April 16, 2020

Professors’ perspective of online classes…P5 Campus Recreation and WellWorks offer online fitness classes…P8 Human services degree offered online…P16 THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Volunteers work from home to make thousands of masks for essential workers in Athens P10

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

An unexpected way to say goodbye

A

ELLEN WAGNER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

s I sit down to last my last “From the Editor’s Desk,” it is under completely different circumstances than I originally thought.

With two weeks left in the semester, I would be writing this in the newsroom, preparing to finish up the last of college classes, spending all my time with friends and crossing off the rest of my senior bucket list.

I am doing the exact opposite while I sit alone in my apartment, preparing for my Zoom class call, texting with my friends instead of seeing them in person and leaving my senior year bucket list with many things left undone.

Within a number of days, the remainder of my senior year at Ohio University had been taken from me. While I understand the circumstances, I feel as if my time at OU will be complete without having my last ever finals week, creating the last print edition of The Post together in the newsroom and celebrating all our accomplishments at graduation.

I thought I would be writing under very different circumstances with a completely different set of emotions associated with this last “From the Editor’s Desk.” I expected to be feeling nostalgic about the final days of my senior year, not quite ready to say good-

bye. Now, it feels as if I will never get the proper goodbye to Athens, OU and The Post like I had once planned.

However, I am trying to see the positives in all of this. Looking back at my last real week at OU before spring break, I mostly remember the day-to-day of class, the laughter shared in the newsroom and the fun I had with my roommates seeing Jesse McCartney sing all the childhood hits.

Memories like these are how I will always remember my time in Athens, even if it did not end how I wanted. I blinked, and the last four years flew by.

I remember my freshman year and how nervous I was to first join The Post. My sophomore year was divided between making memories in Adams Hall the first semester and spending the second semester in Florence, Italy, meeting some of the best people and visiting the most amazing places. I look back on junior year, remembering the hard work as a news editor but enjoying all my free time with friends.

Senior year has been full of the unexpected. At The Post, it has been busy with adjusting to changes and keeping up with news reporting. As a student, it has been a time to spend with friends and for making plans for

life after graduation.

For now, I will say goodbye. I know I am saying goodbye to my life as a student at OU and The Post, but Athens is a place I will always be able to call home.

To our readers: Thank you for always supporting The Post, especially during these times. We promise to continue to be a needed resource in Athens and at OU. Without you, The Post would not be possible.

To our staff: Thank you for being the most amazing group of people to lead. Each member of The Post brings their own set of skills and talents. It’s so exciting to work with such a great group of student journalists. Be proud of all the hard work you have done this year. I can’t wait to see what each one of you accomplish in the years to come.

It has been the greatest opportunity to be the editor-in-chief of The Post. Thank you to The Post for all of the friends, the hard work and the memories. Baker 325 and the people in it will always have a piece of my heart.

Ellen Wagner is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Ellen at ew047615@ohio.edu or tweet her @ewagner19.

COVER PHOTO BY MCKINLEY LAW

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLEN WAGNER DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Taylor Johnston

EDITORIAL

NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Ian McKenzie LONG-FORM EDITOR Ashton Nichols SPORTS EDITORS Matt Parker, Anthony Poisal CULTURE EDITOR Baylee DeMuth ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells OPINION EDITOR Shelby Campbell ASST. OPINION EDITOR Noah Wright THE BEAT EDITOR Molly Schramm ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Mady Lewellyn COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger SLOT EDITORS Jack Gleckler, Avery Kreemer, Chloe Meyers, Kevin Pan

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ART DIRECTOR Rilee Lockhart DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Emilee Chinn

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WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Midge Mazur SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Matthew Geiger DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Nicholas Langer

BUSINESS

STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Emily Cassidy, Ali Gifford, Kyle McCort

2 / APRIL 16, 2020

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DOMESTIC ABUSE RESOURCES

Resources still available for those experiencing domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic BEKAH BOSTICK FOR THE POST

I

n-person and remote resources for those suffering from domestic abuse are still available throughout Athens County during the coronavirus pandemic.

Those experiencing domestic abuse living in Athens can reach out to My Sister’s Place and the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program.

My Sister’s Place is a domestic violence agency that provides services for Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties. Emergency shelter is provided for victims of domestic violence, including adults and children.

My Sister’s Place also provides outreach counseling, court advocacy and a 24/7 hotline.

The agency is trying to help as many survivors of abuse find permanent housing as possible, but its emergency shelter is still open.

“Right now, we’ve decided to take only as many residents as we have separate bedroom and bathroom facilities so that we can not have so many people in the shelter at once,” Kelly Cooke, executive director of My Sister’s Place, said. “And then for people who are calling for shelter, we are trying to kind of creatively problem solve with people about where else they might stay instead of coming to the shelter.”

Half the original victims who were staying at the emergency shelter before the stay-at-home order were able to find permanent housing, and the other half are still at the shelter, Cooke said.

My Sister’s Place is still offering counseling via telephone or Telehealth.

“We would still encourage people to reach out for counseling services,” Cooke said. “We can help people develop safety plans over the phone to try to keep them safe while they are still living with an abusive partner.”

The Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program is a confidential rape crisis center serving survivors of sexual violence, stalking and sex trafficking in Southeast Ohio, Jennifer Seifert, director of the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program, or SAOP, said.

The stay-at-home order is potentially dangerous for those suffering from domestic abuse since they may not be able to leave their homes if they live with an abuser.

SAOP is helping victims implement safety plans, which sometimes involve the survivor leaving the abusive home, Seifert said. There are also times when 4 / APRIL 16, 2020

“

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEE LOCKHART

While the stay-at-home order is novel to our communities, survivors not being able to safely leave their homes/relationships is not. Therefore, we help survivors craft a safety plan, as we would any other time, and support survivors in implementing that plan which can, but not always, include leaving the home/relationship.”

- Jennifer Seifert, director of the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program

the victim does not leave. The survivor, children and pets are at the greatest risk of harm by the abuser when the victim leaves or mentions it, Seifert said.

“While the stay-at-home order is novel to our communities, survivors not being able to safely leave their homes/relationships is not,” Seifert said in an email.

“Therefore, we help survivors craft a safety plan, as we would any other time, and support survivors in implementing that plan which can, but not always, include leaving the home/relationship.”

As an essential business, SAOP is still providing all of the services it did prior to the stay-at-home order, Seifert said. Any of the services that SAOP can provide remotely will be continued, and SAOP will still be doing in-person meetings with clients to provide services that cannot be done remotely.

All of SAOP’s staff has transferred to telecommuting. However, Seifert said this isn’t a huge change in SAOP’s normal operations.

“As our service area encompasses 7 counties in Southeast Ohio, our advocates spend a great deal of time out of the office and in the field. Thus, the tran-

sition to working from home was relatively quick and smooth for our organization,” Seifert said in an email.

After the stay-at-home order was announced, both My Sister’s Place and SAOP have noticed a decrease in people calling and reporting domestic abuse and clients. Many programs around the state are experiencing the same decrease, Seifert said.

“We’ve actually noticed a decrease in the number of calls, and we’re seeing that’s because people are stuck at home with abusive partners and are not able to call us,” Cooke said. “People will often call from other service agencies or a doctor’s office or work, someplace other than home. We’re thinking that people aren’t able to call.”

My Sister’s Place has created a text line for people who are not able to call. The text line is available 24/7 and can be reached at 740-517-9224. My Sister’s Place can also be reached through Facebook Messenger as well as by email at info@mspathens.org.

@BEKAHBOSTICK RB442218@OHIO.EDU

Professors adjust to online classes Professors try to find normalcy in a time of change BEKAH BOSTICK FOR THE POST While Ohio University professors are trying to keep remote learning normal for students, they are struggling to remain sane themselves.

Professors were given two weeks to prepare their classes to be online the remainder of the semester, leaving them as frazzled as students.

“The thought had never even occurred to me that the particular classes that I teach in the spring might have to move online. I was actually on one of the last cruise ships that was out over spring break,” Mary Rogus, an associate journalism professor, said. “I didn’t even learn that it was a possibility for a couple of days after the announcement was made that we would do online learning for at least two weeks. Once they extended spring break, I was pretty sure we weren’t coming back.”

Some professors feel they weren’t given enough time to prepare, but they have all found different ways to teach online. George Eberts, an astronomy lab instructor and outreach specialist, is having a hard time teaching his class because he teaches Astronomy 1400 and does not feel like his students are learning the curriculum.

Eberts normally teaches a class that meets once a week. Having everyone able to meet for a Zoom meeting at the hour that they would be able to see the sky is unrealistic. He finds it difficult to find movies or slideshows that show exactly what he wants to be teaching his students to continue with his curriculum.

“When you’re teaching a class, you don’t realize how much information the students get just from being in class and asking questions and things like that. You don’t realize how many different issues that might come up that just get taken care of by that in-class experience. It really was brought up to me the first time I taught the ethics class online,” Rogus said.

As of now, professor’s salaries have not changed. Rogus does not think their salaries will be changed because professors are still doing the same work they would still be doing at school.

Loren Lybarger, president of the OU-AAUP and an associate professor of classics and world religion, says OU-AAUP has been concerned about professor salaries for years.

“At other campuses, universities with unions, faculty are able to negotiate cost of living increases that help them and help their salaries to keep the pace of inflation. What we have seen

at OU is years where we recently never got a raise,” Lybarger said.

One concern that professors have spoken about is OU making more classes available online because they now know they can do it.

This would save the university money by cutting staff who are important to students’ experience. The OU-AAUP is also concerned about this because of the school taking financial hits from remote learning.

Rogus’ classes are still following the traditional A-F grading system. They are core classes that need to be passed in order for students to continue with their journalism degree. Professors have not heard what courses will be exempt from the traditional grading system, and Eberts wants his class to be pass-fail. Eberts said it would be unfair to the students because they are not getting taught in person and therefore maybe not getting all information.

Professors are finding ways to stay sane during this global pandemic. Rogus is living with her dachshund, Frankie, who is great comfort but not much of a conversationalist. In order to try and make day to day life seem more normal, Rogus gets up and gets ready for the day like she would if she were going to campus.

Eberts is taking walks with his wife along the bike path and has cleaned out a shed and mudroom that have never been cleaned out before.

The sky has also been clear, so Eberts is able to go out and do personal astronomy without any coronavirus concern because he is alone.

“We’re getting a little bit of a flash forward look at what retirement will ultimately be like. I can’t say I’m hurting any. When you binge watch TV until 3 in the morning and sleep until noon, that’s not a bad lifestyle,” Eberts said.

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEE LOCKHART

@BEKAHBOSTICK RB442218@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

NEWS BRIEFS

OU construction continues; COVID-19 cancels internships EMMA SKIDMORE STAFF WRITER

safety programs for projects, including those related to COVID-19.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AT OU DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC Despite classes being online, construction of university projects have continued.

Construction projects are considered “essential infrastructure,” Jon Cozad, executive director of design and construction, said in an email. Furthermore, contractors for these projects are not university employees they are hired by third-party companies, permitting them to be on campus.

Cozad said the university has not developed protocol related to COVID-19 for construction sites, but the contractors have been taking precautions, such as sanitizing project sites and social distancing.

Contractors remain on campus, as they are responsible for developing

COVID-19 CAUSES MANY SUMMER INTERNSHIPS TO BE CANCELED Some students recently found out their internships would be postponed or canceled due to COVID-19.

Eddith Dashiell, the next director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, advised students who no longer have an internship to look into taking summer classes. Dashiell said this could free up time to complete an internship at a later date.

OU has also canceled all study abroad trips. However, the internship credit is a graduation requirement for some programs. Bethann Huges, a junior studying health services administration, said her internship with Mercy Health was canceled due to uncertainty for current employees

caused by COVID-19. Huges said she plans to work at home this summer because there are no other viable internships in the health care field at this time.

She also said she believes the university should waive the credit needed to graduate, as Mercy Health has offered her an internship post-graduation.

Imants Jaunarajs, Career and Leadership Development Center assistant vice president, said students have to be proactive in seeking out either remote internship opportunities or ways to continue to do professional development.

Jaunarjs said students can do things like network or seek out mentors during this time. He said that during the 2008 recession, students backed away from engaging in career building and were advised to keep working on their careers at this time.

COUNCIL ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO PREPARE FOR OU STUDENTS MOVE OUT Athens Mayor Steve Patterson expressed his concern as the moveout period for off campus students approaches.

Most leases end around May 10 for students, and there will be an increased number of students in Athens around then, Patterson said.

“Make sure that you have all the food stocks and other necessities that you might need early in the last week of April,” Patterson said. “I would strongly encourage people to stay home even more so … and only go out for the bare necessities that you have to have.”

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

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POLICE BLOTTER

Stolen firearm, identity fraud KIRSTEN THOMAS FOR THE POST HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? Over the weekend, Athens County deputies spoke with the Shade Community Center manager, who said a third floor window had been broken.

The manager said it looked like a rock was thrown through the window.

There are currently no suspects, but patrol is being increased in the area.

ALL IS WELL Deputies were dispatched to a Canaanville Road residence over the weekend for a wellness check of an elderly woman.

The caller was concerned the woman did not have any food.

Officers made contact with the woman who said she was fine and had food. She also mentioned her son had just left after staying the night and mowing her lawn.

FALSE ALARM Over the weekend, deputies were dispatched for a business alarm that was set off on Carpenter Road.

The alarm company notified deputies it was a false alarm while deputies were on their way to the scene. The deputies returned to patrol.

MISSING SOMETHING? Deputies received a report over the weekend of a vehicle being parked on private property for over a week.

Deputies tried to make contact with the owner of the vehicle, but they were not able to reach them.

The vehicle was tagged to be removed after four hours.

STOLEN FIREARM Deputies took a theft report Monday regarding a firearm from a resident in the Coolville area.

GAMES

The man said his firearm was taken from his vehicle, and he noticed it was missing the day before.

The man did not have a serial number for the firearm at the time of the report.

KEEPS GETTING WORSE Deputies were asked Monday to assist the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office in regards to a stolen vehicle that was used in a burglary, which ended in a shooting.

Deputies arrived in Meigs County, and the scene was secure.

WHO LET THE DOG OUT? On Monday, deputies responded to State Route 550 for a reported loose dog in the road.

The deputies did not find any loose animals.

ANOTHER FALSE ALARM? Deputies responded to an activated residential alarm in New Marshfield on Tuesday.

Deputies patrolled around the residence and determined there was no attempt at a forced entry.

The alarm was determined to be false.

DAMAGED MAILBOX Deputies responded to Salem Road in Athens on Tuesday for a report of vandalism.

When deputies arrived on scene, the individual said their mailbox was damaged.

A report was taken, and the matter is under investigation.

NOT A NORMAL SHOPPING SPREE Deputies took a report of identity fraud on Tuesday.

The victim said someone obtained their Sam’s Club credit card and used it to make purchases as well as change account access information.

The case is under investigation.

@KIRSTENTHOMAS36 KT531818@OHIO.EDU

REPORTING AN INCIDENT If you need to report an incident, contact the Athens Police Department at 740-592-3315. The Ohio University Police Department can be reached at 740-593-1911, even when in-person classes are not in session. The Athens County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at 740-593-6633.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

Virtual fitness classes to keep students, faculty and community members active The two fitness organizations have organized a digital posting schedule for students, faculty and staff to participate in regular physical activity classes LAUREN SERGE FOR THE POST Despite campus being closed due to COVID-19, Ohio University’s fitness organizations, Campus Recreation and WellWorks, are committed to creating online content for members to remain healthy during the pandemic.

Campus Recreation serves an audience of students, faculty and staff while WellWorks has typically catered its audience to faculty, staff and Athens residents who are members. However, during these trying times, the two organizations decided it was imperative they collaborate to generate a virtual fitness format.

The classes, including some that are live and others that are pre-recorded, are posted to YouTube, Facebook and occasionally Zoom. The schedules can be found on both the Campus Recreation and WellWorks websites.

Tony Gregory, assistant director of well-being and fitness for Campus Recreation, said the transition to virtual was an immediate decision, directly following the facility closures. Gregory said the 2020 National Recreation Movement, hosted by the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, or NIRSA, helped to inspire the transition.

“NIRSA is running a recreation movement challenge with over 40 schools competing, and OU is one of them,” Gregory said. “Our group fitness schedule is not directly the movement challenge, but it’s a part of it for people to be active, connected and to take care of themselves while they’re at home.”

Clusman, fitness coordinator at WellWorks, described the format of the videos, many of which can be

ILLUSTRATION BY AUNJELA LATHAM 8 / APRIL 16, 2020

found on the joint YouTube channel, OHIO Virtual Fitness.

“You can take live classes if you know exactly what classes are taking place, where you can just show up on the YouTube channel at the designated time and view it live,” Clusman said. “Or you can view the pre-recorded classes that are posted to our YouTube channel.”

Jordyn Irelan, a junior studying exercise physiology, is a group fitness instructor for fit flow yoga. Irelan has begun placing her class content online, something she had done sporadically prior to the pandemic.

“I have my 30-minute classes that are pre-recorded, and then on the joint YouTube account, we have our live classes as well that are full length,” Irelan said.

“There are less classes than in person, but there’s still a great mix of HIIT, strength and yoga classes but just between WellWorks and Campus Rec now.”

Irelan believes one of the positives of the virtual adjustment is the elimination of feelings of self-consciousness, an unfortunate factor that sometimes accompanies in-person fitness courses.

“In yoga classes especially, people tend to look around and compare themselves ... No one should ever compare themselves, but it does happen,” Irelan said. “Now that we have our own space, I hope participants will not feel as inclined to compare ourselves to others.”

Aside from the benefit of confidence, Gregory mentioned the profound opportunity to work together with WellWorks during unprecedented times.

“For our department and WellWorks, it allows us to collaborate in a way we hadn’t before and really look at the greater picture,” Gregory said. “It’s a great opportunity for two departments to come together as one and recognize that we’re a university community at this time and serve a greater audience.”

Ultimately, Gregory emphasized that the significance of the virtual classes was to provide a sense of security to those dedicated members amid the pandemic and continuing to offer them undivided service.

“It could have been so easy for us to not run a virtual schedule, but I think us taking the time to have a schedule out there for the students to take care of themselves physically showcases that we care, and we don’t want our audiences to think we’ve forgotten about them,” Gregory said. “We want to continue to be a light during the time and help them to keep taking care of themselves.”

@LAURENSERGE LS351117@OHIO.EDU

Working from the Sidelines OU BSN organization works to help, motivate members during pandemic RILEY RUNNELLS ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health care workers have been regarded as heroes. Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals put their health and safety at risk every day to keep treating patients and prioritize the health of others.

Ohio University nurses watch these health care workers every day and are itching to fight through the pandemic with them.

Brooke West, a junior and the president of OU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing organization, or BSN, has worked closely with her executive board to make sure members are doing everything they can to contribute from the sidelines.

“We were thinking about calling off the organization for this semester, but then we thought this could be a good opportunity to be helping our community and making a difference, considering we all want to be nurses,” West said.

The organization works on a point system, where each member has to get a certain number of points each semester. The executive board kept this system in mind while making a list to inspire members to get involved in their hometowns in exchange for points toward their organization.

One way to earn points is through making face masks for local hospitals or long-term care facilities. Every five face masks earns the member one point, and there’s no limit on how many they can make due to the large demand around the country for face masks.

Another opportunity to earn points is to participate in the BSNO video series. Members can contribute by sending in a video or photograph or by making their own video and posting it on social media with the hashtag #BSNOCallToAction.

The executive board is using the point system to encourage connection among their hometowns and fellow members as well. If members write an email, letter or social media post to a health care worker, first responder or state official thanking them for their hard work throughout the pandemic, they can earn two points.

Members can also earn points by reaching out to other classmates and checking up on them.

Katie Schweppe, a junior and the vice president of OU’s BSN organization, feels these opportunities kill two birds with one stone by being service-oriented and educational all while staying home and using their nursing backgrounds to their advantage.

“We kind of just decided to focus on what we do have control over during this time of need with our country,” Schweppe said. “We decided to focus on just a couple of aspects like spreading positivity, providing education on the importance of staying home and all the stuff we can

do with our nursing background.”

Other opportunities for points include attending a live stream of “Because I Said I Would,” a video by a non-profit foundation started

by OU alumnus Alex Sheen, attending a Google Hangout with a resident at Kimes, the nursing and rehabilitation center in Athens, and participating in any other service project that helps out or spreads positivity.

West, Schweppe and the rest of the executive board know the real motivation isn’t earning points toward the organization, but rather the opportunity to do everything in their power to help those in need.

“I work at an assisted living facility, so I’m still kind of helping out, but I wish I was in a hospital setting doing more to help the situation,” West said. “I just see all these nurses working long shifts, like 24-hour shifts, and 20% of health care workers are getting sick and can’t work, and I just feel kind of useless, like I could be doing something.”

Cameron McCay, a sophomore in charge of alumni engagement for OU’s BSN organization, feels nursing programs should do more to prepare students for major pandemics like this.

From her experience and from what she’s heard from people who are currently in the field, there could’ve been more preparation.

“I think it’s important because it’s definitely going to happen again,” McCay said. “It’s happened all throughout history, and it’s just something that’s going to continue to happen. We need to be prepared because you never really know what’s going to happen and how quickly it’s going to happen.”

McCay believes this experience is a good lesson for people who are still in school because they went from having a fun spring break to being quarantined, and this is a perfect example of how quickly major life events can happen and change everything.

Though these women in the program can’t be on the frontlines fighting off the pandemic, they believe that every little effort can add up to make a big difference. One of the smallest ways they feel they can help is by staying strong and sticking together as an organization through this tough time.

“Our mission is really service to our community and those around us,” Schweppe said.

“Especially in this time of need, whether it’s emotionally, financially or even just a lack of education, I think part of who we are as student nurses, we have the ability to share what we know with others and just really do the best that we can while we are still students.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

e h t g n i w o l S h t i w d a e r sp

Passion Works donates homemade face masks to help prevent spread of COVID-19 LILY ROBY FOR THE POST

10 / APRIL 16, 2020

A nationwide shortage of mass-produced face masks has driven many, including members of Passion Works Studio, to take matters into their own hands.

The creation of handmade face masks is now an essential part of protecting communities across the nation and effectively fighting the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Individuals at Passion Works Studio are utilizing their sewing skills to craft face masks that are primarily being donated to health care workers on the frontlines, nursing homes and the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

While the studio’s doors at 20 E. State St. may be locked due to a state-wide order to close all nonessential businesses, Passion Works is still very much alive, with volunteers working from home to produce thousands of masks. Patty Mitchell, founder and executive of Passion Works Studio, said mask-makers are split into groups, each group making masks for different organizations in Athens.

“There’s a medical-grade mask-making effort for the emergency workers as well as the hospital workers, and then there are cloth masks for care providers and people going to the grocery store,” Mitchell said. “So we’re doing two different kinds of masks. We’ve been in contact with our local health department, making sure our masks are the best that they can be with what we know right now. And we’re working with our community. They’re donating to our fundraisers and donating materials.”

Over the course of four weeks, Mitchell’s team has made approximately 1,200 to 1,500 masks, working closely with Ohio University’s CoLab and volunteers. Mitchell said one of the most difficult parts of the mask-making process is finding the materials.

“It’s not like we can just go to the store and buy what we need,” Mitchell said. “It’s suggested that we put a piece of metal above where the nose is in the mask, so we were using paper clips. Now

we’re using twisty ties. Kroger donated thousands of them. And you can’t buy elastic anymore, so we’ve been using cut T-shirts and hair ties, trying to experiment with what we have to make something functional. It’s not just about production.

It’s about scrambling for materials and then trying to figure out how to make it work.”

Teaching volunteers how to make the masks is another difficult part of the process. People can’t see each other in person, instead depending on FaceTime or texting pictures back and forth.

Mitchell highlighted this, saying we are all relearning how to communicate with each other.

Outside of mask-making, not all of Passion Works’ operations have ceased. Once the staff has used up the donation from Hocking Valley Bank, they still need to maintain a steady income to not only fund purchasing mask materials, but to pay employees. Its popular passion flowers, which are flower sculptures traditionally gifted to OU graduates, are still for sale in an attempt to keep Passion Works up and running.

“There are hidden expenses that you just can’t imagine,” Mitchell said. “It seems like it should just be able to happen, but every turn is an expense, and people still have to make a living.

We’re balancing donations with our expenses to make a product that we don’t know how to make with materials we don’t really have. I believe that the demand (for masks) is exponential to what I

Passion Works encourage all people to come and create art.

(GRACE WILSON / FOR THE POST)

can even acknowledge. People are asking me for masks, and it’s breaking my heart.”

Tina Kelsey, a local artist who works Passion Works’ special events, is one of many volunteering their time to build the masks from home. She has made approximately 250 masks over twoand-a-half weeks. For Kelsey, it takes about five hours to make around 36 masks. Kelsey said all of it is done remotely: she picks up fabric from Mitchell’s porch, goes home, makes the masks and then returns to drop the face masks off on the porch again.

“We understand that it’s not going to stop the virus, but it helps,” Kelsey said. “It’s better than nothing, and I think at some point we’re going to be required to wear the masks. I love that people in their houses are behind their sewing machines helping put an end to it. We’re all working together at a very grassroots level and making it happen.”

Melissa Haviland, an OU printmaking and drawing professor, is also working with Passion Works, aiding in the planning, creation and distribution of the face masks. Haviland’s volunteer team of eight students and two community members are specifically working to sew 1,000 masks for employees of Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare, or ABH. Haviland is also making an additional 100 for small businesses, friends and family members.

While the sewing process is easy, Haviland said most people are probably going to be unable to make the face masks simply because they won’t have access to the necessary materials. Instead of using elastic, which is nearly impossible to find anywhere for purchase, Haviland has been cutting fabric into strips to tie behind the head.

“It makes me mad at the government,” Haviland said. “These fabric masks aren’t as good

“We’re all working together at a very grassroots level and making it happen.”

- Tina Kelsey, a local artist who works Passion Works’ special events

as the ones (manufactured) ... I just wish that the right thing was available to the people working.

I wish they were able to get them the real thing.

To some extent, ABH is going to put a filter into the ones we’re providing them, but not everybody can. It’s sad. I think it’s very great that people are (making the masks), but in some ways, it’s hard.”

Once Passion Works Studio gets ahead of the curve, meets its goal and obtains more materials, it plans on making masks available for purchase to the general public.

Face mask outlines and a link to donate are available on the Passion Works Studio Facebook page.

@THELILYROBY LR158117@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

OU graduates handle unusual career changes during COVID-19 Ohio University graduates give advice to current students about career setbacks or changes that come along with the pandemic HANNAH BURKHART FOR THE POST Ohio University graduates have been experiencing big changes in their careers due to the rise of COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions.

Some graduates are experiencing the process of moving work to home while others are working essential jobs and taking proper precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19. They advise current students to practice structure skills, continue networking and avoid letting their fears of the pandemic cause discouragement from the field they are going into.

Mary Carter, a 2019 OU graduate who studied strategic communication, works at PR Newswire in Cleveland and was on vacation in Miami when she found out she was going to have to start working remotely.

While at the beach, Carter found out her manager was planning on having her and her coworkers take their laptops home every day after work to prepare in case of complete remote work. Her manager then told her that starting March 13, workers were given the option to work from home for safety reasons. She has been working from home since the day she returned from vacation.

Carter said working from home is more difficult than working in office because she has never worked fully remote before. When she started her remote work at her small studio apartment, she didn’t even have a desk

for her workspace.

“I would say that this has definitely put a really new perspective on the idea of recent graduates entering the workforce longing to go back to college,” Carter said. “This made me realize that I don’t miss college, and I miss having normal human interaction with people doing the same thing as me. I need that sense of structure and that ‘we’re all in this together.’ I wish I would have had more structure in college.”

Kyle Caulfield, a 2019 OU graduate who studied marketing, said that as a social media manager at a marketing agency in Dayton, most of his work, even in normal circumstances, consists of online interaction through his computer and other software that helps him complete his duties. He and his coworkers rarely ever need to meet their clients physically.

“The only issue with working from home indefinitely is struggling to separate work from home life,” Caulfield said. “I find myself actually working longer and spending more time on work and projects than taking a break. I believe this is because my desk now sits in my living room, so I feel more obligated to work on job-related things.”

Caulfield said the biggest adjustment with working from home for him is having much less social interaction. He said it is unfortunate that he cannot visit his coworkers at their desks to discuss assignments.

Emily Poulton, a 2019 OU graduate who studied psychology, works as a mental health technician in a psychiatric emergency room.

Her work is still done in-person, and she is exposed to new patients every day. She is provided with masks and gloves to wear for safety precautions.

Poulton said her workplace has not had as many patients as usual because most are sent from medical hospitals, which most likely have not been accepting as many patients due to the pandemic. The emergency room she works for tries to keep the occupancy low, and they try to ensure patients are spaced out in the holding area. All patients are asked questions about COVID-19 symptoms and given a mask if they have a cough, regardless of if they are positive.

“My advice to students is to not let this pandemic scare you away from working in mental health care,” Poulton said. “This isn’t quite what I signed up to deal with, but life happens, and I still love what I do at the end of the day.

Take the time that you’re still in school to get a feel of what it’s like to work with patients, or research subjects so that when you graduate, you have a good understanding of what next steps to take professionally.”

Mikayla Liston, a 2018 OU graduate who studied creative writing, is an associate accounting executive at PR Newswire. While

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER

switching to online work, she was in the process of moving from one apartment to another. She is now settled into her new apartment and is sharing with her boyfriend the dining room area as a workspace.

Liston has been working from home since March 12 because her boyfriend texted her about one of his co-workers shaking hands with someone who had later been tested positive for COVID-19. She said the hardest part of working from home is trying to find working space rather than relaxing space because at home, everything is blended together.

“It is scary for students right now, especially those who are graduating, because companies are laying off employees or furloughing them,” Liston said. “If I were a student, I would be using LinkedIn avidly, being aware of what industries need your help and networking as much as possible.”

@HANNAHNOELBURK HB239417@OHIO.EDU

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One Final Jump

FOOTBALL Ohio’s Cameron Odom watches the ball during the Ohio versus Miami game on Nov. 6, 2019. Ohio lost the game 24-21.

(ANTHONY WARNER / FOR THE POST)

“

Football is a game of adjustments. It’s all about adjusting, and that means I have to adjust to these younger quarterbacks.

- Cam Odom, OHIO wide receiver

Cam Odom hopes to take leap to top receiver in final season ANTHONY POISAL SPORTS EDITOR

C

am Odom felt the pain as soon he made the step.

It happened in the second half of Ohio’s game last October against Northern Illinois when Odom was running a route and felt a pop in his big toe. He finished the game but learned a week later that he suffered a complete tear of the tendon in his toe. His route-running ability was limited for the Bobcats’ final five games.

“I played through it the rest of the season, but it was pulling me back in how I wanted to release,” Odom said in March after Ohio’s first day of spring camp, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I could never really rest it until after the (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) game.”

The injury, which Odom fixed with

a small surgery in March, was perhaps the biggest reason why he struggled to take the big leap he hoped was in store for him last season. He was the most experienced receiver on the roster, but he ended his redshirt junior season with a career-low 19 receptions and no touchdowns.

Odom, who caught three touchdowns as a freshman and two as a sophomore, has one year left to make that anticipated jump. Now, he’ll have to do it without Nathan Rourke, the quarterback Odom has teamed up with for his past three seasons.

Kurtis Rourke, Nathan’s brother, will likely take the starting quarterback position in week one, and Odom is confident their relationship on the field won’t be any different from his connection with Nathan.

Before spring camp began, Kurtis Rourke and Odom spent every weekend

inside Walter Fieldhouse to practice routes and throws. They ate dinner at the dining halls every Thursday, too.

“We try to get things done every day,” Odom said. “On Saturday and Sundays, we’ve worked on the progression of his throws so we know where to be with the ball. That will all apply to when we’re in a real practice situation or game situation.”

Odom has spent time with other quarterbacks, too. The Bobcats will likely have Rourke as their top candidate for starting quarterback, but C.J. Harris, a freshman and early enrollee, was given a few reps with first-team players during the first two days of spring camp.

Harris has a quick arm and connected on a few deep passes in the first two days of camp. He has promise, but he’ll have to show more improvement when Ohio resumes football activities.

Odom, however, wants to be prepared for anyone as quarterback.

“C.J. is definitely athletic,” Odom said.

“He has a great ball from what I’ve seen.

I’ve talked with C.J. and helped him out with little things, but I’ve realized that I’m now the old guy in the room.

Football is a game of adjustments. It’s all about adjusting, and that means I have to adjust to these younger quarterbacks.”

The rest of the offense, however, won’t have much change next season.

That includes the wide receiver group, which only graduated two players — D.L. Knock and Camryn Snow — from last season. The group is still young and arguably the most promising pack on the Bobcats, but it could benefit from having a true No. 1 receiver.

That was supposed to be Odom last year, but he never recorded more than three receptions in a game. He’ll face some stiffer competition for that top role this year and will have to outshine promising receivers in Shane Hooks, who led all wideouts last season with five touchdowns, Isiah Cox or Jerome Buckner.

Odom will be the veteran leader no matter who steps up, though. He might not have shown it on the field last year, but Odom believes he has many more touchdowns left.

“I can always improve by being a leader on this team,” Odom said. “And I feel like my biggest key point when I’m leading is by example.”

@ANTHONYP_2 AP012215@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

A roast of every zodiac sign Scorpios are demonic, and Pisces are crybabies MADYSON LEWELLYN ASST. BEAT EDITOR Everyday horoscopes are usually alleviating with all the positive traits and affirmations about your personal zodiac sign. Yes, knowing your astrological sign can help better understand your behaviors and thinking patterns, but what about all the flaws? Some (*cough Gemini cough*), more than others, come with their own bad rap and stereotypes.

Nonetheless, we all have a secret side to ourselves, and sometimes it’s humbling to be called out on those erratic, emotional, manipulative behaviors. It’s time for an astro roast.

No sugar-coating allowed. Here are the worst flaws about every zodiac sign: Aries (March 21 - April 19) As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries is commonly known to be the leader and go-getter of the 12 signs. However, they are also known as the child of the zodiac — needing constant attention and affection with none in return.

Aries are naturally clever people by always knowing the loopholes and shortcuts to get whatever they want. They are stereotyped to be extremely obsessed with self-advancement and highly competitive in their ways. When it comes to winning, Aries will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it means using their manipulation tactics to do so.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Taurus, you moody being, you. When it comes to the nature of a Taurus, it’s all about knowing how they LOVE to be a homebody.

They enjoy only the situations in which they feel comfortable and cannot be approached.

You will never see a Taurus in a large crowd because they are very calculated about who they get close to. A Taurus usually will become highly dependent upon their loved ones and rarely will ever let them out of sight with their need for possession.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) The most common stereotype for Gemini?

They're downright psycho. Geminis are ruled

by Mercury, the trickster planet of communication. It‘s only inevitable they usually become flaky with plans and can never express their feelings.

A Gemini has a black and white personality and usually shows a cheerful, fun, witty face to the world. However, their dual personality results in their dark side, tainted with unstable and manipulative behaviors. The dark side of a Gemini allows them to play games like no other, as they love stirring things up for the sake of drama.

14 / APRIL 16, 2020

Cancer ( June 21 - July 22) Cancer, you aren’t the only sign that has feelings. As the first water sign of the zodiac, you are highly susceptible to sensitivity and feel things deeper than most. But unlike Scorpio and Pisces, you hide it. Cancer is symbolized as the crab, which perfectly reflects how you deal with emotions — shelling yourself away with them. You’re over-sensitive about everything but will never let another soul know.

Leo ( July 23 - Aug. 22) Stop starting every sentence with “I.” Leos are stereotyped to have an ego larger than the world itself. However, they are fragile and often get hurt. Once a Leo’s ego is bruised, a series of jealousy and fiery tantrums are unleashed until they build it up again. Leo natives collect their energy by always being the leader in every group and thriving off their stardom. At times, their dominant nature will rub off on others as arrogance and conceit.

They must let go of their prideful ways to become their best self.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) Can you stop cleaning for five seconds? Virgos are the perfectionists of the zodiac with their image, surroundings and life in general.

The mind of a Virgo is as organized as their outside behaviors. If anything is misplaced, they become critically annoyed. Towel on the floor? The end of the world. A speck of dust on the table? All hell breaks loose. With their desire for utter perfection, their detail-oriented nature can easily be perceived as downright neurotic.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) Libras, Libras, Libras. Everyone knows they love to shamelessly flirt. Libras have a power with their ability to be so enchanting yet detached in their ways. However, they use this as a weapon. They can easily charm everyone around them, perhaps too much. The Libra desire to people-please results in many people falling for them at the hands of their manipulation. Stop acting like you like everyone!

It can hurt people.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Scorpios get their bad rap for a reason. Simply put, run away. Scoprio natives are known to be extremely intense, out for blood and obsessed with sex. Unlike most zodiac signs, they don’t hide their faults and wear them on their sleeve as a tactic. A Scorpio may put on a facade that is detached and cold to the world, but deep down, they’re extremely emotional.

No one will ever know the true intentions or understand the Scorpio behavior. It’s nearly impossible to disarm a Scorpio, and only a few people they encounter will have the power to do so.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) A Sagittarius is someone who refuses to conform to everyday social convention and expectation. They find their strength within their solitude moments and would choose staying in for self-care over a night out. A Sagittarius’ mouthy behavior might come off as awkward or standoffish in social settings, but they truly mean no harm.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) When it comes to Capricorns, they either love or hate you. Similarly to Tauruses, a Capricorn is very calculated in the ways they pick and choose who they get close to. They are usually extremely hard to approach as they are always enclosed in a tight circle, wearing a “resting b---- face.” Capricorns are notorious for off-putting behavior in their ability to be unforgiving and condescending. Be careful to never cross a Capricorn. Odds are they will never forgive you.

Aquarius ( Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Aquarians. They feel nothing. The Aquari-

us personality is one of a paradox, as it comes with so many contradictions. They enchant people with how different and unique their interests are in a very humbling manner. Like Libras, they love to people-please and use their charming nature as a weapon. An Aquarian will shower people with love and affection, but once it is reciprocated in the slightest, they ghost.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) Yes, the crybaby of the zodiac. As the last sign, Pisces have a complex personality that includes traits of all the other zodiac signs.

They can be as delicate as a Taurus one minute and as cold-hearted as a Scorpio the next.

For this reason, Pisces are the moodiest, most emotional sign and cry about absolutely anything. They basically live in their feelings within a fantasy world that has no ounce of reality.

A Pisces is someone who could fall in love five times in one week and can never stay away from people who aren’t good for them. They seem soft on the surface but truly are highly manipulative and the smartest about it.

@MAADILEWELLYN ML203417@ohio.edu

‘The New Abnormal’ isn’t perfect, but it’s a satisfying project for longtime fans of The Strokes

University Townhomes at Milliron

99

NOAH WRIGHT ASST. OPINION EDITOR The Strokes is hailed by some as the fathers of modern indie music. Groups like The Arctic Monkeys, The 1975 and others wouldn’t exist without The Strokes. However, for casual fans, the group’s later efforts have been somewhat disappointing.

These later albums, at times, sound like the workings of somebody who did way too many psychedelics and listened to the Talking Heads’ entire discography. Despite that, the band has always been capable of making fantastic songs that harken back to its best years. It just seems to choose not to, which is a respectable decision. The Strokes’ latest release, The New Abnormal, is substantial proof of this.

It’s the group’s first full-length album since 2013, and although it’s not a total return to the sound that made its debut album, Is This It, a classic, it’s the band’s most complete album in over 15 years.

The Strokes have always drawn on early alternative and proto-punk bands, like The Velvet Underground, The Kinks and Television, for influence. In its early years, the band’s sound was indistinguishable from these groups at times, but as time went on, it did what a lot of bands wouldn’t have in its position — it experimented. The band branched out into new wave, semi-psychedelic and post-punk sounds that brought it less commercial success. While its latest album isn’t perfect, the band finally bridged the gap between these styles and found a somewhat happy medium.

Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, who’s worked with everyone from Jay-Z to Johnny Cash, the album is a refreshing take on the group’s twilight years. “Bad Decisions,” one of the singles off the album, is a return to its formative sound, but tracks like “Eternal Summer” and “At The Door” play on its more experimental aspirations with more success and are probably the highlights of the album. “The Adults Are Talking,” “Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus” and “Ode To The Mets” are also impressive as stand-alone songs.

The album’s best feature, however, is its consistency. None of the songs on the album are more impressive than the group’s biggest hits, but The Strokes’ have been plagued by records with incredible inconsistency since 2003’s Room

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The Strokes’ ‘The New Abnormal’ is different from the band’s older works, but it’s the new normal for the influential indie alternative band.

(PHOTO PROVIDED VIA @THESTROKES ON TWITTER)

RATING:

On Fire. The New Abnormal doesn’t suffer that fate. Not every song is great, but there are no points in the album that feel necessary to skip. Every track is enjoyable. It has a listenability that makes you want to revisit every song multiple times.

The highs of albums like 2006’s First Impressions Of Earth and 2011’s Angles have a song or two that blow The New Abnormal’s best songs out of the water, but those albums also have handfuls of throwaway tracks.

The reality is, fans who complain about The Strokes new music are wasting their time. Lead singer Julian Casablancas is over 40 years old. He’s not going to go back to making angsty proto-punk tracks that sound like they’re recorded in a studio apartment. The band members seem much more interested in testing their creative limits. The New Abnormal is the new normal for The Strokes. Every indie kid on the planet would love a carbon copy of Is This It, but that isn’t going to happen. The band’s latest effort is a satisfying project and likely as close as it’s going to get to the sounds of Is This It and Room on Fire.

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hen Tashia Pollard was released from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in early 2017, she knew her life had been changed. After starting college in prison and receiving her advancement and transition services degree in social work from Sinclair Community College, she realized she wanted to help people.

Today, she’s a junior at Ohio University.

Pollard hopes to pursue her career in human services where she can help people who may be struggling with addiction, depression, abuse, behavior issues or other issues. To achieve this career goal, she’s working to obtain her bachelor’s degree in human services at OU. “My journey started with human services professionals believing in me, which led me to believe in myself and to tap into a part of myself I didn’t know existed,” Pollard, 38, said.

The bachelor’s in human services program first began at OU last Fall Semester.

Just six months old, the program has 51 students but is expected to at least double by fall and grow immensely in the future.

Jacob Okumu, one of the program coordinators and a professor of counseling and higher education, was one of the people involved in making this program come to life.

“This program should have started at the very inception of OU,” Okumu, Ph.D., said. “Look around. Human services are everywhere.”

Careers vary vastly within the degree program, but most are about advocating for vulnerable populations in a community. Some jobs include emergency services workers, crisis intervention counselors, rehabilitation case workers, child and adult protective service workers, case managers and more.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, employment of human services workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2028.

The program is completely online and only takes two years to complete, so students can choose to learn from anywhere, Okumu said. While some students are taking classes just for the degree, others are combining the human services degree with other majors like education or hospitality.

Traditionally, to have a job like licensed social worker or counselor, people have been expected to have both an undergraduate and graduate degree, then gain 3,000 hours in a hands-on environment in order to qualify for the license.

The human services degree surpasses that and allows people to instantly enter the workforce, Okumu said.

Okumu said most students are “adult learners in the field.” The average age of a student is 35, and most are already working a career. This allows students who are

just starting out to already have connections with seasoned professionals who are back in school. When the program initially began, students were required to have at least an associate’s degree or 60 undergraduate hours before being admitted. In January, the requirement was changed, so students only need to meet OU’s standard admission requirements.

Parveen Coomar is one of those adult learners based out of California. She’s a 38-year-old student who is currently employed but has decided to return back to school to finish her degree.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping others and serving within the community,” Coomar said in an email.

“I’ve learnt so much about this profession in such a short period of time.”

There are several classes that make this program unique, such as psychology, hospitality, education and counseling.

Okumu teaches a class about the Food and Drug Administration and teaches students about FDA requirements and how this impacts what people choose to purchase.

“When you go to Walmart, what should you be looking for?” Okumu said.

“What will impact positively the well-being of our communities, especially the marginalized communities in Southeast Ohio and other poor low socioeconomic neighborhoods in the US?” Yegan Pillay is also a program coordinator and professor of counseling and

“

higher education. He said the program has further reach than many on-campus programs, which has helped students be able to work while continuing their education.

“Offering courses online has given us a different perspective on how to meet students in a generation of students where technology is such a big interface,” Pillay, Ph. D., said. “We have been adding and adopting that interface as well with current students and learning the direction that education is going.”

Okumu also encourages students to participate in service learning, such as working in Ethiopia or with Red Cross International while or after they are taking classes.

“I’m making human development,” Okumu said. “My goal as a program coordinator down the road is so that we are the flash, that we are churning out individuals, ready to go for humanitarian work, ready to go to help with disaster relief, ready to go to help with the opioid crisis.”

Patton College of Education Dean Renee Middleton was one of the core people in creating the program. She said it took about four years of research and course planning to make it happen. She wanted to add this degree program to Patton because the faculty were expertized and desired to help teach students from near and far about human services.

“We all have to work with people, but we don’t always know how to work well

with people,” Middleton, Ph. D., said in an email. “Building human understanding and human service skills is vital for advancement in the growing fields of today and tomorrow…”

Even though everything is online, Okumu said he does have office hours where students will drop in and talk to him about anything. Sometimes they talk about school, while other times it is about life in general. He said this is how he knows students are truly understanding their work.

“I know they get it because of my pedagogical approach,” Okumu said. “Why am I here? What am I learning? How do I apply what I have learned?”

Pollard understands. When she graduates in about a year, she said she will have learned about cultural competence, ethics, legal skills to avoid negligence cases and fatalities and more, which has all prepared her for her dreams.

“I am looking forward to working in this field. I believe I have so much to offer because of what I have experienced personally,” Pollard said. “I know life can be (rough), but I know first hand people can change, and situations can get better, and most of all, I am living proof things can and do get better.”

@ASHTONNICHOLS_ AN614816@OHIO.EDU

This program should have started at the very inception of OU. Look around. Human services are everywhere.”

- Jacob Okumu, program coordinator and professor of counseling and higher education

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEE LOCKHART

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

NOAH’S ARK

WORDS I MIGHT HAVE ATE

5 true crime podcasts for a The state of the Plain creepy quarantine Dealer isn’t just troubling.

It’s heartbreaking

rested for the Alaska murder of Samantha Koenig. This deep dive, which has just started a new investigation into Kelly Cochran and her seven possible victims during its third season, is intense, but it is worth it just for Hallmark’s storytelling abilities.

SHELBY CAMPBELL is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University

NOAH WRIGHT is a junior studying strategic communication at Ohio University

I grew up dreaming of working as a journalist. I never saw journalists as heroes, but I saw them as a source of hope. To me, they were people who had the power to change a community, or more, for the better.

Sadly, for me and many others like me, the outlook of journalism is barren. Local newspapers are in near free-fall, and even some national publications are feeling the consequences. Local newspapers across the nation are ringing out their death knell. Ohio’s own Cleveland Plain Dealer is one of them.

The total staff of The Plain Dealer has been reduced to just four journalists, none of whom will cover the city of Cleveland nor surrounding areas. A newspaper that has been serving the city of Cleveland since 1842, that two decades ago had 340 employees, is now reduced to a staff smaller than most high school newspapers. The latest layoffs and resignations were all union journalists, and they will be replaced by non-union reporters from Cleveland.com This is another sign of worse things to come for local journalism. Just last year, Youngstown’s 150-year-old newspaper, The Vindicator, closed its doors for good, and now it seems Cleveland could be facing the same fate in the coming years.

The absence of local newspapers provide breeding grounds for corruption, lack of accountability and abuse. But it’s more than just troubling; it’s a heartbreaking reality that one of our nation’s oldest and most vital institutions is on life support. As local newspapers around the nation fail, they will 18 / APRIL 16, 2020

leave behind information deserts in their wake. The Washington Post will not fill the void to provide oversight of City Councils and mayoral offices.

This won’t just hurt the communities these papers leave behind. The voices so necessary to journalism, those from marginalized and underprivileged communities, also must borrow the most to obtain a degree. With the bleak job outlook for journalists, those students cannot realistically be expected to take on the challenge of entering this field. As time goes on, journalism will likely become whiter and more exclusive. For many students like myself, the dream of being a reporter will die with the closure of every midwestern, rural and small-town paper that’s forced to call it quits.

The only hope is the presence of small, but reliable localized online outlets, but we can never expect these sites to have the resources and power a paper like The Plain Dealer did at its peak. This is a problem with no solution; the reality of life with powerful and accessible technology has set newspapers back. Conglomerates and executives with no stake in the communities their papers reside in will continue to lay off and shut down. The owners will be fine, but everyone else will suffer.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Noah? Tweet him @NoahCampaign.

There’s a mutual understanding among everyone, right now, that life could be and has been better. The coronavirus pandemic and the corresponding stay-at-home order issued

by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine have emptied the streets and closed the regular public meeting spaces. Those quiet streets, along with the thunderstorms that have rushed in alongside spring, call for content that matches the eerie feeling outside during the pandemic.

Many people, when looking for that content, turn to true crime to scratch the creepy itch. While much of network television’s true crime — Dateline, The First 48, Forensic Files — can be both hokey and exploitative of murder victims and their families, podcasts tend to be more empathetic to the victims because podcasts don’t have to fill the visual element with poor reenactments or police B-roll. So here’s a list of guilt-free true crime podcasts to raise your adrenaline levels: ‘THE LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT’ A true crime podcast staple, this comedy show has chronicles of well-researched, well-produced episodes covering everything from Japanese death cults to aliens to the most famous serial killers of all time. Its goal is to make fun of the most horrific characters in history, and the three hosts, Henry Zebrowski, Marcus Parks and Ben Kissel, make sure to play on their subjects’ biggest weaknesses.

The show’s series on Israel Keyes, Ed Gein and the Jonestown Massacre are highlights among its wide collection of cases, which can all be found on Spotify.

‘TRUE CRIME BULLSH**’ This one-man show by Josh Hallmark takes a different route than many others. Its first two seasons are a serialized, investigative look into the horrific crimes committed by American serial killer Israel Keyes. Hallmark’s investigation into Keyes’ crimes include driving the routes Keyes took across the country, scouring police and travel records and listening over and over again to the hours of investigations Keyes did with investigators after he was ar-

‘MY FAVORITE MURDER’ Another comedy show, this long-standing favorite among true crime fans, is a laid-back, glass-of-wine-in-the-tub kind of podcast. The hosts, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, have sharp, dry senses of humor that make for a lighthearted show. Their live shows, which are recorded and uploaded as regular episodes, cover cases local to where they’re performing, so they’re covering little-known murders that might otherwise be left as middle-of-the-day episodes of a poorly made Investigation Discovery show. The show’s episode covering murderer Jerry Brudos and the famous Collar Bomb Heist is a particularly poignant episode of the podcast. Stay sexy, and don’t get murdered!

‘MORBID: A TRUE CRIME PODCAST’ A bit more serious than MFM, Morbid’s hosts include an autopsy technician (Alaina) and a hairdresser (Ash) whose bond through the macabre is clear. Although it’s technically not a comedy podcast, it still is possible to laugh at a side comment or enjoy their chatter among cases that are usually smaller than what other podcasts cover. Their retelling of murders tend to look more at the victims and the investigation than the murderer, so it gets sad, but their appreciation of life and the preservation of the victims’ memories makes it stand out among other podcasts. Its episode about the heartbreaking murder of Maddie Clifton is a good starting point with this podcast.

‘SERIAL KILLERS’ From the Parcast Network, Serial Killers is an academic dive into the lives, murders, deaths and punishments of notorious serial killers. Its two monotonic hosts are stoic in their retelling of these murderers’ stories.

But that doesn’t mean they’re uninteresting — there is research used in this podcast that goes deeper into psychological studies and reasonings behind serial killers’ behavior. This podcast’s series on one of the most famous serial killers of all time, Jeffrey Dahmer, is a well-rounded retelling and examination of his life and the circumstances that created him.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Shelby know by tweeting her @bloodbuzzohioan.

WHAT’S GOING ON? What’s happening, rescheduled or canceled this weekend

BAYLEE DEMUTH CULTURE EDITOR RILEY RUNNELLS ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW AN UPDATING LIST OF CANCELED EVENTS

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of events have been canceled or rescheduled. However, some organizations and Athens groups are adapting to the Ohio stay-at-home order and hosting events online through virtual services, like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Here’s a list of some events still happening and events that have been rescheduled or canceled:

HAPPENING Thursday, April 16 Student Beit Midrash at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join Ohio University’s Hillel, led

by Jacob Levin, as it engages in Jewish learning about the different sects of Judaism. Admission: Free Happy Hour At Home –– Painting Cherry Blossoms at 5:30 p.m. hosted by The Dairy Barn Arts Center. The event is meant to be a creative outlet while people are stuck at home. All people need is a canvas that’s at least 9-by-12 inches, acrylic paint, paint brushes, a paint pallet, a water bucket, a rag and preparation of the space to paint with newspapers laid out. People can register online at The Dairy Barn website.

Admission: $10 for members, $12 for non-members Friday, April 17 80s Night with DJ Barticus at 10 p.m. hosted by WOUB. Due to the quarantine, DJ Barticus wants to bring the party to people’s homes. The event will be able to stream through Twitch.tv or on Instagram @bartykutz. Admission: Free A Little Bit of Yin, A Little Bit of Yang at 5:30 p.m. hosted by The Soulful Yogini. Participants will start with a Yang warm up and move into Yin movements related to mobility. The class will be live streamed through Zoom or Facebook Live. Admission: Donations welcome

Saturday, April 18 Live Stream during virtual Ratha Con at 1 p.m. on Facebook. The event is hosted

by Moon and Wheel and will feature Dr. Jessie Rose doing a free tarot card reading in honor of the Athens 2020 Ratha Con. Admission: Free Monday, April 20 Silver Lining Moments at 10 a.m. on Facebook. April is National Poetry Month, and everyone is stuck in quarantine, so Athens Poet Laureate Wendy McVicker will present a poem that will hopefully bring joy and comfort to listeners in these challenging times. Co-hosted by ARTS/West, Silver Linings Moments will continue every Monday at 10 a.m. to try and spark connection through poetry.

Admission: Free Tuesday, April 21 Tea Time with ISFS at 1:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams will be hosted by the Ohio University Office of International

Student & Faculty Services. Anyone is welcome to chat or discuss topics with members of ISFS during the Teams meeting.

Admission: Free Wednesday, April 22 Virtual Community Art Night at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live. Come join Passion Works Studio for an evening of art. Anna and Dora will host, and the event is supported by Athens County Foundation.

Admission: Free

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED Friday, April 17 Athens County Crawlers Off Road Park Open Ride at noon from April 17 through April 19. Jeeps, trucks, buggies and SxSs were welcome to roam around off roading, but the event has now been canceled until further notice.

Sunday, April 19 2020 Athens Jazz Festival: Athens Jam

for Guy at 8 p.m. at Athens Uncorked, 14 Station St., is now canceled. The event was meant to be a special jam session honoring the life of Guy Remonko. Students, community musicians, alumni and faculty were invited to bring their instruments and celebrate contributions to the university and the music scene.

Wednesday, April 22 OhioMeans Job Fair at 10 a.m. at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., has been postponed. Members from the public could have come for free to visit over 75 employers, educators, training and apprenticeship programs. As information becomes available, updates will be posted.

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU @RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

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