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The student voice of the Ohio State University
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
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Year 138, Issue No. 21
Ohio State’s Sexual Civility Empowerment under review Pause in assault services leave students searching for alternative support SUMMER CARTWRIGHT Campus Editor cartwright.117@osu.edu SAM RAUDINS Lantern reporter raudins.3@osu.edu An Ohio State office that supports survivors of sexual assault is undergoing a review that has halted its services and spread the counseling to other entities. But this act is leaving many — females, in particular — wondering why the university paused the office altogether, and when it will return. Ohio State’s Sexual Civility and Empowerment, an entity of the Office of Student Life, was initially put under review about six weeks ago, according to multiple students who worked within the office as advocates and support staff. The office runs sexual assault prevention programming such as “Buck-I-Care About Consent” and provides support resources to survivors. These re-
RIS TWIGG | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Staff members at the Sexual Civility and Empowerment office have been temporarily relocated during the review to another Lincoln Tower floor and the Wellness Center in the RPAC. sources include counseling, reporting and student conduct-related services. SCE and Title IX faculty were asked to comment for this story, but referred to a university statement that did not include specifics on the date the review began. The university said in the
statement that other offices and services such as Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO), a rape crisis intervention program in Columbus, and Counseling and Consultation Service are working to provide care for any students who contact SCE during the review.However,
there are two major worries this referral is causing for students: police involvement and inadequate help. Some students wrongly view SCE as the only place to go for help without police involvement. In fact, SCE is legally obligated to report assaults to police — as
is any organization alerted to felonious activity — but it does so through identifying survivors and assaulters as names like Jane and John Doe. Other services such as the Title IX office on campus do the same if survivors do not want police involvement, said Rachel LaPointe, a former member of the university’s sexual violence committee who has worked with Title IX, SARNCO and SCE. This is done because Ohio law mandates that sexual assault must be reported to the police. Additionally, LaPointe, a thirdyear in international studies, said SARNCO does not report the facts of the assault at all if the survivor does not want police involvement. Another worry for students is CCS involvement in wake of the SCE review. The entity might not have people trained in helping sexual assault survivors or be trained in using language appropriate to the sensitive situation
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Ohio State’s shrinking share of low-income students ERIN GOTTSACKER Patricia B. Miller Special Projects Editor gottsacker.2@osu.edu Jennifer Prewitt always knew she wanted to go to college, but didn’t know how she would afford it with the rising cost of higher education. Money was scarce since Prewitt was 6 years old, from the day her mother, Cheryl Prewitt, left her abusive husband. Since then, Jennifer Prewitt watched her mother work at McDonald’s, own a restaurant, file for bankruptcy and package meat at a local Kroger. Though she dreamed of attending college, Cheryl Prewitt never continued her education, but wanted her daughter to have every opportunity to do so. “My mom was always pushing me so that I could have this great future — or at least go to school,” Prewitt said. But faced with the steep price tag of college tuition, her plan to earn a bachelor’s de-
gree seemed just out of reach. A $5,000 Pell grant changed that. Need-based federal aid for low-income undergraduate students, Pell grants make higher education possible for those who might otherwise not be able to afford the cost. “[The Pell grant] has basically given me the opportunity to pursue my passion,” said Prewitt, a third-year in natural resource management who dreams of becoming a park ranger out West. “Without it, I definitely would not be [at Ohio State] and probably not in school at all.” Nearly one-quarter of Ohio State’s undergraduate student population depends on Pell grants to cut the cost of their education. That’s roughly 12,500 students across the university’s six campuses, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. But the number of undergraduate students receiving Pell grants at Ohio State has steadily declined since 2010, The Lantern’s
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Jennifer Prewitt, a third-year in natural resource management, said she is only able to attend college because of the Pell grant. analysis of this data found. About 2,500 fewer Pell-eligible students were enrolled on Ohio State campuses in 2015, the most recent year data was available, than just six years earlier. The same downward trend has occurred at nearly all Big Ten universities. Though Ohio State enrolls a larger percentage of Pell recip-
ients than most other Big Ten schools, it also saw the biggest decrease in the share of Pell grant recipients between 2010 and 2015, with a faster rate of decline than all but two other Big Ten universities. “Five years ago, Ohio State probably would have been considered one of the leading public, highly selective universities in
terms of its commitment to serving low-income students, based on its financial Pell undergraduates,” said Jamey Rorison, the director of policy research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy. “That’s really not the case anymore.” The decline in the share of students receiving Pell grants is the result of a variety of factors. Many colleges, Rorison said, cite gaps in the academic performance of low- and high-income students as well as cuts in state funding for higher education. Rorison said shrinking numbers of Pell grant recipients not only reduce the economic diversity of public institutions like Ohio State, but they also contribute to the widening of a societal gap between the rich and poor. Ohio State is outspoken about its efforts to increase “access, affordability and excellence.” It participates in national initiatives to improve opportunities for low-income students to pursue PELL GRANT CONTINUES ON 2
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Kasich, Cuban disappointed in American politics JACOB MYERS Managing Editor for Content myers.1669@osu.edu ZACH VARDA Senior Lantern reporter varda.6@osu.edu Ohio Gov. John Kasich and business mogul Mark Cuban have been openly critical in their comments about the current presidential administration and both political parties via tweets, talk show appearances and rallies. They chose the same critical angle — and stage — Monday with Kasich calling the Democratic party “pathetic” and each expressing disappointment with President Donald Trump. Both Kasich and Cuban have been pegged as potential independent or Republican party challengers to Trump in 2020. Kasich, whose term as governor ends this year, has taken several trips to swing states, suggesting he might run for presi-
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks with Axios Co-founder Mike Allen in the Ohio Union as part of the “Smarter Faster Revolution” tour on Monday. dent again in 2020. Cuban, current owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and a personality on ABC’s show “Shark Tank,” has, in the past year, thrown around the idea of running over the past year and said he would consider public office if Republicans do
well in November midterm elections, because that would mean an unbalanced Senate. Axios Executive Editor and Co-Founder Mike Allen questioned Kasich and Cuban on their concerns for the future of American politics at the “Smarter Fast-
er Revolution” event hosted by the news source and JP Morgan Chase & CO. Kasich’s one-on-one conversation started on Trump’s tweet threatening to end DACA on Easter Sunday. Kasich responded to Trump on social media at the time and on Monday said he was disappointed that Trump chose Easter to spread such a message. “I was really upset on Easter when the president puts out a tweet to the DACA people. You know these are young people, they are great contributors to our society, they have families,” Kasich said. “Then all of the sudden on Easter, the day for Christians of great hope, he puts something out taking their home away. I don’t think it’s right and that’s not what leaders do.” While Kasich spoke out against Trump’s tweeting, Cuban said one of his New Year’s resolutions was to not pay as much attention to Trump and what he says because “What’s the point?
“He is who he is. I’ve known him a long time. He hasn’t changed at all,” Cuban said of the president. Allen hammered away with Trump questions but Kasich saved his most searing assessment for Democrats. “What the [GOP] needs to do is realize the issues that really matter to people,” he said. “Everyone wants to talk about how bad the Republican party is, the Democratic party is so pathetic I can’t even figure out what they’re for.” The change in America needs to come from the bottom up because politicians are too scared to push for change, Kasich said. Both he and Cuban said the Parkland students symbolize the participation necessary to change policy. “I say this to everyone here: The most important thing you can do is participate,” Cuban said. “Don’t let somebody else create the country you’re going to have to live in for the rest of your lives. Do it yourself, participate.”
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higher education including the American Talent Initiative, that aims to expand access to higher education for low-income students, and the University Innovation Alliance, that aims to increase graduation rates at public institutions, particularly those of low-income students. Additionally, Ohio State is planning to implement a program in Autumn 2018 to cover the full cost of tuition for all students eligible to receive Pell grants across its campuses. “We have been investing significantly in ensuring that our needy students understand that affordability is a primary goal at this institution,” said Diane Corbett, the executive director of student financial aid at Ohio State. “We know that it’s not a perfect situation for us yet, but we do know that we’re on a journey, and we’re well on our way to providing opportunities for high-achieving students regardless of their economic status.” The Pell Grant Situation The share of Pell grant recipients is a key indicator for the economic diversity of a university, said Martin Van Der Werf, the associate director for editorial and postsecondary policy from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Pell grant recipients tend to be first-generation college students from rural areas where economic prospects are not as strong compared with urban or suburban areas, he said. Nearly 75 percent of Pell grant recipients report an annual family income of less than $30,000 each year, according to research from the center. “For them, going to college and getting a degree is more meaningful to their long-term prospects of earning middle-class wages,”
Van Der Werf said. “So it’s really important that these students get the chance and the opportunity to attend college.” The amount of aid given to each student in the form of a Pell grant is based on income information reported in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA. In the 201516 academic year, students could receive a maximum Pell grant of $5,775. The national average for Pell grant recipients that year was $3,724. At Ohio State, the average award per recipient was $4,203. Most students who receive Pell grants attend public institutions, but many increasingly selective state schools are enrolling fewer low-income students, as data from the Department of Education illustrates. Nationally, 40 percent of undergraduates are Pell-eligible. At nearly half of Big Ten schools, less than 20 percent of undergraduates receive Pell grants. Those schools include Northwestern University, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Iowa. After Penn State and Rutgers, Ohio State enrolls one of the highest shares of Pell grant recipients in the Big Ten. Those three schools also are the only universities in the Big Ten with regional campuses. A larger percentage of students at Ohio State’s branch campuses received Pell grants than on the Columbus campus. At most Big Ten schools, Pell shares are shrinking. At Ohio State, for example, the percentage of undergraduate students receiving Pell grants decreased from about 30 percent in 2010 to roughly 24 percent in
Number of Pell Recipients 20,000 Difference from 2010 to 2015: 2,548
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2015, data shows. Data from Ohio State suggests the drop was slightly smaller, from about 27 percent of the undergraduate student body in 2010 to about 23 percent in 2015. Even so, that’s a bigger drop than at nine of the 14 universities in the Big Ten. Unlike the data from the Department of Education, Ohio State’s numbers encompass the number of Pell grants awarded in each complete academic year, rather than pointing to data at a single point in time. Ohio State’s records also show the decline continued into 2016 and 2017. In the 2017-18 school year, it shows the Columbus campus had its lowest enrollment of Pell recipients since at least 2010, at 19.8 percent of undergraduates. At the same time, the enrollment of out-of-state and international students, who pay higher tuition rates than students from Ohio, has steadily increased for
the past several years. Since 2011, about 6,000 more out-of-state students were enrolled at Ohio State campuses in 2016, as were nearly 1,000 more foreign students, according to the Office of Enrollment Services. News like this is “disappointing” to students like Dy’Sha Cole. The mother of 4-year-old Daylin, Cole works two jobs and an internship at the Columbus Department of Health while attending Ohio State as a full-time fourth-year student majoring in social work. Cole receives roughly $5,500 from the Pell grant. Like Prewitt, she said the grant makes attending college significantly more affordable. Still, daily living expenses and costs of school supplies make for an expensive college experience, she said. “Affordable education isn’t a thing anymore,” Cole said. “And that just makes the gap [between
the rich and the poor] keep getting wider. Generationally, people of color are more on the low-income side, so then I’ll start to see less and less people that look like me. And it just — it can make you feel really unwanted.” Why the Decline? The shrinking number of low-income students at selective state schools like Ohio State can be attributed to a number of different factors. For one, Van Der Werf said it’s important to note the relationship between the economy and the number of people enrolled in college. He said an inverse relationship between college enrollment and the state of the economy where the economy tumbles and enrollment increases tends to disproportionately impact low-income students. “Typically, what we’ll see is that people from higher-income PELL GRANT CONTINUES ON 3
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groups are more likely to go to college anyway, and so they’re not as impacted by the economy,” he said. “But people coming from lower-income groups are more likely to consider college as more of an option [during times of economic hardship].” Now that jobs are more readily available, part of the decrease in the share of students receiving Pell grants could likely be attributed to more people from low-income brackets directly entering the workforce, he said. However, universities often list a number of additional reasons for enrolling progressively fewer low-income students, said Rorison, the director of policy research from the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Among those reasons are gaps between low- and high-income students’ academic preparation for college, state cuts in funding for higher education and higher enrollment of out-of-state students. Ohio State is attempting to juggle all of those factors. At a time when the university continues to see increases in the average ACT scores and GPA of its incoming classes year after year, Corbett, the executive director of Student Financial Aid, said Ohio State is trying to balance its goal of “excellence” with “accessibility.” In the past, she said Ohio State dedicated immense resources to
improving the academic quality of incoming students. “We still want to continue that academic quality,” she said, “but [moving forward] we also want to make sure that we’re providing those opportunities to all students regardless of their economic circumstances.” There are plenty of low-income students with high test scores who still don’t attend selective institutions, Van Der Werf said. Part of the problem, he said, is that universities aren’t effectively recruiting them. “These tend to be students who just don’t have a lot of exposure to post-secondary institutions, and therefore, they may not fit into the funnel that a lot of colleges are used to in recruiting students,” he said. “So the effort to go out and reach these students might just be a little bit more complicated and would require more flexibility than what many higher education institutions are doing now.” Although reaching high-achieving students from low-income areas might require a few extra steps, Rorison believes it’s important for universities to make the effort. Low-income students are more likely to attend colleges with lower graduation rates, he said, even if they are academically capable of attending a more selective institution. That, in turn, could affect their chances of success later
SHERIDAN HENDRIX | OLLER REPORTER
Dy’Sha Cole, a fourth-year in social work, balances her school work with two jobs, an internship and her role as a mother. in life. “Students, regardless of income, are most likely to succeed when they’re attending colleges for which they are well matched,” Rorison said. “We believe it is the duty — it is the obligation — of our institutions to educate and provide a quality post-secondary education and also work with students where they are to help them be successful.” Addressing the Gap Ohio State is taking steps to address the issues of accessibility and affordability. “One of the things that we’re most focused on is, in fact, increasing the number of Pell-eligible students and lower-half-of-the-in-
come-distribution students,” said University President Michael Drake in an interview with The Lantern in February. “And so, our goal really is to really halt that slide [in the number of enrolled Pell recipients], to reverse it, and to grow.” Organizations like the ATI and the University Innovation Alliance have several goals for universities across the country to enroll greater numbers of low-income students in hopes of making a college education, and ultimately higher paying jobs, more available to people from all demographics. A founding member of ATI, Ohio State has specifically set
“SARNCO is your best bet if you’re looking for healing,” she said. A student and sexual assault survivor who wished to remain anonymous has been using SCE. They initially tried to find help through CCS and found it was “not as helpful.” “SCE is really personal,” the student said, adding CCS covers a wider range of psychological issues while SCE specializes in sexual assault. The student found it difficult to schedule appointments with CCS, only being able to see their counselor about “once every three weeks.” Murphy also explained that survivors of sexual assault might not want to seek police involvement because they do not want to relive the incident through interviews and speaking about their assaulter. The survivors might feel like their assault is not enough to garner police involvement, a feeling Murphy had when she reached out to SCE last year. “It’s just one of those things. I chose not to report it because it wasn’t — at least to me it wasn’t that bad. It was just him being drunk and stupid and trying — he like got in bed with me,” Murphy
said. “It was different for me doing that and there’s no way I ever would have gone to the police. I might have talked with someone about it who just knew so I could talk it through so I could try and figure out what had happened exactly to me.” LaPointe, Undergraduate Student Government President Andrew Jackson and the university are adamant that the services in place of SCE will help assault survivors get the help they need, either through counseling or healing practices. “The Ohio State University is committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment. We have an extensive system of programs for providing support and services for members of our community who experience sexual misconduct,” the university statement said. “I believe that no matter whatever is happening with SCE, student needs are still being met,” Jackson said in an email. “Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio is still available and a great resource for survivors or those who need support, as well as Counseling and Consultation
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at hand, said Michaela Murphy, a second-year in social work and public affairs who has used both SCE and CCS as a resource. Murphy said she initially contacted SCE after realizing CCS did not adequately meet her needs for support, such as counseling she received before the assault happened for unrelated health needs. She said SCE was the best source of help because if police and the university began a fullfledged investigation, she feared that people who know both her and the accused person would get angry at her and no longer speak to her. Ohio State’s statement is the only information it has released regarding the review at this time, leading many students involved with sexual assault and empowerment offices throughout campus and the city to come forward with what they know — to get the message out there to students who might need help and won’t find it at SCE currently. Murphy said she is questioning Ohio State’s care for sexual assault survivors because the university did not release a statement to the public when the review initially began.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The Lantern is a student publication which is part of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. It publishes issues Tuesday and Thursday, and online editions every day. The Lantern’s daily operations are funded through advertising and its academic pursuits are supported by the School of Communication. Some of the advertising is sold by students. The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the newspaper in order to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from The Lantern experience.
“If this keeps going and they don’t tell any of us it just tells me that they don’t have the same regard for victims of sexual assault, survivors of sexual assault, that they do for anyone else on this campus,” she said.
“If this keeps going and they don’t tell any of us it just tells me that they don’t have the same regard for victims of sexual assault, survivors of sexual assault, that they do for anyone else on this campus.” Michaela Murphy Second-year in social work and public affairs
LaPointe has spoken with Title IX and SARNCO leaders and has become familiar with the review. She said the office is under investigation because of criticisms of its practices, and the university’s intention is to evaluate SCE’s leadership and programs to build better collaboration with SARNCO. Editor in Chief Kevin Stankiewicz Managing Editor for Content Jacob Myers Managing Editor for Design JL Lacar Copy Chief Rachel Bules Campus Editor Summer Cartwright Assistant Campus Editor Owen Daugherty Sports Editor Colin Hass-Hill Assistant Sports Editor Edward Sutelan Arts&Life Editor Ghezal Barghouty Assistant Arts&Life Editor Sara Stacy Photo Editor Jack Westerheide Assistant Photo Editor Ris Twigg Design Editor Chandler Gerstenslager Assistant Design Editor Kelly Meaden Multimedia Editor Hailey Stangebye Social Media Editor Nick Clarkson Engagement Editor Matt Dorsey Oller Reporter Sheridan Hendrix Miller Projects Reporter Erin Gottsacker
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goals to increase enrollment and retention rates of low-income students, to increase need-based aid by $100 million over five years and to increase graduation rates of low-income students. One step Ohio State is taking to reach those goals, Corbett said, is the recent pledge to cover the remaining cost of tuition for all in-state students eligible for Pell grants. “Whether they’re in eighth grade or ninth grade or 12th grade, we are saying [to those Pell-eligible students] that we have made this commitment,” Corbett said. ‘“We want you to work really hard while you’re in school and do well. Because if you do well academically, we want you to know that we’ll be behind you in terms of helping you with your tuition and fees.” Rorison said a step like this could be meaningful to hundreds of low-income students searching for ways to afford higher education. “Having need-based grant aid like Pell absolutely helps remove barriers for students to access and complete college,” he said. “But getting in is one thing and staying PELL GRANT CONTINUES ON 7
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ARTS&LIFE
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WEXNER Artistic-activist illustrates theme of conservation through infusion of biology and art. | ON PAGE 5 JILLIAN FOUNTAIN Lantern reporter fountain.50@osu.edu Student artwork is taking over the Urban Arts Space downtown this week in an effort to find solutions to common social challenges. Soon-to-be graduates of Ohio State’s Department of Design are showcasing their senior theses in an annual spring exhibition. Students studying interior, industrial and visual communication design, as well as a select group of MFA students, were challenged to create fixes for a social problem of their choice. Social impact is a theme that runs through the Department of Design, said Paul Nini, professor of visual communication design and undergraduate studies chair. “The larger notion of designing for social good … is something we stress very heavily in our program and it comes into play in a lot of different ways from the various projects that you’ll see,” Nini said. The gallery displays 49 undergraduate theses and eight graduate projects. They all have been a major focus of design students since the start of the Autumn Semester. Jonathan Lambert, a fifth-year in industrial design, centered his senior thesis around baseball, a sport he and his father, who also
don’t talk about it.” The center Huyett designed would be equipped with socialization space for the purpose of having these conversations as well as homework help areas and other rooms to assist students on the spectrum.
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“Solving a problem in the right way makes everybody’s life better and easier.” Kristen Huyett Fourth-year in interior design
Students merge design and social change JILLIAN FOUNTAIN | LANTERN REPORTER
Soon-to-be graduates of the Department of Design at Ohio State showcase their senior theses in the annual spring exhibition at the Urban Arts Space in Columbus. was his childhood baseball coach, have always felt connected to. “The one thing I always noticed was that my dad was always in a hurry,” Lambert said. “He was always kind of stressed out about, ‘Does he have all his equipment? Is everything going to be OK? Can he run a practice well? Can he do all these tasks that really could be dedicated to three or four other people, but that one person has to run by themselves?’” With his dad in mind, Lambert created a cart-like structure for a
convenient way to hold baseball equipment. The creation of his design took eight months start to finish, but he said he credits his work ethic to his love for the sport. “I would say it was passion driven. Because in the end, if you’re dedicating the whole year to something … I would hope that you’re passionate about it,” Lambert said. For Kristen Huyett, a fourthyear in interior design, passion for her senior thesis was on the
top of her priority list as well. Hyuett’s project on neurodiversity, a concept that recognizes the differences in individuals’ brains, prompted her to design an afterschool center that would supplement the education of students on the autism spectrum. “This is a place where you might come and meet others like yourself,” she said. “You need to be able to relate to other folks who have ADHD, or autism, or whatever it is and that’s not happening in schools because people
The topic of neurodiversity is one close to Huyett, who has ADHD, so it was a natural choice for her senior thesis. She added that though interior design might not be a first thought when solving a problem, the way a space is created has the potential to impact the outcomes of different situations. “Almost any problem you have and anytime you’re finding a solution, it’s holistic,” Huyett said. “Solving a problem in the right way makes everybody’s life better and easier.” The Department of Design’s Spring Exhibition will be on display at Urban Arts Space through Saturday. Admission is free.
Student’s battle inspires Muscle Movement Foundation ASHLEY DIGGINS Lantern reporter diggins.10@osu.edu Fewer than 20,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome each year. In March 2017, the rare autoimmune disorder partially paralyzed Dominic Cicconi for three months. But instead of just moving on after his full recovery, Cicconi dedicated himself to helping others affected by neuromuscular diseases. Cicconi, a third-year in mechanical engineering, founded the first collegiate chapter of the Muscle Movement Foundation in October, a national organization based in Wilmington, Delaware, that supports people affected by neuromuscular disease financially, physically and emotionally. The Ohio State chapter expects to raise $2,500 by the end of its first year.
“I really want to delve into this head-on and try to make a difference.” Dominic Cicconi Founder of Ohio State’s Muscle Movement Foundation chapter
One year ago, Cicconi started experiencing flu-like symptoms that quickly developed into difficulty moving his body and face, as well as double vision. During spring break, he visited a hospital at home and after extensive testing was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndro me. The disease begins with a normal sick-
ness like the flu, but later causes the body’s immune system to attack its own nervous system. Cicconi said the only treatment was to inject proteins into his body to distract his immune system and wait for the illness to run its course. There was a chance that his syndrome could affect his diaphragm — the muscles that control the lungs — and become life-threatening. Luckily, his symptoms did not progress that far. After five stressful days in the hospital, Cicconi went home to begin his difficult recovery. “I remember the first couple days out of the hospital my mom basically had to hold a belt around my waist to keep me steady while I was trying to move, and I had [paralysis of half the face] so I couldn’t eat food that well,” Cicconi said. “Simple things like trying to button my pants or tie my shoes I couldn’t do. My brain would be like I want to do this, but I physically couldn’t.” Cicconi returned to Ohio State after missing about a month of class to finish out the semester. He said returning to class while still recovering and undergoing extensive physical therapy was difficult, but he had support from friends and faculty. He also made the Dean’s List. While in his home state of Delaware for the summer, Cicconi met Muscle Movement Foundation’s founder Rob DeMasi at his younger brother’s baseball game. His brother’s team raised money for DeMasi’s foundation, so he gave a speech that resonated with Cicconi. Cicconi and DeMasi decided to work together over the summer to launch an MMF student organization at Ohio State. “I was fortunate enough where my illness, relative to some of the ones that we
COURTESY OF DOMINIC CICCONI
Members of the Muscle Movement Foundation table on The Oval to spread awareness about their organization. support, was not very severe and I was inspired to help people that will never recover. Thankfully, I can play sports, walk and tie my shoes again but going just three weeks without being able to do those things not only has physical effects, but stresses you emotionally and mentally, having those abilities stripped away from you,” Cicconi said. “I can’t imagine what people that have that permanently go through, so I was like I really want to delve into this head-on and try to make a difference.” Back at school in the fall, Cicconi started recruiting members by reaching out to friends and members of other student organizations he belongs to and using social
media. Thirty people signed up immediately. “I reached out to my closer friends because they had firsthand experience with what I was going through,” Cicconi said. “They helped basically take care of me so they were pretty passionate about the cause as well, even though they didn’t directly experience [neuromuscular disease].” Will Giessler, a third-year in international studies and Cicconi’s former roommate, said he was excited about the opportunity to join MMF and serve as the vice president of finance and accountability. “I appreciate that he decided to try to MUSCLE CONTINUES ON 5
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Brandon Ballengée fuses art and biology ANDREA OH Lantern reporter oh.377@osu.edu From disappearing amphibians to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to habitat conservation, human activity changes the natural environment and the way other life persists. On Wednesday, artist, biologist and environmental activist Brandon Ballengée will pay a visit to the Wexner Center for the Arts to discuss the exhibit “Praeter Naturam: Beyond Nature” and how his art and research are exploring environments forever changed by people.
“We can see what new things are made possible when disciplines can get together.” Amy Youngs Associate professor in the Department of Art
Through his work, Ballengée attempts to raise awareness on how all species are negatively affected by human behavior. “We could say that every organism on the planet somehow bore the human signature. What does that mean?” Ballengée said. “Well, in the case of something
COURTESY OF BRANDON BALLENGEE AND RONALD FELDMAN FINE ARTS
Digital-C print of a Pacific tree frog collected in Aptos, California, on watercolor paper. like Atlantic cod, it means that we’ve fished out all of the huge Atlantic cod, so as a reproductive strategy to exist, Atlantic cod, the ones that have survived, are now breeding a lot younger and a lot smaller.” For Ballengée, these experiences brought both fascination and horror that have shaped his art. “You’re standing in a pond, and
RIS TWIGG | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
A Buckeyes ACT poster is left on a chair removed from the Sexual Civility and Empowerment Center in Lincoln Tower. The center’s practices are currently under investigation. SCE FROM 3
Services and are both available 24/7 for students who need them. If there are students who need support, you are still able to reach out and will be supported in whatever way you need from the university.” Though other resources are available, students who work at SCE are frustrated by the university’s lack of communication. Taylor Albright, a second-year in political science, works at SCE’s front desk. She was called into work Feb. 12 and sent to human resources to sort papers instead of performing her daily duties. The following week, SCE’s support and prevention staff were separated into two locations, she said. One support coordinator was put on paid leave. No students were coming into the office for help. “I’m not stupid, I have eyes. I can observe what’s going on in this office. I can see that we’re not in our usual location,” Albright said, referring to the relocation
you’re finding all these deformed frogs, and you realize that they’re not going to exist,” Ballengée said. “The flip side is when you’re standing in another pond where none of them are deformed, and you’ve got a large population, and there’s so much joy.” This complementary relationship between research and art has shaped the way Ballengée under-
she and other SCE staff have experienced since the review began. Albright said the new ways of corresponding with resources — by being directed to the Title IX office — is not effective. “I received phone calls of students that were in distress that have experienced sexual violence, and I’m no longer getting those calls,” Albright said. ”Those calls are going to a voicemail.” The voicemail she referred to is Title IX’s. Some voicemails filling the office’s line are not getting responses, Murphy said. The anonymous student said the same. They have been unable to contact their support counselor from SCE since the review began, and was told that someone from the Title IX office would contact them. They have not been contacted since receiving the email notification one month ago when they were told that their coordinator couldn’t see them because she had to focus on a program. Albright records student information when survivors contact SCE and she forwards it to support staff. She said this method allows for students to be contacted within 24 hours of their initial contact. Another benefit to SCE as opposed to SARNCO, LaPointe said, is its campus location. SCE’s location in a resident hall — Lincoln Tower — allows for it to be easily accessible to students without leaving campus. Since beginning to use SCE last summer, the anonymous student said the counselors helped them “find the right way to cure the insecurity” that had developed from the assault. The student also said the services they used at SCE helped foster a healthier love life. To the student, SCE is “not just a service. It’s more like a friend.”
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stands environmental change and how other people have become inspired from his work. “Having someone who is both an artist and a scientist and can speak to both of those disciplines … really helps us, who are in one discipline, look at the other one differently,” said Amy Youngs, associate professor in the Department of Art. “We can see what new things are made possible when disciplines can get together.” At a place like Ohio State, where there are people of all backgrounds, this means many people can connect to Ballengée’s work, and anyone can contribute. “The important thing is just to go out and look and explore and use the lens of art and science, but also just the lens of being a human being, to be inquisitive and then to work together to generate this understanding,” Ballengée said. The event will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Admission is free.
MUSCLE FROM 4
turn his experience into something positive and help others that are going through that, so that’s been cool and I’ve given all I can to help him,” Giessler said. The organization focuses much of its efforts on raising money for MMF’s current muscle champions, people affected by severe neuromuscular diseases that MMF selects and supports. So far, they have raised money by hosting fundraisers around the campus area at popular places such as Blaze and Fourth Street Bar and Grill and hosting a March Madness bracket tournament. Cicconi said he wants to grow the Ohio State chapter by finding a muscle champion in the Columbus area and making connections with other student organizations that can support the muscle champion not only financially, but emotionally as well. He also wants to increase the presence of the organization and raise more money through other events, including a 5K. “It has been a pleasure working with him and having him be the founder, having him be the founder and president of the OSU chapter, which I really feel like will turn into a very big and successful club on campus,” DeMasi said. “To see his dedication and motivation has been truly inspiring and he’s been a phenomenal asset to my organization.”
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6 | The Lantern | Tuesday, April 3, 2018
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MOVIE REVIEW
‘Ready Player One’ is flawed, but tons of fun WYATT CROSHER Senior Lantern reporter crosher.1@osu.edu “Ready Player One” was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Mark Rylance and Ben Mendelsohn. The film is based on the novel by Ernest Cline of the same name and is about a virtual world called the Oasis that has become more important than life itself, and the quest that Parzival (Sheridan) goes on to find an Easter Egg that the creator of the Oasis (Rylance) left behind after his death. Cline’s book is one of the most well-received books in the last decade, and though I haven’t read it, I’ve certainly heard a lot about it, leading to fears that the film would not capture the scope of the novel. Still, this is Spielberg after all, so I entered the theater hopeful for a fun adventure with tons of great references. The Good From a visual standpoint, “Ready Player One” is an absolutely breathtaking experience with some of the strongest effects in recent memory. The amount of visual references the film manages to pull off is exceptional, and Spielberg does a great job at using these references in a way that rarely feels forced. This movie is made for fans of pop culture, since characters and moments from various classic movies and video games are scattered throughout. It’s hard not to have a huge smile on your face in these moments. Above many things, “Ready Player One” manages to be incredibly fun, and these
COURTESY OF TNS
From left, Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, Olivia Cooke as Samantha Cook, Win Morisaki as Daito and Philip Zhao as Sho in the film, “Ready Player One.” references are a major reason why. Parzival’s journey, which helped the film Rylance as Halliday simply knocked it avoid being bogged down by exposition. out of the park with the incredible deliv- Sure, there are pieces of this world I’d love ery and flair he gave to the character. Hal- to have heard more about, but at 140 minliday was my favorite character because of utes, the film flies by without dull moment, his complexities, which were all brilliantly and I fear that any added backstory would brought out by Rylance. have pushed its limits. Sheridan and Cooke both give strong I talked about references already, but one performances in the leads, and Mendel- reference in particular stood out. An entire sohn once again shines at being a jerk scene referencing “The Shining” might be –– something he loves to be typecast as. the best scene in a movie all year. That, T.J. Miller as I-R0k is only in the film for along with the fight sequences, which are a brief time, but he brings a much-needed extremely well shot, made for the highburst of comedy every time he speaks. lights in a consistently fun film. Even without reading the book prior to The Bad seeing the film, I thought that the movie Cooke and Sheridan are great on their built the world well enough simply through own, but their romance just does not work
in this film. With so much going on, the movie feels already crunched for time. Because of that, their relationship never feels believable, leading to some very cringeworthy moments. Again, due to time constraints, this world often left me with some unanswered questions. The major corporation within this world doesn’t always make as much sense as I hoped, and the importance of Columbus, Ohio –– the movie’s setting –– or the outside world in general, just never felt like it came together. As fun as “Ready Player One” is, the lack of stakes often hurt the ability for the movie to be exceptional. The family aspect of Parzival’s life just feels weak in comparison to anything that happens in the Oasis, and the amount of coincidental moments made all the tension leave the room. Spielberg does go back to some classic storytelling, but that doesn’t excuse the occasional laziness of the plot. Conclusion “Ready Player One” is a blast of a time with a strong mix of references and fresh ideas, though it is far from perfect. There are moments I can look back on that bring a smile to my face, but other moments that leave me rolling my eyes. Still, Spielberg adapted Klein’s audacious novel in a way that seemed to take the highlights and expand on the fun, and the result works for the majority of the movie.
Puzzles
Answer Key for March 29:
Across 1. The ability to do work or cause change (energy) 2. When a force moves an object through a distance (work) 7. The process where plants make food from light energy (photosynthesis) 9. Chemical compounds (pigments) 11. A push or pull (force) 13. Energy from electrons moving through wires (electrical) 15. Potential energy that depends of height of object (gravitational) 18. Fuels derived from the remains of organisms that lived long ago (fossilfuels) 19. The energy of motion (kinetic) 20. Energy of motion and position of an object (mechanical)
Down 1. Potential energy associated with objects that can be stretched or compressed (elastic) 3. Energy that travels in waves (radiant) 4. Plants break down glucose and releases chemical energy (respiration) 5. The rate at which work is done or the rate at which energy is transferred from one object to another (power) 6. A change from one form of energy to another (energyconversion) 8. Stored energy (potential) 10. Energy caused by an object’s vibrations (sound) 11. Material that releases energy when it burns (fuel) 12. Most abundant pigment in plants (chlorophyll) 14. The process of burning fuels (combustion) 16. The speed of an object in a particular direction (velocity) 17. Energy of a compound that changes as its atoms are rearranged to form new compounds (chemical)
Across
Cell Structures
15. Breaks down food to release energy 16. Uses solar energy to do photosynthesis; contains chlorophyll
1. Packages proteins that are ready to be sent out of the cell
17. 2 layers around the nucleus that contain numerous
5. Usually in the form of chromatin; composed of DNA and thickens for cellular division
openings for nuclear traffic
8. Digest food and waste products in the cell 9. Gelitin like substance that carries organelles around the cell 10. Outer membrane of the cell that controls cellular traffic 11. Thick, rigid layer that supports and protects the plant cell 12. Paired cylindrical organelles near the nucleus; lies at right angles to each other
Down 2. Aids in the transport of proteins produces by ribosomes 3. Uses RNA to produce proteins 4. Controls cell’s interaction with it’s envirnment 6. Store water and food until needed
7. Creates materials needed for ribosomes to produce 13. Supports cell and provides shape; aids movement of mate- proteins rials in and out of the cell; composed of microtubes 14. Directs all of the cell’s activities and contains the DNA
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Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | The Lantern | 7
FOOTBALL
Ohio State searches for leadership following key departures EDWARD SUTELAN Assistant Sports Editor sutelan.1@osu.edu Many were taken somewhat aback by Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer naming nine players on his team to be captains for the 2017 season, a total that easily surpassed the previous program record of six. Questions arose about the reason for having so many captains and whether it was necessary to have nine captains, especially with several coming from the same position groups. However, that depth of leadership has thinned significantly before the start of the 2018 season. Seven of those nine captains — J.T. Barrett, Billy Price, Chris Worley, Tracy Sprinkle, Jalyn Holmes, Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis — left the team, leaving only wide receivers Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin as returning captains. Meyer described the current leadership position as “average right now,” which he said was the result of losing so many fifth-year seniors and players who had been invested in the program for a long time. “I see promise. I see there is some very good promise,” Meyer said Monday. “So today was a better day. But it’s day-to-day. We’ll know more after spring ball, but it’s nothing like it was last year.” Part of the reason the lack of leadership is notable is because the team lacks clear captain candidates at key positions. Outside
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State then-redshirt junior H-back Parris Campbell runs after a catch in the first half of the Buckeyes’ victory against Illinois on Nov. 18, 2017. of receiver, there is no other position group that has a returning captain. The obvious void to fill is at quarterback, but that is not the only significant loss the team has to move past. Ohio State also lacks a clear replacement at center for Price, a player who was a leader throughout his collegiate career. Meyer has expressed concern with the battle for center between Brady Taylor, Josh Myers, Joshua Alabi and Matt Burrell. Despite losing three captains at defensive end, the team boasts an enviable trio of players at the
QUARTERBACKS FROM 8
he could transfer and compete for a starting job on a team without Ohio State’s highend talent at quarterback. A month ago, Meyer said his first obligation is Ohio State, but “probably, yes” he has an obligation to tell Burrow his status by the end of spring practice. Given the lack of separation between the three quarterbacks, the probability of Meyer not offering Burrow a solid answer by the time he graduates seems more possible than ever. The last time Meyer did not make a decision on quarterback after spring practice, Ohio State’s disastrous circus of Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett flip-flopping starts and snaps led to an offense that could never seem to find a rhythm in 2015. Meyer said he has moved on from that situation and did not learn anything from it. But the clock is ticking, and the day-today competition that Meyer enjoys will end after the Spring Game in less than two weeks. Without naming a starter, Ohio State will not have a leader behind center during the summer with whom the offense can build a rapport. That might not worry Meyer yet, but the uncertainty could do irreparable damage if he does not make a decision until the fall.
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position with junior Nick Bosa, sophomore Chase Young and redshirt sophomore Jonathon Cooper. However, only Bosa is a returning starter and he identified himself in January as a leader “by example,” and neither Young nor Cooper have started a game in their collegiate careers. Last year, Meyer named several captains early in the spring to give certain position groups a leader to look to before fall camp. He said he has no immediate plans to do that this time. “No, but Parris and Terry are elite leaders on the [offensive]
TATE MARTELL FROM 8
COLIN HASS-HILL | SPORTS EDITOR
Ohio State then-freshman quarterback Tate Martell warms up prior to the Buckeyes’ seasonopening 49-21 win over Indiana on Aug. 31 in Bloomington, Indiana.
give teams the concern that he could either run or take them by surprise by passing. Martell would come into the role much differently. It became clear as the season wore on Miller would not throw the ball, but his legs were still something of which to be wary. Though not the runner Miller was, Martell would not have any limitations on his arm and could still throw the ball if he took the snap. There’s plenty of other options Ohio State could have in trying to get Martell on the field. The team has not revealed anything more about what they might be other than they are being explored. One thing is for certain: Martell did not come to sit on the bench. “I don’t think that’s going to be the case,” Martell said. “There will be packages if I don’t win the starting job for sure.”
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side,” Meyer said. “Dre’Mont Jones is going to be a good leader for us, and Jordan Fuller has turned out. But I haven’t done that yet, no.” In a situation in which no player immediately steps up to take on a leadership role, Meyer said it falls to the coaching staff to serve as a temporary leader during the spring until someone emerges. “If you don’t have leaders, it’s your job as a position group or coordinator to develop them, and then you have to provide it until they grow up and become that leader,” Meyer said. “So I
PELL GRANT FROM 3
where their money will come from.” Tuition cost along with daily living expenses often discourages low-income students from even applying to more selective schools, Rorison said, so closing the gap of tuition not covered by Pell grants could be a determining factor for students deciding whether to submit an application. Officials at Ohio State are hoping the new initiative will encourage hesitant applicants to press send. So far, it’s working. Preliminary results show more students eligible for Pell grants were admitted to Ohio State for the upcoming 2018 school year, although it is yet to be seen whether these students will choose to attend. “We’re headed in the right direction,” said Chris Davey, an Ohio State spokesman. College Degrees and Economic Success In a nation where college degrees are becoming increasingly necessary to find quality jobs, a program like this could help bridge the divide between those who can afford higher education and those who cannot. “I personally don’t think that anyone should be excluded from attending college because they don’t have the ability to pay,” Corbett said. “But I also think that [enrolling more low-income students] is going to become more and more important in our country. We know that there are students out there who are in underrepresented groups, and how are we reaching them? I think as a nation, we really need to look at that.” That’s because a college degree is more than a sheet of paper, Van Der Werf said. It’s a key to economic success.
think there’s been great examples around here where maybe there wasn’t great leadership to start the season, and as it went forward, that developed because of the position group coach.” Ohio State still has more than a week until the Spring Game and the Buckeyes do not necessarily need that leader just yet. There are plenty of position battles at quarterback, linebacker, cornerback, safety and the offensive line. Answer the question marks at those positions, and Ohio State will likely find the leaders that it needs. However, the leadership on the team will often dictate how the rest of the season goes. For a team that could either compete for a national championship or once again fall short, it will be crucial to have players ready to lead the team into the new season. “That’s a process, that’s evaluation. At the end of spring we’ll list our top 20 players in order on offense and defense, and that will be determined what kind of style offense and defense we are,” Meyer said. “There have been times we’ve been more of a downhill, there have been times we’ve been more of a perimeter-run game. That’s going to determine who our best players are. “The good thing is we’re very flexible. You can’t name a play that we don’t have. It’s fitting that together with our personnel.”
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“We’re becoming more and more a country that’s defined by college haves and college have-nots,” he said. “College have-nots tend to cluster in unskilled labor. Unskilled labor pays a lot less – multiples less – than careers for people who go to college. So that alone is the biggest factor in the exacerbation of wealth inequality in this country.” Perhaps Ohio State’s new initiative will reverse the trend of its slowly falling share of low-income students, making college more accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Until then, students like Jennifer Prewitt and Dy’Sha Cole count themselves lucky to be attending college. “There are a lot of barriers in terms of access to education and access to supplemental funds,” Cole said, “and there are so many people who probably would go to school if they could afford it.”
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8 | Tuesday, April 3, 2018
FOOTBALL
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Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer looks for leadership after seven of nine captains left the team. | ON PAGE 7
FOOTBALL
OSU lacks frontrunner at quarterback on horizon of Spring Game COLIN HASS-HILL Sports Editor hass-hill.1@osu.edu Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow have been through this before — just last year, in fact. Last March, the quarterbacks went back and forth, battling each practice to become J.T. Barrett’s backup. Neither won. They both played well in the Spring Game and entered the summer tied in the race to be second in line for playing time. But a broken hand near the end of fall camp submerged Burrow’s chances of becoming Barrett’s backup and handed Haskins the backup role. Even when Burrow returned to action, he entered after Haskins late in blowout games. Then later in the year, Haskins took advantage of the opportunity and completed a comeback win in Ann Arbor, Michigan, against the Wolverines after being thrust into action in the second half after Barrett suffered an injury. Despite this season’s quarterback battle having immeasurably higher stakes than last year’s, Haskins and Burrow seem to be stuck in the same place — a tie. But this time, they are tied atop the depth chart. And this year, a third quarterback — redshirt freshman Tate Martell — has en-
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Then-sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow (10) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against Nebraska in Memorial Stadium on Oct. 14. Ohio State won 56-0. gaged them in competition. Head coach Urban Meyer said he is taking the quarterback competition “day-by-day.” He said Martell had a better practice Monday, Burrow had a better performance in an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, then Haskins
“came back” and played better. Despite the offense not having a set leader at quarterback, Meyer seemed unconcerned with the ongoing uncertainty behind center. “You’d wish one would take it,” Meyer said. “But then again, you like having the day-to-day
competition, which is what I’m seeing.” In order for someone to separate themselves and earn the starting job, Meyer said Haskins, Burrow or Martell have one simple job: to “lead the team.” Thus far, he feels that has not happened.
“There’s got to be a separation at some point, and right now there is not that separation,” Meyer said. “Just when one starts going, the other one comes up, and the other one drops a little bit.” As each practice passes and no quarterback separates himself from the pack, the Buckeyes get one day nearer to ending spring practice without naming a starter. Ohio State has just five more practices in the next two weeks before playing the Spring Game on April 14 at Ohio Stadium. If Meyer does not name a starter, it would be the first spring game since 2015 that Ohio State does not have a quarterback cemented atop the depth chart. Meyer said he does not know whether he will have a starter by the end of spring. However, the timeline has major implications on the position for Ohio State. Both Haskins and Burrow have shown, in limited time, they possess the requisite skills to start at a major college football program. But Burrow could transfer if Haskins, the assumed favorite, earns the nod. Burrow is on track to graduate from the university in May, meaning he would not have to sit out if he decided to transfer like most college athletes. Instead of backing up Haskins or Martell, QUARTERBACKS CONTINUES ON 7
FOOTBALL
Tate Martell’s skillset could lend itself to other role on 2018 team EDWARD SUTELAN Assistant Sports Editor sutelan.1@osu.edu
ALEXA MAVROGIANIS | FORMER PHOTO EDITOR
Then-freshman quarterback Tate Martell (18) prepares to pass during the Spring Game on April 15, 2017.
Ohio State cannot have two signal-callers on the field at the same time, but it might have two quarterbacks. Head coach Urban Meyer said Monday that while the suggestion a quarterback play receiver is thrown out often with no real logic behind it, the plan might work in redshirt freshman Tate Martell’s case. “Tate’s got an incredible skillset,” Meyer said. “There is some conversation about that because he is a gifted guy.” The quarterback battle has been between three players but always seems to come down to two names: Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins. Left out has been the dynamic Martell, the No. 56 overall player and second-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class. Martell — known more for being an elusive, shifty quarterback than a true pocket-passer — seems to always be named third by the coaching staff due to his lack of experience. But his placement on the depth chart might not necessarily prevent him from earning snaps in
the fall. Martell emphasized after the Cotton Bowl and last Wednesday that he has no plans to transfer and will be on the field, saying “I didn’t come here to sit on the bench.” Martell said that even if he does not start, packages will be made to get him on the field at the same time as the starting quarterback. Each quarterback came into the
“Tate’s got an incredible skillset. There is some conversation about that because he is a gifted guy.” Urban Meyer Ohio State head coach
spring possessing clear attributes that set them apart. No one on the team throws the ball as well as Haskins, who could provide it with the true pocket-passing quarterback it hasn’t had in years. Burrow might be the best dual-threat quarterback, with an arm better than Martell and more mobility than Haskins. Martell? “Obviously you’re going to look at the running ability,” Mar-
tell said with a laugh. “I guess it’s just being able to make plays, make people miss and stuff like that. I mean that’s where I’m at my best. Just adding that element to the game where you’ve got to add an extra guy to guard me when it comes to running the ball where it takes them out of pass coverage.” Many view Martell as a strong candidate for the job because of his ability to run. Whether it was Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller or J.T. Barrett, Ohio State has leaned heavily on quarterbacks who can impact the game with their ability to move. Haskins, viewed by most as the frontrunner for the position, does not have the legs to impact the game. However, Meyer has said repeatedly the offense will change based on who is at certain positions. The last time Ohio State had a quarterback shift to a different position was in 2015 when Miller played H-back with the combination of Barrett and Cardale Jones starting under center. Miller was coming off shoulder surgery, but still had the legs to impact the game. Often appearing under center in a wildcat formation, Miller at least initially seemed to TATE MARTELL CONTINUES ON 7