November 18, 2021

Independents see potential to change Athens politics PG 8-9 Opportunities from Bobcat Esports PG 12-13 Numbers to know from women’s basketball’s Tuesday win PG 18

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021

Repurposing The Ridges

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Posties have a lot to be thankful for this year

ABBY MILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Next week, The Post won’t be on newsracks across Ohio University’s campus and Athens.

Our usual print release day will fall on Thanksgiving. Instead of staying up late in Baker 325, we will all be home spending time with our family and eating way too much food. Despite this, we’d be remiss to not share what we’re grateful for while we’re on campus.

The Post is grateful for the janitorial staff in Baker University Center; the production staff at The Athens Messenger for printing our paper every week; our business manager, Andrea Lewis; The Post Publishing Board; our fantastic and large Post Alumni Society; Dr. Thomas Suddes, who gives us weekly feedback on our paper; and our readers. Without all of those people, The Post would not be able to function the way it does.

We all have things we’re thankful for as individuals, too. As we continue to navigate college and a global pandemic simultaneously, Posties have a lot of invaluable support systems. Here are a few of the things Post staffers are grateful for:

Abby Miller, editor-in-chief I am thankful for my incredible family and two closest friends, Caroline and Sarah. You all put up with me constantly talking about the news, or sometimes, not responding to texts and calls for hours because I’m too busy with the news. Thank you for keeping me sane this year. And I’m also grateful for coffee.

I definitely couldn’t do this job without it.

Kayla Bennett, asst. culture editor Forever thankful for the people who have shown me love even on my worst days. I’m thankful to be surrounded by warmth and benevolence as we move into the colder months. The little things in life – a smile or a hot cup of coffee – are also what keep me going on these short November days.

Taylor Burnette, projects editor Eternally thankful for my wonderful Mom and Dad, my Becky and every second I spend at OU with somebody I couldn’t see when we were apart during the pandemic. I could take up this whole page telling each of you how thankful I am for you.

Ashley Beach, slot editor I am thankful for my hard working parents who remind me to be my best self, my cat-loving little brother, the most incredible friends/coworkers in the world and my sorority sisters. All of you have extended your gracious hands to me more times than I can count. Today, like every day, I appreciate having you all in my life.

Isabel Nissley, slot editor To everyone who has extended grace and acted with kindness toward me this year – friends, family, coworkers, professors, and especially my lovely roommate – thank you. Your care is changing the world (or at least mine) for the better.

Abby Miller is a senior studying journalism and political science at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Abby at am166317@ohio.edu or tweet her @abblawrence.

COVER PHOTO BY CARRIE LEGG

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Abby Miller MANAGING EDITOR Bre Offenberger DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Emma Skidmore, Ryan Maxin ASST. NEWS EDITOR Molly Wilson PROJECTS EDITOR Taylor Burnette SPORTS EDITOR Jack Gleckler ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Eli Feazell CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Kayla Bennett OPINION EDITOR Mikayla Rochelle ASST. OPINION EDITOR Hannah Campbell THE BEAT EDITOR Madyson Lewellyn ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Emma Dollenmayer COPY CHIEF Anna Garnai SLOT EDITORS Anastasia Carter, Ashley Beach, Bekah Bostick, Isabel Nissley ART ART DIRECTOR Mary Berger ASST. ART DIRECTOR Olivia Juenger DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Nate Swanson PHOTO EDITOR Jesse Jarrold-Grapes DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brianna Lender AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Jack Hiltner ASST. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Claire Schiopota DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Noah DeSantis BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Grace Vannan, Jamyson Butler 2 / NOV. 18, 2021

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Older generation getting COVID-19 booster shots despite anyone with a lot of people in one day,” Gaskell said. “So, we like the mass Johnson & Johnson being eligible vax clinics.”

MOLLY WILSON ASST. NEWS EDITOR The Athens City-County Health Department, or ACCHD, is offering vaccine boosters to those who are eligible, and despite numerous students receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, primarily those 65 and older have been getting their third shot.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, individuals who are at least 65 years of age and received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination are eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination six months after completing their primary vaccination series.

Those who also received Moderna or Pfizer and are at least 18 years old are eligible to get the booster shot if they live in long-term-care settings, have underlying medical conditions or live or work in high-risk settings.

“We get vaccine boosters for a lot of different diseases,” Gillian Ice, special assistant to the president for public health operations, said. “Those are based on studies that have shown that there’s waning immunity over time.”

Anyone 18 years of age and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is eligible for the booster shot only two months after initial vaccination.

In April, Ohio University, in partnership with ACCHD, received weekly deliveries of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which were administered in vaccination clinics until April 13 when it paused use of Johnson & Johnson shot due to side effects.

Prior to the pause of that vaccine, Ice advocated for stu-

dents to receive it due to the ease of a one-shot vaccine, and the university encouraged students to cancel appointments for other vaccines to get the Johnson & Johnson one, according to a previous Post report.

Despite many OU students receiving the Johnson & Johnson dose, James Gaskell, the ACCHD health commissioner, said the department has not seen many students come in for their booster shot. Rather, the department is getting many individuals who are in the 65 plus range for boosters.

Gaskell said based on the stipulations on the CDC’s website, a large portion of the general population is already eligible for booster vaccinations.

According to the CDC’s website, first responders, educational staff and those who work in food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections, the U.S. postal service, public transit and grocery stores all qualify for the “high risk” population who is eligible for boosters.

However, Gaskell said ACCHD does not go to extreme measures to confirm that an individual is eligible for the booster shot.

“We trust them. We don’t call their doctor. They don’t need a doctor’s slip saying they have this underlying condition,” Gaskell said.

In October, ACCHD held two vaccination booster clinics at OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Gaskell said the department saw around 400 to 500 individuals for vaccination boosters; however, some were able to get their first vaccine if they had not yet been vaccinated.

“That is the most efficient way because we can vaccinate

Currently, ACCHD is seeing individuals at the department for booster shots primarily on an appointment basis.

Gaskell said it has around 40 individuals come to the department per day for COVID-19 boosters.

He also said HCOM gives the department the ability to monitor those who are vaccinated for the 15-minute observation period that is required post-vaccination more effectively than at the department.

“Here at the health department, we have a smaller observation area and we can’t have as many people in there to be observed,” Gaskell said. “We have somewhat limited capacity to keep people six feet apart in our health department.”

Ice said the university is currently evaluating the potential for a vaccine booster mandate. However, she maintained there would have to be scientific agreement on the necessity for all adults to receive a booster and additional CDC guidance before it makes a decision.

“There’s not consensus on the fact that adults, other than those that are immune compromised, need a booster,” Ice said. “The vaccines were designed to prevent hospitalization and death and not necessarily prevent transmission — they do a really good job at still preventing transmission. Where seeing vaccine efficacy decline is in transmission, not in hospitalization and death.”

Those looking to schedule a COVID-19 booster vaccination appointment at ACCHD are able to do so by calling 740592-443.

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OU vaccination deadline passes; Baker University Center evacuated due to smoke EMMA SKIDMORE NEWS EDITOR OU passes vaccination deadline; over 80% vaccination rate on Athens campus

Ohio University President Hugh Sherman announced via email Tuesday OU’s Athens’s campus has reached a nearly 90% vaccination rate for students, faculty and staff.

With the Nov. 15 deadline to be vaccinated passed, 88.6% of the Athens campus is vaccinated. As of Nov., 16, 9% of faculty, staff and students had not yet submitted proof of vaccination or an approved exemption.

With regional campuses included, OU’s total vaccination rate stands at 83.6%. Vaccination rates among regional campuses is between 53% and 63.2%.

Sherman said in the email there is still a small amount of the OU community the university has not heard from and said some are still in the process of meeting the vaccine requirement for a variety of reasons.

OU’s COVID-19 Dashboard will continue to be updated.

City Council: Funds allocated for possible West Union Street project

Athens City Council met Monday night to discuss a variety of ordinances, including the approval for funding toward an improvement project on West Union Street.

The ordinance, introduced by Councilman Jeffery Risner, D-2nd Ward, will authorize a contract for right-

of-way acquisition services for the project. The unanimously passed ordinance will allocate $300,000 to be used as needed, as the project is still in initial planning stages.

Council also unanimously passed an ordinance approving an education incentive program for non-union city employees. Introduced by Councilman Sam Crowl, D-3rd Ward, the program would encourage employees to stay up-to-date on training for their position, he said.

Additionally, Council discussed ordinances to make city improvements, including allocating nearly $40,000 to fix the wastewater treatment plant valve, adding a biodiversity conservation plan to the Athens Sustainability Action plan and replacing guardrails on Stimson Avenue.

Baker Center evacuated due to West 82 smoke

Baker University Center was evacuated Monday morning due to cooking-related smoke from West 82, a university dining concept.

Carly Leatherwood, a university spokesperson, said the excess smoke set off the fire alarm.

The Athens Fire Department responded to the scene and cleared the building for reentry. No injuries of any kind were reported.

breeding season.

The most recent announcement was prompted by reports of a student and staff member who noticed aggressively postured deer. While the campus and surrounding community does benefit from many forms of wildlife, experts said it is best to keep your distance.

Chad Keller, environmental health coordinator, urged students to avoid taking pictures with deer and attempting to feed them due to their unpredictable nature. Keller said they are not cared for by the university in any way.

Viorel Popescu, an associate professor of conservation biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, said deer likely stay around campus because it is a learned behavior passed down through generations. Popescu said if baby deer are born in town or on campus, they learn to not fear humans.

OU is equipped to support various kinds of wildlife through naturalized areas, which encourage wildlife to stay near campus. Susan Calhoun, a grounds manager and landscape coordinator at OU said not only do the naturalized areas provide environmental benefits, they also save time and equipment fuel as well due to the low-maintenance nature of these areas.

OU warns against interacting with campus deer

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

An article recently published on Ohio University’s news website warned the Athens campus of particularly active deer during October and November, as it is their

POLICE BLOTTER

Cow reported near road; residence allegedly broken into ANNA MILLAR FOR THE POST Road rage

deputies, and they determined it was a civil issue. Deputies told the individuals it was a civil matter and asked one of those involved to leave the area.

Deputies were flagged down by a person in a vehicle who told deputies they were being chased by another driver, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The individual told the deputies the other driver was in possession of a firearm.

Deputies were unable to determine if the firearm was used threateningly or not and the initial driver did not want to press charges.

Was it really a break in?

Don’t overreact

Disappearing cow

The sheriff’s office responded to State Route 685 regarding a report of a gun allegedly being pulled during an argument. When deputies arrived, they spoke with everyone involved.

Conflicting accounts of the situation were given to

4 / NOV. 18, 2021

The sheriff’s office received a report of active breaking and entering from a resident of The Plains. The caller was uncertain what the address of the alleged break in was.

Deputies patrolled the area and spoke with other residents. They did not witness any criminal behavior, and other residents said they had not seen anything unusual.

Deputies patrolled Enlow Road in Albany regarding a caller report of a cow near the road. Deputies were unable to find the cow during their patrol of the area.

Please keep track of your pets

The sheriff’s office received a report of a stray dog on Hoover Road. When deputies arrived, they discovered the dog did not have a collar and took it to the Athens County Dog Shelter.

Double crime

The sheriff’s office received a report of a residential disturbance in Waterloo Township. When deputies arrived, they spoke with those involved and determined the dispute was only verbal.

Deputies also discovered one of the individuals involved had multiple active felony warrants. The man was arrested and taken to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail without incident.

ANNAMILLAR16 AM157219@OHIO.EDU

Ohio University seeks more community use and involvement for The Ridges SOPHIA YOUNG STAFF WRITER One of Athens’ most historic sites continues to evolve as Ohio University seeks to repurpose some buildings at The Ridges for community use as part of its divestment strategy.

The real estate portfolio reduction plan, first put forward in April, was approved at the OU Board of Trustees’ October meeting. It aims to offset over $20 million in deferred maintenance and reduce annual costs by minimizing unused space.

Parts of the historic Athens Asylum, now called The Ridges, are included in the 21 spaces the Board approved for lease or sale. Shawna Wolfe, associate vice president for University Planning, said inclusion was part of a long process informed by the 2015 Ridges Framework Plan, which outlined potential for university use and development in the area.

The Ridges was constructed in 1868 and operated as a state mental health institution until its closure in 1993 as a result of changing attitudes toward institutionalization for mental health treatment.

OU took control of the property in the 1990s, when the state transferred ownership to the university, seeing potential for both its preservation and use to further the school’s academic mission.

“We and our community saw this as a tremendous resource, and there were lots of advocates for various ideas here,” Wolfe said. “But, in the end, the state felt that we had the resources to take care of this as well as ideas that would help us programmatically grow.”

When The Ridges was transferred to The Ridges’ sprawling rooftops over its various wings form a jagged pattern in Athens, Ohio. (CARRIE LEGG | FOR THE POST) OU, the state set up the Ridges Advisory Committee to oversee the university’s use While no use is currently set for all of the buildof the land and whether it aligned with strategic goals. tain community input regarding the use of space and significance, inviting residents to serve on official proj- ings, Wolfe indicated the university has a strong viThe committee continues to oversee project action.

A report commissioned by the university in 1989 out- ect committees, attend Ridges Advisory Committee sion for including senior and affordable housing in lined plans to rehabilitate and repurpose the space. To- meetings and public workshops and provide feedback via multiple buildings.

The university is currently working with Brailsford & tal projected costs to renovate at the time totaled close a project email account.

Community input was two-fold, Wolfe said. One role Dunlavey, a development firm, to identify recommendato $30 million, which the report noted would not exceed included providing insight into which parts of The Ridg- tions for external development. The final report will be the cost to construct the same amount of usable space.

One need the university sought to utilize The Ridges es were most significant to community members. The available in March 2022, guiding the university’s actions second was offering ideas for the vision of further devel- going forward. for was designated research space.

“We’re trying everything we can do to ensure that Today, the location houses the Voinovich School of opment and improvements.

Many community members attributed the lush scen- we’re doing the right things here and attract partners to Leadership and Public Service and the Kennedy Museum ery, beautiful architecture and setting as well as the help us save it, essentially,” Wolfe said. “We love it, we’re of Art, among others.

Wolfe indicated during the Board’s presentation that centuries-long presence in the community as some of passionate about it and we’re excited about anybody the university plans to continue its investment into fa- the unique and important characteristics of The Ridges. who’s trying to help us.” cilities at The Ridges that it has rehabilitated for its own Recommended potential uses ranged widely, including use. However, there are currently unoccupied spaces the ideas such as increased natural development and trails, @SOPHIELISEY building an observatory, providing spaces for businessuniversity hopes can be repurposed for community use.

SY951319@OHIO.EDU Throughout the planning process, OU sought to ob- es, event venues and many more.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

Local animal shelters experience growth of intake amid pandemic TRE SPENCER FOR THE POST Animal adoptions have steadily increased over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many people stuck at home in quarantine and looking for something new.

As people have made the slow return to work and enjoyed some comfort following the introduction of coronavirus vaccines, shelters are also seeing an influx of new animals that are being put up for adoption.

One local shelter, the Hocking County Humane Society, has taken in an increased number of dogs, cats and other animals like horses and birds since the beginning of the year.

Lanette Blair, humane agent and assistant dog warden for the Hocking County Humane Society, said the humane society works in a variety of ways to ensure the safety of animals in the county. “(With) the dog warden part, we (take) stray dogs and enforce dog tags in the county,” Blair said. “As a humane agent, we do everything else. So, if there’s abuse, neglect, abandonment, those types of things, we investigate and prosecute if necessary for that. As a shelter, we take in strays, owner turn-ins, abused and neglected animals. We get them vetted and then re-homed.’’

Blair also said with many people returning to work, the shelter has seen a rise in the number of abandoned animals, though the influx has not been as large as expected.

“We adopted a lot more animals in the beginning (of the pandemic) because people were home, and they were home and could spend time and train and do the things (with their animals),” Blair said. “Once people started going back to work, we noticed an increase of intake but not terribly, not like we expected.”

With several shelters in the area offering pets to local residences and college students, students at Ohio University have played a role in the adoption of animals.

Kayla Gauze, a senior studying early childhood education, recently adopted a new kitten from a co-worker and said it is stressful thinking about balancing an internship and taking care of a new pet.

“It happened pretty nicely because the classroom I’m interning in right now, at the Child Development Center, is shut down because of a positive COVID case,” Gauze said. “So, I have been home all week, which worked out really well because I’ve been able to be home and monitor the situation and do my classwork online. I am nervous to go back next week because I won’t be able to watch and make sure that everything’s OK.” Gauze also said acclimating her kitten to a new environment is the most difficult thing she’s dealing with currently.

“The biggest thing with getting a new kitten is socializing the kitten with any other animals that you have in the house,” Gauze said. “That’s a process that I’m in the middle of, and it’s quite stressful for all parties involved.’’

OU has campus resources available to help students 6 / NOV. 18, 2021

Thistle purrs and pushes her face to the bars of her enclosure, hoping for some love, at the Hocking County Humane Society on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (ANNA MILLAR | FOR THE POST)

who are looking to adopt a new pet, such as Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs, which works with the Athens County Dog Shelter to increase fundraising efforts and get students connected.

Maddy Mitchell, president of Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs and a junior studying nursing, explained some of the work the shelter does in partnership with the Athens County Dog Shelter.

“We are a nonprofit organization. What we do is we hold a bunch of fundraisers or tabling events to raise money, and everything that we make goes directly to the shelter, so we do not keep any of it,” Mitchell said. “We also volunteer at the shelter, and we have a set schedule with all of our members.”

Caleigh Russell, vice president of Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs and a junior studying psychology, also added that the organization saw an increase of dogs inside the shelter since the ease of COVID-19 restrictrictions, which was believed to be from abandonment.

“There is a possibility that it’s not because of the pandemic, but it seems like we have a lot of dogs that are in (the shelter) just conveniently after people are starting to go back to work and starting to get the regular routine back,” Russell said. “There was actually a day … where we

had dogs outside in our outdoor kennel for a while, which doesn’t really happen. We always have the dogs inside.”

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Athens Independents look to organizing after disparaging remarks, election losses ABBY MILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Damon Krane knew he needed a new approach when running for an At-Large City Council seat this year after a failed bid for mayor of Athens in 2019.

Krane, an Independent and prevalent organizer in Athens, made a conscious effort to “de-emphasize” himself in his Council campaign in order to keep the focus on issues impacting Athens.

“I don’t see this as being about me. It’s not a vanity project,” Krane said. “It’s an effort to really change city policy and make a city government that’s more representative of the city population.”

Krane said that strategy came to life as a result of his opposition painting him as overly combative and unhinged in 2019, leading to more discussion on Krane’s personality than the issues. This year, before Krane even launched his campaign, he said he spent three months identifying and attempting to convince around 100 individuals in Athens to run for elected office. One of those individuals was Iris Virjee, a fellow Independent who also ran for an At-Large seat.

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Krane and Virjee both lost on Nov. 2, with the three incumbent candidates retaining their At-Large seats on Athens City Council. All three are Democrats.

Despite Krane’s attempts at deemphasizing himself while campaigning, he still believes some Democrats in Athens continued similar attacks to 2019.

On Oct. 13, The Athens News reported leaked audio it received from a local Republican luncheon where Athens Mayor Steve Patterson was present, launching attacks at both Krane and Virjee to his opposing party. The lunch was private, with neither Krane or Virjee present.w Krane and Virjee both believe the audio exemplifies the political corruption and lies present in Athens. Now, despite recent losses, Independents are looking toward the future and increasing political involvement.

EXPOSING THE UNDERBELLY

Virjee, who uses she/they pronouns, had never run for office prior to 2021.

Virjee was motivated to run for Council to bring more equity to all of Athens’ neighborhoods and because they saw a lack of representation on Council. Because

500

of their lack of experience, however, Virjee said they had to overcome perceived shortcomings while campaigning, some of which were reinforced by Patterson during the Republican luncheon.

Virjee said Patterson referred to her as a girl and a bartender in the leaked audio, and she also said claims in the audio were blatantly untrue. She believes Patterson conflated a lot of her politics to those of Krane, who was Patterson’s opposition in the 2019 mayoral election. It was clear to Virjee that Patterson had not read about her platform or politics.

“As much as it was humorous in a very dark way, I can’t help but be shocked because I think we all know that politics can have some corruption, but for it to be presented so candidly and … in such a revealing way … you have to wonder how many other conversations there were like these don’t get leaked,” Virjee said.

Virjee said many people she talked to were appalled at the leaked audio, and it served as an exposure to the “dark underbelly” of Athens’ politics.

Krane similarly said Patterson made false claims about him in the audio. Krane said Patterson asserts in the audio that Krane has put forth no policy proposals and never served on a city commission.

Krane’s campaign website has a section featuring his agenda and sections outlining specific policies. The “Rental Housing Safety” section in particular references his 2019 plan, “Operation Slumlord Smackdown,” which included stricter enforcement of city code, providing rent control and increasing code office staffing.

Krane said Patterson’s claim about him never serving on a city commission is also untrue, as he served on Council’s ad hoc committee for mobile vending in 2018 and 2019.

“Patterson has always been a very corrupt person,” Krane said. “He’s always lied to benefit himself, and it’s only now that people are willing to see that. And so, I think it will take longer for them to make the other connections that ought to be made, unfortunately.”

Patterson did not respond to a request for comment.

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An Oct. 26 Ohio University College Democrats event allowed for some of those grievances to be aired. Grant Perry, a senior studying geography and political science and the OUCD president, said the event was intended to be an opportunity for OUCD members to talk to Patterson and bring up some of the recent controversies surrounding him.

Perry said members addressed those controversies in a very respectful manner, and Virjee did too.

“I know that (Virjee) did have a really strong impact on our members,” Perry said.

“They were really happy with the way that she was very civil, she was respectful, she asked hard questions. And overall, that was a great interaction, not just between her and the mayor, but also between her and our students.”

Perry said when Krane showed up, the OUCD event became more tense.

The event was close to finishing when Krane arrived, Perry said. The event subsequently “broke down” into Krane and Patterson yelling, and Perry said he wrapped up the event after OUCD members sent text messages asking him to intervene.

“It’s not that we have an issue with holding elected officials accountable,” Perry said. “The issue was the antics that went along with it and just made our members very uncomfortable. And we just were not going to have that in our space.”

Krane said the meeting — similar to the leaked audio — is reflective of how Patterson tries to avoid situations where the public can confront him. Virjee agreed, saying

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the interaction gave her more confidence in herself and a look into Patterson’s character.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I might just be a girl and a bartender, but not you,’” Virjee said.

REACHING THE VOTERS

Despite there being a special election for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District on Nov. 2, voter turnout in Athens was still low.

County-wide voter turnout was at 26.86%, according to unofficial Election Day results from the Athens County Board of Elections.

Max Burton, a freshman studying journalism at OU, thinks student voter registration was an issue this election year. While Burton said there were many people on campus who helped register students to vote, he thinks many students put off registering or forgot to request an absentee ballot if they chose to vote in their hometown.

Perry said OUCD has done small voter registration drives in past years, which are not always successful. This year, however, OUCD partnered with OU’s Office of Community Engagement and other student organizations on voter registration drives.

The partnership led to a higher success rate, Perry said, and OUCD would like to continue the partnership for future elec-

tions.

Burton also thinks the low voter turnout was due to students not being aware of Election Day. Burton voted Nov. 2 at Baker University Center, where many students living on campus go to cast their ballots.

“It was actually really disappointing showing up to the polling place,” Burton said. “I got there early with an expectation there would be a line and I was going to have to take a portion out of my day to go vote. Not a single person was there.”

Perry said as someone who is affiliated with a political organization, his circle seemed in tune with Election Day. Many of Perry’s friends and those in his circle were especially interested in the special election and supporting Democratic candidate Allison Russo, he said.

Similarly, Grace Anne Gasperson, a junior studying war and peace studies and religious studies, said she has voted in the past six to seven elections and grew up in a very political family. Once the audio of Patterson leaked, she felt even more determined to get her friends out to vote, although the audio did not impact the way in which she voted.

“My decisions were kind of made long before that,” Gasperson said. “I agree with the way that McCarey, Ziff and Grace have

comported themselves. I think they’ve made sensible decisions, and I tend to value sensibility quite a lot.”

Burton said he was not aware of the leaked audio. If he had known about it prior to the election, Burton said he would have checked out Krane and Virjee’s platforms. It ultimately would not have swayed him, however, as Burton said he tends to vote along party lines.

Despite the dip in voter turnout and their respec- City Council Candidate Damon Krane looks at preliminary tive losses, Krane and Vir- election results at the Skull in Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday, jee don’t see Election Day Nov. 2, 2021. (CARRIE LEGG | FOR THE POST) as a total flop. Krane said he received more votes in the At-Large City from the outside.

“It shouldn’t have taken the meeting with Council race than he did for mayor in 2019.

Virjee can now go into future elections with Republicans, but it did,” Krane said. “And I think it’ll take a lot more before more peomore confidence and experience.

Both Krane and Virjee plan to continue ple are willing to apply similar scrutiny to organizing in Athens. While some of those other members of the local Democratic esheavily involved in Athens politics — includ- tablishment.”

Krane believes Athens politics are moving Gasperson — were not surprised to hear Patterson’s remarks in the leaked audio, ing in the right direction — they’re just Krane sees it as an opportunity to contin- moving slowly. He said the demographics ue to put pressure on the democratic party of those who vote is what needs to change in order to shift the trajectory of Athens politics.

A majority of Athens’ population is renters and students, Krane said. He said in contrast, those who vote are usually homeowners who are more affluent. Once students, renters and low-income individuals realize they can change the policies that negatively impact them through voting in city elections, the nature of Athens politics will continue to evolve, Krane said.

“That’s a real uphill battle, because the notion of voting in a city election, I think, for most students, most low wage workers, is really insulting, because they think it means … giving consent through participation in the system that screws them over,” Krane said. “It’s going to take a while to get beyond that.”

While Virjee was the only one of the roughly 100 candidates Krane reached out to who decided to run for office, Krane is ultimately glad he found another way to encourage Independents to run. For Virjee, she hopes her decision to run inspires more candidates to run in future elections.

“I think I won a lot in 2019. I think I won a lot this year,” Krane said. “I didn’t win a seat on Council, but I won a great deal of leverage to affect city policy and to affect the makeup of Council. I can keep doing that. Other people like me can keep doing that. We can keep moving our city in a more progressive direction that way, but for us to ever win seats in city government, that’s all about turnout.”

City Council Candidate Damon Krane, right, awaits preliminary election results at the Skull in Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

(CARRIE LEGG | FOR THE POST)

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Sojourners Resiliency Center new location offers drop-in hours, in person programs LIZ PARTSCH FOR THE POST Peeking out from beyond the front door lies a space with bright green and white walls with musical instruments lining the interior. There’s a living room filled with cozy egg chairs and a flat screen TV, and there are book shelves full of an assortment of games and books.

This large and expansive space is home to the new Sojourners Resiliency Center, 5 N. Shafer St., welcoming guests to sit down and enjoy the various programs and services offered.

The recent opening of the Resiliency Center location stems from Sojourners Care Network, a nonprofit organization based out of McArthur, Ohio. Focused on empowering at-risk youth in Appalachian Ohio, Sojourners provides individuals with programs that address topics like mental illness, homelessness, poverty and illiteracy.

Like its branch sister, the new Sojourners Resiliency Center in Athens has a variety of objectives and goals for the new drop-in center space.

Opening its physical doors Monday, Nov. 8, the Sojourners Resiliency Center has been in service since October of 2020.

The process of renovation has been rocky since they first opened.

There have been two floods since the space opened due to a broken storm drain on Shafer Street. This past July, the center experienced its second flood where it had to rip up and replace all the flooring.

Along with floods, the pandemic also halted in-person programs.

After experiencing many setbacks, the Resiliency Center installed water resistant flooring in August and finally opened up the space to community members.

“It has been stop and go just because of the nature of the building and the world we live in like COVID,” Madeline Kramer, recruitment coordinator for the Resiliency Center, said. “Now that things are a little more under control and better handled, hopefully we’ll be able to keep going and not be like stop and close.”

With the space completely renovated, the center started offering regular drop-in hours and a variety of in-person programs for at-risk youth and other individuals to participate in.

Some of the latest programs include a zine workshop happening every Monday and a vegan and herbal medicine cook10 / NOV. 18, 2021

ing class on Tuesdays. This past week, the Resiliency Center had its grand opening kick-off with the zine workshop hosted by Seed Minkin.

“I feel really passionate about working with young people through the context of mentorship or through the context of an art workshop,” Minkin said. “When I heard about the Resiliency Center and how they are dealing with at-risk teens and young adults in the region, it seemed like a really great space.”

The idea to host a program sparked after Minkin went to Sojourners recent Skate Jam fundraiser and met event organizer Charlie Milter.

In hopes for the future, Minkin wants to collaborate with the Resiliency Center on some life skills workshops, including outdoor programs that would involve field trips, gardening and nature skills.

In addition to the zine workshop, the center has plans for many other programs

to start up soon including yoga classes, a book club, a creative writing workshop and a professional developmental program. It also has daily tutoring available in a variety of different subjects, with some of the tutors coming from Ohio University.

Beside programs, the center also offers services for anyone to utilize, including showers, a food pantry, laundry machines and free WiFi. Previously, the Resiliency Center hosted Lunchbox Fridays, where community members were welcome to hot showers and were able to fill a grocery bag with needed food items.

Andrea Baird, director of the Resiliency Center, said she hopes to bring back the Lunchbox program, and everyone is welcome to the services the center offers.

“Anybody is welcome to message us or give us a call, even if it’s off hours — we can usually work something out,” Baird said. “Typically the Resiliency Center … we

serve youth like 14 to 21 specifically, but the drop-in aspect where the community can access our essentials or the WiFi, the hot showers, that is to any community member.”

Kramer said along with the programs and services, the space is also a place where at-risk youth and community members can just relax and enjoy themselves.

“The idea for the Resiliency Center is to be a safe place for at-risk youth to come after school,” Kramer said. “If they want to participate in the programs they can, but they can also just sit here and do homework or play on their phone. It doesn’t have to be this structured environment.

Hopefully, we have a lot of community members in general utilizing the space for itself.”

@LIZZY_PART LP274518@OHIO.EDU

Seed Minkin teaching a zine workshop at Sojourners Resiliency Center on Nov. 8, 2021. (LIZ PARTSCH | FOR THE POST)

FIND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ON OHIO.EDU/COUNSELING BROUGHT TO YOU BY COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

Beyond playing games ELI FEAZELL ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Not everyone is interested in esports just for the games.

Some might be interested in competitive gaming, but others might find an open space for career development regardless of their major. Esports is multiplayer video games played at the competitive level, and it’s growing in popularity all over the world.

When Bobcat Esports was formed as a club in 2017, its founders weren’t just focused on recruiting the best players they could find. The program needed students who work in management, social media, technical support, broadcasting and other fields to get the program fully running.

That’s one thing those involved with Bobcat Esports wants everyone to know: Even if a student is not competitive or even if they don’t have a strong aptitude for gaming, the club is still open to them.

One of the founders of Bobcat Esports, Kristofer Meyeres, a 2020 alumnus and continued esports advisor at OU, said that often his long-time passion for video games was not understood by people around him. Many didn’t see the same potential value in the medium as he did, and the stigma around video games didn’t help, either.

“There’s always a stereotype that video gamers were just an outcast of society and that you can’t interact with them,” Meyeres said. “I really wanted to focus on breaking that stigma and then also showcasing how much really is behind esports and video games.”

Meyeres believes Bobcat Esports began to grow a social presence at Ohio University after the club formed and hosted events. People who played games were no longer being viewed as outcasts playing in the corner of lobbies, Meyeres said. Along with the industry becoming more popular inside and outside of Athens, people recognized the leadership of students involved with Bobcat Esports, its partnerships with OU and the growing membership of the club. Even professors and faculty began to notice and recog12 / NOV. 18, 2021

Bobcat Esports held its admin meeting consisting of presidents from other gaming clubs on campus in the CoLab on the third floor of Alden Library. (RYAN GRZYBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

nized Meyeres as a part of the organization when he was in the classroom.

Bobcat Esports became an integral part of student life for many members of the club. With its arms outstretched and welcoming, people continued to join during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kylie Jung, a graduate student in the industrial systems engineering program, was part of Shawnee State University’s esports program. After her time at SSU, she wanted a graduate school that could offer her a similar gaming environment.

She asked her coach if OU had anything to offer, and she got in contact with Bobcat Esports before her first semester even started.

Right after Jung signed her lease, OU announced that most courses would be online for the following semester. Jung’s start in Athens could have been lonely but, fortunately, she already had connections.

“The only way that I actually got to know people at OU was through Bobcat Esports,” Jung said. “I’m friends with them today, and we hang out and everything, and it’s fantastic. But if I didn’t have Bobcat Esports for that, I don’t really know where I’d be because everything was online.”

Jung appreciates the competitive cul-

ture on the Bobcat Esports equivalent of a varsity Overwatch team she is on. However, not everyone has to love competition to be a part of Bobcat Esports.

Katie Schmidt, a senior in the music production program, felt welcomed by the club as a freshman in 2018. He had never seriously considered playing video games competitively until he played a few rounds of Super Smash Bros. Melee and talked with club members at the student involvement fair.

“I didn’t really play any super competitive matches,” Schmidt said. “I just played more casually and stuff, but the community is really welcoming in that if you are just a casual player, you aren’t going to be excluded from the space.”

From there, Schmidt started on the club’s Overwatch team, became social media manager, then program director and now sits as vice president. He wants others who might be unsure if they will feel accepted in Bobcat Esports to know there’s a space open for them.

“As a member of the LGBT community ... in the role of vice president, a lot of what I do is just help other people feel included,” Schmidt said. “If somebody isn’t sure about joining a team or isn’t sure about

where they can fit in, I can talk to them if they want to talk. We have a lot of different people, non-binary, identify as (a) man, identify as a woman, a lot of people from different backgrounds, gender, sexuality, race, all sorts of settings that just come and play games.”

Schmidt also credits Bobcat Esports in helping him learn how to compose himself on a professional level. He attends board meetings, works with investors and helps with the creation of the upcoming new esports facility.

Bobcat Esports is made up of students from a variety of majors, with many finding ways to implement their studies into the club. Pat Daley, a junior studying integrated media and the current president of Bobcat Esports, has a dream job of working in player support and helping set organizations up for success by making them aware of their best and worst practices.

He saw potential in the program when he arrived at OU and set a goal in obtaining a leadership position.

Those who came before Daley, like Meyeres and Ivy O’Shaughnessy, another founder, gave him the opportunity to climb up the ladder to higher positions.

By the time he was president, he was

The Esports lab in Scripps Hall sits waiting on computers to arrive so it can be completed. (RYAN GRZYBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

well-prepared and excited for his role. He had been with Bobcat Esports a long time, established himself as a leader, knew the program, loved the program and wanted to see it succeed.

Along with positions within the programs, current and former members of Bobcat Esports have found job opportunities in the esports industry. Max Sauber, a junior studying engineering, is Bobcat Esports’ primary esportscaster, a position in which he runs streams, gives analysis and play-by-play and interacts with the streaming chat. He’s received independent casting contracts through connections he’s made through the club. When the new esports facility is complete, the broadcasting booth will be based on a professional setup, which Sauber hopes will help train himself and others in the field.

When it comes to working in front of or behind a camera, moving the ethernet cables to make sure everything is plugged in correctly or ensure all the cameras are giving the right signals, trained talent isn’t always easy to find.

“We are creating an ecosystem where we can build that and train people on professional grade equipment as a student,” Sauber said.

The new facility, which will be located in Scripps Hall, was approved by OU’s

Board of Trustees with $650,000 of funding for the project in January 2020, according to a previous Post report. After a delayed opening due to a global computer chip shortage, the facility is planned to open in Spring Semester 2022.

Lemar Daniels, a former director of operations for Bobcat Esports and OU alum, is now the esports coordinator at Lourdes University. Working with esports allowed Daniels, someone with a background in traditional sports, to see how such programs are run at a club level and how that can benefit students.

Many esports programs in the U.S. are still clubs, but even varsity programs, such as Lourdes’, give students opportunities in leadership and their fields of interest.

Daniels said not only does this give students good experience while they’re still in college, but being student-run also benefits the program at other levels.

“It keeps just the entire team engaged,” Daniels said. “It gives everybody different things to be able to work toward, too. Maybe you’re not getting a lot of play time, but you do a lot with our production or you do a lot with our fundraising. It gives them more opportunities to still get involved.”

Daniels and other alumni of Bobcat Esports are first-hand examples of students graduating and going into jobs in the in-

dustry. Ivy O’Shaughnessy, one of the club’s founders, works as the associate client operations manager at Esports Engine, an esports events and solutions company.

“The reality of it is there’s so many cogs kind of turning behind the scenes as far as what needs to happen to kind of make an event go off,” O’Shaughnessy said.

“My communications major was super helpful in giving me a prerequisite idea of what this industry needs, especially since esports itself has started to just grow rapidly within the past few years.”

O’Shaughnessy feels confident that no matter what someone’s major is, esports has a place for them.

Many OU alumni, including those who graduated prior to the founding of Bobcat Esports, have gone on to make a name for themselves in the industry and even work at executive levels. Jeff Kuhn, the esports director at OU, wants students to have the skills necessary to join those alumni in the young but growing industry, doing so through Bobcat Esports and their education.

“Now what we’re doing is connecting with those graduates and saying, ‘You’ve got the industry experience in this brand new field. What would our students need to get hired by you?’” Kuhn said. “There are no established precedents for this. So,

we’ve got this free rein to create with the only goal of making sure our students are ready for careers.”

Esports is a growing industry both in terms of revenue and popularity. Tournaments such as the 2021 League of Legends World Championships receive viewership in the millions, and with such high viewership brings high revenue.

The money is there in the industry, and so are the jobs. To Kuhn, this focus beyond just competition is also what creates a more welcoming, healthy environment.

Starting students off in a positive environment could go on to change the video game industry as a whole, Kuhn said. The industry still has its problems. Companies such as Activision Blizzard and Paradox Interactive have received accusations of gender-related harassment or abuse as recently as 2021. Making sure the esports space at OU is welcoming to all has been a top priority for everyone involved in the club, including Kuhn.

With open doors to explore different career paths, Kuhn hopes students will take values of inclusivity from Bobcat Esports and OU into the industry post-graduation.

“I do passionately believe that college can help fix the industry,” Kuhn said. “But until we recognize games and recognize the industry our kids are going into and help shape and let them develop these values, we’re not going to get that fixed.”

@ELIFEAZ EF195418@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER

Online brand partnerships help build student professionalism KATIE MILLARD FOR THE POST Anyone with a TikTok addiction can argue: the internet is the best place for shopping recommendations.

Products go viral upon influencers’ recommendations, and accompanying this trend is a new era of online marketing. But how do influencers find these products and collaborations?

Several Ohio University students are finding out for themselves. Students on campus are sharing their experiences as brand ambassadors with social media partnerships in this modern, mutually beneficial sales technique.

Emily Hurd, a junior studying fashion merchandising, works as a brand ambassador for Outline Ohio. The company originally connected with Hurd through Instagram and now sends her samples of new merchandise in exchange for posting the items on her Instagram.

While it sounds simple, each exchange has a set system of advertising, with Hurd posting one Instagram post and two Instagram stories for each new item, typically at least once every two weeks.

“I feel like this is the perfect mix of being in the fashion industry but more the social media side of it, which is 14 / NOV. 18, 2021

what I’m really interested in,” Hurd said.

Hurd said she looks up to many online influencers, so the opportunity to work in a similar vein is exciting for her.

“I get a lot of my fashion (inspiration) off of influencers I’ve been following on Instagram for a really long time,” Hurd said. “Seeing them having all these things that they can post about, I feel like it’s cool … that college students are given those opportunities, too, to network.”

While many students participate in extended partnerships, one-time collaborations are also common. Erin Bishop, a freshman studying media and social change, earned her first brand deal through her TikTok. Bishop worked with Moon Pals, a shop selling weighted stuffed animals that can help with anxiety.

Bishop said the company sent her a direct message on Instagram asking to collaborate. When she agreed, it then sent her a free product in exchange for her posting a TikTok with it. Once the video reached 1,000 views on the app, she was paid for her work.

While Bishop creates content for fun, she enjoyed working with Moon Pals because it helped her realize content creation could be more than a pastime.

“I like feeling like my content is a feasible job,” Bishop said. “Not just that I’m doing it for fun — I can actually

work hard and make money off of it.”

Kassidi Dominick, a junior studying marketing, also loves how her partnership with Curology feels more like a job than a hobby. Dominick works as the campus manager for the brand, and while she said the money does not feel like a full-time job yet, the experience certainly does.

“Curology, I do probably only five hours a week right now because it won’t be in full force ‘til spring,” Dominick said. “But for my Instagram, I do probably spend every day on it, probably five hours a day. Then on days that I actually want to post pictures, a lot goes into what it is, what I’m going to post and what the purpose behind it is.”

While Curology is Dominick’s largest brand collaboration, brands often reach out to her through her Instagram for one-time collaborations. Then, she sends them her rates and media kit. Once both Dominick and the brand feel the partnership is a good fit, they will move forward with it.

Dominick said authenticity was important to her when choosing what to post on her feed and whom to work with.

“I base off brands that I’m actually loyal to and I could see myself shopping at,” Dominick said. “If I would not shop there or if I would not buy something on my own, I tend to stay away from the collabs because I like to stay true to what I want to be.”

Dominick said she loves working with brands, especially as someone who has never been drawn to the idea of a traditional 9-to-5 job. However, she recognizes it’s a lot of work and warns anyone looking to participate to dig in and do in-depth research before making any brand commitments.

“I would say that it’s really easy to get scammed and, when a brand reaches out to you, it’s not always that you should say ‘yes’ to it,” Dominick said.

Sophie Ballou, a junior studying fashion merchandising, works as the trendsetter for the OU campus branch of Victoria’s Secret ambassadors. Ballou works with her fellow ambassadors to host campus events and promote on social media.

“Their brand is basically empowering women to do a lot of different things and just bringing them together,” Ballou said. “These events not only promote their brand as a whole but also do things that will get people thinking about their goals or bring people together.”

Ballou applied for the position in order to get more involved on campus and said her favorite part is the social aspect of her work, gaining the opportunity to get close with her fellow ambassadors and introducing the brand to people on campus.

Friendships, gifts and marketing experience make the hard work put into student brand partnerships worth it for OU student collaborators. Student brand ambassadors have to put themselves out there, often in person along with online. Dominick said she appreciates the acceptance she’s found in college above all.

“I always was afraid to do it because ... in high school, you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t want people to make fun of me, or what if I don’t do it right?” Dominick said. “Now, coming to college and just being surrounded by so many other people who do it also, it really inspired me to just start to be myself and do something that I love because it’s something that I want to do the rest of my life.”

@KATIE_MILLARD11 KM053019@OHIO.EDU

International Education Week connects alumni, students KATE ANDERSON FOR THE POST Monday was the first day of International Education Week, a joint celebration initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. In order to celebrate the week, Ohio University’s Office of Global Affairs, or OGA, will promote international education throughout the week.

“This year, we are celebrating our global resilience,” Ji-Yeung Jang, interim executive director of Global Affairs, said.“We are also recognizing that a lot of those global engagements and connections have never stopped ... through virtual engagement.”

Jang said OGA will have events recognizing the accomplishments of instructors and students who have had a global engagement.

There will be an alumni panel in which international alumni who currently live overseas will share their experiences. They will talk about the impact OU’s education has had on them and how it has been incorporated into their everyday lives. Jang said there will also be an Education Week Gala, which she believes will be the highlight of the week.

Jang said the week will be based on the campaign “Make Respect Visible.” OGA is editing that campaign to include international people on campus. The OU campus has about 1,000 international students and numerous international faculty and staff.

“We want to bring global perspectives on this campaign,” Jang said.

Jang said the office wants to answer questions like “What does respect mean from the global and international perspective?”

The week will educate students on the topic and help everyone recognize the importance of international education and perspective. Jang said every day of the week will have an event.

OU masters student Laila Granderath is from Germany and is currently studying abroad for her second time. Through studying abroad, she has been able to recognize the importance of global perspectives.

“I feel like (studying abroad) helps you a lot,” Granderath said. “First of all, to be more independent, be more confident but also get so much experience and see another part of the world. Also getting to know new people .. I think it just broadens your horizons a lot. So, I think it’s a really great opportunity.”

Jang said OU wants its students to be global leaders in a society of interconnectedness.

“In order for our students and alumni to be global leaders, you need to have this global knowledge,” Jang said. “You need to have global competencies. You need to be able to communicate with different people with different backgrounds. You need to have this intercultural intelligence and the attitude that you want to be appreciating. You want to have this compassion for the things that are happening.”

OU alumna Allie Sprenger uses the skills she learned while studying abroad in her current job.

Sprenger studied abroad in Hungary through the OU Global Consulting Program, or GCP, during the summer of 2018.

“We can’t just take one approach to everything because it is a global company, and you have to broaden your mind to it, and I think GCP really helped me understand,” Sprenger said. “90% of my interviews are me just talking about my GCP experience, especially with a global position … because I’ve worked with people out of the country.”

For those wanting to involve themselves in International Education Week, they can visit https:// www.ohio.edu/iew.

@KATE_ANDERSON4 KA668316@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

HOCKEY

Spencer Schons gets his work ethic from those closest to him MOLLY BURCHARD FOR THE POST Spencer Schons has had many influences throughout his hockey career. However, when asked who helped him the most, Schons has two answers that immediately come to mind. The freshman can trace his love and dedication to hockey back to his father as well as his junior hockey team, the Northern Cyclones.

The Westlake native was on the ice before he was in kindergarten, thanks to his father. Schons’ dad grew up in Minnesota and played hockey all throughout his youth. Although his dad was never a serious hockey player, he couldn’t wait to get his son in skates.

From the first time he skated onto the ice, Schons fell in love with the sport.

Hockey became his passion.

“I loved it and never wanted to stop,” Schons said. “I just kept going, kind of just picked it up and never put it back down.”

Schons’ dad was the first person to instill a sense of dedication into him. His dad was there to take him to early morning practices and pushed him to reach his full potential as a player. Schons’ father is a hard worker, and that quality rubbed off on his son.

The two still keep in close contact despite Schons living away from home for much of the year. His father calls him about once a week to catch up and discuss which aspect of his game Schons is working on at that moment.

“He’s always pushing me,” Schons said.

“It pisses me off sometimes. We get in fights and stuff, but he’s definitely been there to make sure I’m always working hard and never slacking off.”

But Schons didn’t just acquire his sense

of dedication from his father. He honed that devotion to the sport during his time with the Cyclones.

Schons compared his time playing for the Cyclones in Hudson, New Hampshire, to a job. If he wasn’t up to snuff, he didn’t get to play.

But the defenseman didn’t want to end up as a player who sat on the bench for the entire season. He enjoys hockey too much to be on the bench. Despite spending just one season with the Cyclones, he worked on his skills tirelessly. Schons played 21 games by the end of the 2020-21 season and crafted himself into a worthy defensive player.

“I would say they made me into the man I (am) today,” Schons said. “They’re very hard. They treat their players with a lot of respect, but they also made us work hard every day.”

Schons ended his time with the Cyclones after one season and made the jump to collegiate hockey. But when he arrived at Ohio, he found himself in the same position he had been in the year before.

Schons was a rookie once again, and he was surrounded by upperclassmen with more experience.

However, he was no stranger to needing to stand out. Schons used what he learned during his stint with the Cyclones to carve himself a niche in Ohio’s roster.

“I had to work hard every single day, coming to training camp ready to go and earn my spot,” Schons said. “I think just learning that from last year translated into this year and really helped put me in the position that I am right now.”

His hard work paid off. Schons has played in 15 games for the Bobcats this season, the most of any freshmen on the roster. In addition, he has amassed 10

points from two goals and eight assists. To Schons, his performance has been his biggest reward this season. He enjoys seeing the blood, sweat and tears he pours into his craft become tangible points for the Bobcats.

“I come ready to work every day,” Schons said. “I take it all so seriously, and it just feels good to be kind of one of those guys who’s constantly in the lineup and consistently playing and having a good impact on the team.”

Schons is in a good spot. He’s still a freshman, and he has ample time to grow while at Ohio. Despite being one of the younger players on the roster, Schons can’t wait for next year. He wants to pass

the skills and knowledge he’s gathered from his influences down to the Bobcats that come after him.

“Everything that I have or that I do well, I want the same for the next guy behind me,” Schons said.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

5 Bobcats score in double digits in win over Robert Morris JACK GLECKLER SPORTS EDITOR Ben Vander Plas anchored his left foot and whirled around to face the basket. He jumped into the air and let the ball fly from his hands. The redshirt senior never took his eyes off the ball as he slowly jogged backward. He maintained eye contact as the ball hit the inside of the rim and sank into the net while the crowd of 6,180 people erupted inside The Convo.

The turnaround jump shot with 8:14 left in the second half was Vander Plas’ final basket in Ohio’s 85-71 win over Robert Morris on Monday night. He ended the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Despite his performance, Vander Plas didn’t hog the spotlight. He was only one of the five Bobcats who scored in double digits against the Colonials.

During his post-game press conference, Vander Plas emphasized one point — trust. The redshirt senior is one of the oldest players on Ohio’s roster, and he knows what his teammates are capable of. He knows he can pass the ball off, and someone will find the net.

“I think a big thing is just the trust we have for each other,“ Vander Plas said. “Just the ability to have so many guys who can put the ball in the hole is really helpful for us. Just a bunch of unselfish guys. There’s going to be games where some guys score more than the others and, with the team we have now, everybody’s OK with that.”

His trust was well placed. Four other Bobcats — Jason Carter, Ben Roderick, Lunden McDay and Mark Sears — finished the night with double figures, and Carter joined Vander Plas in recording a double-double after racking up 11 rebounds.

McDay scored 11 points off the bench and was perfect when shooting from the field in the second half.

Ohio coach Jeff Boals reiterated Vander Plas’ point. The Bobcats know who their most dependable scorers are. They may not all get hot on the same night, but the Bobcats know they have the firepower to run up the score.

“Different guys can step up. We’ve got multiple guys that can score 20-plus points a game,“ Boals said. “When you have guys who share the basketball, play with confidence, good things are going

to happen.”

It’s not difficult for Boals to back up his claim. The Bobcats proved him right when they whooped the Colonials on Monday.

Even players who underperformed in the first week of Ohio’s season made a splash. Roderick, who’d yet to crack double digits in his first two starts, scored all of his 14 points after halftime. He kicked off Ohio’s scoring in the second half with five consecutive free throws and ended the night without missing a single shot from the line.

Roderick had been a quiet contributor in Ohio’s first two games, putting up just eight points against both Belmont and Cleveland State. The junior wasn’t satisfied with eight points. He wanted to contribute, but he bided his time. He figured patience would pay out. All he could do was

keep shooting and eventually he’d make a connection.

He was right.

“I just feel like at one point, it’s just going to all catch fire, and I’m just going to keep getting shots up,“ Roderick said. “I know they’re going to fall, and my teammates keep telling me to keep shooting, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

The Bobcats success in scoring — and by extension their three-game winning streak — relies on their own cooperation.

They’ve won all three of their games by double-digit margins and have been unscrupulous in distributing the ball among themselves. Boals calls it maturity. Vander Plas calls it trust. Whatever it’s called, there’s a common factor linking both explanations.

The Bobcats have reliable shooters, and

they know it.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Numbers to know from Ohio’s 73-62 win over Cincinnati ASHLEY BEACH SLOT EDITOR Ohio took a trip to Fifth Third Arena for a nonconference matchup against Cincinnati on Tuesday. It established dominance early into the game and produced a 73-62 outcome for its first win of the season and Cincinnati’s first loss.

Following a 3-pointer by Ella Pope with 52 seconds left in the first quarter, the Bobcats (1-2) led for the rest of the game.

They led by six at the end of the first and by 16 at halftime and the end of the third.

Guards Erica Johnson and Cece Hooks both had breakthrough performances to lift the Bobcats above the Bearcats (2-1).

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS TO KNOW FROM OHIO’S WIN OVER CINCINNATI: 48

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The dynamic duo of Hooks and Johnson locked in against the Bearcats, scoring a combined 48 points. Hooks, who played all 40 minutes of the game, contributed 21 points, and Johnson added 27 points.

Johnson’s shooting from the free-throw line was a perfect four-for-four. Hooks also found success at the line and went 10for-13. Both are known to be apt shooters for the Bobcats and flashed their talents against the Bearcats.

0 For the last 3 1/2 minutes of Tuesday’s game, the Bobcats did not score a single field goal. Their final field goal of the game was a 3-pointer by Gabby Burris with three minutes and 23 seconds left. Afterward, the Bearcats went on an 8-0 run to cut the Bobcats’ lead to nine points. How-

550

ever, Hooks did complete two free throws after Cincinnati’s run to redeem Ohio’s lost points.

7 Hooks turned the ball over to Cincinnati seven times Tuesday. Her turnover total has increased with each game, from three against Notre Dame to six against Liberty to seven Tuesday. Overall, Cincinnati managed to score 17 points off Ohio’s 18 turnovers. While it may not have been detrimental Tuesday, these turnovers could hurt the Bobcats in the heart of the season.

8 Burris built on her previous performances to bring her season-high rebounds up to eight, just three shy of her career-high 11. Burris honed in her tal-

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ents for defensive purposes. Only two of her eight rebounds were offensive, and the other six were defensive. The forward provides a substantial amount of edge for Ohio regaining possession.

18 Ohio had 18 personal fouls Tuesday.

Leading the pack was Madi Mace, who fouled out with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. Hooks also found herself in foul trouble in the fourth quarter after committing two in under three minutes. Mace was not the only player to foul out of the game, though. Cincinnati’s Akira Levy also fouled out after she received a technical with 6:03 left in the fourth.

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CAMPBELL”S CORNER

Mike Carey’s policies threaten the future of Appalachia HANNAH CAMPBELL is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University Republican candidate Mike Carey won the special election for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District earlier this month against Democratic candidate Allison Russo. While he takes on the persona of an Appalachian hero, his extremist policies will hurt rural area residents.

Carey’s mission statement on his website says it all: “ProTrump. America First. Outsider. Ready To Fight.” He is the stereotypical “drain the swamp” hero candidate the Republican party craves to further distance itself from the Democratic party.

He previously served as an officer in the Army National Guard and has an over 20-year career as an executive for American Consolidated Natural Resources, a coal company.

He has even been endorsed by Republican leaders, such as former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Prior to his campaign, Carey worked as a coal lobbyist, advocating against clean energy policies. A staff attorney at the Ohio Environmental Council, Nolan Moser, said that “he does an exceptional job selling fiction.”

He continues to be an advocate for fossil fuel use. He

claimed President Biden “killed thousands of good-paying American jobs” with efforts to reduce fossil fuel use and refers to the Green New Deal as a “$93 trillion sham.”

Carey makes the horrifying assumption that the reduction of fossil fuel use will automatically mean a lack of jobs for residents of Appalachia. However, renewable energy can actually be beneficial to both rural areas and their residents.

Coal production has fallen by more than 65% overall in Appalachia between 2005 and 2020. The areas that experienced the most loss were the ones most dependent on fossil fuel use.

Since then, renewable energy has provided about 20% of the world’s total power.

Rural areas are actually great deployment areas of renewable energy due to sparse population and open land. Not only will job and business opportunities increase, but rural areas have the opportunity to produce their own energy rather than importing fossil fuel energy from an outside source. This allows citizens to generate reliable and cheaper energy.

Contributing to his harsh and mortifying rhetoric, Carey disguises his pro-life agenda as common Christian values. He said, “It’s unconscionable that the Democrats caved to Planned Parenthood and excluded the Hyde Amendment from their $1.9 trillion spending bill, allowing your tax dollars to fund abortions.”

Carey’s win perfectly aligns with Ohio legislators introducing an abortion bill similar to Texas’ law. However, this bill goes further than Texas and looks to ban all abortions. The only exception is when the mother’s life is in danger. It does not outline an exception for rape or incest.

The bill also allows anyone, even people who have no connection to the patient, to sue doctors, health centers and anyone who helps the patient access abortion in court and gets no less than $10,000. Under the law, a random abortion protestor could sue an Uber driver for taking a patient to their appointment.

More than 20,000 abortions were performed in Ohio last year. In Athens County, there were 54 abortions. While these numbers are a little higher than last year’s, abortions have been declining since 2010. So, even under Obama, a Democratic president, fewer women were getting abortions.

Republicans like Carey believe completely getting rid of abortions will reduce the number of women getting them.

Whether it’s legal or illegal, women will continue to get abortions in other states and possibly other countries. With Carey’s faith-based views guiding his vote toward legislation, Appalachian women could lose the right to have an abortion.

Carey is camouflaging fossil fuel use and pro-life policies as Appalachian values. Although these policies don’t actually benefit residents, citizens might not know better because his jarring rhetoric convinces otherwise.

In true political fashion, Carey is attempting to align his personal agendas and call them Appalachia’s. Let’s just hope residents catch on before it’s too late.

Hannah Campbell is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Hannah by tweeting her at @hannahcmpbell.

THINKING IN PRINT

Don’t ban abortions in Ohio. Teach sex education.

CHARLENE PEPIOT is a senior studying English at Ohio University Going to a religious school meant sex education was out of the question for me. My health teacher told our class we were “too immature” to handle the infamous talk. We weren’t ready to discuss sex, but that didn’t stop the school from kicking out a student when she got pregnant.

Continuing this practice of punishing people for having sex, Ohio lawmakers have recently proposed banning all abortions in the state — going even further than the recent bans in Texas — despite neglecting to teach its schools basic education on contraception. Ohio law stresses that abstinence-only education be taught in schools, and it is not required to be comprehensive or even medically accurate. That means teaching what qualifies as consent and contraceptive options are optional and often downright discouraged.

What’s worse, these already lackluster requirements only apply to public schools. Private schools, like the one I attended, have no guidelines for teaching sexual education and are free to skip it completely if the school desires. These private

schools are often religious in nature and, in my experience, sex is a taboo topic that must be avoided until someone inevitably gets pregnant, and that pregnancy is punished by kicking out those involved.

Despite the practically nonexistent education on consent and contraception in our schools, some people expect that women should somehow understand how to safely engage in intercourse and that unwanted pregnancies are a failing on the woman’s part. If a child walks into traffic, we don’t blame them for not knowing it’s dangerous. We blame the parents for not teaching them to look both ways. If a woman who was never taught about corrosion, consent or contraception gets pregnant, we should call out the education system instead of labeling her as the one at fault.

How does the average woman get birth control? Is it free?

Do you have to take it every day? These questions are not common knowledge, and the aforementioned taboo of discussing sex can leave some women in situations in which they are unable to ask how to safely engage in intercourse. What people don’t understand is that it’s not as easy as just taking birth control and not getting pregnant.

Ohio is far from the only state lacking in sex education.

Only 24 states mandate that sex education must be taught in schools and, of those states, a pitiful 13 are required to make sure it is medically accurate. Only 18 states are required to in-

clude contraception in their sex education while 26 mandate that abstinence is emphasized.

Statistically, teenagers who receive a comprehensive sex education are less likely to get pregnant than those who receive no sex education or the abstinence-only lessons Ohio teaches. Out of the top 10 states with the highest teen pregnancy, five are not required to teach sex education in their schools.

Instead of banning abortions, Ohio, and especially the U.S. as a whole, needs to start sufficiently teaching young men and women sex education. Doing so will decrease the rate of unwanted pregnancies before they exist. You can’t withhold basic reproduction facts from people and then punish women when they get pregnant by forcing them to have a child they are not ready for.

Charlene Pepiot is a senior studying English 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 Charlene know by emailing her, cp872117@ohio.edu.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

ALBUM REVIEW

Taylor Swift’s ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ takes an iconic pop album, makes it even better LOGAN HUMPHREY FOR THE POST Nine years after its initial release, Taylor Swift rereleased her fourth studio album, Red . Running just over two hours long, Red (Taylor’s Version) features the rerecordings of the original 21 songs from the album/era, plus nine new songs “from the vault.” It’s the second album she has re-recorded in the process to regain ownership of her masters.

Nominated for album of the year in 2013, Red was one of her most successful albums. This album marked her big transition into mainstream pop, as her songs started to stray away from her usual country sound. With songs both heartbreaking and youthful, Swift herself described the album as a “fractured mosaic of feelings” as she embarked on her early 20s.

The album had major hit songs like “22,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Other beloved songs include her iconic breakup song “All Too Well” and the emotionally colorful title track, “Red.” With its fair share of hits, it seemed the new rerecordings were going to garner a very wide audience of fans old and new, creating an unbelievable amount of anticipation for its release.

Thankfully, the album lives up to that anticipation, expanding on its maturity and sound.

It’s been almost 10 years since the album first released, and it’s glorious to hear the voice of a more mature Swift with her subtle yet warmer tone. Her maturity radiates across the album in her voice and in the production of her songs. As a common theme across her rerecordings, it seems to improve her music drastically.

During the process of rerecording her songs, Swift is finally liberated to do as she pleases with her songs.

She’s finally able to produce her songs the way she wanted them to originally sound. One of the weaker songs on the album, “Girl at Home,” acquired a new poppy, upbeat sound to it, getting rid 20 / NOV. 18, 2021

of its original country sound.

This substantial improvement made fans appreciate a song that was considered one of her “worst” songs. Swift continues to tweak her other original songs as well, contributing to the improvement of her own album.

Remarkably, her most cherished song to date, “All Too Well,” became even greater with the highly anticipated 10-minute version. The longer version, which includes verses and lyrics not included in the original song, gives the it way more meaning and elegance.

It contains some of her most excruciating lyrics to date as she sings, “They say all’s well that ends well, but I’m in a

new hell / Every time you double-cross my mind.” Without a doubt, the entire 10 minutes are absolutely marvelous and essentially capsulizes the whole album.

The nine vault tracks, which seem to be more exciting than those of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), prove to make the album even more sensational and heartbreaking. They are each different in their own magnificent way, making it seem shameful that they have been locked away for all these years.

Collaborations with spectacular artists like Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran and Phoebe Bridgers add more character to the album. “I Bet You Think About

Me,” featuring Stapleton, brings back Swift’s signature country twang. She also reintroduces her iconic tradition of writing about her exes, ending her song with a sendoff only she would write: “I bet you think about me when you say / ‘Oh, my God, she’s insane; she wrote a song about me.’”

“Nothing New,” featuring indie singer-songwriter Bridgers, cultivates the insecurities women may feel while growing up. It is yet another brilliant tear-jerker by Swift with staggering lyrics such as “How can a person know everything at 18 / But nothing at 22?” As one of the more compelling vault tracks, it proves that another Swift-Bridgers collaboration should happen.

The album provided another Sheeran collaboration with “Run,” which has similar elements as their other duet on the album, “Everything Has Changed.” Although they are very similar, both acoustic duets embrace the outstanding balance the two artists form in these songs.

Another vault song, “Message in a Bottle,” is filled with inspiration and synth-pop, and it sounds like a flashback to 2012.

If it had been released back in 2012, it would have dominated the charts, possibly overtaking some of her other chart-toppers.

Overall, Red (Taylor’s Version) celebrates her journey and growth over the years by taking back what is rightfully hers. As her career moves forward, her talent is perpetually improving, and it is shown incredibly in her re-recordings.

Being able to make an iconic pop album even greater than it was shows that her talent is absolutely unmatched. Plus, the versatility of this album undoubtedly makes you feel happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time.

RATING: 5/5 LH129720@OHIO.EDU @LOGANHUMPHREY_

5 fall-themed cocktails for Thanksgiving dinner

PECAN PIE MARTINI

Before this, I didn’t even know you could get pecan-flavored vodka. This drink is for all of the pecan pie lovers. The mix of the Irish cream liqueur, pecan pie vodka and heavy cream creates a creamy, rich consistency. Since this drink has a strong pecan flavor and a large amount of heavy cream, this will be most enjoyed as a dessert after your big meal.

SPIKED ICED PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

This cocktail is perfect for anyone who enjoys the cozy feeling you get when drinking a pumpkin spice latte. Similar to the pecan pie martini, this drink is so rich that it’s almost a dessert itself. Be careful not to have too many of these later in the day since they do contain caffeine. You could find yourself unable to sleep later in the night.

MARY BERGER ART DIRECTOR The temperature has dropped, the leaves have changed and Black Friday ads are playing on the television. It is officially the Thanksgiving season. Thanksgiving is known as a time to remember all of the blessings in your life: your family and friends, your job, your education, your significant other and everything else you have to give thanks for.

What better way to ponder what you’re thankful for than over some Thanksgiving-themed cocktails? To get you in the spirit, here are five Thanksgiving-themed cocktails for the giving season:

PEACHY APPLE BELLINI

This Bellini recipe is another great option for those who don’t love a super strong alcoholic flavor when drinking. They are also a great option to sip on while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The fresh peach puree and honey pair perfectly with the fresh apple cider and champagne. For a mocktail version, replace the champagne with ginger ale.

HOT CARAMEL APPLE CIDER

As the last drink on our list but most definitely not the least, the hot caramel apple cider cocktail is always a crowd pleaser. Different from the other drinks on the list, this cocktail is served hot. This warm caramel apple flavored drink is perfect for sipping by the fire while trying to get through your post-dinner food coma.

SPARKLING VODKA CRANBERRY

A sparkling vodka cranberry is a sweet, refreshing cocktail perfect for those who don’t love a strong alcoholic flavor.

The sparkling water truly adds an extra something to your typical vodka cran. Bonus tip: add fresh cranberries and a lime wedge as a fun garnish.

@MARYBERGS10 MB690617@OHIO.EDU ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY BERGER

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender Marching 110 Varsity Show to cap off season ALEX IMWALLE FOR THE POST

The Marching 110 will conduct its final performance of the year with its annual Varsity Show concert. The show will be held in MemAud on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available for sale online and at the door for $10 or $8 per person in groups of 10 or more.

The show will be a culmination of every piece the band has performed so far this year, Greg Sheets II, a senior studying electrical engineering and the field commander of the Marching 110, said. The music for the Varsity Show will come from both the band’s football game sets as well as the music from the five concerts it has held the past semester.

“It’s kind of like a Spotify Wrapped,” Sheets said. “It’s just nice to be able to look back and see everything you’ve accomplished.”

Some of the music on the Varsity Show set includes “Permission to Dance” by BTS, “Lonely” by Justin Bieber, “Beggin’” by Maneskin and many more, Sheets II said.

The show also honors the seniors of the Marching 110, as it will likely be their final performance with the band. Each senior will be individually recognized before the final song, “Cheer,” is played to acknowledge the work they have put in during their time with the band.

The upcoming performance will be the return of the Marching 110 Varsity Show to campus, as it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. Although the band was granted the opportunity to play the concert this year, the students are expected to wear masks on stage, and the auditorium will only be filled to 80% capacity.

Even though the event will be held in an auditorium, some juniors and seniors in the band are selected to perform the dances that accompany many of the songs. Sheets II said it captures the essence of the original halftime and post-game performances at the football games.

Sheets II said the event also caters toward many high school bands that will travel to see the 110 perform. High school directors will bring their bands to the 22 / NOV. 18, 2021

concert to show their students what they should strive to be, he said.

Typically, the band travels to Columbus and performs the show in either the Palace Theatre or the Ohio Theatre but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will not make the trip this year, Sheets II said. However, he and the rest of the seniors feel lucky to be able to perform the concert at all since it was uncertain at the beginning of the semester if the Varsity Show would return.

“We saw how hard it was for the class above us last year, with some of them not even getting a marching season,” Sheets said. “We are very thankful that we are given the opportunity to be able to perform this show that is so special to so many people.”

Evan Schalon, a senior studying history, political science and global studies: war and peace, is a marching section leader for the trumpet section in the Marching 110. He said the Varsity Show is always incredibly moving, especially for the seniors.

“It’s their last experience to be really a member of the band until they come back for Homecoming the next year,” Schalon said.

Sheets said the concert will be emotional, as it is the last time the 2021 Marching 110 will perform together. He said this adds to the importance of the Varsity Show because it is the final opportunity to appreciate the group around them and all they have been through.

“I feel that this performance is everyone’s last chance to truly relive the year,” Sheets said.

In addition to the event’s nostalgia, Schalon said the energy of the auditorium is always electric during the Varsity Show.

The energy of the crowd gets the whole band excited to show off everything they have been working so hard on all semester, he added.

“It’s a happy occasion, and I’m glad that the last experience that the seniors have is one of the best concerts that we put on,” Schalon said.

Ethan Meyer, a freshman studying pre-nursing and a first-year member of the Marching 110, is excited to be a part of the Varsity Show and perform for such a

large crowd.

Meyer said the event is a great example of how the 110 values tradition. He said the culmination of the year’s work in the Varsity Show honors the band’s motto: “Be better than the best ever.” This motto represents the band’s goal of improving each and every year, and the concert will reflect the band’s tireless endeavor for greatness, Meyer said.

Though he does not want his first semester with the 110 to end, Meyer said he cannot wait to go out on stage, honor the seniors and participate in his first Varsity Show. He sees the concert as the perfect way to close out the season.

“It’s really been just a whole season of preparation,” Meyer said. “It’ll be cool to play through everything and really just show how much we’ve grown as a group.”

IF YOU GO WHAT: Marching 110 Varsity Show WHERE: MemAud, 47 E. Union St. WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 20, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

ADMISSION: $10 at the door; $8 per person in groups of 10 or more

@ALEXIMWALLE AI687120@OHIO.EDU

The Ohio University Marching 110 practice its formations in preparation for the next event in Athens, Ohio, on Sept. 27, 2021. (DYLAN TOWNSEND | FOR THE POST)

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Attend Thankfulness Hike; enjoy Hispanic dance night KATIE MILLARD FOR THE POST FRIDAY, NOV. 19 Fiesta Latina will begin at 8 p.m. at The Union, 18 W. Union St. Hosted by the Latino Student Union, the doors open at 7 p.m., and the event will last until 1:30 a.m.

Come in comfortable dance attire to enjoy an evening of Hispanic music.

Thankfulness Hike at Burr Oak State Park, 10220 Burr Oak Lodge Road, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Right before Thanksgiving, participants can practice gratitude on this 2-mile hike. Meet at the Burr Oak Park Nature Center and enjoy the beauty of nature with sturdy hiking shoes, weather-appropriate clothes and an appreciation for nature.

Flutist Lindsey Goodman will perform at Glidden Hall at 6 p.m. as part of the CLICK Electroacoustic Series at OU. The performance will celebrate live-processed flute music and commissioned works by a variety of American composers. Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy the onehour performance, including the world premieres of Jenny Bernard Merkowitz’s “OLD SOUL.” Admission: Free

An Evening with Cid Berry & Friends will begin at 6 p.m. at the Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St. The performance will also feature artists Extra Butter, Art Smock and Riley James. Come out and enjoy the show!

Admission: $4

Admission: Free

The Laramie Project student play will begin at 7 p.m. at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. The Lost Flamingo Theatre Company is putting on the drama, which centers around the aftermath of the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. Anyone is invited to come see the impactful show, but it is recommended for age 13 and older viewers due to the nature of the content. If you miss it Friday, experience it Saturday at the same time.

DIY Composting Class will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. The first of four dates sponsored by Appalachian Ohio Zero-Waste Initiative and Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers, the course will teach the basics of backyard composting and provide information about curbside compost pick-up. The first and last class, held Dec. 2, will occur via Zoom while the Nov. 22 and Nov. 30 classes will be held in person at the Athens Public Library, 30 Home St. Register online, and help turn your refuse into a resource.

Admission: $5 SATURDAY, NOV. 20 Peddle and Pinot Wine Tour by Bike will begin at 12 p.m. at Dutch Creek Winery, 12157 OH-690. Participants will bike the four-hour, 20-mile journey beginning with a sampling at Dutch Creek and biking through scenic Athens County, with a stop to sample some of Bradley’s meads and wines. The route will end at Wolftree Winery before looping back to Dutch Creek for prolonged time to sample. Riders will want to bring their own water and repair kit and must wear helmets and closed-toe shoes.

Admission: $30

Admission: Free Annual OHIO High School Horn Day will take place from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Glidden Hall. Hosted by the College of Fine Arts, this will be the 15th annual event. This year includes a day-long celebration of horn playing, expertise and experiences, and it will conclude with a final concert, also in Glidden Hall, from 6:30 until 7:30.

Admission: $20

@KATIE_MILLARD11 KM053019@OHIO.EDU

Various locations

BLOOD DRIVE

The need is constant, the need is urgent, sign up and give today.

Admission: Free

SUNDAY, NOV. 21 Sister Act Auditions will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, with callbacks to follow from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. as needed. The Athenian Berean Community Players community theater group is casting for a March performance. Those interested should complete an audition form online and come prepared with 16 to 32 bars of a song to perform.

Admission: $5 for those 18+, $3 for those 21+

TONIGHT! LORD OF THE RINGS TRIVIA NIGHT Join us for an exciting night of Lord of the Rings Trivia, hosted by our LOTR enthusiast MC, Nathan Becker!

We’ll be focusing on moviebased questions for this evening. Teams max out at 6. No unseated guests or Proudfoots!

Thursday, Nov. 18th NEW TIME 7:00 pm Reserve a table by messaging us on Facebook

@AthensUncorked Open to All Must be 21 to attend

The Union

FIESTA LATINA The Latino Student Union are proud to bring back this event. Doors open at 7thpm

Friday, Nov. 19 8:00 pm $3 cover 21 & over $5 under 21

https://fb.me/e/1d86fT3bw

visit the Red Cross online.

Enter your zip code to search for an available drive. Times availble each week

scan to schedule your donation

YOUR NEXT EVENT HERE

because it’s an affordable (cheap) way to expose art, music, theater, films, exhibitions, and non-profit events and happenings

TO

THOUSANDS OF READERS for as low as

$15 per week! send us an email postadvertising@ohio.edu

Semester pricing and discounts are available.

Space is limited

The perfect place to gather ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK! we have 32 Beers on Tap & Don’t Miss Bengals/Browns games every Sunday.

Tuesday night trivia.

Wednesday night live music with The Blues Cowboys.

@EclipseBeerHall Glidden Recital Hall

Open to All

RESIDENCY

UNHEARD-OF Ensemble Unheard-of will give a residency at Ohio University, including masterclasses, workshops, a recording session, and a concert. These events will be open to the public and will be live-streamed via the Ohio University School of Music Live Stream and via Youtube. Unheard-of will be performing works written by Ohio University students as well as those by a diverse range of contemporary artists that they have selected for their current concert repertoire.

Friday, Nov. 19th 4:00 - 9:00 pm promote

BEER, BROWNS, BENGALS & BLUES COWBOYS

hosted by: Ohio University Composers Association Free & Open to the Public

Kindred Market

HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Start the holiday shopping season by supporting local artists and celebrating small businesses! We will be having a Holiday Bazaar in our parking lot on Small Business Saturday November 27th from 12pm to 4pm. Stop by and grab some free hot apple cider in our Café and find a unique handmade or upcycled gift for your loved one

Saturday, Nov. 27th 12-4:00 pm Free & Open to the Public

The Market on State

ART MARKET

at the Athens Farmer’s Market Find hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, paintings and prints, yarn, lotions, quilts, eco-printed clothing, silkscreened t-shirts, wooden tables, boxes, bowls and more!

Locally made by members of the Athens Art Guild.

For more Music, Arts, and Events

Saturday, Nov. 20th 9 am - 12 pm Masks required

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

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