November 21, 2019

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Solar panels in Athens P4 Plastic reduction at local businesses P10 History of river floods P12

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

The Post staff gives thanks

ELLEN WAGNER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

he weeks of the semester have moved by too quickly. We get so stuck in a routine that we sometimes forget to stop and appreciate the people and places that mean the most to us.

As the holiday season and end of the semester approaches, The Post staff has reflected on the past semester. We assembled a list of just some of the many people, places and things we are thankful for: We are thankful for all the Baker Center custodians who clean our newsroom no matter how messy we get. The newsroom remodel may have gotten rid of the musty smell.

They are the ones who tolerated our mess all these years and still clean up after us.

We are thankful for the staff at The Athens Messenger, who works in the early hours of the day to make sure our paper is printed and brought to the stands every week. Thank you for tolerating us missing deadlines or forgetting to send a page of the paper.

We are thankful for The Post Alumni Society, a dedicated group of former Posties who want to help us out no matter how long it has been since they graduated. The members take the time to have Google Hangouts with staff members, help fund the paper and

plan an amazing alumni reunion every year.

We are thankful for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the School of Visual Communication for teaching us the skills we need to know to practice at The Post. We are thankful for our advisers and professors who are always willing to offer guidance and support when we need it.

We are thankful for our favorite Athens food and coffee spots that provide us with fuel to make it through the late night while we work to put together the paper every week. We appreciate the late night food delivery, like Insomnia Cookies, who help us make it through the night and early morning coffee, like Brenen’s Coffee Cafe, to help us make it through class the next day.

We are thankful for our business manager, Andrea Lewis. She was hired at the end of last year and has transformed The Post’s budget in just a semester. Without her, we would not have had our newsroom remodel, a trip to Washington, D.C., for the National News Media Conference or even a print edition.

We are thankful for our parents, friends, roommates and significant others, who put up with our weird hours of work and support our goals (even if they sometimes don’t

fully understand our major). They are there for us through our triumphs, complaints or just be someone to talk to on our walk home from the newsroom.

We are thankful for the newest and oldest members of The Post. The new members bring in fresh energy and excitement to the newsroom. The older Posties use their experience to guide other staff members to be the best they can be. We have loved seeing everyone grow from the start of their time at The Post and are excited to see how they will continue. Each staff member gives us hope for the future of journalism and The Post.

Lastly, we would like to thank our readers. Without you picking up our weekly tabloid or sharing our stories on social media, our paper would not be able to continue.

We appreciate hearing your feedback, both positive and negative, and the fact that you take the time to read our work that we put so much effort into every week.

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

Cover illustration by Rilee Lockhart

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLEN WAGNER MANAGING EDITOR Laila Riaz DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Taylor Johnston

EDITORIAL

NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Ian McKenzie LONG-FORM EDITOR Bennett Leckrone SPORTS EDITORS Matt Parker, Anthony Poisal CULTURE EDITOR Baylee DeMuth ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells OPINION EDITOR Shelby Campbell THE BEAT EDITOR Molly Schramm ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Mady Lewellyn COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger SLOT EDITORS Jack Gleckler, Avery Kreemer, Chloe Meyers, Kevin Pan

ART

ART DIRECTORS Rilee Lockhart, Riley Scott DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Nate Swanson

DIGITAL

WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Midge Mazur SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Sarah Penix DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Nicholas Langer

BUSINESS

STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Emily Cassidy, Hanna Seese

2 / NOV. 21, 2019

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Sustainability Hubs challenges students to think green, make a difference

Sam Smith helps transplant cacti and other succulents into recycled containers for the growing line of students in Nelson Commons on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019.

(JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES / FOR THE POST)

EMMA SKIDMORE FOR THE POST Sustainability Hubs holds a wide variety of initiatives to challenge students to focus on being renewable.

Emily Mullins, the graduate assistant to the sustainable living hub, works on aspects like food insecurity, sustainable transportation, campus grounds and student life.

“We are currently working hard to build a better student farm, contribute to the culinary dining experience, and to take

care of trees on campus,” Mullins said in an email. “Other Hubs focus on issues such as sustainable infrastructure and energy, and better work and classroom environments.”

While the specific duties of the hubs are different, all of them prioritize the issues in the Ohio University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, Mullins said in an email.

Some of the goals detailed in this plan include reducing landfill waste, making togo containers in dining halls compostable and consuming 5% less food per person, some of which have already been met.

Mullins said in an email that all hub coordinators communicate closely with each other to meet these goals.

“Collaboration among all community actors is the key to becoming more sustainable,” she said in an email. “Hubs allow people from different backgrounds to share ideas to build on and accomplish initiatives, which everyone can benefit from.”

Mullins said in an email that while some hubs are more project-based, events that are held by hubs are also open to community members, and there are monthly seminars for hub events along with opportunities for students.

“Students can become a Climate and Sustainability Ambassador, which is a group that encourages, promotes, supports and leads sustainability initiatives,” she said in an email. “Students, faculty, staff or community members can also propose or request to complete sustainability projects for the Sustainability Project Laboratory.”

Mullins said in an email her hub works with the Athens Tree Advisory Committee to meet a few times per semester and hosts a scavenger hunt for the Child Development Center.

“Since this is only the second semester where the Hub structure has taken place and university priorities are starting to change, it is difficult to say whether the university will keep this structure in the future,” she said in an email. “But so far, I think the Hubs are working well and it would be sad to see them disappear.”

Elaine Goetz, OU’s director of sustainability, said many successful programs had already been initiated on campus. Despite changes happening in the university, Goetz said she still expects the hub to

meet the university’s sustainability goals.

The range of environmental issues that is covered is broad, but the projects are all part of something larger, she said.

“The focus of the hubs is not just environmental issues but the triple bottom line of sustainability: how we make decisions that simultaneously benefit social systems, economic systems and natural systems,” she said in an email.

The hubs also holds events and celebrates holidays like Earth Day. For Pollution Prevention week In September, activities including a tap versus bottled water taste test and storm drain marking were happening during the week.

The Eco-Challenge program, which is one of their initiatives, works with the College of Business and Russ College of Engineering and Technology to create and market sustainable solutions.

David Bayless, sustainable infrastructure hub coordinator, said he’s most excited about what the university is doing to reduce its carbon footprint and energy usage. He said his hub is project-based to get students active and educated about sustainability.

He said his hub is working to implement composting efforts at West 82. The previous attempt had problems and a “really horrible stream of waste” that went out of the compost facility.

“My personal vision is to try to have these projects available for faculty who want to have experiential learning in their classroom and love to have a sustainability theme involved in the projects,” Bayless said.

@E_SKIDMOREGS ES320518@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

Athens solar energy investment continues to shine Multiple buildings in Athens are partially run on solar energy GEORGE SHILLCOCK FOR THE POST The city of Athens is continuing to invest in solar energy to lower costs and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Multiple buildings in Athens already have solar panel arrays installed, which provide a substantial amount of energy for each building. That includes the Athens County Public Library, the WasteWater Treatment Plant and the Athens Community Center.

Andy Stone, service safety director, said the solar array in the parking lot of the community center provides about 20% of its demand. The water treatment plant has a new array that produces about 50% of its demand.

“We have conceptual ideas to build a much larger array on the east side to provide the other 80 percent of the community center power and 100 percent of the wastewater treatment plant power demand, but those ideas are still in their infancy,” Stone said in an email.

Athens’ move to solar energy has been an ongoing project that recently culminated in city residents voting in favor of a carbon fee in the 2018 primary election. That fee

is meant to fund solar projects in the city, according to a previous Post report.

Elaine Goetz, director of sustainability at Ohio University, said the city of Athens is unique because this vote made Athens the first city in the nation to have such a fee.

The fee itself is a part of an opt-out program through the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council, or SOPEC, which charges a $1 to $2 fee to Athens residents who choose not to opt out.

Goetz, who is also a member of the Athens Environmental and Sustainability Commission, said the city’s move to solar is not just a smart move financially but also for improving the city’s positive effects on the environment. “(Athens) has paid less for their electricity from the solar panels than from the grid,” Goetz said. “The panels have worked well and provided a lot of the electricity.”

One company looking to push for investment in solar energy in Ohio is based within the city of Athens. Third Sun Solar is a solar energy firm that seeks to “accelerate the shift to clean energy,” according to its website.

Roberta Washburn, Third Sun Solar’s controller and general manager, said Third Sun Solar often works with

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various cities like Athens to advocate for and install solar energy systems.

“In Ohio, partially due to the policies, solar seems to make the most sense due to cost and speed in which to implement and relatively low maintenance cost,” Washburn said.

Goetz said lots of other states are attracted to solar energy, like Arizona, California and Nevada. No other city also has a carbon fee.

Washburn said the benefits of solar energy are numerous and include energy cost savings and environmental attributes. She said implementing that form of renewable energy shows other cities, homeowners and businesses that solar energy is an option and attracts them to sustainability.

Goetz said she thinks Athens could see a future where most, if not all, of the city’s buildings are powered by solar and other forms of clean energy but is unsure of how long it would take.

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Climate Chaos for Farmers Local farmers face climate change effects in the region TAYLOR BURNETTE FOR THE POST

ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR JOHNSTON

Farmers in Athens County are facing the effects that climate change is having on crops throughout the region.

Many farmers have been dealing with the effects of erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. This is not restricted to “global warming,” as it also includes colder-than-average temperatures and much shorter transition periods between seasonal changes.

“It’s kind of just a sense that the normal patterns are being interrupted,” Paul Tomcho, the owner-operator of Creekside Farm, said.

Ed Perkins, an owner and operator of Sassafras Farm, said he has seen earlier cold temperatures and has had to deal with the repercussions of quicker temperature changes as well.

“I think the thing about climate change is it is … increasing in extremes,” Perkins said. “We just had a pretty cold spell last week. It seems rather unusual.”

Perkins said he has crops that he usually doesn’t have to cover until December, but this year, he had to cover them much earlier. He has already lost crops this year due to the unexpected temperature changes.

“I didn’t get the peppers covered soon enough, so I lost all of them,” Perkins said.

The lack of a transitional period has also proved an issue for others growing crops, including Arthur Trese, a professor of plant biology.

“This year, we had record-setting high temperatures in September and the first week of October, and then we were very near setting records for the cold at the beginning of November across much of the country,” Trese said.

That creates a conundrum for those who are attempting to grow fall season crops, Trese said. The majority of the season is too hot for those crops, and then very quickly it becomes too cold for them to survive.

“Just a week-and-a-half ago, we had our first 10-degree night at my farm in Athens,” Trese said. “So that spells the end of a lot of different plants that you were hoping you could plant in the fall and get them. A typical fall would be mild weather for many weeks.”

Erratic weather conditions, including changes in temperature patterns, dry spells and rainfall patterns, leave farmers in Ohio in a position where it is

very hard to adapt, Trese said.

“I think it’s more an issue of extreme events out of (the) ordinary ... That is just disruptive to farming,” Trese said.

“It’s not a gradual something you can adapt to by just changing when you plant things and what you plant.”

Trese said there is starting to be a shift in the way climate change is discussed. It is no longer thought that the climate will just warm, but there are now many other factors that farmers and scientists are considering both when discussing and dealing with the effects of climate change.

People are starting to use different terms other than climate change to define factors that are affecting crops and the climate, Trese said. “(People) use terms more like ‘climate chaos’ than to say climate change because when we started talking about it, some years ago, the idea was that it was going to gradually get warmer,” Trese said. “We don’t need to worry about (Ohio) just gradually become a warmer place.”

Others have seen a change in the climate change discussion as well. Although global warming is often used as

an all encompassing term for climate change, Perkins feels that this term can be misleading and opens up the floor to fuel climate change deniers.

“Global warming is bringing colder winters. That fuels the denial,” Perkins said. “It has a politically negative effect: weakening support, getting fuel to the climate change deniers and convincing legislators not to do anything about it, and (it has a) negative effect on the farmers who have to deal with this through the winter.”

Trese said he had trouble with this year’s broccoli crop due to the lack of transitory fall weather that the crop needs to flourish.

“After all that pampering and taking care of, then struggling to get it through the heat of September and early October … the cold killed it, anyway,” Trese said. “That certainly seems unfair. You know, what am I supposed to do? How am I ever going to get a crop in here? Can I count on the weather being anything close to typical?”

@THATDBEMYLUCK TB040917@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

NEWS BRIEFS

Athens grand jury indicts 9 men in connection with Collin Wiant investigation; 3 men plead not guilty to Wiant death-related charges ABBY MILLER NEWS EDITOR GRAND JURY INDICTS NINE MEN AFTER INVESTIGATION INTO FORMER FRATERNITY PLEDGE’S DEATH An Athens grand jury indicted nine men Monday in connection with the death and hazing of a former Sigma Pi pledge after an investigation was completed.

Collin Wiant, 18, of Dublin, died Nov. 12, 2018, from asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion. He was found unresponsive at 45 Mill St., which was an annex house of Ohio University’s chapter of the Sigma Pi fraternity.

Of those indicted, two are still OU students. Saxon Angell-Perez, of Columbus, was charged with permitting drug abuse, hazing and trafficking in cocaine. Cullen McLaughlin, 20, was charged with two counts of trafficking in LSD. McLaughlin is scheduled to appear for arraignment Thursday.

Angell-Perez has been enrolled at OU since fall 2016, and McLaughlin has been enrolled since fall 2017.

Others indicted formerly attended OU, except one man that the university did not have records for enrollment.

James Wanke, 25, the owner of Silver Serpent, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony; and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide. Wanke was formerly enrolled at OU from spring 2015 to spring 2016.

Elijah Wahib, 22, of Westlake, was charged with tampering with evidence, permitting drug abuse, hazing, assault, obstructing justice and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws. He was enrolled at OU from fall 2016 to spring 2019. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment Thursday.

Joshua Androsac, 20, of Lewis Center, was charged with permitting drug abuse, hazing, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of trafficking harmful intoxicants and trafficking

in cocaine. He was enrolled at OU from fall 2018 to fall 2019.

Dominic Figliola, of Athens, was charged with permitting drug abuse, hazing, aggravated trafficking in drugs and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws. He was enrolled at OU from fall 2016 to spring 2019.

Corbin Gustafson, 22, was charged with reckless homicide, a third-degree felony. He was enrolled at OU from fall 2017 to fall 2018. Gustafson will appear for arraignment Friday.

Zachary Herskovitz, 22, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, was charged with permitting drug abuse and hazing. He was enrolled at OU from fall 2016 to spring 2019. Herskovitz will appear for an arraignment Thursday.

Stephan Lewis, 27, will be charged with trafficking in harmful intoxicants and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide. Lewis is an employee of Silver Serpent, and the university did not have a record of enrollment for him.

Lewis appeared before a magistrate Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance. His jury trial is scheduled for for Dec. 21.

THREE MEN INDICTED AFTER FORMER FRATERNITY PLEDGE DEATH PLEAD NOT GUILTY Wanke, Figliola and Angell-Perez all pleaded not guilty to their charges Wednesday after being indicted for Wiant’s death.

Wanke, the owner of Silver Serpent Exotic Gifts, pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, a fifth-degree felony; involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

Bob Toy, Wanke’s lawyer, said Wanke did not sell nitrous oxide products to anyone. He also said it was a stretch to implicate Silver Serpent, who is also a defendant.

The store has been asked by the state to stop all sales of

nitrous oxide at both its Court Street and East State Street locations, which are now also open to law enforcement inspection.

Toy also brought in a can of nitrous oxide he bought online to show how easy it is to purchase among Wanke’s charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Figliola pleaded not guilty to charges of drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony; hazing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony; and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, an unclassified misdemeanor. He was also represented by Toy. Angell-Perez pleaded not guilty to permitting drug abuse, a fifth degree felony; hazing, a fourth degree misdemeanor; and trafficking in cocaine, a fifth degree felony.

Wanke, Figliola and Angell-Perez were all released on a recognizance bond, which means all three men must appear at all court hearings and can be incarcerated with new charges if they fail to appear in court. Wanke made plans to travel to Nevada for a business conference, which the state will allow him to attend.

Figliola and Angell-Perez must also complete a drug and alcohol assessment. During the investigation, a number of cell phones were recovered and found co-defendants were communicating with one another. They were asked to stop all communication with co-defendants.

Angell-Perez was also given permission to travel outside of the state.

All three men have jury trials scheduled. Wanke and Figliola are scheduled for trials on Jan. 28, 2020. Angell-Perez’s trial is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2020.

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Man yells for dog; woman calls police for someone knocking on door The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded Monday to Montserrat Ridge Road to a man yelling.

The man was yelling to look for his missing dog.

MOOOVE Deputies responded Friday to Pleasanton Road for a report of cows on the road.

Deputies found the cattle and determined that they were safely off the road. The dispatch called local farmers to assist in corralling the cattle.

DISCRETE DEALINGS Deputies took a theft report Monday from a house on Sandstone Terrace.

The caller said she returned back to her house after being away and found that some of her items were missing. She later saw a post on Facebook for one of her items for sale.

DING DONG DITCH Deputies patrolled Locust Street Sunday in Glouster for a subject who reported that someone had knocked on her door.

Deputies patrolled the area and couldn’t locate anyone in the area.

I’M GOOD Deputies responded to Oakdale Road in Glouster Friday for a 911 hangup report.

The deputies spoke with the homeowner, who said that her son was upset and yelling. The son said he wished to be good for the rest of the evening.

FREE OF CHARGE Deputies responded to Monk Road Sunday in Nelsonville for a report of criminal mischief that occurred Saturday.

Someone unsuccessfully attempted to take a battery from a car.

IAN MCKENZIE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

6 / NOV. 21, 2019

QUARTER POUNDER IN THE PARKING LOT Deputies were dispatched to a two-car crash Sunday in The Plains.

The crash occurred in the McDonald’s parking lot. Both vehicles had minor damage, but there were no injuries.

EVERYTHING IS FINE Deputies were dispatched Sunday to Roy Avenue in The Plains for a well-being check.

Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with a woman who said she was fine.

IF YOU’RE NOT FIRST, YOU’RE LAST Deputies responded to Main Street in New Marshfield Wednesday for a reckless driver.

The caller could not give a vehicle description, but they said they heard a car “peeling out and burning rubber.”

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Schoonover green roof to provide educational opportunities, sustainability RILEY RUNNELLS ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Students may soon have the opportunity to grow plants on top of Schoonover Center, once construction of the green roof is completed.

The green roof, which furthers Ohio University’s commitment to sustainability, will serve three purposes: research, education and outreach, all through a cross-disciplinary lens.

The project is the brainchild of Kim Thompson, an assistant professor of instruction in the department of environmental and plant biology.

“We don’t have a rooftop planted yet, but so many students and people are involved in the project and it’s coming together well,” Thompson said.

For a green roof to be planted, the roof must be able to support additional weight for saturated soil. When the building underwent renovation six years ago, it was designed to hold a green roof, but the idea never panned out due to expenses. Now, after two years of planning, the green roof is looking to be planted in March 2020.

So far, more than 50 students, faculty members and other people are involved in the project, including some members of the Sustainability Ambassadors at OU. Others are students, graduate and undergraduate, who just know the faculty and want to help. But what Thompson finds

8 / NOV. 21, 2019

most impressive is that seven different colleges on campus are involved.

“It will inform other efforts,” Thompson said. “If we can explore these questions here, it’ll help other cities and areas thinking about using green roofs.”

The first grant for the project was written in 2017, and two years later, Thompson received $10,000 in funding from the PepsiCo Zero Impact Fund, $256,000 from the Academic Innovation Accelerator through the office of instructional innovation, an 1804 grant to move the project into the classroom and Program to Aid Career Exploration (PACE) funding to help with the outreach component.

The rooftop isn’t available to the public, so through research and visual projects, Thompson hopes to get other people involved indirectly.

Unlike traditional rooftops, green rooftops help slow water runoff and clean the water. With the flooding issues in Athens, this could be especially beneficial. Green rooftops also help with climate mitigation by conserving energy in buildings through insulation which results in decreased fossil fuel use.

Natalie Kruse Daniels, an associate professor of environmental studies and director of the environmental studies program, also saw Thompson’s need for a green roof and has been instrumental in its production since the beginning.

“We’re looking at large scale development of green in-

frastructure that’s going to be accessible to classes and incorporate that data into lesson plans,” Kruse Daniels said.

“And students will gain experience that will help them become professionals.”

Meagan Hamilton, a junior studying mechanical engineering, has been more involved with the outreach portion of the project. She came into the project not knowing much about green roofs but has enjoyed the process of learning and interacting with others.

“I love to learn, so this has been a great opportunity for me to learn about green roofs and then turn around and educate other people because this is a really great project that people should definitely know more about,” Hamilton said.

Thompson has loved watching the project come together, and hopes other people want to get involved. People can email Thompson and she will send a survey about the project to learn what area they’re interested in. From there, she will guide people to their specific areas.

“I feel it’s really important that we start putting more effort into sustainability efforts on campus, in Athens and on the planet, and we really need to be thinking about the impact had on climate and water resources,” Thompson said. “I wanted students to get involved to see their enthusiasm about the project, and it makes me hopeful about the future.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

Ambassador Activism Student group spreads environmental awareness KERI JOHNSON STAFF WRITER educing, reusing and recycling aren’t the only ways to be sustainable. In fact, education and information play major roles in combating climate change.

One Ohio University group that’s working to spread climate literacy is the Climate and Sustainability Ambassadors Program through the Sustainable Administration Hub. The Climate and Sustainability Ambassador Program started last March.

As a student organization, anyone is welcome to join any time, Ryan Fogt, an assistant professor and the Sustainability Administration Hub coordinator, said.

“It’s for anyone with an interest in sustainability and climate literacy,” Fogt said.

The ambassador program isn’t limited to students studying environmental sciences, Fogt said. Students of all backgrounds and majors are ambassadors.

“We take all majors,” Fogt explained.

“We talk about bringing students together. We have all different ranks too — freshmen, grad students, seniors.”

In the fall, the ambassador program focuses on on-campus activities and spreading climate literacy to OU students. The ambassador program tries to reach every green, Fogt said, with events on South, East and West greens each semester.

Campus activities the ambassador program has hosted include storm drainage cleanup, zero-waste football games, compost sorting, clothing swaps and planting sustainably. The ambassadors often work with other organizations, too, like Recycling and Zero Waste and Rural Action.

In the spring, the ambassador program reaches out to local residents to educate nonstudents on climate literacy.

“We talk to local schools and work with Rural Action sometimes (to) educate local communities on climate literacy and how we can reduce our environmental footprints,” Fogt said.

Recently, the ambassador program visited a seventh grade classroom to engage with middle school students on the topic of climate change. It was a successful experience, Fogt said. Students are often enthusiastic about discussing environmental issues.

“Most (middle school students we talk to) are passionate and excited and con-

cerned about their future,” Fogt said.

To Fogt, being an ambassador is a great opportunity for students to play a role in helping the environment. The program is flexible and easily pairs with students’ busy schedules.

“It doesn’t require a lot of time,” Fogt said. “A lot of stuff is done digitally. We meet less than once a month and only require three events a semester. It’s low commitment and high impact.”

There are about 80 ambassadors in the program, Fogt said in an email. Students can join at any time, but Fogt recommends students join earlier in the semester to get the most out of involvement opportunities.

Participating in events also is an opportunity to gain volunteer hours, Fogt added.

“It’s an awesome group,” Shasta Kamara, a student ambassador, said. “I’m just starting, and it’s really easy to get involved.”

Kamara, a junior studying marine freshwater environmental biology, found out about the group when the ambassadors program visited one of her classes that was environmentally-themed.

“I just wanted to get involved,” Kamara said. “There’s not a whole lot of groups who do a lot of environmental work.”

One of the best parts of being an ambassador is going out to local primary and secondary schools and doing climate education outreach, Kamara said.

“It’s really neat to get involved,” Kamara said. “We get to educate kids on climate change.”

For Kamara, becoming a student ambassador was a great decision.

“People should just join, even if they’re hesitant,” she said.

Alyssa Lanier, a junior studying meteorology, joined the ambassador program because she was concerned about the status of the environment.

“The environment (is) dying, and I wanted to help any way I can,” Lanier said.

The ambassador program is for anyone who’s passionate about the environment, Lanier said.

“We love all help,” she said.

To keep up with upcoming events on the Office of Sustainability, visit its website or subscribe to its newsletter. To become an ambassador, fill out the online application.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Sustainability Ambassadors Sarah Stanzi, Anthony Stanzi and Sam Smith pose for a portrait at an event promoting plants and reused planters in Nelson Hall on Nov. 19, 2019. (ERIN BURK/ FOR THE POST)

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Local restaurants, shops fighting against plastic LIZ PARTSCH FOR THE POST Plastic items pollute oceans, killing and contaminating wildlife and littering the coasts. Many local restaurants and shops in Athens are fed up with plastic and are taking part in the fight against it.

Local Mexican restaurant Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St., has taken many steps to reduce as much plastic as it possibly can. It no longer offers plastic to-go bags, now only using paper bags. It can’t avoid plastic bags altogether, though, as many manufacturers package its supplies in plastic.

“In some ways, it’s unavoidable,” Grace Corbin, marketing director at Casa Nueva, said. “A lot of the supplies that we get come in a box, and then in the boxes are plastic sleeves and plastic lids.”

Despite the inconvenience on the suppliers’ part, this doesn’t stop Casa Nueva from finding ways to avoid the landfills. All of its plastic chip bags go to the local art studio for adults with developmental disabilities, Passion Works, where its uses the plastic bags to stuff huge puppets.

“It’s still plastic being manufactured, but it’s not ending up killing fish,” Corbin said.

As of recently, Casa Nueva has started and plans to continue sourcing to-go containers and straws that are compostable.

Other coffee shops, like Court Street Coffee, 67 S. Court St., and Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 1/2 W.

Washington St., have reduced its plastic intake as well.

Court Street Coffee has been working to counter the effects of plastic for a while now, jumping on the sip-lid train as soon as it became available to them a year ago.

It also offers a 10-cent discount to customers who bring in their own mug and a 25-cent discount for those who purchase Court Street Coffee’s reusable drink wear.

Charlie Fulks, manager at Court Street Coffee, also encourages customers to use reusable cups.

“Anything that is organic that we can compost, we do, and everything that we can recycle as a business.

So we put maybe one trash bag in the dumpster a day,” Fulks said. “90 percent of the waste that comes out here is recyclable.”

As for the future, Fulks hopes to see more people buying its reusable travel mugs and is willing to take any suggestions from customers on how it can continue to reduce plastic.

“We have conversations with our supplier every day,” Fulks said. “So we’re constantly having these conversations of how we can reduce plastic, how (our suppliers) can so we can, just having a more environmentally friendly and smaller footprint as a business.”

Donkey Coffee has also taken steps to becoming more environmentally friendly for many years now.

Roughly three to four years ago, local company Rural Action assessed that Donkey Coffee was 95% waste free as a business. Rural Action is a nonprofit organization that does evaluations on how local businesses can improve its eco-friendly environment.

Instead of plastic cups and straws, all of Donkey’s

cups and straws are made with corn. Its stir sticks are also environmentally friendly, with its in-store sticks being reusable and its catering sticks being made from bamboo. On top of that, it offers a 10% discount for anyone who brings in its own mug.

Though it has had quite a success with reducing plastic, it has experienced some setbacks in the past year. Recently, it found out that its paper-coated milk cartons weren’t being composted.

“It’s really disingenuous at this point to put that on your product because people like us that want to do the right thing. You know, we’re buying these things because it says green and recyclable, but they’re not really recyclable,” Chris Pyle, owner of Donkey Coffee, said. “I guess they are if you have the right facilities, but I think there’s only like a few in the whole United States that can actually do that.”

Besides the mishap, Pyle hopes to have rural action come in and reassess the business after the paper milk carton issue.

As of how one can reduce the plastic in their own lives, Corbin believes supporting sustainable companies is a good start.

“As individuals, it’s hard to feel like you’re making a difference when really corporations are producing this material,” Corbin said. “There are alternatives. And I hope that there’s more companies out there that are doing research and are doing manufacturing of that material because plastic sucks.”

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Reducing the carbon footprint MADDIE BUSSERT FOR THE POST

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

Many people never give a second thought to where the food on the shelves of grocery stores comes from and how each choice one makes at the grocery store might have an impact on the environment.

The meat industry, specifically, leaves such a large carbon footprint because of the vast number of resources it takes to raise, transport and slaughter animals, according to the Johns Hopkins website. Cattle need spacious farmland to live and a large amount of water and grain to survive. It takes a lot of energy to transport, slaughter, cut and package the meat found on the shelves in grocery stores across the country.

Dane Salabak, an assistant professor of instruction who also teaches food systems, said that large factory farms are subject to runoff, which happens when cattle are held in inhumane conditions by standing in their own feces, and that waste runs off into plants. He also said that the methane that is produced on factory feedlots have also come into question as to what the impact on the ozone is.

“The costs of water, energy and grain that it takes to feed a cow to be slaughtered is a lot,” Salabak said.

Salabak notes the Atrium Cafe, lo-

cated in Grover Center, has an emphasis on health and sustainability, always encouraging people to choose, or at least try, plant-based alternatives.

Ryan Evans, a freshman studying early childhood education, has been practicing a vegan diet for two-and-a-half years for environmental and moral reasons.

By not consuming any animal products, Evans is reducing her carbon footprint substantially. The environmental impacts of even the lowest-impact animal products exceed average impacts of substitute vegetable proteins.

“All of these (meat) industries are so energy-consuming and contributing so much to climate change, and being vegan feels like it’s what I can do to stop it from happening,” Evans said. “I feel like I can control what I can do for the environment, and this is what I can do.”

Although going vegan, which is a diet devoid of all animal products, including meat, eggs and dairy, is a good way to contribute to lessening climate change, it’s not a realistic option or diet that works best for everyone.

“People need to do what’s best for them,” Salabak said. ”There are vegans who have been practicing that diet for years, and they’re sick. When they reintroduce some animal products, whether that’s lean meat, or eggs or whatever it is, they get better. So I think the larger impact is looking at what we, as humans, have done to our planet. We’re impacting our planet in so many ways.”

Although Salabak feels meat has a negative impact in the long run, he also thinks that meat can be sustainably-sourced and that it’s part of a much larger systemic issue where we need to reevaluate our entire food system and how we think of food.

For someone who wants to contribute to stopping climate change but doesn’t want to cut meat out of their diet, getting meat from a local, sustainable provider should be a goal for them.

Salabak notes that the Athens Farmers Market has a variety of beef, eggs and poultry that is sustainably-sourced by local farmers who use safe and humane practices consumers can take advantage of.

“Whether that’s cows that are grassfed or chickens that are free range, that’s better,” Salabak said. “But it’s hard to feed the entire country with that.”

Ashley Eastman, a wellness specialist at Kindred Market, a full-service organic and natural products grocer, said the market has an entire freezer section devoted to local beef.

The meat comes from local providers around Ohio, including farms in Athens, Meigs, Guysville, New Lexington and more.

“One can pretty safely assume that the smaller provider has much less of a carbon footprint than a larger one,’’ Eastman said. “It’s also very important for our local economy and local food system to thrive by supporting local farms.”

Eastman emphasized that Kindred Market is a local, independently-owned store, and when people shop there, their money is staying local, versus buying at a bigger chain superstore like Kroger or Walmart.

Kindred Market will also soon be selling locally-sourced turkey at the store, so people can purchase their turkey from a local provider in time for Thanksgiving.

Overall, it’s up to consumers to become more aware of the effects each purchase they make has on the environment, Salabak said. Humans waste metric tons of food in the U.S. daily and package food with plastic that eventually ends up in the ocean.

“It’s up to people to figure out what really matters,” Salabak said. “What’s the planet going to look like, not for our children but our children’s children? I think it’s a problem to just turn a blind eye and follow research done by the beef industry that says there’s not a problem with eating beef. Every choice that people make to pick one product over another, you’re voting for that product to stay on the shelf.”

@BUSSERTMADDIE MB901017@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

Aerial view of Hocking River flooding West Green in the 1960s. (PROVIDED VIA OHIO UNIVERSITY DIGITAL ARCHIVES)

12 / NOV. 21, 2019

How the 1969 rerouting of the Hocking River hurt its ecosystems TAYLOR BURNETTE FOR THE POST ntil the late 1960s, it wasn’t unusual for the Hocking River to flood the Ohio University campus. Year after year, thousands of dollars and hours of labor were poured into efforts to restore flood damage at OU. In 1969, the Army Corp of Engineers, using money from Congress, began a project to reroute and channel the Hocking River to prevent almost yearly floods in Athens.

The Army Corp of Engineers straightened the river to reduce the friction of the river — the total of the characteristics of a river that affect the speed at which it flows — and to allow for water to flow through faster, resulting in less flooding in the area. They also widened the channel and eliminated most of the vegetation along the river.

South Green and West Green were among the most frequently flooded areas of campus. Although the area near the then-newly created West Green dorms would flood heavily enough to cause evacuations, the university was still trying to expand itself to account for an influx of new students.

As a result of the university’s plans for further expansion into commonly-flooded areas, the project was presented before Congress and received funding to straighten 22,000 feet of the Hocking River channel, which eventually opened 500 acres of undeveloped land in the Athens floodplain, according to a 1965 edition of The Post.

“Basically, it created a much more efficient riverbed,” Jim Schray, a water management specialist at the Army Corp of Engineers in Huntington, West Virginia, said. “Historically, the Hocking (River) would have meandered through the through the area. (There) would have been lots of bends associated with it. There would have been wetlands in the middle of it, lots of trees. All those things result in friction, and friction results in higher water levels.”

By trenching and straightening the river, the Army Corp reduced this friction and even shortened the Hocking River, Schray said.

“Environmentally, when you take all those things out … the habitat is very simple,” Schray said. “So you end up with just a very efficient flow through the areas, no real deep pools for fish to hide in … You’re trying to prevent aquatic vegetation to come in because that all adds friction.”

The Army Corp of Engineers no longer considers this method a first or even second option to reduce flooding today and often does the exact opposite in restoring rivers instead, Schray said.

“For us to do this today, it would take a very significant evaluation of the environment … It was something we did a lot of back in the ’60s before we started evaluating environmental effects, but it’s not something we would do (now),” Schray said.

The environmental effects of this action were devastating to the organisms that relied on the stream, Guy Riefler, a professor of civil engineering, said.

Before the river had been changed, it would naturally develop pools of water, including deep pool areas and a series of shallow areas, often with little waterfalls, called “riffles,” Riefler said.

“That sort of varied terrain provides a good habitat for different kinds of critters. Some critters like to be in the riffle section; some like to hang out in the pool section,” Riefler said.

The flat, wide alterations to the channel would not be the ideal environment for the organisms who once lived there, Riefler said.

Riefler said another issue that affects the environmental composition of the river is the removal of trees and shrubs along the river bed, which usually increases friction and alters the environment for fish and other organisms. “(The plants) act as a buffer against pollution, and they create shade for the water so that it’s cool. And they contribute things like leaves and stuff that critters will eat,” Greg Springer, professor of geological sciences, said. “All of that is gone. That part will never recover because they’re never going to let the river trees grow in the river channel now.”

The straightening of the river also caused a much heavier flooding effect for people down stream.

Anytime a river is straightened and channelized, Springer said, flood water flows through easier and faster. Downstream of these altered areas, the flooding is going to be worse because there is no friction to slow down larger quantities of water flowing through.

“That’s not good for people downstream,” Springer said.

@THATDBEMYLUCK TB040917@OHIO.EDU

Bird’s-eye view of West Green flooding in March 1964.

(PROVIDED VIA OHIO UNIVERSITY DIGITAL ARCHIVES)

Students ride a boat on West Green during the flood in the 1960s.

(PROVIDED VIA OHIO UNIVERSITY DIGITAL ARCHIVES)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Acid mine drainage pollutes local tributaries of the Hocking River Future generations are left to deal with pollution from unsustainable extractive resource processes, experts say MADDIE BUSSERT FOR THE POST cid mine drainage and extreme erosion caused by industrialization and climate change are polluting water sources that lead to the Hocking River.

Due to climate change, weather patterns are now less predictable than they have ever been before, Jen Bowman, director of environmental programs at the Voinovich School, said.

This causes unpredictable, heavy rainfalls, which causes heavy erosion that can ultimately carry harmful materials into nearby water sources.

“The unpredictability of climate change and what it means to our streams and our treatment system could be affected by these more frequent and heavy duration of rainfall, and can lead to changes in our water quality,” Bowman said.

In Appalachia and beyond, these torrential rainfalls can lead to further pollutants ending up in bodies of water.

One of these pollutants is runoff from acid mine drainage, a result of the coal mining industry in rural Appalachia in the 1900s. Acidic runoff is the result of a chemical reaction between oxygen and sulfate compounds. When water flows through a mine or a pile of mine waste, it reacts with the rock, creating a highly acidic solution with a high concentration of heavy metals.

Acid mine drainage lowers the pH of streams it affects and disrupts the biological ecosystems, sometimes to the point of wiping out all life in it. Streams polluted with heavy metals often turn orange in color.

Raccoon Creek, a 114-mile-long tributary of the Hocking River that discharges into the Ohio River, is one of the streams that is affected by acid mine drainage.

In an effort to reverse the damage of the pollution from acid mine drainage, Ohio University has partnered with The 14 / NOV. 21, 2019

“

I think it’s important for people to realize that there are costs when we cut down forests, mine coal, use our gas and, of course, we do need those resources, but we also need to be handing the extractive resource in a better manner that doesn’t leave pollution for future generations” -Jen Bowman, director of environmental programs at the Voinovich School

Raccoon Creek Partnership to remediate the streams.

The Raccoon Creek Partnership, formed in 2007, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to work toward conservation, stewardship and restoration of the Raccoon Creek watershed for a healthier stream and community.

Over the past 20 years, the Raccoon Creek Partnership has spent over $15 million on the restoration of 20 different projects, Bowman said. Over that time, they have restored over 80 miles of stream to now meet the water quality standards that are needed to sustain biological communities.

“Because the Raccoon Creek watershed is fairly close to Athens, many OU students have conducted research in Raccoon Creek,” Amy Mackey, coordinator of the Raccoon Creek Watershed Program, said in an email.

OU students can help with the monitor-

The Hocking River on the south banks of Ohio University’s campus.

(NATE SWANSON/ PHOTO EDITOR)

ing and outreach events in Raccoon Creek as volunteers or for internship credit.

Natalie Kruse-Daniels, an associate professor of environmental studies, noted that climate change is a result of industrialization. She said, particularly in the case of Racoon Creek, the legacy of coal mining is what caused the heavily-polluted waterways and an enormous environmental liability.

She also said the location of the acid mine drainage is oftentimes unpredictable, and that can cause issues with the current systems in place to treat the water.

“We do see places (on the river) where we have a really high flow of rain, and you get discharges from mines in new places, and that can be really problematic because it’s not necessarily where we’re treating the water,” Daniels said.

There are a lot of extractive re-

sources processes that have occurred in rural Appalachia, ranging from coal mining to hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” Bowman said.

Bowman said those processes often leave our natural resources degraded, and cleaning up the extractive resource is not thought about at the time that the resource is taken. As a result, that legacy of polluted water is now something that the state and taxpayers are paying for.

“I think it’s important for people to realize that there are costs when we cut down forests, mine coal, use our gas and, of course, we do need those resources, but we also need to be handing the extractive resource in a better manner that doesn’t leave pollution for future generations,” Bowman said.

@BUSSERTMADDIE MB901017@OHIO.EDU

WRESTLING

Why Sean Mondello transferred from diving ELI FEAZELL FOR THE POST Sean Mondello didn’t finish where he wanted to in his final state wrestling tournament, and he knew he wasn’t finished with wrestling after that.

He was already committed to Miami’s diving team, but he couldn’t get rid of the feeling that he needed to wrestle in college, even as he spent five days a week practicing with the RedHawks.

Wrestling has had a special place in Mondello’s life ever since he began when he was 7 years old.

“I’ve loved (wrestling) ever since I started,” Mondello said. “I loved diving, too, but I believed that wrestling was my true calling.”

While Mondello was already an experienced wrestler as he approached his first year at Talawanda High School, he suffered a setback to his career when he fractured part of his vertebrae during a football game in the eighth grade.

He still remembers when his body locked up as he tried to jog off the field and lost all movement in his body for nearly 20 minutes.

“It was probably the craziest thing I ever had to go through,” Mondello said.

He missed the entire wrestling season that year. That caused Mondello to feel underprepared when he participated in wrestling as a freshman.

While his performance wasn’t bad that season, he felt that missing an entire year of training set him back.

“It was like I quit,” Mondello said.

Mondello had the challenge of balancing two winter sports in high school.

Every day during the season, he had to go straight to wrestling practice for two hours and then immediately go to diving practice after. Obviously, he wasn’t home a whole lot during the winter.

Balancing two sports wasn’t the biggest challenge, either.

“School was mostly the hardest part, just getting all of my stuff done,” Mondello said.

Overlapping schedules is inevitable when one is playing two sports in the same season. When it came to choosing one sport over the other, Mondello’s priority toward wrestling was clear.

He missed his senior night for diving and instead participated in a wrestling tournament. Mondello almost missed his diving conference meet because a wrestling tournament had ended soon before

the diving competition began.

That was the moment he truly showed his commitment to the sport. Even though he had already qualified for the diving championship, he scratched his position and instead participated in another qualifier. He ended up placing in the state wrestling tournament.

His swim coach wasn’t happy with him, but Mondello felt the decision was worth it.

“I had to choose wrestling there,” Mondello said.

Mondello signed his letter of intent to dive at Miami in October 2018. There were a lot of benefits of staying so close to home for him, given that he lived only five minutes away from Miami’s campus.

His family could support him easier. He was familiar with every corner of the campus. He also had a close connection to the diving coach, KongRong Li. Despite all of that, something wasn’t sitting right with Mondello.

By May 2018, he didn’t want to dive anymore. His feelings weren’t a secret, either. His family knew how much he would miss wrestling if he gave up on it, and his high school diving coach knew of his passion for wrestling as well. He hoped that Miami’s athletic department would be accepting of his decision and give him a full release.

There was also the change in schools.

Mondello knew of the benefits of attending college close to home, but he also wanted to experience something other than Oxford for the next four years. In Athens, he could make new friends.

Miami gave Mondello a full release, meaning that he could participate in the 2019 season at Ohio.

Mondello was much happier wrestling despite the challenges that came with it.

“I feel like (wrestling) is so much harder than anything else that I’ve ever done,” Mondello said. “That’s another reason why I love it. It’s a grind every time.”

After every practice or match, Mondello feels great about making it through another tough daily challenge. He also feels that it’s much easier to move on from mistakes in wrestling compared to diving.

Transferring is never easy for an athlete, but Mondello is confident that he made the right decision in the end.

“I feel like a completely different wrestler,” Mondello said.

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WINNING WINNING WAYS WAYS

Frank Solich cements himself as Mid-American Conference’s winningest coach

ANTHONY POISAL SPORTS EDITOR Frank Solich emerged from the locker room underneath the bleachers at Doyt L. Perry Stadium smiling, shivering and wet.

The 75-year-old coach had Gatorade stains on his hat, sweatshirt and khakis after he was doused by players in the final seconds of Ohio’s 66-24 win Tuesday night over Bowling Green. The win made Solich, who owns an 111-81 record with Ohio, the coach with the most all-time wins in the history of the Mid-American Conference.

Solich never wanted to speak heavily about the personal achievement in the three weeks it took him to finally reach the record, previously held by former Central Michigan coach Herb Deromedi.

To Solich, who’s the oldest coach in NCAA Division I football, the record was merely an example of how far his coaches and players have taken the program in his 15-year tenure.

As he fought through emotions — and the below-freezing temperatures — Solich’s body shook and lips quivered as he echoed his thankfulness again.

“There have been a lot of great players over the years that have come through

Ohio that have set the tradition to where we were able to recruit well and win football games,” he said. “The coaches have been tremendous. If you have that combination, you’re going to win a few football games.”

Ohio’s offensive fireworks Tuesday night allowed Solich to take his headset off and soak in the accomplishment well before the fourth quarter concluded.

His offense, led by arguably the best quarterback the program has ever had in senior Nathan Rourke, achieved the Bobcats’ highest scoring output since 1976.

It bludgeoned the Falcons for 609 total offensive yards and ensured that Solich — who had been hanging on his 110th win for the previous two games — would finally break the record.

As time expired, Solich was drenched in blue Gatorade by Austen Pleasants, D.L. Knock and Cole Baker. He didn’t flinch.

Instead, he smiled and slowly turned his head to the three seniors, all in hysterics.

After Solich received congratulations from Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler, he was met by MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, who followed Solich into the locker room to deliver a speech and a ceremonial football.

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Players erupted around him as Solich placed his hands on the ball and smiled.

“We’re so proud to be a part of what he’s accomplished,” Rourke said. “It was a very happy, jubilant locker room, and it was cool to be a part of.”

Of Solich’s 111 wins, none of them have came in the MAC Championship Game.

That’s perhaps the biggest missing piece of the puzzle Solich has constructed but never completed in his time at Ohio.

The Bobcats won’t solve that this season. They were officially eliminated from winning the MAC East Division and booking a trip to Detroit after suffering consecutive losses to Miami and Western Michigan.

Now, Ohio’s best possible hope is a 6-6 finish and a bowl game selection that won’t be guaranteed even if it defeats Akron on Nov. 26 in the regular season finale.

It could also be the last game for Solich, whose contract expires on Jan. 3, but he mentioned last week that he was “feeling good” about contract discussions.

Those talks will only intensify as the season nears a finish that will rank below the expectations Solich and Ohio had before the season.

But for now, the uncertainty can be put on a temporary hold. The Bobcats have the winningest coach in conference history in its program, and they may not want to lose him.

Solich has molded the Bobcats into one

of the most consistent teams in the nation. Ohio has won four bowl games in 10 postseason appearances under Solich and has enjoyed its most successful period in program history. He’s had eight players selected in the NFL draft, and Ohio has become a frequent school for NFL teams seeking undrafted talent.

Maybe that history will be enough to bring him back.

“He’s had a lot of wins around here,” running back O’Shaan Allison said. “Everyone around the country will remember who he is.”

After his postgame interview ended, Solich was embraced by Julie Cromer, the new athletic director who will make the decision soon about Solich’s future.

On Tuesday, the gravity of what lies ahead didn’t matter.

The night was about Solich, who wouldn’t have wanted to build his storied career anywhere else.

“Certainly, this kind of …” Solich said before he paused, looked down and sniffled. “Fans ought to be patted on the back.

The administration has been great to me.

There’s been a lot of people involved in winning football games, and I appreciate everything people have done during my time at Ohio. It’s been as good as I could ever hope for.”

@ANTHONYP_2 AP012215@OHIO.EDU

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Frustrations released Rourke, Allison lead offensive surge for Ohio in 66-24 rout over Bowling Green MATT PARKER SPORTS EDITOR

Nathan Rourke (No.12) hands off the ball to O’Shaan Allison (No.28) during the game against Bowling Green on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (MIDGE MAZUR / OHIO ATHLETICS)

Nathan Rourke sat his helmet down on a metal case, put on a green Ohio beanie and stuck his hands into the warmer that was slung across his waist.

He stood on the sideline with 2:39 left in the third quarter, and his night was done.

On the field, instead, was his younger brother, Kurtis.

The younger Rourke and a handful of other players earned game minutes because of the senior quarterback’s performance in Ohio’s 66-24 rout over Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green.

The offensive performance, one that featured over 600 total yards, all started on just Ohio’s second play of the night.

Rourke threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Isiah Cox after he split the seam and took it into the endzone.

On the Bobcats’ next drive, all it took were two plays to get into the end zone again, this time a 54-yard run from redshirt freshman O’Shaan Allison.

The explosive plays from Ohio came early and often. They were the type of plays it knew it was capable of running, and against the No. 10 overall defense in the conference, Ohio was able to release a season worth of frustrations into a

60-minute time span.

“We definitely feel like this is the way we’re capable of playing,” Rourke said.

Once again, the senior quarterback played a large role in the Bobcats’ offensive success. His 14-for-21, 267 passing yards and three touchdowns are numbers that, for most quarterbacks, would be worthy a celebration.

But this season, those numbers have become normal for him.

An abnormality was, he had assistance.

Consistent assistance.

Allison set personal bests with 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns of his own. In a season where he’s had inconsistencies — a 104-yard performance against Ball State and then being benched after the first series of the Miami game — Allison showcased his abilities as an every down back for Ohio to enjoy the next few seasons.

“It meant everything,” he said as he chuckled to himself. “I felt confident out there.”

Admittedly, the running back said his preparation intensified heading into Tuesday’s game because there were a lot of things he hadn’t seen before and that he wanted to be better than he has been in the last few weeks.

Bowling Green’s usage of exotic blitz-

es and slanting the defensive line allowed for Ohio’s running backs to have open cut lanes where three touchdowns from 50 or more yards were able to happen.

“The coaches were on edge all week,” Allison said.

That on-edge feeling was erased 46 seconds into the third quarter when Allison scored his third touchdown of the night – a 53-yarder into the northwest end zone – and Ohio’s lead grew to 45-24.

It was a performance that only those in Ohio’s locker room knew it could put together. The Bobcats (5-6, 4-3 MAC) won’t make it to the MAC Championship game, and it’s still a win away from attaining bowl eligibility status.

Tuesday night’s performance was one they were expected to have all season long, and while too late, it wasn’t too little.

“We were able to keep ahead in this game, which was important,” coach Frank Solich said. “We’ve been coming from behind, and this time, we were able to keep the lead and expand on it.”

Solich, who broke the all-time wins record by a MAC coach with his 111th victory with the Bobcats, has been vocal about the frustrations Ohio has endured throughout the season.

From unanimous MAC East Division favorites and overall conference champi-

ons to having to beat winless Akron just for a chance at a bowl game, the frustrations of not putting a complete product on the field week in and week out have been visible.

“We didn’t have the record we had wished for this season,” Allison said. “We just made the best out of it today.”

Ohio has a guaranteed one more opportunity ahead of itself in 2019. A road East Division game against Akron, who lost to Bowling Green by 29 points, should give Ohio more opportunities to take out its season-long frustrations.

In a week’s time, Rourke more likely than not will trade his white helmet for a green beanie before the game clock hits triple zeros. Allison will trade running over defenders for running down the bench in celebration of his teammates. Names like Kurtis Rourke and running back Ja’Vahri Portis will be said over the PA. But for now, Ohio will enjoy this win — one it has been needing so desperately.

“This feels really good. This is one you’re going to remember,” Allison said.

And for a season to forget, Tuesday’s win will be memorable.

@MATTHEWLPARKER5 MP109115@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

EXISTENTIAL BINGE-WATCHING

Science fiction is vital for climate change

JACKSON HORVAT is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University.

Disaster flicks like 2012 seem to be the only real source of climate change in film and television. Other than documentaries that are explicitly about the hot-button topic, writers and directors seem to largely shy away from it if it doesn’t involve mass CGI destruction.

Science fiction, however, can bring climate change to life as a topic of discussion in the entertainment world. At this point in our timeline, it’s not exactly possible to have a movie that focuses too much on the issue. Whether it’s because of controversy or people simply not wanting to think about something like climate change while they’re

in a movie theater, the topic really thrives in movies or TV shows that aren’t as heavy-handed in referencing it.

And science fiction allows for less in-your-face approaches to climate change to be possible, mainly because it works really well as an element of the plot.

For instance, Interstellar did an incredible job of referencing the climate while never explicitly talking about it.

The sci-fi hit seems to be remembered for its intense story and stunning visuals, yet it also can’t be denied that the premise of the plot really centered around a dying Earth with dwindling resources. The genre allows for things like space exploration to be used for entertainment purposes, all while the idea of our home succumbing to climate change becomes the spark for the journey into said extraterrestrial territory.

Even in fantasy-driven television series like Game of Thrones, including climate change in ways that aren’t so direct, really work in the long run. It was theorized by fans, and eventually confirmed by George R.R. Martin, that the show about dragons and ice monsters can also be seen as a representation of our current political atmosphere and climate change. While the kings and queens are fighting, winter is slowly but surely coming. And, suddenly, it’s an unstoppable force after being ignored for so long and allowed to grow.

Filmmakers can take hints from content like Interstellar or Game of Thrones. While climate change is a bit of a touchy subject these days, it can still be included in film and TV if it’s worked into the plot in smart ways. Without

being overly preachy, genres like science fiction or fantasy can pave the way for entertainment media to be able to generate discussions that people might not have expected to have.

In the case even of a well-done disaster movie, like The Day After Tomorrow, the climate issues can be hit with a bit of a heavier hand. Yes, having the father-son duo of Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal couldn’t possibly ever fail. But if climate change is included in a believable way, that’s important to the movie’s story outside of mere political purposes. Audiences can be swayed into liking it.

They simply enjoy their entertainment while also subconsciously thinking about the undertones of climate change.

Instead of poorly done CGI-fests of disaster movies or in-your-face documentaries, smart filmmaking in science fiction can open up immense opportunities for directors and writers. They can allow climate change to be more heavily included in mass entertainment media, a field that desperately lacks much reference to it, mostly for fear of backlash in our current on-edge political climate.

So maybe the next time you’re watching Earth be destroyed by a giant ice storm, you’ll put your popcorn down for a second and think about the possibility of this “dystopian future” maybe not being so far in the future.

Jackson Horvat is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Jackson by tweeting him at @horvatjackson.

WORDS I MIGHT HAVE ATE

The environmental cost of the vinyl revival

SHELBY CAMPBELL is a junior studying strategic communication at Ohio University.

The vinyl revival is exploding. Walmart is carrying vinyl, bands are pressing their new albums again and Record Store Day is nearing national holiday-levels of celebration. Owning vinyl lets listeners connect with the music physically. But that physicality comes at a cost: plastic waste.

Nostalgia and aesthetics play a role in the resurgence 18 / NOV. 21, 2019

of vinyl. People who grew up with vinyl are learning about the technology that makes their records sound best while newer generations are discovering the magic of opening and dropping the needle on a new record for the first time.

Father John Misty, in his song “Now I’m Learning to Love the War,” says it best: “Try not to think so much about / The truly staggering amount / Of oil that it takes to make a record / All the shipping, the vinyl, the cellophane lining, the high gloss / The tape and the gear …”

He’s right. There’s an absurd amount of plastic that goes into recording, pressing and distributing a record.

Records are made from a plastic substance called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is a plastic derived from crude oil, meaning each record uses nonrenewable and largely non-recycled materials.

There’s an estimated 160 million vinyl records produced every year, and at least half of them are produced in five pressing plants, according to a Guardian report.

Those five pressing plants have seen the rise and fall of vinyl. And now, during the revival, they once again are pressing and repressing copies.

It seems wasteful that those plants are repressing records from bands like Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan when so many original presses of those same records are floating around second-hand stores or antique malls.

Record collecting is all-around more ethical if listeners are finding their old records used. It’s possible, through websites like Discogs or just some hard work at a record store, to find most classic albums second-hand.

Digital music also can help end excessive represses.

Vinyl enthusiasts might resent it, but digital music sounds just as good as vinyl. And it doesn’t have the plastic waste.

Of course, there are upsides to the vinyl revival. More money from vinyl sales go back to small artists on small labels when listeners buy their records, rather than just listening on Spotify. But represses of Pet Sounds on sale at Walmart or Amazon can have serious environmental consequences.

The vinyl revival is an important cultural phenomenon where old and young generations are rediscovering their love for vinyl. But there are ecological consequences to buying records. Buying used records keeps old Bob Dylan off the presses and on the turntable, saving Earth’s nonrenewable resources.

Shelby Campbell is a junior studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post.

Want to talk more about it? Let Shelby know by tweeting her @bloodbuzzohioan.

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Streaming services garner more opportunities, obstacles for up-and-coming artists MOLLY SCHRAMM THE BEAT EDITOR

For alt-pop band 90’s Kids, streaming services have been everything. Frontman Corey Mouch recalls the day he woke up and realized Spotify added the band’s first song to one of its curated playlists. / / “Spotify picked it up in their discover algorithms, and we reached all kinds of new markets and new people,” Mouch said. “And honestly, that was really what kept us going.”

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Services like Spotify and Apple Music have become second nature to the everyday music listener, but in the past decade, streaming has not only domineered music consumption but the entire business side of industry.

Streaming culture has skyrocketed the accessibility of music by allowing consumers to listen to practically any song or album at the touch of a button. 89% of individuals 16 to 64 years old listen to music via on-demand streaming, per the 2019 Music Listening report from International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, or IFPI. Furthermore, 52% of individuals 16 to 24 years old have used streaming services in the past month, according to the report.

According to the Recording Industry of America, the number of paid music subscriptions in the U.S. exceeded 60 million in the first half of 2019. As of July 2019, Spotify globally had a whopping 232 million users overall, with 108 million of those being paying users. In June, Apple Music globally had a total of 60 million users.

With millions using these streaming services, artists and bands have been able to quickly cross borders and reach listeners in ways that were unheard of pre-streaming. At the top of the totem pole, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” sits as the most streamed song on Spotify with roughly 2.3 billion plays. Coming in second is Drake’s 2016 hit “One Dance” with roughly 1.7 billion streams.

With the help of Spotify distributors, it’s relatively easy for any artist to upload music to the streaming service. While that would presumably seem like a great thing for any up-and-coming artists, Eddie Ashworth, an associate professor of media arts and studies, cautions the overwhelming amount of music out there.

“It makes it much harder to reach an audience,” Ashworth said.

Anyone can make music on their laptop. The introduction of digital audio workstations, or DAWs, has allowed individuals to learn the ins and outs of music production.

In fact, many big-time musicians still use DAWs. Nonetheless, the influx of recorded music makes the talent pool on streaming services all the more intense.

“Whereas before you had to spend a lot of money to go to a studio or put together your own studio, DAWs have brought that price point down so that anybody can make a record pretty much, which is good and bad,” Ashworth said.

Streaming services have become saturated in talent, and as a musician and singer himself, Mouch views streaming services as a double-edged sword.

“Spotify and streaming services kind of allow you to have this launching pad in this platform, (but) it’s also so hard to stand out,” Mouch said.

90’s Kids’ roots originate in Athens. Mouch, Robby MacAskill and Matt King formed the band as OU students and eventually added drummer Jordan McVey. The four now balance full-time jobs with, as Mouch would put it, their second full-time jobs.

“We all work, and you know, when you have a full-time job, you get vacation days, and that’s something that’s a perk,” Mouch said. “But for us, we act like we have no vacation days because we use those to tour and play shows and record.”

Despite streaming’s flaws, Mouch said he and the rest of the band owe any success of theirs to the many different streaming services. Currently, 90’s Kids has more than 21,500 Spotify monthly listeners, and the band’s top-streamed song, “Champagne,” sits with more than 242,000 plays.

Mouch recalled the time the band’s first song gained 10,000 streams after Spotify picked it up and added it to one of the service’s playlists. Prior to that, the band was

gaining only a couple hundred streams a day, but they were exposed to new markets after Spotify’s algorithm skyrocketed them. “(Spotify) is what made this turn into something we really wanted to pursue rather than just a fun thing we were doing as a passion project,” Mouch said.

Even with the added positives of streaming, Mouch and Ashworth both stressed that up-and-coming artists can’t rely on their talents to make them famous. Making a name for yourself in the music industry takes drive. The two also agreed there’s no simple formula for growing as an artist.

“You have to be looking at all of your opportunities to publicize yourself, which is tiring if you’re an artist,” Ashworth said.

Mouch said artists have to be authentic to themselves but still realize they’re making music for the masses.

“While it is important to be yourself and put out the type of music that you want to put out, it’s also important to know that especially in today’s day and age, the success of an artist is dependent on whether people like their music and can relate to their music,” Mouch said.

Streaming has dominated music sales in the past five or so years. Overall, the global music industry brought in $19.1 billion in 2018, according to the 2019 Global Music Report from IFPI. Digital revenues increased 21.1% in 2018 to an overall $11.2 billion.

Overall revenues are broken down into physical, digital (excluding streaming), streaming, performance and synchronization rights. Streaming dominates the categories at $8.9 billion, with physical revenues following at $4.7 billion.

Spotify reportedly pays artists $0.00437 per stream, which means artists would need just under 337,000 streams to amass $1,472.

“The negative for artists is that there’s no money in streaming,” Ashworth said. “Even for major artists, you know, money is minimal, which is patently unfair.”

Mouch said synchronization rights are the route many independent artists take to obtain any profit from their music. Synchronization rights entail any royalties obtained from music soundtracking any time of movie, television show, commercial or video.

“Those kinds of placements allow artists to make an income as well as selling merchandise and playing shows,” Mouch said. “That’s kind of become the lifeblood of artists.”

Ashworth said it’s hard to project what’s next for music consumption because you just never know. Ashworth noted the disappearance of vinyl to ensure the success of the CD industry but circled back to how vinyl has had a resurgence. Vinyl sales are projected to surpass CD sales for the first time since 1986, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s 2019 mid-year report.

“The experience to listening to sound being extracted from a rotating piece of vinyl miraculously is a lot more satisfying ... than listening to digital files,” Ashworth said.

Despite the increase in vinyl sales, streaming and MP3s are still the primary way music is consumed now, Mouch said.

“These streaming services have given you all of these algorithmic playlists, which allow you to hop on and (at) any time say, ‘I want to find something new based on what I’ve already listened to,’” Mouch said. “And it’s made (music) so consumable for people.”

ILLUSTRATIONS AND GRAPHICS BY RILEY SCOTT AND RILEE LOCKHART

“These streaming services have given you all of these algorithmic playlists, which allow you to hop on and (at) any time say ‘I want to find something new based on what I’ve already listened to,’ and it’s made (music) so consumable for people.”

- Corey Mouch, frontman of 90’s Kids

@_MOLLY_731 MS660416@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender ARTS/West hosts sale of handmade art, live plants LAUREN SERGE FOR THE POST

This weekend, ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., will be holding a Prints, Plants and Pots sale that will display local artistic and agricultural work open for purchase by the public.

The event is a pre-holiday sale that will showcase house plants, handmade artwork and ceramics that include jewelry and traditional pottery, all of which are created and sold by local individuals.

ARTS/West hosts various shows, performances and classes across broad artistic themes. Emily Beveridge, program specialist at ARTS/West who coordinates the operations at the venue, explained that the concept of the Prints, Plants and Pots sale was conceived after holding a similar event months prior.

“We had an impromptu event in September where we had a print and plant combined sale, and it went really well to the point where I decided we should try to expand on this and have another sale closer to the holidays,” Beveridge said.

Among the contributions for the art in the sale are prints created by the Ohio University Bobcat Print Club. Connor Furr, a graduate student studying fine arts, is the president of the club. Furr explained that the process of printmaking is a culmination of multiple forms that primarily aim to transfer images onto different surfaces.

“Printmaking is a way to create multiples of the same image through handmade means,” Furr said. “So even if there are digital capacities incorporated into the process, like screenprinting, it’s a reproduction of imagery using relatively antiquated methods, but it’s still done by hand.”

The prints for this sale, Furr described, will follow a specific theme to coordinate with other items being sold.

“Prints can be made of anything, and in other cases, there’s more specificity, so for this sale we’re focusing a lot on plants,” Furr said. “So people are making new work and reprinting old etchings that have plants in them.”

22 / NOV. 21 2019

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

Moxahala Micro Farm will be a vendor at the Prints, Plants and Pots sale, selling house plants to those who attend. Henry Yeager obtained a degree in agroecology at Hocking College after deciding to become a farmer and forming an interest in gardening. Since 2016, Yeager has worked to establish the Moxahala Micro Farm, which is an agricultural cooperative that farms sustainable local produce. Yeager depicted his formulaic and intentional process for farming produce that is beneficial to the environment as well as to the individuals who consume it.

“What I’m doing here on my property is about sequestering nitrogen and carbon from the atmosphere into the soil,” Yeager said. “I’m trying to build my nutrient levels in my soil that will allow me to have more nutrient-dense food for people to consume.”

The proximity of Yeager’s profession to the intimacy of the environment aligns with the issue of climate change. Yeager believes that for progress to be made on the issue, the public must shift their perspective away from themselves, and instead, focus on the direct impact on the natural environment.

“We can’t be looking at this from an anthropocentric view. We need to be looking at how it affects the animals in the sky to the microbes in the soil because it’s affecting everything,” Yeager said. “We are stewards of the land now, like once you start growing something, you are affecting the outcome of that life.”

Due to his belief, Yeager said his role as a farmer is his personal contribution to the solving of the climate issue.

“If I’m gonna do anything at all in

the sense of climate change and make this easier for the human race to survive while not harming any animals or plants in the process, and regenerating the earth all at the same time, I think this is the best route I could take by being a farmer,” Yeager said. “It all starts and comes back to food.”

Aside from the positive benefits to the environment, the products in the sale also enable the sellers to showcase their work to new audiences. Furr said events like this sale will display not only physical work but the intricate techniques and applications that his art experiences have provided him.

“Being educated in art has allowed me to think critically, and that’s hard to access oftentimes, and it really has given me a wide variety of trade skills,” Furr said. “So if anything, its lack of specificity in what you’re learning allows you to potentially be plugged into a wide variety of fields.”

While the sale will offer creative benefits, Yeager expressed that the individuals he will meet at the event are whom he is looking forward to the most.

“I’m most excited for the connections that I’m going to make and the people I’m going to meet,” Yeager said. “And I hope that people find the true beauty in the plants that I bring and in the plants, prints and pots that others bring.” @LAURENESERGE LS351117@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Prints, Plants and Pots sale WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m., Sunday 1 p.m.

WHERE: ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. ADMISSION: Free

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ATHENS THIS WEEKEND SYDNEY WALTERS FOR THE POST

Fate and Melanie at 6 p.m. at Jackie O’s Taproom & Production Brewery, 25 Campbell St. Join Melanie Davis, a musician from Kentucky, and Fate McAfee, a folk rocker, for a night of music. Admission: Free Soap Making Workshop at 1 p.m. at

The Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Lane. Make your own holiday gift for your friends and family with several different kinds of soap, including some for pets.

Admission: $50-$55 Jeanie and The Dreamers at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY The Picardy Thirds at 7 p.m . in Bak-

er University Center. Enjoy a night of music from several of Ohio University’s small vocal ensembles, including a cappella group The Picardy Thirds. Admission: Free at 7 p.m. at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. This night of music will feature local bands, like Amethystone and Walk the Ridge, performing their favorite songs karaoke-style in support of the Appalachian Peace and Justice Network. Admission: $5-$20 suggested donation

Harvest Moon Benefit Concert

SATURDAY

at Little Fish Brewing Company, 8675 Armitage Road. Join the local contra dance band for its return to Athens with a night of music.

Admission: Free

SUNDAY Holiday Shopping Spree at 1 p.m. at

Athens Country Club, 7606 Country Club Road. Get some of your holiday shopping done at this one-stop shop for everything from local crafters and retailers. Admission: Free Game Night at 3 p.m. at Little Fish Brewing Company. Destress before the week starts, and either learn how to play a new game or bring your own to play with friends. Admission: Free @SYDNEYEWALTERS SW844317@OHIO.EDU

Friends for Sale and Baileyrp at 8

p.m. at Donkey Coffee, 17 1/2 W. Washington St. Come drink some coffee and enjoy music by local Athens bands Friends for Sale and BaileyRP. Admission: Free

Hosts: George Shillcock and Mikayla Rochelle George and Mikayla discuss hazing in Ohio.

https://www. thepostathens.com/ article/2019/11/ ssm-episode-26

Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre Putnam Hall

THE SENSING BODY Fall Senior Dance Concert

Nov. 21 - 23 7:00 & 9:00 pm st

rd

Students FREE • $10 general admission; tickets are available at the door 1 hour prior to performance

RHINOCEROS

By Eugène Ionesco; translated by Derek Prouse. Witness Tantrum Theater’s interpretation of this timeless, Tony Awardwinning comedy.

Co-directed by José Carrasquillo & Jeanette Buck

Nov. 21st - 23rd & Dec. 4th - 7th $5 Ohio University Student $20 general admission $16 Sen./Alumni/ Military/1st Res.

ohio.edu/fine-arts/theater/

Hosts: Bre Offenberger and Riley Runnells Bre and Riley discuss the most controversial or weird entertainment news from the past week. https://www. thepostathens.com/ article/2019/11/ stay-tuned-episode-11

MOTOWN NIGHT

Enjoy an evening of motown and classic rock hits

Friday, Nov 22nd 9:00 - 1:00 am $3 cover charge

ArtsWest • 132 W State St

PRINTS, PLANTS, & POTS SALE

A truly unique shopping experience. Handmade printed artwork, live plants, and ceramic work, all created or grown by local artists or horticulturalists will be on sale to the public

Saturday, Nov. 23rd 10 am - 6 pm & Sunday, Nov. 24th 1 - 6 pm

FREE ADMISSION facebook.com/artswest Click on “events” for a list of ArtsWest events and details

Donkey Coffee

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ArtsWest • 132 W State

TINA FISHER’S “OH DEER”

Mixed media photography with an eerie twist on mundane activities

On view through Nov. 27th

FREE ADMISSION The Dairy Barn Arts Center

PAINT•PRINT•PHOTO Juried exhibition of works by contemporary Ohio artists

On view through Nov. 30th

FREE ADMISSION

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INTL. WOMEN’S COFFEE HOUR Join us for a relaxing coffee and conversation.

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Dec 6th 7:30 pm Dec 7th 2:00 & 7:30 Dec 8th 1:00 & 4:00 $12 Adults • $8 Students

stuartsoperahouse.org for tickets and showtimes

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

5 easy, efficient ways to be eco-friendly MADYSON LEWELLYN ASST. BEAT EDITOR Looking for easy ways to become more environmentally friendly? If you are tired of living a wasteful lifestyle, it’s time for an eco-friendly makeover. Whether it’s swapping plastic coffee cups for reusable mugs or buying thrifted clothes instead of fast fashion, the small changes we make each day will give a helping hand to the planet.

Going green and adopting sustainable habits does not consist of becoming hardcore vegan or an avid tree hugger but choosing to live with the intention of inflicting less harm upon Mother Earth. Aside from recycling and ditching plastic, show some love by swapping everyday routines of convenience for a more sustainable impact. Here are some easy tips and ways to help decrease your carbon footprint: THRIFTING IS IN, FAST FASHION IS OUT In a society dominated by fast fashion, it’s easy to neglect the harmful process behind clothing manufacturing. Thrifting is a viable solution that will not only help you save money but the earth as well. Ironically, stores such as Urban Outfitters, H&M, Forever 21 and other retailers thrive off processing mass production for a cheap price.

That is in turn making environmental costs

extremely high.

Using second hand clothing has become an increasingly popular alternative for shopping, making your new sustainable lifestyle all the more trendsetting and affordable.

The simple switch from fast fashion to thrifting will not only help you save money and find unique vintage finds, but decrease your carbon footprint and help the environment as well.

USE A REUSABLE COFFEE MUG WHEN BUYING COFFEE Daily coffee runs not only burn a hole in your wallet, but ultimately increase your carbon footprint as well. Save the Earth one coffee cup at a time by choosing a reusable mug over plastic. Although disposable cups are recyclable, the plastic is never recycled indefinitely and eventually becomes trash.

In terms of eco-friendly changes, the switch from single-use coffee cups to reusable is a small but impactful change in terms of helping the environment.

But what happens when you forget your reusable mug? Don’t fret. Another eco-friendly choice is to ask for a strawless lid that coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Court Street Coffee, are now offering. By forgoing the single-use cup, you will also find yourself saving money, as some coffee shops offer discounts for bringing a reusable mug.

INVEST IN A REUSABLE STRAW When going green, a good first step to make is investing in a reusable straw. From metal to silicon to bamboo, the options are endless. It’s no secret that plastic straws are wreaking havoc upon the environment with 500 million used every day in America that are polluting oceans and killing marine life and ecosystems. If the trend continues, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

Reusable straws are a small but important switch when making the well-being of the planet a priority. Luckily, reusable straws can be found priced as low as $3.99, making this swap an affordable way to incorporate eco-friendly and sustainable practices into your everyday life. Next time you find yourself reaching for a straw, forgo the plastic and come prepared with a reusable one.

EAT LESS MEAT When becoming in tune with the green movement, it can be refreshing to adopt new health practices that will boost your own health and the well-being of the planet at the same time. Eating less meat plays an instrumental role in mitigating climate change issues and environmental destruction. No, you won’t have to become an avid tofu eater if you want to save the planet, but a simple decrease will provide impactful change.

Strain the environment less by having a meatless day out of the week, consuming more plants on a regular basis or simply swapping one meal a day for something that’s vegetarian or vegan. Although there may not be an easy way to curb slow climate change, being conscious of your consumption and adding flexitarian choices into your diet provides an easy way to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts.

REDUCE, REUSE, UPCYCLE Needing to freshen up your wardrobe the eco-friendly way? Thankfully, you won’t have to go further than your own closet. Upcycling offers the perfect opportunity to reuse old clothes into customized and trendy fashion staples. Grab a pair of scissors and transform an old T-shirt into a halter top, a two-piece set or cut-off, or add some personality to your favorite jean jacket with handmade acrylic paint designs. At the end of the day, you’ll be much more satisfied with something customized to your own style that you didn’t have to buy at a steep cost for your wallet and the planet.

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4 sustainable fashion brands to feel environmentally sound you’re buying are made of and how they’re being made. It can make you feel 100% better about your choices if you know what you’re buying is ethically sound. Here are four fashion brands that use sustainability ethical practices:

ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY MEGAN KNAPP

RILEY RUNNELLS ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Fashion is an important form of expression. In today’s current climate crisis, it’s crucial to know what the clothes 24 / NOV. 21, 2019

PEOPLE TREE Beginning in 1991, People Tree has had the same mission for three decades: to make its products with the highest ethical and environmental standards from start to finish. The London- and Tokyo-based company’s first drop of products met the Global Organic Textile Standard certified by the Soil Association, and People Tree was the first fashion company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organization product label. Its collections feature organic cotton, lyocell and responsible wool, made by hand weaving, hand knitting, hand embroidery and hand block printing. With its range of women’s clothing, the brand has a lot to offer.

ALTERNATIVE APPAREL This brand looks to be sustainable in

multiple ways. First, it uses oxo-biodegradable mailer bags and has a vendor recycling program. It also uses organic cotton, low-impact dyes and biodegradable fabric softeners, and it washes with reclaimed water. Every year, Alternative Apparel conserves 2,100 trees, 400 cubic yards of landfill, 860,000 gallons of water and 120 tons of carbon dioxide. The brand sells men’s and womens’ clothing along with bags and other accessories.

PATAGONIA Patagonia has worked for almost 40 years to support grassroots activist organizations to find solutions to the environmental crisis.

It also partners with Worn Wear, which celebrates repairing garments and eventually recycling them when they’re beyond repair.

Typically, Worn Wear uses hemp, a natural fiber comparable to linen, as an alternative.

The brand also uses organic cotton, lyocell, recycled wool, polyester and nylon.

have redefined the definition of sustainable fashion. Reformation uses five different categories of fibers: A, natural fibers that are rapidly renewable, plant-based and have a potential for circularity; B, fibers that are almost all natural or recycled fibers; C, fibers that are better alternatives to most commonly-used fibers but not as innovative; D, fibers that require certifications for raw material cultivation, animal welfare, traceability or wet processing; E, fibers that are too environmentally or socially intensive and don’t meet sustainability criteria. The company’s goal is to use 75% of A&B fibers and less than 10% of E fibers. They also invest in environmentally-friendly companies and programs, such as the Brazilian Rosewood Amazon Conservation Project and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. The site has everything for women from clothes and shoes to wedding attire, all while being environmentally conscious.

REFORMATION The brand Reformation is based in Los Angeles and has been deemed by Allure to

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