April 22, 2021

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

Here’s how local businesses are prepping for summer PG 3

MFA students to be feature in playwrights festival PG 14 Ohio softball swept Akron in doubleheader PG 16

Sound the gong

Ohio’s starting pitchers feed off their bullpen’s energy

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Goodbye from the 2021 ‘Post’ graduates The semester is winding down, and it’s time for the seniors at The Post to graduate next week. While The Post will still publish its annual photo issue next week, these seniors will all be moving on from their time with the publication.

So, the best way to say goodbye is to reflect and reminisce about the memories made at The Post.

Here are some of the graduating seniors’ favorite Post memories:

MOLLY SCHRAMM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SAM SMITH, COLUMNIST: Participating in The Post’s live coverage of the 2020 General Election was an exhilarating experience that I will carry with me throughout my life. In many ways, the night was the explosive culmination of months of pre-election speculation, preparation and anxiety.

Being part of The Post’s “behind-the-scenes” coverage helped channel my nervous energy into religiously tracking and mapping Ohio’s election results.

Furthermore, because the pandemic had required that I spend most of my time at The Post working remotely, that night was the first time I had the great fortune of working in person with The Post’s incredible staff from all its sections. Seeing everyone flying around the newsroom to do their part to create what amounted to excellent political coverage gave me an enduring respect for the publication of which I was a part.

MIDGE MAZUR, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING:

My favorite memory with The Post is getting to meet so many amazing people make lifelong friends.

I’ll never forget the long late nights or the coffee runs with my pals. The Post gave me a voice and motivation to create. I would not be the person I am with the skills I have learned if it weren’t for this student paper.

BAYLEE DEMUTH, MANAGING EDITOR: I’ve made so many incredible memories in Athens, some of the best working for The Post. These past four years, I’ve gained such integral journalism experience through this student media outlet that I can’t even begin to put into words how grateful I am for it. Every interview, transcription and long night spent creating content for The Post makes me who I am today.

I’ve also met some of my best friends through The Post, which makes saying goodbye to a publication I care so much about that much harder. Thank you to The Post for being such an influential part of my college years. I’ll miss it wholeheartedly.

J.L. KIRVEN, SPORTS EDITOR My favorite memory with The Post was covering the NCAA Tournament. Until that point, I had covered so many awesome sporting events in The Convo, Peden Stadium, Bob Wren Stadium, etc., but knowing that I was one of the first Posties in nearly a decade to cover Ohio in the Big Dance was truly an honor. It was so much fun to explore Indiana and see Assembly Hall,

Hinkle Fieldhouse and cover the game with some of the best in the business. There’s no way any of that would’ve been possible without working for The Post.

MOLLY SCHRAMM, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF I formally said goodbye to The Post in my last From the Editor’s Desk column, but I can always take the time to reminisce about this publication. It’s too hard to sum my favorite memories up into a concise paragraph, but all of them involve the wonderful people I’ve worked alongside with in the newsroom. Whether it’s curling up on the couches and watching movies or spiraling on YouTube as we made the paper late at night, looking back on my time at The Post will always be dominated by good memories. Once again, so long The Post, and congratulations to my fellow graduating Posties.

ERIN GARDNER, CULTURE WRITER The Post has given me incredible opportunities to write about important issues within Athens county.

There’s nothing quite like seeing your name in print.

Thank you!

Molly Schramm is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post.

Have questions? Email Molly at ms660416@ohio.edu or tweet her @_molly_731.

COVER PHOTO BY ANTHONY WARNER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Molly Schramm MANAGING EDITOR Baylee DeMuth DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Emma Skidmore LONG-FORM EDITOR Jillian Craig SPORTS EDITORS Jack Gleckler, J.L. Kirven CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Lily Roby OPINION EDITOR Noah Wright ASST. OPINION EDITOR Mikayla Rochelle THE BEAT EDITOR Madyson Lewellyn ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Emma Dollenmayer COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger SLOT EDITORS Eli Feazell, Anna Garnai, Katey Kruback, Molly Powers ART ART DIRECTOR Mary Berger ASST. ART DIRECTOR Olivia Juenger DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Nate Swanson DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brianna Lender SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Taylor Burnette DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Ethan Sands BUSINESS STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Grace Vannan

2 / APRIL 22, 2021

THE

POST

ISSUE 28, VOLUME 139

ONLINE thepostathens.com FACEBOOK thepostathens TWITTER @ThePost INSTAGRAM @thepostathens FRONT DESK HOURS 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Closed Saturday and Sunday.

1 Park Place Baker University Center, Room 325 Athens, OH 45701 (740) 593-4010

Send us your letters Do you ever find something in The Post thoughtprovoking, questionable or even infuriating? Let us know!

We are always interested in hearing about the way our readers respond to our content every day.

Your opinion is welcome. Letters should be fewer than 500 words. Longer submissions will be considered as guest commentaries, but space is limited. All letters must be signed by at least one individual; anonymous letters will not be accepted. The Post does not accept letters soliciting donations or news releases. Please include your year and major if you are a student. Letters can be submitted online at www.thepostathens. com, by email at editor@thepostathens.com or at The Post’s front desk in the media wing on the third floor of Baker University Center.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, vulgarity and Associated Press Style.

IN PERSON Baker Center, Room 325 ONLINE thepostathens.com/letters

BY EMAIL letters@thepostathens.com

The Post is an independent media outlet run by Ohio University students. We distribute the paper free of charge in Athens, Ohio, when classes are in session. Editorial page material represents the opinions of the editors, columnists and letter writers. Opinions expressed are independent of Ohio University and our printer.

Advertisement Policies The Post will not print advertising that violates local, state or federal laws. The Post will not run advertisements that violate the Fair Housing Act, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policies. The Post reserves the right to reject advertising deemed to adversely affect the integrity and credibility of the publication or be in conflict with the educational mission of the university or community it serves. The Post retains the right, at its discretion, to approve or reject an advertisement that negatively affects the relationship with our readers or that promotes content, services, or activities

that violate our advertising policy.

If an error occurs, and an advertisement is published not as ordered, please notify The Post by the end of the business day following publication, a corrected advertisement will run without charge in the next print edition.

Cancellation requests for advertising must be received and acknowledged by staff no later than 2:00 pm on Wednesday for the Thursday print edition. Refunds will not be given for ads that have been printed. These advertising policy rules can be changed at any time without prior notification.

Summer sales predictions Athens small businesses have high expectations for summer MAYA MORITA STAFF WRITER During the past year with COVID-19, Athens establishments have been forced to navigate the unpredictability of the pandemic and are hoping for a summer with their regular amount of sales as cases continue to decline.

With Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan to vaccinate all Ohio college students, and the decrease in COVID-19 restrictions, small businesses have reason to believe this summer will be somewhat normal.

Jim Jezik, owner of Random House, said he does not expect COVID-19 to impact his business this summer.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” Jezik said. “I didn’t think it was going to be drastically different from any other summer.”

Dylan Dresbach, a host at Union Street Diner, feels differently and said he expects business to increase during the summer.

“Personally, I expect (summer) to be pretty crazy just from the past month or two that we’ve had here,” Dresbach said. “Lately, the owner of the restaurant thinks that it’s just going to continue to get busy and that we actually won’t slow down until fall time or so.”

Similarly to Jezik, Mike Carson, owner of Mike’s Dog Shack, predicts business will not change for him.

“Since they’re going to have classes back in, I think it’s going to look like it was now, even though people are remote,” Carson said. “So I think the influx that we’ll get will be equivalent to kind of where we are now.”

During the summer, students typically leave campus, decreasing the amount of business in Athens. Dresbach said Union Street Diner might see a decrease in business with the lack of students and the amount of other businesses.

“I feel like (business will) be impacted in a good way,” Dresbach said. “I also feel, because there’s a lot of new businesses that have opened up, that will actually take a lot of business away from us at certain times in the day.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses in Athens struggled financially, according to a previous Post report. In order to combat their finan-

cial struggles, businesses have had to make alterations in order to comply to COVID-19 restrictions.

Bagel Street Deli closed in-store dining and ordering, using its outdoor window as a place to take orders. Additionally, Donkey Coffee began using mobile ordering at the start of the pandemic, according to a previous Post report.

Businesses have also had to decrease hours and employees due to the pandemic, which will make this upcoming summer look different from previous years.

“Usually, the case is a lot different because we would be open 24 hours,” Dresbach said. “Now, we’re only open until 10 p.m. for dine-in and 12.. for take-out. That will definitely take a lot of business down.”

To combat the loss of business, Union

Street Diner has also started accepting DoorDash orders.

Although several establishments have faced financial struggles during the pandemic, Jezik said Random House hasn’t faced many issues itself. “(I have seen) pretty much the same mix of people,” Jezik said. “I’ve been doing OK, really, as far as sales. My biggest problem is I’ve been in here seven days a week by myself.”

Although Jezik is running the store alone, he is currently not looking to hire people.

Despite the tribulations the COVID-19 pandemic has produced for small businesses in Athens, Carson said the decline in restrictions will allow for more business.

“Summers aren’t spectacular, but I think people are excited to be back on

campus, so I think it’s gonna be a little better than usual,” Carson said.

@MAYACATEMORITA MM294318@OHIO.EDU

Union Street shops in uptown Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

NEWS BRIEFS

OU continues to track swipes for campus facilities; Mayor Steve Patterson considers congressional seat bid EMMA SKIDMORE ASST. NEWS EDITOR Mayor Steve Patterson considers bid for congressional seat

Athens Mayor Steve Patterson expressed his interest Tuesday in running for the soon-to-be vacated congressional seat of Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington. Though Patterson has not formally made an announcement, he said an official decision will be made by the beginning of next week.

Patterson said he has considered running before, and Stivers stepping down encouraged him to speed up the process and discuss the possibility with his family.

Patterson said he thinks there needs to be a strong voice to represent Appalachian Ohio in Congress.

Patterson previously served in the U.S. Air Force as an enlisted member and officer, worked in academia and served as a city councilmember in addition to his two terms as mayor.

John Haseley, Athens County Democratic Party chair, said Patterson could have an advantage over candidates from Columbus because of the likelihood of a split vote. Haseley also said because of the work Patterson has done throughout the state and region, he has the ability to connect with a wide variety of voters.

Patterson said serving as a mayor during the coronavirus pandemic enabled him to know where the needs of his community, city and district are. If elected, Patterson’s goals include expanding access to broadband in rural areas and economic development.

Campus facilities keep track of building swipes amid pandemic

Ohio University’s Facilities Management and Safety, or FMS, has a webpage to track the access status of campus buildings throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The webpage shows what facilities are closed, restricted and limited.

To access closed facilities, a call must be made to FMS in advance to reserve access. Restricted facilities are used by those who have been given access but do not allow visitors. Buildings under the limited category are accessible to all students, staff and faculty but are closed to the general public.

Steve Wood, chief facilities officer, said limiting access to university facilities is done in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Wood said the needs of each facility are reevaluated, and each semester has experienced changes based on what students need access to.

OU staff is able to contact FMS for access to certain

buildings and, in turn, data can be retrieved regarding who is swiping in and where. Wood said although this data is kept on hand, it is not actively used. Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for Research and Education Services, said the total number of visitors to Alden Library during the Fall Semester in 2019 was about 470,000. During Fall Semester 2020, Broughton said there were about 32,000 visitors.

Despite the lower visitation rates, Alden is still one of the most highly accessed buildings with 24,541 swipes from 2,681 users. Broughton said there are still safety measures in place throughout the building, including limited public access on certain floors and social distancing.

Chase Harrison, a freshman studying business management, said he would love to get back to using all the university buildings and resources available. Harrison said he believes increased access to buildings would help him academically, socially and physically.

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Semi trailer gets stuck on private property; woman drives away without paying for gasoline ANNA MILLAR FOR THE POST NOT YOUR DRIVEWAY

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Kimberley Road on Monday in regard to a parking problem. The caller said an unknown vehicle was parked at the end of her driveway.

Deputies tried to contact the vehicle owner but were unable to do so. The vehicle was tagged to be towed.

BUSTED MAILBOX

A property damage report was taken, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The caller said he noticed damage to his mailbox when coming home from work.

There are no suspects at this time.

STAY OFF MY LAWN

A neighbor dispute over property lines was report-

4 / APRIL 22, 2021

ed at Brister Road in Coolville, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies spoke with the caller, he said his neighbor had set up a box trap on his property.

Deputies tried to determine whose property was whose but were unable to do so. They advised the caller to contact a surveyor to determine where the property line lies.

NIGHTTIME SHENANIGANS

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious persons complaint at South Canaan Road.

The caller said there were multiple people with flashlights in the church parking lot.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with the reported people, who said they were filming a horror movie.

The deacon of the church also said the group could be there.

YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT

A woman was reported to have stolen gasoline at United Lane in Athens, according to the Athens Coun-

ty Sheriff’s Office. The caller said he saw the woman fill up her car with gas but not pay before driving off.

Deputies viewed the security video and determined the woman tried to pay with her card, but the transaction did not go through. The store employee turned the gas pump on, and the woman used the pump.

Deputies were unable to identify who the woman was. The case is still under investigation.

@ANNAMILLAR16 AM157219@OHIO.EDU

Resolution supporting AAPI community passed

by Athens City School District Board of Education

GAMES

RYAN MAXIN FOR THE POST A resolution supporting members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, community was unanimously passed by the Athens City School District Board of Education at its April 15 meeting.

The resolution was introduced and passed “in light of the recent events involving crimes directed against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community,” according to the resolution.

Dave Hayden, vice president of the Board, said the resolution was also meant to address concerns stemming from a recent email incident within the district, although he was unable to provide further details about the incident or how it was being dealt with.

Hayden was able to speak on the support the resolution has received from Board and community members alike.

“I think everyone on the board supports doing everything we can to make the district as inclusive as possible, and to make sure students feel safe and supported,” Hayden said in an email. “I’ve had dozens of messages (from the community) in the past few days thanking us for passing the resolution.”

The resolution and Hayden set the groundwork for future messages of inclusivity and actions of support moving forward.

“We fully condemn hate speech, racism, and all forms of discrimination,” the resolution reads. “As equity is a driving force of our district mission, we will continue to strive to build a positive school culture that is both inclusive and nurturing for all learners.”

As vice president, Hayden echoed the resolution’s language and provided insight on the path to making the Athens School District more inclusive.

“The district will continue to have conversations with the community about how we can be more inclusive,” Hayden said in an email. “As a community, and as a society, we have a lot of work to do.”

@RYANMAXIN RM554219@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

Inclusive Excellence Plan

Some student organizations, individuals believe OU’s inclusive excellence strategic plan is not enough CLAIRE SCHIOPOTA FOR THE POST Ohio University’s creation of an inclusive excellence strategic plan involved several student organizations on campus who believe the plan is not doing enough to address inclusion at OU. In 2019, OU hosted the inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute to receive feedback on developing a framework for the Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan.

Over the past two years, students, faculty, staff and alumni worked to create a plan based on the collective feedback.

During the April 2021 Board of Trustees meeting, the action items of the inclusive excellence strategic plan were presented, according to the plan. This plan includes on-going and intermediate items related to diversity, inclusion and equity with proposed due dates, areas of focus and units responsible.

“Through the goals of the inclusive excellence strategic plan, it is my hope that we will strengthen our culture so everyone in our community feels a sense of belonging,” OU President Duane Nellis said in a university press release. “While honest conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion may be difficult, the need for direct, active, and honest attention to equity, inclusivity, and diversity is as urgent today as ever.”

Prior to this presentation, there were over 30 sessions campus-wide with campus constituencies. According to the plan, the conversations were intended to ensure that many voices could provide feedback on OU’s strategic goals and action items.

Betty Miller, a senior studying political science pre-law, was one of the students providing feedback due to her involve6 / APRIL 22, 2021

ment as the president of the Black Student Organization Coalition and as the co-president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP at OU. Miller and NAACP at OU approached the university in order to be involved.

The organization was sent a link with a short strategic plan created by the university, Miller said. In response, the members of the organization began researching different universities’ strategic plans and built a presentation with insights on the plan provided to them.

“We offered about 20 different solutions…they were very defensive about our solutions to their issues,” Miller said.

“They said that they included everything that we presented to them in their plan and I’ve only noticed two things that we presented that is actually in here, which is the Diversity Advisory Council and the Campus Climate Survey.”

University spokesperson Carly Leatherwood said many of the ideas heard from the NAACP at OU and the Black faculty group have informed the 2021 action items.

“While we are disappointed to hear feedback that (the NAACP at OU) feel their contributions were overlooked in the inclusive excellence strategic plan, University leadership welcomes the opportunity to meet to hear their concerns and encourages their continued participation as we work to implement action items toward our goals for the coming year,” Leatherwood said.

Leatherwood also said anyone in the campus community is able to provide feedback on the plan through a form.

Still, Miller said the plan is awful, and other members of NAACP at OU share her sentiment. After reviewing the stra-

tegic plans of other universities, Miller believes that OU’s plan is inferior.

“It’s just very vague,” Miller said. “It doesn’t even touch about how they’re going to continue or build off of the current diversity programs that we have on campus… it’s just a lot of fluff — no details about how they’re going to get this stuff done.”

The actions of the university in creation of this strategic plan reminded Miller of the Black Student Organization Coalition’s frustrations with the Visible Campaign. According to a previous Post report, the campaign’s goal is to express diversity and inclusion values throughout OU. “That’s not going to work because the majority of experiences at OU have not really been good…the only support I’ve really had is from the Black students, or Black faculty,” Miller said. “We want real systemic change, but we didn’t get that.

We got the Visible Campaign.”

Jake Boyk, a junior studying communication studies and integrated media, expressed similar concerns to Miller. After OU’s Chinese Learners Association anti-hate rally, Boyk began the process of co-founding the Asian-American Pacific Islander Student Union, or the AAPISU. “I felt the urge that I needed to speak out because I guess when it comes to racism, nobody wants to speak out,” Boyk said. “I think every person of color here realizes that we, statistically, are a predominately white organization, and that culture is very visible.”

In regard to the strategic plan, Boyk believes it is aimed for a caucasian audience, but his thoughts mostly regard the lack of training he thinks the faculty will receive in addressing those huge cultural issues. Boyk pointed to his experience

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER as a former Learning Community Leader to inform this conclusion.

“One of the assignments that this faculty member gave to all the incoming freshmen students was an assignment about race and about anti-racism,” Boyk said. “The assignment was literally, quoted word for word, was to go up to a person of color and ask them about their experiences with racism…that assignment is based off of the idea that we are allowed to judge character based on what we can physically see. I’ve seen that a lot with professors here, especially students…that’s why there’s so much segregation within the OU community as well.”

OU’s Student Senate was also involved in discussion of the inclusive excellence strategic plan. Student Senate Vice President Elizabeth Lilly, a senior studying communication studies, shared Miller and Boyk’s opinions.

“Ohio University really brands itself as being a really diverse and inclusive school…but at the end of the day, we need our students to reflect, and we need our campus to reflect, what we are, what our goals are and what we want our campus to look like,” Lilly said. “And right now, our campus doesn’t look and it doesn’t feel as diverse as we’d like it to.”

@CSCHIOPOTA CS123719@OHIO.EDU

Bill introduced to US Senate to institute hazing reform SOPHIA YOUNG FOR THE POST A bill introduced to the U.S. Senate on March 15 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutes of higher education to report hazing incidents in their annual crime report, and establish campus-wide hazing education programs.

The bill is titled the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act, or REACH Act, and it is primarily sponsored

by Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Co-sponsors of the bill include Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown. After being read in session in March, the bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

The amendment formally defines hazing as an “intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, or a former student, of an institution of higher education” against another student as a form of initiation, affiliation or maintenance of membership to an organization affiliated with said institution of higher learning.

This definition is applicable even if the student willingly participates and contributes to or causes “a substantial risk of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation.”

Kathleen Wiant offered her support of the new bill after the death of her son Collin Wiant due to hazing at Ohio University in 2018.

“We need to change the culture of hazing and how it’s viewed,” Kathleen Wiant said in a press release. “Changing this culture begins with changing the laws, because no family should have to experience the most painful type of heartbreak imaginable due to hazing.

Parents and students deserve and need access to the necessary information to keep students safe” The REACH Act also requires the establishment of a comprehensive, research-based hazing education program for students, staff, faculty and others involved on campus. The program should include information on hazing awareness and prevention, the institution’s policies on hazing and how to report an incident. In addition, programs should incorporate “skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER hazing,” according to the bill.

OU currently requires students seeking to join a sorority or fraternity to participate in a six-module series which includes information on bystander intervention, hazing education and additional health and safety education, Carly Leatherwood, a university spokesperson, said. Any organization under disciplinary review in the past seven years is listed on the university’s website.

“The University is working towards creating ‘score-card’ data publication on all social fraternities and sororities regarding disciplinary history and other information on the organizations to be publicly available,” Leatherwood said in an email.

This is not the first hazing bill to be

introduced on a federal level. In 2019, the END ALL Hazing Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This bill would require colleges and universities to report incidents of hazing that involved injury or risk of injury within 72 hours. However, the bill was never passed.

Currently, 44 states have anti-hazing legislation. According to a previous Post report, failure to report hazing in Ohio would result in a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Since the death of Collin Wiant, there has been a push to make hazing a felony in Ohio, resulting in proposed legislation commonly referred to as “Collin’s Law.” “We have to do more to stop these student deaths – parents shouldn’t

have to worry for their child’s safety because they join a fraternity or a sorority,” Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said in a press release.

Nicholas Hock, a freshman studying finance and prospective Pi Kappa Alpha member, is not sure that the REACH Act goes far enough to address hazing.

“You can’t always trust people reporting on stuff, because they’re too scared or they just don’t want to,” Hock said.

@SOPHIELISEY SY951319@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

OU struggles to fill vaccine appointments despite students’ positive experiences MOLLY WILSON FOR THE POST Many students reported positive experiences at Ohio University’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics despite the university’s ongoing struggle with filling vaccination appointments.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced March 16 that Ohioans over the age of 16 who wish to be vaccinated would be eligible beginning March 29. On April 1, DeWine said Ohio colleges were to start working on vaccinating all college students who wanted to receive the vaccination.

OU vaccination clinics opened April 7, and vaccines are being administered at Heritage Hall, 191 W. Union St. The Athens City-County Health Department is administering the vaccines at the clinics, with assistance from OhioHealth. Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Health Sciences and Professions students and staff volunteers also administering vaccines, Gillian Ice, special assistant to the president for public health operations, said.

Ice said the clinics are run professionally and take an average of 3.5 minutes for students to get through check

in, receive their vaccine and continue to the waiting room. With the 15-minute reaction waiting period, students can receive their vaccine in under 20 minutes, she said.

Students are able to schedule an appointment online for the OU clinics, and many have reported positive experiences.

Yang Chen, a junior studying finance and graphic design who was vaccinated on April 7, said his experience with the COVID-19 vaccine was similar to getting a flu shot.

“The process was great,” Chen said in an email. “The nurses were chatting with you while taking the vaccines. After getting the vaccine, the nurses and students constantly asked you how you feel while people sat in the hallway for 15 minutes.”

Similarly, Lucas Strunc, a freshman studying media arts who was vaccinated on April 12, had a positive experience at the OU clinics.

“They were very efficient with the way they carried out the entire operation,” Strunc said. “I never felt like I was in there for too long. Of course, I was just nervous. That’s the way I am, but procedurally, they did everything right.”

During the 15-minute waiting period after receiving his vaccine, Strunc be-

The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, 191 W. Union St., in Athens, Ohio.

(NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

came dizzy and felt those working the clinic were very considerate.

“They really seemed to care about my well-being,” Strunc said. “They walked me out because they were really concerned that something might happen to me … They were very accommodating and very efficient.”

However, student vaccination appointments are not being filled at the rate that OU anticipated.

Ice attributes that to a combination of factors, including students finding other ways to get their vaccine prior to the clinics opening up to OU students or timing challenges with the semester coming to a close, she said.

Due to the recall of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, students are now being administered the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.

Currently, students who were scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine have retained their appointments, but “it presents a challenge for many students who will not be in Athens for the second shot,” Ice said in an email.

The last OU vaccination clinic is Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Heritage Hall.

@MOLLYWMARIE MW542219@OHIO.EDU

WEST END

VODKA

ELEVEN SQUARE

DRY GIN

ATHENS , OHIO

DI S T I L L E R Y

Remember to ask for Eleven Square

Distilled in Athens and proudly served at

West End Ciderhouse Casa Nueva Tony’s Eclipse Sold at Kroger, Busy Day Market & the retail shop at West End Distillery 8 / APRIL 22, 2021

Students, businesses adapt to COVID-19 during National Internship Awareness Month MARY JANE SANESE FOR THE POST April is National Internship Awareness Month, and Ohio University’s Career and Leadership Development Center (CLDC) is helping students and alumni navigate through the internship, job searching and application processes.

“At the Career and Leadership Development Center we have a host of both services and resources students can access,” Imants Jaunarajs, assistant vice president and executive director of the CLDC, said. “It really is for students who have started out as first years or just transferred in and all the way until students get what they need as seniors. It’s even free for alumni. So we’re a lifetime type of a service.”

Brandy Bailey, career coach at the OU Lancaster campus said Handshake is the number one tool the CLDC uses. Students can access this using their OU email and password. Through Handshake, students have the ability to schedule appointments with career coaches and other CLDC services. It also connects Bobcats with job opportunities and creates an environment for employers and students to network. She said Handshake allows students to create a profile showcasing their ex-

periences and skills.

“Even if a student is unsure where to start their career development journey, or maybe isn’t searching for an internship right now, it is never too early to schedule a career coaching appointment and meet with us,” Bailey said in an email. “Our motto is Early, Often, and Forever, so we want to help students at any stage of their journey, the earlier the better, as much as they want to meet, and even moving forward as they transition from students to alumni! We are here to help, so schedule an appointment via Handshake!”

Both Jaunarajs and Bailey said one of the biggest mistakes they see people making is not having someone else, such as a career coach, review their professional documents before applying for a job. They stressed the importance of tailoring one’s resumes or any other documents being submitted to the specific job a person is applying for.

“I think internships are important for college students because it gives them the opportunity to see what a job or their field is like before they graduate and go out into the real-world,” Bailey said in an email. “Internships also provide the opportunity to build one’s skill-set and add experiences to their resume, so that when they do apply for jobs, they have something to

show to potential employers!”

Jaunarajs said even though there have been negative impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, it has created more virtual and hybrid opportunities for college students. Jaunarajs said it is important that students do not try to “wait it out.” He recommends starting the internship search early. He said there might not be as many opportunities out there, but there are still some opportunities available.

“The pandemic has made not just internships, but job searching much more difficult,” Jaunarajs said.

“It impacted the economy in a negative way, and access to opportunities are more limited because we are in a pandemic. The recommendation is for students and alumni to be even more intentional in seeking out opportunities.”

Hadass Galili, a sophomore studying political science and the intern president of Hillel at OU who uses they/them pronouns, has been an intern with Hillel since their freshman year. They said working for an organization like Hillel, which is international and on most college campuses across the world, can be beneficial because someone could work for the organization long term. Galili said it can also be a great tool for networking.

“I think (an internship) is a great way to learn about yourself,” Galili said. “It is a great way to learn about the type of environment that you want to work in, in the future. It is a great way to learn about what kind of co-worker you are, what kind of leader you can be and really unlocking your potential. It is about self discovery, and about understanding how you would work in a real world situation that internships put you in.”

The CLDC has numerous resources, such as career coaching, mock interviews, workshops and training programs and frequently holds career fairs and other events. It also organizes the Career Closet, which provides students with business professional clothing to wear during the internship, job search and application process.

The CLDC is holding all appointments virtually at this time, and appointments can be made through Handshake. Any student on OU’s main and regional campuses as well as OU alumni are encouraged to take advantage of the resources that the CLDC offers.

@MARYJANESANESE MS943920@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

An Unseen Art

Music producers’ roles are at the foundation of music HANNAH BURKHART SENIOR WRITER

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY BERGER Often when people listen to songs on a streaming platform, they subconsciously give all the credit to the artist because, typically, the producers are not included in the credits.

Producers, however, hold a huge role in the creation of songs.

Music producers and engineers work together on the behind-the-scenes process of creating a song. According to Chron, producers are the overseers of the entire creative process of the song, and they provide advice to artists on what they can do to make a song successful. Music engineers are educated on soundboards and are typically in charge of controlling them during recording sessions under the suggestions of the producer.

Mathias Tyner, a 16-year-old producer, started making beats on his phone in the sixth grade. When he was in the eighth grade, he researched how to make actual beats rather than the ones he was making with the click of a 10 / APRIL 22, 2021

button on an app. He discovered FL Studio, and that was the beginning of his journey of taking producing more seriously.

One of the most viral songs that Tyner helped create is Tokyo’s Revenge’s “THOT! (feat. ZEDSU),” which has accumulated 44 million streams on Spotify. Tyner said ZEDSU found the beat on Tyner’s YouTube page. Once Tokyo sent the track to Tyner, he sent it to Clifford, a producer who worked a lot with Tokyo, and Clifford made some small tweaks before the song was finalized.

Tyner also works a lot with artist EGOVERT. Tyner produced EGOVERT’s track “Do it! (feat. Smokepurpp)” that reached 1 million streams on Spotify within three months of its release. The fact that EGOVERT and Tyner both create upbeat, quick-tempo music makes them work well together.

“It’s only me and him that make this sort of sound,” Tyner said. “I mean, since we dropped ‘Apollo!’ and ‘Velvet!’ we just make real uptempo, bouncy s---. And I guess I’m the only one that really does that the way he wants.

He’s the only one that really raps on my s--- like that.”

The process to go about clearing samples without facing legal issues is expensive. Sampling is the process of taking a previously recorded song by another artist and flipping it or changing its speed in a way that fits the style a producer prefers. Due to complications with copyright, it is difficult to get around sampling certain artists or producers without paying them large amounts of money.

When Tyner goes about sampling, he uses websites with royalty-free songs to sample.

On EGOVERT’s “Do it!” Tyner sped the sampled song up a lot to make it sound more upbeat.

Several of the songs Tyner has produced have gone viral on TikTok, including Sinoda’s “Kujo Freestyle,” a trumpet-heavy track with Tyner’s infamous upbeat sound that sends listeners into a dancing frenzy.

Killmxtt, another 16-year-old producer, started making music in 2017. His friend told him about FL Studio, and he downloaded the application onto his family’s laptop. He said he mastered the program in about a week.

Killmxtt has been around music his whole life. His brother was in a garage band, and he would go to his concerts when he was around 5 years old. Killmxtt was also in bands in elementary and middle school.

When Killmxtt first started making beats, his musical interests were focused on underground rap: more specifically, the Members Only collective, which consists of Craig Xen, Cooliecut and many other artists, including the late XXXTentacion. Since then, Killmxtt’s music taste has expanded stylistically. He has grown an appreciation for the work of producers such as Wheezy and Turbo.

Wheezy and Turbo have both worked with artists such as Young Thug, Travis Scott and Gunna.

Killmxtt works a lot with artist DC The Don, who has hundreds of thousands of fans at this point in his career.

DC The Don is a basketball player-turned rapper from Milwaukee; he blends his rockstar singing voice with rapping verses. In 2019, Killmxtt started communicating with Trademark, and after just a few weeks of working with it, Killmxtt had two or three placements with DC the Don.

Killmxtt believes engineers receive less credit for their work than producers do, but he said that, personally, he has not felt he has been pushed back from the spotlight for this work.

IMAGiNARY OTHER started producing music in 2014 and has been rapping for 11 years. He has always had an interest and love for obscure beats, such as those in the works of Flying Lotus, MF Doom, Madlib and TOKiMONSTA. IMAGiNARY OTHER reached out to his friend, Telepath, who was experienced in producing, and asked him to teach him how to make beats. Telepath told him rather than teaching him how to make beats, he would teach him how to use a beat-making program.

“So, I first started making some really horrible beats on Reason,” IMAGiNARY OTHER said. “They were the worst beats ever. I actually listened to them the other day. I ended up getting a machine after that, and I kind of just started working my way, which is crazy because a couple of the first beats I ever made ended up on The Stem of a Shroom, the follow-up to The Tip of a Tab. So, it kind of tripped me out that they were good enough to go there.”

The Stem of a Shroom and The Tip of a Tab are albums iMAGiNARY OTHER produced in his collaborative experience iMAGiNARY FRiENDS, alongside Chuuwee.

Chuuwee is iMAGiNARY OTHER’s recurring partner in the music scene, as they work together in the collaborative experience i.F. Their connection began when they found out they were cousins. When they first started making music together, they were in a group called TUS, a collective of rappers.

When iMAGiNARY OTHER first started producing, he came up with the character iMAGiNARY OTHER. His rap name is Abstract Ninjaa, which is featured on The Stem of a Shroom.

IMAGiNARY OTHER’s most streamed song on Spotify is “Krystal,” which includes a goosebump-inducing sample of The xx’s “Crystalised.” IMAGiNARY OTHER found out about The xx in 2010 while watching a talk show on MTV that featured the group performing “Basic Space.” IMAGiNARY OTHER created the sampled track in 2014, but it was not released until 2018.

“So, I just remember hearing that, and I was like, ‘Whoa, this is such a beautiful sound, and the beats are so crazy,’” iMAGiNARY OTHER said. “The guitar, the baseline, every-

thing was just perfect to me. And so I just dug deeper, and then later, ‘Crystalised’ ended up coming out. This was before I was even making beats, so I would make beats in my head and give myself little mental notes of (songs) ... I would try to sample if I figured out how to sample.”

IMAGiNARY OTHER said to make it as a producer, an individual needs to separate themself from everyone else in the field. He mentioned that success in the music production industry comes when producers find their niche, such as the way they play their drums to the sample choices, how they chop samples up or how they want to be perceived.

“If you’re more of a thinker that likes to dissect things with your mind, then you’ll know there’s a lot that comes with that,” iMAGiNARY OTHER said. “There’s a lot of stress. There’s a lot of self hate. There’s a lot of doubt.

There’s a lot of depression, happiness, love; all this stuff is going on while you’re trying to figure out how you can separate yourself from everybody else.”

Ghostrage, a 23-year-old producer who has worked with high-profile artists such as Lil Baby, Big Sean, SAINt JHN, Post Malone and NLE Choppa, said he has come to the conclusion that no one is given the credit they deserve, and this phenomenon is not limited to the work of producers.

Ghostrage’s production talents are not limited to the mainstream hip-hop genre. He has also worked with alternative, genre-bending artists such as OMENXIII, Zheani, 93FEETOFSMOKE and Gizmo. Ghostrage can align his sound with that of the artist.

“You gotta show out and fight for your credit and what you feel you’re entitled to or else you and your work will be overlooked,” Ghostrage said in an Instagram message.

Ghostrage has been fascinated by music his entire life.

He has been playing instruments since he was around 6 years old. Ghostrage works with artists who have very different styles, and the reason he is able to successfully match their sounds is because he has dedicated his life to the craft of music-making.

Ghostrage said equipment to produce successfully, including guitars, basses, keyboards and professional musicians, is so expensive that he would not have been able to make the sound he currently makes if he had not advanced in his career.

The music industry is often incredibly difficult to be successful and financially stable in. Many artists, producers and engineers have given up on music early in their careers because it can take a long time for their work to get recognized. Ghostrage never had a fleeting feeling of giving up on music because he always knew about his talent.

“I never wanted to give up,” Ghostrage said in a message. “I’ve lost faith in myself before, but never in my music or my abilities. I know what I bring to the table.”

Although Ghostrage has already worked with some top contenders in the music industry, especially in the hiphop scene, he believes that he has not hit his peak yet. He is not yet where he wants to be.

“People call me a legend and whatnot, but I tell them that I’m not yet,” Ghostrage said in an Instagram message.

“I’m on the path to getting there, though.”

Yung Germ is a producer who works a lot with City Morgue, a hip-hop metal duo from New York City consisting of rappers ZillaKami and SosMula. He said his inspirations come from every music genre, ranging from metal to grunge to jazz to R&B. He said his creative process is making what he feels like making, based off how he feels in the moment. Yung Germ said he mainly makes the type of sound he makes for City Morgue, but he can make a large range of music.

Yung Germ has a talent of creating the niche sound of City Morgue; he knows how to blend a hardcore heavy metal,

guitar and drum-heavy sound with hip-hop kick patterns.

“I record everything from home,” Yung Germ said in an Instagram message. “I usually finish everything in one sitting, but sometimes I work on stuff in fragments if I’m struggling with ideas. I think me and the Morgue fit together well because we’re both trying to innovate and make new s---.”

Ruban Nielson is the lead singer-songwriter and guitarist of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, or UMO, a psychedelic rock band from New Zealand. Before the band formed, Nielsen was creating music completely on his own. He said it is common in the indie world for artists to play multiple instruments, mix, produce and write all of their music.

Nielsen does not use digital beats for his music, although many people think UMO has an electronic sound.

He said just about everything used to create UMO’s songs is live instruments.

“I think there’s a cool magic that happens with played instruments versus programmed instruments,” Nielsen said in an email. “I think part of the reason everything sounds the same is because everybody gets their laptop to play everything. I like that kind of music to listen to but I would get bored making music that way so I just play stuff live.”

Nielsen said he usually plays instruments live in the studio by himself doing overdubs, but UMO has done some songs together as a band as well. Overdubbing is the process of layering a new recording with the original upon replay. UMO has an entirely instrumental album, titled IC-01Hanoi, in which they recorded live in a studio in Vietnam with a traditional Vietnamese musician. Nielsen’s dad joined them in the studio and played saxophone and trumpet on the album.

Nielsen said he typically does the mixing of recorded songs on his own. His brother, Kody Nielsen, and his bandmate, Jake Portrait, contributed a lot to certain songs, and are credited as co-producers on them. Ruban Nielsen said he likes working with other people because working alone too much can get lonely. He said he gives himself plenty of time to mix because he finds it enjoyable and has a specific preference when it comes to how the songs sound.

“I’ll usually try to write a demo of the song on an acoustic guitar or piano and then either alone or with some bandmates we’ll work out how fast the song should be, what the arrangement is, what the style of it is,” Ruban Nielsen said in an email. “You can have a finished song but if it’s a good song it can kind of go anywhere so that arrangement process is important.”

Nielsen works with more than just UMO. He worked with rapper Aminé on his latest album, Limbo, and with Gorillaz on its latest album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez. Nielsen also produced and mixed an album from Divide and Dissolve, a doom band from Melbourne, Australia. He has also been working on remixes for Soccer Mommy, Crowded House’s split vinyl single with Tame Impala, Westerman, Arlo Parks and The Egyptian Lover.

“I’ve been working on some other things in the rap and pop world too, but honestly I lose track,” Ruban Nielsen said in an email. “Covid gave me so much free time. I’ve been able to just get lost in music projects. When touring starts again, I’ll probably miss this time. The grass is always greener.”

@HANNAHNOELBURK HB239417@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

Hill Landscaping LLC and Hill Garden Market knows plants ERIN GARDNER FOR THE POST Daniel Hill, owner of Hill Landscaping LLC and Hill Garden Market, thinks the pandemic surged plant therapy.

“The end of last year to this spring: there’s a sense of community,” Hill said.

“People are showing up that wouldn’t have been here before.”

The sense of community inspired him to buy new plants and keep the prices low.

Hill Landscaping, 1545 E. Front St., Logan, was founded in 2012 and is a full-landscaping company. In 2018, it expanded to an indoor plant store. The team consisted of Hill and Manager Connor Martin.

The garden market sells indoor

plants, like indoor foliage, cacti, succulents and air plants and offers outdoor plants like locally grown annuals, locally grown perennials, locally grown mums, Christmas trees and garden seeds. The shop also sells plant care items, mulch, topsoil, landscaping tools, river rock and grass seeds.

“Hill Landscaping & Garden Market is a landscaping company and garden center servicing the Hocking Hills and the surrounding region,” according to Hill Landscaping and Garden Market’s homepage. “Our mission is to work closely with our clients and customers to design, install and maintain the highest quality landscapes in order to provide an escape from everyday life. We pride ourselves in offering our custom-

ers the highest quality, locally sourced materials to complete their home projects both indoors and out.”

The store has come a long way in a short amount of time.

“This is our fourth year,” Martin said.

“It started out without any of this indoor stuff, just basically mulch and bags and bulk, and we had a few plants outside.

But we’ve finally grown into something that we’re pretty confident about. We’ve been trying to push more this year to get more people in.”

The team went to garden center conventions and realized how popular plants were becoming.

“Last year, we found a supplier from Florida, but we were paying $400 or $500 in shipping every time, so we weren’t

moving very many plants,” Martin said.

“But then we found somebody fairly local to us over the winter, and it’s really easy to get them here. We have a nice rotation coming in now.”

Financially, the pandemic hurt the company, but it also helped drive people’s passion for plants.

“I don’t know that COVID in general necessarily helped us as a business, but I think it helped us in the sense that a lot of people are into (plants) now,” Hill said.

Maggie Moreda, a junior studying nursing, thinks the shop is a great asset to the community.

“The shop is so cute with so many fun plants!” Moreda said in a message.

“I wanted one of everything! They were friendly and knowledgeable when answering questions about plant care.

They even had a fun selection of pots and local goods. I can’t wait to go with more friends!

The landscaping company and market carries more than plants. It sells passion flowers from Passion Works, cutting boards from KR Custom Designs, apparel and accessories from Ohio is Home and greeting cards from Thanks You’re Welcome.

@ERINGARDNER_ EG245916@OHIO.EDU

Hill Garden Market Manager Connor Martin holds two of his favorite plants April 13, 2021. (TRE SPENCER | FOR THE POST)

12 / APRIL 22, 2021

OU’s Survivor Advocacy Program looks back on the year, plans for summer we have the support of that organization, and they do amazing work,” Madison McFadden, president of ASAP, said “Our Ohio University’s Survivor Advocacy role is to support them and then also do Program, or SAP, has adapted to COVID-19 things that are unique to students, that and, with the school year coming to an only students can do, such as speaking end, its staff is taking time to reminisce on out against OU policy, procedures and really connecting with students in a way the school year and what’s to come.

With the month of April being Sex- that only students can to change the ual Assault Awareness Month, SAP has culture — going out of our way to make been able to participate in the planning notes and crafts for survivors. Those are of a few events, including Take Back the things that only really our students can Night, Denim Day and a workshop for do, which is a really unique experience. graduate students that focused on sexual I think this year especially, because evharassment. All events were opportuni- eryone in the club is so passionate, we ties for students to participate in sup- really had the opportunity to do things porting survivors and advocate for be- that were especially meaningful.”

This year has been a challenge, but lieving survivors.

Another way for students to get in- KC Waltz, a licensed independent social volved is the Ambassadors for the Survivor worker in the state of Ohio and survivor Advocacy Program, or ASAP. This program advocate with SAP, hopes that next year is a way for students to involve themselves will bring more in-person opportunities for ASAP and SAP. in the fight for advocacy.

Scan Give Early To keep up to date with the opportuASAP hosts Mindful Mondays andtonow some various workshops. Both are avail- nities, those interested are able to subscribe to SAP’s newsletter, which will go able on SAP’s YouTube.

“They’re (SAP’s staff) really great, and out when there are important updates

KAYLA BENNETT STAFF WRITER

to share. Waltz anticipates the letter being sent out more often in the fall and spring. Registration can be found on SAP’s website.

However, SAP is also available for students in the summer. The staff plans to continue SAP’s operations through its hotline for advocacy requests during evenings and weekends. If there is a time-sensitive request, people can call SAP’s hotline, 740-597-SAFE (7233), leave a message that includes their name, their request and a safe number SAP can use to call them back. An advocate will return the call as soon as possible.

Those interested are also able to book through SAP’s booking page.

“We will also continue to be available for people to accompany them. Let us say if somebody wants to make a report to law enforcement, we can accompany them remotely, which we’ve done a number of times, and it works out pretty well,” Waltz said. “So, what that looks like is if somebody has decided to report to OUPD (Ohio University Police Department), they take their laptop with them, or their phone, and they can hook us in through Teams, and we can be there remotely with them while they do their interview. When we’re not in the pandemic, we go physically, but right now, we’re doing it this way. We can also do the same if someone were to go to the hospital to have a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam.”

Special Thanks We want to extend a note of appreciation to the all of the alumni, mentors, students and families who shared their stories and shared our social posts on #OHIOGivingDay in support of

The Post Fund

Waltz added that these exams typically do not have a fee and are usually paid for by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Yejin Sohn, a survivor advocate with SAP, mentioned that despite the pandemic, SAP has been able to reach out to students who are not located in Athens, which proves beneficial for the summer.

When student orientation comes around this year, Waltz, Sohn and McFadden want students, their parents and friends to know about SAP and the services, support and advocacy they provide.

“I think the one thing about this allying environment we have is, I hope we can be also beneficial for the regional campus students,” Sohn said. “So, what we usually did before was everything we had as a resource over in our office was in person. We do realize that it may be difficult for a regional campus student to use our service, since they are located in different spaces. Since we already kept with this online setting, I wish this time from now on the regional campus students also wear us as a resource, and they can use the benefit from all of us.

We wanted to also be there for them; we want to be the resource for them. I wish that we can be the resource for every Ohio University student.”

80 + MORE THAN

$

@KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

donors

raised

8000

in contributions & Matching gifts

*as reported on The Post Fund page at press-time

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

MFA playwriting students featured in Annual Seabury Quinn, Jr. Playwrights Festival ANASTASIA CARTER FOR THE POST Seven graduate students of the Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) playwriting program will see their work from over the past year come together at the 27th Annual Seabury Quinn, Jr. Playwrights Festival.

The festival will be available online through links on the Ohio University playwriting website. Working through Zoom has been primarily how the playwrights have been preparing for the festival. Skye Robinson Hillis, a third-year graduate student studying playwriting, said theater live and in-person is what sets it apart from everything else.

“There’s really no accounting for what is lost in that,” Robinson Hillis said. “It didn’t feel like we were making theater.”

Second-year graduate student in the MFA program, Klae Bainter, said it’s hard to tell the difference between the first year and second-year play readings.

First-year students typically only get a sit-down read and second-year students get more of a production.

Zoom has leveled the playing field in this case for all of the playwrights.

“We’re using what we have to make sure that the stories come through the way that we want them to,” Bainter said. “It’s still focused on the story, words and the language and structure of the play.”

Robinson Hillis said she conceived the idea for her thesis play The Martha Mitchell Effect during her first year in graduate school. Rising third-year MFAs have to pitch their thesis ideas after playfest so that they can 14 / APRIL 22, 2021

work on their idea through the summer. Robinson Hillis’ play takes place between 1972 and 1976 and depicts the experiences of the women who were involved with Watergate, and she said she hopes the audience will take away the awareness that women are always there.

“All the things that we think we know, from various historical events, there’s so much more to it,” Robinson Hillis said.

Bainter will present his play titled A Perfect Day Away Friday at 4 p.m. Derived from an essay by Bainter called “10 Things I Like,” the play was originally a dramatized version of the list in a monologue format.

“When you write a monologue, that means that one person has to carry this entire play,” Bainter said. “The audience has to be willing to sit through one person carrying this entire play.”

Steven Strafford, a first-year graduate in the program, has written A Wood Among the Waves. This play

IF YOU GO WHAT: 27th Annual Seabury Quinn, Jr. Playwrights Festival WHEN: Thurs., 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.; Fri., 4 and 8 p.m.; Sat., 12, 4 and 8 p.m.

WHERE: Online ADMISSION: Free

follows a family who is facing different struggles including cancer, dementia and birthday party plans.

“It’s a play that is ultimately about family and about whether or not you can get things from parents who disappointed you as a child,” Strafford said.

The highlight for many of the playwrights comes at the end of the festival when they receive feedback from mentors and professionals. Bainter said he got lucky last year when being paired with his mentor Steven Dietz.

“I’m from Seattle,” Bainter said. “Steven Dietz is from Seattle. Steven Dietz was my biggest inspiration when I first started writing plays. I love his work.”

Robinson Hillis has had a similar experience and said that she has been able to work with mentors from anywhere in the country since they meet on Zoom. The mentors are then selected and paired with a student depending on how they might work together. Robinson Hillis already happens to know two out of three of the mentors responding to her play.

“We’ve all been working on these plays all year, and we’ve heard each other’s plays many times,” Robinson Hillis said. “After hearing them so many times, and being with the same people, you start to get the same sort of feedback. I’m excited to hear what other people have to say, people who are totally outside of it.”

@ACARTER3602 AC732319@OHIO.EDU

OU’s Denim Day will support survivors of sexual assault KAYLA BENNETT STAFF WRITER Denim Day will take place Wednesday, April 28, from 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The day is hosted by Ohio University’s Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and Survivor Advocacy Program. Denim Day is a way to show support to survivors of sexual assault and violence.

“The Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life is extremely grateful not only for the Survivor Advocacy Program’s support and partnership but for the ability to work with them on this program,” Ariel Tarosky, director of Sorority and Fraternity Life, said in an email. “Our hope by offering this workshop to students and specifically those affiliated with a soror-

ity or fraternity is to provide them the tools and resources necessary to better support their brothers and sisters who may be a survivor of sexual assault or violence. We look forward to the ongoing collaboration with SAP to continue to educate our community in an effort to make this a safe community for all students, faculty and staff.”

Kimberly Rouse, director of the Survivor Advocacy Program, added that SAP is a resource for all student survivors and co-survivors.

“We provide support and advocacy in a confidential manner (i.e., we are not mandatory reporters and survivors can come to us for support and discuss their reporting options without it triggering a mandatory report to law enforcement),”

Rouse said in an email. “We are working remotely for the Spring semester but are still available to meet via Microsoft Teams. More information about our services and a link to online scheduling here: www.ohio.edu/survivor.”

Students are able to show their support and involvement in a plethora of ways. Everyone on OU’s campus and surrounding campus are encouraged to wear jeans or denim and share their involvement on social media.

Participants are able to post their photos on Twitter and tag @OHIO_SAP and @OHIOGREEKLIFE. Within the social media posts, messages in support of survivors are encouraged to be shared.

Later in the day, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and the Survi-

vor Advocacy Program invite all to join the workshop “The Myth of the Perfect Survivor,” at noon. Those interested can register to attend the workshop at bit. ly/OUSAPregister.

The workshop will provide participants with the tools and resources to best support survivors on a daily basis while dismantling the myth of the perfect rape victim. The workshop will talk about the “perfect survivor” and what they look like and act like and why people are led to believing this myth.

“This day is so important because we know that college aged students are most at risk for sexual violence,” Rouse said in an email. “We must take a stand to combat rape myths, show support of survivors, and work to build a culture at Ohio University and beyond that says that violence is not acceptable, and survivors will be supported. Sexual assault is much more common than many believe so by participating in Denim Day, other sexual assault awareness month events, and by being an ally to survivors and combatting rape culture you are making a difference and showing survivors that they matter and that they are not alone.”

Alex Williams, a third year studying strategic communication, is a part of the Women’s Panhellenic executive board, and she is looking forward to the insightful information that will be shared during the day-long event.

“Denim day for me is like more than just what we work towards in Panhellenic, and what we work towards within my own chapter with our values,” Williams said. “It’s supporting women even outside of Greek life, and believing survivors.

It’s a unified front; it’s a day where people who may not even feel comfortable coming out with their story or that have came out with their story –– they know that people wearing denim that day have their back. That if anything would have happened, then everyone wearing denim is there to lend a hand and maybe even give a hug or shoulder, if needed.”

@KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

SOFTBALL

Ohio picks up first mercy rule of the season, sweeps Akron in doubleheader ELI FEAZELL SLOT EDITOR MOLLY BURCHARD FOR THE POST Ohio got a morale boost Tuesday.

After splitting a four-game series with Bowling Green, which saw the Bobcats losing the last two games, Ohio welcomed the struggling Akron Zips to Ohio Softball Field for a doubleheader.

Winning both games meant the Bobcats would have their first sweep since the beginning of March and would also boost the team’s spirits going forward.

The Bobcats got that shot in the arm after sweeping Akron with a 9-1 game one win in five innings followed by a 7-1

win in game two. The two wins put Ohio back over .500 once again.

“Morale is going to be high after two dominant victories,“ Ohio coach Kenzie Roark said. “Everybody came with a lot of excitement today and put up a lot of runs.”

Here’s what happened in both games:

GAME 1: 9-1 OHIO

When Ohio (16-15, 12-10 Mid-American Conference) went three up and three down in the bottom of the first, it seemed as if it would be another game with only a few hits from the Bobcat’s offense. However, things started to look up shortly thereafter.

Ohio came to life in the bottom of the second inning, scoring five runs on five

hits and finding the momentum it needed to crush Akron 9-1 in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader.

It all started when Annalia Paoli led off the bottom of the second with a single to third base. Sophia Bernard followed suit, hitting a single up the infield. Moments later, Caroline Spacek took one for the team by hitting a sacrifice bunt that allowed Paoli and Bernard to advance to second and third.

The Bobcats then looked to Caitlin Fogue, who was next up to bat. Before Tuesday, Fogue had earned six RBIs on the season, and they needed her to hit another one right here. Fogue did not disappoint. She got up to the plate, swung as hard as she could and hit a two-RBI double off the centerfield wall.

Bobcat players and fans alike erupted in cheers as Paoli and Bernard ran home, and Ohio took a 2-0 lead. Fogue finished the game with a season-high three RBIs. Alexis Dawe and Katie Yun also hit for RBIs in the second inning, making Ohio’s lead 5-0 after only two innings played.

The Bobcats allowed the Zips to score one run in the top of the fourth but did not let it diminish their fire. Ohio went on to earn four more hits and score four runs in the bottom of the fifth, invoking the mercy rule and ending the game after only five innings played. The game ended after yet another two-RBI double, this time by freshman Emily Walker. This was the first time the Bobcats have had a mercy rule in their favor this season.

Pitcher Mackensie Kohl started for the second-straight game and picked up the win, bringing her personal record this season to 7-7. She faced 21 batters and struck out three.

GAME 2: 7-1 OHIO

The second game went pretty similarly to the first, with the exception that it was a full game.

After a double from Spacek brought in Paoli and Mikenzie Vaughn in the bottom of the first, Ohio held the lead for the rest of the game. Spacek had Ohio’s best offensive performance in game two, going 2-for-3 on hitting and leading the team with two RBIs. Akron’s only score of the game was a second-inning home run by Tiffany Stevens. Following the Zips’ lone home run, pitcher Madi McCrady and the rest of Ohio’s defense kept Akron scoreless.

The Bobcats’ other scores were brought in by Allie Englant twice, Brooke Rice and Paoli. Four of Ohio’s runs, however, were unearned. Akron was charged with three errors in game two, which only served to boost the Bobcats’ morale all game.

Ohio coach Kenzie Roark was satisfied with her team’s performance regardless of how the opponent played.

“A win is a win is (a) win,” Roark said.

“At the end of the day, our focus from the weekend was just making sure that we can control what we can control and take care of our business.”

The Bobcats will look to keep their morale up when they travel to take on Ball State for a four-game series starting Friday.

@ELIFEAZ EF195418@OHIO.EDU @MOLLY_BURCHARD8 MB712319@OHIO.EDU

OU Softball’s Yasmine Logan (#14) on April 18, 2021. The Bobcats lost 2-1 against Bowling Green. (TRE SPENCER | FOR THE POST)

OU STUDENTS! L ATHENS 740-594-7272 16 / APRIL 22, 2021

L A I C E P S T H ATE NIG za z i P g n i p p o -T 1 Large

7.99

$

@PJAthens "LIKE" our page and Follow Us for more great specials

after 9pm

Not Valid with any other offer. Valid at Athens, Ohio location only. Customer pays all applicable sales tax. Additional toppings extra. Delivery Charge extra.

BASEBALL

Ohio’s pitchers feel the mojo in ‘The Dojo’ ASHLEY BEACH FOR THE POST Endor’s song “Pump it Up” rang through the speakers of Bob Wren Stadium as Ohio was closing the door on its second series sweep of the season against Eastern Michigan. Down the left field line, players in the bullpen were seen throwing water and dancing with traffic cones on their heads in celebration.

The bullpen is well-known among the team for its wild celebrations during wins. Collectively called “The Dojo” by the rest of the Bobcats, Ohio’s bullpen has seen to making this season its own.

There are 15 players on Ohio’s staff and only three freshmen. The veteran-heavy group knew going into the season that it would face obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it quickly adapted to make the most of the new changes.

In a traditional year, the pitchers would not all be housed in the bullpen. However, due to COVID-19 protocols, the Bobcats decided to use the area to spread themselves out. Despite this, they were not going to let being distanced from the dugout clip their spirits.

In fact, it inspired them to go all out.

“We had the idea to get a gong and just have a noise instrument,” senior right-hander Edward Kutt IV said.

“Once we had the idea of a gong, then we just started calling ourselves ‘The Dojo.’”

They let their teammates know that despite the physical separation, they’re still connected to them by sounding the gong after big plays. Each strikeout and home run warrants use of the gong. The time separated from the rest of the Bobcats has allowed the pitching staff to establish new traditions, such as a boxing belt, while in their own space.

The belt was introduced after Kutt’s father purchased it at an auction. Kutt thought the odd item would be an interesting piece to add to the bullpen to keep things cheerful. The pitchers love to hold it up as a sign of encouragement for the players on the field when spirits may be low.

The bullpen has used the gong and the belt to spur game-winning moments. Both items were in full use when Aaron Levy hit a walk-off home run against Eastern Michigan in mid-April. After Levy knocked the ball over the left field wall, the pitching staff immediately hopped the fence and met Levy at home plate to celebrate.

The energy carried over to the next game. The bullpen made a splash on Twitter with their reactions to Ohio’s 3-2 win over the Eagles. The players in the bullpen were overjoyed as they stood on the fence and shouted in celebration.

Each pitcher brings their own leadership style to the table, and it has allowed the staff to grow as a whole.

Kutt and senior left-hander Brett Manis pride themselves on helping the team develop defensively by working through drills with the younger players.

A lot of the focus has gone toward freshman righthander Logan Jones, who has been one of Ohio’s go-to starters this season. Kutt, Manis and fellow starter Joe Rock have mentored Jones this season, and Jones has developed into one of Ohio’s strongest young talents.

“I just kind of put my head down and got to work, and then (I) started to realize that I could possibly help the

Ohio’s Isaiah Peterson (#5) swings against Milwaukee in the eighth inning of the last game ending with a winning score of 3-2 on Sunday, March 7, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

team as a freshman and all the other guys saw that, too,” Jones said. “We got after it together.”

Jones and Rock, along with right-handers Braxton Kelly and Colin Sells, have been the usual starters for the Bobcats in the past month. However, the job remains fluid, as Ohio has used a total of seven different starters throughout the season. This doesn’t phase the relievers, though. It’s their job to come in and adapt to whatever situation they’re handed.

Each relief pitcher has to find a moment to take themselves out of the noise and focus on preparing to enter the game.

“Everybody has their own way of doing things,” Manis said. “And, for me, I just find a point in the game where I’m like, ‘All right, (I’ve) got to start locking it in and getting ready to go in if I need to.’”

Manis has had no problem locking in on the mound.

The closer’s four saves are the fourth highest in the league. His ability to work through jams makes him a valuable asset to the bullpen. In two of his appearances against Eastern Michigan, Manis entered the game with runners on and didn’t allow a single run.

While not leading the MAC, the pitchers have been essential to the Bobcats this season. Ohio ranks sixth in the MAC for pitching but tops the conference in saves, with 10 thus far. Aside from saves, the Bobcats’ stats sit in the middle of the pack.

Ohio’s 5.17 ERA is a result of 139 of the 154 runs scored against it, which have been earned runs. The situa-

tion is the same for its strikeout total of 248. Ohio has achieved many strikeouts this season by mixing pitches and focusing on individual batters. Despite the high number of strikeouts, the Bobcats have only thrown one shutout this season, coming from Rock’s no-hitter in late February.

But it’s about more than their on-field performance for the Bobcats. This season has meant more to them after the pandemic cut the 2020 season short. They’re just happy to be playing again.

“It was a bummer that last year got canceled, but that gave us more drive to come out here this year to win games,” Manis said.

Kutt feels the same way.

“I feel like this year, having most of the seniors, granted most of us are coming back, makes you realize this is pretty much our class we came in with (and) makes it a little more important,” Kutt said.

As the season enters its final month, the team has its eye on one particular prize: the MAC Championship.

To get to this point, Ohio’s four seniors and the rest of the staff have kept pushing forward, taking the last half of the season series by series until they reach the top.

Ohio only has six series games left in the regular season, but The Dojo is locked in and ready for anything.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

BASEBALL

Isaiah Peterson has found a home away from home in Ohio ASHLEY BEACH FOR THE POST

Isaiah Peterson hasn’t played a complete season for the Bobcats but has stood out since the first time he showed up for practice. Known for his equally strong hitting and fielding abilities, the senior center fielder’s career began elsewhere before finding a home in Athens.

Peterson transferred to Ohio from Iowa Western Community College last season. While with the Reivers, he was a two-time NCJAA Division I World Series participant and a runner-up in 2019.

Despite this success, Peterson wanted to take his baseball journey further from home. The Lincoln, Nebraska, native then stumbled upon Ohio during his search. Despite never visiting Appalachia before, Peterson gave Athens a chance.

Peterson fell in love with Ohio. He said the most enjoyable thing about the visit was the atmosphere. Soon, he learned playing for a DI school is much different than a community college.

The rules during practice were more strict, and he was forced to follow new regulations that weren’t familiar to him while at Iowa Western. Despite the new rules, Peterson was just as determined to prove himself.

The hard work paid off, and Peterson made a quick impact in his inaugural season with Ohio in 2020. He led the team in batting with a .295 average be-

18 / APRIL 22, 2021

fore the season was abruptly canceled after only 15 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before he even settled down in his new home, Peterson was on his way back to Nebraska.

Peterson elected to spend his time away from Athens with family. His many conversations back home with his parents made him realize how long it had been since he took a step away from baseball.

“That was probably the longest I’ve been without playing baseball since I was 10 years old,” Peterson said. “It took a while to adapt to that much time off.”

Taking a breather from the fast life of an athlete helped Peterson develop outside of baseball. He became skilled in the waiting game as the uncertainty around Ohio’s 2021 season grew. The pandemic was still raging, and Ohio’s fall sports were either postponed or canceled altogether. There was a chance his senior season might end before it began.

And Peterson’s patience soon paid off. The Bobcats were invited back to campus, and spring sports were given the all-clear for the 2021 season. With everyone back in Athens, the Bobcats began to prepare for their opening day game against Radford in mid-February.

The senior earned the start at center field against Radford and hasn’t given up the spot since. In 30 games, Peterson has only committed two errors. He has a knack for making diving plays when the defense needs them most, and his glove work has eliminated several earned runs for the pitching staff.

Peterson does the most damage at the plate, though. His .342 average is the

second-highest batting average on the Bobcats roster, and he boasts the highest slugging percentage at .640.

He doesn’t just hit to get himself on base, either. He has a team-high 24 RBIs and has contributed to the Bobcats’ offensive strategy with extra base hits to score more runs. This reflects well in the Mid-American Conference, as Peterson’s 11 doubles is the second highest in the conference.

However, he doesn’t want to hog all the credit. When asked about his success, Peterson often credited his teammates for being the driving force behind his growth.

“Having them stick around after practice, having them either talk me through (at-bats) and help me figure out things for myself … it really helps,” Peterson said.

Peterson has also found himself reciprocating the help. His leadership role as an upperclassman is ever-changing, but the senior does what he can to enhance the energy in the dugout. The challenges the team has faced in recent months due to the pandemic has given Peterson the chance to step up as a leader.

His goal is to make sure his younger teammates stay focused on winning the game in front of them. Focusing on one game at a time is more important than ever as the Bobcats enter the second half of the regular season.

Even though he has not played a full season for Ohio, Peterson has enjoyed his experience with the team. The Bobcats make every moment worth it for him, and the general aura of the team has highlighted his DI experience. Ohio

has been a great fit for the senior.

Peterson’s transfer to Ohio has been a reciprocal gain for both himself and the team. The senior’s transfer gave him a new home and gave Ohio a much-needed boost on the roster. Peterson has proven not only to be proficient in the box and on the field but has also become a leader for his younger teammates.

He loves Ohio. It’s his home away from home after all.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU

NOW RENTING 20222023

AVAILABLE

CLOSE TO CAMPUS with MANY EXTRAS 8 Franklin Street 7-8 Bedroom . $535*

2021-2022

99

6 Bedroom . $537*

199

$

$

Security Deposit

Security Deposit

44 Mound Street

85 West State Street

199

$

Security Deposit

2-3 Bedroom . $450*

199

199

$

$

Security Deposit

Security Deposit

2 Milliron Apt. A

99

$

Security Deposit

5 Bedroom . $450*

OUrentals.com

113 N. Congress St. 6-7 Bedroom . $525*

73 N. Congress St. 7 Bedroom . $595*

*Security deposits are per person, monthly rates are per person/per month

740.594.9098 Call TODAY to schedule a viewing

EXISTENTIAL BINGE-WATCHING

Ranking the films up for best picture at the Oscars JACKSON HORVAT is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University With the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the entertainment industry, it only made sense when it was announced this year’s Oscars ceremony would be postponed.

It was the latest in a seemingly never-ending disappointing delay of Hollywood itself, but at least the 93rd Academy Awards were still set to happen.

With the postponement also came an increase in the eligibility window for best picture consideration in order to allow films that were put on hold due to theater shutdowns to be considered. And with the nominations announced back in mid-March, the best picture category this year ending up totaling eight very diverse and well-rounded films.

It felt right, then, to go ahead and rank them in order from best of the best to at least worthy of an Oscar nod.

Sound of Metal

This is essentially my personal pick to win best picture. Not only does the film serve as a fantastic representation of the Deaf community, but it’s an incredibly intricate and wellput together movie as a whole. Riz Ahmed puts on a stunning performance along with the rest of the cast. And when it comes to the film’s sound design, which so carefully puts

the viewer in the shoes of someone losing their hearing, a win for best sound at the very least seems imminent.

The Trial of the Chicago 7

while Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya both deserve the win for actor in a supporting role, I would have to lean more heavily toward the latter of the two.

While Sound of Metal hooked my heart, The Trial of the Chicago 7 would have to be my prediction for best picture. It’s got an absolute all-star cast. It’s a plot that juggles a whole lot but gives everything ample time to breathe and flow. And, to top it all off, the timeliness of this film cannot be understated.

Put it all together, and The Trial of the Chicago 7 might just be walking away with the biggest award of the night.

Promising Young Woman

Minari

The Father

In every essence of the word, this is a comfort film. Not in the sense that the story is bright and cozy, but in that there was clearly so much heart and passion poured into every aspect of this project. From a beautiful soundtrack that could easily secure a best original score win to the equally stunning and poignant plot, Minari is a pure representation of how to craft a film. Don’t be surprised at all if Youn Yuh-jung is up accepting the award for best actress in a supporting role.

Judas and the Black Messiah

Right up there with The Trial of the Chicago 7 in terms of timeliness, this film is unflinching in its depiction of its often violent events. The intricate plot is conveyed well, structured in a fantastic way through the performances. And

In no way was this film anything like what I thought it was going to be. Promising Young Woman has a lot to say in ways that end up becoming anything but conventional. The cast is great, but the plot — and, really, the premise — hook onto you and refuse to let go until its breathtaking ending. It’s not your average revenge tale, and it is certainly a contender for winning original screenplay.

The Father is perhaps the most unique psychological thriller to ever be made. It’s sharp, simplistic style is a fantastic juxtaposition to its elegant representation of an unreliable protagonist. In similar fashion to Sound of Metal, this film puts the audience right into the mind of someone suffering from dementia and old age. It far exceeded my expectations, and it’s looking like Anthony Hopkins might find himself winning best actor in a leading role.

Nomadland

Playing almost like a documentary, Nomadland is filled to the brim with great performances and direction even with not too much happening on screen. The simple beauty of the visuals paired with a superb score carries so much emotional weight

throughout the film that cinematography and direction Oscar nods only feel right.

Frances McDormand’s nuanced performance might also very well be enough to win for actress in a leading role.

Mank

Last, but certainly not least, Mank absolutely nails that old school aesthetic. Films about making films often feel tiresome, but this one has so much sincerity. While not my personal favorite as a film, it’s one that can be appreciated simply for its production. With stellar performances from Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried, any number of wins from costume or production design to directing or makeup and hairstyling seem fitting.

In no way can any of these films be classified as bad. In fact, this year feels distinctly like one of those Oscar years in which one will inevitably win best picture while the rest of the coveted awards are split among the other nominees. It just doesn’t really seem right if there was one specific film that sweeps all the categories.

Jackson Horvat is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Jackson by tweeting him at @horvatjackson.

TUNES WITH TATE

I rate my family’s favorite albums TATE RAUB is a freshman studying strategic communication at Ohio University As the semester comes to a close, the question of how to go about my last article of the semester lingers. Ultimately, since my family has provided 10 articles worth of reviews, I decided I wanted to give them a break a bit early and flip the typical “Tunes with Tate” roles. So, I asked them what one of their favorite albums are to review.

Mom: Pearl Jam, Ten — iconic blast from when dad and I were at OU.

Dad: Nirvana, Nevermind. It was playing on

every college stereo that knew better in the fall of the 1991 year in A-Town.

Brother: Something Like Human by Fuel.

Ten, the debut studio album by Pearl Jam, is an iconic classic rock album of the grunge era.

Eddie Vedder’s voice is unmistakable, and the instrumentals still carry the essentials of good rock music while coming away from the heavy metal sounds of the late ‘70s through the late ‘80s. Despite being a 13-time platinum album

and receiving a slew of award nominations, Ten was not an immediate success. It was released Aug. 27, 1991, but didn’t make it to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart until late 1992, and for the most part, it was not nominated for any awards until 1993. Regardless, Ten is said to be an “era-defining” album and has been a fan favorite for almost 30 years.

Another era-defining album of the 90s just happens to be Nirvana’s Nevermind. It seems like the recipe to a groundbreaking rock band is to be from Seattle and release an iconic album in 1991, as these are two things both groups can check off. With singles like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are,” “Lithium,” “In Bloom” and a mixture of punk and alternative rock, it should be no surprise as to how this album achieved the success it did. Over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide, and it was certified diamond in 1999, making it one of the best-selling albums ever.

Something Like Human was released Sept.

19, 2000, and is Fuel’s second studio album.

It includes one of its most well-known songs “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” and, just over a year after its debut, achieved double-platinum status from RIAA, making it Fuel’s

best-selling album. Uniquely, rather than just having a couple of bonus tracks, some versions of the album had an entire other CD of bonus songs. The discs included an acoustic version of “Hemorrhage,” covers of “Daniel”

by Elton John as well as “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin, “Walk the Sky” and the music videos for “Hemorrhage” and “Innocent.” This album was released at the start of the post-grunge era but still has alternative sounds mixed in with hard rock.

Due to my family being the ones requesting these albums, I’m pretty familiar with them. They’ve been played outside in the summer, inside in the winter and everything in between. Alternative ‘90s grunge-era music is a staple when it comes to music at home, and I’ve especially enjoyed listening to my parents’ quintessential college tunes from their time at OU and comparing it to what I’ve regularly listened to throughout my first year as a Bobcat. I also enjoyed listening to one of my brother’s favorite albums, particularly because my parents introduced it to him. Here are my thoughts:

on top because I like Eddie Vedder’s voice a lot. The way the outro of “Release” loops and transitions into “Once” is really cool and isn’t something musicians do a lot nowadays.

Eight out of 10.

Nevermind, Nirvana: I don’t think you can go wrong with Nirvana. The angst and punk rock vibes paint a picture of a party in Athens, and I can imagine dancing to these songs at the height of their fame would’ve been a blast. “Come As You Are” is my favorite. There’s something special about the guitar throughout. Seven-and-a-half out of 10.

Something Like Human, Fuel: I can always appreciate some solid rock ‘n’ roll, and though I think I prefer the alternative genre more, I enjoyed this album. “Bad Day” and “Hemorrhage” are my favorites, but I think that may be due to them being played the most by my brother. Seven out of 10.

Tate Raub is a freshman studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Tate? Tweet her @tatertot1310.

Ten, Pearl Jam: This album comes out THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 20

ALBUM REVIEW

Greta Van Fleet’s ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’ exemplifies intensity but not variety HANNAH CAMPBELL FOR THE POST The rock band is back and eager to show personal and musical growth in their long awaited second album The Battle at Garden’s Gate.

Greta Van Fleet’s first album Anthem of the Peaceful Army was not only highly criticized by some, but it was also highly compared to the works of other artists. Now, the band’s second album has finally shown some of the individuality that was needed all along.

It’s been almost four years since brothers Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka (on vocals, guitar and bass) along with friend Danny Wagner on drums, have released their debut album to the public. Originally from Frankenmuth, Michigan, they use this next album to show their maturity in both material and sound.

In The Battle at Garden’s Gate, Greta Van Fleet continues its well known retro aesthetic as it tries to separate itself from bands of the same era. The band has been compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin and other bands of the ‘70s; however, the new album shows a huge effort to stand out from the iconic

group and gain its own sound while maintaining the same throwback inspirations.

The album’s opener “Heat Above” is not a song — it is an anthem. Lead singer Josh starts the album out strong and puts on an over-the-top performance of this classic rock track. The track is also just one of many examples we see of Josh’s unique falsetto. It is exactly what a classic rock song should be: powerful and dynamic.

This energy continues on with tracks “My Way, Soon” and “Broken Bells.” The first-mentioned song speaks about true rebellion and longing for freedom that rock music brings. The latter song gradually intensifies from the beginning, and still keeps the retro aesthetic of ‘70s rock.

Both songs feature stunning guitar solos from member Jake, yet they never seem to overpower Josh’s angelic vocals. They are complimentary, and somehow never dominating.

“Built By Nations’’ sounds right out of an action movie. A hard rock track with old rock inspirations, it tells the tale of a warrior in battle. The lyrics say “Woah, the trouble gets so loud / When all of hell tries to drag you down,” and it’s as if you’re on the battle-

field with the band. Like the rest of the album thus far, it starts and ends strong.

Psychedelic rock song “Age of Machine” and Americana folk root song “Tears of Rain” are two of the album’s featured ballads; however, they start a pattern in the album of a similarity in tracks. Not only do these songs use the same structure from beginning to finish, but the lyrics and actual sound start to blend together.

“Stardust Chords” and “Light My Love” continue these structural patterns. Both tracks have hints of Americana folk rock, but the lack of variety in these songs makes it hard not to compare these to the work of other ‘70s rock music.

This repeated structure finally breaks free with the album’s closer “The Weight of Dreams,” and the track finally brings back the strength that was present in the beginning of the album. It speaks to the American dream of traveling west and finding riches.

Josh sings, “Gold mines melting men in the sunshine / Spoiled wine tastes so sweet, we have gone blind” to touch on capitalism and materialism today and the satisfaction we get from it. It was a great way to close the

album, but unfortunately it does not make up for the rest of it.

Fleet was able to show some great tracks, but the album needed to be cohesive, not uniform. The song structures were all the same and even had similar guitar riffs. It got hard to tell when one track ended and another began.

The band was also never able to muster any real and raw emotion throughout the album. Most of the music was powerful and intense, but the lyrics never touched below the surface area. Metaphoric lyrics do not mean much if there’s no experience or story to back them up.

Greta Van Fleet was able to stand apart from some of the great rock n’ roll legends with certain tracks, but the individuality needs to be present throughout the album.

The Battle at Garden’s Gate ultimately lost the war with this one.

RATING: 3/5 @HANNAHCMPBELL HC895819@OHIO.EDU

ALBUM REVIEW

Holding Absence’s ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’ is an unparalleled restorative BRE OFFENBERGER COPY CHIEF Holding Absence has nothing to prove.

Its self-titled debut album already solidified the trio as a mainstay in the post-hardcore scene, easing listeners with its hauntingly beautiful textures and frontman Lucas Woodland’s absurd range.

It could’ve stopped right there. Instead, the band chose to prolong its legacy, releasing its sophomore full-length, The Greatest Mistake of My Life, which proves the group is physically unable to sidestep from the path of greatness it carved upon its genesis half a decade ago.

The album is not what the title makes it out to be. In fact, it’s a smear of perfection across a blank canvas, oozing with ethereal guitar riffs from Scott Carey, Woodland’s ridiculously flawless vocal execution that spews out pure poetry and a smattering of Ashley Green’s smooth drumming. They all seamlessly fuse to create an entrancing atmosphere that’s inexplicably moving. It’s just something you have to hear for yourself.

It’s hard to know where to start, too — because it’s all so good. The seven-minute “Mourning Song” finds Woodland putting to words the void in his life that has surfaced with the passing of his loved one. His fermata

in the chorus is enough to make a grown man cry. Even the three fillers — which all swarm around the 90-second mark — all unleash the aura of the next big piano ballad; if combined, they’d undoubtedly be on every radio channel, no matter which direction you’d turn the knob.

There isn’t a flaw to be seen within the boundaries of this album, so grab your headphones, turn this album on and get ready to fly.

Here are the five best tracks from The Greatest Mistake of My Life:

over how she wasted her time on someone who never truly reciprocated her feelings. As she lies on her metaphorical deathbed, she gushes with frustration while Lucas — playing her ex in the track — attempts to apologize without ever saying “sorry.” They both think they wasted each other’s time, and the track dissipates with a batch of snare rolls, overdue attempts at trying to make amends and a heap of tear-jerking emotion.

5. “IN CIRCLES”

A wave of aggressive guitars jolt listeners to life before the Woodland’s rasp at the end of the intro causes them to faint from the beauty. He reveals right off the bat that he yearns to reach out to a former lover — because he doesn’t want to regret not pursuing something that could end well for both of them.

As he screams “I dream of you” in the chorus and drums accent his genuineness, you’ll find space between your feet and the ground.

It’s that powerful that you’ll find yourself gently wafting away.

A subtle hum opens the track, but it’s quickly broken through by a set of eerie strums and repetitive drum pats. Woodland enters, getting right to it as he dispenses words we know all too well: the mundanity of the past year has caught up to him. As he erupts in the chorus with hard-hitting vocals, he reveals the only thing that takes his mind off the lifelessness he feels is looking at pictures of his loved ones who he can’t see right now. It’s gutting, especially since it fades out with a dreary guitar line and without Woodland seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

4. “DIE ALONE (IN YOUR LOVER’S ARMS)”

Woodland’s sister, Caitlin, kicks off the track with a moment of spoken word, lamenting

3. “CURSE ME WITH YOUR KISS”

2. “BEYOND BELIEF”

The intro feels like a breath of fresh air, exuding fresh guitar licks that are more stimulating than a steaming cup of coffee. Though he’s fearful of commitment, Woodland sees his future in his partner, and he’s decided it’s

something worth taking a chance on.

A groovy bass line dances around his conflicting thoughts, but they clear away in the chorus, making way for a bundle of exuberance, feel-good vibes and an optimistic look into the days ahead that’ll engulf you in contentment.

1. “CELEBRATION SONG”

While the opening track, “Awake,” is full of Woodland’s melancholy whispers of feeling alive, it feels hardly sincere until it flows into the opening of “Celebration,” where he cathartically screams it. This is done intentionally to mark Woodland exiting the depressive state he never thought he’d be able to escape.

He looks in retrospect, acknowledging he’s surrendered a lot during this dark patch, but it doesn’t matter — because it’s made it to today, further than he ever thought he’d get.

It’s easy to forget there’s sonic elements here, too, even though they’re just as gorgeous as Woodland’s vocal delivery. The track is as breathtaking as it is purgative, and it’s the best on The Greatest Mistake of My Life.

RATING: 5/5 @BRE_OFFENBERGER BO844517@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender Doug’s Carryout and Grocery hosts community clean-up KAYLA BENNETT FOR THE POST

Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, 29539 SR 143, is a local spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Doug’s not only serves food but works to serve the Athens area.

Its staff works hard to keep up a friendly atmosphere that welcomes anyone.

“We just like to get the community out and involved in ‘love thy neighbor’ type stuff –– just trying for people to meet each other and connect in certain ways,” Amanda Zimmerman, co-owner of Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, said.

As well as being a carryout and grocery, Doug’s hosts a multitude of events for residents of Albany and surrounding areas. The staff wants to encourage as many people to come out and experience the hospitality and inclusivity Doug’s provides.

Those interested can participate in the upcoming event this weekend. On Sunday, April 25, at 9 a.m., Doug’s will host a community clean-up. Specifically, the clean-up will be on 2 miles of State Route 143, which Michael Douglas, co-owner of Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, adopted.

“I adopted 2 miles of State Route 143,” Douglas said. “I’ve lived around here for a while, and I told everybody, before we open, this business isn’t open for me to just make a bunch of money. It’s open so I can give back and take care of people around here. And, I noticed living around here, the amount of trash just on every side road. It’s a beautiful area, and we do get a lot of visitors from even other states ... I got sick of seeing the trash on the adopted section highway.”

Douglas will send participants in every direction, about a mile or two, from the store, and they can pick up any trash they see. Participants will be given orange vests, gloves, trash bags and grabbers to pick up the trash.

“We usually provide breakfast and 22 / APRIL 22, 2021

then we meet up at the store, give everybody the rundown, be safe and all that stuff,” Douglas said.

The clean-up will be a chance to meet new people while caring for the environment. Doug’s also hosts a plethora of other events throughout the year and hope that these events will bring people from other places to visit the carryout in Albany.

On Sunday, May 2, at 10 a.m., Doug’s will host a cornhole tournament. Cornhole tournaments are often hosted by Doug’s to allow for outside fun for all.

Those interested can sign up with their teammate at Doug’s. Participation is $10 a team. A bracket will be made in advance, but teams are welcome to show up the day of.

Douglas said prizes, like custom cornhole boards or T-shirts, are usually given to the winners.

Zimmerman mentioned they have recently hosted events for the holidays and plan to continue hosting events through the summer. Free movie nights will be hosted Wednesdays throughout the summer. They also plan to host a volleyball league this summer as well as axe throwing.

“We’re just trying to expand and have more events, just so people don’t feel like they have to drive all the way to Athens, but I would love to get Athens to come out to us,” Zimmerman said.

Doug’s is also in the midst of opening a bar, which will most likely open next month. The employees at Doug’s hope to make an impact on people’s lives and show they truly care.

To keep up with future events and changes, people can follow Doug’s Carryout and Grocery on Facebook.

“I would 100% recommend people come out and have a good time because it’s a lot of fun (when) the community comes together,” Logan Neal, employee at Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, said.

“It’s just overall a really good experience

to see everybody else in a different element like that.” @KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Community Clean-up WHERE: Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, 29539 SR 143, Albany WHEN: Sunday, April 25, at 9 a.m.

ADMISSION: Free

WHAT’S GOING ON? Learn how to support Asian/Pacific Islander populations; destress with therapy dogs ISABEL NISSLEY FOR THE POST

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 Coping Clinic: Feel Good Fridays at 11 a.m., hosted virtually by Ohio University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS. Join CPS for an online, drop-in workshop that offers students creative ways to explore their thoughts and feelings. Resources to practice healthy behaviors will also be presented.

Students do not have to be a client with CPS or currently located in the state of Ohio to engage in Coping Clinic workshops.

Admission: Free Real Talk About Big Questions Series: How can the Ohio University community stand with and support Asian/Pacific Islander populations? at 12 p.m., hosted virtually

by OU’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Attend a presentation by keynote speaker Helen Zia, followed

by dialogue space to foster personal reflection and strategies to combat violence and discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islander populations in the U.S. Participants can register online through OU’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion website.

Admission: Free Finals by Alden Therapy Dog Visit at 4 p.m., hosted by University Libraries, Alden Library. Decompress with a visit from Dug and Penny, therapy dogs from OU Counseling and Psychological Services. Jen Harvey can be contacted via email at harveyj1@ohio.edu for more information.

Admission: Free In-person Shabbat at 6 p.m., hosted by Hillel at OU, Emeriti Park. Join OU Hillel for in-person Shabbat Services. Shabbat To-Go will still be happening as well. Meals can be picked up at Hillel between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. If participants

plan on attending services, OU Hillel will bring their meal to Emeriti Park.

Admission: Free

that’s when the guilt and paranoia set in. Tickets can be reserved online.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, APRIL 24 “For the Love of Athens” Photo Contest Gallery Exhibit at 8 a.m., hosted by ARTS/West and the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St. View “For the Love of Athens,” a photo contest and exhibition celebrating the people and places of Athens County. The show has been on display over the past few months at ARTS/West, and now, it is being hosted at the Athens Community Center for an encore viewing. Questions can be directed to Emily Beveridge at 740-592-4315 or ebeveridge@ci.athens.oh.us.

@ISABELNISSLEY IN566119@OHIO.EDU

Admission: Free Athens Farmers Market at 9 a.m., hosted by Athens Farmers Market, 1002 E. State St. Shop for locally grown and locally made foods and goods at the farmers’ market. The market accepts SNAP, credit cards and wholesome wave. Masks are recommended, and social distancing protocols are in place.

Admission: Free OU Pride Graduation 2021 at 10:30 a.m., hosted virtually by the OU LGBT Center. Join the OU LGBT Center for Pride Graduation, a virtual ceremony honoring LGBTQ+ graduates from all OU campuses and academic levels. The event is co-sponsored by Student Senate and the OU Alumni Association.

Graduating students from all OU campuses, friends, family, faculty and staff are able to register for Pride Graduation, as a participant or a guest, online.

Admission: Free

SUNDAY, APRIL 25 School of Theater presents: Macbeth at 8 p.m., hosted virtually by OU’s School of Theater. See Macbeth, a play about a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland.

Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself — and

WORKERS T N E D U T S during

MOVE OUT WEEK earn some extra cash SHORT TERM FLEXIBLE COMPETITIVE WAGES

INTERESTED? 740.594.9098 EMAIL:OUrentals@yahoo.com CALL:

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

STUDENT AFFAIRS AND DIVERSITY & INCLUSION