OF HIM. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

ANOTHER PICTURE OF HENRY JOST BY THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

A SHIRT COMMERATING ONE OF ATHENS’ GREATEST HOLIDAYS. PHOTO BY IZZY KELLER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

THE FRONT STEPS TO THE WALK YOU’LL NEVER FORGET.

PHOTO BY MADELINE HARDEN, THE NEW POLITICAL.

YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE SEASONS OF ATHENS.

PHOTO BY MADELINE HARDEN, THE NEW POLITICAL.

RETRO REPORT: THE FLEETING BEAUTY OF OHIO UNIVERSITY’S CHERRY BLOSSOMS

BY: CLAIRE DEL VITA, NEWS EDITOR @CLAIREDELVITA

Ohio University is known for many things—its journalism school, its party scene, the quaint town it resides in—but time and time again the campus itself is what captures people’s attention. The university’s main campus sits on five greens: College Green, North Green,

living” to the Japanese, according to the Library of Congress, and is one of the reasons people appreciate them so much.

“I think traditionally Japanese people found some sort of connection with that. It’s beautiful, but it’s a reminder that our life is not forever,” Hiroyuki Oshita, an associate professor of Japanese and linguistics at Ohio U, said.

Traditionally, the blooming of the trees is marked by festivals and celebrations where participants drink sake and picnic under the trees. The Smithsonian notes that this practice in Japan is called hanami, literally meaning “watching blossoms.”

Sakura trees first came to America in 1912, when the people of Japan sent 3,020 trees from Yokohama to Washington D.C., according to the Smithsonian. Hanami came to America as well, in the form of the Cherry Blossom Festival, which had its 103rd anniversary this year.

meaning in Japanese culture and history, according to the Smithsonian Institution. The blooming of Sakura signifies the start of Japan’s fiscal and school year, as the trees are thought to bring new beginnings. In America, this period of time falls at the end of the school year and commencement, which also indicates a new beginning for many high school and college seniors. The fleetingness of the flowers’ blooming symbolizes the “ephemeral beauty of

Ohio U’s Cherry Blossom Festival would go on for around 15 more years and had turnouts so large the celebration moved from Walter Hall into Baker University Center, Oshita said. As there were fewer and fewer international students from Japan and students taking Japanese, the festival became less feasible. Today, the Ohio Program of Intensive English’s (OPIE) Global Buddies Program has brought students from Chubu U back to

South Green, East Green and West Green. The south and west sides of campus are bordered by the Hocking River, which flows across a 102-mile stretch from Fairfield County until it connects to the Ohio River at Hockingport. The Hockhocking Bike Path runs next to the river, where Ohio U students and Athens residents alike find ways to stay active and take in the surrounding nature. It is here where you can find Athens’ cherry blossoms.

Known as Sakura trees in Japan, the blooming of the pink and white blossoms around the world mark the beginning of spring and are a sign of new life. Although the flowers last usually no more than two weeks, cherry blossoms hold strong

It was not until 1979 that Sakura trees arrived in Athens. Chubu University, known as Chubu Institute of Technology at the time, gifted the university the trees in honor of its 175th anniversary, according to Ohio U’s Office of Global Affairs. Ohio U’s President Charles J. Ping and Chubu University’s President Kazuo Yamada had built a personal friendship while the universities had built a global partnership. The two presidents even planted the first of 175 cherry blossom trees together, a symbol of the two universities coming together.

“They were close friends. They respected each other and they saw each other as more than just business counterparts,” Oshita said.

Ohio U first began its partnership with Chubu U in 1973. President Dr. Claude Sowle signed a formal agreement with

Chubu President Dr. Kohei Miura that created the Miura Visiting Professors program, where the two universities would exchange professors to teach at their respective universities, according to a timeline by Ohio U’s Office of Global Affairs. Twenty years later, Ohio U sent a replica of Cutler Hall’s cupola to Chubu to celebrate the agreement with the university. Chubu would also donate the

Ohio U’s campus.

OPIE organized a smaller-scale Cherry Blossom Festival last spring, for Chubu students, their buddies and other Ohio U students to celebrate the blooming of the Sakura trees once more.

Although there is less of a formal celebration for Ohio U’s cherry blossoms now, there are still flocks of people who walk along the bike path to take in the flowering trees before the petals fall. For Oshita, just seeing people enjoy the beautiful scenery is enough celebration for him.

Yamada House to Ohio U in honor of Ping’s friend and colleague.

On Ohio U’s bicentennial in 2004, Chubu donated more Sakura trees to replace those that had been damaged as well as bring the number of trees up to 200, according to Ohio U’s Office of Global Affairs. This same year, Oshita, who is also the director of the Japanese program at the university, organized Ohio U’s very own Cherry Blossom Festival. At the time, the Japanese language program was bigger than it is today and there were more international students. Oshita and the students worked together to organize the festival: planning activities, making food and even finding traditional Japanese dancers, some of whom came from Japan.

“It gives a sense of serenity rather than excitement, so I like that. But the thing I really like about this season when I walk along Hocking River is when I see people sitting or walking or gathering around the trees, enjoying that very peaceful time,” Oshita said.

He went on to note that the trees bring people from all walks of life together to take in the beauty of the Sakura and the joy he sees on everyone’s faces as they spend time together. Oshita encouraged people to cherish those moments because just like the blossoms, life is fleeting.

It’s beautiful, but it’s a reminder that our life is not forever.

PHOTO BY CLAIRE DEL VITA, THE NEW POLITICAL.

HIROSHI KATSUMORI TAUGHT AT OHIO U IN 1982 THROUGH THE MIURA VISITING PROFESSORS PROGRAM. PHOTO FROM OHIO U LIBRARIES DIGITAL ARCHIVES

THE COMMEMORATIVE SIGN FOR THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS. PHOTO FROM OHIO UʼS OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS.

Women in politics: the good, the bad and why we need more

BY: JULIANNA RITTENBERG, OPINION WRITER @J_RITT02

AsMayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and Fund, says: “when women run, we win.” We need more girlbosses in politics so that identity matters less, and the real things stand out: the policies we support.

Since its conception, identity politics have influenced voting and support of policies. People feel a kinship with a candidate for office and may be more inclined to vote for them. Identity politics originated in the 1970s with the rise of progressive social movements that influenced Democratic party politics. Identity politics is defined by Merriam-

Webster as “a tendency for people of a particular religion, ethnic group, social background, etc., to form exclusive political alliances, moving away from traditional broad-based party politics.”

Beyond that, they may feel confident that a candidate who identifies similarly to them will support certain policies that affect their identity group, or will consider certain effects that a policy may have that someone who is not part of that identity would not think of. Identity politics exists, especially social media, as a way for people to find common ground.

For example, a majority of women support the right to have an abortion. Therefore, women may be more inclined to vote for another woman because they believe that is someone who will fight for bodily autonomy.

There is also the issue of representation. In a world where people are constantly pushing back against oppression and fighting to make things better instead of worse, representation is a major part of the battle. Someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ may feel more inclined to vote for a LGBTQ+ candidate to increase representation and visibility.

Women candidates for office, at any level of government, face challenges that their male counterparts do not. The LGBTQ+ Victory Institute published a report about LGBTQ+ women running for office, which stated that “many LGBTQ women report hesitating to run because of the likelihood their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or race will be used negatively by opponents or journalists to harm their campaigns.”

The report also found that women are less likely to run for office if they have not participated or campaign related activities before. Women are more scared of failing because it is seen as a failure of the entire gender, rather than the circumstances or individual. Essentially, there is more pressure on women to succeed in the political arena.

Pew Research Center found that “45% of U.S. adults overall – including 57% of women – said many Americans not being ready to elect a woman to higher office was a major reason why there were fewer women than men in these positions.”

When women run for office, they must deal with pressure to succeed, sexism both in person and online, criticisms about how they balance family expectations and a demanding job (whether or not they have a family) and more comments about how they dress and look than their policies and ideas.

However, there are women out there in the world who do it anyway because they know it will not get better until we get through it.

Yet, just because they are women does not mean their policies are perfect or even good. Identity is not everything.

An international example of this is the first woman Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni; a far-right extremist with ties to the Italian Social Movement, a political party founded to support Mussolini’s policies after his reign. She is anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ and antiimmigrant, as well as a member of the fascist party in Italy. In a speech during her 2019 campaign, she stated: “I am Giorgia, I'm a woman, I'm a mother, I'm Christian.” This is not a reason to vote for Meloni. In the same speech, she went on to say that “they,” people who do not fit into a white, heterosexual, cisgender, Christian identity, were taking away Italians’ way of life and turned to the conservative talking point of us versus them, the norm versus the abnormal.

In the United States, there is current Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who is trying to out-conservative Trump and DeSantis to win the nomination. In the three weeks since announcing her candidacy, Haley used her announcement video to attack the Black Lives Matter movement through language about our country’s history, has proclaimed that DeSantis’s “Don’t Say Gay” law did not go far enough and announced her support for politician mental competency tests. While Nikki Haley may be breaking the glass ceiling with her run, as she has previously in her career, she is not doing it in a way that helps other women or lifts woman up.

There are good examples of women leaders in politics, who deserve our attention and focus.

One of these women is former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She announced her resignation in January of this year, citing burnout as the reason. When she was elected in 2017, she was the world’s youngest female leader at 37 and was generally respected across the world, yet did face a lot of hate that comes with a 24hour news cycle and being a leader during COVID-19. Ardern represented a new kind of female leader. She is not married, gave birth while in office, frequently brought her daughter to work, is one year off from being a Millennial and has a side job as a DJ. She showed young women that they can find a life balance that works for them. She shows that a demanding schedule does not have to mean losing yourself, but that you do have to be prepared to step back.

Michigan is home to State Senator Mallory McMorrow, who is an example of everything we should try to be. She uses her seat to be an advocate for everyone, even those whose experiences are different than hers. McMorrow went viral in April 2022 for a speech she gave about LGBTQ+ hate, where she fought back against a colleague who had called her a “groomer” for supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Since the speech, McMorrow has risen in political power, and was even asked to run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2024–which she declined. McMorrow is at the beginning of her career, and the country is watching to see what she does next.

Lastly, Ohio has State Senator Nickie Antonio, the LGBTQ+ woman who is currently minority leader of the Ohio Senate and the only out member of the Ohio legislature. She has served as a voice for LGBTQ+ people in the state for years, representing District 23 which consists of parts of Cleveland and western Cuyahoga County. As the legislature is attempting to pass several anti-LGBTQ+ bills this General Assembly, having her voice in such an important role is more important than ever. We can only hope more will join her in the future.

The right to party? Inside the Athens’ nuisance party law

BY: CARA FINNEGAN, OPINION WRITER @CARAFINNEGANN

ManyOhio University students and out-of-town visitors have dealt with the rush of dropping their drinks and moving on to the next party after it has been shut down by the Athens Police Department (APD). These “busts’’ can happen any time, but often happen during various party weekends, like Fest Season, Welcome Weekend and the infamous Halloween block party. But why are parties being shut down, and what guidelines restrict parties that occur on private property in Athens?

One regulation that is commonly used in other college towns is a Nuisance Party Law Ordinance. In Athens, the ordinance states that parties that meet certain guidelines, such as disorderly conduct, unlawful pedestrian or vehicular traffic and public indecency, can be shut down by the chief of police, or their designee. In plain language, this means that if partygoers are getting too crazy, the party can be shut down. Some of the most common violations of the policy that catch the attention of law enforcement include littering, partygoers wandering beyond the property lines of the host’s home, disorderly conduct and underage consumption or possession of alcohol.

A violation of the Nuisance Party Law Ordinance can come with a hefty fine of up to $150. A second offense can be cited in court as a fourth-degree misdemeanor. However, this tends to only occur if a party continues after a cease and desist order by

law enforcement. If a second violation of the ordinance is cited within 18 months of the first violation, tenants of the home can be arrested.

Additionally, the Athens Nuisance Party Law Ordinance also includes code 9.14.02, Duty to Control Premises, which states that “Any person who is an owner, occupant, tenant, or otherwise has rightful possession or possessory control, individually or jointly with others, of any premises, who either sponsor, conducts, hosts, invites, or permits a social gathering or party on said premises which is or becomes a nuisance party.” In layman’s terms, anyone who lives in a home that hosts a nuisance party can be criminally liable if the party gets out of control.

Athens Chief of Police Tom Pyle mentioned that hosts and partygoers, in general, tend to comply with law enforcement to ensure they are not ticketed, fined or arrested. He mentioned that in recent years, hosts have become more compliant with APD and have communicated directly with law enforcement when their party is shut down to ensure that they are not cited for violating the Nuisance Party Law.

“Our relationship with students has never been better. Honestly,” Pyle said. “We have been very fair about our enforcement efforts and not heavy-handed but from more of an assisting, safety kind of approach. It has massively improved our relationships with students. The majority of them thank us.”

Ninety-seven Mill St. is a prolific party

house just off Ohio University’s campus. It is known for throwing some of the most fun parties for Ohio U students and Athens visitors alike. Some of the tenants of 97 Mill St. are members of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, commonly known around campus as Phi Delt.

When asked about harm reduction efforts that tenants of 97 Mill take, Ben Hooper, a member of Phi Delta Theta said: “As someone who is responsible for part of the party, the (Nuisance Party) law gives me anxiety about whether or not people can be contained and constantly making sure that there’s nothing crazy going on, so there’s no reason for law enforcement to be here.”

For Mill Fest, which took place on March 25, their solution was to put up caution tape to ensure that no one left their yard both for their sake and for the partygoers. They also rented a portable toilet to prevent public urination on and surrounding their property. Overall, I believe that their harm reduction efforts are commendable because they invested time, money and effort into keeping partygoers safe.

Another commonly known partythrowing entity is the Snowcats, a skiing and snowboard club. Snowcats are known for their fun parties, skiing, camping trips and date parties. Noah Doak, the current president of Snowcats, feels that the Snowcats parties have been well-managed internally.

“We have run massive parties and had no issue, nobody has gotten hurt, nobody has complained. We didn’t even get a

noise complaint; we shut it down around midnight ourselves,” Doak said.

At the same time, he mentioned that APD has been pretty lenient this year, but he acknowledges there will be a greater law enforcement presence during Fest Season.

“I think generally, Athens PD has done a good job, especially over the past year. I think what we have going right now, the current situation, works pretty well. As long as respect is given, respect will always be given back and I think that’s the way it should work, and that’s the way it’s been working. I hope that continues,” Doak said.

Doak’s point regarding the relationship between law enforcement and off-campus students is important in that positive relationships should be fostered in support of a safe party culture that keeps Athens residents, students and law enforcement safe.

Overall, I believe that this law was put into place to ensure that parties are not getting too crazy, which is important for the safety of partygoers and tenants of homes and apartments alike.

In the end, Ohio U is known as a party school, and will probably be known as a party school for years to come. If you choose to participate, make sure you are making safe choices and looking out for others. For individuals who choose to throw parties, my advice is simple; put forth harm reduction efforts and comply with law enforcement to ensure that both you and your housemates do not face fines or criminal charges.

AS OHIO U’S INFAMOUS FEST SEASON ROARS ON, THE CITY OF ATHENS’ NUISNACE PARTY LAW AND ITS ENFORCEMENT COME BACK INTO LIGHT.

PHOTO BY BO KUHN, THE NEW POLITICAL.

Inked in Athens: A look into business owners under 35

BY: JESSICA HORNER, OPINION WRITER @HORNER_JESS

As a thriving center for small businesses, Athens is gaining more and more young people inspired to join the crowd. Fresh out of a job, Joee Green took a chance in buying an empty space on Stimson Avenue with her husband Thomas Patrick Green. Unbeknownst to the couple, they would create what is known today as Magic Tattoo, a successful tattoo parlor.

Becoming the owner of a local business was not something Green had predicted for herself so early in life. However, when met at a crossroads, taking a chance turned into an opportunity that would solidify her career as a self-sustained artist.

“Honestly, I never intended to own a business, especially so early in my career. I had to make a choice. The shop my husband and I worked at was closing, which could have been a very bad thing. We chose to see it as an opportunity,” Green said.

After remodeling, figuring out the basics of business and “hiring an accountant worth their weight in gold,” Green was on her way to something bigger than she

could have imagined.

Magic Tattoo opened in July 2021 when Green was in her late 20s. Originally, she never saw herself working in tattoos.

“Sometimes the best things sort of just happen naturally. I’d been dating my husband for a couple years, helping around the shop and one day he asked if I’d ever wanted to tattoo,” Green said. “I said no. It’s an overwhelming kind of job at first thought. I am artistic but I have anxiety. But then I said maybe, and I threw my heart at it.”

Two years later, after turning her love for tattoos into a living, Green is the proud, 31-year-old owner of her own shop.

“I never intended for it. I’ve been getting tattooed for almost 15 years now, and I love tattoos, but I did all kinds of things. I was a calligrapher, a vet tech, I flopped out of school–I wanted to be a physicist but paperwork made me miserable,” she said about her path.

Originally from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Green had been living in Athens following an apprenticeship in town. “It was a chance for me to build something entirely the way I wanted to,” Green said.

Having started her own business fairly young, but as she is older than the

surrounding student population, Green’s age puts her in a unique position. She feels “geriatric” in a college town of young adults in their early to mid 20s. However, her age is not the main factor turning heads.

“The combination of being a young, female business owner is probably more impactful than just my age. I get mistaken for being the secretary pretty often. But it’s overall a positive!” Green said about being the “one willing and able to take on the responsibility of being the owner, while my husband has past experience as a business owner.”

Her vision was largely inspired by creating a welcoming place of business, while maintaining an original focus rather than creating a brand.

“I’ve never thought about my business as having a brand, that feels inauthentic to me,” Green said. “I just want to have a shop where people feel comfortable and I get to do cool tattoos and make connections.”

Unlike regular tattoo shops, Magic Tattoo takes a personable approach to its clientele. Through social media, they actively thank individual customers, specify which artist made the artwork and boost other artists.

When going to Magic Tattoo, it is clear to see the love and ambition these Greens have for their careers. One customer said the atmosphere felt “warm and inviting. It was colorful and fun, making the experience that much better.”

The shop also connects with other local and visiting artists in the community, by holding guest artist events where customers can come and be tattooed in a new style by different artists.

The Greens' own styles can be seen in every piece they do. From linework to color, you can tell it is a “Magic Tattoo” tattoo.

“I just hope people come into the shop and feel safe and happy, and if we stand out because of that, cool. If we blend in because of it, even better,” Green said “The best part of opening the shop hands-down has got to be the absolutely overwhelming support from our clients. I couldn’t do anything without them.”

Reflecting on her move she noted, “It wasn’t easy, but it’s the best decision I ever made. Being a tattooer is an amazing honor and privilege. Basically, just throw your heart at stuff and see what it sticks to.”

MAGIC TATTOO SITS ON STIMSON AVE AND HAS BECOME THE HOME TO TATTOO ARTIST COUPLE JOEE GREEN AND THOMAS PATRICK GREEN. PHOTO BY JESSICA HORNER, THE NEW POLITICAL.

Man up: Fetterman’s mental health journey highlights the growing issue of men's mental health

BY: ZACH DONALDSON, OPINION EDITOR @ZACHARYDONALD20

MARK HARRIS, OPINION WRITER

OnFeb. 16, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center seeking treatment for clinical depression, sparking media attention both positive and negative. Many praised him for his bravery, others questioned his ability to perform his duties. This along with his past stroke caused some to question his competence, though he has not indicated any desire to step down. The news has brought men’s mental health into the limelight, placing one of Washington’s most bouldering male figures in a rare position of public vulnerability.

MARK’S REACTION

Having followed the Fetterman campaign closely in last year's election, I was aware of how his stroke affected the discourse around his campaign. So, when I first heard he was going to Walter Reed for mental health reasons, my immediate reaction was that this would bolster the argument questioning his mental fitness to serve as senator. However, almost immediately after thinking that, it sunk in that I had never seen a man in his position ever seek out medical treatment for his mental health. I cannot even think of another man I know that proactively

sought mental health treatment. I have depression, and I know how that makes you appear to other men. So, the fact that he prioritized his own wellbeing and the happiness of his family over what other people think, to me, was very inspiring. It is all too common for men to try to hide away from how they are feeling out of worry that they will be seen as weak. This needs to change in our culture. No one should feel weak or ashamed to seek the medical attention they need. We owe it to ourselves and to our families to seek help when we need it.

ZACH’S REACTION

In politics, it is remarkably easy to view a personal crisis through the lens of headlines and poll numbers. As a Pennsylvania Democrat and former intern for Mr. Fetterman’s primary opponent, my immediate reaction to the senator’s stroke in May of last year was about its liability in a general election. It was a vulnerability that Republicans mercilessly exploited in the midterms, and it seems several local-level Republicans are willing to do the same with his recent diagnosis of depression.

I cannot predict what Senator Fetterman’s hospitalization means politically. What I can say is that his struggle is one where politics should not be the most important part of the conversation.

In the midst of a bevy of major life transitions, grief and stress at the

beginning of my freshman year I was formally diagnosed with depression. The closest I can come to describing the experience is being at war with yourself. It carries physical aches and pains, acute and intrusive bouts of self-doubt, sadness and an unwavering feeling of hopelessness. I have never undergone a period that so fundamentally impeded my ability to function. Depression makes life stop. No words can adequately put into picture what has become a generational crisis amongst my peers. The statistics are staggering. 42% of Generation Z battles feelings of depression and hopelessness, and 18% say their challenges are so severe they feel may be better off dead. Suicide is Gen Z’s second leading cause of death. Depression is demoralizing and hard to talk about. However, it is anything but uncommon and worth derision. For years mental illness has been stigmatized, only exacerbating the toll it takes on those who deal with it. There is no nobility to be found in suffering in silence.

John Fetterman is a human being before he is a public official. He deserves our utmost empathy and grace through this period, and I hope in extending that courtesy, we can deliver some of that same love to ourselves.

MARK’S TAKEAWAYS

The first takeaway from Fetterman’s choice is that men shouldn’t be ashamed to seek help. The second is men viewing Fetterman’s choice as a decision of strength and reassurance for others that may seek help. The third is how little the public is informed on this issue. It should not take a senator seeking help for society to begin a discourse on men’s specific mental health struggles and their perception in the eyes of other men.

It is time men recognize the value of their own mental health, to drop the connotation that it is weak to have mental

health struggles and to uplift other men who are struggling. Your happiness matters, no matter who you are or where you come from. So, if you are struggling please do seek help because you deserve to be here and you deserve to be happy.

ZACH’S TAKEAWAYS

What I hope the country can take away from Fetterman’s courageous and public choice to seek treatment is an opportunity to destigmatize mental health issues and reframe its intersection with masculinity.

It is estimated that over half of those who have a mental illness choose not to seek treatment. There has been a long existing prejudice–one that flies in the face of science–that mood disorders are a result of personal or moral failure. Depression, anxiety and addiction are seen as character flaws that lead to the devaluation and discrimination of so many that struggle.

The anecdotal advice amongst men has often been a simple one: man up. Deal with the problem on your own, in your own time. To appear hurt, is to appear weak. It’s a path and mindset that leads to toxic levels of internalization, self-loathing, and isolation.

Of all the male role models I have encountered in my life, I have found the most strength in those who showed vulnerability. Far from a signal of weakness, vulnerability takes courage. It reminds us of our most human qualities and opens the door for actual solutions. Everyone is hurting, but not everyone will feel comfortable to be open about it.

It is my hope that Fetterman, who was typecast as the blue-collar tough guy in his run for senate, will provide that humanity and levity for many who have buried their pain for so long.

For mental health resources, call 1-800686-2646 or text NAMI to 741741.

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ATHENS

CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION

Check on boe.ohio.gov/athens, click on the “Voter Registration Information” tab. Then click on “Am I Registered.”

AM I ELEGIBLE?

You must be:

VOTE

- a citizen of the United States

- at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election*

- a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election

*If you will be 18 on or before the day of the general election, you may vote in the primary election for candidates only, but not on the issues.

CHANGES TO NAME OR ADDRESS?

To change you name or address you must fill out a voter registration form. 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.

CHOOSE HOW TO REGISTER

You can register online, by mail or inperson at the Athens Board of Elections. To register you will need:

- a valid form of state identification

- name

-date of birth

-address

- last four digits of you Social Security number

QUESTIONS?