November 10, 2022

A Scramble for Control

Election night brings formative experiences for young journalists

Holiday season. For those at The Post, though, November means election season.

Defined by the U.S. government as “the Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” Election Day is either a date people eagerly await or dread. The thought of engaging in the heavily-politicized sphere that defines election season is draining to many people in the U.S., especially college students who also must start thinking about finals as the end of the semester nears.

While it wasn’t the experience I would have wished for my first election night as a journalist, it only made the local races we covered during the 2021 election cycle more exciting.

Local races are arguably more important than the presidential elections that receive the majority of mainstream media attention. While the debates might be more engaging, it’s the local politicians—who make decisions that affect daily lives of voters-–that deserve local news coverage.

assist other section editors. I was balancing my laptop in one hand and the election results we had gotten from the Board of Elections in the other—I think that was when I first felt like a journalist.

MOLLY WILSON NEWS EDITOR

As Skittle-colored leaves begin to cover Athens in a blanket that signifies fall is coming to an end, voters must start thinking about the decisions they will make at the polls.

For many, November is a time of year hallmarked by Thanksgiving and the coming of the

However, Election Day gives student reporters at The Post an opportunity to engage in local politics, write political feature stories and experience on-the-street reporting for what might be their first time. My first election day at The Post, however, took place from my childhood bedroom.

What should have been an extremely long night in the newsroom writing, debating and enjoying the company of my fellow reporters was deflated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, I wrote a feature story on the way political issues influence relationships and friendships from my hometown Granville, Ohio.

Last year’s Election Day, featuring city council races from Athens and Nelsonville among other local issues, resulted in one of my favorite memories in working for The Post. It’s the energy that was fostered within the four walls of our Baker University Center newsroom that I think back to as a defining moment in my college experience.

As a young editor, that was also the most stressful experience of my life.

My fellow news editors and I were running around the newsroom assisting freshman reporters in live blogging and writing result stories all while trying to edit those stories and

Election season unites all journalists. The busyness of our student newsroom come that Tuesday in November, where the keys on our laptops move faster than they do any other time of year and when eager voices fill the air and mirrors that of many newsrooms around the country.

Tuesday marked my penultimate election night as a student journalist at The Post. There isn’t much I wouldn’t give up to be a fly on the wall for the several more that every reporter to come to The Post will experience.

Molly Wilson is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University and is the News Editor at The Post. Want to talk more with her? Her email is mw542219@ohio.edu and her twitter is @mollywmarie.

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COVER ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

FROM

ANNA MILLAR NEWS STAFF WRITER

Active Warrant

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Harner Road, in Athens, regarding a tip they received on a possible location for a man with a felony warrant. When deputies arrived they found the man and arrested him without incident.

The man was taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

Trespassing?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pleasanton Road in Athens regarding a trespassing complaint. When deputies arrived, they learned the landowner had allowed some relatives to live on the property in a mobile home for several years.

Deputies advised the landowner to seek legal counsel on removing the mobile home and family from the property.

Again?!

A catalytic converter was reported stolen on West Union Street in Athens, according to

Multiple suspects arrested; man hits deer with car

the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. A report was taken by a deputy following a conversation with the complainant.

Contain Your Dog

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a dog continuously being allowed onto the caller’s land in Trimble Township. Deputies spoke with the dog’s owner and informed them the dog needs to be kept on their own property.

Poor Deer

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office came across an individual who had hit a deer with his car while deputies were on patrol in Dover Township. The only damage to the car was the front license plate holder being knocked off.

No accident report was needed or requested by the driver.

Accidents Happen

Deputies responded to a private property motor vehicle accident on North Plains Road in The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The accident involved only

one vehicle.

Deputies determined the only damage was to property. A report was taken.

Business Burglar

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to North Plains Road in The Plains regarding a stolen vehicle report from a business. Deputies responded to the business and spoke with the caller.

A report was taken. The case is still under investigation.

Just Stuck

A suspicious vehicle complaint was reported at McDonald’s in The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies spoke with two individuals in the vehicle.

They said they were running out of gas and were waiting for a relative to bring them money for gas. Deputies requested the car move to a new location and returned to patrol.

He Just Wanted a Walk

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office re-

sponded to a report of an elderly man appearing confused walking on Meadowbrook Road in Albany. A deputy responded and spoke with the man, who said he was simply out for a walk.

You Shouldn’t do That

Deputies responded to Rhoric Road in Athens regarding a report of theft, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a man had violated a protection order.

Deputies arrested the man and transported him to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

Noisy

Loud music and possible gunshots or fireworks were reported near Mansfield Road in Athens, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The caller asked the department to patrol the area.

Deputies did not find any loud noises at the time of their patrol.

Athens Farmers Market moves to new location

LYDIA COLVIN FOR THE POST

The Athens Farmers Market opened for the first time at its new permanent location outside the Athens Community Center on Nov. 2.

The market has moved locations a multitude of times during its 50 years in operation, including the parking lot of the Market on State, where it resided right before moving to the community center.

Adam Lee, vice president of the executive committee for the Athens Farmers Market, said one of the main reasons for the move from the Market on State was the cost of rent.

“We cut our rent in half,” Lee said. “That was one of the biggest reasons we needed to get away from where we were, it was just not financially tenable for us to stay there.”

Larry Cowdery, board president of the Athens Farmers Market and longtime vendor, said he is unsure if this lowered rent will result in a price cut for vendors, but it will be reviewed when going over next year’s budget.

Along with the cost reduction, Lee said having a permanent location gives the

market more financial security.

“This is a long term permanent situation, which the other situation was not,” Lee said. “So the terms of our lease were that if somebody else wanted to come in and pay more money for the parking lot, it was theirs, so they were gonna give it to them.”

Cowdery said the agreement with the city of Athens to use the space at the community center lasts for 10 years.

One concern about the new location is traffic on East State Street, especially during the Saturday market. Laura McManus, owner and operator of Sticky Pete’s Pure Maple Syrup and vendor at the farmers market, said she saw traffic backed up due to the market on Saturday.

“The only problem I saw Saturday, and I don’t know how much it affected customers but the congestion on East State Street, it was really bumper to bumper,” McManus said. “So whether that deters people or people eventually will acclimate to getting in and out.”

McManus said she never saw bumper to bumper traffic at the old location and

said this could be because there are more traffic lights down near the community center versus the previous location at the Market on State.

The possible traffic due to the move was reviewed by a design firm working for the city during the 2016 planning for the East State Street project, as discussions about the farmers market moving to the community center were underway at that time. The firm suggested improvement to two of the signals near the community center.

“The signal improvements were completed with the construction of the East State Street project,” Jessica Adine, assistant city engineer for the city of Athens, wrote in an email. “The City is continuing to review the signal timing, and can make adjustments, if needed.”

Even though there are concerns about traffic, organizers said the increased accessibility of market location is a benefit. The location is accessible by public transit and is right by a bike path.

Katherine Anne Jordan, director of arts, parks and recreation for the city of Athens, said she talked to people during Saturday’s farmers market who biked to the farmers market from the Eastside of Athens.

“It kind of opened up their ability to bike to the farmers market, which was re-

ally exciting,” Jordan said. “It was something that we kind of assumed would happen, but it was really great to hear firsthand from some folks.”

Additionally, organizers of the move said the location is great for their community presence.

“I felt that it definitely felt like a more community-oriented space, like this is where they belong,” Jordan said.

The market will be open on Wednesdays—April 20 to Nov. 23—and Saturdays year-round from 9 a.m. to 12 pm. From Dec. 3 to March 25, some vendors will move inside the Community Center while others will continue to be located under the solar panels, according to the Athens Farmers Market’s website.

Ed Perkins sells produce that he grows at his farm, Sassafras Farm, at the Athens Farmers Market near the Athens Community Center on E. State St. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. (ZOE CRANFILL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Veterans’ Student Lounge offers safe space

CHRISTINA PARKER FOR THE POST

The grand opening for the Veterans’ Student Lounge in Baker University Center, room 363, is set to take place Thursday as part of Operation Thank a Vet, a weeklong campaign, which will occur through Veterans Day.

With around 700 current and former service members at Ohio University, it is important veterans have their own space, retired Lt. Col. Terry St. Peter, the director of the Veterans and Military Student Services Center, said.

“The reason behind this lounge was really to provide a safe space for our veterans so that they can remove them selves from problematic environments,” St. Peter said.

The new lounge will have workstations with printers and computers, group study areas, a game room and a quiet, dark room with no windows to practice desensitization.

St. Peters said the lounge project had been underway for years. In 2016, St. Peters applied for a grant to fund the proj ect but the university could not find a dedicated space for

the lounge and the money from the grant expired.

St. Peters reapplied for the grant and received approval once more shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, which further stunted the construction of the project.

Ethan Barnes, a sophomore studying political science and the president of the Student Veterans Association, or SVA, said he has been able to use the lounge prior to its grand opening.

“What I love about it already is that it’s state of the art, it’s gorgeous,” Barnes said. “It has really nice modest art,” Barnes said.

Barnes said he has already taken advantage of the facil ities and services the lounge offers by using it as a private library and a place to destress and connect with fellow vet erans and service members.

Janet Russell, a records management specialist for the university’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said St. Pe

ter worked selflessly to create the lounge, which at times, was difficult.

“Our veterans’ lounge is just something that Terry has worked selflessly on for us for six years,” Russell said. “Of all the hard times and blood sweat and tears into it, and hap piness and sadness and excitement and … to see it come to fruition is so exciting.”

Another way in which OU is recognizing and thanking its service members for Veterans Day this year is through the Operation Thank a Vet campaign, which will take place through Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

St. Peter said the campaign was a coordinated effort be tween the Veterans and Military Student Services Center and the OU Alumni Association.

“It’s called an operation because we’re working together in a coordinated effort to allow a meaningful way for vet erans and non-veterans to close that gap to allow folks to come together and allow folks to be recognized for their service,” St. Peter’s said.

Russell said those who have served have unique experiences, and although Post Traumatic Stress Dis order is common among veterans, she wants to decrease the stigma sur rounding service members and their experiences. Rus sell said she believes Oper ation Thank a Vet will help end the stigma.

St. Peters said through out the week of Veterans’ Day and always that peo ple should be comfortable engaging in dialogue with those who have and are cur rently serving service mem bers. and to not only thank them, but to feel free to go and say ‘Hey, what year did you start? Where did you serve?’

“If you see a veteran (or) see a student walking around with some type of veteran hat on, feel free to say thanks or feel free to group and say, ‘Hey, what unit did you serve with?,’ or ‘Where did you serve?,’” St. Peters said. “Start a con versation, we do like to talk about it.”

Riley Black and Gabriela Nieves study in the Veterans’ Student Lounge on Nov. 7, 2022, at Baker University Center in Athens, Ohio.

(PEARL SPURLOCK | FOR THE POST)

Dog days in college

landlord just said it is no longer welcome.”

After taking the dog in, Klatt realized that the dog had severe separation anxiety, did not have all of its shots and was not crate trained as promised. Eventually, the new dog did not fit in with their current dog and cats.

“Because Cooper is my service dog, her separation anxiety was messing him up, and he could not focus on work and doing his job,” said Klatt

After surrendering the dog to the shelter, she became more confident and was even tually adopted, according to Klatt. Klatt had a severe case, but pets are a big responsibil ity and a lot goes into taking care of them. Balancing school and a pet may be more of a challenge than initially planned.

“You have to sacrifice some days, espe cially if you have a puppy,” said Sara Schro eder, a graduate student studying business administration. “There has been times when I have to cut my night short when I’m out because I have to go home and take care of Fred. I can’t stay out until two in the morning and leave him all night.”

Schroeder adopted her Corgi puppy, Fred, over the summer so she could have more time to train and get used to him out side of classes.

their day to check in on them.

“It is a lot of time commitment,” said Eli za Stoner, a junior studying psychology and sociology criminology. “When I schedule my classes, I have to sit there and think ‘Okay, well, how long is Blue going to be in the crate?’ Same with work. I have to make sure I have gaps throughout the day.”

Stoner adopted her puppy from the Ath ens County Dog Shelter last November after Blue was abandoned in a box with his lit termates. Stoner works with Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs and knew she wanted to adopt. When it comes to students adopting dogs, she has some advice.

“Just make sure you are ready,” said Ston er. “I was impulsive, but I don’t regret it by any means. And I knew what was coming at me, but at the same time, I got a puppy. So maybe get an older dog because this dog is with me for the next 10 years, maybe longer.”

Pets also live longer than a college career. Dogs have a lifespan of 10-13 years and a cat’s lifespan is 12-18 years. They are not just a one time fee, they need check ups from the vet, food, toys and more. Eventually it all adds up so students that consider a pet should think about their financial stability.

MAGGIE PALMA FOR THE POST

College can sometimes feel lonely for students, so they turn to pets for help. Even though the idea of being able to come home to a furry friend may sound appealing, it may not be the best option for students.

Over the summer Paige Klatt, assistant di

rector of Prevention Education for the Office of Health Promotion, and her partner were asked to foster a dog from a student who found a stray puppy after a storm in June.

“We were told this dog is around six months old and supposedly had all their shots and everything up to date,” said Klatt. “They just needed to be spayed, that they were needing to find a home because their

“When I was a grad student, I was like, ‘Okay, I have a little more free time,’” Schro eder said. “I’m a little more grown up. It gives me something to do taking him up here. Peo ple love seeing him and he’s just a cute little boy.”

Students who have pets, especially dogs, find that their lives start to revolve around them. Dogs are typically higher maintenance than cats, so owners have to take time out of

“It’s hard because dogs can be really ex pensive too,” Schroeder said. “Knock on wood, he has never had to go to the vet for anything crazy, but even his food and his toys, he was expensive.”

A day in the life at Union Street Diner

ABBY JENKINS FOR THE POST

Walking through the door of an Up town local favorite, the sound of sizzling bacon and eggs can be heard on top of the mouth-watering aroma of a home-cooked meal. Surrounded by laughter and a certain communal warmth that can’t be replicated anywhere else, Union Street Diner, or USD, is not only the perfect cure for a hangover but the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal that can only be found in Athens.

Walking in the swinging glass and met al door at 70 W. Union St., patrons will be greeted by a dedicated wait staff. Dorothy Roemer, a current waitress and known by townies as “Dot,” has been at USD for 26

years. She knows the diner like the back of her hand and has a special place in her heart for it.

“I love it here,” said Roemer. “I meet so many different people every year.”

Roemer went about her shift, enthusias tically greeting guests and serving up meals with a side of a smile. Her love for the diner is clear throughout her entire shift, on slow and crazy days.

“It’s great food, great atmosphere, friend ly and welcoming,” said Roemer.

At USD, there is an incredible feeling as soon as one walks through the door. The staff at USD is like a family themselves, working like a well-oiled machine to pro vide breakfast, lunch and dinner to hungry guests. Some breakfast favorites, including

banana-stuffed french toast and biscuits and gravy, are sure to have any student or townie coming back every weekend.

“The garbage omelet and the country breakfast, we sell a lot of those,” Roemer said.

People have long since raved about USD. In a 2011 copy of The Post, Joe Fox hailed the diner as the best food in Athens.

“It’s the real deal: the kind of place a film noir detective would contemplate his notes over hash browns and coffee,” Fox said in The Post.

Greg Matkowski, a current manager, has worked at the diner since 2017. Matkowski works six days a week at the diner and said it is nearly family-owned, as many of the em ployees all come from the same family.

He reiterated the idea of family around

the diner, with USD being family-owned, that the employees there are unlike most and how no one can find this kind of feeling anywhere else.

“We all try to do our best to welcome new people,” Roemer said.

In addition to the staff, the guests rave about USD just as much, making it clear that USD is a must-go.

“It’s like a hometown place, it’s a local place in Athens,” Jordyn Koerper, a USD pa tron, said. “If you haven’t gone, you have to go.”

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

VETERANS DAY

Various locations

Friday, November 11th

Uptown Athens Veterans Day Parade

“Never Forget Those That Gave Their Todays for Our Tomorrows”

Parade begins at Armory Park and will travel up Court Street and end at Ohio University College Green

American Legion post 21 will host free breakfast before the parade and luch after

Saturday, November 12th

12 Pine St • The Plains

Annual Wild Game Feed

The VFW Post 7174, Invites veterans to join them for thei annual “Wild Game Feed for Veterans event” Post 7174 is located at 12 Pine Street in The Plains. Event starts at 2:00 pm

FREE and open to all veterans

BLOOD DRIVE

Various locations

The need is constant, the need is urgent, sign up and give today. Enter your zip code to search for a drive.

Athens Community Center

Sasme great vendors in a NEW space. Now located at the Athens Community Center. Parking Available at the Cmmunity center and the City Pool lot. If walking to the market, PLEASE use designated crosswalks to cross East State Street

Get Locally grown, raised and prepared food and beverage items. Plants, dairy, baked goods,seeds, and meats. PLUS locally made artistic goods.

Wednesdays & Saturdays 9am - Noon

HOW-TO MONDAYS Theater Lounge

Baker Center • Second Floor

Every Monday, 7pm Join in the fun and create with friends. This weekCHALKBOARDS

FLAVOR OF THE WEEK

Third Floor Atrium • Baker Center

Every Wednesday 12-2pm FREE While Supplies Last Join us for FREE LUNCH , every Wednesday. Each week is a new theme

Listen Live anytime from our website

From soldier to student

Life after service looks different for everyone, especially college students

ALYSSA CRUZ ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

People enlist to join the U.S. Armed Forces for a vari ety of reasons. Some act upon their patriotic urge to serve their country. For others, the appeal lies in the desire to see the world.

At Ohio University, there are around 700 Veterans en rolled. These are classified as students who served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. Whether that be serving as a pilot for the Air Force, or a corpsman for the Marine Corps, 700 Bobcats want to protect their country.

Transitioning to college is hard for anyone, but tran sitioning from a soldier to a student is a whole new ball game. Many student Veterans are older than their peers and have experienced much more of what life has to offer. Tardiness is no longer punished with pushups; uniforms are the only acceptable form of attire.

More than the situational changes is the evolution of identity. Especially for those no longer on active duty, a giant piece of who they are is different. No longer a defen

dant of the Constitution but rather a member of civilian life.

The military and mental health

Military service often affects Veterans’ mental health. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, varies by service era. Between 11-20% of Veter ans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD.

Amber Everett is among the 12 million adults in the U.S. who have PTSD. Everett, who uses a pseudonym to keep anonymity on the condition of privacy, is an Air Force Veteran. Stationed at a garrison, a military post, Everett worked mostly with drones and full-motion video. Essen tially, she supported downrange troops via computers.

With her brother in the Air Force and her dad being in the Army, Everett wanted a challenge so the military was the natural next step. Using her passion for math, Everett aced the entrance exam and began her service.

Prior to her military service, Everett said she never re ally had any difficulties with her mental health. Besides being an angsty teen, she said everything was smooth sail ing. Now, Everett has been diagnosed with PTSD, border line personality disorder, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety.

“It kind of all started when I started killing people for a living,” Everett said. “Every time I see a new doctor, they give me a new label.”

Everett said her main symptom is nightmares. Whether asleep or awake, she said flashbacks are frequent and can be triggered by various things.

Everett discussed a class she was in where police bru tality and Islamophobia were frequent topics and weren’t always talked about in the most careful of ways. Although holding no ill feelings toward the professor, Everett feels there are better ways to talk about certain triggering top ics. She suggests faculty provide a questionnaire to learn their students’ triggers.

“I’m not saying she’s doing it bad at all,” Everett said. “I’m just saying people need to better know their audience. I know people like to talk about snowflakes or whatever, but it’s a real f—---- deal.”

A big obstacle Everett faced was overcoming hear ing common words that she associated with her service. Having worked with a lot of video and digital equipment, everyday words such as “camera,” “video,” or “cellphone” used to send her in a spiral.

“There was about a year and a half to two years where I could not play video games, Everett said. “I used to play video games a lot when I was younger … I had a really hard time separating my memories and the reality from the game itself.”

According to Stop Soldier Suicide, Veterans are 57% higher risk of suicide than those who haven’t served. Sui cide is also the second leading cause of death in Veterans under age 45.

Having survived past suicide attempts herself, Everett said her first attempt was while she was still in the service, a little less than a year before her separation. She spoke about having to help herself through that.

“There’s a point in life where you have to choose to live, regardless of the baggage that you carry,” Everett said. “That’s a very difficult point to reach and going through all this, I feel like I’ve reached it.”

If any Veterans are contemplating suicide, dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

From basic training to the books

In most cases, enlistees sign up for four years of active duty and four years of inactive duty. For all six branches of the military, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine and Space Force, the requirements to join are relatively similar. All interested parties must be at least 17 years of age to enlist and be U.S. citizens or possess a Green Card.

After taking a variety of tests, receiving a high school diploma or GED, meeting with a career counselor and completing the service’s physical requirements and fitness standards, aspiring service men and women are permitted

PROVIDED BY TERRY S. PETER

to take the oath of enlistment.

After some coordination, recruits will receive orders for basic training. For the Army, basic training consists of 10 weeks focused on combat training, specialized training in the desired career field and general military basics such as weapon handling, teamwork and discipline.

Basic training is where Ethan Barnes, a sophomore studying political science as well as the president of the

“Just feeling like even though I was kind of a cog in the machine, it was a good machine. ... And I felt like I was a part of something greater than myself.”

- Seth Rogers, a sophomore studying political science

Student Veteran Association, met his best friend, Seth Rogers, a sophomore studying political science, as well. With Barnes being from Toledo and Rogers from Amarillo, Texas, the likelihood of them meeting without the Army was slim to none.

Thanks to Fort Benning, Georgia, however, the two freshly-graduated high schoolers began their time in the service together. Barnes said relationships built during the service are unlike any others. Strangers are thrust into in timate situations where friendship is the only option.

“I’ve worked a 35 hour shift with my buddy Seth,” Barnes said. “That’s how you make best friends. What do you talk about for 35 hours? I’ll tell you: f—---- everything.”

Rogers shares a similar experience to Barnes. His ex perience with bonds created in the military have to be ri valed.

ers said.

In addition to one on one relationships, Rogers enjoyed the camaraderie that came with the service. The sense of teamwork and codependency is something unique to the experience.

gic leadership has a different story than her Veteran peers. Enlisting to join the Army National Guard at 17, Black comes from a military family.

Her first six years in the National Guard have almost come to an end. Because of the nature of her branch, Black has been serving and attending college simultaneously. At this point in her military career, she works for the Guard

“I’d say relationships are different because I’ve made friends at college but there’s something different about–and I guess it’s more true for the job I had– but there’s something different about having a friend who you know is going to have your back in the wildest of situations,” Rog continued on next page

“Just feeling like even though I was kind of a cog in the machine, it was a good machine,” Rogers said. “And I felt like I was a part of something greater than myself.”

Riley Black, a senior studying management and strate

PROVIDED BY RILEY BLACK

one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.

Even though it may appear like a lower commitment, there is the chance Black could be activated at any given moment. Black enrolled in the spring of 2019 after spend ing fall completing Advanced Individual Training. Follow ing a summer in California working for the Guard, Black returned to campus for fall but was not on campus in the spring but rather preparing for deployment overseas.

She was overseas for a year, and she returned in the summer of the following year. After that, she was activated again to help with COVID-19 relief in Columbus. It is clear that earning her degree has been seriously altered by the military, but Black remains positive about her experience thus, grateful to OU.

“I’ve taken four and a half semesters off,” Black said, laughing. “I love serving and being in the military, and I’m very grateful to have a school that has been so supportive of that. It’s definitely been worth it.”

Thanks to her many credits entering college, Black has only had to spend five years at college to earn her four-

year degree. She has an interesting outlook on the process because she said she has avoided burnout. Her easy going nature made it possible for her to switch her surroundings so frequently. However, Black has to deal with being apart from her friends while serving and being at college.

“It’s a big change going from being overseas in the Mid dle East for a year to being in class,” Black said. “You just have a different mindset of complaints and stuff. I would definitely say it’s been kind of hard sometimes to make those connections just because I feel so different from them sometimes.”

Support in a new environment

Terry St. Peter, director of the Veterans and Military Student Services Center, is a retired lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army. St. Peter, as well as the Center, are respon sible for facilitating programs for military-affiliated stu dents at OU.

“We oversee VA education benefits,” St. Peter said about the program. “Everything from assisting folks in applying for those benefits, to utilizing those benefits to help prob lem solving with those.”

St. Peter and the Center also help es tablish their students’ policies and proce dures. Sometimes, military personnel will get “activated” and required to serve. St. Peter ensures the process of the student withdrawing from school is as smooth as possible.

Additionally, St. Peter is a support sys tem. With him being in the military him self, he can relate to the student’s experi ences. He strives to make OU a place that uplifts the military rather than burdening its military-affiliated students.

“Making sure that we have policies in place that are going to assist the students and not harm them,” St. Peter said. “Making sure that they have an environment that’s not going to hinder their learning, making sure they have a welcoming environment across the campus..”

Additionally, to ensure faculty has the resources necessary to be best equipped to teach and interact with Veterans, St. Pe ter teaches a class to university staff. In his workshop, he incorporates a student panel who discuss their experience.

Additionally, St. Peter also teaches a class for students. Although not mandatory for Veterans, they have the opportunity to enroll in a learning community-style class geared specifically to them.

“I teach a UC 1500 course that is a tran sition seminar where I focus on things like moving from a military culture to an academic culture,” St. Peter said. “It’s ex tremely different.”

In the seminar, the class discusses top ics ranging from what happens if some one is late to class, to handling a common question geared toward Veterans: “have you ever killed someone?” Because Veter ans are in such a different boat than tradi tional first-year college students, St. Peter believes this class should be mandatory for Veterans.

In fact, none of the services the Veter

“The things that keep me up at night is that they could be struggling without getting the help they needed. ... They didn’t know the resources here because I didn’t even know they were here.”

- Terry St. Peter, director of the Veterans

and Military Student Services Center

ans and Military Student Services Center offers are man datory for students. According to St. Peter, students are not required to disclose they are a Veteran since it is con sidered a protected status. He said the thought of a stu dent Veteran not being supported is the hardest part of his job.

“The things that keep me up at night is that they could be struggling without getting the help they needed,” he said. “They didn’t know the resources here because I didn’t even know they were here.”

Veterans who are using benefits, such as the GI Bill, must denote their military involvement. Other than that, there is nothing that makes it mandatory, St. Peter said.

St. Peter is transparent about the negative connota tions associated with the military, and he feels more could be done to paint servicemen and women in a positive light.

“When you see things about the military, a lot of times you see bad things about the military,” he said. “I do think that our military has been tarnished over the last couple of years by some of the stories and stuff.”

However, St. Peter acknowledged some of the faults of the U.S. Military.

“I don’t think we have done enough to combat things like sexual assault,” he said. “I don’t think we have done enough in the military to combat some of the things that have happened… and some of that stuff we deserve. We need to do better, and I’m happy that some of that stuff is being called out, but it does tarnish the overall military profile.”

With any transition, there are ups and downs. Instead of camping out in a military base in Iraq, Barnes and Rogers were residents of university dorms. Instead of supporting troops via computers, Everett was wrestling with calculus problems. Even the most trivial of things were different.

“I had a terrible, terrible wardrobe when I got out,” Barnes said. “I mean I had a work uniform and then I would go out on the weekends but now, I need like seven days worth of clothes and variety.”

Swapping a warzone for a classroom is difficult, espe cially when it is full of students who are unaware of what their peers have witnessed, done, and experienced.

“Don’t be afraid to engage a Veteran and ask them about their time and service,” St. Peter said. “Don’t be afraid. We welcome that. You will come to find out that most of us would enjoy the opportunity to tell you a little bit about what we did.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RILEY BLACK

2022 Midterm Elections Edition

Midterm elections maintain influence despite fewer voters

MOLLY WILSON NEWS EDITOR

Although partisan debates and high voter turnouts characterize presidential elections, the midterm elections can impact both na tional and local issues, despite seeing fewer voters at the polls.

Midterm elections are general elections held at the midpoint of a president’s fouryear term in office. While midterms might not receive equivalent public attention com pared to presidential elections, all 435 U.S. House of Representatives seats and near ly one-third of U.S. Senate seats are up for election.

During midterms, the president’s party generally loses seats in both the House and Senate, which has the potential to impact the remaining two years of a president’s term.

“It’s super, super, super important to par ticipate in all elections because if we want to reaffirm what a democracy is, it’s important that everyone is participating,” said Laris sa Strong, the president of Ohio University Democrats. “Midterm elections are specifi cally really important because … midterms set up your main elections every four years.”

Midterm elections typically engage fewer voters compared to a presidential election year. According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, voter turnout percentage is higher during presidential elections than in midterms and off-year elections.

The Secretary of State’s office reported a voter turnout of about 71% during the 2016 presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. However, during the last midterm election in 2018, voter turnout was reported to be around only 55%.

In Ohio, the trend has remained con sistent since 2000. During the presidential elections of 2000, 2004 and 2008, voter turnout was reported to be 63.73%, 71.77% and 69.97%, respectively. Compared to vot er turnout reported at 47.81%, 53.23% and 49.22% at the midterm elections in 2002, 2006 and 2010. In the presidential election of 2012, voter turnout was around 70% com pared to the 2014 midterm, which saw only about 40% of voters at the polls.

This election season, JD Vance and Tim Ryan are both vying for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. Tim Ryan is a Democratic congressman in Ohio’s 13th District, which is composed of several northeast Ohio counties. He has served in that role since 2003, and primarily focuses on economic goals in the region, ac cording to his campaign website.

Comparatively, JD Vance, the Republican candidate, has not led the life of a politician.

Vance is a former Marine and the bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy, his memoir. Accord ing to Vance’s campaign website, he believes his position as an “outsider” will best serve Ohioans.

In addition to the Senate race, Athens County residents will also have to decide between Republican incumbent Jay Edwards and Tanya Conrath, the Democratic candi date, for the Ohio House of Representatives 94th District seat. The race between Conrath and Edwards has been contentious through out the election season and even made its way to the Ohio Supreme Court, which had to decide whether Conrath was legally al lowed to have her name on the ballot.

“Presidential (elections) are our ma jor year,” Tony Brooks, the Athens Board of Elections deputy director, said. “This is our second busiest election … so since it’s the Governor and all of our state offices … those usually have voter turnout in the higher range for the county.”

This year, races for Athens County auditor

and one of three county commissioner seats will directly impact local politics in Athens.

As of Nov. 2, Brooks said there were near ly 40,000 registered voters in Athens. The League of Women Voters of Athens County is one organization in Athens that encour aged residents to register to vote before the deadline.

“The presidential election gets all the me dia and the press and everything, and those are very important, but if you look at your day-to-day life and think about what bodies are making laws and rules that affect you, it’s your local races,” said League of Women Vot ers of Athens County Co-President Adriane Mohlenkamp.

During every election, however, students at OU can vote either in their hometowns or register to vote in Athens.

“Athens politics is what is going to affect your day-to-day, so by participating in Ath ens politics, you take command of what’s going on in your everyday life,” Strong said. “I think that is super important because if

you’re voting in your hometown, you’re only there for winter break, spring break, summer break … but fundamentally Athens politics are what is going to affect you the most.”

OU Democrats held voter registration drives throughout this year’s election sea son, including a large-scale event on Nation al Voter Registration Day in September. The organization registered nearly 100 people to vote in Athens.

“I think with every midterm election, it’s kind of hard to get people engaged just be cause it’s not as punchy and exciting as a presidential election, but from what I have seen, and the people who are near me, it seems like people are pretty aware of the gravity of this election,” Strong said.

Anna Millar contributed to this report.

Volunteers roll containers of ballots inside the Athens County Board of Elections on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Athens, Ohio. (JOE TIMMERMAN | FOR THE POST)

Board of Elections handles Midterm turnout

SOPHIA YOUNG FOR THE POST

The Athens County Board of Elections is handling this year’s midterm election with increased staffing and resources for the Board and polling locations.

According to Athens BOE Deputy Direc tor Tony Brooks, the office is in a good place this year to handle voters and operations during election season.

Brooks said because of extra funding from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office and the special election this year, the office has been able to purchase extra office sup plies and organizational materials to support poll workers.

Additionally, Brooks said the BOE re ceived a positive response from community members wanting to volunteer as poll work

ers. He attributes the high level of volunteer ism to the significance of this year’s election as both a midterm and gubernatorial year.

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office re ported that by Nov. 2, 84 of 88 Ohio coun ties had reached the poll worker recruitment minimum. This year, Athens County sur passed the secretary’s goal of recruiting 15% more than the minimum number of workers, with approximately 290 on the roster com pared to the 224 minimum.

“In the off years, like next year, we won’t have a lot of people that will volunteer. Brooks said. “Those are the years that we struggle a little bit harder, but we are always pleased to have an extra list to call.”

Brooks said the BOE received a good amount of early voters this year, despite there being fewer compared to the pres idential election years. This year the BOE

had about 5,000 people requesting absentee ballots, in addition to an expected 3,000 or more voters at the BOE office prior to elec tion day.

Early voting has increased statewide compared to the last gubernatorial election in 2018. Exactly one week prior to election day, 817,644 Ohioans had voted early, com pared to 736,464 in 2018, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Though office staffing, poll workers and concrete materials are currently readily available for the BOE, Brooks said the office is outgrowing its current space.

“The main thing that our office is need ing resource-wise is more space and storage space type things, working space for when we have elections,” Brooks said. “That’s our main issue that we work with and that’s been that way for a couple of years.”

In 2019, the city considered moving the BOE office to the ATCO building on Stimson, but ultimately decided to remain on Court Street due to accessibility concerns, accord ing to a previous Post report.

Despite the building’s limitations, Brooks said BOE employees are able to move things around during election seasons to maximize space in preparation for the multitude of voters they expect to see.

The Board of Elections on Court Street. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)

Local candidates reflect on campaign tactics

MAYA MORITA ASST. NEWS EDITOR

As the 2022 election season nears its end, candidates in local elec tions, including the Athens County Auditor race and Ohio’s 94th Dis trict House of Representatives race, reflect on the strategies they used to boost their chances of winning.

There is a multitude of campaign tac tics that politicians will take advantage of throughout their races, including adver tising and on-the-street campaigning. Ric Wasserman, the Democratic candidate for Athens County auditor, said he used various methods during his campaign.

“I spent a lot of time going door to door talking to individual voters on their front porches and doorsteps,” Wasserman said. “We’ve sent several mail pieces to prospec tive voters. We’ve engaged in a great deal of advertising, especially digital advertising on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, that sort of thing.”

Wasserman also advertised on local ra dio stations based in Athens and Nelsonville.

Jill Thompson, the Republican incum bent in the county’s auditor race, has served as the county auditor since 2000. Thomp son said she has maintained a positive cam paign strategy by informing voters of what she accomplished during her incumbency.

“I believe that if you’re a sitting elected official, you should run on your record and your qualifications,” Thompson said. “I tried to run a very positive race based on what I’ve done as the auditor and my mission and all that I’ve accomplished while I’ve been here, as well as my qualifications to actually perform the duties of the office.”

Although many candidates have had am ple time to campaign for their races, Tan ya Conrath, the Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 94th District House of Representa tives race, only had a few weeks to cam paign.

According to a previous Post report, Conrath filed a writ of mandamus against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose after he denied her application to run for state representative. The Ohio Supreme Court decided in favor of Conrath and her name was placed on the ballot. Conrath said the lawsuit helped her gain media traction for her campaign.

“We got a late start, so I just got on the ballot Oct. 11. I’ve been running for about three months now,” Conrath said. “We’ve had to stand up the campaign really quickly, so we have used social media as a method, also the news media because my race drew a lot of attention.”

To campaign, candidates must abide by a

multitude of rules set by the Ohio Legisla tive Service Commission, or OLSC. Accord ing to the OLSC, candidates may only have one campaign committee and individuals can’t donate more than $10,000 to a state wide candidate in a primary or general elec tion.

“There’s a whole Revised Code section … there are campaign finance laws that you have to comply with … there are a lot of dif ferent rules,” Conrath said. “As a first-time candidate, it’s been really important to me to make sure we follow those laws.”

Monetary donations given to candidates can be used for a variety of expenses with in a campaign. Conrath said her donations helped pay the legal costs for the lawsuit against LaRose.

“One of the things that has really kept

me positive and going is knowing how many people have gotten behind our campaign. Especially having a bill to take this case to the Supreme Court,” Conrath said. “That was thousands and thousands of dollars to have to fight to get on the ballot.”

Jonathan Robe, the campaign treasurer for Jill Thompson, said Thompson’s cam paign raised over $45,000 during her cam paign cycle, which began in February.

By the end of his race, Wasserman said he expects to have spent between $32,000 and $34,000 on his campaign. As of Thurs day, Wasserman said his campaign had re ceived nearly $19,000 in donations.

Because campaigning is a crucial aspect of political races and can be costly if mon etary support is not available, Conrath said she is grateful for all of the support she has

received for her campaign.

“I have one organization, the Matriots, who has provided financial support, but ev erything else has been people in the area, supporters, friends, family, making small donations,” Conrath said. “I’ve been actually really proud of that fact that so many peo ple, in such a short amount of time, have not only used their time to knock on doors and help with the campaign, but also to make fi nancial contributions.”

Campaign signs in Athens, Ohio. (MAYA MORITA | ASST. NEWS EDITOR)

ADDIE HEDGES NEWS EDITOR

On Tuesday, Athens County vot ers will decide whether Republi can incumbent Jill Thompson or Democrat Ric Wasserman is best suited to fulfill the position of the Athens County au ditor. It’s not the first time voters have had to choose between the two opponents.

In the 2002 Athens County auditor elec tion, Thompson, who had held the auditor’s position since her appointment in 2000, de feated her then-opponent Wasserman with nearly 63% of the Athens County vote.

20 years later, the two are running cam paigns against each other again. Since 2002, Thompson has won four additional elections and is the longest-serving auditor in Athens County history.

During her incumbency, Thompson said she has been committed to ensuring Athens

Thompson projected to win sixth election as auditor

power and that just makes a very dangerous situation,” Wasserman said. “You also wind up with a calcified outlook on how things work. Everything’s been done the same way 22 years—no change. There’s not really any progressivism there. There’s not really any new ideas, and I don’t think that’s healthy at all.”

Although Wasserman sees Thompson’s lengthy term in office as a negative, Thomp son said she believes it serves as an indicator of how she has done in the position.

“I believe the people keep me in this of fice,” Thompson said. “This is what I’m sup posed to be. This is what I’m supposed to be doing and people have confidence in know ing that I’m going to raise my hand and ask the obvious question and (government offi cials) are going to have to answer it.”

Thompson said although party affilia tion should not matter in the auditor’s of fice, she believes her position as one of only two elected Republican officials in Athens County allows her to observe the county’s finances without obligations to fellow party members.

“When you don’t have somebody else watching the money, and you don’t allow anybody else to ask the question then there is not an opportunity for accountability,” Thompson said. “Most of the frauds that I’ve discovered, do you know how? Somebody’s reported it to me. Do you know why? Be cause they couldn’t report it to somebody else.”

County residents’ tax money is used respon sibly by county government departments, even when it means she needs to confront those she works alongside.

“That can’t dissuade me from doing my duty and my job,” Thompson said. “If I rec ognize fraud, or if I see abuse or waste, I’m going to call it out. So that’s why we’re here and that’s why I hope to still be here.”

Wasserman, a local businessman and owner of the Pigskin Bar & Grill, currently serves as the Athens County treasurer and has served in that position since he was elected in 2018. Despite his affinity for his current position, Wasserman said he be lieves he could thrive as the county’s auditor.

“The auditor is the hub of the wheel of county government,” Wasserman said. “Vir tually every financial transaction that hap pens anywhere in the county winds up at the Auditor’s Office and you’re really in the cen ter of the storm. … I like sort of being in a po

sition of trying to organize the chaos and the auditor’s office is a vast portfolio of duties.”

The county auditor is responsible for monitoring the expenditures of the county government’s departments. The auditor is also the county’s chief property assessor and is in charge of conducting assessments of property values every six years.

The auditor also oversees the Weights and Measurements Division under the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which measures all consumer products sold by weight and measurement, such as produce at the gro cery store and gas from fuel dispensaries.

Wasserman said he believes his experi ence in business and the treasurer’s office have prepared him to take on the seasoned incumbent Thompson. After two decades under Thompson’s management, the audi tor’s office needs a change, Wasserman said.

“To have somebody staying around that long, they’re just accumulating too much

Katherine Jellison, an Ohio University history professor and expert in history and politics, said the capability of a person in the auditor’s position does not rely on their political party. Voters in local elections also tend to disregard party affiliations more than they would when voting for those in state and national offices, Jellison said.

However, Jellison said in this particu lar election, Athens County voters may pay more attention to the candidate’s party due to the national political climate.

“I really do think if any time since I’ve lived in Athens, which is almost 30 years, that those party labels may play a role, it may be this year just because of the tone of just absolute disgust with the national Repub lican Party that I’ve been hearing from so many people here in Athens,” Jellison said.

Voters will decide whether party labels contribute to who will sit as the Athens County auditor for the next four years on Tuesday, and the history behind the auditor’s position will repeat or be reversed.

Signs outside the Nelsonville Wesleyan Church, a polling location in Nelsonville, Ohio, on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (HANNAH FOWLER | FOR THE POST)

Beyond the Ballot

League of Women Voters of Athens County defends, advocates for democracy

MOLLY WILSON NEWS EDITOR MAYA MORITA ASST. NEWS EDITOR

ADDIE HEDGES NEWS EDITOR

The League of Women Voters of Athens County had already made its impact on local races prior to voters making their way to the polls and casting their ballots Tuesday. Despite contentious discussions of pol iticians and hot-button issues during this year’s election season, the members of the LWV of Athens County remained focused on ensuring eligible voters were educated before the 2022 Midterm Elections.

In preparation for the November elec tion, the LWV of Athens County updated and increased the number of registered voters in the county and held multiple fo rums for Athens County candidates. As an organization, the League avoids endorsing candidates; however, it does make it pos sible for voters to hear from those running for office prior to backing the candidates on a ballot.

Athens County is part of the League of Women Voters, a national organization that aims to “protect and expand voting rights” in local communities, ensuring everyone is represented in the United States.

The League of Women Voters began in 1920, six months before the 19th Amend ment was ratified. The League was created to inform women about their voting re

sponsibilities. The LWV of Athens County was founded in 1950 and was made available to all genders in the 1970s.

“Fairly quickly, it became an organization that was educating all voters and was doing all kinds of candidate information and vot er information,” said Adriane Mohlenkamp, co-president of the LWV of Athens County. “There was just the recognition that yes, we came from this tradition, but our work is fo cused now on everybody and everybody can be a part of making that happen.”

According to its website, the LWV of Athens County strives to drive engagement in the county by providing residents with voter services. The non-partisan organiza tion aims to register local residents to vote in elections and spread information about various candidates and election issues.

Chris Knisely, president of Athens City Council, has been a member of the LWV of Athens County since 1996. Knisely said she joined at the recommendation of a former councilmember and colleague at Ohio Uni versity’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After attending her first meeting, Knise ly immediately got involved by contributing to the organization’s newsletter. She also eventually became a Board member of the Athens chapter, served on the State Board of the LWV and served as co-president of the LWV of Athens County from 2001 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2008.

“I think it was more than I had original ly expected,” Knisely said. “I thought the League of Women Voters was just about voting, but it isn’t. It is beyond (that), and they do have that advocacy arm that allows them to take stands on land issues, natural resources — a variety of things that affect all of us daily.”

Mohlenkamp has been co-president of the League for around four years, she said, initially joining as a general member before being elected as vice present only a few months later. Mohlenkamp served as vice president of the League for two years.

“We’re an all-volunteer organization. We have some basic things that we try to do, but we also do the work that our members are interested in doing,” Mohlenkamp said. “Even though we’re a national organization, it’s not somebody from our national office who’s telling us what to do.”

During election seasons, the League sponsors campaign forums, hosts voter registration tables, participates in local events and does its best to engage Athens residents in local politics.

This summer, the League attended the Community Day of Hope in Glouster, Ohio. It also participated in Nelsonville at the Parade of the Hills event and at its library opening. More notably, the League partic ipated in National Voter Registration Day, which occurs in September.

Over the course of those events, it reg istered or updated registration for around 100 voters in the County. Mohlenkamp said the group also spoke to nearly 400 people over election season.

“One of the ways to increase people’s voting is just to hear people around you talking about voting more often,” Mohlen kamp said. “We think that those connec tions and the times when we talk to people are just as important as when somebody ac

Voters cast their ballots at the Lodge at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, in the last 15 minutes before the end of election night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (HANNAH FOWLER | FOR THE POST)

tually fills out a registration.”

Voter education, which the LWV of Ath ens County focuses on heavily during elec tion cycles, is also an important mission of the organization. To raise awareness and educate residents, the League publishes letters to the editor at local newspapers and campaigns on social media.

The League also raises candidate aware ness by publishing a Voter Guide in which candidates answer written questions sent to them by the League through an online database. Candidate forums, a public event where candidates answer questions, are also an important aspect of the organiza tion.

Mohlenkamp said the organization in vites certified candidates to those forums and works with them to host the event on a day when the majority of the candidates invited are available.

Leading up to this year’s election, on Oct. 6, LWV of Athens County held a candidate forum for the local county commissioners race which featured Democratic incumbent Lenny Eliason and Republican candidate Alex Burcher. Eliason was reelected as com missioner Tuesday.

As a whole, the commissioners in Ath ens are responsible for establishing new businesses and improving unemployment rates. They also develop an atmosphere in the county that will keep business owners in Athens and utilize tax incentives.

Eliason has been county commissioner since 1998, though this election was his last, according to a previous Post report. Eliason said he has participated in every forum the League has hosted since he first entered the role.

“When you present both sides of an issue

or a candidacy, that gives people a chance to make up their own minds in an unbiased wearing,” Eliason said.

Eliason said he finds LWV of Athens County beneficial as it promotes voting ed ucation and the importance of participating in local elections. He added that engaging in local elections is important for Athens res idents and students because the decisions made by electing certain candidates have a direct impact on them.

large as it once was, Knisley said it has made a lasting impression on her personal and political life.

“I think it’s helped me want to hear other people, to be a better listener, and I think that’s really important,” Knisely said. “It has enough of a presence in the community that it’s helped me with my leadership skills.”

Because of the connection between Conrath and the LWV of Athens County, the League decided to forgo hosting a candi date forum between Conrath and her oppo nent, Republican incumbent Jay Edwards. Edwards defeated Conrath in Tuesday’s election.

I think it was more than I had originally expected. ... I thought the League of Women Voters was just about voting, but it isn’t. It is beyond (that), and they do have that advocacy arm that allows them to take stands on land issues, natural resources — a variety of things that affect all of us daily.”

- Chris Knisely, president of Athens City Council

“Local elections are important because the things we do impact people every day,” Eliason said. “It’s not about policy. It’s about taking care of business at the local level, and there’s an impact on everybody’s everyday life every day. It’s important to have good candidates and good people in those offic es.”

The LWV of Athens County not only serves those outside of the organization, but it also helps further the political educa tion of its members.

In 2008, Knisley had to step down as president of LWV of Athens County after she was elected as an at-large member of Athens City Council. In January 2015, she was elected as Council president.

Although her role in the LWV is not as

Tanya Conrath joined the LWV of Ath ens County as a Board member in 2014 and said she utilized what she has learned about politics and people through the League to aid in her campaign for Ohio’s 94th District House of Representatives race.

“I have spent the last eight years really becoming more educated about our de mocracy and our systems and how they operate,” Conrath said. “I wasn’t doing it to then run for office, but it certainly provid ed me with a really deep education and un derstanding of how our systems work and where our system is broken.”

Shortly before declaring her candidacy for the Ohio House seat, Conrath had as sumed the position of treasurer of the LWV of Athens County Board of Directors. Upon declaring her candidacy, Conrath stepped down from her role as treasurer and all oth er Board responsibilities.

Despite Conrath believing a public forum would have greatly educated Athens County voters about the 94th District race, she said she understood and respected the LWV’s commitment to non-partisanship.

“I think regardless of what party you are, we all should be grateful for the League of Women Voters and what they do to ensure that we have a democracy that is fair and just,” Conrath said. “They are watchdogs to make sure that we are upholding the law and the Constitution, and I’m proud to be a past Board member.”

“

Students at OU prepare for 2022 Midterm Election

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

ISABELLA PEDRERA FOR THE POST

With election day approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 8, students at Ohio University are eagerly registering to vote and preparing to cast their ballots. In modern elections, college students have been voting at record rates. In the 2020 election, 66% of registered college voters cast their ballots. The students at OU are no exception to the growing statistics of college voters. As recent political polarization separates voters in unprecedented ways, students said it is more important now than ever to get to the voting booth.

When it comes to the importance of voting, its weight is held differently for everyone. Ryann Davis, a sophomore studying political science, is eagerly wait ing to vote this Tuesday and encourages others to do the same.

“Voting is really important, especially in this midterm election,” Davis said. “Con sidering there are a lot of different things in the ballot and we’ve been very polarized in this country more so than we have seen in the past. So, it’s very important to vote for what you believe in and what you think will protect you and the people you love.”

Another student at OU, Cassandra Herrmann, a freshman studying nursing, registered for an absentee ballot to make sure that she is able to vote in this upcom ing election.

This process allows voters to cast their ballot for their home county through the mail, in the event that in-person voting is not possible. While voting as a college student from campus is a harder process, Herrmann shows that it is no excuse to remain silent in politics, especially as a woman.

“All these women are kind of getting their rights taken away, so it’s important

to stand up for what you believe in and vote to get it back,” Herrmann said. “Ev ery vote matters because if you don’t, then you could have been the deciding vote.”

Another agreement among some OU students is the importance of being an informed voter, and casting educated bal lots. Winifred Stiefel, a freshman studying wildlife conservation, is choosing not to vote in the 2022 midterm election for this specific reason.

“In this upcoming election, I did not do my research, so I’m not voting,” said Steif el. “I think that if you are uneducated in politics and you fully stay away from poli tics and you do not vote, that is OK.”

While people place different signifi cance on the importance of voting, differ ent circumstances may prevent students from doing so. Steifel said voting is a priv ilege that is too often taken for granted, when in reality it can go as far to be con sidered as a civic duty and should be com

pleted when people have the knowledge to do so.

“In general, societally, if you don’t con tribute through voting, because that is your civic duty, you aren’t allowed to have a say,” Davis said.

In the midst of a busy semester, it can be easy to overlook voting because of ex ams, homework, essays and clubs/organi zations, but Davis said it is extremely im portant to still make time to vote.

“I think that it’s important to vote,” Herrmann said. “I understand people that don’t decide to vote or don’t vote on ev erything. But I do think that it’s very, very important because it’s the life that you’re living in. If you don’t vote then you basi cally don’t have a say in the life that you are trying to lead.”

Women in politics are on the rise

ALYSSA CRUZ ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Women worldwide assume several roles, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers, sisters and wives. Women make up 51% of the American population, but there is a field where women remain seriously underrepresented: politics.

According to Represent Women, only 28% of Congress at large are women. In state terms, only 31% of statewide elected executives of any kind are women and only a quarter of cities with a population over 30,000 have a female mayor. Within these statistics lie intersectionalities. Women of color are only 10% of the total members of Congress and make up a mere 9% of total state legislators.

Although the numbers may appear bleak, women have made great strides in the American political realm. There is a record number of women in Congress, and with that comes the record number of women of color in Congress.

The first woman to ever run for the U.S. House of Representatives was Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1866. As an abolitionist, human rights activist and one of the earliest leaders in the women’s rights movement, Stanton ran for a seat despite not being eligible to vote. She received .002% of the votes.

Susanna Salter was elected the first female mayor in U.S. history in 1887 in Argonia, Kansas. History was made 30 years later when Jeanette Rankin from Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She served in the House of Representatives from 1917-1919 and returned from 194143. Rankin voted against U.S. entry in both World Wars based on her pacifist ideals.

In 1922, Soledad Chávez de Chacón was elected Secretary of State in New Mexico. She was the first woman of color and the first Latino woman to hold a statewide elected executive office. The first Black woman nominee for vice president, Charlotta Spears Bass, ran in the 1952 election and received less than one percent of the vote. Sixteen years later, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman to serve in Congress. She remained in the House of Representatives for 14 years. In 1972, she also ran for president.

Representative Nancy Pelosi was elected by her colleagues as House Democratic Leader and became the first woman to head her party in Congress in 2002. In July 2016, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first woman to be a major party’s presidential nominee. Having been granted this by the Democratic National Convention, she went on to concede the presidency despite winning the popular vote.

After a century and a half from the first women trying to enter American politics to

the closest a woman has ever been to winning a presidency, female figures in politics have become beacons of hope and symbols in politics. Politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Abrams and Sarah Longwell are often inspirations for young girls and women.

Caroline Brenneman, a sophomore studying early childhood education, said although she’s technically not a politician, she really looks up to Michelle Obama. Especially with her efforts in education, Brenneman said she views her as an inspiration to other aspiring educators.

“I love Michelle Obama,” Brenneman said. “She has had a really big impact in education in elementary schools when it comes to eating healthy and how eating healthy affects student learning. I would get lunch with her.”

Larissa Strong, a junior studying political science and sociology criminology, is the president of Ohio University College Democrats. Strong has had the unique opportunity to observe and aid local political candidates in their campaigns.

Strong said the experience for politicians varies greatly but for women of color, it tends to be more demanding.

“I definitely feel as though being a woman of color it’s difficult to feel respected and legitimized by specifically white men,” Strong said. “There’s a sense that you have to earn a person’s respect for them to respect you as an intellectual – as a person who knows what you’re talking about. That’s definitely a hurdle that I feel is really difficult for women of color to jump.”

Feeling lucky, Strong said she hasn’t had to deal with certain adversities since she has put herself in places that are welcoming and reflective of her own values.

In regard to women in positions of power, Strong looks up to Morgan Harper. Morgan Harper is a politician out of Columbus who was formerly a U.S. Senate candidate and now works in advocacy and community organization. Strong admires Harper’s young age and the fact she leads grassroot campaigns.

“She’s always meeting people where they are, talking to young people and I really admire that about her,” Strong said. “She has a really, really inspiring story, so I think that she’s probably one of the people that I most admire.”

In addition to Harper, there is another female candidate Strong looks up to. This candidate is a little closer to home: Tanya Conrath.

Tanya Conrath, an Athens County resident running for State Representative, is upfront about the difference between being a man in the political world and being a woman.

“It’s always an interesting question, isn’t

it: about what role does identifying as a man or a woman play in politics?” Conrath said.

Being a first-time candidate, Conrath said her experience as a female has been a little difficult, but she has found a strong community feel supported and represented.

“As a first-time candidate it’s a little difficult,” Conrath said. “I am part of a women’s leadership circle of women candidates that are running. I’m also a part of the Matriots, which is a PAC (political action community) that endorses women candidates in Ohio. Having those two resources, the Matriots and Lead Ohio Women’s Circle, have been instrumental in providing me with a support network as a woman candidate.”

Conrath called the number of women currently in the Ohio Senate “woefully inadequate representation for women.” Of the 32 senators currently serving (District 11 has a vacant seat), only six of them are women.

Conrath also said she felt a duty to act against efforts that she felt were trying to diminish the rights of the public, specifically those of pregnant people.

“I have watched, probably the last 6 years, the legislation that is coming out of Columbus and have become increasingly alarmed by the far right trying to chip away at people’s rights and people’s freedoms,” Conrath said. “The overturning of Roe (v. Wade) and

within hours, Ohio reinstituted the Heartbeat Bill, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.”

She said she had already been previously alarmed about other issues including racial equity and gun laws, but the Heartbeat Bill pushed her over the edge.

“It became apparent to me that we needed good people to step up,” Conrath said.

When it comes to advice for aspiring female politicians, Conrath has a lot to give.

“There’s a tendency for women and girls to suffer more from imposter syndrome and thinking that they don’t deserve to be where they are,” Conrath said. “I think we really need to continue to push back against that narrative.”

Conrath quoted a famous saying by former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”

“We are over half the population and our voices are valid and need to be heard,” Conrath said.

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN ADAMS

Conservative rhetoric has poisoned our elections

MEG DIEHL

Editor’s note: This column originally ran on Nov. 9, the day after the election. Though the timing in reference to the election may not be accurate, the thoughts and ideas remain intact.

Loyalty to former president Donald Trump is on ballots across the country, mak ing the 2022 Midterm Election a decisive one for the nation and the susceptibility of Americans to baseless political rhetoric.

Political candidates have always been ready to hurl insults at each other with vigor but until recently, rhetoric had never been dangerous and widespread enough to send a mob to the Capitol building. The rhetoric pushed by Trump that the 2020 Presiden tial Election was stolen was irresponsible enough, but his ties to Q-Anon, the farright conspiracy theory group that believes, among other things, that prominent Demo crats are part of a high-profile child sex traf ficking ring, is previously unheard of.

Even with Trump out of office, various

Republican candidates on today’s ballot con tinue to parrot these false narratives which have put the lives of Democratic congress men and women at risk on various occasions.

Today, Americans are not simply voting on who they believe is the best candidate or pledging allegiance to a particular party. They are voting, in essence, for or against Donald Trump.

Two of the most prominent Trump Re publicans running in today’s elections are Herschel Walker of Georgia and J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Walker was encouraged by Trump to run before he formally stated his intent to and received Trump’s full endorsement upon his announcement. He describes abortion as “a woman killing her baby.” Meanwhile, two women have come forward claiming Walker got them pregnant and then paid for the ter mination of their pregnancies.

J.D. Vance’s story is also a complex one.

Vance initially opposed Trump’s run for president, believing he was not serious enough for the job. Aside from this, however, he liked Trump’s talking points. Eventually, he felt he had to “suck it up” and support him

in order to see through their shared political values.

It’s hard to tell which is more disturbing: Vance’s disregard for anyone but himself in finding no problem with Trump’s rhetoric, his exploitation of addiction and Appalachia for monetization in his book “Hillbilly Elegy,” or his indifference to Q-Anon. Trump spoke at one of Vance’s rallies in Youngstown, Ohio, in September, embracing various Q talking points while a song tied to the movement played dramatically behind him.

Perhaps the most concerning outcome of the conspiracy theory of the stolen election is the increase in poll watchers who are much more aggressive than those of elections pre vious to Trump. Many show up armed and loud, a voter intimidation tactic thinly veiled as ensuring the validity of the election.

Trump has a drowning grip on the right, and has evoked an immeasurable amount of hysteria among his frenzied supporters and immense fear among everyone else.

My adolescence was benchmarked by the countless times I told myself “Wow, this has to be it. He’s done,” and the countless times that this intolerant billionaire with the sub

HOT TAKES WITH TATE

tlety and tact of the Kool-Aid Man has main tained unwavering support.

The past few years are also marked by people talking about how they cannot trust politicians but then turning around and sup porting a man whose blatant lies have been condemned by both Democrats and promi nent Republicans, including Trump’s former national security advisor, John Bolton.

As overused as the phrase has become, we truly are living in unprecedented times, and based on the predicted outcomes of to day’s elections, it does not seem we will be regaining any sense of normalcy any time soon.

If you have not yet voted prior to reading this article, I vehemently encourage you to vote blue, not as a Democrat, but for a young person who is greatly distressed by the di rection our country is heading.

Megan Diehl is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Megan know by tweeting her @megandiehl02.

Tim Ryan is the better candidate for Ohioans

TATE RAUB

Editor’s note: This column originally ran on Nov. 8, the day of the election. Though the timing in reference to the election may not be accurate, the thoughts and ideas remain intact.

It’s crunch time for this midterm election and everyone is doing whatever they can to en courage people to vote in their favor. In the race for retiring Republican Senator Rob Portman’s seat, J.D. Vance is already confident he will win. Others feel Tim Ryan will land a seat alongside Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown due to low early voting numbers and the overall complexi ty of politics in Ohio. I am here to convince you to vote for Ryan as you head to the polls today.

I grew up in Northeast Ohio and lived there until I went to college. I was one-year-old when Ryan was first elected to represent the 17th congressional district of Ohio (it became the 13th congressional district following redistrict ing in 2013). I started paying attention to politics in 2016 when Donald Trump was elected pres ident. When 2020 came, I looked at the world around me with a refreshed, educated lens and actually understood what was going on.

I observed in real time the aforementioned complexity of Ohio politics just by taking a look around my neighborhood. One house had no less than five “Biden-Harris” signs lin ing the yard. “Trump-Pence” signs stood in the yards of other neighbors. But there were enough signs in support of Ryan’s 10th term as a U.S. House Representative. After the chaos of Trump’s presidency and the collective desire for a solution to end the pandemic, the 13th district Ohioans felt confident that their tried and true moderate Democratic representative was still the best person to represent them.

Then Jan. 6, 2021, happened. Any remaining sense of bipartisanship was set on fire. When the House voted on having an independent commission to investigate the events of Jan. 6 and a majority of Republican representatives voted against it, Ryan called out the lack of bi partisanship, the same thing that fueled the in surrection of the Capitol. Still, he thanked the Republican representatives that voted in its favor. A simple act of politeness coupled with a stern denouncement of what he deemed as wrong made for a strong response. This is the type of person Ohioans need representing them in the Senate.

If you’ve seen any of Ryan’s campaign ma

terials, you’re likely familiar with those that say “Workers First.” Ryan’s statement is not an emp ty promise. When House Republicans didn’t support a bill that would protect American workers’ right to organize in March 2021, Ryan spoke on the House floor about the importance of updating labor laws.

“Heaven forbid we pass something that is going to help the damn workers in the United States of America,” Ryan said. “Heaven forbid we tilt the balance that has been going in the wrong direction for 50 years.”

Ryan is true to his word in his support of American workers, part of why he has become such an appealing candidate to Republican voters who are uncertain about Vance. Lack of political experience aside, Vance has built his senatorial campaign by riding the golf shirts of Trump. The catch is before the former presi dent’s endorsement gave him two political legs to stand on, Vance used to be anti-Trump, even calling him “America’s Hitler” in 2016.

Anyone can change their mind, but border line mimicry is where some eyebrows begin to raise. Vance accused President Joe Biden of get ting conservatives addicted to fentanyl to effec tively wipe them out as punishment for not vot ing for him. He also encouraged Trump to act

as a dictator if he wins the presidency in 2024. These are similar sentiments to the extrem ist views of many Trump supporters as well as Trump himself (refer back to: Jan. 6, 2021).

Additionally, as explained by Silas House, the Appalachian Studies chair at Berea College in Kentucky, Vance generalized his experience in Appalachia to fit his narrative. By framing it as a place of sadness and addiction that one must escape, he utilized a harmful stereotype that Appalachians aim to distance from while also ignoring the happiness of Appalachia.

The people of Ohio-especially those who are from or currently living in Appalachia–deserve better than Vance. Ryan will provide a moderate perspective essential to making political prog ress while sticking to morals as he has always shown he will uphold.

Tate Raub is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Tate know by tweeting her @tatertot1310.

Republican J.D. Vance wins Ohio’s U.S. Senate Seat

JACK SOLON FOR THE POST

Republican candidate J.D. Vance won the Midterm Election for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat, defeating Democratic opponent Tim Ryan. The seat was previously held by retiring Sen. Rob Portman.

Vance received 40.04% of the vote in Ath ens County, or 7,219 votes, while Ryan re ceived 59.76% of the vote in Athens County, or 10,773 votes. Overall in the state, Vance re ceived 2,121,325 votes, or 53.5% of the vote, as of 11:51 p.m. Tuesday.

Vance does not have a background in politics, instead being known for his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” He also served as a Marine.

Neither Vance nor Ryan could be immedi ately reached for comment.

According to Vance’s campaign website, he hopes to help combat the opioid epidemic within Ohio as well as put America first while in his position.

“Opioid addiction has devastated my fam ily and my community,” according to Vance’s website. “More and more Ohioans are falling victim to addiction, which means an entire

generation of children orphaned, and anoth er generation of grandparents forced to step up for our community’s kids. Communities are on the decline as job loss and poverty further engulf them.”

Despite Vance winning the general elec tion, an avid Athens voter, Barbara Ward, said the Senate race was the most important to her when casting her ballot.

“I voted for Tim Ryan,” said Ward, who voted at the Athens Community Center poll ing location Tuesday. “I just believe women’s rights are at stake, democracy is at stake.”

Vance said as a U.S. Senator, he also plans to address the Texas-Mexico border and call for reform of the immigration systems cur rently in place.

“Millions of people want to come here, and we should only allow them if they con tribute something meaningful to our coun try,” according to Vance’s website. •“Impor tantly, our ability to assimilate immigrants successfully — something our country should be proud of — is contingent on Amer ican leadership that loves this country.”

@JACK_SOLON JS573521@OHIO.EDU

Jay Edwards will continue for a fourth term

PAYTON DAUGHERTY FOR THE POST

Jay Edwards will continue to hold the 94th District Ohio House of Representatives seat for a fourth term.

As of 9:57 p.m., Edwards won 58.58% of the vote throughout the district, with only 43.49% of the votes coming from Athens specifically. His opponent, Tanya Conrath, had 13,063 votes by that time.

Prior to the results of the election being fi nalized, Edwards said he was feeling confident about the outcome of the election and that this would be his biggest win so far.

“I’m very humbled by the voters here in Southeastern Ohio,” he said.

Conrath could not be reached for comment

at the time of publication.

Jay Edwards was born in Southeast Ohio, graduating from Nelsonville-York High School in 2007 and afterward attending Ohio Univer sity.

Among the many issues that Edwards has focused on over his past three terms, an im portant one was his focus on protecting the local economy.

According to his website, Edwards said he believes too many people are driving too far for a paycheck, and he hopes to build the lo cal economy. In 2020, he sent a letter to Ohio University after the university laid off and fur loughed many of its staff members as a part of a budget-balancing plan.

“I continue to have serious concerns with Ohio University balancing its budget on the

backs of staff. I understand sometimes tough choices have to be made, however, when I see Southeast Ohio residents disproportionately impacted while higher-paid employees, mostly from outside of our area and working only a few hours a week, are spared, it raises serious red flags,” Edwards wrote on his Facebook page.

Edwards also recently received the National Association of Mental Illness Legislator of the Year award.

“I successfully fought for MILLIONS of dol lars to be spent on youth crises centers and places like the Adam-Amanda Rehabilitation Center in Athens,” Edwards said in a Facebook post.

Eliason remains as county commissioner

ANNA MILLAR NEWS STAFF WRITER

Incumbent Democratic candidate, Len ny Eliason, won the race for one of three Athens County Commissioner seats by 52.99%, according to the Athens County

Board of Elections.

“It’s a little lower than I was expecting, but it’s a victory and that’s what counts,” Eliason said.

Eliason has held a county commission er seat in Athens since 1998, however this was his last election, he said. He will be leaving the seat following this term to

J.D. Vance talks to supporters in Youngstown, Ohio, during the “Save America” rally ahead of former president Donald Trump on Sept. 17, 2022.

(RYAN GRYZBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

Provided by Rep. Edwards

spend more time with his grandchildren.

DeWine wins reelection as Ohio governor

MADALYN BLAIR FOR THE POST

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine won reelection Tuesday, defeating Democratic opponent Nan Whaley.

As of 10:40 p.m., DeWine received 63.2% of counted votes in Ohio, compared to Wha ley’s 36.8%, with 80% of Ohio reporting. In Athens County, however, Whaley received 9,415 votes which accounted for about 52% of the total votes and DeWine received 8,595 votes, which accounted for nearly 48% of the votes cast.

Upon his reelection, DeWine thanked Ohioans in a tweet and promised to continue to fight for them.

“We have unfinished business, and my promise to you tonight is that I will not stop,” DeWine wrote in a tweet. “We will contin ue to fight every single day to overcome the challenges we face and create greater op portunities for all Ohioans.”

After her defeat, Whaley said she will continue to fight for Ohio.

“I’ve said all along that you’ve got a choice, Ohio,” Whaley wrote in a tweet. “That’s still true tonight. We can keep working for some thing better, even when we get knocked down. Because our families, communities

and democracy are worth it.”

DeWine, who will be serving his second term as governor, has focused on continu ously building a strong economy, sufficient school systems, quality of life and compas sion for those in need, according to DeWine’s website.

During DeWine’s previous term, he and Lt. Governor Husted won the historic $20 billion Intel Semiconductor Factory project. This created more than 20,000 jobs and op portunities for Ohioans. Through these ef forts, DeWine helped Ohio achieve its spot as the number one state for new business in vestment per capita, according to DeWine’s campaign site.

Prior to the election, DeWine said in a tweet, “We are building our state into an economic powerhouse where all Ohioans have the chance to succeed.”

DeWine seeks to expand quality educa tion outcomes. He expanded the eligibility of the EdChoice Scholarship, which allows fam ilies to choose the best education for their children. He also signed Senate Bill 89, which expands school choice access, according to DeWine’s campaign website.

Alexander School Board Member, Blake Regan, hopes to see more improvements in education in DeWine’s next term.

“Mike DeWine has shown a commitment to education and Appalachia while in office but there is still work to be done,” Regan said in an email.

DeWine is also focused on Ohio’s crime rates and addressing the opioid epidemic. He also plans to protect communities and families by securing Ohio’s southern border from drugs. He authorized the Ohio National Guard and Ohio Highway Patrol to help pre vent drugs from passing into the state, ac cording to his campaign website.

Similarly, DeWine has doubled in increas ing police officers’ support. He has put more than $274 million into funding first respond ers to support their wellness. The money is supposed to support first responders’ phys ical, mental and emotional needs as well as recruitment and retention efforts, violent crime prevention and school safety, accord ing to DeWine’s campaign website.

Thompson projected to win sixth election as auditor

ADDIE HEDGES NEWS EDITOR

The longest-serving auditor in Athens County history, Republican incumbent Jill Thompson, is projected to continue to serve as auditor as of 11:45 Tuesday.

Of the 18,349 voters who cast their bal lots on Tuesday, Thompson received 51.8% of the total votes and Wasserman received just 48.2%, according to unofficial results reported by the Athens County Board of Elections.

Thompson’s potential victory would so lidify her position as one of two Republi can elected officials in Athens County, the other being George McCarthy, the current Court of Common Pleas judge. The latter ran unopposed in Tuesday’s election.

“I think God is good, and I am extreme ly humbled and grateful to the commu nity, to my volunteers and supporters, to my staff for all that they’ve had to endure,” Thompson said.

According to her website, Thomp son has redefined how local government

works during her 22-year incumbency. Focusing on transparency and efficiency, Thompson said the auditor’s office under her leadership would continue to serve the community and solve the issues faced by Athens County residents.

Thompson’s projected victory would mark her sixth successful election and her second victory against Wasserman. The 2002 November election was the first time the two candidates faced each other. In 2002, Thompson received nearly 63% of the votes with a total of 10,247 votes com pared to Wasserman’s 6,135 votes.

Despite Thompson’s projected victory, Wasserman said he would not consider the results official until provisional votes were counted.

“We don’t know how many of those are going to be declared legitimate voters and we don’t know how those people voted,” Wasserman said. “I’d certainly rather be ahead of this point, but I’m not, and so

we’ll just see how it turns out. It’s still an open question.”

Wasserman currently serves as the Athens County Treasurer and if Thomp son is reelected, he will continue to serve until he is up for reelection in 2025.

Banking on her reelection, Thompson said she is anxious to continue in her role as the Athens County auditor.

“To be able to go back into the office and do the work for another four years that I’ve been blessed with, I feel pretty grateful,” Thompson said.

Photo Provided by Mike Dewine, taken by VIVIEN MCCLAIN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JILL THOMPSON

Ohio wins The Battle of the Bricks 37-21

MOLLY BURCHARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

OXFORD, Ohio — Ohio won its fifth straight game on Tuesday, and it was big.

The Bobcats got off to a slow start but quickly turned things around, beating Miami 37-21 in Oxford, Ohio. It was another team effort for the Bobcats with big plays on both sides of the ball.

Both Ohio and Miami struggled to score in the first quarter, despite a couple of long gains. Ohio’s first drive of the game con sisted of seven plays, but it only picked up 44 yards. That drive was the longest of the quarter, taking up 3:40.

On that first drive, quarterback Kurtis Rourke found James Bostic on back-to-back plays for a combined 37 yards, and although the Bobcats made it to the RedHawks 36yard line, they were forced to punt.

Ohio only scored one touchdown in the

first half, thanks to a one-yard run by Sieh Bangura. In his first game back from inju ry, Bangura finished with a career-best 145 yards, including a 64-yard run in the second half.

“Being able to run the ball well, it opens up the pass a little bit,” Rourke said.

Luckily for the Bobcats, when their of fense struggled to capitalize in the first half, their defense picked up the slack, holding the RedHawks to just seven points in the first half. Even when their offense picked up in the third quarter, the Bobcats’ defense didn’t back off.

Ohio started the third quarter with one of its best drives of the game, gaining 76 yards on 13 plays. The drive ended in Ohio’s second touchdown, a 13-yard pass to Bangura deep in the red zone.

Ohio held on to the ball for 7:20 on that drive, making it the longest of the game. Ohio had the ball for the majority of the second

half, which limited Miami’s opportunities to score late in the game. In the end, Ohio’s time of possession was just over 41 minutes, while Miami’s was almost 19.

If Ohio was going to win Tuesday, it need ed to put a hole in Miami’s defense one way or another. Miami’s defense is the key to its team and is the reason for some of its big gest wins at Kent State and Northwestern this season. It did just that.

“We had drives in the first half that we couldn’t capitalize on,” Rourke said. “In the second half, we knew that if we wanted to win the game we had to score some touch downs.”

Rourke ended the night with 362 pass ing yards and three touchdowns, marking another stellar night for him. Ohio also had three receivers with more than 50 yards in Jacoby Jones, James Bostic and Miles Cross. Miami only had one: Mac Hippenhammer.

In addition, Ohio’s defense limited Miami

to just one third down conversion on sev en tries. The defense had two big stops on fourth down as well that shut down Miami and gave its own offense more opportunities.

“Huge momentum on third down and on fourth down,” Albin said. “They both may have been in the second half, but the stops are great for the offense and their mojo.”

With the win, the Bobcats retain their first place spot in the MAC East and are inch ing closer to a trip to Detroit for the MAC Championship. They control their own des tiny, which is looking bright with only two games left in the season.

Safety Alvin Floyd for OU (20), celebrates after getting a huge tackle against Miami (OH) in Oxford, Ohio, on Nov. 8th, 2022.

(CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

Ohio drops season opener to Long Island 74-67

ELI JUSTICE FOR THE POST

Ohio returned to action Monday when it hosted Long Island for its season opener.

Ohio showcased its mostly healthy bench, which featured some athletes who hadn’t played at all last season. Unfortunately, the good could not outweigh the bad, and Ohio lost 74-67.

Ohio struggled early and fell behind 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. Long Island came out in a matchup zone that threw Ohio’s offense off balance. The defense tried

to recover, but it caused Ohio to draw more fouls than intended. Redshirt senior Caitlyn Kroll, who missed last season due to injury, registered two early fouls along with sopho more Yaya Felder.

The Bobcats coupled their early foul trou ble with poor shooting. They were unable to put the ball in the basket from all areas of the court. The Bobcats shot under 50% from field goal range in three of four quarters. The first quarter was the worst all-around as they shot 14.3% from the field and only 9.1% from beyond the arc. The Bobcats ended the night 17-for-49 from field goal range.

“We’re definitely putting the pieces to gether,” Kroll said. “It’s our first real game as a team. We had two great scrimmages. I think some first game jitters (caused that) for sure, we’ll regroup tomorrow.”

After Ohio surged to cut Long Island’s lead to just two points at the half, it struggled in the third quarter. Ohio was outscored by its opponent 24-13. Ohio knew that it would need to renew its energy to make a run in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Long Island missed all but one free throw in the fourth quarter to lift itself above Ohio.

“Obviously we’re disappointed in that

we lost and we will try like crazy to win, but there’s a lot of value in this,” Ohio coach Bob Boldon said. “We’ve got a lot of kids that hadn’t played a college basketball game in a long time and they got that done today.”

After last season was full of injuries, Ohio’s roster is going to need time in order to mesh with the new faces on the team.

Ohio University freshmen Jaya McClure drives the baseline during a game against LIU on Nov. 7, 2022, at the Convo. (EMMA REED | FOR THE POST)

Other Ohio receivers stepped up against Miami

WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR

OXFORD, Ohio — On a night when Sam Wiglusz, Ohio’s star receiver who has garnered national attention over the last few weeks, has just four catches for four yards, you might think that Ohio wouldn’t be able to put up 37 points on one of the best defenses in the Mid-American Conference. You would be wrong.

Wiglusz wasn’t at his best, or anything close to it, Tuesday in Ohio’s 37-21 win over Miami, but he didn’t have to be. When Wiglusz finally faltered and had an off night, James Bostic, Miles Cross and Jacoby Jones were there to pick up the slack.

Bostic had five receptions for 83 yards, Cross had six for 133 and Jones had four for 78 and two touchdowns, including an

absurd catch in the back corner of the end zone to put Ohio out of reach in the fourth quarter.

“(Having so many dynamic receivers) helps me to build my confidence and trust in these guys,” quarterback Kurtis Rourke said. “I’ve been working with Jacoby since he got here. We’ve known he was special for a long time. He may have taken a back seat in a couple other games but everyone on the team knows what he’s capable of.”

Ohio now has four receivers who rank in the top 20 in the MAC in receiving yards: Wiglusz, Bostic, Jones and Cross. And though Rourke has had a phenomenal season, he has spent plenty of time this year giving credit to the weapons he has around him.

The players on the field may be the ones putting up the numbers and getting the

recognition, but a big part of Ohio’s dynamic receiving corps hasn’t set foot on the field this season.

Dwayne Dixon, Ohio’s receivers coach, has held the position since 2007, following two years at NC State and 15 years as the wide receivers coach under Steve Spurrier at Florida, his alma mater.

Dixon has coached 22 receivers who have signed contracts in the NFL, and it would be no surprise if he was coaching a couple more this season.

“You gotta start with Dwayne Dixon,” Ohio coach Tim Albin said. “He’s put more guys in the league than anybody on planet Earth.”

Whoever is catching the most passes for Ohio on a given night, one thing has proven to be true this season: there is no passing attack in the MAC that is better than Ohio’s

The Bobcats currently lead the conference in passing yards, yards per play, yards per game and touchdowns, and while they have played one more game than half the conference, there is only one team within 800 yards of the Bobcats.

The RedHawks emphasized stopping Wiglusz Tuesday, and although they achieved that goal, they missed the Bobcats’ other receivers running right by them. That is the challenge that every opponent of the Bobcats faces. If the RedHawks weren’t up to the challenge, there might not be anyone in the MAC which will be.

Week 10 Student Media Poll picks

Each week, the Sports editorial team selects its Top 25 Division I college football teams for the Student Media Poll.

The SMP is a nationwide poll featuring 122 student journalists from all Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. There are voters from 69 different schools across 34 states.

The Post Sports will break down its ballots each week. Here are the top five, those it kicked out of the Top 25 and those it added:

Will Cunningham, Sports Editor

Top 5

Georgia takes over the top spot in my poll after absolutely flattening Tennessee. The final score may have only been 27-13, but make no mistake, the Volunteers were absolutely no match for the Dawgs Saturday, and were extremely lucky to only lose by 14. Tennessee may still make the playoff if things break right, but Saturday proved that they do not belong with the best of the best in college football, at least not yet.

Ohio State and Michigan were virtually inseparable, as they both struggled with mediocre to bad Big Ten opponents Saturday. Ohio State has been ahead all season, so I decided to keep it that way.

I have two newcomers to the Top 5 at Nos. 4 and 5. TCU is one of only four remaining undefeated teams in Football Bowl Subdivision, and I believe that warrants a top four ranking.

LSU knocked off Alabama this weekend, and even though they have two losses, the Tigers control their own destiny for a spot in the SEC championship game. In addition, they are one of the best-coached teams in FBS.

Molly Burchard, Asst. Sports Editor

team in Rutgers, but looked somewhat better in its 52-17 win. However, I still believe Ohio State is the better team which is why Michigan is below it at No. 3

TCU moved into my Top 5 this week because it is the only team other than Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan that remains undefeated. It had a couple of big wins over the past three weeks, including ones over Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

Finally, even though Tennessee got smacked by Georgia Saturday, I believe it’s still a Top 5 team. The Vols just had an off day, and I believe they will be back to normal form in the coming weeks.

Ashley Beach, Sports Writer

Top 5

1.) Georgia 2.) Ohio State 3.) Michigan 4.) Tennessee 5.) TCU

Alas, there’s been a major shift in my Top 5. Georgia reclaimed the top spot after it defeated Tennessee over the weekend.

Despite my love for the Vols, I have to hand it to the Bulldogs. They managed to stifle a team that has been explosive over the past few months. The Bulldogs proved that they’re the reigning national champions for a reason.

Ohio State may have had a horrible game against Northwestern, but it was the first time it had to face less than ideal weather this season. Wind is not a friend to a passing offense like Ohio State. Ohio State also played without TreVeyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the latter who has been out the majority of the season, so its offense really took a hit overall.

Michigan is still undefeated and probably won’t face a true challenge until The Game later this month. It did get to slide up a spot or two from where it usually stands in my Top 5, though.

Scan here to read the rest

After a dominant win over Tennessee, Georgia deserves the No. 1 spot in my poll. It truly looked like the best team in the nation, stifling one of the most explosive offenses in college football and holding it to just 13 points.

Ohio State struggled against Northwestern, barely putting up 21 points against the worst team in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes still got the win though, so I didn’t penalize them too much. They only dropped one spot in my poll this week.

Michigan also played a struggling Big Ten

A look back on the 2022 season

DYLAN POHOVEY FOR THE

Ohio’s season ended on Oct. 30 after a 1-0 loss to Miami in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The first-round exit capped Ohio’s record at 10-7-2 and highlighted its untapped potential.

Going into the season, Ohio was the favorite to win the MAC. Ohio went 4-2-1 in nonconference play, with a notable 3-1 loss to Notre Dame, which ended the 2022 season ranked No. 1. The match against Notre Dame gave Ohio the confidence it needed to live up to the nomination.

However, MAC play did not start off well for Ohio. It lost its first match of the season to Kent State 2-0. Head coach Aaron Rodgers felt the game was well played by the team despite its scoring woes.

“To open up with (Kent State), I think (we) still had some memories, and I thought we actually played decently in that game,” Rodgers said. “We created more chances to score than Kent did. We just didn’t defend sharp enough, and they obviously scored the two goals. So I was disappointed that we didn’t defend well, but I felt like we attacked all right in that game.”

The next game was another loss, this time 3-0 to Buffalo. Buffalo went on to end the season undefeated in MAC play and win the MAC championship. Buffalo is now competing in the NCAA women’s soccer tournament.

Ohio collected its first MAC win on a 2-0 victory over Miami. Isabella Ginocchi scored Ohio’s first MAC goal of the season.

“We need to go like this, this is the time to start,” Ginocchi said after the Sept. 29 Miami game. “This is the time to turn the season around. So yeah, it was a good win for us, and hopefully a good confidence booster going into the next couple games in the Mac.”

Ohio went 4-2-1 after beating Miami. It found itself in the position that if it beat Akron in the last game of the season, it would be guaranteed a spot in the MAC Tournament.

Freshman Eve Berish’s two goals were the only source of offense for Ohio against Akron. Berish was later named to the MAC All-Freshman team.

“For Eve to have such an amazing game against Akron and score both goals and propel us to fourth place in the league, and then winning player of the week, (that) absolutely propelled her (to being named All-Freshman),”

Rodgers said. “A well deserved honor for her.”

One of Berish’s goals that match was assisted by Abby Townsend, for her 10th assist of the season and the 31st of her career. She currently holds the record for most assists in a career, tied with Kendra Hornschemeier, who last played in 2004.

The win over Akron placed Ohio fourth in the MAC at the end of the season. It earned home-field advantage for the first round of the MAC Tournament. Ohio went on to lose the match 1-0 to Miami.

“Some of the things that we normally did, well, weren’t quite there, but Miami wasn’t (doing what they did well) either, so it was just a tight, kind of cup game, one-off game where the loser was done.” Rodgers shared.

In 2021, Ohio’s defense was one of the best in the MAC. It allowed just 0.89 goals per game. In 2022, however, Ohio found itself with only one returning defensive starter, Ella Bianco.

Sydney Dawson, a transfer from Clemson, was a captain at Clemson and a major piece of the Clemson program. Dawson was a key in the Bobcats’ defense this season.

“You know, we’re at a disadvantage when (new) people come in because you literally hit the ground running, and so when you if you’re a freshman or a transfer that comes in in the fall, you show up on August 1, and we go and you don’t have any opportunity (to acclimate) unless you kind of meet people before that time,“ Rodgers said. “You don’t have any opportunity to build relationships and build rapport, it’s much more difficult and you’re just thrown right into the fire. For her to be able to kind of join in with the group, and acclimate with the group like she did. You know, I think it shows what a good leader she is and what a good person she is.”

Both of the outside backs who played in the tournament and saw extensive time throughout the season were freshmen. Maia Kaufman made an immediate impact and ended the season with the seventh-most minutes on the team. Rayann Pruss, who didn’t make her start until later in the season, played a full match in each of the last five matches of the season, including the tournament.

“It’s good because they got a lot of great experience on a good team that competed really well and hosted a MAC tournament game,” Rodgers said.

The goalie position was one that also saw some turnaround. Freshman Celeste Sloma started 10 games and played in 12. She acquired 766 minutes this season. Sam

Wexell, who was named to the 2021 All-MAC First Team, sustained an injury early in the season, which allowed Sloma to prove she could keep up.

“For Celeste, she came here knowing that it might be hard to play this year because Sam was a really good goalkeeper. She was first team all-conference last year,” Rodgers said. “We talked to all the goalkeepers, especially the two freshmen coming in, (and said) that this is a great opportunity to just learn what college soccer is about, (to) be involved, grow and mature as a goalkeeper and as a teammate and learn from Sam and Reece. Then when Sam got injured, Celeste stepped up and did phenomenal.”

Even though the season ended too soon for Rodgers and the team, Rodgers was proud of the team’s adversity and ability to fight throughout the season.

“I think the most satisfying thing, from a coaching standpoint, was the reaction to being 0-2 in the conference and winning, going 6-2-1 in our last nine conference games and earning a fourth seed to host the MAC tournament game,“ Rodgers said.

Regan Berg (20) defends a Miami Player on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

M ( O I C P )

t i l l l o o k i n g f o r a s p r i n g o r s u m m e r i n t e r n s h i p ? A p p l y N o w r! s h p

P P L Y N O W F O R S P R I N G A N D S U M M E R

O N S U L T I N G I N T E R N S H I P S A V A I L A B L E O N T H E A T H E N S C A M P U

The abuse Russian soldiers have faced will not cleanse them of their own sins

COLLEEN MCLAFFERTY

After two and a half years in a pandemic, many of us have struggled to keep busy. Some people took on a new hobby or pastime during the beginning of quarantine to stave away boredom. Some people binged new shows and read books they’d been putting off. Some completed new household projects or took the time to purchase pets.

All the while, responsibilities like new jobs, clubs, and full experiences at school were sidelined. That was the last two and a half years, though. Most people–including Ohio Uni versity–would say the pandemic is over and, thus, we can return to our normal swing of things.

Each semester since the pandemic began has brought its own unique challenges. Maybe the handful of clubs you joined during OU’s online semesters is finally becoming too much to bear. Or, maybe handling 18 credit hours was easier online, but now you’re barely scraping by. Perhaps trying to

jump-start your social life and find friends is taking a toll on schoolwork.

We’ve forgotten how busy normal, run-of-the-mill parts of our lives are. Commuting to classes and work can take an hour or so a day for some. With classes being in-person, stopping to chat with people you see eats up time. Even eat ing meals, something we were able to do while on a zoom lecture or an online club meeting, takes up more time.

Productivity culture has created a pervasive belief that we must make up for ‘lost time.’ OU students who have been de prived of multiple semesters of college may feel like they have to work overtime to make more money, catch up on credits, or join new clubs–still judging themselves by pre-pandemic standards.

Students that sleep in, have an off day, or don’t find them selves getting work done will agonize over their productivity and what it means for their grades. In reality, current stu dents have much more on their plate now than they did a year ago.

Regardless of what it is, finding a balance this semester is difficult for many students who are still grappling with cre ating normalcy and repairing their mental health. Trying to meet those pre-pandemic productivity standards will only complicate the burgeoning stress and tension many are ex periencing.

With the next semester rapidly approaching, students should be mindful of their school and social schedules to better manage their stress levels.

Colleen McLafferty is a junior studying history at Ohio Uni versity. Please note that the views and opinions of the colum nists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Colleen by tweeting her at @colleenbealem.

Are robots taking journalists’ jobs?

ABBY WAECHTER

Journalism students, hear me out: robots are not taking our jobs.

After sitting through my hour-long economics lecture, my professor approached me and asked if I was scared that artificial intelligence, or AI, might take over my future job. Whether or not he was trying to engage me, it’s a valid ques tion to ask a journalism student.

In 2019, the Washington Post published over 850 articles with the help of AI and won an award for its “Excellence in Use of Bots” in the 2016 election coverage. Forbes uses a plat form called “Bertie” to assist reporters by providing trending topics to cover, recommending ways to make headlines more compelling and suggesting relevant imagery. The LA Times uses AI to report on earthquakes based on data from the U.S. geological survey and tracks information on every homicide committed in Los Angeles.

AI is not threatening the jobs of journalists, it’s enhancing them.

The technology was cultivated to assist journalists in high-value work rather than to replace them. AI intends to increase a journalist’s efficiency and help them concentrate on crucial and relevant aspects of a story.

According to Forbes, “several major publications are pick ing up machine learning tools for content.” Technology will improve jobs, not threaten them.

The Associated Press estimates that the technology can speed up a reporter’s time covering financial earnings by about 20% and improve a journalist’s accuracy. Rather than spending unnecessary time transcribing interviews and scrolling through financial earnings reports, the technology lets journalists spend more time concentrating on their sto ry’s impact, validity and accuracy.

Otter.ai is an emerging AI platform that transcribes in terviews in real time and can be reused later to create vid eo-bits or broadcast interviews. Overall, this technology helps the journalism industry. Journalism is about curiosity, storytelling and surveillance– this is where we should be de voting our energy.

In economics, this concept relates to the term “creative destruction,” which Joseph Schumpeter describes as “the dismantling of long-standing practices to make way for new technologies, new kinds of products, new methods of pro duction and new means of distribution.”

In some unfortunate circumstances, creative destruction can significantly decrease the number of people employed in certain fields, such as telemarketing, but it can also create new, unimaginable jobs. For example, when Excel launched

in 1995, it displaced bookkeepers but produced modern ac countants.

In journalism, AI simplifies tasks, improves accuracy and lowers the time required to complete an article. When artifi cial intelligence entered the journalism industry, it aimed to decrease production time. In this case, creative destruction is dismantling the long-standing practice of transcribing in terviews and earning reports and making way for technolo gies such as Otter.ai to make the process easier and faster.

In journalism, timeliness remains one of the basic princi ples to abide by when providing society with news and sur veillance. AI technology is advancing the industry forward by shortening the time it takes to write, edit and publish a story. Creative destruction is a present element in the journalism industry, but it is not a threat to the job itself– it has the po tential to create jobs we can’t imagine yet.

Abby Waechter is a freshman studying strategic commu nications at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email Abby at aw087421@ohio.edu or tweet her @AbbyWaechter.

ABSOLUTELY ABBY

Here’s your horoscope for November 2022

Once this season arrives, you may feel like you’ve got a million work projects and personal responsibilities. It’s time to get organized and prioritize rest and care. Don’t fall into the trap of overextending yourself too much. Instead, use this time to plan and set future goals. You got this, Cancer!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

November looks like a pretty busy month for you, Leo. You might have to balance sudden changes at work or school and spend more time at home. Don’t let pride get in the way. Ask for help, as your loved ones are there to support you. This will be especially true during the Nov. 8 full moon lunar eclipse, which will shake some things up.

The intensity from the eclipse begins to slow down as soon as Nov. 16 arrives and will allow you to let loose and have some fun! For you, Sagittarius season beginning on Nov. 22 is all about having fun and reconnecting with your inner child. Why not do some experimenting this month?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Happy early birthday, Sagittarius! The moon meets Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces this month which will make some emotional breakthroughs take place. This is the time to think clearly, embrace self-introspection and focus on the future.

On Nov. 22, we finally hit the Saggitarius season. Jupiter, your planetary ruler, wakes up from its four-month retrograde, and all of this combined will bring luck on your side. You might experience a happy surprise or a well-deserved opportunity!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-January 19)

Happy fall, Capricorn! This month will give you some well-deserved peace after the planets haven’t been in your favor for the past few months. Your ruling planet, Saturn, has been going retrograde since June and has gone direct again in October. Pluto has as well.

JILLIAN BULLOCK FOR THE POST

As November begins, we swap out our pumpkin spice for twinkly lights in preparation for the holidays. We begin this month with the sun still in Scorpio and a lot of Sagittarius energy with their season approaching. Tuesday, Nov. 8, brings us a full moon and a lunar eclipse in Taurus that invites change.

This is an important time to avoid drama by taking it easy and keeping things low-key. Saggitarius season begins Nov. 22, inviting us to explore a fresh start. November finds Mars retrograde in Gemini, which lasts until Jan. 12, 2023. This retrograde encourages us to look inward and take time to reassess our goals. Lots of good energy is circulating this month, as Sagittarius energy is full of passion, enthusiasm and optimism. Keep reading to see what this month has in store for you:

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This month, your ruling planet Mars continues in retrograde. This will create confusion in your life, so it is important to reflect on self-expression, as Mars is the planet of battle and passion. You might find yourself feeling sleepy this month instead of your usual sharpness, but that’s okay, Aries! There is value in slowiWng down, taking breaks and chasing your ambitions with more intention. This may be a good time to sleep in more often this month and practice self-care.

Keep an eye out for Tuesday, Nov. 8, as it brings a full moon and lunar eclipse in Taurus. These Lunar eclipses can signify a time of rapid change, and it’s something to embrace.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus, be ready to embrace positive change! The full moon in Taurus on Nov. 8 only happens once a year, so get as much out of it while you can. This year is about out

with the old and in with the new. Manifesting on the full moon is very effective, so don’t hesitate to write out your wishes.

Be wary of the desire to overspend now that Mars is in retrograde in your sector of finances. This influence will be particularly strong during the first half of the month while you experience emotional changes. Opt for self-care rather than material items. Don’t be afraid of this transitional time, as life will become simpler and more predictable once your ruler, Venus, enters Sagittarius on Nov. 16. This is a good time to make a holiday wish list and think about what you want to get for others.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Welcome to November, Gemini! Working with the current cosmic forces this month can help you grow personally and spiritually. You have felt the effects of Mars, the planet of passion and drive, for a while now, which can cause you to anger more easily. This remains in place until Jan. 12, so ensure you keep your cool this holiday season.

Once Sagittarius season arrives on Nov. 22, it is time to focus on your social life and relationships. You may experience deeper relationships and more intense connections. You can learn from others’ perspectives, as Sagittarius represents expansion and exploration. This is a great month for you to explore new partnerships and opportunities!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This month, the moon meets Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces, which can allow for meaningful connections to form and deepen as the moon connects with Pluto in Capricorn.

The moon rules you, so your energy will peak during the full moon on Nov. 8. This is an ideal time to connect with your creative side. Once Sagittarius season arrives on Nov. 22, you could have less free time due to the heavier workload coming your way.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Hi Virgo! Your instincts will hold strong this month as the sun, Mercury and Venus all travel through Scorpio and the sector of your chart that governs communication and thought processes. The planets will activate your third house of communication, allowing you to read others easier. Use this time to set boundaries, focus on your interests and dedicate less time to prioritizing others.

To your dismay, disorganization threatens to throw off your game around Nov. 10, when Mercury squares off with restrictive Saturn. Issues can arise if you are too stubborn to ask for help when you need it! The vibe won’t be like this for long, though. Once Sagittarius season hits, you will feel more optimistic and on track.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

For you, Libra, November is a month that will keep you on your toes. The first part of the month will focus on financial growth and security as the sun, Mercury and Venus travel through Scorpio.

Your social life will blossom during the second half of November, when Venus, your ruling planet, enters your third house of communication, siblings and close friends. This will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and become more social.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Happy Birthday, Scorpio! The moon meets Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces, inspiring creativity and romance. The moon connects with your ruling planet Pluto, currently in Capricorn, which can lead to deep, meaningful discussions. You’re also feeling especially productive as the moon enters Aries.

Things chill out for you once Sagittarius season arrives on Nov. 22, allowing you to focus on self-growth. The Nov. 23 new moon is a great opportunity to set intentions or begin a new project that means a lot to you.

November is the first month in a while to start and end with both planets going the right way around. This will make you feel calm and likely bring some good luck. This is a great month to start a project you have been putting off for a while.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

What’s up, Aquarius? The vibes are in your favor this month. The moon is in Aquarius twice this month, which doesn’t happen often. The moon’s energies are those of mysticism, dreams and wishes, so you’ll find that your wishes have twice as good a chance to come true.

Exciting shifts can occur in your love life or creative pursuits as the moon squares off with Mars retrograde in Gemini. An energy of abundance and opportunity flows as the moon meets Jupiter. The moon enters Aries later on, kicking up communication. Remember to balance work and play, as the Nov. 8 full moon eclipse tends to instigate change.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

A lot of signs will feel challenged this month, but if you play your cards right, you can have a lot of fun this Scorpio season. The universe is urging you to open your mind by seeking newness in your life. Learn about something new, sign up for a class you would have never considered, or just simply take a day trip somewhere. Take all the time you need for yourself by Nov. 22 because starting then, Sagittarius season will ask you to focus on your work.

On Nov. 20, asteroid Vesta will enter your sign, deepening your interest in your spirituality. As a feminine energy that promotes feeling whole, Vesta will encourage you to dig deep into your subconscious as a way to find your inner strength.

Albums coming out in November

SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

November is set to be a busy month on the music scene. Artists from genres as old and timeless as clas sic rock and as new and fresh as lo-fi and hip-hop are dropping albums, and we’ve compiled the most anticipated albums to watch for this month.

Her Loss- Drake and 21 Savage

The highly anticipated collaboration be tween Drake and 21 Savage is finally out. Released on Nov. 4, the album also features Travis Scott on a single track.

Only the Strong SurviveBruce Springsteen

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has re turned to the music scene with his new al bum “Only the Strong Survive.” Stated to be an album that leans more into the soul genre, it will be released on Nov. 11.

SMITHEREENS- Joji

Lo-fi hip-hop artist Joji has returned with the fourth album to be released under his current stage name. The anticipated piece, “SMITHEREENS,” dropped on Nov. 4.

Let Yourself Free- Fitz and the Tantrums

In conjunction with the announcement

of their 2023 tour, indie pop-rock band Fitz and the Tantrums announced that their fifth studio album, “Let Yourself Free,” will be re leased on Nov. 11.

Feed tha Streets 3- Roddy Rich

“MY GIFT TO YOU” rapper Roddy Rich recently posted on his instagram, captioning a photo of the cover art for his newest mix tape, “Feed that Streets 3”, set to be released on Nov. 18.

Get Rollin’- Nickelback

After a five-year hiatus, Canadian alt-rock band Nickelback announced in September the upcoming release of their tenth studio

album, “Get Rollin.” The album is set to drop on Nov. 18.

Is This What It Feels Like to Feel Like ThisThe Wombats

Riding the success of their chart-topping album “Fix Yourself, Not the World,” English indie-rock band announced the release of their newest EP, “Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This?”. The EP is set to drop on Nov. 18.

ALICIA

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

the weekender

Wakanda lives on at the Athena Cinema WHAT’S

MAGGIE VALENTINE FOR THE POST

This Friday is a lucky day to be a Marvel fan and Ohio University Student. Thanks to OU’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion, Multicultural Center, Black Student Cultural Programming Board, Student Senate and the Office of the President, all three theaters at the Athena Cinema have been rented out for free screenings of Marvel’s “Wakanda Forev er” to all who have an Ohio ID.

The event has been gaining traction fast: posters are all around Baker University Cen ter and the flyer is being posted and repost ed all over social media. The hosts of the events have purchased over 500 tickets for the Athena, 20 S. Court St., to give away for free, along with free popcorn.

This is not the first time the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, or BSCP, and Multicultural Center have teamed up to work with the Athena. Advisor of BSCP Winsome Chunnu has a close relationship with Athena Cinema director, Alex Kamody.

“We’ve collaborated with the Athena for many years, Alex Kamody and I have a good relationship,” said Chunnu. “And so usually if she’s getting a film that she thinks that my students would be interested in she calls … it’s always been very successful.”

The screenings start at 7 p.m. in all three theaters. Patricia Porter, a senior studying photojournalism, has been working at the Athena for four years and encourages students to come get their tickets.

“We have 523 tickets and we’ve almost sold out the first theater and it’s only Tues day,” she said. “We will most likely sell out.”

Along with the theater’s preparation, Chunnu plans to also share a few words about the movie before each screening as well.

After the success of screening “Black Panther” at the Athena Grand back in 2018, president of BSCPB Cydney Granger, a se nior studying business pre-law and market ing, hopes for a large turnout Friday night.

“This is going to be one of the last mov ies Chadwick Boseman was in, or something that he’s associated with, since he’s passed away,” she said. “So this (movie) is a really good thing because people want to see how they are mentioning him or how the movie pertains to his character.”

“Wakanda Forever” goes beyond the Mar vel Universe due to the tragic passing of “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman. The movie serves as a celebration of his life and legacy within the world of Wakanda. Chunnu believes that this movie will provide appreciation for Black culture.

“There are lots of people outside of the African American community that will be coming who are just Marvel fans and they are staying up on everything Marvel,” said Chun nu. “The hope is that they take away some thing different about the Black community and what Africa looks like and that means.”

Both Chunnu and Granger feel that “Wakanda Forever” will further educate au dience members on the importance of Black stories as well as help combat the oversatu ration of Black suffering in movies.

“Words fail me to express the importance of representation in the media, we know how powerful the media is in terms of creating or sustaining stereotypes and to have a Black hero and almost all Black cast where every one is great,” Chunnu said. “It’s not the usual racial tropes of Black people being beaten down and are struggling.”

Students hoping to attend can arrive at the theater to claim their ticket in the lobby Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Not all Black stories are tragic,” Granger said. “(The movie) shows yes, we are excel lent and it makes a good representation … for other people that may not be a part of our community, to say the struggle is not the stereotype.”

GOING ON?

Here’s what you can do in and

Athens this weekend

GRACE KOENNECKE FOR THE POST

FRiDAY, NOvEMBER 11

Ohio hockey will take on Pitt at Bird Arena. The game will start at 7 p.m. and kick off two nights of competition.

Attendance: $5 for students, $10 otherwise

Christmas Nightmare on Main Street will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wolfe Moun tain Entertainment on 320 E. Main St. in Pomeroy. Attendees can trek their way through four haunted rooms, then down stairs to meet Zombie Santa.

Attendance: $5

SATURDAY, NOvEMBER 12

Halloween Spooktacular will take place Poetry Book Launch with Bonnie Proudfoot and Stephanie Kendrick will be at the Athens Public Library, located at 30 Home St., from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Local writers Bonnie Proudfoot and Stephanie Kendrick will be reading from new poetry collections published by SheilaNa-Gig, followed by a short open mic and a book signing with refreshments.

Attendance: Free

Poverty String Band Trio at Uncle Buck’s is a weekend event perfect for seeing the con temporary bluegrass band’s unique sound. The event is located at Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable, 73930 Buck Lane., in New Marshfield. The performance will take place from 7 to 10 p.m.

Attendance: $5

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Kilvert Com munity Center, 21120 McGraw Rd., will begin at 1 p.m. Each family is asked to bring a dish to share with others to participate in the fes tivities.

Attendance: Free

around

Ohio Men’s Basketball vs. Cleveland State will play at The Convo in a beach day themed game. Attendees are encouraged to come cheer on the men’s basketball team as they take on Cleveland State at 1 p.m. The first 500 fans will receive a free New Kids on the Bricks beach towel. There will also be free pizza for students.

Attendance: Free for students, $15-25 for non-students

SUNDAY, NOvEMBER 13

sOUndings Concert by the College of Fine Arts starts at 2 p.m. in Glidden Hall. OU’s School of Music Composition Department will be performing pieces as part of the con cert.

Attendance: Free

Athens Middle School Drama Club: ‘The One Act Play That Goes Wrong’ will be at Arts West, 132 W. State St. The show starts at 2 p.m. and attendees can see students per form a production based on the storyline of the Tony-award winning play, “The Play That Goes Wrong.”

Attendance: Free, suggested $5 donation at the door

Klinder String Quartet in concert will see the School of Music for the Klinder String Quartet, comprised of Caroline Beckman, Vera Solomin, Brianna Patricca and Kaleb Ringler. The concert starts at 6 p.m. in Glid den Hall. A livestream will also be available.

Attendance: Free