October 22, 2020

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020 Jason Pina departs OU

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Ohio football's Kurtis Rourke is forging a name for himself

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Halloween costumes for you and your bestie

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Artistry through

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Celebrating free speech, a free press is now more important than ever

F MOLLY SCHRAMM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

reedom of speech as well as freedom of the press has been a principle of the U.S. since the Constitution was signed in 1789. A cornerstone of American culture, the protection and celebration of these freedoms is of the utmost importance. Free Speech Week aims to do that.

Raising awareness about the importance of free speech and free press, Free Speech Week takes place during the third week of October. Taking place for 15 years now, the annual event brings recognition to the two parts of the First Amendment but also stresses how these are freedoms for all Americans.

While most Americans have been afforded the rights of the First Amendment since the Constitution was signed, it’s important now more than ever to stress these freedoms and their importance to all of society.

Journalism and the free press have been consistently scrutinized and taken for grant-

ed over the last four years. While this scrutiny has been going on for longer than that time period, it’s clear to see that the current White House administration as well as a good number of the American population don’t have a trust in journalism or understanding of why it’s so important.

With the term “fake news” being used to describe credible, world-renowned media outlets as well as a critical lack of media literacy within society, it’s understandable why there’s a layer of distrust and skepticism.

Nonetheless, genuine journalism, especially local journalism, isn’t here to push a certain bias or to supply bogus facts. In fact, journalism is truly built on fairness and balance. Yes, there are those outlets that squeeze by and perpetuate a false narrative, but the vast majority of journalism aims to report the facts and purely the facts.

Nonetheless, it’s important for Americans to remember the importance of the free

press. In all fairness, the free press is essential to democracy and the well-being of the U.S. The free press is a constant check on the government, corporations, corruption around the world and more. All in all, without the free press, society would be in the dark on most world issues.

There’s a reason that journalism is considered the invisible fourth estate. It’s fundamental to society, and without it, the American people wouldn’t be as knowledgeable as they are.

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.

Correction: An article from the Oct. 15 issue with the headline “ARTS/West closes, community disappointed” attributed information to the incorrect source, as well as misspelled a source’s name.

COVER PHOTO BY KELSEY BOEING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Molly Schramm MANAGING EDITOR Baylee DeMuth DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Ian McKenzie LONG-FORM EDITOR Shelby Campbell SPORTS EDITORS Jack Gleckler, J.L. Kirven CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Keri Johnson 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

2 / OCT. 22, 2020

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ISSUE 9, VOLUME 120

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NEWS BRIEFS

Graduate Student Senate, OU encourage students to get flu shots; football is back with many COVID-19 precautions EMMA SKIDMORE STAFF WRITER University efforts encourage students to get flu shots

In addition to a focus on COVID-19 testing, Ohio University has pushed out campaigns to encourage students to get their yearly flu shots.

Graduate Student Senate has been involved in those efforts, as Suji Baskar, a second-year medical student at OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic medicine and GSS senator, has been working in tandem with individuals from the university’s public health operations.

Baskar said while the flu vaccine is not mandatory, campaigns will encourage students to get their flu shot and provide them with necessary information about the shot.

Both GSS and OU have been sending emails to encourage students to make getting a flu shot a priority, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are flu shot clinics taking place in tents outside of Scott Quad. Students can call OhioHealth Campus Care to set

up an appointment.

Baskar said because the flu and COVID-19 symptoms are very similar, getting the flu vaccine can help minimize the risk of transmitting the illnesses.

Baskar said getting a flu vaccine is essentially doing the same thing as social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands.

While it may not totally prevent you from getting sick, it can help to give an extra level of protection.

Graduate Student Senate: COVID-19 is now an excused absence An amendment making COVID-19 an excused absence for graduate students was approved at Graduate Student Senate’s meeting Tuesday. This will enable students to quarantine and recover without it being counted as an unexcused absence.

The pass/fail grading system used last Spring Semester will also continue to be an option this semester as part of the COVID-19-related policy changes.

Kaelyn Ferris, GSS president, said students are expected to be truthful with their professors about using COVID-19

as an excused absence.

GSS also plans to fund a Canva account to create posts and infographics. Brett Fredericksen, department representative for environment and plant biology, said high-quality posts on social media are important with everything being remote.

Students face mental health complications during 2020 election season

Some students have reported the upcoming election has taken a toll on their mental health.

Aya Cathey, a freshman studying journalism, said she has felt mentally and emotionally drained because of the election. Cathey also said she’s had arguments and lost friends over this election.

Seth Devine, a sophomore studying music production, said he is scared about the outcome of the election, which has affected his mental health. Devine also said he feels distracted by social media in class while trying to stay up to date on everything.

Lauren Elliott-Dorans, a political science professor, said she has provided resources on her class Blackboard page to help students with the voting process.

Elliott-Dorans said the resources include how to check if you are registered to vote, how to request an absentee ballot and more.

She said this election is more chaotic than normal, which can make it harder for students to figure out what exactly to do.

She said she feels her role is to answer questions and get the non-partisan information out there.

Despite some confusion and fear, some students believe the election is still valuable to participate in. Elliott-Dorans said no matter who you vote for, it’s important to realize it impacts you.

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Tenant almost evicted; cow blocking the roadway GRANT RITCHEY FOR THE POST Eviction Notice

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call between a man and his landlord. The man said his landlord was confronting him about guests staying with him and threatened to evict the tenant.

Though there was nothing criminal nor a criminal charge, the tenant wanted the information documented.

Cow Pass

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a cow on the roadway on Baker Road.

Deputies located the owner of the cattle and brought the cattle back to the owner’s pasture. The owner noticed a gate was damaged, which appeared to have been struck by a vehicle. The gate was secured, and the deputies returned to patrol.

Sleep Drifter

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office re-

sponded to a call about a man being passed out in a car at GoMart. When awakened, the man said he was just sleeping. Deputies left the scene.

What are your digits?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a woman about a scam call.

The woman said she was tricked into giving her Social Security number to the unknown caller but doesn’t know if a theft has occurred yet. She just wanted the information to be doc-

umented in case something happens.

Drunk on the race tracks

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call to Fast Traxx in Nelsonville in regards to a disorderly intoxicated man.

The man, who was visibly intoxicated, was harassing other guests at the track. Deputies arrested the man and transported him to Southeast Ohio Regional Jail.

@RITCHEY_GRANT GR619615@OHIO.EDU

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Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

The return of OU football OU football, staff receiving 4 COVID-19 tests a week

ANNA MILLAR FOR THE POST As Ohio University’s football team prepares for the start of the season, the university will be spending $390,000 on testing for football players and staff members.

All players and staff are receiving four COVID-19 tests per week and are also required to wear masks when practicing, lifting or on the sidelines.

The university is expecting to spend $530,000 on testing over all sports, including football, through Dec. 31. These expenses are eligible for reimbursement through the CARES Act, Sara Legarsky, director of athletic communications at OU, said in an email.

There was a unanimous vote to continue forward with this year’s football season, according to a news release from the MAC. The university will follow all guidelines set forward by the MAC and the NCAA, Legarsky said in an email.

Fans will not be able to attend any games or tailgate to 4 / OCT. 22, 2020

follow the MAC, OU and the city of Athens’ requirements.

There has not yet been a decision made about cheerleaders, marching bands or dance teams attending the games. That decision is expected within the next few weeks, Legarsky said in an email.

Even with the risks, Sarah Houpt, a sophomore studying commercial photography, said she plans to try and attend the football games as an effort to go back to the way things were before the pandemic.

However, per the guidelines set forward by MAC and the state, there will be no general admission or tailgating at this season’s football games. General admission includes students.

“I personally will try to watch the games,” Jillian Hern, a sophomore studying mathematical statistics, said. “On TV or online, whatever it may be, but I will not be attending any games or viewing parties.”

All of the football games will be able to be watched on the ESPN family of channels, Legarsky said in an email. The exact channel on which the games will be

available has not yet been decided. However, that decision is expected within the next few weeks.

“Students should keep an eye out on social media at @OhioBobcats, and @OhioFootball, or on OhioBobcats.com,” Legarsky said in an email. “We announce the times and TV information as soon as we have it.”

@ANNAMILLAR16 AM157219@OHIO.EDU

Pondering Pass/Fail Students are opting into pass/fail grading due to the stress of remote learning

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER MOLLY WILSON FOR THE POST Many students are considering opting into a satisfactory or no-credit grade option this semester, as their grades have been impacted due to the outstanding circumstances that online learning brings.

Ohio University offered the S/NC grading system last semester when students were sent off-campus after the coronavirus struck the nation, forcing colleges to move to a remote learning format. The grading system will carry over for all undergraduate students during this Fall Semester, whether they are learning remotely or in-class.

While most classes are offering this grading option, there is a small list of courses that are not allowing students to opt for a satisfactory or no-credit grade.

These courses are exempt from the S/NC grading system due to the essential aspect that a traditional A-to-F grade has in terms of “programmatic accreditation, licensure or similar reasons,” according to the exempted course list.

Yang Chen, a sophomore studying finance, graphic design and commercial photography, is considering the S grade for two of his classes, he said in an email.

“The calculation heavy classes like accounting and finance are not designed for the remote classes,” Chen said in an email. “I have a hard time following the instructors, and when I could not figure out some things, it’s difficult to reach out and ask the instructors, especially for some instructors who do not reply to emails very often.”

Students whose classes are not included in this list are able to opt-in for the new grading system.

“I’m not alone. I have some friends who are in the accounting classes right now, and they are suffering,” Chen said in an email.

Students who have earned an A-C letter grade must manually opt-into the S grade. Any version of a D will automatically be assigned the S grade. An F is given NC. However, students who never attended class or who have stopped attending are not eligible.

Satisfactory grades will not impact the GPA of the student, but it will fulfill the requisites of the course, even when a minimum grade is required, according to the coronavirus response website.

Conversely, students who are assigned the No Credit grade due to an F in the course will not receive credit for the completion of the course. However, these grades will not impact the GPA of the student. If a student never attended class or stopped attending class, the grade will affect the GPA of that student, according to the coronavirus response website.

Blake Zahorchak, a freshman studying business economics, is not considering using the grading system himself due to his current grade status, despite all of his courses offering the option.

However, Zahorchak understands the benefits of the system for students who are struggling with the challenges that online learning brings.

“I could see how it is helpful, and I could see how some kids might get behind, and it might not be all their fault. They could just be stressed out from many different things,” Zahorchak said.

The S/NC grading option is not available until grades are finalized.

Classes that offer the method will have a check box next to the course in the MyOHIO Student Center.

Students will check the box for the S/NC grading system. Once students opt-in, the decision is final, according to the coronavirus response website.

The last day for students to opt-in for a S grade is Friday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. EST.

@MOLLYWMARIE MW542219@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

The legacy of Jason Pina Jason Pina leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, integrity GRANT RITCHEY FOR THE POST Jason Pina said his final goodbyes to Athens, Ohio, during the second-to-last Student Senate meeting he will attend because he didn’t want to give a goodbye speech during his final week at Ohio University.

Pina is stepping down from his role as vice president of student affairs after accepting the position of chief strategy officer for Global Programs and University Life at New York University. He will officially leave his position at OU on Oct. 26, according to a university press release.

Pina is known by his friends and colleagues as someone with incredible integrity. He’s also known by students, both old and new, for his one-on-one ability to connect with students and faculty members alike.

“Dr. Jason Pina was a great adviser to Student Senate, but he was also an inspiring mentor to me,” former Student Senate President Lydia Ramlo said. “I’m so grateful to have seen him biweekly not for one but two years. Throughout that time, he constantly challenged me to bring out my best self.”

Pina’s work in Student Senate has helped shape both current members and former members of Senate.

“He has been a wonderful mentor and advocate for all programs at OU,” Sophia Boothby, a senior studying environmental biology and the senator for athletics, said. “He was the first faculty member I met when he brought his son to an OU field hockey game my freshman year, and he is always at Margaret Boyd and Student Senate events showing support.”

Pina is known by students as an administrator who sticks up for the student body.

“He always says, ‘My job as an administrator is to help you as a student make my job as an administrator harder,’” interim Vice President of Student Affairs Jenny Hall-Jones said.

Pina’s expected the same mentality from the student body.

“You (students) need to change this place,” Hall-Jones said.

“He always used to say, ‘I’m going to do that for you, even if it makes the president mad at me.’”

Pina also wasn’t afraid of answering hard questions. Even when he couldn’t give a student the answer he wanted, he would tell them the truth.

Before Pina arrived at Ohio University in the summer of 2016, university Culinary Services was not part of the Student Affairs Division. Pina wanted all parts of student life to be interwoven into student affairs. After this was put into motion, student affairs learned marketing strategies and communication skills with students.

Pina was challenged with managing over 4,000 students and faculty employees when he first arrived on campus. He took this challenge to heart by focusing on making personal connections with colleagues and students.

“The people that work directly for you ... you have to pour your responsibility into them,” Pina said.

Pina would make visits to dining halls to keep a finger on the pulse of the community and Culinary Services because “it’s not enough to eat in West 82,” he said.

Pina also realized he was the new kid on the block. He wasn’t like Hall-Jones, who parents and students recognized following student orientation.

6 / OCT. 22, 2020

“I have to earn your (students’) trust,” Pina said. “They have no reason to trust me.”

For Pina to prove to others that he deserved the job, he had to be direct with students by getting to know Athens. He packed his belongings and moved with his family from Rhode Island to the Appalachian hills around the city.

Pina used his first summer in Athens to get the lay of the land as students were on summer break. He walked through every residence hall before the students arrived in August. He spent time in every culinary building and mail rooms to get behind the scenes of their operations.

During his final days at OU, Pina has focused on the phased reintegration of students to the university during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he has felt guilty for leaving OU during a moment marked by the pandemic and mass unemployment, causing the decision to take a new position at a new university to be difficult.

“My life was consumed with that,” Pina said. “I lost sleep over it.”

Though Pina will be leaving this week, Hall-Jones will con-

tinue working toward the goals Pina championed during her time as the interim vice president, including his focus on student retention to graduation, strategic planning, equity and social justice training.

“These things are going to be with us for years to come because of his leadership,” Hall-Jones said.

“

@RITCHEY_GRANT GR619615@OHIO.EDU

He has been a wonderful mentor and advocate for all programs at OU. He was the first faculty member I met when he brought his son to an OU field hockey game my freshman year, and he is always at Margaret Boyd and Student Senate events showing support,” - Sophia Boothby, a senior studying environmental biology and the senator for athletics

Vice President of Student Affairs Jason Pina talks to Ohio University’s Graduate Student Senate during its meeting Sept. 26, 2017. (FILE) (BLAKE NISSEN | FOR THE POST)

GAMES

PRACTICE S A FE SIX STAY I NFORME D WAS H YO U R H A ND S A VOI D C LOS E C O N TA CT WEAR A MA SK C LEAN AND DI S INF E CT M ONI TOR YOU R H E A LT H

BE SAF E BO BCATS. DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

Divorcing couples find extra challenges amid COVID-19 pandemic KERI JOHNSON ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Charles Cohara sits parked in his car, across from the Speedway on Second Avenue in Gallipolis. Cohara, an attorney, is there for work. He’s writing up court documents for a client.

When she arrives, both sanitize their hands, don masks and gloves. They stand far apart, on opposite sides of the hood of his car, passing documents back and forth, signing with their own pens.

“It was really hard when the libraries were closed,” Cohara, a senior staff attorney at Southeast Ohio Legal Services, or SEOLS, in Athens, says. “They’re a place to go and fax your documents and a place for us to go and meet our clients.”

In Southeast Ohio, broadband internet access is not guaranteed. When libraries closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of Cohara’s divorce clients, who are low-income or senior citizens, found it difficult to overcome connectivity issues. Libraries were the only place they could go.

While courts remain open for situations involving imminent harm, Cohara said, business-as-usual has slowed.

“Certainly in the beginning, when we were in lockdown, we saw people that made an attempt at reconciliation because in a crisis, you’re going to set aside differences and go with the one you’re with,” Cohara says.

Children make the divorce process even more difficult, but visitations and shared parenting help torn couples make the transition into single parenthood simpler. When nationwide lockdowns began to happen, however, that changed. Long-distance traveling, outof-state parents and others all missed what would’ve been regular visitations.

There were a lot more virtual visits and hearings as well, Cohara says.

“I’ve been doing divorces now since 2004 — 16 years — and there was always, no matter the suitability, some sort of in-person visitation for the non-custodial parent,” Cohara says.

New procedures “It’s been an adjustment for me, as an attorney, trying to cross-examine a witness over a screen,” Cohara says. “I kind of like to be in the room with the person I’m questioning — body language 8 / OCT. 22, 2020

tells that kind of thing, dictates where my question goes.”

Virtual sessions have sort of limited his gut instinct, Cohara says. Divorce is the traditional route people go to end marriages, Cohara said, but nobody knows how it will end. Divorce can be expensive.

In Athens, the filing fees for domestic divorce/dissolution cases with children is $350, or without children, $300 — fees with which Southeast Ohio Legal Services can help, Cohara says.

Divorce also takes time.

“If there are children, it can take up to 18 months,” Cohara says. “With no children, up to 12.”

Cohara says the number of calls the Athens SEOLS office got for help on divorces for the first three quarters is down 20%. For him, it seems dissolutions — where couples ask for the courts to dissolve a marriage — are a popular option for separation.

It takes a minimum of 42 days to get divorced, Cohara says, but he’s seen dissolutions as fast as half that time.

“I have seen dissolutions come in under a month before, with no hard feelings,” McCarthy says. I can’t say that we’re not seeing less people wanting to end their marriage.

It feels like I can tell you that the fact that people want dissolution (is) up.”

Like Cohara, George McCarthy, Domestic Relations Division of Athens Common Pleas court judge, says adjusting to virtual hearings has taken time.

“It changes things,” McCarthy says.

For a while, the courts were operating at half-staff, which initially slowed the rate of things. But the courts never closed.

In April, the state reported that since schools transitioned online in March, reports of child abuse and neglect declined nearly 50%. Divorce cases involving children and imminent danger were prioritized when lockdowns started, both Cohara and McCarthy say.

Virtual hearings have been convenient for some, McCarthy says, like out-of-state attorneys and those living in Cincinnati or Columbus. But it’s different to not have people in the courtroom, he says.

“I deal with mostly felony cases, which are punishable by possible prison time,” McCarthy says. “So it’s a little— it removes

you a little bit, as opposed to in-person.”

The Athens County courthouse had to be updated with new technology to continue hearings. There is a TV on each wall at each counsel table as well as one at the witness chair and two more in the jury room. There are also cameras with direct links to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail.

Defined by COVID-19 Jane Doe, of Washington state, says she will always think of her divorce as something related to COVID-19. Her identity has been kept anonymous due to the sensitive nature of her experience.

Doe, 39, and her partner were married for eight years. Her divorce, she says, felt like a decision that was made but not acted upon.

“I had not really planned to leave the family residence until it became a reality that we would all be trapped in the same house together,” Doe says.

On April 6, Doe woke up and left. Because of COVID-19, Doe feels that she didn’t get to leave on her own terms.

“It didn’t feel like a timeframe of my own,” Doe says.

Doe had just moved to Washington a couple years ago. That is when the relationship changed, she says. Now, undergoing her divorce, she finds herself alone in a still-new city.

But Doe couldn’t go to court immediately; she was granted full custody of her children outright. She says her ex had very few legal rights when the process started. Altogether, she is working, divorcing entirely online and caring for her children at home.

“I haven’t actually signed a single physical piece of paperwork,” Doe says. “I have a lawyer I’ve never met that I’m paying thousands of dollars to. I’m having a fully digital divorce ... It’s super surreal.”

Doe’s settlement deadline is March 2021. She thinks that she will probably divorce entirely during COVID-19. She wonders if the pandemic will end the same time her marriage does.

Doe feels that she got her future back, but it might be weird for her when the pandemic ends.

“I’ll walk back out into life at the end of this, and people won’t even know that this happened,” Doe said.

“It’s your whole life” Doe feels lucky that she realized she wanted a divorce before the pandemic.

“It’s funny; it’s so horrible,” Doe says.

“I can’t believe how horrible getting divorced is. But I feel like so many more people should do it. It’s your whole life. I had to realize that.”

But she worries about those in similar circumstances — and those who are

less fortunate, in need of financial and emotional support.

“I really worry about a lot of women in situations who have lost their jobs and support,” Doe says. “I somehow knew that I could somehow make it and have resources ... There are lots of women in far worse situations.”

In Ohio, there are resources for those who need them. My Sister’s Place is a domestic violence agency in Athens that offers services such as outreach counseling, a 24/7 help hotline, emergency shelter and court advocacy.

My Sister’s Place has adapted to the pandemic, Kelly Cooke, executive director at My Sister’s Place, says. The organization’s main shelter with a confidential address normally has 11 beds but can only take three individuals or families at the moment. My Sister’s Place, in response, has taken to assisting people by helping them transition into different housing.

“When it’s safe to do so, we’re moving shelter clients into (apartments),” Cooke says. “For people who have a more serious physical risk, we’ve been keeping

ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLIVIA JUENGER

time to reflect.

“I think one thing COVID has given me is time to grieve,” Doe says. “I would’ve busied myself with the same things I did to be happy despite the marriage. Just looking at the relationship — how I got into it and how I stayed — it gives me something of an opportunity for self-reflection in having a COVID divorce.”

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

them in the shelter.”

My Sister’s Place is actually serving more people than it normally does, Cooke says, but all clients are spread out for the time being. Initially, though, when the pandemic started, My Sister’s Place’s hotline usage went down, which concerned Cooke.

“We kind of expected that our hotline numbers would go up,” Cooke says. “Actually what happened was, our hotline numbers initially went down. With people stuck at home during the stay-at-home order, it was harder for a lot of people to call us. I think a lot of times, people call us at work or they’re at a doctor’s appointment. And all of the sudden, everybody was at home.”

Numbers returned to normal by summertime, Cooke says. My Sister’s Place started a text hotline. The shelter is also responsive to Facebook messages. Cooke encourages anyone facing domestic violence or relationship abuse to reach out.

Doe says the pandemic has offered her THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Athens County Food Pantry located at 13183A State Route 13 Millfield, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Endowment from Joe Burrow Heisman donations allows Athens County Food Pantry to serve for generations to come LYDIA COLVIN FOR THE POST A spotlight was put on the issue of food insecurity in Southeast Ohio and nationally, following Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech in December 2019, which then led to a mass of donations to the Athens County Food Pantry. Now, the food pantry has found a way to use these donations to create a sustainable long-term fund to help them fight food insecurity in the region for years to come.

The Athens County Food Pantry received over $650,000 after Burrow’s Heisman speech, more than eight times its normal yearly budget of about $75,000. In order to make this money last in the long term, the food pantry found an investment opportunity with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, creating the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund.

“We were looking for that long-term investment opportunity…We chose the FAO fund because there were matching funds that came through the state of Ohio, so every dollar that we put into the fund was matched. So our $350,000 investment immediately turned into a $700,000 endowment fund,” Karin Bright, president of the Athens Country Food Pantry, said.

Because of how this fund is set up, the money will grow 10 / OCT. 22, 2020

over time, allowing the food pantry to use this fund to fight food insecurity for generations to come. “(The pantry) will be able to use more money from the fund to support their mission as that continues to grow through investment,” Daniel Kington, the communications and programs associate for the FAO, said.

The donations have already begun allowing the food pantry to expand its budget, buy additional appliances and keep more food on the shelves for the people it serves.

The food pantry has added commercial refrigerators to have more fresh produce and other dairy products. It has also increased its food buys by 50%.

In addition to the long-term fund, the donations that came after the speech also allowed the pantry to look at some intermediate goals, such as helping other pantries in the area.

“That is one of our intermediate things we’re looking at is, ‘Are there ways that we can help some of our fellow pantries in Athens County?’ … So having these extra funds has given us the ability to look beyond just our doors, and we’ve been doing that,” Bright said.

Burrow’s speech opened the door for a larger conversation about hunger in the U.S. This relief fund is working to be an amplification of that message, especially as COVID-19

has left more people in the region with food insecurity.

“All new gifts to the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund will help us amplify his message, and reach the many children, families, and individuals in need of support from the Athens County Food Pantry for many years,” Cara Dingus Brook, president and CEO of the FAO, said in a release.

“The COVID-19 crisis has made all the more plain the great needs and inequities in our communities. We hope the creation of this Fund will give us all the chance to make just as clear our commitment to our neighbors as well.”

Food bank and pantry leaders commend Burrow for getting up during his Heisman speech and bringing this issue to the forefront of the conversation. His speech not only helped the food pantry, but helped uplift the region as a whole.

“I think it’s something that people always knew was here,” Claire Gysegem, public relations manager for Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, which oversees the Southeast Ohio Foodbank, said. “But once Joe Burrow mentioned it in his acceptance speech, it was kind of like this awakening, where it forced us to really confront the issue. I think that Southeast Ohio as a whole, as an entire region, was definitely uplifted in some way, shape or form by that speech.”

At a more national level, it also brought people’s attention to what a widespread issue food insecurity is in the country.

“I think (his speech) has really opened some people’s eyes as to how widespread this problem is. This is not just all those people that live down there, but it is across the country that we have people that every night go to bed hungry. And that’s just not acceptable, and we need to fix that,” Bright said.

Though donations to the food pantry were an amazing show of support and helped the community in many ways, food bank leaders also urge people to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which they see as the first line of defense against food insecurity in this country, Bright said.

“And so I always urge people, ‘Hey, if you would like to make a donation to a food bank, that’s phenomenal. If you want to make a donation to a food pantry, that is phenomenal. But alongside that with your donation, if you could also call your congressperson to support these federal hunger programs, that’s gonna take your money even further,’” Gysegem said.

More and more families are struggling with food insecurity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and SNAP is an important part of helping both these families in poverty as well as lifting up a community’s economy.

“That money is loaded onto cards that these families have, and they can spend the money on those cards at local grocery stores, at local farmers markets. SNAP is definitely one of the most powerful programs that we have ... I mean, it has lifted so many millions of families out of poverty,” Gysegem said.

However, Gysegem wants people to know that she thinks what Joe Burrow did was phenomenal, as it put hunger into the national conversation, allowing for people advocating for programs like SNAP to be heard.

Bright also believes that it helped amplify a platform to advocate for the hungry in this country to politicians.

“It’s put us kind of on the map, as a voice, as an agency, as an organization, and so we have a little more standing perhaps,” Bright said. “When we talk, people right now are listening.”

@COLVIN_LYDIA LC844519@OHIO.EDU

Instagram influencers discuss the ups, downs of creating their own network KAYLA BENNETT FOR THE POST Social media influencers exist on every platform and for almost any reason.

Though it seems as if just anyone can become an influencer nowadays, cultivating a known name on any platform involves a lot of dedication and persistence.

Instagram has been around since 2010 and continues to grow to this day. Users looking to grow their profile have to examine the ways accounts grow on Instagram, finding the various algorithms and what methods to gaining followers work best.

Caralee Pridemore (@caraleestyles) owns Sweetly Pinned Hair and Makeup and has a current following of 23.7K on Instagram.

Based in Dayton, Pridemore has managed to create a platform for her business, but it did not come without hurdles.

“Honestly, it was just like getting it off the ground,” Pridemore said. “I tell everybody this all the time because people will be like, ‘Oh, you have a large following,’ and I laugh every time because I’m like, not really. I’ve been doing this since 2012.”

Pridemore credits her growth to her authenticity.

“I’m just a weirdo,” Pridemore said. “I’ve al-

ways been the type that’s like, I want comments that are haters because, to me, that means you’ve made it. If people are being mean to you and taking the time out of their day to comment on your posts, then that’s a big deal I feel like.”

Vulnerability becomes a huge part of Instagram. Pridemore shared that Instagram stories are a helpful way of being open with your followers. Stories create a more personal approach to your audience.

Bianca Stout (@hairbybiancarose) is a stylist with a passion for color located in Cincinnati. Instagram platforms do not always have to be business-related but can be directed to helping those who aspire to produce the same content.

“One of my biggest goals was not to grow my business, but to have other networking opportunities with maybe other brands in my industry, the beauty industry and also becoming an educator, possibly,” Stout said. “So the biggest challenge was just not knowing where to start.”

Stout, with a following of 36.3K, revealed that consistency is key, and knowing your audience is a huge factor when discovering what media to produce. She feels catering to the likes and interests of followers creates a connection that can be closely re-

lated to one on a personal level. It makes followers feel like they know who is behind the screen.

“It’s really important to put yourself out there just as much, if not more, than whatever you’re goods or services are,” Stout said.

“That way, people really identify with a person.”

When building a foundation, Stout feels having a name and face to the business name creates a personal connection and approach.

“It’s just repetitive showing people that you know that you’re there, and you’re posting, and that they see your name,” Whitney Burkhart (@wb_upstyles) of Whitney’s Bridal Upstyles said. “They will always get the name stuck in their head; they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s them, and that’s their brand and then their visual.’”

Burkhart, with a following of 47.7K, is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She expressed how different and how quick Instagram is evolving.

“I guess when I started it back in 2015, I think the algorithm was whenever you would post a picture, it’d be in chronological order,” Burkhart said. “So it was like the more you post, the more I feel like you got

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER

out there and then it started to be different hashtags.”

All three have found Instagram to be a challenge. To experience success, they would advise a mixture of using relative hashtags, tagging popular locations, creating personal stories, making enticing reels and frequently posting. Growing a platform can take time, but Pridemore, Stout and Burkhart used their knowledge to grow and adapt to the constant needs of the platform.

“You’ll find your own little niche and your own style and what makes you, you and why people follow you,” Burkhart said

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Student makeup artists adapt to pandemic Student makeup artists work to keep up their craft during COVID-19 KERI JOHNSON ASST. CULTURE EDITOR At her childhood home, bored, in the middle of the night, Emilie Burch put on a full face of makeup.

Burch, a junior studying strategic communication, said sometimes, she spends hours working on her fun, “artsy” makeup looks.

“I do a lot of line-work,” Burch said.

“I call it ‘doodling on my face’ because I’m doing as much actual blending makeup as like, actually drawing on my face with liners and stuff.”

Burch isn’t the only one invested in her makeup looks. Throughout quarantine, makeup artists have been coming up with new ways to face the pandemic.

Burch got into makeup through YouTube. She’s found it to be a rewarding hobby, especially during the pandemic.

“I found myself actually having more free time to do it (over quarantine),”

Burch said. “When I was at my childhood house, I would just do it because I was really just hanging out by myself, and that’s what I was doing. I found a lot of enjoyment doing it.”

She often finds herself doing her makeup when she’s stressed or feeling creative.

“It was always something that made me feel better about myself,” Burch said.

Burch thinks one of the most important parts of doing makeup is knowing one’s face. For her, faces are blank canvases. She attributes improvement in her makeup skills as a combination of practice and learning her features.

“That’s something about makeup that helped me build confidence in myself,” Burch said. “When I was doing it, I really had to look at my face and look at what I wanted to accentuate and what I wanted to work with.”

Though her work isn’t traditional glam, it still makes her feel beautiful.

“I never did, normally, the tradition-

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER 12 / OCT. 22, 2020

al style of makeup — beauty and glam, I guess they call it,” Burch said. “I liked the artsy parts better to see how to conceal or look pretty or feel pretty about myself without doing contouring and all that.”

Myra Nkansa, a sophomore in the College of Business, does makeup semi-professionally. Nkansa has always loved the craft and got into makeup at a young age.

“Basically, I’ve been using it my whole life,” Nkansa said. “Growing up, my mom would let me play in her stuff, nothing too serious, just color one-streak eyeshadows ... I was always wearing it in school, even though I wasn’t supposed to. I always wore a little bit to school.”

Around age 16, Nkansa started practicing with family and friends. Around 18, she became serious enough about makeup to start offering cosmetic services.

It’s somewhat harder to do makeup on others, Nkansa said, because she knows her own face so well.

“It kind of depends on the person and what I’m doing,” Nkansa said.

Johanna Antonuccio, a senior studying retail merchandising and fashion product development, like Nkansa, got into makeup at a young age. She started in seventh grade after finding a Bobbi Brown makeup book at the library.

Like Burch, Antonuccio used YouTube videos to learn about makeup looks.

“Through the years, I would just practice more and more,” Antonuccio said. “I found myself sort of getting more advanced and doing different looks.”

Since the pandemic began, Antonuccio has not done makeup on anyone other than close friends. But as a part of her work as the head of makeup at VARIANT magazine, she started making makeup tutorials for the publication’s Instagram account. She enjoyed making tutorials immediately, she said.

“As soon as I did the first one, I was

hooked,” Antonuccio said. “This is what I like to do.”

Antonuccio also does makeup tutorials for remote photoshoots for VARIANT magazine. It’s been somewhat tricky adapting her makeup artistry to remote instruction, she said.

“I still assign artists to models,” Antonuccio said. “Then, (we) find a look for the model, film a tutorial or find a tutorial to send to them that they can follow along to.”

It can take Antonuccio up to three hours to complete one look, she said.

As for filming her own tutorials, little things, like background noise, will sometimes force her to start all over again.

“It takes a few tries to get it right,” Antonuccio said. “I’m just a beginner.

I’m sure that people who are into tutorials – like YouTube and everything – have it down to a science.”

Nkansa is currently taking a break from doing makeup. She hasn’t even really been wearing makeup during the pandemic.

“I’ve barely even touched my makeup bag,” Nkansa said.

Nkansa has only had a couple clients throughout the pandemic, as she has been following CDC and state-issued guidelines.

“I don’t know if COVID killed my vibe, or I’m just not really feeling it anymore,” Nkansa said. “I’m focusing on school right now.”

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

Ohio University student Dante Catanzarite, founder and owner of the Inferno & Co. clothing brand, holds an entire room full of the products that will be on the market soon for the winter season in his Mill Street home on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

Business is Booming OU students are starting their own businesses ERIN GARDNER FOR THE POST Dante Catanzarite felt there wasn’t a clothing brand that represented him, so he decided to do something about it: he created his own business.

Catanzarite, a senior studying integrated media, is the creative director and founder of Inferno & Co., a British streetwear clothing brand.

Inferno & Co’s motto is “Grit N’ Grind,” which means “simply doing something no one else wants to do, for the simple fact that you have to! We strive to seek out those people, the real Grinders of this world to provide quality, and style to their way of life,” according to the brand’s website.

Catanzarite felt there was a group of men who didn’t have an audience or a specific clothing brand that represented who they were as people. He was inspired by his experience with playing rugby.

“And what I mean by that with rugby, and this goes for anybody, not just rugby, but they’re guys who go out there, and they hit people for 60 minutes,” Catanzarite said. “It’s a tough game, but afterwards, we go out (and) we drink together. And these guys, they’re not just meatheads that are always in the weight room. These guys are into film; they’re into design … I felt that these diverse people that were into multiple different things didn’t have anything that would necessarily represent them, and I’ve always been into fashion. It’s been a real passion of mine forever, and I just saw an opportunity

where there was nothing like it on the market. I went for it (and) took the lead to start my own business.”

The brand is unisex. T-shirts cost $25, long-sleeved t-shirts are $28, beanies are $16 and the limited-edition jacket is $60. The T-shirts, beanies and jackets are part of a new launch not yet available.

Catanzarite classifies his brand as British streetwear because British streetwear isn’t common in the U.S. “You don’t see that in Ohio, really anywhere in the Midwest,” Catanzarite said. “So I thought it was also an opportunity to bring something unique to the market. British streetwear is more higher-end clothing. I want people to look good when they’re wearing it. … I want somebody to be like, ‘Wow, I can wear this … nice sweatshirt with some khakis and some boots maybe.’”

Inferno & Co. is a one-man show. Catanzarite designs the clothes himself in-house but sources the clothes from overseas.

“I do everything myself, and I put a lot of time and effort into it, and I do everything for a reason,” Catanzarite said. “I don’t ever just design something just because. I want to explain why I did everything and I chose everything. And I don’t know if people are going to even care, but it’s something that I just wanna do personally because, like I said, everything’s got a meaning. I hope people see that in my stuff, that there’s something behind it more than just the piece of clothing and the design.”

The intensity and passion Catanzarite has is apparent in

the upcoming jacket launch.

Page Kirby was also inspired to create her own clothing brand.

Kirby, a senior studying strategic communication, is the founder and CEO of Whatever Makes You Happy. She started the brand because she felt like the clothes that were already available didn’t fit her body type, weren’t comfortable or didn’t represent who she was.

“The clothes that I sell are just the curation of the individual woman, the body positive,” Kirby said. “They’re items that will make you look good, feel good, but are an alternative to Instagram or TikTok trends that you see out there. I just felt like clothes that were out there were just too specific for me, and they wouldn’t fit a wide range of body types and styles.”

Her clothes range from size 0 to 12.

Whatever Makes You Happy isn’t just about clothes. It also has a self-care line, which includes bath bombs, sugar scrubs, whipped soap, bath salts and, soon, candles.

Kirby is proud to be a student business owner. She lost her internship because of COVID-19 and decided to take charge of her future.

“It can be a mess sometimes, but it’s so unique because I have so many resources here on campus…” Kirby said. “And there’s just obviously something unique about being a bobcat student business owner.”

She thinks some students are deterred from starting a business because they’ve been told it’s not a responsible career choice, but she says her business has been worthwhile.

“If anyone is reading this and thinking about starting a business, too, definitely, definitely go for it,” Kirby said.

COVID-19 also inspired Rachel Braun to start her business. Braun, a senior studying early childhood education, is the maker of BeadsbyRachelB. She makes customized wine glasses, shot glasses, mugs, canvas pouches or other requested items. Braun uses a Cricut to make the customized designs.

“It just kind of turned into a little Instagram business, and it’s way more successful than I ever thought it would be,” Braun said.

Over quarantine, Braun started making bracelets to raise money for essential workers to buy them a meal at a hospital in her hometown.

Megan Hurwitz, a senior studying retail and fashion merchandising, is the owner of Hippie Hoopz.

Hurwitz makes jewelry, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and car accessories with crystals and beads. She gets her materials from Cool Digs, Joann Fabrics and Crafts and Amazon. Her most popular design is the resin jewelry she makes and her mushroom necklaces.

The business is fairly new and is doing well.

“I started it over the summer because I just realized that I wanted to start making my own jewelry but also my friends liked it and stuff so I should sell it,” Hurwitz said.

Ohio University student small businesses also extended into the upcycling trend.

Baylee Wolfe, a freshman studying energy engineering and economics, is the owner and founder of OU Upcycle.

Wolfe resells clothing that she finds at thrift stores and in Athens and then dyes the clothes, cuts them or leaves them as is because they look nice. She then resells them on her Instagram page.

“I’m promoting sustainable use of clothing,” Wolfe said.

“I really wanted to work towards more sustainable clothing, and my brother and his girlfriend (gave up) plastic and influenced me. Seeing other people work towards more sustainable living influenced me to start my page because I wanted to influence OU students.”

@ERINGARDNER_ EG245916@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Ohio University aviation student Neil Bateman poses for a portrait at Gordon K. Bush Ohio University Airport in Athens, Ohio, on Oct. 10, 2020. (RILEY RUNNELLS | CULTURE EDITOR)

Flying Toward His Dreams Aviation student Neil Bateman pursues his dream of flying RILEY RUNNELLS CULTURE EDITOR When Neil Bateman was a little boy, all he wanted to do was fly. He dreamed of piloting airplanes, flying anywhere and everywhere.

However, when he realized he wouldn’t be able to pilot due to poor eyesight, Bateman resigned his dreams and planned for a new career.

In 2007, Bateman started his degree studying biological sciences at Ohio University. Then, he switched to production design and technology at the end of sophomore year. He graduated in 2011 and worked with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for about two years.

But Bateman felt that he had a greater purpose — so he spent almost a year trying to join the Marines. In 2014, he suc14 / OCT. 22, 2020

cessfully became a Marine and remained one until February 2018.

It was during his time with the Marines when Bateman received Lasik eye surgery. At first, he didn’t think anything of it because he knew that pilots with corrected eyes still weren’t accepted.

“But then someone looked at me and said, ‘You know they take them now, right?’” Bateman said. “And then everything just went back this way.”

Suddenly, Bateman’s dream of becoming a pilot wasn’t so far-fetched. Now able to afford aviation school thanks to the GI Bill, an educational assistance bill provided to service members, veterans and their dependents, he returned to OU with more confidence and excitement than ever before.

“I came back here in 2018 because, well, there’s a lot of reasons,” Bateman

said. “It’s my alma mater. I know where everything is, which is a big help, and they’ve had a very good reputation with veterans’ issues, so it all just kind of came together that year, and I’ve been here since.”

Bateman, 31, is now a third-year student with the aviation program in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. Bateman has his private pilot’s license and is currently working toward his instrument and commercial licenses.

On top of academic courses, aviation students have to complete actual flights at the Gordon K. Bush OU Airport.

Some flights take place with an instructor while others are solo student flights, which land at other airports more than 50 miles away.

As an instructor, Jake O’Dea enjoys nothing more than assisting his students, watching them speed up in the airplane to about 55 knots and experiencing their excitement as they take off.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” O’Dea said. “There’s nothing better than introducing someone to aviation, taking them through 2400 (private pilot flight) and seeing them succeed.”

Students are able to practice flying through various weather conditions and even in emergency conditions.

“One was an emergency procedure lesson,” Bateman said of his favorite flying experience. “I didn’t think we were going to do it that day, but everyone else canceled, so we had the whole airport to ourselves. My instructor didn’t tell me, either, because it’s simulating an emergency. We got up about 1500 feet, and he looked at me and turned the engine off. He said ‘OK, the engine went out. Go back to the airport,’ which was scary but very good practice.”

For Bateman, his ideal weather for flying is a cool, overcast day with high clouds. Those tend to be smoother days,

he said. Sometimes, the weather can be perfectly clear and yet so bumpy that he hits his head on the airplane ceiling while flying.

Bateman’s hard work has paid off not only through his academic prowess, but through recognition from the Russ College and Tau Beta Pi, student chapter of engineering honorary society, awards in April 2020. Bateman received the Outstanding Senior Award from the aviation department.

“I wish I could take some credit for it,” Steve Owens, assistant professor of aviation and Bateman’s adviser, said.

“He makes my job really easy, and I just enjoy watching students who take it seriously and want to be professional. I harp on attitude, demeanor and character, and that’s what aviation is all about.

Because do you really want a pilot in front of your airplane who doesn’t possess those qualities?”

Bateman plans to graduate in 2022, depending on how long it takes him to complete his flight times and licenses.

With his credentials, he wants to take a more unusual route and fly planes that dispense water for firefighters.

Looking back on his journey, from the little boy in glasses who wanted to fly planes to now, Bateman’s only regret is not pursuing this career path sooner.

He believes that if his younger self could speak to him now, he would’ve encouraged him to find as many opportunities as possible to realize his dream.

“When you give up on something at that age, you don’t think about it 10 or 15 years later unless something that obvious happens,” Bateman said. “So he’d probably say, ‘What took you so long?’”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

“

I came back here in 2018 because, well, there’s a lot of reasons. It’s my alma mater. I know where everything is, which is a big help, and they’ve had a very good reputation with veterans’ issues, so it all just kind of came together that year, and I’ve been here since” - Neil Bateman, a junior in the aviation program in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University

FOOTBALL

Ohio defense looks forward to an electric 2020 J.L. KIRVEN SPORTS EDITOR You could use a lot of words to describe the Ohio Bobcats’ defense. Ron Collins, the second-year defensive coordinator, likes the word “tough,” while redshirt junior safety Alvin Floyd prefers “electric.”

Last season, however, the word that was often thrown around when labeling Ohio’s defense was “inconsistent.”

In five of the Bobcats’ 13 games, the defense allowed over 30 points and lost four of them. At times, Ohio showed flashes of dominance, like in a 62-3 win over Bowling Green, but in shootouts against Marshall, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, the defense’s inability to get stops or create turnovers cost the Bobcats a win.

This season, the Bobcats’ shortened six-game schedule won’t leave room for inconsistencies. If Ohio wants to win its first Mid-American Conference title since 1968, they’ll have to hold each other accountable and do their jobs on every down.

“It’s always fundamentals and technique,” Collins said. “We’re working hard on our block destruction and ball disrup-

tion. All those things are being harped on, and we need all those to get better this year for us to improve.”

Fortunately for Collins, he has plenty of experience to work with. The Bobcats are returning stars like Jared Dorsa, Austin Conrad and Kai Caesar. With their leadership, the Bobcats defense will be able to handle the problems that come with playing football in a pandemic.

Collins never thought for one second about sitting the season out. He loves what he does, and he’s adjusted to social distance the best he can.

“Coach Collins definitely still stands behind the defense and just watches,” Dorsa said. “I mean coach Collins is just coach Collins — he’s just louder.”

Ohio has had to stay extra careful due to COVID-19 and missed out on key practice time in the spring. Ohio instead utilized its time on Zoom in virtual film meetings. The extra studying has the Bobcats feeling mentally prepared for their season opener against Central Michigan, the defending MAC-West champion, on Nov. 4.

But being mentally prepared is only half of the job. The Bobcats have been in fall camp for nearly three weeks, and Collins

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

wants to see that his guys are physically ready for MAC football. Without players like Javon Hagan, Marlin Brooks and Dylan Conner, the Bobcats are going to need some guys to step up. So far, that’s been no problem.

“Ben Johnson and Jeremiah Wood at the SAM (strongside) linebacker, both guys bring great speed,” Collins said. “And then to take over for Javon (Hagan), you got Alvin Floyd, who’s been doing a great job there.”

New faces like Floyd will be instrumental in the Bobcats correcting some of their problems from last year. Floyd learned a lot in his time playing behind Hagan, and he’s excited to be a starter.

“Playing behind Javon Hagan, it’s a lot to live up to, but I’m planning on being the spark plug of the defense,” Floyd said. “It’s a lot coming this season, and I’m excited for it, too.”

One thing the defense needs this season is turnovers. The Bobcats only had five interceptions in 2019, and nobody in the secondary had more than one. Having a safety bent on bringing energy to the field could improve a secondary that finished tied for 10th in the conference

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in interceptions.

Mentally and physically, the Bobcats seem ready to stop opposing offenses, but the Bobcats have always had talent. What’s going to change to ensure the defense doesn’t blow a tight game again?

One of the few positives from the pandemic is the sense of unity that’s been instilled into the Bobcats. In his first season as defensive coordinator, Collins had to adjust to being the guy everyone looked to. He had been on the staff for years, but now it was his job to bring everyone together, something that proved difficult at times.

“Everything was new,” Collins said.

“Even though I think we had great chemistry, we were missing something. I think going into this fall, I think the guys really bought into what we’re preaching, and you can see a difference in the way we’re playing.”

@JL_KIRVEN JK810916@OHIO.EDU

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FOOTBALL

Continuing the Rourke Legacy

Kurtis Rourke is forging his own identity, as a Rourke and as a quarterback JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Kurtis Rourke has always followed his older brother, Nathan.

The brothers grew up in the same hometown of Oakville, Ontario, 20 miles south of Toronto. The two went to the same high school and even played for the same club football team growing up. When Nathan joined the Bobcats, Kurtis wasn’t far behind, enrolling at Ohio in 2019.

Now, the redshirt freshman has an opportunity to continue the Rourke legacy at Ohio, but with a catch. Rourke will be his own man, and he doesn’t care about the comparisons between his older brother and himself.

“It doesn’t bother me because I’ve grown up with that,” Rourke said. “We have the same last name, and we came from the same place and grew up in the same area, but at the end of the day, we play our game with different styles.

I just embrace it and show what I can do.”

The Oakville native redshirted last season but was briefly given the reins in Ohio’s 66-24 rout of Bowling Green on Nov. 19. He didn’t pass but did manage three runs for 20 yards in his collegiate debut.

Since then, the redshirt freshman has been eager to prove himself and connect more with the rest of the team. Rourke considers himself more outgoing than his older brother. While they both maintained friendships on the field, Kurtis always tries to extend himself to his teammates outside of Peden Stadium if he can.

With his eagerness to reach out to his team, Rourke is attempting to make up for his lack of play time with his offense. Whoever starts this season will have less chemistry with the offense than Nathan, who had started since the 201718 season. Kurtis knows 16 / OCT. 22, 2020

this, and is attempting to work with them as much as possible to make up for what little time they have on the field together.

“I want to continue to achieve by just getting to know and getting that chemistry down with the older guys, whether that’s upfront, in receivers or running backs,” Rourke said. “They had a three-year starter with Nathan, and I want to step in and make sure that we’re on the same page, and we’re understanding each other.”

After practice, Rourke will stay behind to work with several receivers, including Shane Hooks and Cam Odom. Since the Mid-American Conference announced the return of football Sept. 25, many of the Bobcats have been staying behind longer in order to work out the kinks in their game.

Rourke thinks this will benefit the

whole offense, not just himself.

“We’ve all been just getting extra work and making sure that we’re ready for when we play,” Rourke said. “It’s great to see the growth that they’ve been able to do well adapting with me and Armani and C.J. and how they’re kind of working with us in order to make their game better.”

Rourke is currently one of the frontrunners for the vacant starting quarterback spot, alongside redshirt senior Armani Rogers. With limited time before they travel to Central Michigan on Nov. 4, the Bobcats are still unsure who will be under center.

Rogers has the experience of three seasons at UNLV under his belt and is considered a better rusher than his fellow quarterbacks. Rourke, however, has an advantage in his arm. Coach Frank Solich has

noted Rourke has potential to be a great passer for the Bobcats. “(Rourke) is really an excellent thrower,” Solich said. “He’s got good enough movement to be able to slide in the pocket and find his receivers. He’s inexperienced, but he’s had reps with our offense, and the more reps he gets, the better he’ll become.

He has the ability to be a great passer.”

Offensive coordinator Tim Albin has also taken note of Rourke’s arm. While having a strong passer is beneficial for Ohio, Albin is still evaluating who he thinks should start, if it even comes down to one.

Solich and Albin have flirted with the idea of entering the season with multiple quarterbacks and seeing who performs the best. The two-starter system was most recently implemented in the 2017-18 season when Nathan Rourke shared play time with Quinton Maxwell.

“We’re trying to do the best we can with the reps and be as fair as we can,” Albin said. “As we get closer, we’ll see how it plays out, but right now, I’m very pleased with the progress of all the quarterbacks right now.”

If Rourke were to be selected as the starter, he would be one of the youngest starting quarterbacks in recent memory for the Bobcats. It would also mean that a Rourke will have started for Ohio for four straight seasons.

Comparisons would inevitably be drawn between him and his older brother, and the pressure to live up to the name would be immense.

The noise and the chatter doesn’t bother Rourke.

He knows how to tune it out. A fourth season of a Rourke at the helm of Ohio is his goal. He’s always followed his older brother.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

FOOTBALL

Why you shouldn’t count CJ Harris out of Ohio’s quarterback battle

TEE WILLIS FOR THE POST

When CJ Harris suited up for his first practice as a collegiate quarterback, he knew his dreams were coming true. Putting on his pads, lacing up his cleats and donning his green and white practice jersey was a symbolic moment.

“I’ve been dreaming of this pretty much since I was a kid, to have a chance to put my name out there into the world as ‘CJ Harris, a collegiate football player,’” Harris said. “It was great to put the pads on. It was a beautiful experience.”

Harris, however, had no idea what problems he and the Bobcats would face over the ensuing six months.

Enrolling early into Ohio’s football program, Harris had expectations to become a better player and earn minutes for the fall through his hard work in the spring. His opportunity was cut short after spring football practices were suspended in order to prevent further spread of an ever-growing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of giving up or backing down from a tough situation, Harris chose to tough it out and take it all as a learning lesson.

“It kind of messed up my mental game a little bit,” Harris said. “Life throws crazy stuff at you every day, but you just have to adapt to it and be able to go on your way. I went out there and just kept trying to get bigger, learn my playbook and get it right. ” Harris’ work ethic and positive mentality have been crucial to his development. Coming into the year, he knew he’d be competing for a spot with redshirt freshman Kurtis Rourke, but the race for “QB1” got even tighter on July 13 when Armani Rogers announced via Twitter he’d be transferring to play for the Bobcats after spending the previous four years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“We got some great quarterbacks,” Rourke said. “We have one of the most talented groups that I feel like I’ve been a part of.”

The talent both Rourke and Rogers possess have fueled Harris to compete. Although Harris is the least experienced when it comes to collegiate reps and playing time, each quar-

terback is new, and practice reps are split and earned every day. Coach Frank Solich believes Harris is as much in the conversation for starting quarterback as Rourke and Rogers are.

“He’s got a lot of potential,” Solich said. “We haven’t just cast him aside. It’s difficult, as you know, to give reps to three quarterbacks.”

Just like Rogers, Harris is often labeled as an athletic quarterback. He has the ability to make great plays using his feet in sticky situations and is dangerous out in the open field. That “athletic” label often insinuates that the quarterback isn’t as great of a passer as he is a runner, but Harris embraces the label.

“I am an athletic quarterback, but to this day, I still am a quarterback,” Harris said. “I just bring a different vibe to the game by being able to use my feet and my legs to get out the pocket and do what I have to do.”

Fitting into the offense hasn’t been and won’t be a problem for Harris. Ohio’s use of read-pass options, motion and play-action passes isn’t a foreign concept for the Michigan native. Harris flourished in that style of play in high school and is comfortable with the space and movement Ohio’s offense creates for an athletic type of player under center.

Harris has found comfortability not only in Ohio’s offense, but in the offensive weapons it possesses in its receivers. Shane Hooks, Cam Odom and Isiah Cox were among some of the players Harris admitted he’s gained some chemistry with on the gridiron.

“Pretty much everyone in that receiver room is very lethal,” Harris said. “I can look forward to throwing to those guys ’cause I know they’re going to be open.”

With the ongoing global pandemic, Harris and his teammates have made several sacrifices to have a season. Players and staff have had to sacrifice time with extended friends and family, receive coronavirus testing multiple times a week and those who are enrolled in classes are doing so in their dorms and apartments.

As a freshman in a pandemic, Harris will have to miss out on those sentimental moments as a college football player: the presence of family

“

I just bring a different vibe to the game by being able to use my feet and my legs to get out the pocket and do what I have to do,” - CJ Harris, OU quarterback

and friends at the home-opener, playing a full 12-game schedule and having thousands of fans cheering you on in the stands every week.

But Harris isn’t stressing about the little things.

After weeks of watching other teams play football every Saturday, he’s just happy he can play the game he loves and compete for a starting position with the Bobcats.

“Even with everything going on with the coronavirus and things shutting down, we’ve been able to come out here and play football every day,” Harris said. “That’s all I look forward to: being out here every day and playing ball … It’s great.”

@18TEEDUB TW532416@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

NOAH’S ARK

‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ is a brutal reminder nothing truly changes NOAH WRIGHT is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 released over the weekend on Netflix. The movie tells the under-acknowledged history of the trial of seven protesters who the Nixon administration saw as responsible for the riots that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

The movie itself, which stars Sacha Baron Cohen (in a serious role), Eddie Redmayne and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is phenomenal. The movie does an incredibly complex and vital piece of history the justice it deserves. The movie even did a fairly decent job portraying the Black Panthers.

Admittedly, it could have spent more time on the injustices they faced as an organization — but that wasn’t the plot of the movie.

Despite how great it is, the movie leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I couldn’t help but shake the chilling realization that what happened in Chicago on Aug. 28, 1968 is still happening in America today. The film serves as a reminder that as a country, we are who we are: racist, divided, repressive

and on the verge of something awful.

2020 is arguably the most turbulent year in America’s history since the late1960s and early 1970s. We have a corrupt and unpopular president, a large-scale civil rights movement and a divided populous.

The pandemic is the cherry on top of this, but the issues we’re facing are not caused by the pandemic: the seeds have existed for decades, and recent events have just inflamed them.

It’s undeniable we’ve made progress since the 1960s. We gained civil rights for Black people for the first time in our nation’s history in that decade, but these changes haven’t solved many of the root problems, and new ones have not been addressed. The Black Panther Party, and its leaders featured in The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a perfect example of this.

Bobby Seale, the Black Panther wrongfully on trial with the rest of the Chicago 7, drafted the Panthers’ original 10-point plan with Huey P. Newton. The plan called for an exemption for Black men from military service, adequate housing, education on Black history, full-employment and an end to police brutality, among other things.

No rational person could argue any of these

measures have been achieved for much of America, let alone the Black community.

This is why we’re seeing mass-protest.

Another issue the film tackles is Abbie Hoffman’s idea of a cultural revolution versus Tom Hayde’s belief in progressive political mobilization. It’s not hard to see how neither of these goals were achieved. Our culture has arguably become more conservative. Also, not a single president since 1968 can be seen as a true progressive. Yes, our most progressive president was a Black man, and that means something. That considered, it’s apparent he doesn’t qualify as a progressive in this context.

It’s not hard to see that Joe Biden was our equivalent to 1968’s Hubert Humphrey, the candidate who sparked the DNC riots.

For fairness, Joe Biden is a lot better, but he probably aligned a lot closer to Humphrey than George McGovern or Bobby Kennedy in 1968, the candidates akin to Bernie Sanders. It’s also not hard to imagine that if the pandemic never happened, Biden’s nomination in Milwaukee would have not gone through quietly.

As for the Chicago 7’s primary goal, pushing America to exit Vietnam, not much has changed on that front, either. All of my

fellow college students have only known a world where America is constantly engaged in imperialistic conflicts. Despite all the uproar from the 1960s’ yippies, students and left-wing activists, nothing has changed.

Young, working-class men will continue to be slaughtered in meaningless conflicts under the orders of millionaire politicians and oligarchs.

So yes the film is phenomenal. Sadly, it left me feeling angry; angry that I, too, feel the same contempt for my government Abbie Hoffman felt all those years ago; angry that Black people are still fighting for the causes Bobby Seale devoted his life to; angry that Tom Hayden’s vision of a progressive electorate may never come to fruition; angry that nothing changes.

Noah Wright is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University.

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

BENNETT’S BALLOT

Sex trafficking continues to be an issue in Ohio KAYLA BENNETT is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University Sex trafficking, by definition, is the practice of exploiting adults and children for use as commodities, or objects, in conditions of sexual and labor servitude.

Although sex trafficking in past years had been pushed under the rug, it is time to talk about it.

There were 22,326 survivors of sexual assault in 2019. A number that should not even exist managed to reach more than 20,000 last year.

In the U.S., 24.9 million people are victims of forced labor; of those, 4.8 million are forced into performing sexual acts.

In 2020 alone, Ohio has a rate of 3.83 out of every 100,000 facing sex trafficking, making it earn a spot on the list of top 10 states for trafficking. With those statistics, it is not hard to see that this is a problem.

Athens isn’t immune to this problem.

In 2014, a 70-year-old Chauncey man 18 / OCT. 22, 2020

paid money and drugs to have sex with a 16-year-old girl. Six years ago may seem like a lifetime away, but it doesn’t stop there. This, unfortunately, was only one of the cases.

In 2019, a Nelsonville man was charged with human trafficking, rape and pornography involving a minor in Athens County. Sex trafficking obviously hits close to home, wherever home may be.

Additionally, sexual assaults continue to be an ongoing issue at Ohio University every single year. We’ve just left the red zone, a time in the Fall Semester when 50% of sexual assaults occur. The numbers may be down due to COVID-19, but it will continue to be a problem when normal campus life resumes.

How do we protect ourselves when there could be danger right in front of us?

Educate yourself on the reality of what can happen. Accept that this can happen to anyone. Just because the area you live in is nice or you feel safe in your community does not mean the risks are any lower.

Attend meetings or ceremonies that

intend to raise awareness and shine light on the reality of the situations. Ohio University, on Jan. 28, hosted a showing of A Thousand Hands A Million Stars, followed by a panel answering questions on human trafficking. This performance showed survivors struggle through and out of sex trafficking. With that being said, the first step always is raising awareness.

Learn the indicators of human trafficking. If someone or something looks illicit, make sure you know if you need to intervene. Call if you have suspicion that someone you know may be involved or if you are in danger. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

You can also carry around things to protect yourself. Pepper spray is the most common because it proves to be a reliable method of protection, and they’re easily concealed.

Phone trackers can also be an effective way to keep you and your friends safe. Find my iPhone, Find My Friends and Life360 are all popular trackers on iPhones. These apps are used to share your location with friends

and family. Having one could save your life.

Blue Light Boxes are posted on Ohio University’s campus and campuses all around the U.S. These phones are made for reporting issues to the campus police. More information on how to stay safe on OU’s campus can be found here.

Make an impact and be an influence.

Join student organizations that fight against sex trafficking. OU has student organizations, such as Better Bystander. This student organization aims to educate people how to intervene in order to prevent sexual violence.

Although the majority of college students are not currently on campus, there will be a day when there are again. Prepare now to prepare yourself for these unfortunate, yet real situations.

Use your voice, stay aware and stay safe.

Kayla Bennett is a freshman studying journalism. Please note that the views and ideas of columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Kayla? Tweet her @kkayyben.

6 costumes to conquer Halloween with your bestie HANNAH CAMPBELL FOR THE POST Halloween is fast approaching, and it’s down to the wire to find the perfect costume.

The holiday will look especially different this year since many events have been canceled due to COVID-19. While you might need to wear a mask and keep the celebrations safe this year, that does not mean the rest of your costume has to be. Here are six costumes that you and your bestie can rock this Halloween:

EUPHORIA’S MADDY AND CASSIE

Since the HBO show dropped last year, the phenomenon Euphoria has taken over.

Besties Maddy Perez and Cassie Howard express their style through flashy and colorful clothing. Maddy’s carnival outfit and Cassie’s take on Alabama Warley are the most iconic and easiest pieces to create. Maddy’s outfit is a purple cut two-piece outfit, while Cassie’s includes a blue bralette and a cow print skirt.

Make sure to go wild on the Euphoria makeup, use studs and glitter and you’ll be set to take on the night.

ANGEL AND DEVIL

These costumes are the most classic on this list. The devil can be in either red and black, but the best costumes will always include horns and a pitchfork. The angel is simple in white and with a shiny halo. There will be no question as to what you and your bestie are while wearing these.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE AND PEDRO

This dynamic duo costume is sure to be a hit this Halloween. Both of these characters’ looks are easy to create and include pieces from your own closet. For Pedro Sanchez, all you need is a blue button down top, a bolo tie, a pair of blue jeans and a dark mustache. For

Napoleon’s outfit, grab a pair of jeans, glasses and the famous “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt. Add a curly blonde wig and be sure that you and your bestie will have the funniest costume around.

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POLICE OFFICER AND PRISONER

These costumes are both simple and work for any gender duo. Create the police officer look by adding a badge, a hat and even a pair of handcuffs if you want to go all out. For the prisoner, orange is the new black in a bright jumpsuit, or a black and white striped top and bottom will do. You can also add some draw-on tattoos, a chain, or a pair of handcuffs to spice up the attire.

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CHER AND DIONNE FROM CLUELESS

With the announcement of the Clueless reboot to TV, there’s no better way to pay homage to the film. This duo is known for their “courageous fashion efforts” and are sure to be a hit. Cher’s iconic yellow striped blazer and skirt can be paired with a pair of white knee-high socks and any color heels.

Dionne’s look will include a similar black and white blazer and skirt set with a red top underneath. If you want to go all out, add her iconic bowtie hat for a look that will make everyone “totally buggin’.”

THE OFFICE’S JIM AND DWIGHT

“Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica.” This last costume idea is super simple and quick for spooky season. Jim’s outfit solely consists of a blue button down, a tie and any color pants. Dwight’s will include a yellow shirt and tie, glasses and any color pants. For the hair, try to slick it back for Dwight and part down the middle for Jim. Make sure to add some sort of Dunder Mifflin tag to the outfit so it is easier to recognize, and you’ll have a better time than pretzel day.

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7 poetry reads when in a perplexed, uncertain season of life EMMA DOLLENMAYER ASST. BEAT EDITOR With the weather cooling and mixed emotions arising regarding what the upcoming season of life will bring, many are entering the beginning stages of seasonal depression, whether that be due to heartache, confusion, heightened pressure or uncertainty about the future. To subside these anxieties and uninterrupted negative thoughts, poetry is a powerful and influential recreation to indulge in. It is freeing for the mind and soul, as there is certain to be different collections that address whatever adversity one may be currently facing. Explore which poetry book(s) may be best fit for you at this point in growth and duration:

THE NECTAR OF PAIN BY NAJWA ZEBIAN Najwa Zebian’s The Nectar of Pain is truly captivating, as it wholeheartedly possesses the potential to support and guide someone amid the grieving stages of heartbreak and unrequited love. The poems are centered around healing and turning inward, when, in real time, it can be so easy to fixate on what you mishandled instead of remembering you are worthy without his/her affection.

Zebian emphasizes you are not to blame and often adds at the end of each poem what she has learned or wished she once knew. One of her most riveting revelations reads, “Now I realize that when you ask for love, it’s not as true as when it comes your way. And when the lines are blurred, your search for love may have gone too far astray.” From a woman who has experienced pain, Zebian helps readers feel complete again.

MILK AND HONEY BY RUPI KAUR Milk and Honey is undoubtedly one of the most recognized poetry books as Rupi Kaur’s short, honest and raw poems have the capability to touch any reader, especially those hurting most. Kaur’s renowned New York Times bestseller is divided into four sections: the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing.

Readers can jump to whatever section that most resonates with them in their current state of life.

20 / OCT. 22, 2020

Just from glancing at the contents, it is clear these poems are written to mend broken souls and hearts and to also let those same souls embrace their sadness.

When undergoing the poignant process of healing, it has to be understood that “it is a part of the / human experience to feel pain / do not be afraid / open yourself to it,” as Kaur so exquisitely puts it.

FOR WHEN SHE’S FEELING BLUE BY EDGAR HOLMES Most girls could only dream of having a whole collection of poems dedicated to them for when they are feeling down on themselves, stuck and unworthy, but for Edgar Holmes’ wife, it’s a reality. Holmes’ beautiful messages of hope and inspiration found in For When She’s Feeling Blue are explicitly written for his wife, but are also published so others can experience the gift of Holmes’ pick-me-ups and words of affirmation. When in need of a reminder that you are worthy, loved and enough, Holmes’ poems are divine words capable of losing yourself in.

BLOOM FOR YOURSELF BY APRIL GREEN When wanting to take a more optimistic, spiritual and self-discovery route to poetry versus immersing yourself in depressive, painful assurances, April Green’s Bloom for Yourself will help you do just that: grow because you owe it to yourself. When feeling lost, these poems hold the power to be transformative and bring you back to your values in life and the most authentic version of you. The book emphasizes loving and accepting yourself along with your flaws and imperfections.

Remember, you are human, and life is messy, but that does not mean you can’t at least attempt to unclutter your life if you feel it is time. For those who continuously feel like they will never find someone to love them right, remember, “it is not your responsibility to prove you are enough for somebody else. ( just being yourself is enough).” More poems like this one, encapsulating self-love, can be found throughout Green’s collection.

SHE MUST BE MAD BY CHARLY COX For the women and girls who feel crazy, obsessive, insecure or confused

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER as to what their ultimate purpose in life is, Charly Cox’s feminist, thought-provoking She Must Be Mad is the read for you. The poems navigate all of the trials and tribulations a woman in today’s society faces, from oppression, depression, body shaming and heartbreak with no remorse to ultimately lead a strong and independent woman to realize she is not and never will be alone in a man’s world.

FOUR REINCARNATIONS BY MAX RITVO The late Max Rivto’s collection of poems in his book Four Reincarnations looks much different than those preceding it on the list, as it tackles sickness, life, death and the fear that accompanies all three. Rivto writes from a hospital bed poems that are sensitive, sad and severe at times. Before his cancerous death at just the mere age of 25, Rivto wrote to his wife, ex-lovers, therapists, fathers and mother.

Sometimes, we all need the gentle reminder that unfortunately, life is temporary and so are the people in it, so while we are still living, we have to learn to love those who stay and let go of those who don’t. For those who may be sick themselves, love someone who is facing health problems, scared of death and truly living and loving to the fullest. Four Reincarnations is an honest and painful heavy read to tackle but will assuredly change your perspective on a lot of hard truths.

FOR THE BROKEN BY SHENAIA LUCAS Feel and heal while reading Shenaia Lucas’ For the Broken by learning to love not only others, but yourself. There is so much truth behind the overused saying you cannot love another until you fully yourself, but it is true, and the poems in this collection emphasize and remind us of that perplexing concept we so often do not want to face and believe.

It is not until we lose ourselves that we are able to come back to ourselves, which Lucas beautifully outlines by stating: “you are not your insecurities / you are the strength of the mountains and the wisdom of the rivers / you are everything.” For the Broken truly is for those who feel shattered and are in search of themselves. Don’t forget you are worthy and deserve to feel it, too.

@EMMADOLLENMAYER ED569918@OHIO.EDU

Horror slashers who will and won’t be getting an invite to the Halloween party, ranked NOAH WRIGHT OPINION EDITOR It’s Halloween, and that means slasher movies are in. Slasher movies are a subgenre where a guy with a giant knife, chainsaw or machete chases a bunch of people (usually teenagers) around until he kills most or all of them.

This got me wondering, what if we were thrown into a world where we had to socialize with these monsters. What if you had to invite Michael Myers to your cookout or Leatherface to your bachelor party?

This is the definitive ranking of how bearable these characters would be in a world where they didn’t want to kill you but just wanted to have a few drinks with you and your friends instead. Here’s who I would invite to my Halloween party and who I wouldn’t: 10. FREDDY KRUEGER Coming in at dead last is an absolute clown I want nowhere near me under any circumstances: Freddy Krueger. This might seem odd. He has good jokes, he has a nice outfit and he even has a pretty cool party trick (entering dreams). However, this guy sucks.

If you go back and watch A Nightmare on Elm Street, his jokes don’t land, he’s obnoxious and he definitely wouldn’t leave when the party ends because he can just stay in everyone’s dreams the rest of the night. He also became a villain because he was a murderer and a terrible person in his real life before the good people of Springwood burned him alive.

He has weird homophobic uncle vibes. I can confidently say I’d rather get hunted down by this man in my nightmares than invite him to my Halloween party.

9. JASON VORHEES From a horror standpoint, Jason is an icon.

However, as a person, he has zero social skills and a lot of mommy issues. Hanging out with Jason is also going to be a hard pass for me.

The only reason this guy gets a pass at all is because his childhood was genuinely messed up. He died because his terrible camp counselors forgot to make sure he wasn’t drowning, and that sucks for him.

That being said, he’s got to move on. It’s been a good 63 years, and he’s still taking his anger out on innocent teenagers. To make him even less likable, he keeps his dead mom, who also murdered a bunch of innocent teenagers, in his weird, pitiful shack-house.

I don’t want Jason showing up to my party and crying about his mom or his mean camp counselors who were running a summer camp when Eisenhower was president. Jason would scare everyone away, kill the vibe and

ultimately ruin the whole night.

8. THE CREEPER This guy, The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers, is an absolute joke. He’s not as bad as the two previous characters, but I would under no circumstances invite him to my party either. He’s an actual creep. He’s the kind of guy to hang out with high schoolers when he’s 25.

Honestly, I’m not sure what he is. He’s some weird monster humanoid that just hangs out in the middle of nowhere. Scary?

Yes. Desirable as a house guest? No. On top of him being all-around terrible, there’s a scene in the movie where he smells underwear, which is disgusting. Under any circumstances, keep this cornball away from me and my home.

7. JIGSAW Jigsaw is more of a sadist than a true slasher, but for the purpose of this list, I have him coming in at seven. All things considered, he’s also not great and is a literal clown, but he won’t be nearly as bad as Krueger, The Creeper or Vorhees.

For starters, he’s a puppet, so all he’s going to really do is wheel around the party on his little bike, and if he’s not trying to trap you in a death labyrinth, that might be kind of cute.

If his horrifying voice is gone, a non-evil Jigsaw would be more of a pet than an actual guest. If it’s still there, it would be pretty fun to listen to him do karaoke. Would he be the best guest? No, but he also wouldn’t ruin the entire evening, either.

6. LEATHERFACE Look, this man is disgusting. I just know he smells bad. Murderer or not, he’s still going to show up wearing another person’s skin, and that’s probably going to ruin the entire night right there. So, you might be wondering why he’s above three other slashers on this list.

Well, he has demonstrated something most of them don’t have: social skills.

Leatherface has a family, and while they all eat people together, they also love each other. Even better, they work with the community to make sure they get fresh human meat to eat and use in family crafts. This earned him some huge points. I know that when I send the invite to Leatherface, he’s at least experienced human interaction before, albeit with horrible, nauseating people, but people nonetheless.

5. PINHEAD Like most people my age, I’ve never seen Hellraiser. I don’t know nearly as much about Pinhead as I should, but I do know one thing: the alt-kids would love him. He pretends to be deeper than he really is, and he knows how to

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER

dress. Still, Pinhead is cool. He’s unique, and he’s from hell. He also might bring fun gifts in his evil death box.

Pinhead can at least speak in full sentences, so he could hold some pretty interesting conversations. He speaks in vague terms, he wears a leather dress and his nickname is “Hell Priest.” If I’m being honest, this is the first character on this list I actually want at my party. Pinhead is cool, and he’s going to get an invite.

4. PENNYWISE If you’re still crying about how scary clowns are, you need to grow up. The only bad clowns are Pennywise and John Wayne Gacey, and if Pennywise wasn’t a blood-thristy monster, he’d be a blast to have around.

Pennywise is witty, creative and knows how to commit to a costume. Most of this list consists of slashers who threw on a random mask or were just naturally horrifying, but Pennywise cares about his clown costume.

Even better, 2017’s It also showed us he isn’t scared to dance. Pennywise would be near the top of my guest list.

3. MICHAEL MYERS Michael Myers is the best slasher. He’s the inspiration for most other slashers, and he’s arguably the scariest. Call it bias, but I have nothing but good things to say about Michael Myers. As someone to hang out with, he’s not the best, but he’s not the worst.

Mike is cool. He’s chill, he’s calm and he doesn’t talk at all. He doesn’t need to be the center of attention. Michael would just come for a little, have a few beers and leave with-

out bothering anyone. He is true neutral, and that’s a great party guest. He also is the most pro-Halloween person on the planet, which bodes well in my book.

2. CHUCKY Say what you want about this silly, evil little doll, but he’s fun. He lives life in the absolute edge at all times, and I have no problem being around someone like that given the right circumstances.

Chucky would be a blast at parties. He’s chaotic, he’s reckless and he’s shown he’s capable of socializing with others. He’s even been married. These are all gigantic points in favor of this evil doll. Say what you want about Chucky, but I’m inviting him to the party and the after-party. He can crash on my couch for all I care.

1. GHOSTFACE When discussing Ghostface, I want to make it clear the deranged teenagers who were behind the mask in the original Scream are not getting invited. However, Ghostface as an entity is way too much fun not to invite.

He’s charismatic, funny and would absolutely carry the party the entire time. Everybody wants to be Ghostface, and that appeal is just too inviting not to make him/her No. 1 on my Halloween party guest list.

@NOAHCAMPAIGN NW422218@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

the weekender Bodhi Tree hosts yoga classes online KAYLA BENNETT FOR THE POST

Bodhi Tree Guesthouse and Studio, 8950 Lavelle Rd., is home to a zen atmosphere and a multitude of different kinds of classes and luxuries. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bodhi Tree and its staff have made accommodations to fit the needs of their customers.

Liz Chamberlain, a certified yoga instructor, has been working with Bodhi Tree since 2008. She has been hosting outdoor yoga classes for safety reasons, but heading into the colder months, she’s working on a new plan.

“I’m feeling like a lot of the people that would have been here outside were just on the Zoom call instead, and so I felt confident that if I make that switch, they’ll stick with me into that transition,” Chamberlain said. “So I think that’s my plan: it’s changing, and I’m just trying to keep my mind open and just do what feels right. But right now it feels like Zoom is the right thing.”

Chamberlain hosts a variety of classes every weekend.

Fridays start with morning teacher-assisted self-practice of Ashtanga yoga. Power Flow is on Saturdays through Zoom. Sunday finishes the weekend with a Slow Flow class through Zoom during the day and a Group Meditation Zoom at night.

The classes aren’t the only activities Bodhi Tree puts on every weekend. Chamberlain said there are several other options going on around the studio and through Zoom.

“We’ve had gym classes, basically since the third week of March, this whole time,” Chamberlain said. “And, in addition to weekly, we have drop-in classes. We do have some yoga classes on the schedule, and there’s an option to join the Zoom class for free, which it’s exciting for me that that’s available because I think a lot of people are experiencing financial distress right now.”

Erin Pfahler, a registered yoga teacher at Bodhi Tree, teaches a Slow Flow class Fridays through Zoom.

Pfahler offered her input on how classes have been affected by COVID-19. “(It’s) honestly been up and down,” Pfahler said. “I would say right when the pandemic hit, there were a lot more people (who) needed something to do. They went from being at home more and then people who were coming to the studio were like, ‘Well, I definitely want to still practice yoga.’”

Turnout, overall, was hit by COVID-19, but that did not stop Chamberlain, Pfahler and the rest of the Bodhi Tree staff from continuing to provide their classes for their regular attendees and anyone who wanted to join.

“Virtual yoga classes with Erin during the pandemic have been so helpful in continuing my yoga practice, and 22 / OCT. 22, 2020

without them it, would have been very difficult,” Dan Karney, a frequent Bodhi Tree class attendee, said. “Erin is great with verbal cueing, so that makes practice easy to follow even when virtual. Obviously, we would all like to have in-person classes, but that is not feasible at present.”

Chamberlain and Pfahler offered words of encouragement for anyone who might be hesitant about trying yoga and motivated people to check out their Zooms or studio.

“Yoga is a lot of things,” Pfahler said. “It’s mind, body and spirit practice, so it’s not just about the physical poses.”

The instructors also encourage yogis and newcomers to check out their YouTube channel for more yoga at home.

“I’ve been telling people that maybe haven’t done yoga, at least with me before, or maybe not at all, they can visit our YouTube channel and actually see what the classes are like before participating,” Chamberlain said. “So you

can go to the YouTube channel, pick a video and watch some of it and get a feel for what the class will entail before you jump in.” @KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Bodhi Tree Yoga Classes WHEN: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays WHERE: Bodhi Tree Guesthouse and Studio, 8950 Lavelle Rd., or through Zoom ADMISSION: Prices vary per class

Bodhi Tree Guesthouse and studio located at 8950 Lavelle Rd. in Athens, Ohio.

(KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

WHAT’S GOING ON? Take a walking tour of the Ridges; take a socially distant hike ERIN GARDNER FOR THE POST

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum at 5 p.m. at the Kennedy Museum of Art, 100 Ridges Circle.

Take a tour of the historic Athens Asylum with George Eberts, a longtime Athens Asylum employee and local expert. Eberts leads the outdoor tour of the grounds and the buildings with personal anecdotes and insights on patient treatment.

Masks are encouraged but not required, and social distancing is practiced.

Admission: $15 for Southeast Ohio History Center members; $18 for regular non-member adults; $10 for students with a student ID; free for children 12 and under Geology Colloquium with Joseph Wislocki and Robert Demchuk at 12:55 p.m., hosted virtually by Ohio University’s Department of Geological Sciences. As a part of The Geological Sciences Colloquium Series, graduate students Joseph Wislocki and Robert Demchuk will discuss their research. Wislocki discusses “Understand larval to adult beetle ichnofossils using experimental neoichnology.” Demchuk presents on “Detailed Mapping of Lava Flows in Syrtis Major Planum, Mars.”

experience enjoyable. Sign up each week to receive a delicious kosher Shabbat meal with everything you need to bring in Shabbat to your residence with roommates or loved ones. Don’t forget to join them on Zoom every Friday at 6 p.m. for services.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, OCT. 24 Online/Zoom or Outdoor Power Flow with Liz at 10 a.m. at Bodhi Tree Guesthouse, 8950 Lavelle Road. Strengthen your body and mind with this vigorous class that focuses on breath.

Admission: Free on Zoom The Great Pumpkin Escape at 9 a.m. at Canal Park, 23352 Canal Road, Circleville, hosted by United Way of Pickaway County. Get in the fall spirit with a socially distant hike. There are food trucks like Schmidt’s, M&S GrubHub and Roadside LunchBox. Admission: Free, but donation tickets are encouraged Boos & Booze Tour of Spirits at 4 p.m. in downtown Marietta.

Get spooky with a week-long bar crawl. Participating bars and restaurants offer special themed and discounted cocktails while retailers offer themed pop-up perks exclusive to ticket holders. When downtown, ticket holders are asked to adhere to state health guidelines.

Admission: $20

SUNDAY, OCT. 25 Mind and Movement Meditation at 2 p.m. at Hillel, 21 Mill St. Join Hillel for an outdoor mediation that relaxes the mind and body. Bring warm clothes and a yoga mat or blanket if you don’t want to sit on the ground.

Admission: Free

Admission: Free Shabbat To-Go at 4 p.m., hosted by Hillel at OU. Although Hillel cannot host Shabbat in person, it still wants to make your Shabbat dinner

@ERINGARDNER_ EG245916@OHIO.EDU

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