The Lantern - October 27 2016

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

MILLENNIALS SURVEY

P2

A survey reported economic issues trump social issues in terms of importance to millennials.

DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S

P3

A dance instructor designs a class to help those with Parkinson’s disease improve their mobility.

WRESTLING

P7

Family, school and wrestling are all on OSU wrestler Bo Jordan’s plate.

DOTTING THE i

P8

The offensive line looks to bounce back this week after struggling in Happy Valley.

The student voice of the Ohio State University

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Snowden

set to come to Ohio State

COURTESY OF TNS

Edward Snowden speaks via video chat on Sept. 14 at the launch of a campaign calling on President Barack Obama to pardon him.

HANNAH HERNER Arts&Life Editor herner.12@osu.edu

The Ohio Union Activities Board announced “Breaking the Silence with Edward Snowden,” an event to be hosted in the Ohio Union with the controversial figure joining students via video chat.

Snowden is a former National Security Agency employee and United States government contractor who leaked classified documents from the NSA in 2013 which revealed details surrounding a domestic surveillance program. As a result, he is facing three felony charges. He will be live-streaming to Ohio State’s campus on Nov. 30 from Russia, where he has been granted asylum.

Zack Miglich, OUAB lectures chair and a fifth-year in mechanical engineering, said planning for the event started a year ago.

Snowden has spoken at other college campuses across the U.S. through live-streaming.

“We just think the topic of cybersecurity and privacy is a really pertinent topic, especially right now with the election going on and the recent Apple scandal,” said Miglich, referencing when the FBI requested that the tech company open a locked iPhone used by the perpetrators of the 2015 San Bernardino, California, shooting. “I just think it’s a really important thing to have a dialogue about and have conversations about.”

In the hourlong event, Snowden will be asked questions by a moderator who has yet to be announced. Questions from the audience are expected to be fielded SNOWDEN CONTINUES ON 2

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Year 136, Issue No. 56

Friends of Singletary Taming speak on Mirror Lake of the FOOTBALL: SCOUTING

Those close to student who died last year thankful jump will end

Construction on Mirror Lake is now underway, and with less than a month until the annual jump was expected to occur, friends of Austin Singletary are speaking out about the end of the tradition.

Singletary was a third-year in human nutrition when he died after sustaining injuries he received while jumping into the lake last November as part of an unofficial tradition that took place before the OSU-Michigan football game.

Ohio State began an 18-month construction project on Oct. 11 which is set to include a redesign of the area. The result is set to include a design of the lake with a sloping entry lined with wetland marsh, making it nearly impossible for students to jump into the lake.

The design’s focus, Ohio State has said, is to create a more sustainable and historically accurate depiction of the lake.

Kyle McKinney, a second-year in business, was close with Singletary, and referred to him as his cousin, though they are not related. He said Singletary’s tragic death is now being viewed by some students as the reason the jump is ending, creating a negative attitude surrounding the incident.

“I don’t think that one person can be a scapegoat for a tradition being ended,” McKinney said. “I don’t think that one person should be blamed or one person should receive a negative portrayal of

Wildcats “We’re going to find out what we’re made of.”

J.T. Barrett Redshirt junior quarterback

JACOB MYERS Assistant Sports Editor myers.1669@osu.edu

resentation of Singletary and his death is why students have reacted to the construction and ending of the jump in a critical way.

“I’m sure that if I was on the outside looking in and did not know him as person, I would feel the same way. But if you really think about it — it’s the smart move to do,” Bitto said. “(Students) have to remember that it’s someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s friend that went through this and they have to deal with that for the rest of their lives.”

AJ King, a spring 2016 graduate who was Singletary’s mentor through a program run through OSU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said he understands the frustrations that students feel about the loss of a tradition. How-

The Ohio State football team walked into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Sunday to dissect film on its last game — but it wasn’t business as usual. The Buckeyes had their first post-defeat film session of the 2016 season, after dropping a 24-21 contest at Penn State.

A couple of late blunders by the special teams allowed the Nittany Lions to topple then-No. 2 OSU, but it was a culmination of big plays allowed and a lack of cohesiveness on the offensive side of the ball. Meyer said after the game that his team was not “a very good team, right now.” As they move on to Northwestern on Saturday, the Buckeyes hope that the first home game in three weeks will rid the errors that plagued them in Happy Valley.

“It’s not business as usual,” Meyer said. “If you lose a game, you accept it. That’s the message to our players. We work so hard so

SINGLETARY CONTINUES ON 2

SCOUTING CONTINUES ON 6

NICK ROLL | CAMPUS EDITOR

An Ohio State student walks by Mirror Lake on Oct. 12. The university started draining the lake the day before. themselves because of one event.”

OSU has said that ending the jump, while a university priority, is a byproduct of the construction and redesign, but not its intent.

“The jump ending is a consequence of the construction, but not the driving factor in restoring the grounds,” OSU spokesman Chris Davey said when the renovations were announced. “This is the culmination of years of planning and discussion that involved the student body.”

Steph Bitto, a third-year in accounting who met Singletary through mutual friends, said she thinks students who are upset about the jump ending didn’t know Singletary, so they only see him as “a kid who jumped in a lake and died.”

She said she thinks this misrep-

Cory Booker, Chelsea Clinton visit central Ohio JAY PANANDIKER Copy Chief panandiker.1@osu.edu SHERIDAN HENDRIX Lantern reporter hendrix.87@osu.edu Chelsea Clinton and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker visited the Columbus area campaigning for the Democratic candidates as Election Day approaches.

Booker spoke at an event hosted

by Ohio State’s chapter of College Democrats, where he spoke urging those gathered to vote for former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland — who is running for the Senate against incumbent Republican Sen. Rob

Portman — and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

He spoke of the importance of the rising the rising cost of college at the event, which took place at the Ohio Union.

“There are marginalized folks who are not enjoying the promise of the dream of America, who are looking to this state, and somebody in this state is going to stay home. (The voters) have the destiny of this nation in their hands, and they are going to stay home,” he said.

Booker also spoke about the importance of the upcoming election.

He said he does not understand people who do not feel engaged BOOKER CONTINUES ON 2

FRANK BERARDI | FOR THE LANTERN

Chelsea Clinton campaigns for her mother, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, at an Ohio Democratic Party campaign office in Grove City on Oct. 26.

2 | Thursday, October 27, 2016

LANTERN APP

CAMPUS

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Want to read The Lantern when you’re walking on The Oval? Check out our iPhone app, available in the App Store.

STUDY: MILLENNIALS

Young Ohioans plan to vote with money on minds NICK ROLL Campus Editor roll.66@osu.edu While millennials might be socially progressive — studies from Pew Research Center show they favor legalization of same-sex marriage and marijuana more than previous generations — when it comes to the 2016 election, their top motivator is the economy.

The study, conducted by Bank of America and USA Today sampling 2,180 18- to 26-year-olds across the country, found that for 68 percent of those surveyed in Ohio, the economy was more important than social issues. Eighty percent said their personal financial situation would factor into how they voted.

Anne Marie Warren, market sales manager for Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said social issues in the news and landmark Supreme Court decisions — such as Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 — might explain why young voters feel more drawn to economic policy as Election Day nears.

“If you think about it, you and your peers have had a very unique experience with sitting around

dinner tables and having very tough conversations with your families, and standing up in your communities and recognizing that something uncomfortable was happening,” she said.

Warren added that while 75 percent of those surveyed in Ohio felt optimistic about their financial future, there were setbacks in how they viewed the economy.

According to the study, 63 percent were worried about finding a career path to support their ideal lifestyle, about half “have doubts” about the economy, about onethird rate the job market as “poor” or “somewhat poor,” and 47 percent carry student debt, which is 12 percent more than the national average.

“People are more worried about job opportunities, safety nets and the economy in this period of time, especially relative to parents and older generations,” Warren said.

Robert Greenbaum, a professor in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs who specializes in economics and economic policy, said that, given the economy during the late 2000s, the results didn’t surprise him. “(The results are) consistent with the hangover from the Great Recession,” Greenbaum said.

SNOWDEN FROM 1

after the formal Q-and-A session.

“He’ll be discussing a lot about cybersecurity and what’s going on with that, because that’s something you hear in the news all the time,” Miglich said. “He’ll touch on what that means for the United States. We’ll give him a chance to talk about what exactly he did and why he did it, so he can explain how he exposed the NSA, and how he’s dealt with that.”

Josh Hubbard, OUAB president and a fourth-year in finance, said it’s important for OUAB to bring controversial speakers like this, in addition to comedy shows and concerts it puts on.

“Having the opportunity to bring something as educational and thought-provoking as this was a great opportunity,” he said.

Erik Nisbet, associate professor in the School of Communication, teaches about Snowden in his classes. He said what Snowden did makes American citizens consider the balance between security BOOKER FROM 1

in it, because it will determine the futures of those in poverty, in the criminal justice system, those without healthcare and those who cannot afford higher education.

He added that voters in Ohio have a tremendous amount of power at the ballot box.

Madeline Morycz, the secretary of OSU College Democrats and a second-year in public affairs, said she thinks it’s very important that the country not only elect a Dem-

Most important issues for millennials this election Millennials with student debt who say From a study done by Bank of America and USA Today

33%

30%

28%

it will impact their voting decision

Job growth

“A lot,” 32%

Taxes

National economy

5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 18- to 26-year-olds who say the issue is the most important

No, 45% Yes, 23% ROBERT SCARPINITO | MANAGING EDITOR FOR DESIGN

“This group of people grew up during generational-unprecedented economic challenge.”

Greenbaum said the financial slowdown caused by the 2008 housing crisis would have lingering effects on young people and their attitudes about the economy and voting for the long term.

“It will probably color their financial decisions for the rest of their lives,” he said. “Similarly, we saw that with the generation that grew up — and the children of the people who grew up — during the Great Depression.”

For some young voters, however, the prioritizing of the economy by those going to the polls can be frustrating.

“The election can be multifac-

eted,” said Nick Prayner, a thirdyear in marketing. He went on to say his reasoning behind voting for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is based on social and financial issues addressed in her platform, but also in his opposition to Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Prayner, who identifies as gay, also criticized what he considered a lack of attention to LGBT issues over the course of the 2016 election.

“The other issues (besides legalized gay marriage) the LGBTQ community is facing, like homelessness or (forced) conversion therapy or (lack of access to) transgender-specific health care, things that are more controversial

or less glamorous … people say, ‘Oh, it’s not the time for that, it can wait,’” Prayner said. “Is that a good enough reason to put them on the back burner? No, it’s not.”

Regardless of why people intend to vote, Greenbaum said the economy is is in better shape than people sometimes perceive it to be.

“We’ve had growth — it hasn’t been extremely rapid, but the recession we’ve come out of hasn’t been a typical recession. It would have been a lot to expect an immediate bounce back (from the Great Recession). ” he said. “I would just encourage people to vote.”

@_stopdropnroll_

SINGLETARY FROM 1

and privacy.

“Whether you agree or disagree with his actions in terms of him being a traitor or being a criminal, obviously, what he did sparked a conversation about online surveillance, and what should be privacy rights for American citizens,” Nisbet said.

Both Nisbet and Miglich noted Snowden’s controversial nature.

“Its controversial, but whatever side you’re on, it gives a chance to hear what he has to say — it kind of gives him a chance to explain himself — and ask questions,” Miglich said.

The event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the Ohio Union Performance Hall.

Tickets are set to be released on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Ohio Union Information Desk. Tickets are free and one ticket is available per Buck-ID. If there are enough tickets, admission will open up to students from satellite campuses and faculty.

ever, he also said he doesn’t believe the jump is worth the risk.

“We can still get drunk ... but we don’t need to jump in the lake,” King said. “After the loss of Austin’s life — someone who would have done amazing things at OSU and beyond — it’s time to shut that down.”

Bitto said the tradition was an accident waiting to happen, which is why she feels relieved that the lake is no longer being an accessible area for students to jump into.

“It’s not safe, and it’s awesome that there can be new alternatives,” she said. “To have something else and to block it off and drain it is better off for everybody so no one else gets hurt.”

King argued that the Mirror Lake itself carries more significance than the relatively new tradition of jumping in it.

“Before the ’90s, people weren’t jumping in the lake like that and we got along just fine,” King said.

“I see the lake as a huge part of the

ocratic president, but also Democratic candidates down the ballot.

“I thought it would be exciting to see Cory Booker speak, because he’s a charismatic guy,” Morycz said. “I thought it was great, I thought it was a very moving speech.”

Chelsea Clinton spoke at an Ohio Democratic Party campaign office in Grove City, just south of Columbus, where she also urged voters to check Democratic candi-

dates across the ballot and spoke on her mother’s higher-education policy.

Columbus resident Karen McCall, who brought her 12-year-old daughter, Rianna, said she was impressed with Chelsea Clinton’s speech and hopes that Hillary Clinton’s college-affordability plan would be able to help her family.

“I have two kids who are struggling to get through college. My

MASON SWIRES | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

A student sits next to Mirror Lake. culture of Ohio State. I completely understand that and I support that notion. However, the jump itself clearly is extremely dangerous.”

Nick Roll contributed to this story oldest daughter had to drop out because she couldn’t study and work enough hours to pay for college,” McCall said. “(Rianna) is 12, so she’s going to be heading off (to college soon).”

Additionally, Chelsea Clinton took a jab at her mother’s opponent, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, warning that his “daily diet of hate speech” has created a bullying trend that she called “the Trump effect,” as

For more stories like this, follow us on Twitter! @TheLantern

well as criticizing Trump’s campaign slogan. “‘Make America Great Again’ is code for ‘Make America Great Again for white, straight men’— which isn’t most of us,” she said.

A representative from OSU’s chapter of College Republicans did not respond to a request for comment.

@JayPanandiker

@LanternArtsLife

thelantern.com

ARTS&LIFE

Thursday, October 27, 2016 | 3

WHAT’S UP From shows to concerts, your guide what to do this weekend. | ON PAGE 4

Class counters Parkinson’s tremors Haunted LINDSEY CAPRITTA Lantern reporter capritta.3@osu.edu

A dance instructor proves that dance isn’t just for fun, it can improve symptoms of neurological disorders.

Dance for PD is a national dance program that teaches specialized dance classes to people with Parkinson’s disease. The group designs classes and trains instructors, including dancer Miriam King, who is bringing the program to Columbus.

King’s involvement with Dance for PD began while she was attending Hampshire College in Massachusetts, where she created a personalized major in dance and neuroscience. King got involved in Dance for PD, through her research.

After graduating in 2015, King became a certified Dance for PD trainer and moved to Columbus.

She got in teamed up with Ohio State Department of Dance, and began teaching a Dance for PD class at Sullivant Hall.

King said the classes incorporate modern dance with elements of ballet and yoga.

“I’ve noticed the classes give (students) confidence to express themselves through their movement,” King said. “The classes allow for camaraderie and growth

and a community that oftentimes is not available to those with Parkinson’s. They come to class and it doesn’t matter if they have Parkinson’s because everyone is pretty much in the same boat. It’s a trusting space to explore movement in a safe way.”

After beginning her classes, King met Deb Kegelmeyer, an OSU professor of Clinical Health and Rehabilitation Science. Kegelmeyer has been part of a study that researched Dance Dance Revolution improving balance in those with Parkinson’s disease. Kegelmeyer said the game’s effects are similar to Dance for PD’s in that both help minimize tremors.

To further explore the effects of dance, Kegelmeyer helped develop a research study based on King’s work. The study will develop classes to observe dance’s effects on other disorders, including dementia and Huntington’s Disease.

Kegelmeyer noted the similarity between physical therapy and the movement in King’s classes.

She said King’s classes tend to be more creative, encouraging people to come up with their own ideas.

“People with neurological problems have trouble learning sequences, which dances are,” Kegelmeyer said. “Miriam does a good job starting with an easy

one- or two-step sequence and then building on that.”

King said she hopes to expand the classes in the central Ohio.

She has begun training dance instructors for the program, emphasizing patience and thorough explanation with students.

In addition to studying other disorders, King said she wants to incorporate other styles of dance in the study. She has begun to add tango and salsa steps and started working with a dancing instructor to develop a ballroom dancing

class for those who have Parkinson’s disease.

“My goal is not only to keep class varied in styles of dance but make the class an opportunity to collaborate with local musicians and dancers,” she said. “I want to help grow the Columbus dance community to be inclusive to people of all abilities and socio-economic backgrounds, creating environments where a community can be established.”

King said people are often inKING CONTINUES ON 4

COURTESY OF MIRIAM KING

Miriam King is a dancer who teaches classes for people with Parkinson’s disease.

COLUMBUS’ OWN

The Week Knights: Engineers of rock CAMERON CARR Lantern reporter carr.613@osu.edu It might seem like a faux-Beatles shtick at first when Columbus-based band The Week Knights take the stage in matching suits — but there is more to the story.

The four Ohio State engineering students who make up the group play off their expected future careers with how they dress for performances. They said the suits pay tribute to typical office

dress codes, while the name references a regular work schedule.

“In a way, The Week Knights is kind of emblematic of us,” said drummer Jack Morrison, a thirdyear in materials science and engineering. “It’s kind of the idea that all of us are in fields which will require us to do 9-to-5’s.”

The members did not all meet through the engineering program, but have bonded over the similar experiences it creates.

“We fit the stereotype and try to break the (engineering) stereo-

type,” said vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mike Ciccone, a fourthyear in mechanical engineering.

Lead guitarist Billy Van der Laar, a fourth-year in computer science and engineering, and bassist and backup vocalist Jesse Keckler, a fourth-year in biomedical engineering, complete the four-piece group. All the members describe balancing school and music as a challenge.

Since Ciccone and Van Der Laar came together to start a band about three years ago in their

COURTESY OF DAN MITCHELL

The Week Knights, a group of OSU engineering students, perform at The Garden Theater in the Short North.

freshman year, The Week Knights has only played six shows. But that doesn’t bother the members.

“That kind of fits in with our engineering background,” Ciccone said. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

In addition to engineering, the members hold a variety of other commitments, including positions as club leaders, teaching assistants and graders.

Morrison said the band creates obstacles for schoolwork, but has become a more rewarding experience as the group has progressed.

“During my first year, I definitely had times where I would kind of resent the time I had to take for band practice because of how busy I was,” he said. “I think the real turning point was when we started adding original songs.”

The band began as a cover-focused acoustic guitar-driven group but has come to rely on original music and electric guitars.

The band members personally called and booked their first show at the Royer Activity Center, a campus facility torn down during the North Campus Residential District construction. The show featured no openers and an hourand-a-half set.

Looking back, the band describes it as a learning experience.

At that show, and at all others, ENGINEERS CONTINUES ON 4

Fest combines EDM and Halloween GHEZAL BARGHOUTY Lantern reporter barghouty.5@osu.edu Haunted Fest, dubbed “Ohio’s largest Halloween party,” will make its way back to Columbus this weekend with a lineup of DJs and electronic dance music artists from around the world.

The music festival is presented

by Prime Social Group, a Columbus-based event production and concert promotion company that is responsible for several music events around Ohio, like Numbers Fest in Athens, Ohio, and Breakaway Music Festival in Columbus.

Zach Ruben, co-founder of PSG and founder of Haunted Fest, said there’s never been a larger EDM festival to come to Ohio. He added that after being in business for about six years, PSG always knew that Halloween was the perfect time of the year to host a largescale event.

“Three years ago, we finally figured out that, let’s do an all EDM event on Halloween to really target not only the Ohio State and Greek life community and students in Columbus, but also anyone in Columbus looking to really celebrate Halloween, party and really enjoy some of the top-tier talent,” Ruben said.

The first Haunted Fest in 2014, which featured headlining artists Zeds Dead and A-Trak, was held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Ruben said that, since then, the festival has been held at the Ohio Expo Center to accommodate its popular demand.

This year’s festival will include performances by internationally-known DJs, including Kaskade, Galantis and Marshmello, and also will highlight some local DJs and EDM talent.

“I think that the energy of a full EDM show in a city like Columbus, which is really unique and I think we’re lucky that we can support an event like that here,” Ruben said. “Usually, you have to go to LA or Miami or a big city marHAUNTED FEST CONTINUES ON 5

“It’s a high quality festival in Columbus, my hometown, so that makes it special for me.”

James Caudle Local artist

4 | The Lantern | Thursday, October 27, 2016

KING FROM 3

timidated by dance, or simply don’t have access to it, financially or otherwise. She said she hopes to make it more accessible. King ENGINEERS FROM 3

Morrison said the group has tried to gain insights into ways to improve the band.

“Every show we do kind of teaches us something new,” Morrison said.

Ciccone said The Week Knights

WHAT’S UP THIS WEEK

thelantern.com

@LanternArtsLife

continues to perform professionally and is currently performing in the Shadowbox Live show “Broken Whispers.”

King said she has plans to get

her Master of Fine Arts in Dance at OSU and do collaborative research in collaborative research in science and arts for the department. She also plans to minor in

nonprofit business studies and to one day start a nonprofit that explores movement to improve symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders.

King’s Dance for PD class is taught at Sullivant Hall on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. The classes are free and open to the public.

began with modest aspirations, and the members value the progress they have made thus far.

“There was one point in time where Billy’s goal was to get enough people together to actually play maybe even a cover,” Ciccone said. “And now it’s just

snowballed.”

The band is currently preparing to record a four-song EP to release as soon as possible.

While the members would ideally like to continue to play music, they try to keep practical expectations.

“I have engineering as sort of my backup, if you could call it a backup,” Van Der Laar said. “I’m ready to fall back on it.”

The Week Knights will compete in Operation Smiles’ charity battle of the bands on Friday Nov. 18 in the Ohio Union Performance

Hall. The free event will use audience donations as votes to crown a winning artist.

Thursday, Oct. 27

Friday, Oct. 28

Saturday, Oct. 29

Sunday, Oct. 30

Grouplove, 7 p.m. at EXPRESS LIVE!, 405 Neil Ave. The indie-rock band is set to perform with openers MUNA and Dilly Dally. Tickets are $33.85 including fees via Ticketmaster.

Green River Ordinance, 7 p.m. at A&R Music Bar. 391 Neil Ave. The Texas-based rock band is set to perform with openers Castro and The Roosevelts.

Tickets are $17.20 including fees via Ticketmaster.

Watsky, 7 p.m. at EXPRESS LIVE!, 405 Neil Ave. The hip-hop artist is set to perform with openers Witt Lowry, Daye Jack and Chukwudi Hodge. Tickets are $28.35 including fees via Ticketmaster.

Insane Clown Posse 6 p.m. at Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St. The hiphop group is set to perform with openers Big Hoodoo, Blahzay Rose and Trilogy. Tickets are $33.85 including fees via Ticketmaster.

COTA’s Line #2 runs on High St. until midnight* * Mon-Sat, until 10pm on Sundays

Swipe your Buck ID for unlimited rides throughout Columbus

@LanternArtsLife

thelantern.com

Humans of OSU

SHERIDAN HENDRIX | LANTERN REPORTER

“I’m from Chicago, so I’m pretty excited about the World Series. We haven’t been there in a long time. They’ve had one of the worst franchises in history and they’re playing the Indians, so both just historically bad teams. Plus, we haven’t won in a hundred-plus years. I’ve had tons of people just walk up to me and say, ‘Go Tribe,’ but no hostility — which has been good.”

-Patrick Rumsey, first-year in engineering

Heart Healthy, Buckeye Strong Free heart checks for students (ages 18-40)

Get a free T-shirt and swag bag!

Friday, October 28

Wednesday, November 2

RPAC Amphitheater | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ohio Union Great Hall Meeting Room gallery space | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Heart disease and stroke are 80 percent preventable:

Get active Manage Stress Eat healthy foods Avoid Tobacco How far does Brutus go on game day?

On Saturday, October 29, guess the number of steps Brutus takes and win a Fitbit!

Text BRUTUS and your guess to 228466

Scarlet out the ’shoe for heart health Saturday, October 29!

heartcheck.osu.edu

Thursday, October 27, 2016 | The Lantern | 5

HAUNTED FEST FROM 3

ket like Chicago to get this style of event, never forget,” Ruben said. “It’s a lot of peoand I think that’s the most unique factor in ple, it’s a lot of visual stimulus, and all of its own.” your senses will be blown.”

Local artist James Caudle, also know as Haunted Fest is at the Lausche Building Corrupt, said he will play a multi-genre, at the Ohio Expo Center at 717 E. 17th Ave. high-energy set of his originals, edits and General admission tickets are available for mashups at his third Haunted Fest this year. $40 to $70 with VIP options available.They “It’s a high quality festival in Columbus, can be purchased on the Haunted Fest webmy hometown, so that makes it special for site. me,” Caudle said. “Experiencing the atmosphere and energy with your closest friends makes it killer. I cannot wait to get on that stage and have fun with the crowd.”

Corrupt is set to perform on Haunted Fest’s main stage at 8 p.m. on Saturday night.

In addition to the performances on the main stage, the festival will also hold a silent disco, where audience members can get a pair of headphones and choose which DJ set to listen to.

The silent disco will feature local DJs like OSU student Arman Gerami, a third-year in finance, who will be playing his first Haunted Fest after two years of attending. Gerami will be performing at the same time as good friend and fellow DJ Chris Willis, a fourthyear in economics, with audience members able to switch between sets.

“I’m very excited to share all of our hard work with the audience,” Gerami said. “I’m very excited for the audience to switch between our music and experience our contrasting styles.”

The two-day music festival is set to start at 5 p.m. on Friday and attendees are enCOURTESY OF TNS couraged to wear costumes.

DJ Kaskade will be a headliner at “(Haunted Fest is) an experience that you the 2016 Haunted Fest on Oct. 28 at won’t get anywhere else and one that you’ll the Ohio Expo Center.

6 | The Lantern | Thursday, October 27, 2016

thelantern.com

WRESTLING FROM 7

said. “It was a good, healthy conversation and it was about faith, God and the meaning of life.”

Jordan knew that the coaches didn’t recruit him expecting he would be married and have a child by his junior year, so the support from his coaching staff was everything to him and his wife,” Jordan said.

“When you say when you are recruiting somebody that ‘I’ll be there for you through the thick and thin,’ it sounds good, but it’s not so easy to apply sometimes,” Ryan said.

“I think he has seen firsthand that we love him not only as a wrestler, but as a human being. Not only as someone that can score points for us and win national titles for us, but as a man and as a person.”

The couple was married before Keira was born. Jordan said that, along with getting married, becoming a dad was the proudest moment of his life.

“Before that, it was always the wrestling that was the proudest moment. I won four state championships in high school and

came in third twice in the national tournament at Ohio State. But now, what means the most to me is just my wife and our little girl,” Jordan said. “That’s crazy because I’ve been wrestling since I was 6 years old, and I have had my daughter for a year.

Nothing compares to that.”

Not only did the coaches of the wrestling team support Jordan and his wife when they were going through the process of getting married and having their child, but so did his teammates.

“When Bo’s daughter was born, a lot of the team went over to the hospital and got to see Bo, his wife and Keira,” Micah Jordan said. “The whole team just embraced Bo’s relationship with his wife and his daughter.

It was amazing.”

This upcoming season will be his second season as a married man and a father, but it also marks a few more changes for the wrestler.

The first change is that the four-time time state champion at St. Paris Graham High

@TheLantern

School will move up to a higher weight class. In his first two seasons wrestling at OSU, Jordan wrestled at the weight of 165 pounds. He finished twice as the runner-up at the Big Ten championships and third at the NCAA championships.

But this season, he will be competing at 174 pounds.

“I think he will be better there. I think he will feel better there. He’s got a huge frame, and he is just more of a wrestler of great strength,” Ryan said. “He was ranked No. 1 in the country at 174, so that’s a pretty good indication of what the country thinks of him.”

Although Jordan has yet to wrestle competitively at the weight, he said that he feels good in the practice room and is looking forward to competing. He knows there are expectations of him and his teammates, but he feels like the sky’s the limit this season.

“As far as attaching an accolade as a goal, you can say it, but it doesn’t need to be said,” Jaggers said. “But if Bo competes

his hardest and his hardest gets him fourth place in the country, then we are going to wrap our arms around him and give him a hug and be so proud of him.”

The other change in Jordan’s life this season comes away from the mat. He and Ashley are expecting their second child, a girl whom Jordan said is due on November 25.

While Jordan’s education and wrestling career are both very important to him, he said that being married and being a father helps him deal with the stress that wrestling and school can bring.

“I feel like when I wasn’t married and I didn’t have a kid, it was all business. I really didn’t relax as much, and I didn’t really take my mind off wrestling,” Jordan said.

“But now when I go home, I have a little girl that will run up to me and give me hugs and kisses. It’s just a whole different world, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. If I could do it all over again, I would do it the exact same way 10 times.”

thew Harris retired due to concussions. He has been out since suffering a concussion in Week 2.

However, a big reason Northwestern is respectable against the run is because of redshirt senior defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Circleville, Ohio, native has been terrorizing quarterbacks all season. He leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the NCAA with eight total sacks.

Coming off of a game where the OSU offensive line allowed 11 tackles for loss and 6 sacks, this week may be just as tough as a task to give Barrett ample time to pass and create holes for redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber and junior H-back Curtis Samuel.

“There’s not a question of ability within our team at all,” said redshirt junior guard Billy Price. “We got very talented guys in our room. You got to focus in on what we have and continue to develop and execute higher.”

Breakdown Coach Meyer and the Buckeyes hope to answer several questions that arose from the loss to now-No. 24 Penn State. The past two seasons, OSU has had great success following a loss, especially on offense.

Against Northwestern on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the ‘Shoe, the Buckeyes should be able to re-establish their offense as one of the most potent in the conference.

Last week, Samuel failed to get a touch in the first quarter and only ran the ball twice in the game. This week, there should be a higher emphasis on getting the ball to the team’s No. 1 playmaker.

On the defensive side of the ball, the amount of big plays allowed last week overshadowed the defense giving up only 276 total yards. Going up against a more up-tempo offense might benefit OSU, which had success earlier in the year against that style of play.

Barrett said that the team’s identity will be put to the test this week because they have a smaller room for error for the duration of the season.

“We’re going to find out what we’re made

of,” he said. “Everybody could be fine when we’re winning games … but as far as backs against the wall … that really shows your true colors.”

SCOUTING FROM 1

that doesn’t happen. It happened; move on.

Get ready for a very good team coming in here.”

The Northwestern Wildcats (4-3, 3-1 Big Ten), started the season at 1-3, but have won their last three games, including victories over Iowa and Michigan State. Wildcats’ coach Pat Fitzgerald has his team playing its best football coming into a matchup with a No. 6 OSU team fresh off of a loss.

Offense The Wildcat attack begins and ends with junior running back Justin Jackson. He leads the Big Ten with the most carries (171), the most rushing yards (792) and rushing yards per game (113.1). He also ranks fifth in the conference in rushing touchdowns (6).

Last week, OSU faced one of the conference’s top backs in Saquon Barkley, who ran well against the Buckeye defense. Barkley gained 99 yards on 12 carries (8.25 yard average), with two rushes more than 20 yards. Jackson provides the OSU defense with similar challenges, however he doesn’t have the size Barkley has. Standing at 5-foot-11, and weighing 193 pounds, Jackson is coming to Columbus having gained 453 yards on 88 carries and having scored three touchdowns in his past three games.

“They got a great running back,” said junior linebacker Raekwon McMillan. “I think he leads the Big Ten in rushing yards.

(He was) second last year to (Ezekiel Elliott) in the All-Big Ten.” Redshirt sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson is in his second season as the starter for Fitzgerald and has shown significant improvement.

Thorson has completed just 57.9 percent of his passes, but has thrown for 1,686 yards and 14 touchdowns, while running for three more scores. Like Jackson, Thorson is coming into Ohio Stadium playing his best football. He has thrown for three touchdowns in each of the past three games, which is a reason why Meyer said Northwestern is a thriving team.

“That’s as improved a team as I’ve ever seen from beginning to now,” he said.

“Three big wins, two on the road — Defining wins.”

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, Wednesday 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. Advertising in the paper is sold largely by student account executives.

Students also service the classified department and handle front office duties. 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.

COURTESY OF TNS

Northwestern then-redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) during the first half of a game against Stanford at Ryan Field on Sept. 5, 2015 in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 16-6.

Redshirt defensive end Tyquan Lewis said on Monday that there’s a feeling inside the locker room, at least for the defense, that the team is ready to prove itself again on the field. Having the last game stand as an “L” on OSU’s schedule doesn’t sit well with Lewis or the team.

“I feel more anxious to get out there,” Lewis said. “It’s not that big of a thing to me, to go to work. It’s more so getting over the feeling.”

Defense The production of the passing game has been lacking during the past three weeks when compared with earlier games in the season. Against Northwestern, OSU redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett might be going up against the perfect defense to assert himself through the air.

The Wildcats rank dead last in the Big Ten — and 111th in the NCAA — in passing defense, allowing 282.4 passing yards per game. As a whole, the defense averages 414.1 yards allowed per game, ranking near the bottom of the Big Ten. To make things worse, just this week, four-year starter senior cornerback Mat-

Editor in Chief Managing Editor for Content Managing Editor for Design Copy Chief Campus Editor Assistant Campus Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Arts&Life Editor Assistant Arts&Life Editor Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Design Editor Assistant Design Editor Multimedia Editor Assistant Multimedia Editor Engagement Editor Oller Reporter Miller Projects Reporter

Sallee Ann Ruibal Michael Huson Robert Scarpinito Jay Panandiker Nick Roll Sam Harris Nick McWilliams Jacob Myers Hannah Herner Regina Squeri Alexa Mavrogianis Mason Swires Jose Luis Lacar Eileen McClory Elizabeth Suarez Jack Westerheide Mitch Hooper Kevin Stankiewicz Amanda Etchison

Director of Student Media General Sales Manager

Spencer Hunt Marie Pierce

Business Office 614-292-2031 Newsroom 614-292-5721 Advertising advertising@thelantern.com Classifieds classifieds@thelantern.com FOLLOW US thelantern.com @TheLantern @TheLanternOSU facebook.com/TheLanternOSU @LanternOfficial

@Jacob_Myers_25 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

thelantern.com Lantern Classifieds HELP WANTED GENERAL

UNFURNISHED ONE BEDROOM

TELEPHONE INTERVIEWER Telephone Interviewers needed to administer surveys for research firm.

Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Daytime and evening shifts available. Approx.

12-25 hrs/wk; shifts last 4 hrs. Apply in person at: Strategic Research Group, 995 Goodale Blvd., 2nd floor.

Available immediately- 1 bedroom perfect for Grad Students at 231 W. 4th Ave.in Victorian Village. $650 + deposit.

ANNOUNCEMENTS NOTICES BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK $189 for 5-Days.

All prices include: Round-trip luxury party cruise.

Accommodations on the island at your choice of ten resorts. Appalachia Travel. www.

BahamaSun.com 800-867-5018

Letters to the Editor To submit a letter to the editor, either mail or email your letter. Please put your name, address, phone number and email address on the letter. If the editor decides to publish it, he or she will contact you to confirm your identity.

Email letters to: ruibal.1@osu.edu Mail letters to: The Lantern Letters to the Editor Journalism Building 242 W. 18th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210

NO pets- call Elaine 614-4865543.

To advertise go to

thelantern.com

Corrections The Lantern corrects any significant error brought to the attention of the staff. If you think a correction is needed, please email lanternnewsroom@gmail.com

@LanternSports

thelantern.com

Thursday, October 27, 2016 | The Lantern | 7

WRESTLING

Husband and father first, All-American wrestler second WILLIAM KOSILESKI Senior Lantern reporter kosileski.2@osu.edu Most mornings, Bo Jordan is awake bright and early to head to a morning workout or practice.

As a student in athletic training, he attends his classes until about 2 p.m. only to return to the weight room for another lift and another practice until around 5 p.m.

The wrestler then takes an ice bath, showers and cleans himself up before he returns home for the night. But instead of hanging out with his teammates or heading to a bar, the redshirt junior comes home to dinner and playtime with his wife and 11-month-old daughter.

This is not the typical day for most student athletes, let alone average college students. While the 22-year-old holds the responsibilities of being a student at Ohio State and an All-American wrestler on his broad shoulders, he also has the responsibility of being a husband and father in his home life.

“Honestly, everyone always asks me, ‘How do you do it?’

Or they will tell me, ‘It seems so hard.’ But it’s easier. It’s honestly easier,” Jordan said. “I’m not out partying or doing anything stupid. I’m in, spending time with my wife and daughter, getting my homework done and I’m living a real clean life, and it’s easy.”

Bo isn’t the only Jordan on the Ohio State wrestling team, as his younger brother Micah is a red-

COURTESY OF OHIO STATE ATHLETICS.

Ohio State redshirt junior wrestler Bo Jordan comes into the 2016-2017 NCAA season ranked No. 1 for 174 lbs. weight class. shirt sophomore. Micah is just go of some things he was used to, dent, a husband and a father beone of Bo’s many teammates who such as playing video games for cause of his maturity. wonders how he balances all of several hours a day. But he drift“One of the adjectives that his responsibilities in his life. ed away from those activities and comes to mind when you think of “Sometimes I’m like, ‘How now is accustomed to life with his Bo is that he is a mature kid,” Jagdoes he do it.’ But he’s really family. gers said, “He knows what he valstrong and he is really mentally “Now it’s like I can’t wait to get ues, and that is evident in his relatough,” Micah said. “He still puts out of practice and to go home and tionship with his wife, the kind of time in with his family, with his see my daughter. I can’t wait to father he is and the teammate and wife and his daughter, and also get out of practice to just go hang brother he is.” he still spends a lot of time in the out with my wife and watch some Head coach Tom Ryan said that wrestling room.”

Netflix. I can’t believe I’m saying Jordan recognizes what it takes to For Bo, living with his wife that, but it’s awesome,” Jordan be able to manage and maintain Ashley and their daughter Keira said. “I love my life and it’s very, his lifestyle. meant he had to change his life- very different.”

“He understands what a real style. At first, he said it was difOSU wrestling assistant coach man acts like in society, and real ferent for him because he had to J Jaggers said that Jordan is able men uphold their responsibiliprioritize his motivations and let to balance being a wrestler, a stu- ties,” Ryan said. “He has done a

VOLLEYBALL FROM 8

she developed into one of the team’s strongest assets and a powerful leader.

“She made it a point to make sure her voice was heard, even if she couldn’t say what she wanted to say,” Sandbothe said.

Carlston said that, from a coach’s perspective, León is what holds the rest of his team together.

“She does the maintenance.

(She’s) the glue,” he said. “She does a lot of things for us.”

León’s journey soared to a new level on Oct. 22 of this year when she broke the 12-year-standing record for most career digs in OSU women’s volleyball history with 1,586, a record set by National Player of Year Stacey Gordon.

She said to see herself come this far is something she would never have dreamed of.

“When you sign here and come here, you never think about stuff like that (breaking records),” she said. “Those are maybe goals or dreams someone has, but it won’t actually happen.”

Grabbing the title was even more sweet for León because her family in Puerto Rico was able to see her do it.

“What really hits me the most is that in that game (against Michigan State), my family was together back home watching. Bringing my family together is something really special for me,” she said.

León’s mom and dad are able to come to the U.S. three or four

great job at managing his home life … because he was raised in a way that you take care of your own stuff. We call it flying your own plane. You take a hold of the wheel and you fly, so he has been a great example of that.”

When he and his then-girlfriend, now wife, found out that they were going to be parents, it was in the middle of the team’s 2015 national championship run.

Jordan waited about two months to say anything to the coaches because he was concerned that they would be upset with him.

But Jordan couldn’t have been more wrong.

A few days after the team won the national championship, Jordan called Ryan to tell him about the news.

“I was kind of tearing up and didn’t know what to say,” Jordan said. “He went, ‘Holy crap. Holy crap.’ He said that three times, and then he started dying laughing, and I didn’t know whether to start laughing or crying because I didn’t know what was going on.

But then he goes, ‘Hey man, that’s life. I love ya. What can I do to help.’”

Ryan said he knows that Jordan has a great circle of people around him whom he can go to for advice and counseling, but he was happy that Jordan decided to give him a call.

“I was excited. I was like, ‘Look, can you imagine how many loving people are going to be in your daughter’s life,’” Ryan WRESTLING CONTINUES ON 6

OFFENSE FROM 8

“She made hard stuff look easy and easy stuff look easy, but really I gravitated to her competitive aura and how she played the game.”

Geoff Carlston OSU volleyball coach

times a year to watch her play.

When they can’t, they watch her games online along with the rest of her extended family – which, she said, could be up to 25 people at one time.

León isn’t the only Buckeye receiving international support.

Freshman outside hitter Bia Franklin hails from Rio de Janeiro. León said she shares a special connection with Franklin because when she looks at her, she is able to see herself three years ago.

“I love talking to her and telling her my story because, for me, it’s really important that she stays here and doesn’t give up,” León said.

León’s team said that she is an inspiration to everyone she touches, and her journey has transformed her into not only a stronger volleyball player, but a stronger individual.

Sandbothe said, “Seeing her ac-

complish these kinds of things … makes me trust in the journey and trust in the process and know that if you have people in your corner, you really can do anything.”

León said she wants to see other players learn from her story. Carlston attributes that quality to her selfless and humble personality.

“For me, it’s really important once I leave, I want (the underclassmen) to know how Buckeye volleyball does it,” León said.

When her days donning the Buckeyes’ libero jersey are over, León hopes to keep playing the game she loves – but closer to those who inspired her to push through tough times.

“One of the reasons why I want to play professional is my other family members who haven’t gotten the opportunity to watch me play,” she said. “They can watch me play (in Ponce), especially like my grandpa, he means the world to me.”

There’s one thing Sandbothe said she has taken away from knowing León, and it’s the belief in achieving the seemingly impossible.

“Someone who can have so many things against them and just being in really low points where you didn’t know if you could see the light or when it was going to get better, and she never gave up,” she said.

pare, the way we practice. Everything, all the little things.”

Warinner said the problems are spread across the entire offensive line, and not just with Prince. He extended the challenge of improvement to his entire team, as well as singling out “The Slobs” for a rough game.

“Everybody needs to get better,” Warinner said. “Isaiah’s working on the things he needs to get better at. We’ve addressed those, and he’s not the only person that has areas that they need to improve. We just didn’t do enough good things.”

Although the team has been criticized for its lack of production for multiple weeks, Meyer remained adamant that there would be no personnel changes or offensive overhauls. In his mind, the problems are all about execution.

The Buckeyes’ coach said a losing performance and a poor showing is sometimes necessary for the team to grow.

“Life lessons and football lessons are learned,” he said. “As a coach you really enjoy watching guys grow up obviously. Get kicked in the teeth, you don’t enjoy that. But that’s also part of the game.”

@NickM_OSU

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

www.thelantern.com

8 | Thursday, October 27, 2016

DOTTING THE “i”

SPORTS

thelantern.com

@LanternSports

Offensive line doing just fine, according to OSU NICK MCWILLIAMS Sports Editor mcwilliams.66@osu.edu Co-offensive coordinators Tim Beck and Ed Warinner received criticism from across the Ohio State fan base following a disappointing offensive showing against Penn State. Occasional vanilla play calling mixed with receivers not getting open, a lack of a clean pocket for redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett and only two touches for junior H-back Curtis Samuel were all grounds for fan panic on Saturday.

Although the team still finds itself at No. 6 in the latest AP poll, the Buckeyes looked vulnerable across the offensive front last Saturday. While a change might seem to be imminent, OSU coach Urban Meyer said the team is keeping the same look moving forward.

“I don’t think we played our best game,” he said. “Conversations about any personnel changes usually go on today. I don’t foresee that. But we need to improve.”

Notably, sophomore right tackle Isaiah Prince struggled against James Franklin’s defense, failing to bend his knees and react to twists from defensive ends and linebackers. So far this season, Prince had been performing at a

“Just really focus on the details and remembering what it took to get our program to the way it is.”

Pat Elflein Redshirt senior center

ALEXA MAVROGIANIS | PHOTO EDITOR

OSU sophomore offensive lineman Isaiah Prince (59) fights back tears after the Buckeyes’ 24-21 loss to Penn State on Oct. 22. high level, and looked as though he was filling in well as a starter.

All that progress seemed to come crumbling down in State College, Pennsylvania, as the sophomore had an extremely tough go. Regardless of the struggles, redshirt junior guard Billy Price said he would stand by his teammate no matter what, and ripping on Prince would solve none

of the Buckeyes problems.

“It’s not attack Isaiah by any means, because I’ll go to war for him right now,” Price said. “I have no problem with it. I won’t sit here and allow someone to knit-pick him. He and I, we’re going to get better. There’s no doubt about it.”

In all, OSU allowed well over 10 hurries along with six sacks, both numbers well above the season

average. After keeping defenses at bay for most of the season, the Buckeyes had a proverbial leak from Wisconsin turn into a flood against Penn State in terms of pass rush.

The problem with sacks has come mostly on the road. This year, OSU allows just a half a sack per game while at Ohio Stadium.

However on the road, as the team

was against Penn State, the Buckeyes surrendered three sacks per contest.

Redshirt senior center Pat Elflein said this week has been all about righting wrongs and doing a better job at creating a solid pocket while also creating wide-open running lanes for the running backs.

He also said the team has not focused on just the sack issue, but anything the coaches and the offensive line could think of, and said there were a few things the team could take away from the loss.

“Just really focus on the details and remembering what it took to get our program to the way it is,” Elflein said. “And not taking that stuff for granted; the way we pre-

OFFENSE CONTINUES ON 7

VOLLEYBALL

OSU libero Valeria León breaks record and barriers JENNA LEINASARS Assistant News Director leinasars.2@osu.edu Nearly 15 years ago, 7-year-old Valeria León and her older sister, Karina, were on their way to volleyball practice in their hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. León’s grandfather took them to practice, as he did every day. León started to develop a passion for the sport of volleyball, and she began to sleep with her volleyball at night.

She had no idea she’d be holding a place in Ohio State history just a handful of years later.

Last week, senior libero León grabbed the title for most career digs in the women’s volleyball program during a match against Michigan State, but her journey to the top hasn’t always been easy.

In fact, it’s been her against the world in many cases.

León’s love for volleyball continued into high school at Colegio Sagrado Corazón De Jesús, where she was recruited by OSU coach Geoff Carlston. He said she stood out to him for a lot of reasons, but it was her determination that won him over.

“She made hard stuff look easy and easy stuff look easy, but really I gravitated to her competitive aura and how she played the game,” he said.

JENNA LEINASARS | ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR

Senior libero Valeria León goes through her service routine during a match against Nebraska at St. John Arena on Oct. 14.

Coming to the United States for college wasn’t León’s first choice, but she said her mother wholeheartedly believed in her talent as a player and encouraged her to give it a try.

“My mom used to tell me, ‘Just try it and if you don’t like it, I’ll be the first one to buy you a ticket to come back,’” León said.

On her official visit to OSU, she immediately committed. She said she was blown away by the cam-

pus’ atmosphere.

“I had other options, but I felt like Ohio State – it was the perfect one for me,” she said.

At the time, León spoke little English, being a native Spanish speaker back in her Puerto Rican home. Everything was different in this new environment – communicating, learning and even some aspects of the game she had come to love were different.

“I was dealing with so many

outside things, like the language,” she said. “I had to go to tutoring for like eight hours every day because I couldn’t do the homework by myself.”

Her team remembers it well.

Being homesick while at college is one thing, but being homesick when your home is in another country is another.

“She missed her family a lot.

She missed home a lot. We all did, but it was different – she was in

a completely new environment,” said senior middle blocker Kylie Randall.

The team tried to support León in any way it could. Teammates walked her to classes, ordered food for her and took care of her like a sister, even though she had only been part of the OSU volleyball family for a short time.

León could have given up and went back home where things were more familiar and comfortable, but she said when she finally decided to stick with it, she was thinking about more than just herself.

“I had people behind me. They were excited and believed in me every single day, so I thought not giving up would make them proud,” she said. “People like my parents and my grandpa – he would go and drive me every single day to practice, and he never asked me for anything in return.”

León also had her Buckeye family to rely on. Senior middle blocker Taylor Sandbothe said she, Randall and fellow freshman Maggie Heim spent nearly every weekend with León during that first year, and they were able to bond outside of St. John Arena.

Through the constant support of those close to her, León stayed with the program, and with time, VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES ON 7