The Lantern — Jan. 20, 2022

Page 1 Thursday, January 20, 2022

Ohio State reports 9.8 percent positivity rate, vaccination rates increase JESSICA OROZCO Campus Editor orozco.55@osu.edu Following the first week of spring semester classes, the vaccination rate for students, faculty and staff increased by almost one percent to reach 93.2 percent.

Ohio State has also updated part of its COVID-19 dashboard. From Jan. 10 to Friday, 9.8 percent of 18,540 PCR tests administered were positive, according to the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website.

This rate includes students, faculty and staff.

According to the website, regular updates to the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes COVID-19 dashboard will resume Monday. Some metrics, such as seven-day averages for testing and positivity rates, are unavailable due to the closure of the university for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All students living in universitymanaged housing are required to test weekly, regardless of vaccination status.

Booster shots are available at Jesse Owens North Recreation Center by appointment.

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Following the first week of classes, 9.8 percent of student, faculty and staff COVID-19 tests were positive.

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

CAMPUS

Mentorship program offers help with college application and transition for middle and high school students PARIS JOHNSON JR. Lantern reporter johnson.8687@osu.edu

As first-year students, Ami Kanu and Zion Moss found they had much to learn about the college experience.

Neither student felt they had received the necessary resources nor mentorship for the college application process or the college transition. This led them to form the Minority Collegiate Outreach and Support Team, or MCOST, Kanu said.

MCOST is a mentorship program at Ohio State that aims to prepare middle and high school students for life in college, as well as provide prospective college students with college mentors.

Whether students need help with mental health, time management, study skills, college applications, or college scholarships, Kanu, a second-year in neuroscience and MCOST president, said the program is ready to help.

Kanu said she started the program because she wanted to give students of color more resources for college preparation. She said all mentors are members of minority communities, supplying students with someone who can relate to their experiences while inspiring them to succeed.

“We realized that it is important for younger students to see people that look like them doing great things to know that they can also do it — they can pursue higher education and succeed,” Kanu said.

The program has over 50 active members — 15 mentors, 15 mentees and 20 volunteers — and Kanu said every mentor is passionate about its mission and wants to be a positive resource for the community.

“We have an application because we want to make sure that the mentors that we have actually

PARIS JOHNSON JR. | LANTERN REPORTER

The leaders of MCOST, Ami Kunu (left) and Zion Moss (right), at the Ohio Student Union. MCOST is a mentorship program at Ohio State that aims to prepare middle and high school students for life in college, as well as provide prospective college students with college mentors.

want to be part of MCOST, see our mission and want to be a part of what we do so the students have good mentors,” Kanu said.

Kanu said the program partners with East High School in Columbus and currently serves ninth through 12th grade students.

The organization is looking to expand beyond East High in the future, finding a middle school in the area to mentor students in sixth through eighth grades.

To pair mentors to students, MCOST

has both groups fill out forms covering everything from grades to interests, Moss said. The forms help ensure each high school or middle school student gets a mentor that not only prepares them for college, but connects with them as people.

Moss said he wants to expand the program and organize more events such as fundraisers, basketball tournaments and workshops to spread the word about the program.

Kanu said she would like to get mentees

involved in volunteering and inspire students to be passionate about serving their community. She also said she wants to eventually offer a scholarship to students at East High School.

“When we continue to grow, we will be able to do that, so hopefully we’ll have some combined events with the mentors and the mentees so we can instill in them how important volunteer work is in their community,” Kanu said.

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

ARTS&LIFE

Childhood friends set to open Columbus’ first sober bar

TYRIK HUTCHINSON-JUNIOR | LANTERN REPORTER

Colin Thomas (left) and David Payne (right) are the owners of The Dry Mill, Columbus’ first sober bar, located at 79 S. 4th St.

TYRIK HUTCHINSON-JUNIOR Lantern reporter hutchinson-junior.1@osu.edu The first sober bar in Columbus is set to open in February after a year of planning, development and lots of community support.

The Dry Mill is a sober bar located at 79 S. 4th St. that will serve food and nonalcoholic beverages. Owners David Payne and Colin Thomas said they have been friends since middle school and are both sober after struggling with alcoholism in the past. Thomas said they want the bar to serve as a useful resource for those who are also trying to get sober.

“We thought about the things we didn’t have when we were

trying to get sober,” he said. “We didn’t have anywhere to go, so we want to give that environment to people.”

Although the primary inspiration for Payne and Thomas was to give back to the sober community, Payne said they welcome all patrons.

“We’ve had women who are pregnant who are excited to come here,” Payne said. “They will be able to have fun without worrying about drinks getting spilled on them.”

The Dry Mill is meant to be more than just a business.

Thomas said he and Payne hope to foster a familial environment where everyone feels comfortable and supported.

“Not everyone that walks in that door may need help, but if

they need help then they’ll have that help here,” Thomas said. “If we don’t help them then we are failing them and ourselves.”

Although drinking is considered a common activity among people in their 20s, Payne and Thomas said they still believe a sober bar can be successful among the college crowd.

“We have had college students reach out who are excited about the concept,” Thomas said. “It can be hard for college students who don’t drink, so this is a place where they will not be pressured to drink.”

The Dry Mill Facebook page currently has over 6,000 likes.

This support they have received on social media helped them continue to pursue their goal of opening the bar, Payne said.

Hungry? Find out which breakfast sandwich is worthy of your dining dollars

“The support from the community is the reason why we are here,” Payne said. “Our Facebook page suddenly went from 400 followers to 800 in just hours. That really lit the fire.”

Payne said they will use social media to promote special events going on at the bar such as live music, trivia and comedy nights. Although The Dry Mill is already active on Facebook and Instagram, Payne said several of its employees are excited for the bar to also make a name for itself on TikTok.

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The main goal for the duo over the next year is to continue to grow the business and help those who are trying to get sober, the owners said.

“Hopefully we can get a bigger space and expand,” Thomas said.

“The end game is to be successful in maintaining the business and helping those who need it.”

People of any age will be welcome in The Dry Mill during the day, but individuals must be 18 or older to enter at night in order to maintain a bar-style environment.

Opinion: The ultimate guide to breakfast sandwiches at Ohio State MARCUS HORTON Web & Infographics Editor horton.328@osu.edu Breakfast is so much more than just breakfast.

Breakfast can be lunch.

Breakfast can –– and should –– be dinner. Breakfast can be a snack between classes. Breakfast is there for you in times of celebration and in times of sorrow. Breakfast is a tool, a reward and a means of communication. Breakfast is a metaphor for opportunity.

There is no better example of the true malleability of the socalled “first meal of the day” than the breakfast sandwich.

Its seemingly endless array of possible ingredients gives the sense of a food with no limit, a

delicious concoction that knows no boundaries.

I should know. I’ve tried nearly every breakfast sandwich Ohio State offers on its massive campus grounds.

In our lifetime, we will surely never be able to unlock the full potential of the breakfast sandwich, but the campus eateries of Ohio State certainly provide a good sampling.

From the modern halls of the Ohio Union to the historic structures of South Campus to the 23-floor mistake that is Morrill Tower, the number of breakfast sandwiches at this university seems to increase by the day. Let me be your guide as we search for the best breakfast sandwich at Ohio State.

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Sloopy’s Diner Sloopy’s was once the premier hub to grab a bite on campus. Its combination of location , menu depth –– you can order pancakes and french fries for dinner and top it off with a brownie sundae for dessert –– and the unique diner aesthetic was truly unmatched in its prime as a restaurant.

Unfortunately, that heyday has been on pause for an extended period of time thanks in large part to COVID-19. Sloopy’s has been transformed from a late-night staple to a takeout-only spot hindered by hourlong Grubhub lines and an understaffed, underpaid kitchen.

With the loss of environment came a loss in quality of food, starting — obviously — with its signature, oversized breakfast sandwich served on either Texas toast or an English muffin. Once considered one of the best deals on campus, this sandwich has morphed into a shell of its former self, often served lukewarm and hastily constructed.

I can’t blame Sloopy’s for this disappointing collapse — it’s hard being on top for so long, and constantly serving masses of impatient college students undoubtedly takes a toll on quality. You’ll be back, Sloopy’s. I know you will.

Rating: 5/10 Connecting Grounds It’s hard to top Connecting Grounds’ deadly one-two combo of breakfast sandwiches, a pair akin to LeBron James and Stephen Curry of NBA stardom.

First comes the LeBron: the buttery, straightforward delectability of sausage, egg and cheese on a flaky croissant. You know what you’re getting with this one, and you know it’s going to be memorable for years to come.

After you scarf down the alwaysdelicious croissant, you remember something: There’s another sandwich on the menu. One that confuses, yet intrigues, your inexperienced palate. One that brings something new and different to the table.

Chicken sausage and gouda cheese on a brioche bun? This can’t possibly succeed.

You take your first bite and immediately realize ordering from Connecting Grounds will never be the same.

Rating: 9/10

MARCY PAREDES | MANAGING EDITOR OF DESIGN

Crane Cafe Bagels are delicious. I’m a big-time bagel defender. But, for some reason, a bagel-based breakfast sandwich has a very low ceiling — a high floor, to be sure, but a disappointingly low ceiling.

That’s the case with Crane Cafe. It’s a solid sandwich –– with plenty of bagel options –– that will never leave you unsatisfied, but its hearty combination of turkey sausage and white cheddar lacks the otherworldly punch of a few of its counterparts on campus.

Rating: 7/10 Oxley’s by the Numbers The undisputed king of breakfast sandwiches on campus — nay, all sandwiches on campus — is Oxley’s by the Numbers.

The customizability is overwhelming at first, with over a dozen bun choices, excellent protein options and the best combination of cheeses –– cheddar, Monterey Jack or pepper jack –– on campus. My taste buds are tingling just thinking about it.

Oxley’s is the closest thing to gourmet food Ohio State has to offer. In my humble

opinion, a good Oxley’s breakfast sandwich may just be the best breakfast sandwich offered in the state of Ohio.

You can order your breakfast sandwich on a pretzel bun. Need I say more?

Please, extend your hours, Oxley’s. I’m begging you.

Rating: 10/10 (I’d go higher if my scale allowed it) 12th Avenue Bread Company For literally having “Bread Company” in the name, 12th Avenue Bread Company’s signature breakfast sandwich comes off on the unremarkable side of things. The option of subbing in a croissant is tantalizing, but again, it doesn’t bring the “it” factor I was seeking.

If you’re looking for the best deal on campus, though, I must direct you to the pizza bagels served at 12th Avenue Bread Company, which kept me alive freshman year.

Rating: 6.5/10 Marketplace on Neil If I could compare any breakfast sandwich on campus to the ones I make at home, this would be it. That’s not a

compliment, but not necessarily an insult, either.

Rating: 5/10 KSA Cafe Tucked away inside the temple that is the Knowlton School of Architecture, KSA Cafe might not be on your breakfast sandwich radar just yet. Truth be told, it wasn’t on mine until late last semester.

But if you’re in the area, give it a try.

The breakfast sandwich itself was about as generic as they come — on a relatively dry bagel with its indiscernible cheese and some form of sausage providing muchneeded flavor — but the cafe’s location inside one of the most unique buildings on campus makes it worth a visit.

Rating: 5/10 Traditions at Morrill If you have any experience with Morrill Tower, you know what to expect here.

Don’t waste your time making the trek for this miniature, flavorless, weak excuse for a sandwich unless you literally live in the building –– in which case, I’m so sorry.

Rating: 2/10

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Cafe with a cause: Open Mic Night returns to Freedom a la Cart KAYLA BUSH Lantern reporter bush.530@osu.edu From the outside, Freedom a la Cart may seem like a typical coffee shop, but behind the scenes, the cafe does a lot more than serve coffee.

Since the business’s inception over 10 years ago, the Freedom a la Cart staff has been dedicated to assisting survivors of sex trafficking in the Columbus area, according to its website. Following its first event Wednesday, the cafe will host another Open Mic Night Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in partnership with the Black Women Rise Poetry Collective.

“It’s always a really positive atmosphere,” Dorie Sessoms, the business’s Open Mic Night coordinator, said. “I’m very happy when people come in, especially when they get on the mic and express themselves. No matter where they come from, it doesn’t make a difference. We support it.”

Sessoms said all different forms of expression are encouraged at the Open Mic Night, and many past events have featured poetry readings and musical performances.

“We’ve got people singing opera, we’ve got people wanting to sing a spiritual song or rap, and so many other avenues,” Sessoms said. “Different cultures all come together, and it’s just a good way to connect.”

According to the Freedom a la Cart website, supporting sex trafficking survivors goes beyond providing a safe space.

“We love giving women the tools they need to become self-sufficient and take care of themselves,” Paula Haines, CEO of Freedom a la Cart, said. “It’s really about approaching things with the mindset of that saying: ‘If you can teach them how to fish, you feed them for a lifetime.’ ” Freedom a la Cart equips women with tools through many different areas of service.

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CREDIT | COURTESY OF PAULA HAINES

Freedom a la Cart, a cafe dedicated to helping survivors of sex trafficking, is hosting another Open Mic Night this winter.

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Through its outreach programs, the organization identifies these women and provides essential items, such as coats and toiletries, to help them get back on their feet, Haines said.

The workforce and life skills development program provides the women with job coaching, trauma counseling and financial literacy classes, as well as employment opportunities at Freedom a la Cart, Haines said.

“We’re not just training women for the

food industry,” she said. “We’re giving them their first job and helping them figure out what the next step is.”

The epicenter of the operation is the cafe itself, where counseling services and support group meetings are provided, events like the Open Mic Nights take place and survivors run the shop, Haines said.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for customers to understand that when they purchase a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee, they’re providing a job for a woman

who has experienced sex trafficking in our city,” Haines said.

Freedom a la Cart offers group tours of the cafe for those interested in learning more, as well as educational sessions on human trafficking, Haines said. She said recognizing the importance of education can help to combat the many misconceptions about sex trafficking.

“A big misconception is that sex trafficking is happening in other countries, but it’s not happening here,” Haines said.

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“When I started as a volunteer, I didn’t really understand what human trafficking was. Becoming educated made me realize this is really happening right here in Columbus.”

Open Mic Night is free to attend, but donations are encouraged. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and all proceeds will go toward Freedom a la Cart.

All Open Mic Night attendees must wear masks and will be as socially distanced as possible during the event, Sessoms said.

Blanket-making nonprofit empowers deaf community through employment PRESTON HARMON Lantern reporter harmon.528@osu.edu Keepsake T-Shirt Blankets takes customers’ old T-shirts and transforms them into a memory-filled blanket or quilt, but with a twist.

Keepsake, located at 563 S. Dawson Ave., has employed individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing since 1998.

Meredith Crane, executive director of Deaf Initiatives — Keepsake’s umbrella name — said she started Keepsake because of the hardships she saw her two deaf children endure as she went to job interviews with them as an interpreter.

“The questions they would ask my kids would blow me away, like, ‘What could you possibly do for us?’ ” Crane said.

Keepsake operated a little differently in its early days, Crane said. Instead of the business it is today, the nonprofit was known exclusively as Deaf Initiatives and worked toward providing opportunities for those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

This included workshops and bus trips to various universities and colleges such as Gallaudet University and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Crane said she had a vision for a business, but discovered the product to launch it with while talking to a fellow mother on the sidelines of a soccer game: T-shirt quilts. Around six years ago, Crane said she and the board of Deaf Initiatives decided to focus solely on the T-shirt quilt and blanket business.

“In the back of my mind, I always wanted a business because my kids were teenagers at that time,” Crane said.

PRESTON HARMON | LANTERN REPORTER

The Keepsake T-shirt Quilts and Blanket staff posing in front of the Keepsake office located at 563 South Dawson Avenue on Jan. 13.

“Both my kids are deaf, and I wanted them to work.”

Since its inception, Keepsake has employed over 160 people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Crane said. Shonna Collins, office manager for Keepsake, is one of 16 current employees and has been with Keepsake since 2008.

Collins has Usher syndrome, which causes a deficit in hearing and vision, Crane said. However, Collins said she has many responsibilities around the office, such as making schedules and reports, responding to customers, hiring and training.

Collins, who has worked in the retail industry in the past, said Keepsake is a unique environment compared to other workplaces.

“It’s so different,” she said. “When I’m

in the workplace and I’m the only deaf person, communication solely happens through writing back and forth. Most of the time, I’m the last person to know things because I have to wait for someone to tell me.”

Collins said her experience is far different at Keepsake because of her ability to communicate with those around her with ease.

“The communication is just so much easier. It’s much more free-flowing, people are laughing and I understand what’s going on,” Collins said.

This difference regarding freedom of communication for those deaf and hard of hearing was Crane’s goal all along, she said.

“I said if I could ever have a business

where everybody could communicate in sign language, barrier-free, that’s what I want to do,” she said.

Keepsake also gives back to the community with The Be Warm Project, Crane said.

Using leftover fabric from blankets and quilts they have made, Keepsake makes blankets, gloves and hats to donate to homeless shelters in Columbus and individual families struggling with homelessness, Collins said. The project has donated over 2,000 items since 2017.

“We recently donated a basket full of blankets, gloves and hats to a family who is experiencing homelessness, and they were grateful,” Collins said. “And, you know, it feels good to help that community.”

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

SPORTS

How golfers stay fresh during winter break ON PAGE 8

Confidence in Ahrens remains high despite cold stretch JACK EMERSON Sports Editor emerson.131@osu.edu As the Buckeyes pushed through their December schedule, one thing was clear: Justin Ahrens had found his shot.

But No. 19 Ohio State was forced to shut down program activities for a little over three weeks due to COVID-related issues — knocking Ahrens’ strong start off course. Since the Buckeyes returned from the break, Ahrens has struggled to find his stroke — shooting 6-for-29 over Ohio State’s last six games.

Despite Ahrens’ shooting struggles, head coach Chris Holtmann said his confidence in the Buckeyes’ sharpshooter is still high.

“He’s just got to cut loose and play. He’s got to play with a little more juice, a little more confidence to him,” Holtmann said. “He’s a tremendous shooter.

I really don’t worry about him at all. I think he’s going to hit his stride.”

Prior to the Buckeyes’ hiatus, Ahrens was drilling 3-pointers at a high rate — shooting 43 percent in Ohio State’s first 10 games.

Since then, Ahrens has shot just 20.6 percent from deep.

As the COVID-related break affected Ahrens, along with the team as a whole, assistant coach Ryan Pedon said the senior forward may need some time to get his legs back.

“I see a lot of Justin’s shots being right on, a lot of them being front rim, though,” Pedon said.

“I think some of that is probably attributed to his legs and coming

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio State senior forward Justin Ahrens (10) prepares to shoot from behind the arc during the Ohio State-IUPUI game Tuesday. Ohio State won 83-37.

off of the layoff.”

Pedon said another notable reason for Ahrens’ decline is the level of competition the Buckeyes have faced in recent weeks as they’re now in the midst of their Big Ten schedule. Prior to Ohio State’s midseason break, Ahrens shot 4-for-12 from 3-point range across two conference games.

Since returning from the break, Ohio State has played five Big Ten opponents and Ahrens has shot 20.8 percent from beyond the arc in those games. Ahrens entered the stretch averaging 8.7 points

per game, a number that has dropped to 6.8 as of Wednesday.

“When you’re as good of a shooter as he is for three or four years, he gets a lot of attention,” Holtmann said.

Although Ahrens’ efficiency from 3-point range has dropped, his responsibilities have not lessened. Pedon said the coaching staff still thinks Ahrens is hunting his shot aggressively and finding open looks.

Even when Ahrens’ shots aren’t hitting, he’s still a valuable member of the Ohio State offense

due to the gravity he creates on the perimeter. His spacing has helped allow freshman guard Malaki Branham find his rhythm from distance as the Columbus native has shot 41.7 percent from 3-point range since the break — including a 6-for-10 performance against Nebraska Jan. 2.

Ahrens also found ways to impact games beyond his typical shooting prowess during the stretch. Against Penn State Sunday, Ahrens collected a career-high seven rebounds.

While he typically dials it

in from 3-point range, Ahrens made his first 2-point field goal of the season Thursday against Wisconsin.

Although Ahrens has made his mark in a variety of ways during his struggles, graduate guard Cedric Russell encouraged the Versailles, Ohio, native to continue shooting despite his recent struggles.

“The best way out is to keep shooting,” Russell said. “The whole world knows he can shoot the ball, so just continue to shoot.”

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Thursday, January 20, 2022 | The Lantern | 8

Golf: Both teams try to stay fresh before spring season

DANNY FOGARTY | ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams use the facilities at The Jane and Walt Dennis Golf Performance Center to hone their skills during the winter.

DANNY FOGARTY Assistant Campus Editor fogarty.69@osu.edu

Both the women’s and men’s golf teams at Ohio State have been on a break since mid-October.

With the lack of competitive play, it may be difficult for the players to stay in shape in preparation for the upcoming spring season, which begins Jan. 31 for the women’s team and Feb. 14 for the men’s. However, it may be those months of practice that make all the difference come the season’s start in late January.

Junior Jackson Chandler said while some players become complacent during the break, it is important to stay disciplined.

“A lot of people are like, ‘OK, well, I have four months to my next term and I can just chill for two months,’ ” Chandler said.

“But, in reality, it’s those four months that really sets you apart from the other guys in spring.”

Chandler said this is why he took a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, during the break to practice with his personal trainer, Doug Spencer. He said having that one-onone practice is a big part of his preparation because he and his coach are able to focus solely on his skills.

Similarly, junior Lauren Peter said she went down to Florida to see her swing coach Mike Adams during the break. She said it is nice to have time to practice with how heavily it affects her performance ahead of the upcoming season.

“I like to work out as much as I can for the team so we can all come back together and feel ready for the spring,” Peter said.

Both Peter and Chandler said they also used the facilities at The Jane and Walt

Dennis Golf Performance Center, home to Ohio State golf, to hone their skills during the break.

The break is not just filled with workouts and swing coaches, though.

It is also a time for players and coaches to spend time with friends while they don’t have to go to tournaments or, in the players’ case, go to class.

Men’s head coach Jay Moseley said he uses the break to do something he has trouble with during the season: spend time with his loved ones.

“I’ve got a wife and two young kids at home, so it’s kind of a sweet time for us to spend some quality time doing stuff together as a family,” Moseley said.

Moseley said it helps that his children are out of school for the start of January as he can see them virtually anytime.

One problem both teams face is not

being able to bond during such a long break. When every player moves back to a different place, it can be hard for them to stay together mentally.

Nevertheless, both teams try to keep in contact as best they can. Peter said the team tries to stay cohesive by messaging each other and checking in on each other’s progress.

“We just type in the group chat every once in a while and talk to each other,” Peter said. “Like, ‘How’s everyone doing?’ and just, ‘How’s everyone’s working out, practicing?’ Just stuff like that.”

For the men’s team, one goal is to use the time they have together wisely.

Chandler said although it is difficult, it is good to spend at least some time with his teammates before they leave in December and after they come back in January.

“It’s kind of hard with everybody going away with family,” Chandler said. “It’s all about taking advantage of those little moments we have together at the end of the semester and at the beginning of next semester.”

The men’s team has about a month until its first spring tournament at the Albany Collegiate Invitational in New Providence, Bahamas. They have only just begun to practice, but they have already made some headway for the upcoming season.

Moseley said this time is crucial as it gives them the chance to start off the season, which will last until June 1, by building skills and chemistry every day.

“We want to just start a journey that’s going to produce some positive things for us down the road,” Moseley said. “Just focus on getting a little bit better each and every day.”

The women’s team has its first tournament a few weeks sooner as they travel to Palm Beach, Florida, for Big Ten Match Play Jan. 31.

With its first tournament just weeks away, the women’s team has already begun practice. Peter said the team got off to a great start this week and is looking forward to the spring season.

“We made a really good start to this week. We worked really hard in the gym,” Peter said. “We’re really excited just to get going and get started.”