Food drives support local food pantries…PG

Food drive fundraisers assist local food pantries

MADALYN BLAIR

FOR THE POST

As the holidays approach, it is not uncommon for food pantries to see an influx of people utilizing their services.

On Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., students from an Ohio University course titled Food and Power will be accepting non-perishable food items and hygiene products in front of Baker Center or the Honors House, 35 Park Place.

Charles Lester, assistant professor of instruction, and his honors class, partnered with Southeast Ohio Foodbank to organize a Thanksgiving food drive.

Lester got the idea of embedding a food drive within his food and power course because he wanted his students to engage with the community and give back. He said food banks are in a crisis period, which encouraged him to prioritize implementing a food drive within his course’s curriculum.

Gabrielle Loring, a junior studying biological sciences, is taking Lester’s food and power honors course. She said she was excited to learn the class would be participating in their own food drive because she and her peers could actively get involved with the community.

“This project has made me feel more connected to the community,” Loring wrote in an email. “As I am not originally from this part of Ohio, the course has taught me a great deal about the region and both the successes and hardships faced by the area, as it applies to food. As a result, through my engagement in the food drive, I am happy to have an active role in the community instead of simply learning about it in the classroom.”

Lester said he expects his students to experience a new outlook on food relationships due to the food drive. He explained that since students are engaged with the local community, they will be able to see how directly an issue of food insecurity is around them.

“I think hits home in ways that a theoretical conversion might not necessarily do the same,” Lester said.

The food drive is in partnership with Southeast Ohio Foodbank because they offer services to Athens, Perry and Hocking counties, Lester said.

The class will still be accepting charitable donations, too, through their website. Currently, the fundraiser has raised $670 in charitable donations.

“This project resonates with me, and I hope that our food drive can help make the holidays special for everyone, including those in need,” Loring wrote in an email.

Similar to Southeast Ohio Foodbank, the Cat’s Cupboard at OU offers free food pick-

Boxes where students can donate and take food based on need are part of Cats Cupboard in Baker University Center. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)

up twice a month from its pantry located on the fifth floor of Baker University Center, according to a previous Post report. Donations can be dropped off on the second floor of Baker University Center at the donation station.

Basic Needs Coordinator, Merilee Meyer, said Cat’s Cupboard is experiencing a high increase in students accessing their services. Since the university is closed for holiday breaks, she predicts students will continue to access their services before and after the long breaks.

“We rely on donations, whether it be in kind for food or monetary donations to help supplement the pantry,” Meyer said.

Recently, Cat’s Cupboard broke 1000 people who have access to getting food from their pantry, Meyer said.

“We like to think in our office that giving comes with a natural feeling of goodness because you’re helping your fellow bobcats and that in itself is a great reward,” Meyer said.

Overall, food pantries around the community seek aid from others to help assist those in need.

“Thanksgiving and the holiday season are an incredibly busy time of year for food pantries, and as we have learned in class, the pandemic and supply chain issues have made it increasingly difficult for food banks across the state to meet needs,” Loring wrote in an email. “We hope that our efforts and donations will make a small dent in the shortfalls the food banks are facing, as all of our donations will go to those in the community in need of a little help.”

@MADALYNTBLAIR

MB682120@OHIO.EDU

Depression rates increasing among college-aged adults

TRE SPENCER FOR THE POST

A study released by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio found that depression and suicide rates have steadily increased over the past year for Ohioans—with young adults most likely to have reported symptoms of depression.

According to the study, adults aged 18 to 24 were the largest age group to have been diagnosed with depression by a medical professional at a rate of 29.5%, a significant difference from the national average of 20.5%.

At Ohio University, several resources are available for college students and young adults to help combat and aid their mental health issues.

Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS, offers consultations, therapy sessions and workshops to OU students. Students can schedule appointments and initial screenings via email or phone. CPS also offers Telehealth services to students residing in Athens for virtual appointments.

According to data from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health’s 2021 annual report, depression and anxiety trends have increased nationally among college students.

Paul Castelino, director of CPS, wrote in an email that CPS saw an influx of new patients compared to last year. From 2020-21, CPS had 1,808 students use its services compared to 2,442 students in 2021-22—many of them citing depression, and now anxiety, as their biggest concern for treatment.

“The majority of the students seen at CPS report anxiety as their number one concern followed by depression,” Castelino wrote. “Eighty-four percent of the students present at CPS report anxiety and depression as their major concern. Depression used to be the top concern until about three years ago. Now anxiety ranks number one as the presenting concern.”

Jordan Hawkins, a sophomore studying child and family services, said she had previously dealt with mental health problems. She said she attempted to use CPS treatment last year.

She said she was experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, but because of scheduling conflicts, she opted to find treatment online and decided not to go back to CPS for counseling.

“I did not go back—I ended up going home and I did more research to find a therapist

The requirements to enter Hudson Health Center located at 2 Health Center Drive, Athens, Ohio, on Nov. 14, 2022. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)

local to me,” Hawkins said. “I know that it can be a longer process to find somebody that actually matches with you when you do it through CPS, so I wanted to try to see if there was somebody that was specifically curated to my needs.”

Castelino said CPS is aware of students’ sense of urgency regarding treatment and counseling. CPS has addressed its demand by speaking with OU leadership and increasing its clinical staff.

“The leadership at Ohio University is aware of how important students’ mental health is in enabling their academic success,” Castelino wrote. “We received additional funding this past summer to increase our clinical staff by two, as well as provide psychiatric services.”

Another student, Brett Rodusky, a junior studying communications, said he also found an alternative method to CPS following his initial screening last year. Like Hawkins, he found treatment at home for his depression and anxiety symptoms. Rodusky said he began developing symptoms of anxiety and depression while at home in 2020 and often struggled with panic attacks.

“I learned one of the biggest things I struggled with were panic attacks, and the importance of grounding myself is something that was one of the first things that my therapist told me,” Rodusky said. “Whenever I find myself getting in my head about things, or spiraling, I always ground myself.”

OU’s Psychology Club also tries to raise awareness about mental health through education and other resources. Typically, the club invites representatives from CPS to members to discuss anxiety, depression and stress—especially around course midterms and finals.

Madeline Wildman, a junior studying psychology and the social media chair for Psychology Club, said that the pandemic played a key role in raising student anxiety, stress and depression rates.

“Going from normalcy to complete isolation to online and some form of semi-normalcy can definitely have a great impact on anyone, especially college students,” Wildman said. “Since they are at an institution trying to pursue a degree, take hard level classes, try to get involved, that could bring a lot of stress, depression and anxiety on someone.”

@TRERSPENCER1

TS582119@OHIO.EDU

The Outlet offers support to BIPOC students

LYDIA COLVIN FOR THE POST

Ohio University Housing and Residence Life’s program, The Outlet, focuses on creating a safe space and fun programming for students of color.

The program is led by Kerry Davis, Housing and Residence Life’s assistant director for conduct and care, and two graduate assistants, Cierra Smith-Carter and Diamond Allen. The group’s meetings were held on the third Tuesday of every month this semester and were open to students in all grade levels.

“We saw a need for the space, housing saw a need for the space, and gave us the opportunity to create The Outlet,” Smith-Carter said. “From what I’ve been seeing and hearing from students, I believe it’s been beneficial and helpful, especially for first-and second-year students who are new to campus.”

Davis said the hate crimes and misconduct that occurred during the 2022 Spring Semester and the general climate regarding social injustice in the world influenced OU administration to provide more spaces on campus for students of color.

Allen said the program has already made a difference in the experiences of OU’s students of color.

“We’ve jump-started something that can create that sense of community and belonging in the residence halls,” Allen said. “Especially when a lot of residence halls are not very dominated by people of color.”

The program has the potential to help students of color feel like they have people to go to about social injustices or just a place to talk about their experiences with people who understand, Allen said.

Smith-Carter, who studied sociology and communications for her undergraduate degree at OU, said that she had a relatively positive experience as a black woman on campus but did sometimes crave a space where she could have been around more people who looked like her and shared a similar culture.

“When I came into this role, I was like ‘this is a perfect opportunity to provide that space to freshman and sophomores and whoever else here now that I think I could have really benefited from,’” Smith-Carter said.

The group’s most recent meeting on Tuesday was a dinner at Nelson Dining Hall, where some Ghanaian dishes were prepared, and a game night was held after at the Living Learning Center.

Students at the event expressed that they enjoyed coming to the events because it gave them the opportunity to meet more students of color and gave them a space where they felt included.

“I think that a lot of people of color can feel excluded from other clubs on campus when you walk into a space and it’s majority all white,” Hali Bridges, a sophomore studying world religions, said.

Another student at the event, Deandre Quiero, a sophomore studying environmental geography, said that it’s nice to have a group like The Outlet because many students of color are moving from their households, where they are mostly surrounded by people of color, to a predominantly white institution like OU.

Quiero and Bridges said they think that the programming is fun, and they encourage more students to attend the meetings.

Additionally, Davis said these connections that students make through The Outlet could lead to the retention of students of color and attract more students of color to OU.

“We want more students to come to Ohio University and hopefully more and more students of color to come to Ohio University and be willing to stay on campus,” Davis said.

There are no more events scheduled for this semester, but meetings will start again next semester on Jan. 24. However, next semester’s meetings will be bi-weekly instead of monthly and occur every other Tuesday at 6 p.m.

“Next semester, we’re hoping to make them biweekly meetings to better fit the needs of our students because they are so passionate about building that community and getting to know each other and finding that safe, comfortable space for them,” Smith-Carter said.

@COLVIN_LYDIA

LC844519@OHIO.EDU

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 FARMER’S & ART MARKET

Athens Community Center NEW LOCATION

scan to schedule a donation

MANY MOONS

A TRAVELERS TREASURE SALE

ArtsWest

Many Moons returns to Arts West for our annual holiday event.We will feature jewelry, textiles, wood and metal sculptures ,sacred objects and unusual gift items all handmade and personally selected in our explorations of India, Bali, Thailand, Nepal and Guatemala. Please join us for some creative and affordable holiday shopping

Saturday Nov. 19th 10am - 6pm Sunday Nov. 20th 1pm - 6pm

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

Click for a list of vendors

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starting at per week $15

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postadvertising@ohio.edu HOW-TO MONDAYS

Theater Lounge Baker Center • Second Floor Every Monday, 7pm Join in the fun and create with friends. This week- CHALKBOARDS 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

@OhioUPC

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Where the world dances together

Participants of the International Performance Open Stage present flags that represent the countries of international students in Grover Center on Nov. 14, 2022. (MEGAN VAN VLACK | FOR THE POST)

LAUREN KEY FOR THE POST

Tucked away in the trees, Ohio University may appear isolated to those unfamiliar with its foundations of global outreach and representation. Aligning with these foundations are the university’s 11th annual International Education Week celebration beginning Nov. 14.

This year, OU’s Communications and Development Studies Department, or CommDev, plans to celebrate its 35th anniversary with a series of cultural evenings, both Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. CommDev comprises a wide range of globally diverse students, many of whom helped plan for this celebration.

Saumya Pant, director of CommDev, provides a fresh perspective on OU’s dedication to global connection. Rather than organizing a mundane conference, Pant and her student co-workers have designed lively cultural celebrations in which all are welcomed.

“Our (events are) open to all,” Pant said. “It’s like family, what food we have we’ll share, and we’ll enjoy it together.”

The events are not strictly reserved for international students, alumni or faculty but rather for anyone who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of cultural meaning.

Perhaps the most interactive event of the cultural evenings is the International Open Stage Performance. All who feel drawn to share a story can do so at Grover Center Atrium from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Countries such as India, Ghana and Kenya are just a few of the numerous cultures that will come to life.

Another aspect of the CommDev anniversary celebrations is the passion of its members.

“People who are coming on campus in the next few days are people who want to be here because they care,” Pant said. “Not because they’re trying to make a statement about their profiles or assert their egos.”

This pure intent causes Pant to look forward to welcoming the alumni of CommDev back to campus, allowing her to hear the stories of those who have taken their love for the program and spread its mission across the globe.

Pant said the genuine excitement and willingness to learn of each attendee, without any ulterior motives or obligations, allow CommDev to celebrate its dedicated affiliates and showcase how a small act of support can lead the whole world to dance together.

Emceeing the International Open Stage Performance is Shelewa Babatayo, a second year graduate student studying communication and development, who believes she and other international students benefit from events such as the one she has helped organize.

“It gives us international students a room to feel that we belong … (and that we) could also make an impact,” she said.

Babatayo’s position in the CommDev department has enabled her to create environments not often highlighted in University classrooms. It is these acts of leadership and change that justify the students of CommDev to refer to themselves as “the small UN.”

An additional member of CommDev, Victor Dei, a graduate student and teaching assistant studying communication and development, serves as the president of the organization’s student association, which entails acting as a liaison between other student board members and directors.

Affirming that the students are the true masterminds behind CommDev’s anticipated events, Dei displayed his enthusiasm for the program.

“Everything is in the hands of the students,” Dei said. “We are the leaders when it comes to diversifying our cohort.”

Aside from honoring those who have continued to nurture the CommDev community and its intentions at OU, Dei believes that the organization’s objective in hosting the cultural evenings is to immerse people of different backgrounds in an all-encompassing environment that they may be unaware of.

The overlap of International Education Week and CommDev’s 35th-anniversary celebrations allows students to see through lenses different than their own and forge long-lasting relationships.

“For me, I think this is the time that we get to celebrate our diversity as international students,” said Dei. “This is where we get to (grow) from the different people who come across the world.”

Pant encourages any and everyone to attend CommDev’s events. The most essential act of support that others can bestow upon the University’s Communications and Development Studies Department, according to Pant, is time.

“We need people to actively be involved with this program for students to learn about the development and the world out there,” Pant said.

Regardless of nationality, Pant encourages others to attend the cultural celebrations spanning Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. Even if one chooses to not perform at the open stage or attend the international gala, anyone can at least come and eat delicious Caribbean and Indian food.

“It is a very maternal moment where these are your students and they’re showcasing the work that you’ve helped them (create),” Pant said. “Now the whole world gets to see it.”

@LLAURENKEY

LK285421@OHIO.EDU