A LANTERN SPECIAL PROJECT
Behind the scenes of Chris Pan’s viral commencement speech
e nomination process, Ohio State’s speaker history
By Emma Wozniak Editor-in-Chief
This story has been shortened for this print edition. See the full version at thelantern.com/special-projects/
As the class of 2024 sat in the ‘Shoe in May, there were dozens of commencement speakers they could have heard from, each one having been considered by the university’s Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee that year.
woman to serve in the role, was the
Lizzo, formally known as Melissawriter with almost 11 million monthly Spotify listeners, was the committee’s second preference.
LeBron James, the NBA all-time leading scorer and an open advocate for higher education who is also an Ohio native, was ranked No. 3 by the committee.
Instead, university President Ted Carter Jr. selected Chris Pan — the social entrepreneur who encouraged graduates to consider investing in Bit-
and who really made the call
During his May 5, 2024, address, commencement speaker Christopher Pan led the audience through songs, namely “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes and a rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.”
coin, performed two songs and a magic trick and openly admitted to writing drafts of his speech while high on the psychedelic drug ayahuasca. Pan did not appear at all on the committee’s list of recommended speakers for the 2023-24 year.
A Lantern data analysis of Ohio State commencement speakers from
the past half-century reveals the average speaker is a white, male, non-Ohio State alum with a career in education.
Pan, on the other hand, is a nonwhite, male alum with a career in entrepreneurship. Clearly, he breaks the mold in more ways than one.
to a close, online controversy sparked. Then-graduates and their families, members of the Ohio State community, journalists and others took to social media to express dissatisfaction — and for some, blatant criticism — toward Pan’s speech.
“In hindsight, I probably would have gone with a more conventional approach,” Pan said. “But then again, if I would have done that, it probably would have been forgotten. So, that’s something that I guess is what it is. I’m it myself.”
Among these layers of frustration, one question seemed most prevalent: How was Pan chosen as the commencement speaker?
According to records obtained from the university, Pan received one public nomination in 2016 via Ohio State’s online nomination portal. Separate records of the advisory committee’s recommendation lists show Pan was under committee consideration for the 2019 summer and autumn commencement ceremonies.
The following year, Pan was considered a “brought forward” nominee — meaning he wasn’t on the original list
On that spring day, even before the commencement ceremony had come SPEAKER continues on Pages 2-3
SEBASTIAN PETROU GRIFFITH | LANTERN REPORTER
Ohio State football defensive assistant coach placed on paid administrative leave
SPEAKER continued from Page 1
of nominated candidates for that year but was added based on a previous year’s committee recommendation — for the 2020 summer and autumn ceremonies.
After the 2020-21 academic year, Pan’s name does not appear on any of the committee’s speaker recommendation forms.
And yet, Pan was selected as the 2024 spring commencement speaker, because even though his name did not appear on the committee’s list, Cartermer student committee member Abigail Berk said shows the body’s lack of overall authority.
Though it’s unclear whether Carter invited each committee-recommended speaker and they all declined or ifversity president — who has since presided over two additional commencement speakers in the form of Ohio State professor Angus Fletcher for the summer ceremony and Olympian Stephanie Hightower for the autumn ceremony — said he takes full accountability for the decision.
“I’ve owned this because it was my signature on the invitation to come speak,” Carter said in a Jan. 13 interand foremost, and I don’t want to shy away from that. I made that decision commencement speaker. So, I say that because there are some people that thought his speech was interesting, there were some people that absolutely thought it was the worst ever — I’ve heard all of that, and I just want people to know that I’ve owned it.”
Ohio State’s history of commencement speakers
The University Archives keeps both alphabetical and chronological lists of Ohio State’s commencement speakers, dating as far back as 1878. The Lantern’s analysis was done by reviewing the past 50 years of speakers, yielding a pool of 189 distinct speeches.
Of the past 50 years of Ohio State commencement speakers, nearly 83% have been male and just over 80%
have been white.
Just under 30% of speakers have
the remaining 82 speakers, just over 14% have been entrepreneurs, just over 13% have been scientists, just over 7% have been journalists and just over 5% have been artists.
former or then-current U.S. presidents deliver commencement speeches: Gerald Ford in 1974, George H.W. Bush in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002, Bill Clinton in 2007 and Barack Obama in 2013.
Additionally, despite Ohio State representing one of the largest athletic departments in the country, just above 3% of the analyzed speaker pool has worked in the athletic industry.
Some of these speakers include Ohio State’s then-head football coach Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes in 1986, former Ohio State and professional basketball player Clark Kellogg in 1998 and former Ohio State and proin 2015.
Moreover, the analysis revealed just above 31% of the past 50 years of commencement speakers have been Ohio State alums — a factor Pan, who graduated from Ohio State in 1999, said may have been the key reason for his selection.
match potential speakers with spring, summer or autumn commencement based on a variety of factors, including speaker availability,” Booker said.
When asked how much sway the
Berk, the 2023 committee’s Undergraduate Student Government representative, said “none.”
“I might be a bit jaded, [but] I don’t know that the committee really has any weight unless the president doesn’t have any other ideas,” said Berk, also a 2023 Ohio State graduate in biomedical science.
How does the speaker selection process work?
The Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee only considers individuals submitted via the Commencement Speaker Nomination form
time by anyone — including students, faculty, administrators or even committee members themselves — university spokesperson Chris Booker said in an email.
From this pool of nominees, Booker said the committee considers every single speaker submitted. He said each committee member submits their
contenders before the average scores across the entire committee are calculated. The committee then meets to discuss and rank the submission as a group, he said.
Once the committee’s list of recspokesperson Ben Johnson said in an email the list can also be considered by the committee when deciding speakers for the years to come.
President — at this point, the committee is uninvolved in the process.
“While the committee is charged with developing a recommended slate
For example, Berk said she personally speculates Patrick Gelsinger, thenCEO of technology company Intel, was selected as the 2022 spring commencement speaker by then-university President Kristina M. Johnson due to his $100 million investment in partnerships with educational institutions like Ohio State.
“I don’t know if that was ever suggested, but like, it was pretty clear, ‘Hey, you gave us a really big donation, now you get to speak at commencement,’” Berk said.
University spokesperson Ben Johnson denied this correlation.
“Patrick Gelsinger was an exciting choice because it had recently been announced that Intel would be building in central Ohio, but there was no quid pro quo related to a gift or anything of that nature,” Ben Johnson said.
Though it’s unclear whether Gelsinger was under committee consideration prior to 2019, his name does not appear on any committee recommendation records from 2019-22.
In this spirit, Berk said the president has no requirement to reach out to the nominees on the committee’s list.
“There was no back and forth communication of, ‘Hey, we’re thinking of doing this person, they were [or] were not on your list, here [are] our reasons why,’” Berk said. “We send out suggestions and that’s it.”
Though Berk said she thinks the way it currently functions feels “performative.”
that our suggestions really were purely suggestions because I don’t think I was
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Then-President of the United States Barack Obama delivers a commencement speech to the graduating class on May 5, 2013.
really super aware of that before we started, and maybe even throughout deliberations,” Berk said.
Though Berk had graduated by the time Pan spoke at the 2024 commencement ceremony, she said she was still surprised to learn about Pan’s speech.
“You hear other schools are getting these major celebrities to speak, and Ohio State’s a huge school, so I always kind of wondered why that wasn’t happening with us in the past couple years,” Berk said.
In fact, Pan said he didn’t even anticipate mentioning Bitcoin when he
8, 2024.
shared anything about Bitcoin — I looked on my Instagram — was on March 2,” Pan said. “So, I highly doubt that in the course of a week, somebody noticed an Instagram story — by the way, this is not a post, this was like an out that I would mention Bitcoin.”
“We were talking about that within the had a lot of questions about the same process that you’re asking about.”
Regardless of this factor, Carter said it can be generally challenging to solidify commencement speakers.
“It’s really hard to land these speakers,” Carter said. “We don’t pay our -
tions is another aspect of Pan’s speech that some spectators criticized.
Though he went back and forth on whether or not to bring up the war, Pan
Israeli and Palestinian communities around campus moved him to ultimately include it in his speech.
Looking back, however, he said he may not have made this same decision.
Pan said it was at a dinner with university President Carter the night before commencement that he asked the
selected as that year’s commencement speaker. Carter replied the university wanted alumni representation, and he had been on that radar for many years, Pan said.
“I think my sense is the universithey’re looking for,” Pan said. “And I guess this year they wanted alumni.”
Carter said there were many factors that led to Pan’s ultimate selection, including his younger age, the fact he had previously been on the committee’s list and his life experiences with “coming from out of nowhere” to become a suc-
variable that ensured Pan would be last year’s speaker: He accepted Carter’s invitation.
here and his name was on the table, and by the way, there were multiple other people in the hopper,” Carter said. “I’ll just say this, when you get down to some number of people, ultimately, to be a speaker, one really important thing has to happen. The invited guest has to say, ‘yes,’ right? So, you
For many, an upsetting component of Pan’s speech was his endorsement of Bitcoin, especially since Carter sits on the Board of Directors for Bitcoin miner TeraWulf, Inc. Though online critics speculated a connection between Pan’s speaker selection, Pan repeatedly rejected any sort of correlation.
Carter has maintained he “had no said he personally owns no Bitcoin. He also said most university presidents, such as former Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson, serve on company boards, which doesn’t pose an issue of the university. -
cially selected a speaker for this year’s spring commencement ceremony. When asked whether this timeline was typical — considering Pan’s selection wasn’t publicly announced until April 2024 — Carter said the timing of his may have played a role.
“I do think it had something to do with my timing for showing up, that they wanted to make sure that I got in the seat, got comfortable,” Carter said.
versities do, so that can sometimes limit you. When you’re trying to get the right, best speakers, the further out you can do that planning, the better, and sometimes you can lock them in early.”
Though Pan said the committee “thought a more traditional experience would be better,” he insisted upon having music because of a past event he had been part of at the Mershon Auditorium in 2018 with incoming freshmen, which Pan said went well.
“I thought it would be really special,” Pan said. “Especially for many of the students who maybe didn’t have a high school graduation, I thought, ‘Hey, this could be really special, to have some music.’”
Pan said he, as opposed to the university, takes full responsibility for
“Part of my thinking at the time was to really have an impact, sometimes you have to do something a little different,” Pan said. “In hindsight, I don’t know if I would have done it the way I did, but in the moment, I thought, ‘Hey, it worked before, maybe it’ll work [for] incoming freshmen versus outgoing [at] graduation, so that was something I learned myself: Just because something worked in one setting or one situation doesn’t mean it’s goingation.”
Beyond preliminary guidelines, Pan said the speech-writing process to submit the speech roughly a week before the ceremony so it could be entered into the closed-captioning system, but the content itself received no university input.
The end of the spring semester saw many campus-wide protests pertaining to the war in Gaza. The controversial subject matter of such demonstra-
“My point was, ‘Hey, let me share some new ideas,’ and of course, with new ideas, some people like it, some people don’t,” Pan said. “And maybe a commencement speech wasn’t the right place to necessarily be so contrarian, but I tried, and I hope folks don’t take any ill intent from this by any means because everything I said, I genuinely believe in.”
Berk said she thinks it’s more important for graduates to remember feeling pride and excitement on their graduation day, as opposed to a particularly memorable speech.
want to be memorable, perhaps at the expense of the graduates’ feelings,” Berk said. “I’m sure that that’s not what he meant for it to be at all, but I do think that the point of commencement is supposed to be to celebrate the people graduating.”
Ultimately, Pan said he apologizes to those who were upset by his speech but also appreciates feedback from those who liked it.
“I just hope folks keep an open mind and practice some forgiveness if they were upset,” Pan said. “Also, just keep an open mind that maybe it wasn’t necessarily what they expected, but maybe there was something we can all [learn
and I’ve certainly been processing and learning from it as well myself.”
Looking forward, Carter said he thinks the Ohio State community will be excited about the spring 2025 speaker.
“We’ve been a little bit more thoughtful about who we’ve asked to come and speak, and you’ve seen that in our last two commencements,” Carter said. “I think the speaker that we’re going to have this spring is going to be highly celebrated, people are going to be very excited about who we’re bring-
UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Then-President of the United States Gerald Ford delivers a commencement speech to the graduating class on Aug. 30, 1974.
ARTS&LIFE
For the full list of top 20 movies of the 2020s, visit thelantern.com
Arts & Life Desk’s picks for best movies of the 2020s
By Samantha Harden Arts & Life Editor
Disclaimer: There may be spoilers ahead.
The2020s have been a decade marked by numerous challenges, many of which have cast a shadow over recent years. One of the decade’s most
to a standstill, delaying highly anticipated releases. It wasn’t until 2022 that the cinematic landscape began to regain some sense of normalcy.
However, just as the industry found its footing, the 2023 Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild strikes disrupted Hollywood once again. Even so, the 2020s have proven to be a fertile ground for creativity,
Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” — a combination that earned the nickname “Barbenheimer” — as well as important inde -
Now that 2025 has arrived, The Lantern Arts & Life desk has highlighted 20 of the best movie releases from recent years — movies that have shaped the decade and captured the diverse stories of our time.
Please note the featured movies are listed in chronological order, starting with the earliest release date and ending with the most recent.
Spike Lee, “Da 5 Bloods” (June 12, 2020) | Samantha Harden, Arts & Life Editor
Is it a comedy? A drama? A bit of a mess? It’s all of the above, and not everyone will like it.
and ends with Dr. Martin Luther King,
Nick DeSantis Asst. Arts & Life Editor
stories to emphasize a shared theme: strong opposition to the Vietnam War. What these bookends really set up is a kind of heist movie; and of course, Lee makes it anything but ordinary.
modern relevance. It confronts issues of race, war and trauma with a raw in-
Vietnam War that had yet to be widely explored in mainstream cinema at the time of its release. Lee’s fearless storytelling invites audiences to reckon with that resonates far beyond its cinematic boundaries.
S.S. Rajamouli, “RRR” (March 24, 2022) | Nick DeSantis, Asst. Arts & Life Editor
Legendary.
This is the only word that can be employed to describe the wildly entertaining, over-the-top Telugu action
“RRR” — released internationally story of brotherhood, friendship and revolution between two men named Raju (Ram Charan) and Bheem (N. T. -
ing sides in India’s 1920s battle against British imperialism.
thrilling action sequences seen this decade. Its campiness and ridiculousness could rival the “Fast and Furious” in that series, “RRR”’s action oozes with atmosphere and passion.
Though the action is amazing, the
heartfelt story, highlighted by emo -
Henicle Arts & Life LTV Producer
tional acting and fantastical musical numbers, including the Academy Award-winning song “Naatu Naatu.”
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (April 8, 2022) | Lena Henicle, Arts & Life Video Producer
Between its critical acclaim and global success, there’s no doubt “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stunned audiences in 2022.
love, it somehow managed to present relatable themes and charactersie’s opportune release — which came during a time when the world needed a reminder of what matters most in life
this decade. Walking out of this movie, audiences were left with the familiar ache of moments never exchanged between loved ones.
An immigrant story with intricate
of the most distinctive works in American cinema and continues to hold culhit theaters.
Films rarely cross the lines of genre conventions while still delving into matters of the heart, but “Everything
its moments of complexity and gran— conveys the love story between a mother and daughter. For this reason, its grasp on contemporary watchers’ heartstrings stays strong.
Dean Fleischer Camp, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” (June
24, 2022) | Samantha Harden, Arts & Life Editor
“What if everything changes?” “It will.”
Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate’s “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” I expected a light, easy watch at the theater. I couldn’t have been more wrong — and in the best way possible.pear to be a light-hearted children’s shell, but it’s so much more in reality.
Despite its one-hour-and-30-min-
exploring themes of loss and hope, while also confronting fears in an ever-changing world. It truly is a story that reminds you that life, even in its toughest moments, is worth living.
Jordan Peele, “Nope” (July 22, 2022) | Lena Henicle, Arts & Life Video Producer
Produced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Nope” held a blinding mirror up to the escapism many people were seeking at the time.
created high expectations among audiences — and he delivered a breathtaking spectacle for all to witness.
(Daniel Kaluuya) and Em (Keke Palmer), as they investigate a “bad miracle” terrorizing their small desert town and attempt to gain evidence of its existence.
Peele reveals just enough of the
a fear of the unknown rather than a fear of the creature itself. Notably, the
Contributing Film Critic
Lena
classics like “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park,” “Nope” conveys the inherent danger of humans searching for sensationalism, especially when some circumstances are simply better left unknown.
Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun” (Oct. 21, 2022) | Sebastian Petrou
“Aftersun” is a movie so powerful that it managed to forever change the meaning of Queen and David Bowie’s famous song “Under Pressure,” which has now become synonymous with the
“Aftersun” is the epitome of simple -
lotte Wells’ debut feature is a loosely autobiographical, straightforward story about a young girl on vacation with her recently divorced father.
Yet, “Aftersun” works without a high-concept narrative because every emotion springs from the central characters’ dynamics. The simple block in communication and understanding that occurs between a daughter just starting to grow up and a father still too young to handle it works as a very tragedy.
rectorial debuts of all time, exploring
el unlike any other.
Powers and Justin K. Thompson, “Spider-Man: Across the Spi der-Verse” (June 2, 2023) | Se
uting Film Critic
part, have seen a massive drop in qual ity since the turn of the decade, align ing with the post-“Avengers: Endgame” era of superhero fatigue. Fortunately, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
trilogy expanded upon the world au diences fell in love with in 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spi der-Verse,” featuring the
same innovative animation style and a soundtrack composed by multiple talented artists, which actually managed to trump its predecessor.
What’s most important about “Across the Spider-Verse,” however, is its core message: “Anyone can wear the mask.”
“Across the Spider-Verse” introduced a swath of diverse Spider-Men,ent communities without feeling panderous or inauthentic. Audiences can only hope the eagerly-awaited “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” can bear the weight of the great responsibility that is the standard “Across the Spider-Verse” set.
Greta Gerwig, “Barbie” (July 21, 2023) | Samantha Harden, Arts & Life Editor
Arguably one of the biggest block-ta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is not only funny, but also deeply meaningful.ody of “2001: A Space Odyssey” that
words echoed across the theater with such raw emotion and truth.
viewers get to see Ryan Gosling break out into a high-budget musical number. But when I left the theater, it was Ferrera’s words about the social challenges of womanhood that truly lingered.
Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” (July 21, 2023) | Nick DeSantis, Asst. Arts & Life Editor
“Barbenheimer” was arguably the biggest pop culture moment of 2023, so this list truly wouldn’t be complete
“Oppenheimer” is the true story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and his mission to create the
see Oppenheimer struggle — both sci-
construction of the bomb and the global fallout after it was dropped.
is its acting performances, as Murphy is aided by an all-star cast that includes Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr.
themes that still apply to the modern world, and for this reason alone, it’ll this decade.
Emma Seligman, “Bottoms” (Aug. 25, 2023) | Lena Henicle, Arts & Life Video Producer
Amid a drought of raunchy coming-ences like a right hook.
club to meet girls — brings back the manages to create a new type of teen comedy for this generation of youth.
In a genre where teen boys primarily get their stories told, Emma Seligman’s future cult classic stands alone
Seligman — like 2020’s “Shiva Baby” — show she is not afraid to make stoing their way in a world that refuses to accept them. And “Bottoms” ultimately showed that some stories, no matter how cringy and ridiculous, deserve to
FILM continues on Page 6
RIGHT: Timothee Chalamet, left, and Zendaya in “Dune: Part Two.” Credit: Niko Tavernise via TNS CENTER: Ryan Gosling, left, as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in “Barbie.” Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros via TNS
LEFT: From left, Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Credit: Allyson Riggs/A24 via TNS
FILM continued from Page 5
Alexander Payne, “The Holdovers” (Oct. 27, 2023) | Nick DeSantis, Asst. Arts & Life Editor
with an original storyline designed to make watchers feel good is increasingly rare. Thankfully, toward the end of 2023, “The Holdovers” was released.
“The Holdovers” features Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) as he spends his Christmas break stuck at his prep school in Boston, with his only companions being his grumpy professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) and his lovable lunch lady Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
The three actors’ chemistry carriesferent personalities clash, with each interaction being both entertaining and engaging. In addition, director Alexander Payne’s ability to combine lighthearted comedic moments with appealing rewatch.
color grading create an instant sense of scene to the last. Adding to this sense of nostalgia, the movie features popular tracks from the decade that echo
including “The Wind” by Cat Stevens, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” by The Allman Brothers Band and “The Time Has Come Today” by The Chambers Brothers.
“The Holdovers” is ultimately a moving, heartfelt, thought-provoking story grounded in authentic relationships between characters. It will no doubt be added to critics’ future lists of
Sean Durkin, “The Iron Claw” (Dec. 22, 2023) | Sebastian Pe -
Critic
One of 2023’s latest releases ended up being its most powerful and memorable. Simply put, “The Iron Claw”
shot, expertly directed character study of a real-life family and their struggle to process emotions under the heavy
weight of patriarchal masculinity.
“The Iron Claw” is much, much more than a biopic about the Von Erich family. Though it excels at telling theiringful testament to the brotherly bonds forged through familial trauma, which resonates with plenty of viewers, regardless of their interest in wrestling.
All in all, “The Iron Claw” is a story about identity and the expectations forced upon people by those closest toquences of the pursuit of stardom.
Denis Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Two” (March 1, 2024) | Nick DeSantis, Asst. Arts & Life Editor
To say that “Dune: Part Two” is thecade thus far is not a stretch.
From astounding action to exceptional characters to breathtaking cin-
In the second chapter of the “Dune” (Timothée Chalamet) continuing his quest for revenge against the terrifying
surrounded by some of the most popular actors of this decade in Zendaya (Chani), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) and Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen).
Though the acting is world-class, it’s Villeneuve’s directing that is thesigned perfectly — from the set to the costumes to Hans Zimmer’s amazing score — that when watching, it feels like it was a story Villeneuve was sim-
ply destined to tell.
Remaining one of the most impres-
of the decade, this movie will certainly continue to be praised for years to come.
Luca Guadagnino, “Challengers” (April 26, 2024) | Lena Henicle, Arts & Life Video Producer
Luca Guadagnino is no stranger to diving into complex human relationships, and “Challengers” captures this knack to scandalous perfection.
its main trio of characters, paired with the to-and-fro energy of a tennis match, masterfully encapsulates the power plays that exist in toxic relationships. Whether it be the messiness of the characters’ lives or the temptation of an unconventional love triangle, audiences devoured “Challengers” in 2024.
Arguably the most talked-about
into the 2020s cultural zeitgeist with ease.
-
vealing the winner of the climactic game between Patrick (Josh O’Connor) and Art (Mike Faist), sparking debate among audiences over who the true “winner” is. Its intrigue only -
goers’ shifting perspectives alter their perceptions of the power dynamics at play. Guadagnino skillfully draws the viewer in, only to challenge their initial conclusions later on.
-
ers” (June 21, 2024) | Samantha Harden, Arts & Life Editor
A gritty love letter to 1960s Ameriimmersive aesthetic that captures the rebellious spirit of Midwest motorcyclelous attention to vintage detail and atmospheric cinematography transports viewers into a bygone era, blending nostalgia with gritty storytelling in a way that feels both authentic and timeless.
one of the decade’s best is Nichols’ distinctive decision to make the character Kathy (Jodie Comer) watchers’ guide into this world, with her perspective being revealed through interviews Danny Lyon (Mike Faist) conducts
This narrative choice not only grounds the story in emotional intimacy, but also makes Kathy an irresistibly loveable character, whose warmth, reoverall intensity.
Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” (Nov. 1, 2024) | Sebastian Petrou
“A Real Pain” is a delightfully simple movie that tackles some uncomfortably universal truths. What starts as a kind of road-trip buddy movie between two cousins quickly evolves into a much deeper story about what it means to feel lost and directionless in life.
Everyone has their own pain to bear, and everyone wants to help other often, life gets in the way. A person’s own real pain, and this unfortunately means they can’t always help those closest to them, as much as they wish they could.
“A Real Pain” might be the funniest movie of 2024, and it’s this humor that makes the tragedy of the characters’ generational and deep-seated trauma sting so much more. Because that’s just how life is: There are no high highs without low lows, and in order to exexperience a real pain.
NIKO TAVERNISE | METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES INC. (VIA TNS)
Mike Faist, left, and Josh O’Connor in “Challengers.”
FOOTBALL
Ohio State quality control coach Joe Lyberger placed on paid administrative leave
By Noah Weiskopf and Emma Wozniak Lantern Editors
Ohio State defensive quality control coach Joe Lyberger was placed on paid administrative leave just days before the Buckeyes traveled to Los Angeles for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, due to of Institutional Equity.
The OIE handles reports of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct, according to Ohio State’s webpage. Lyberger received a letter from Ohio State Human Resources Dec. 27, 2024, informing him that he had been placed on administrative leave with pay, “pending further investigation by
to university records obtained by The Lantern.
Ohio State declined to comment.
While on leave, Lyberger is not per-ings where he would normally perform his duties, the letter states.
Though the exact reason(s) for Lyberger’s leave are currently unknown, The Lantern is working to independently clarify those details.
Lyberger’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, said he is “not privy to any evidence the university is using to support its decision to place [Lyberger] on
“I’m used to The Ohio State University jumping to quick conclusions and imposing draconian penalties on stuout that the accusations are untrue with incredible damage being done to Shamansky said.
Records indicated Lyberger was originally hired by Ohio State in March 2021 as an athletics program assistant. In February 2023, he became the football team’s defensive quality control coach, primarily working with Buckeye linebackers.
The obtained records also include a series of Lyberger’s performance reviews from 2021-24.
In each review, Lyberger’s work was commended. From 2021-23, his yearend performance rating was labeled states his “performance exceeds ex-
The only item listed under “Opporthese performance reviews was “Work
This is a breaking news story and The Lantern will report more information as it is obtained.
KEYS continued from Page 8
Buckeyes dominated then-No. 4 Kentucky by 20 points, fueled by Bradand two steals.
As a 7-foot-1-inch forward, Bradshaw in head coach Jake Diebler’s pace-andimpact defensively with his length.
Backup centers Austin Parks and Ivan Njegovan aren’t as experienced and lack Bradshaw’s athleticism, giving Ohio State less advantageous matchup opportunities when the Kentucky transfer is out.
If teams can penetrate the Buckeye defense and get Bradshaw in foul trouble, Ohio State may be forced to play small by moving forward Sean Stewartger-bodied centers, losing speed in the process.
Feature the defense, run in transition
Ohio State already displays a solid defensive unit.
The Buckeyes are holding teams to game, the NCAA’s 34th best. However, Ohio State is still allowing 71 points per game from opposing teams, which ties the Buckeyes for No. 170 in the nation.
That said, the unit has the potential to be even better if defense becomes the team’s identity.
Ohio State is young, athletic and likes to run in transition, especially with lob threats in forwards Sean Stewart and Devin Royal.
But how do you get transition opportunities?
Tough defense and forcing turnovers.
The Buckeyes are currently tied for forced turnovers per game, which are mediocre numbers for a team with a high ceiling on defense.
Forcing more turnovers and bad shots will highly increase Ohio State’s chances of getting to run in transition, giving the Buckeyes more easy opportunities to score.
COURTESY OF OHIO STATE ATHLETICS
Ohio State defensive quality coach
Joe Lyberger was placed on paid administrative leave Dec. 27, 2024.
CARLY DAMON | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Buckeyes sophomore forward Aaron Bradshaw (4) looks for a pass while being defended by Hawkeyes sophomore forward Owen Freeman (32).
SPORTS
Ohio State assistant football coach placed on paid administrative leave
Opinion: ree keys to Ohio State’s men’s basketball for the rest of the season
By Sam Cipriani Asst. Sports Editor
The Buckeyes men’s basketball squad is one of the most polarizing units in the country.
With a largely new supporting cast, including four transfers in their main Ohio State’s roster and playing style season. And as the group has adjustplayers, new holes have appeared.
These are three ways the 2024 Ohio State men’s basketball team can unlock its potential in the second half of the season.
Help Bruce Thornton by improving ball movement
Ohio State’s roster showcases an arscorers, a lights-out shooter, athletic wings and tall, long centers.
What the Buckeyes lack, however, is
Thornton is the team’s top scorer, averaging 17 points per game, but he is -
This means the junior guard is asked to shoulder a large majority of Ohio State’s scoring load on a nightly basis, while also being responsible for initi-
limited shot creators.
Thornton is averaging just over four assists per game, and the Buckeyes rank No. 172 in Division I with an average of 13.8 per game.
In other words, Thornton is generating nearly a third of Ohio State’s total
maximize its talent, guards Ques Glover and John Mobley Jr. would need to step up both as ball handlers and conductors of the backcourt.
Mobley is just a freshman, but he been one of the Buckeyes’ best perim-
from Knoxville, Tennessee, is a proven veteran, having been one of the focal points of Samford University the past two seasons before he transferred to Ohio State.
causes the defense to be prepared for a larger variety of set plays. With Glovit gives an opportunity for Thornton, season, to be featured in more ways, like a spot-up shooter.
Aaron Bradshaw
The sophomore forward is the key and defense.
In the seven games Bradshaw missed this season, the Buckeyes posted a 3-4 record, with 20-plus-point victories over Campbell, Green Bay and Valparaiso.
However, in its four losses, Ohio State fell by a combined 77 points, including a 38-point bludgeoning from No. 1 Auburn and a disappointing 24-point defeat at the hands of Maryland.
KEYS continues on Page 7
LIAM AHERN | LANTERN PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior guard Bruce Thornton (2) dribbles the ball down the court during
CARLY DAMON | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman guard John Mobley Jr. (0) looks to make a pass during Ohio