August 29, 2019

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

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Vulgar banners go viral on Twitter....PG 9 O’Shaan Allison is ready to take the reins….PG 18 The life of an Appalachian atheist….PG 20

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Bear with me, please

ELLEN WAGNER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Week one of school never seems like it will be a lot of work, but it really is.

Before the week starts, you think, “Syllabus week? More like a whole week to do nothing.”

Underclassmen have spent the weekend mapping out routes to class and making sure they don’t get lost, while upperclassmen screenshot their schedule on their phone the night before the first day.

I try to convince myself of this every year and yet still end up surprised by the workload I have. Don’t get me wrong: Week 11 is a lot harder due to being deep in the semester trying to balance work, school and social life. But week one brings its own set of challenges.

Even though I am a senior, I still get nervous on the first day. I have that minor panic that I am in the wrong class and will have to awkwardly leave when the professor starts going through the syllabus.

While going through syllabi the first couple of days, you start to contemplate a lot of things about how the semester will look for you. Will this class be easy? Hard? Nothing you were ex-

pecting? Do you really have to buy the textbook?

It also comes all crashing down that summer is officially over in only a few short days.

You spent Welcome Weekend enjoying catching up with friends and doing all the things you missed in Athens. You even try to continue the fun during the week after classes with the small nagging in the back of your mind that you might not be able to do this in a few weeks.

After the first couple of days, you have textbooks to pay for and homework to do, and the reality of school comes crashing back.

Outside of class, you’re trying to figure out how to get into this new routine after being away all summer. For me, this includes trying to figure out how to be editor-in-chief.

I’ve worked at The Post since freshman year. I have watched former editors do this job and was even trained last year for this. I planned on coming in knowing what I would be doing, but one thing I have learned is that nothing ever usually goes as planned.

I have so many to-do lists that my head is spinning. I write at least five a day on my com-

puter, phone, planner or desk. I have been out of the school routine for a while, so I am trying my best to get everything organized.

I also am writing the editor’s desk every week, which is unlike things I have written before. I am used to gathering facts and putting them in a news story that isn’t from my standpoint. Now, I have to gather the facts from my mind and put them in first person, which is a lot harder than it seems.

I am trying my best as well as I know my staff is. My staff is trying to figure out their roles as well, and starting out as an editor or writer can be overwhelming.

We are each figuring out what we need to do and finding the best ways to balance it all.

So please bear with us for the time being.

We know things will be running smoothly soon.

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

Cover photo by Blake Nissen

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLEN WAGNER MANAGING EDITOR Laila Riaz DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Taylor Johnston EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons LONG-FORM EDITOR Bennett Leckrone SPORTS EDITORS Matt Parker, Anthony Poisal CULTURE EDITOR Baylee DeMuth OPINION EDITOR Shelby Campbell THE BEAT EDITOR Molly Schramm COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger ART ART DIRECTORS Rilee Lockhart, Riley Scott DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Nate Swanson DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Midge Mazur SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Sarah Penix DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Nicholas Langer STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis 2 / AUG. 29, 2019

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RILEY’S RUNDOWN

What’s the difference between Hollywood and Broadway?

RILEY RUNNELLS is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University

Break a leg… and action. Two of the biggest staples of entertainment are Broadway and Hollywood. Both create a type of entertainment: theater production or television and film.

Although they both live in the realm of entertainment, there are key differences between the two prominent locations.

Broadway refers to a street in New York City that’s full of various theaters. Audiences can catch live performances through straight plays with dialogue or musicals. Broadway has become an umbrella term that refers to all theatrical performances, and typically, when referring to theatrical entertainment, fans refer to it as Broadway or Broadway culture.

Hollywood, on the other hand, has also become an umbrella term for a type of performance and culture, including film, television, music and much more. Hollywood turns out big, blockbuster films that can range from any genre and, similarly to Broadway, can be musical films as well.

The biggest difference between Broadway and Hollywood isn’t forum, but decorum. The way the professionals who are in each location for the entertainment business conduct themselves, and the reputation each location has acquired.

Hollywood has pretty much become synonymous with scandal. With divorce, drugs,

sexual assault and endless feuds, it always seems to end up in the news with some sort of new scandal that rocks everyone’s worlds, sometimes for a week, or sometimes for a lifetime. For example, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth just filed for divorce after over a decade of an off-and-on relationship, and the divorce has received a lot of press attention.

When looking for a much friendlier entertainment forum, that’s where Broadway comes in. Sure, every close-knit group of actors, technicians or producers has its drama.

It’s almost impossible for the average person not to feud, let alone a group of people with that type of stardom and togetherness. It’s even more impossible, however, to find Broadway scandals. Hardly anyone in the Broadway circuit is caught in a scandal, unless it’s something petty like a love triangle or performance-based issues.

Many Hollywood actors, however, tend to see any press is good press. Broadway strives for excellence and to keep out of the tabloids.

Although some celebrities try to keep their names out of the press, many are still subject to its scrutiny. For example, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are stronger than ever in their relationship, and yet are still rumored to be leaving each other in the press. The couple quickly disbanded the rumor, but there was no purpose for the rumor to start in the first place.

Whether or not Hollywood is more popular than Broadway because of media coverage is up for debate, but what isn’t up for debate is that the two have different audiences. The theater is typically a place for people to be accepting and appreciated no matter what their race, sexual orientation, religion or any other identifiable factor, but they all have a shared love for theater.

The Hollywood audience is more widespread and ranges from all different kinds of people who have nothing in common. Broadway, however, requires people who adore theater. Hollywood productions are appreciated by almost everyone, but not because of one specific production type bringing everyone together.

Broadway has higher standard of what the end-product looks like, their reputation and audience culture. Although Hollywood does create brilliant television shows and movies, it doesn’t always keep the high standard Broadway does. Both are revered by audiences, however, and that is the only similarity that matters.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Let Riley know by emailing her at rr855317@ohio.edu.

WORDS I MIGHT HAVE ATE

Elton has always been able to roll with the changing media tide

SHELBY CAMPBELL is a junior studying strategic communication at Ohio University

4 / AUG. 29, 2019

Everyone has an artist or band they can return to time after time without it becoming boring or tedious. When all other bands have become tired, and it feels like there will never be good music written ever again, there’s the knight in shining armor: the old favorite.

Elton John is that artist for many, including myself.

John’s career has spanned over 50 years after meeting his writing partner, Bernie Taupin, and his music has yet to exit the public consciousness.

He has stood the test of time, despite technology’s advancements and changing trends.

His music molds with what is popular, but he never abandons that Elton John sound that everyone is so familiar with. From his country-western album Tumbleweed Connection to his poppy yet powerful Too Low for Zero, John has a way with his voice and his keys that wrangle in the new listeners without alienating his faithful fans.

His classic voice and unique range give him a lot of wiggle room to adapt to a changing culture. He wasn’t phased when glam rock’s popu-

larity fell and disco took over, releasing “Street Boogie,” and songs like it, to keep himself within the public’s eye.

But it never feels unnatural. Many artists, such as Queen, changed their original sound to stick with the trends. They released Hot Space to combat what seemed like rock and roll’s downfall. This album, however, retreated from what made their sound so unique. Although Freddie Mercury obviously kept his vocal range, the guitar-based songs gave way to synth and bass, changing what felt like half the draw of the band.

Elton, on the other hand, never had a “signature” genre. He skipped around to different genres — gospel, rock ‘n’ roll, country and western — to keep his music fresh and interesting for those who may be looking for different genres.

Not only does John’s music keep itself in the mainstream by genre-bending, but he also tells compelling stories in his songs. “My Father’s Gun,” the highlight of Tumbleweed Connection, tells the story of a naive Confederate soldier who fights only because he feels as though it is his duty.

No one alive today has that experience, so John and Taupin imagined together the tribulations of a soldier who assesses his situation by what he believes is best for his family and country. Not only is the music in the song grandiose, but the lyrics alone, both in catchiness and storytelling, cement the song as an Elton John staple.

Elton John’s music has withstood time’s test.

Not only does his music transcend genre, but his lyrics allude to unique experiences and stories that many find compelling. He has found a way, unlike many other older musicians, to keep himself fresh in the limelight by adapting his music to technological and musical advances. Elton John has always been bold, and his work reflects his ability to roll with the changes.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you want to talk to Shelby? Let Shelby know by tweeting her at @bloodbuzzohioan.

THE BEAT

Here are the 5 best songs off Taylor Swift’s mantra to herself, Lover BRE OFFENBERGER COPY CHIEF

T

ruth be told, Taylor Swift’s Lover isn’t going to be enough for a lot of people. No matter how uplifting, profound or brilliant Swift is, she will never be enough for some simply because she’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world. People love to hate her.

However, she’s shown through this album she’s good enough for herself and willing to show it — and that’s all that really matters.

Plus, the album is one of her best, whether people want to admit it or not.

Swift released her seventh album, Lover, an 18-track ode to remaining positive, hopeful and open about your true feelings. There’s no doubt Swift gave her all on the album, and listeners will appreciate it throughout, despite a few low points.

There’s been plenty of buzz surrounding Swift prior to the album’s release, with her departure from Big Machine Records in late 2018. The recording company had been sold to Ithaca Holdings, owned by Scooter Braun.

Swift said she hadn’t been notified of the deal, and now, her plans to purchase her master recordings weren’t being considered anymore. Every album she had recorded up until then had been through Big Machine, but she switched to Universal Music Group, the world’s largest recording company, and it’s clear Swift is much happier.

The album has far more ups than downs. The second single, “You Need To Calm Down,” is an empowering anthem that advises listeners to ignore haters who are putting an absurd amount of energy into their typically irrelevant comments. “Cornelia Street” is emotional, reminiscent and infectious. “Afterglow” is a cute ode to her current boyfriend of three years, actor Joe Alwyn, who Swift doesn’t want to lose when she makes mistakes. “Death

By A Thousand Cuts” has some of the most insane, intricate production on any contemporary pop album.

But like most albums, there are some unnecessary tracks. “London Boy” is kind of catchy, but it lacks the depth the other tracks provide. “The Archer” sounds too much like Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Despite these few drawbacks, Lover is genuine, captivating and undoubtedly Swift’s most frank album to date.

Here are the best five songs from Lover:

5. “CRUEL SUMMER” “Cruel Summer” discusses a dark time of Swift’s life, and it contains gripping, profound lyricism. Swift takes us back to summer 2016 when Kanye West released “Famous” and seemingly reignited their feud. However, instead of writing a diss back to West, Swift uses “Cruel Summer” to focus on what comes to be the best part of the summer: meeting Alwyn. The couple’s relationship has been mostly hidden from the limelight, but the steady drums, beautiful harmonies and infectious synths perfectly exemplify the lyrical notion that Swift is ready to show her man off, with the simple yet impactful lyrics: “I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you.” This song practically describes the whole album: Take the time to focus on the good when everything in life seems terrible.

4. “I FORGOT THAT YOU EXISTED” “I Forgot That You Existed” is a breezy opener to an expressive, emotional album, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The track seems to be about ex-boyfriend DJ Calvin Harris and how Swift spent so much time remembering the pathetic things he did. One day, Swift seemingly forgot all about him, and she found she was able to recover nicely and focus on her well-being. Guided by cheery piano keys, she mentions she forgot that “You got out some popcorn as soon as my rep started going down, down, down / Laughed on the schoolyard as soon as I tripped up and hit the ground, ground, ground.”

Even though he treated her this way, Swift still “would’ve been right there, front row / Even if nobody came to your show.” Now, Swift has moved on, and she’s made a banger along with a good outlook out of a sad situation.

3. “DAYLIGHT” A lot of the album surrounds the fact that Swift’s smitten with Alwyn, and that’s epitomized in “Daylight.” Some subtle brass and reflective synths blend with the lyrics to give listeners a taste of just how in love Swift is: “I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you (I can never look away) / I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought you (Things will never be the same).” The track fades out with a verse of spoken word, where Swift admits she wants to be defined by what she loves and who she is now and that “You are what you love.” It’s an impactful closing track that shows Swift’s progression into someone she truly loves.

RATING: 8 / 10

Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover’ sees the singer the most confident she’s been in awhile. (PHOTO VIA @ST_VINCENT ON TWITTER)

2. “PAPER RINGS” Just when you thought Swift’s intense love for Alwyn couldn’t get any cuter, “Paper Rings” comes and proves you wrong. Swift is so infatuated with Alwyn she would forgo all materialistic things for his love: “I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings.” We even get some subtle, country-esque acoustic guitar that’s emphasized right after she confesses she’ll put all his pain on her heart: “I want to drive away with you / I want your complications, too / I want your dreary Mondays.”

Simply, the track communicates a love we all wish to feel.

1. “SOON YOU’LL GET BETTER (FEAT. DIXIE CHICKS)” The main theme of this album is overcoming setbacks and focusing on

the positive. Though this track is a heartbreaker, it still follows the aforementioned themes. “Soon You’ll Get Better” is Swift’s open letter to her mother, who was rediagnosed with cancer this year. Swift is blunt, with the soft acoustic guitar, captivating violins and heartfelt lyrics: “Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus, too.”

Swift and the Dixie Chicks harmonize gorgeously in the chorus: “Soon, you’ll get better (Ooh, ah) / You’ll get better soon / ’Cause you have to.” Swift reveals she’s going to remain hopeful, but she doesn’t know what she’s going to do if she doesn’t have her best friend. This collaboration is a wonderful ode to her mother, and it’s the best track on Lover.

@BRE_OFFENBERGER BO844517@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

BRIEFS

Case of beer stolen from Big Mamma’s; city exploring new affordable housing opportunities ABBY MILLER NEWS EDITOR BIG MAMMA’S ROBBED A man stole a case of beer Monday night from Big Mamma’s, 10 S. Court St., while staff members were preparing his order.

The Athens Police Department responded at about 11 p.m. A report was taken at 2:24 a.m. Tuesday.

The man has not yet been identified. Big Mamma’s staff are going to look at security footage, Owner Jerry DePizzo said.

The case of beer that was stolen, Mystic Mama Beer, is valued at $11, according to an APD report.

DePizzo, who became a co-owner of Big Mamma’s in February, said this is the first crime to happen since he became an owner. The establishment already planned to install more security cameras.

POTENTIAL SITES FOR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING EXPLORED Members of Athens City Council’s Affordable Housing Committee are suggesting The Ridges as a solution to Athens’ need for affordable housing.

Councilwoman Sarah Grace, D-At Large, suggested

Monday that some of the vacant space at The Ridges could be transformed into affordable housing units. Among other suggestions for affordable housing spaces, Grace pointed out historic buildings two, three, four and five.

Other areas in the city being considered as site for affordable housing include University Estates and Oakmont.

Due to some city regulations, the cost of land and the scarcity of land in Athens can be difficult for developers to build affordable housing units. The Affordable Housing Committee would like to try creating more properties within the $125,000-$250,000 price range.

The committee also recommended the city consider acquisition of current or former rental properties that could be converted to single family homes. Over 70% of the housing stock in Athens is rental units, Grace said.

Rental properties, such as Airbnbs, may also see some new changes under the committee’s recommendation.

Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, would like to look at regulations for Airbnbs in different parts of the city. She would also like those Airbnbs to uniformly pay the transient guest tax, which is 3%.

Fahl pointed out that hotels in Athens already pay that guest tax and that the issue is a matter of fairness.

OHIO UNIVERSITY RECEIVES FUNDING FOR OPIOID TASK FORCE Ohio University’s School of Nursing director was awarded a $1.35 million grant to create an opioid task force with the help of several university departments.

The award was given to Deborah Henderson from the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. The grant will be active from September 2019 to Aug. 31, 2022.

The grant will allow for collaboration among university schools, graduate students, behavioral health providers and the community, according to a university press release. There are 10 co-investigators from the College of Education, College of Health Sciences and Professions and the School of Nursing.

The grant will apply to several counties in Southeast Ohio, including Athens and Meigs. Meigs County has the third highest overdose death rate in Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU

BLOTTER

Drunk students throughout Welcome Weekend; man gets stuck in tree IAN MCKENZIE ASST. NEWS EDITOR Welcome Weekend only went well for some people.

The Ohio University Police Department responded to the area of Hudson Health Center Saturday at about 8 p.m. for an intoxicated student.

He smelled of alcohol and was unable to keep his balance. When speaking to officers, he handed them a fake ID. He was charged with disorderly conduct of intoxication and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

The student was one of six people to be charged with disorderly conduct of intoxication over the weekend.

PICK YOUR BATTLES Resident assistants from Pickering Hall called OUPD to report a student passed out in the second floor common area at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

The student was unresponsive, smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. He was issued a citation for disorderly conduct of intoxication and transported by ACEMS to OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital.

PARTY NEVER STOPS On Sunday at 1 a.m., OUPD officers observed a man 6 / AUG. 29, 2019

with an open container walking down Congress Street on the sidewalk next to Bromley Hall.

The officers spoke to the man and found he had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. He was issued a citation for disorderly conduct by intoxication and open container and was transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

TRASHY DAY OUPD responded to a report of a student passed out between two dumpsters behind Boyd Dining Hall.

After several attempts, officers were able to wake the student. He needed assistance to stand and was unsure of his whereabouts. Officers also found him with a fake Texas ID and entered it into temporary evidence. It was marked for destruction.

STUCK LIKE A CAT The Athens County Sheriff’s Office helped Chauncey-Dover Fire Department to find people lost in the woods near Wayne National Headquarters.

One of the people climbed a tree “in hopes of seeing a way out of the woods,” according to the report. Once up the tree, the person became frightened and could not climb down.

Chauncey-Dover located the people through the assistance of phone tracking from the Athens County 911 Center and were able to safely talk the person down the tree. The subjects were checked by EMS personnel and declined medical treatment.

CALL BATMAN The Sheriff’s Office responded to an automated alarm Monday at a residence in Canaan Township.

Deputies checked the residence and found that it was secure. When a resident arrived and opened the residence, they found a bat flying around, which activated the alarm. Deputies returned to patrol.

GREAT CAB SERVICE Deputies responded to a call on Strouds Run Road Friday about an elderly woman with a cane on the side of the road.

The woman said she was just trying to make her way into town to go to the store. She was given a courtesy ride into town.

@IANMCK9 IM581017@OHIO.EDU

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Board of Elections gets renovations GEORGE SHILLCOCK FOR THE POST

T

he Athens County Board of Elections is undergoing major changes after the recent decision to remain at its location on Court Street.

A decision was made in early 2019 to look into a potential relocation of the office to the ATCO building on Stimson Avenue. This was prompted by the need to accommodate changes to voting equipment mandated by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

The proposed relocation was met with concerns from voters and activists about accessing the county’s voting headquarters. Most of their points were centered around the effect on student voter turnout and possible voter suppression across the county.

“We’re staying here and making the best of here and making some changes,” said Debbie Quivey, the director of the Athens County Board of Elections. “I still think that the ATCO building would have been a good move for us because it would have solved every issue that we have. It didn’t work out, so we compromised with what we’ve got here.”

Quivey said a lot of changes have occurred or are soon to be implemented to the Uptown location to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and make the office space easier to access and navigate for both workers and voters.

One of these changes was finding a space in the basement of the Courthouse Annex building to store the new voting machines.

This has increased storage space because the new equipment takes up more space than the old equipment, said Lenny Eliason, an Athens County commissioner.

The storage space was one of the original reasons an office relocation was being considered. The old systems were able to be taken apart and were easier to store, but the new ones are not.

Quivey said they have about 70 of the large voting machines for the entire county, 10 of which are being used as backups.

Overall, they cost $4,670 dollars apiece and were purchased with state funds, which brings the total to around $326,900.

“They’ll probably outlive me. I’ll hopefully be gone by the time they change it again,” Quivey said. “These type of scanners … you really just can’t wear them out.”

Another change coming to the Board of Elections is added amenities, such as a 8 / AUG. 29, 2019

new counter and two new parking spaces, to make the building more compliant with ADA standards. The new voting machines are also more accessible than the previous models.

Lydia Ramlo, president of the Ohio University Student Senate, said changes like these are something that the student governing body wanted to see upgraded at the Board of Elections. When the office’s relocation was still being considered, Student Senate was one of the main voices trying to advocate for the Board of Elections to remain in its uptown location.

“First years are coming to campus. They’re 18, and it’s their first time voting,” Ramlo said.

“That’s where you go to vote or register to vote and having it in that location increases student turnout.”

A big concern that still remains regarding the location of the Board of Elections is how accessible the office is to people driving in from outside of the Uptown area. The office is easily accessible on foot but not for visitors looking for parking during the office’s 8 a.m.4 p.m. hours.

“I still think it would’ve been a little better of an outcome for them. There is better parking for people from outside the city,” Eliason said. “People that don’t live in this city and have to drive from outside to go to the Board of Elections are going to have to park in the parking garage, pay a meter and walk over.”

Eliason said the Board of Elections office could still be moved in the future, but for now, it is up to the city to improve the lack of parking options.

As the upcoming election in November approaches and the 2020 presidential primaries and general election looms on the horizon, the upgrades to the office could help streamline some of the larger crowds that could show up to vote.

“We know we’re going to need everyone next year. It will depend on an election-to-election basis, but next year is going to be a real doozy,” Quivey said. “It’s going to be the biggest ones we’ve seen. Here in Athens we will see a big student turnout.”

Ramlo said Student Senate will try to be one of the driving forces in increasing student voter turnout by encouraging voter registration in both this year’s local elections and next year prior to the deadlines.

“Voting, no matter what type of election, is super important,” Ramlo said.

“We’re excited to help get Bobcats to register to vote in Athens.”

@SHILLCOCKGEORGE GS261815@OHIO.EDU

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Vulgar Welcome Week banners go viral on Twitter IAN MCKENZIE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

E

ight Ohio University Welcome Weekend banners were taken down by the Athens Police Department and Athens City Services because none of the signs had permits.

The Twitter account Bobcat Barstool posted a photo of six men in front of a house with a large banner that said, “You taught them to walk we’ll teach them to ride,” with the caption, “Save some women for the rest of us.”

The tweet was later quoted by popular Twitter account SheRatesDogs, where it amassed over 100,000 likes and nearly 14,000 retweets in just a few days. The tweet was captioned “....... anyway ladies, tasers are $10 on amazon prime.”

“When those things go up, people start to believe that it’s OK here,” Athens Mayor Steve Patterson said. “No, it’s not OK here.”

In response to the banners from Welcome Weekend, some OU sororities put banners up in support of sexual assault victims, which all had permits, said Andy Stone, Athens service safety director.

To apply for a sign permit, people have to submit an application that includes the type of sign, the dimensions and a sketch of the sign if it isn’t permanent and elevation.

Stone said everyone complied immediately when a code officer or APD officer asked them to take their banners down.

“It’s somewhat frustrating, and it seems to be like a game,” Stone said. “It’s almost like, how quick can you get them to show up?”

Patterson said code enforcement and APD were prepared to have to take down banners during Welcome Weekend.

When Travis Grafton, one of the men pictured in the photo originally posted on Bobcat Barstool, was asked on Twitter if he was pictured, he replied, “Regretfully, yes,” with the crying-laughing emoji.

Grafton tweeted, “Yo we messed up. We saw some banner’s pretty vulgar before we put that up. Looking back on it, it was a bad judgment call on all of us. We just thought it would be funny, but obviously it wasn’t.

We’re all sorry.”

Grafton did not respond to a request for comment and has since deleted his Twitter account.

Bobcat Barstool tweeted two other photos of banners with similar messages. One read, “Your son might want to come and stay but we’re gonna make him cum and leave.”

The other read, “Girls, my mint pod won’t be the only thing in your mouth.”

“I’m surprised more students aren’t angry about the behavior,” Stone said. “I would like to see more of the student body point it out, and shame the people.”

APD Chief Tom Pyle said both men and women are responsible for having these banners up and that women are responsible for about half of the banners that pop up during Welcome Weekend.

“It’s not funny,” Pyle said. “Not at all. There is nothing even remotely funny about it.”

Stone said the greater problem is the damage done to the city and the university when photos of the banners go beyond Athens and out to the wider public.

“People make decisions about whether they are going to send their child to the school based upon what they learn about the school,” Stone said.

In response, OU’s Twitter account asking that if student see any sign or banner around town that seeks to demean any gender, race and sexual orientation should be reported.

“As in years past, the University will continue to work with our city partners to ensure codes are being enforced,” Carly Leatherwood, a university spokeswoman, said in an email.

@IANMCK9 IM581017@OHIO.EDU

“

When those things go up, people start to believe that it’s OK here. No, it’s not OK here.”

- Steve Patterson, Athens mayor

Ohio University sororities hang banners in support of sexual assault survivors in response to the banners that were hung Welcome Weekend in Athens. (KELSEY BOEING / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

THE POSTATHENS.COM / 9

Former student settled with an Athens towing company over fee dispute NOLAN SIMMONS NEWS EDITOR A former Ohio University student settled with Curtis Auto Repair and Towing in May, which he alleges overcharged him for a 2018 parking violation.

Trevor Rowe, a 2019 OU alumni, had finished eating lunch with his girlfriend in February 2018 when they left her apartment to find his car being hooked up to a Curtis Towing truck.

Rowe picked up his car from the impound less than an hour later, paying about $128 in towing and “administrative fees.”

After Rowe arrived back home, he became suspicious of the charge and spent that weekend looking up Ohio towing laws.

“I don’t remember exactly what it was that spurred me to look it up,” Rowe said. “Probably just wanted that money back, to see if there was a way to get it.”

He found that Athens has a local ordinance that limits towing fees to $50.

He also found a lawsuit that the city of Cleveland filed against the state of Ohio that resulted in a 2003 state law, which limited towing fees to a $90 maximum with a storage fee of $12 per day. After Cleveland won, the decision effectively declared towing regulation to be a matter of home rule, a provision authorizing local governments to enforce laws specific to their areas as long as they do not conflict with statewide laws.

Rowe also found that a Franklin County judge ruled the “administrative fees” charged by some towing companies violated state law, though that ruling came about before the 2003 state towing regulations were repealed.

Rowe thought he had been overcharged. He took his research back to Bill Curtis, owner of Curtis Towing, the following week to try to get back the money he believed he was owed.

“I had a black bomber jacket, and I had rigged up my phone, and it was hidden in the jacket,” Rowe said.

He said he showed the workers at Curtis Towing the city ordinance and court documents, but they did not take him seriously.

When Rowe requested the $78 from Curtis, or the amount he was charged over the $50 limit in Athens, Curtis told Rowe, 10 / AUG. 29, 2019

“You’re going to need a lawyer, bud.”

Curtis was not available for comment at the time of publishing.

Rowe left Curtis Towing and went to seek help from the Center for Student Legal Services, or CSLS, that same day, showing the staff exactly what he had brought to Curtis.

After months of waiting for a separate case to wrap up, CSLS got in touch with Curtis to try to negotiate before any legal action was taken. The two men could not come to an agreement, and on March 4, 2019, Rowe filed a civil claim against Curtis Towing.

The claim alleged that, though similar state towing regulations have been passed since Rowe was towed, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio had not established the current regulations until

four days after Rowe’s vehicle was towed.

Additionally, the Ohio Administrative Code, which currently limits towing fees for personal vehicles to a maximum of $129, had not gone into effect until more than three months after his vehicle was towed. The Athens city ordinance had been in effect at the time Rowe was towed, while state towing laws had not been, according to the claim.

While a hearing was scheduled, the two never actually went to court. Curtis called CSLS on May 1 to settle with Rowe, and later that day, a check was sent for $188: the $78 Rowe had been asking for and $110 to cover his court fees.

“I feel like there has to be an element of pride in there or stubbornness or something,” Rowe said. “The only thing that I can think of, the only reason to do

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that is that he was calling my bluff. He didn’t think that I would actually fi le.”

Whether the charge made to Rowe was legal or not was never officially decided upon because there was no judicial decision actually made.

“I can’t say that those fees are illegal because there was never a judgment, and I’m also not a lawyer,” Rowe said.

“I received a settlement from Curtis.

That’s a fact.”

When he was towed in February 2018, Rowe posted a survey to Facebook, asking people who had been towed in Athens how much they were charged. While he did not specifically ask those who responded to differentiate between towing, administrative and impound fees, the average charge was about $150.

These kind of fees may not seem like much, but for students and low-income families, that money could be the only thing keeping them afloat, said Adam Boesinger, commissioner of off-campus affairs for Student Senate.

“It’s not only students … But (that money) can be the difference between a family getting food on the table (or not),” Boesinger said. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a lot of money, but it really does have a heavy impact.”

To help offset the cost, OU students can apply for an emergency microgrant through the Division of Student Affairs, which typically awards emergency grants to students in emergency situations or who are going through onetime hardships.

Boesinger said he would like to propose a Senate bill, asking the city to ensure that towing companies in Athens are in compliance with state law. Towing services in Athens include Curtis Towing, Athens Towing and AutoTech Service Center.

Rowe’s advice for any student who finds themselves in similar situations is to seek the help of the CSLS. “People forget that lawyers are also there for cases where someone wrongs you, not just when you’re in trouble,” Rowe said. “I wouldn’t have been able to navigate the court system and get this money back if I hadn’t. So pay the 15 bucks, and there’s not a bad chance that it’ll pay off.”

@NOLANSIMMONS37 NS622217@OHIO.EDU

Student political parties prepare for the new year GEORGE SHILLCOCK FOR THE POST The Ohio University College Republicans and Democrats, OUCR and OUCD, are two of the campus’ biggest student political organizations, and they are both planning ahead to increase political participation, both within their groups and among the student population.

Kailey Gentner (R) and Meah McCallister (D), the presidents of both organizations, plan on making changes to their respective groups while also expanding into new activities. Traditionally, both groups hold a strong and civil relationship with one another while also keeping a strong presence within their own political parties on campus and in the community.

“Pizza and Politics” is an annual event that both presidents are planning on bringing back, but both expressed interest in bringing up the possibility of a debate.

“I’m really hoping they’d be interested in doing a debate this year,” McCallister said. “I think it’s fun to watch the presidential debates on a national level and then have the opportunity to see us.”

Gentner said she believes it is always beneficial to sit down with people from the other side of the aisle, and maybe compromise on some of your beliefs while also having an active debate on important issues.

There was not a debate between the two organizations last year because both groups wanted to avoid it being too contentious because of the midterm elections.

Both organizations experienced great turnout at the OU involvement fair and received interest from about 100 students each.

Like most student organizations, the political groups are expecting to see a small fraction of the students who expressed interest to actually remain with the group.

“One of our biggest goals this semester is recruiting members and retaining them through the year,” Gentner said. “This is not an election year, and we won’t have a lot of fun campaign stuff to do.”

Some of Gentner’s plans for the OUCRs this year are to try and include visits from politicians, such as State Reps. Bill Johnson and Jay Edwards, U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers and other politicians whose campaigns they help support.

She said she is also interested in opening up group meetings to discussion and

analysis of legislation passed at all levels of government to prompt debate and conversation within the group.

Along with those plans, the OUCRs are planning their annual trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in February, finding philanthropic ways to give back to the community and are participating in parades throughout the year in support of local candidates like Edwards.

The OUCDs and McCallister have a similar approach to their year but have the added dynamic of having candidates on November’s general election ballot for the city of Athens.

No Republican candidates filed to run against incumbent Athens Mayor Steve Patterson (D), but he is being challenged

by Damon Krane, an independent candidate. Republicans are also absent from the City Council races.

McCallister said they don’t endorse candidates before the primary, but they generally endorse the Democratic candidate. They are planning on inviting politicians like Patterson and members of the Athens County Democratic Party to speak at their meetings.

“We have a great working relationship with Mayor Patterson, and we have also reached out to City Council candidate Beth Clodfelter to meet with us,” McCallister said.

The OUCDs also want to try and use the time afforded to the group to reach out to the community more and get people involved in local activism. One way she wants to expand their community involvement is reaching out to My Sister’s Place, an Athens-based charity, to raise money for it.

The OUCDs are also looking to update the ways in which they encourage OU students to register to vote. The group is looking into methods of registering students online and other ways of making registering to vote easier.

“The way you go about it is super important. We try to find the most appealing way to get people’s attention without breaking laws,” McCallister said. “We sometimes stand at the top of Baker, and bring dogs to attract people’s attention.”

Neither group is particularly focused on the 2020 Presidential Election, but they do expect to have many internal conversations about the candidates and ways they can contribute to the campaigns over the next year.

@SHILLCOCKGEORGE GS261815@OHIO.EDU

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THE POSTATHENS.COM / 11

First steps into the future The Class of 2023 takes their first steps into their lives as Ohio University Bobcats.

THIS PAGE (CLOCKWISE): 1. Ohio University President Duane Nellis gives a speech during the annual Convocation ceremony for the Class of 2023 at Ohio University on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019. 2. Ohio University Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Gigi Secuban and Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones share a laugh during the annual Convocation ceremony for the freshman class on Sunday, August 25, 2019. 3. The Ohio University Class of 2023 participate in an activity during the annual convocation ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 in Athens, Ohio. 4. Ohio University’s cheerleading squad performs during the annual convocation ceremony for the Class of 2023 on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 in Athens, Ohio.

12 / AUG. 29, 2019

THIS PAGE (CLOCKWISE): 1. The Ohio University Class of 2023 walks from the Convocation ceremony to the involvement fair on College Green on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 in Athens.

2. Dean of Students Jenny Hall Jones gives a speech during the annual Convocation ceremony for Ohio University’s Class of 2023. 3. The Ohio University Class of 2023 sit at the annual Convocation ceremony before the involvement fair on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 in Athens, Ohio.

ALL PHOTOS BY KELSEY BOEING / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Revamped

recess

Jamie Betit successfully tricks adults into exercising, with a fun twist.

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

RILEY RUNNELLS ASST. CULTURE EDITOR For children, recess is the time where they can escape school and responsibility, go outside and unwind with their friends.

As time goes on, recess becomes increasingly eliminated until it’s gone altogether.

However, the stress and responsibility of life significantly increases, and adults are left with few to no outlets that are simply meant for blowing off steam.

That’s where Jamie Betit, owner of Functional Integrated Training (FIT), comes in. Eight years ago, Betit created “Recess for Adults,” a weekly event where adults of all ages can come and play, foster relationships and simply let loose for an hour of fun. Betit is going to run the event every Thursday through the end of October, and if the event takes off, he’ll find an indoor space to continue it during the winter months.

“This event is for community members to relearn to enjoy one another just for the sake of enjoying one another,” Betit said.

“It’s play for the sake of play; there’s no purpose, no true direction — just learning to come out, let go of anxiety and stress and trust that it’s OK to be ridiculous.”

Betit started the event when he moved his training business from Maine to Athens 14 / AUG. 29, 2019

about nine years ago. FIT focuses on training and sports performance, and it offers several different classes, summer camps for children and other programs.

Betit started Recess for Adults in the West Elementary School gym. The event was a huge success, garnering 20-30 people per class with ages ranging from 18-70, and it was a great way for Betit to get to know the people in his new environment.

After a little over a year, Betit lost access to the gym, so he took a break from the event.

This year, Betit could clearly see the need for the event to return, so he decided to bring it back at Highland Park.

“I just think especially right now, it’s what we need, with so much division in political ideology and all that stuff,” Betit said. “It’s a great opportunity for community members to get together without alcohol and without opinions, and just move their bodies and have a great time.”

Dr. Stuart Brown, the author of the book Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, was Betit’s real inspiration. Betit realized he could find a way to combine exercise with games and make it more of a group event, rather than a one-on-one training-focus. He wanted to bring a fun element into exercise and into life.

Adults of any age are welcome in the

class, and Betit knows that in a goal-oriented society, the class can be really beneficial in teaching adults to enjoy the journey to reach their goals. Recess for Adults is not only a healthy form of exercise and meeting other people in Athens but it’s also a safe space to let the inner child play with no judgment.

Betit is not the only one to preach the benefits of Recess for Adults. Amanda Sharrai, who has had Betit as her personal trainer for five years, has participated in Betit’s classes before and knows the event is a great way to stay in shape and have some fun.

“The biggest benefit I see is that adults don’t get an opportunity to play much,” Sharrai said. “We work a lot; we raise children, so I think it’s important to get us out of our day-to-day routines and spend time with other adults playing, exploring our bodies and working out.”

More than that, however, Sharrai knows with the hardships and responsibilities that life throws at adults, it can be easy to throw self-care on the backburner, and Recess for Adults is a great area for adults to practice self-care.

“It’s important for adults to take this personal time for themselves,” Sharrai said. “A lot of adults get so wrapped up in their lives that they don’t do self care, and I

think it’s really important to take that opportunity to do self care, and this is a really comfortable and safe space to do that.”

Betit believes once people start showing up to the event, they’ll begin to crave it, and the opportunity to be ridiculous with no bosses, no responsibilities and a group of people who want the same thing.

Couples are encouraged to come together to the event because Betit thinks it’s healthy for relationships. Whether there is tension in relationships or a couple has lost their spark, Betit believes a great way to rekindle the relationship is by adding a little fun into it with the recess class.

More than anything, Betit wants the event to be a place for people to get some exercise, break down societal barriers and get out of their comfort zones by unleashing their inner child.

“To me, there’s no reason not to come,” Betit said. “If you think the event is stupid or silly, then you’re probably the exact person who needs to come — if for nothing else, just to try something new.

Why would you hesitate to come and get good exercise all the while having a smile on your face?”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEE LOCKHART

Here’s where you can buy vinyls in Athens

KERI JOHNSON

STAFF WRITER

Those new to town may notice Athens lacks a record store.

Almost two years ago, Haffa’s Records closed down. The store served the general interest of music — but also the niche hobby of collecting records. The nearest record stores in the region now are about hour-drives from Athens: Apollo Records in Chillicothe, and Sound Exchange in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Vinyl is on a comeback, and here are some nearby options for increasing your collection: ATHENS UNDERGROUND With a huge, cultivated collection of records, Athens Underground is a great place to stop by and check out. A neat little store, located at 90 N. Court St., it is an Athens staple. Walk down the stairs and be greeted by colorful displays and a vast array of antique items. If you look further, you’ll fi nd a huge collection of used records. Organized by genre, with decent-sized folk, jazz and country sections, Athens Underground is a reliable source for classic vinyl.

FOLLETT’S BOOKSTORE Students may wander into Follett’s 16 / AUG. 29, 2019

Bookstore just to head to the basement to pick up a textbook, but take a quick look around the fi rst floor, and you’ll spot a record section. Located at 63 S. Court St., the store offers a decent-sized record collection. Follett’s sells new vinyl pressings of modern artists, such as Lana Del Rey or Kanye West but also classics, such as The Beatles or Led Zeppelin. With its location and variety, it is a solid spot for fresh records.

Road, is worth the short trip. The Antique Mall has a solid stock of famous names and classics such as Bob Dylan, but it also maintains a collection of more alternative classic acts such as Kate Bush or Meat Puppets. Inexpensive with an expansive collection sorted by genre from bluegrass to soul — and even a world music section — the Antique Mall has something for every avid record collector.

ATHENS OHIO ANTIQUE MALL With an ever-growing, diverse collections of records, Athens Ohio Antique Mall, located at 180 Columbus

RANDOM HOUSE Conveniently located at 12 W. State St., across from O’Betty’s and next door to Casa Nueva, Random House is a unique,

little antique store right in Uptown. Despite being small, Random House offers many options to lovers of used, vintage pressings.

ELSEWHERE...

These are just a few options for record shopping. Most thrift stores and consignment shops in the area sell cheap, used, donated records and even Walmart offers new vinyl. Some of these locations will even buy or exchange records, so stop by and discover music.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

FOOTBALL

HIGH EXPECTATIONS Sophomore Will Evans recovers a fumbled Bowling Green ball on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (KELSEY BOEING / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

MATT PARKER SPORTS EDITOR Will Evans sunk his hand in the turf, and his shoulder pads raised as he took a deep breath. There was a sense of stillness in the warm, muggy August air that matched Evans in his presnap stance.

The stillness shifted to controlled chaos in a matter of seconds, however, once the ball was snapped, and Evans shot out of his stance. As he chased quarterback Nathan Rourke out of the pocket, all the defensive players on the sideline cheered in unison.

Moments later, the same sequence happened, only it was from the other defensive end. This time, it was Amos Ogun-Semore’s turn to reach the backfield.

The Ohio defensive staff hopes to see similar sequences this season from its potentially star-studded pair on the edges. It’s a sight the pair trained for in the weight room and crafted in all of August during Ohio’s fall camp.

Evans, a redshirt junior and captain for Ohio, has spent the last two seasons on a steady incline that he hopes to accelerate this season. Last season, he accounted for 29 total tackles and finished third among defensive linemen with two sacks.

Ogun-Semore was slightly ahead of him last year. The red-

shirt sophomore started for 12 of Ohio’s 13 games and had 34 total tacks paired with 2.5 sacks, just a step above Evans.

With such talent and experience back on the edges for the Bobcats, defensive ends coach Pete Germano’s expectations of the duo are rooted in their production from a year ago.

“I expect those guys to make plays, not to just be out there and play three games and have a tackle or two,” Germano said. “(I think) we’re going to really have one of those years where you can’t leave our guys off (those lists).”

Those lists Germano referred to were All-Mid-American Conference players. He’s felt like his ends haven’t gotten their fair share of postseason accolades, but with the experience and depth returning to the edges, it’s Ohio’s for the taking.

The Bobcats haven’t had an All-MAC defensive lineman since defensive end Tarell Basham earned first-team AllMAC honors after the 2016 season. But Germano isn’t worried about the lack of attention, nor are Evans and Ogun-Semore.

Their main focus is on crafting last season’s success into this year’s foundation.

Evans and Ogun-Semore have their similarities, which make them a lethal threat to opposing quarterbacks. They both have long arms, which allows them to create different pass rush moves from a solid base. They see the game at a slower pace, which allows them to play faster and react to

their reads quicker. The biggest similarity they share, however, is experience.

They combined for 23 starts a year ago and headline a deep room of defensive ends that all saw time on the field and, from Germano’s perspective, helped improve everyone in Ohio’s defensive end group.

While breakout seasons are ahead of the two, they’re just the top of what’s considered one of the deepest units on the whole defense.

Ohio can use its reserves in Austin Conrad, Sam McKnight and Chukwudi Chukwu in any given situation just as easily as it could use its starters. Germano said the depth is a “good problem to have” because if someone isn’t doing well or gets injured, he wouldn’t feel nervous about calling the next guy up.

But no one expects the guys who have been penciled in as the starters to perform poorly. Evans and Ogun-Semore showed flashes of their potential during the fall camp scrimmages. They trained to be better physically than they were last season, and the only thing left for them to do is perhaps the easiest thing: wait for the stillness to pass and to create chaos.

@MATTHEWLPARKER5 MP109115@OHIO.EDU THE POSTATHENS.COM / 17

FOOTBALL

O’Shaan Allison ready to prove worth as a redshirt freshman ANTHONY POISAL SPORTS EDITOR

O

’Shaan Allison laughed as he stood at the 30-yard line inside Walter Fieldhouse and remembered where he was a year ago as a true freshman in his first practice with Ohio.

It felt as if it was 100 degrees on the turf at Peden Stadium. Allison didn’t know where he was supposed to go next in individual drills. Coaches and players yelled at him. The running back was on the bottom of the depth chart, and he knew it.

“Oh, man, I remember that one,” Allison said as he shook his head. “Everything just seemed like it was thrown at you in a second. I didn’t know what was going on, honestly.”

Allison felt the culture shock in the transition from high school football at Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, to college football under coach Frank Solich. Players who begin a career similar to Allison — lost, confused and uncomfortable — are longshots to see the field in their first year or two of college.

That won’t be the case for Allison. He’s as comfortable as he’s ever been in his second year with the Bobcats and is in line to receive plenty of snaps as a redshirt freshman. He could build a case for the starting running back position if he bulldozes and jukes opponents the same way he did against teammates in spring and fall camp.

Ohio will test several running backs in its first game against Rhode Island on Saturday. The Bobcats have seven running backs on their roster, and almost all of them could rotate handoffs in Week 1.

Allison will likely be a part of that rotation after he showcased his explosiveness to coaches in first team reps after Julian Ross, the most experienced running back on Ohio, missed spring camp with an injury.

Allison, however, felt ready for a firstteam role midway through last season.

Just two months after that dreadful first practice at Peden Stadium, he received his first carry during a blowout against Western Michigan. It was only a four-yard pickup, but Allison felt at ease as soon as he lined up in the backfield for his first collegiate snap.

18 / AUG. 29, 2019

Ohio University freshman running back O’Shaan Allison (#28) runs the ball against Western Michigan on Nov. 1, 2018. (KELSEY BOEING / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Allison ended his first game with seven carries for 24 yards. That was the only game he played with Ohio last year.

“That very first play reminded me of my freshman year of high school,” Allison said.

“They threw me in there. The game was definitely moving fast, but I didn’t have a nervous feeling. I wasn’t anxious. I was comfortable and confident.”

With the mental reps out of the way, Allison went to work on how he could compete for more snaps in his second year. He needed to become stronger in pass protection, which he never really grasped in high school, so he studied film in the offseason to learn how to position himself to pick up the right blocker on each play.

Those improvements placed Allison in position to receive first-team reps when

he returned for his second year, and now he’s nearly completed what appeared to be a long trek to the top of the depth chart.

He’s not an official starter yet, but he’ll likely be a key piece of Ohio’s offense, and he’s plenty content with that.

“I’m not worried about that,” Allison said. “As long as I can contribute to winning games and winning that MAC Championship, it doesn’t matter who’s starting. I want to see everyone eat.”

Allison is eager to prove that his size won’t define him, either. He’s one of the smallest players on the team at 5 feet, 10 inches tall, but his 205-pound frame can still deliver a punch powerful enough to drive through linebackers.

He thinks defenders will always underestimate his ability because of his size. His

shiftiness and trucking ability, however, are as good as any running back on Ohio.

“They think I’m just a little bowling ball that runs straight, and that’s what surprises them,” Allison said. “When someone looks at me, they think I only run straight.

I definitely make people miss.”

Allison will have his first shot at showcasing those skills Saturday against the Rams. His path to the top of the depth chart isn’t finished yet, but his confidence can’t be questioned.

His comfortableness can’t be, either, and now it’s time for Allison to prove his worth.

@ANTHONYP_2 AP012215@OHIO.EDU

FOOTBALL

TYLER WALTON IS READY TO CREATE HIS OWN LEGACY MATT PARKER SPORTS EDITOR Ohio and its fans alike have enjoyed seeing a wide receiver who donned No. 4 gash through defenses and create big plays.

For the last three seasons, No. 4 has belonged to now-graduated playmaker Papi White. Just because White and his talents are gone, however, doesn’t mean Ohio won’t enjoy who now wears No. 4.

Meet Ty Walton.

The redshirt freshman shares similar features to his predecessor. They’re both under 6 feet tall. They’re both relatively light in weight, as Walton is listed at 165 pounds.

They have the speed and football intelligence to give problems to opposing secondaries.

Those similarities haven’t gone unnoticed.

Offensive coordinator Tim Albin was quick to praise Walton early in camp at Ohio’s media day where he acknowledged the comparison.

“I told somebody that in pre-game, (opposing teams) are going to say, ‘I thought the

White kid graduated,’” Albin said. “He’s made some plays throughout fall camp. He’s had a really good offseason.”

With such a comparison at the start of his career, Walton feels like it’s time for him to start his own journey. Following White is a hard act. In his last season with the Bobcats, White totaled 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, and in his career, he totaled 2,290 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

But now, it’s Walton’s turn to make his own path and give people a reason to still talk about No. 4.

“Papi is my bro, and it’s an honor that people say I resemble him,” Walton said, “But I want to start my own legacy. Now that Tyler Walton is No. 4, I want that to continue to be the road we head down.”

Walton, who played at Christian Brothers in St. Louis, felt that he had a lot to offer to various collegiate programs. But because of his size and some lingering injuries in high school, he only had offers from Ohio, Kent State and Army.

With his three offers, it came down to who would give him the best opportunity.

“I was getting overlooked, and Ohio gave me an opportunity,” he said. “I think they got a steal with that, and I’m out here trying to prove that to them.”

The feeling of being overlooked has kept Walton hungry to succeed and learn as much as possible. He spent his first year at Ohio as

a scout team receiver, helping its starting defense prepare for its weekly opponents.

Walton made that role his own and set out to challenge guys like Javon Hagon and Kylan Nelson to improve in practice. He did all of that without realizing he was improving, too.

That caught the eye of wide receivers coach Dwayne Dixon, who sees a lot of potential in Walton.

“I can sleep at night knowing when he’s in the game that he can execute at a high level,” Dixon said. “He’s been a very good asset to our team.”

Dixon believes that Walton shares similar talents to White. Dixon believes Walton has emulated similar habits as White, and that’s why Walton’s potential is just as high.

Now, it’s Walton’s time. He’s ready to get on the field and showcase the talents he possesses.

After playing with the scout team a year ago, Walton has played with the first and second teams throughout fall camp. He’s showed that he has what it takes to potentially lead a young wide receiver group and possibly fill the shoes of White, who currently plays with the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. Along with the reps he’s received on offense, Walton has the potential to get in on special teams situations as a returner. Though he’s not listed on the two-deep depth chart, anything is possible in Week 1.

Walton just wants to be out on the field no

Ty Walton poses for a photo in Peden Stadium. (KELSEY BOEING / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

matter if he’s in on offense or special teams.

“One of my big goals this year is to just make an impact and to help this team win games,” he said. “I don’t want to come out and try to be someone I’m not.”

With the season just days away and Ohio set to welcome Rhode Island to Peden Stadium, fans are going to have a minor adjustment with seeing a No. 4 juke and jive around the field.

Over time, Walton will still have to learn how to create separation and score on a breakaway route similar to his predecessor.

But for now, Walton is ready for his journey to begin.

@MATTHEWLPARKER5 MP109115@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

BENNETT LECKRONE | LONG-FORM EDITOR She went to church every Sunday when she was a child.

Her father taught Bible lessons, and her mother was on the church council. To this day, her siblings remain religious.

But for Cheryl Blosser, a New Straitsville resident, Christianity just “never took” to her. She said she was just going through the motions when she went to church – and eventually asked to have her local Methodist church membership revoked.

Blosser might seem like a rarity: an Appalachian atheist.

“I’m the oddball,” Blosser said, laughing.

New Straitsville is an intensely Christian town. Three crosses loom over the town’s main street, with the Ten Commandments emblazoned on a rock below. Blosser’s yard lacks any religious monuments, but she does keep some antiques and historical items around.

Blosser doesn’t try to hide her atheism, and has many religious friends, but she said other residents of the little

20/ AUG. 29, 2019

Perry County village have been shocked by it.

“This woman just stared at me,” Blosser said, recalling someone’s reaction to learning of her atheism. “She’s a very devout woman. She was appalled.”

Southeast Ohio is a Christian stronghold. It borders the so-called “Bible Belt,” and a majority of residents attend Protestant Christian churches, but the region’s religious landscape is rapidly changing.

Church membership is declining, and mainline Protestant denominations are struggling to fill their pews on Sunday mornings. Some of those churches are even dying off: the historic First Christian Church in Nelsonville held its final service last year.

Blosser is far from being the only atheist in Southeast Ohio: in the region and across the country, “nones,” or people who don’t identify with a religion, are growing rapidly. By some measures, their numbers equal evangelicals and Catholics.

Despite this changing religious landscape, churches are still the social cornerstones of many small communities. As new ideas and identities emerge in the region, atheists like Blosser have to go out of their way to find community.

ALONE IN APPALACHIA

“How is that possible?”

That was the first question Blosser’s father, who has since passed away, asked when she told him she was an atheist. He had attended church his whole life and couldn’t imagine going without it.

Being an atheist, or nonreligious person, in rural Ohio isn’t easy. Berkeley Franz, an assistant professor of community-based health at Ohio University, said many in Southeast Ohio are like Blosser’s father: they rely on church not just for their faith but as their community.

The decision to leave one’s church might lead to a sense of social isolation, Franz said, making life harder for non-churchgoers in Appalachia.

“The real challenges in terms of what you leave behind,” Franz said.

That’s because churches are oftentimes the main social organizations in rural towns. Franz emphasized that, on the whole, the U.S. is an extraordinarily Christian country.

In rural areas, Christianity has an even stronger base.

In Ohio, 73% of adults identify with some type of Christianity, according to the Pew Research Center. More identify as evangelical than mainline Protestant, according to the center. Religious “nones,” by comparison, make up about 22% of the population.

Additionally, some people have misperceptions about nonreligious groups, leading to further isolation.

“People who are atheist or nonreligious are not amoral,” Franz said. “People sometimes equate those two.”

Atheists and other nonreligious groups aren’t the only ones who feel this sense of isolation. People of other religious identities, such as Islam or Judaism, also lack places to worship, Franz said.

Blosser has worked to build up a community around history in New Straitsville. She’s the office coordinator for Little Cities of Black Diamonds, a local history group and community organization.

History is Blosser’s great passion. She spends her days giving tours of former mining towns in the area and educating people about the history of miners, unions and labor in Appalachia. She said that, at one point, the miners brought a great religious diversity to the region – but added religion in Southeast Ohio has become “homoge-

neous” since then.

Even from outside the church, Blosser said she’s noticed the changing face of religion in Southeast Ohio.

People are leaving mainline Protestant churches in droves. Several New Straitsville churches had to team up to hold a Vacation Bible School for kids this year, she said.

It’s not just churches in Perry County that are struggling for members and resources. According to Pew, mainline Protestant and Catholic churches across the country have been in decline for decades.

DECLINE AND CHANGE

David Shoemaker knows what it’s like to see a church on the brink. He’s been the pastor at the Methodist church in Buchtel since 1999, and his congregation was once in dire straits.

At one point, only about 20 parishioners would show up to church on a given Sunday, he said. Shoemaker also noted a general loss of membership across the entire Methodist church over the past few decades.

“You see a decline in mainstream churches across the country and around the world,” Shoemaker said. “There’s a general decline in membership.”

That makes the Methodist church in Buchtel, a former mining town outside of Nelsonville, an oddity. While only a dozen or so people sang hymns in the historic building a few decades ago, it now boasts 80 or more on a normal Sunday.

Shoemaker attributes the church’s comparatively high membership to a hardline stance on scripture and a concerted effort to bring new members in.

More Ohioans identify as evangelical rather than Protestant, according to Pew. Evangelicals tend to be more conservative in their approach to Christianity and the Bible and have seen lesser declines in membership compared to more moderate mainline churches.

At the Ebenezer Baptist Church, located about nine miles north of Logan, membership is booming. The church sees more than 400 attendants on a given Sunday, despite being “literally in the middle of nowhere,” according to its pastor.

Rev. Steve Hubbard moved from Myrtle Beach to take the helm at Ebenezer. Parishioners drive up to 40 minutes to listen to his sermons. Like Shoemaker, he says a hardline stance on the Bible is what drives people to Ebenezer.

“They don’t want to hear a bunch of fluff and stuff,” Hubbard said. “That’s kind of like getting cotton candy at the fair. You get a sugar high.”

Hubbard also attributes the death of some local churches to increased mobility. At one point, the church one attended was simply the one nearest to them, Hubbard said. In addition to his church’s Biblical stances, Hubbard said outreach is vital in attracting new members. “‘If you build it, they will come’ doesn’t work,” Hubbard said. “You’ve got to go get them.”

While Hubbard’s and Shoemaker’s churches are thriving, the general decline of Christianity in the U.S. has continued. The pastors both cited a lack of regard for Sundays as a reason for declining church membership.

Experts, meanwhile, say that the rise of individualism in the U.S. might be playing a part in the decline. There has also been a general decline in trust in organized religion, according to Gallup.

Blosser believes that divisive national politics might have something to do with the slow decline of moderate, mainline protestant and Catholic churches.

“I don’t think the moderate churches are meeting the needs of the people,” Blosser said. “We’re being divided.”

Franz said the decline of churches locally means a decline in social institutions for communities. She said churches play a “key role” in connecting people.

FINDING COMMUNITY WITH (OR WITHOUT) GOD

Some refer to the wide open spaces, hills and expanses of nature in Appalachia as “God’s Country.” As an atheist in God’s Country, Blosser has sometimes been chastised for her beliefs but still tries to help local communities.

A few years ago, Blosser and other volunteers were looking to churches in neighboring Shawnee for help.

They were hoping to find a place to pass out free meals in the village, but none of the congregations could muster enough resources to do it.

“None of them had the time,” Blosser said. “They didn’t have enough people.”

She contacted three separate churches about handing out free meals but was unsuccessful. Instead, Blosser’s group wound up getting a local bar to open hours early, so they could pass out much-needed free meals in one of Ohio’s poorest regions.

Blosser’s friends range from devout Christians to practicing Wiccans.

“I like differences,” she said. “I like talking to people ... If you’re willing to accept people, it can be a beautiful world.”

@LECKRONEBENNETT BL646915@OHIO.EDU

THE POSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender

Quilt Fest encompasses fiber fun BAYLEE DEMUTH CULTURE EDITOR

I

t’s no surprise that one would find a fiber festival in the midst of all the art-related events happening in Athens.

The Athens Area Fiber Faire (AAFF) is in its sixth year of providing an annual event with a fiber focus but in its first year collaborating with The Dairy Barn Arts Center to hold the first ever Quilt Fest.

The weekend will feature over 20 vendors with ready-to-purchase, fiber-related products, workshops, a raffle and a skein contest, where contestants take a length of thread or yarn and loosely coil or knot it.

The Dairy Barn has never held its own quilt or fiber fest but has hosted Quilt National, an exhibit showcasing the best in contemporary quilts across the U.S. for the past 40 years. With that in mind, Cassie Meek saw it as an obvious fit to partner with the AAFF to celebrate all things fiber.

“Right now we have vendors from Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and all over Ohio,” Meek, the events and outreach manager for The Dairy Barn, said. “We’re expecting the numbers (for attendance) to be up there since fiber fairs are few and far between.”

Meek is especially curious about the skein contest taking place but is looking forward to everything working out and coming together for a fiber-filled weekend.

“We have some really amazing vendors coming from the Cleveland area that I’ve never met before,” Meek said. “I’m also just excited to see our community come out for an event that we’ve collaborated with AAFF on.”

For Laura Keevan, traveling from Cleveland to Athens is the furthest she’s ever been to participate in a fiber festival.

Keevan, owner of Laughing Cat Fibers, hand dyes and spins all her own yarns and fibers. The past 10 years, she has sold mostly finished knit items such as hats, mittens and scarves, but after delving deeper into the fiber field, she realized where her true passion for fiber art was.

“I really enjoy actually creating the 22 / AUG. 29, 2019

Illustration provided via Cassie Meeks, events and outreach manager of The Dairy Barn Arts Center.

tools, which is the yarn and fiber,” Keevan said. “So these fiber festivals are sort of where my evolution took me because people go to those to buy things relative to the craft.”

She’s excited to finally check out Athens and meet up with fellow vendors

while at the Quilt Fest.

“It’ll be great meeting new people and getting my name out there,” Keevan said. “It’s physically doing shows and being out there that are an imperative part of being seen.”

Lois Wagner has participated in the AAFF

the past five years but is looking forward to being part of Athens’ first Quilt Fest.

“This festival is going to be bigger than we ever had with the many vendors attending,” Wagner, the owner of Fiber FUN Studio, said. “There’s a nice array of classes. I think it’s going to be quite exciting.”

Wagner describes her business as a classic yarn shop, but she sells supplies for knitting, crocheting, weaving and spinning as well as some cross stitch and needlepoint kits. Wagner’s studio also teaches classes in knitting, crochet and weaving.

Along with setting up her own booth at Quilt Fest and selling some of her finished items, Wagner will also be demonstrating some knitting and crochet weaving on a rigid heddle loom and a floor loom for attendees. She will also teach a class during the festival.

“I’ll be teaching needle weaving on a natural loom, which involves working up a fork stick and then weaving different types of yarns,” Wagner said.

Another vendor rolling into Quilt Fest is Robin Richey and her business, Yarnbyrds, the first and only yarn truck from Central Ohio. Richey’s 30-foot RV carries hand-dyed yarn, patterns, shaw pins, a fair amount of knitting notions and project bags.

“Most of my yarn is exclusive type yarns … so there’s nothing you can buy at Walmart or Jo-Ann’s,” Richey said. “They’re high end yarns, very lovely to pet.”

Attendees can shop in and outside of Richey’s truck at several grids and tables she plans on setting up under her truck’s awning. No matter where Richey drives her yarn truck, she’s always excited to meet people who share her love for fiber art.

“I have a lot of family in Athens, too, so I get to catch up with some family and cousins I don’t see a lot,” Richey said. “I just love being with the people because we talk yarn and we talk fabric.”

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU

WHAT’S GOING ON? MEGAN GORDIN FOR THE POST

FRIDAY WELCOME BACK SHABBAT AT 6 P.M. at Chabad at Ohio University, 33 N. Court St. Join the members of Chabad for dinner and Kiddush. A service will also take place at 5:30 p.m. Admission: Free WINTER WILSON at 8 p.m. at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 W. Washington St. See this Athens native perform some new songs with special guests. Admission: Free EL CAMINO ACID, RADATTACK AND WASTEMEN at 9 p.m. at The Union Bar and Grill, 18 W. Union St. Bring your friends and enjoy music from three different groups. Admission: $8 in advance; $10 at the door

SATURDAY QUILT FEST at 10 a.m. at The Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Lane. In celebration of everything fiber, check out booths full of crafting tools and readyto-purchase items from fiber artists. This event is co-sponsored by The Dairy Barn and the Athens Area Fiber Faire, and it will also take place on Sunday.

The Dairy Barn also has numerous crafts available to make this weekend, which you can find at

dair ybarn.org/quilt-fes t-workshops. Admission: Free OHIO VS. RHODE ISLAND at 2 p.m. at Peden Stadium, 200 Richland Ave. See the Bobcats take on the Rams for their first game of the season. This game will also include the Marching 110’s annual Band Day, which features high school bands from all over Ohio.

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

Great coffee, lots of Students, close to campus

visit brookfieldchurch.com