December 1, 2022

Facing 50 Years

The importance of investigative reporting

I joined The Post during my freshman year, hoping to make a true difference through storytelling. I am happy to say that the publication is on track to do just that.

There has not been an official investigative section at The Post in years. There are many stories exploring and uncovering inequalities and injustices at Ohio University and in Athens, Ohio, but I knew there needed to be a dedicated staff and editor to the cause. So, I proposed the idea to the executive editors when applying for the position of Projects editor.

the importance of investigative journalism, but most importantly, makes a difference for anyone who dealt with these inequalities.

- Hannah Campbell

***

Hannah Campbell

With the help of our investigative editor, Alex Imwalle, we can now shine a light on stories that have been previously overlooked or underappreciated.

When Ashley Beach approached us with the idea to investigate the history of Ohio women’s athletics, I knew she would apply her extensive knowledge and talent for sports writing to such an important topic. For weeks, we would meet to discuss her new findings and interviews.

I am so lucky to have been a part of the amazing exploration, and it sets a precedent for what other investigative writers should strive for. I hope the story calls attention to

I started this story in April after I learned of the 50th anniversary of Title IX at the Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournament. From there, I spent seven months collecting documents, conducting interviews and drafting version after version of this story.

OU has a rich history of women’s athletics I was unaware of until I began this process. There were competitive sports programs long before the NCAA and the Mid-American Conference added women’s sports in 1981. Ohio’s women won state tournaments in the 1970s, but most people don’t know that because there was minimal publicity for the teams.

I spoke with former and current athletes, administrators and coaches from the 1970s to now to learn about their experiences firsthand. This was the most rewarding part of the process because I could hear how each

woman helped improve Ohio for the next. One of the most instrumental parts of the investigative process was the Mahn Center at Alden Library and the Judith Daso special collection for women’s issues. I spent four hours digging through financial reports, Title IX committee reports, meeting minutes, dissertations and more on a Sunday afternoon. I felt like Nancy Drew and it was worth it.

My goal with this story is to uncover the history of Ohio’s women’s sports, the good and the bad. These women put up with so much and now, after 50 years, there has finally been some change. As others have said, it’s an incredible time for women in sports.

- Ashley Beach

Hannah Campbell and Ashley Beach are juniors studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Tell Hannah by tweeting her at @hannahcmpbell and let Ashley know by emailing her at ab026319@ ohio.edu

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Editor-in-Chief | Ryan Maxin

Ashley Beach

Cow found on side of the road; dog sets off home alarm

ANNA MILLAR NEWS STAFF WRITER

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Deputies responded to McDougal Road, in Millfield, regarding a complaint stating dogs were on the loose, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies spoke with the caller and the dogs’ owner. They took a report and issued the dog owner a citation.

COW

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Bassett Road, in Athens, to investigate a report of livestock in the road. Deputies discovered a cow on the side of the road when they arrived in the area. The owner was contacted and the issue was resolved.

Learn How to Hide Better

A report of a suspicious vehicle located at the Little General gas station, in Albany, was received by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the area and discovered a man sleeping in the vehicle.

The man had multiple active, out-ofcounty warrants. He was arrested and transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

The Ones That Got Away

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office rescinded to Wollett Road, in Nelsonville, regarding a reported threat. When deputies arrived, they were only able to speak

with part of the involved group, as the other portion fled the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office will attempt to locate the subjects.

What Was the Dog Up To?

Deputies responded to an activated residential alarm on Lavelle Road, in Athens, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. When they arrived, they discovered one of the doors into the residence was part-way open.

Upon checking the home, deputies determined nothing seemed amiss. Shortly following the deputies’ arrival, the property owner arrived.

Deputies discovered the owner’s dog activated the alarm and the door was not fully shut when the owner left. Deputies returned to patrol.

Should’ve Just Stayed

Deputies assisted EMS personnel to treat a patient claiming he was assaulted at N Plains Road, in The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the man left on foot. He was located and taken to SEORJ, as he had an active felony warrant.

Safe Shooting

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office re-

ceived a complaint of a man shooting a firearm toward the caller’s home. When deputies met with the neighbours they found no reasonable belief the man was shooting in a dangerous manner.

Stick to Proper Hunting Grounds

Deputies responded to a report of possible poaching and butchering of deer in a caller’s woods on Pete Smith Road, in Athens, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, they found no one in the area.

Deputies were told the reported subjects may have been on the neighbor’s property. Finding no evidence of poaching, the deputies returned to patrol.

Alone on the Road

A single vehicle, non-injury crash on State Route 356, near the Rock Camp Road and Waterloo Township intersection was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were dispatched to the area and spoke with the driver.

A report was taken on the crash.

Just Chillin

Deputies conducted a well-being check on two juveniles in Albany, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered one was playing minecraft and the other was napping.

Keep an Eye Out

Deputies were dispatched to The Plains regarding a complaint of a man hiding when he was seen near the caller’s house, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The deputies patrolled the area on foot but were unable to find the man.

Was it a lemon?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint in reference to the sale of a used car. When deputies arrived they found that no illegal activity occurred. The issue was determined to be civil rather than criminal.

No further action was taken.

Just a Bad Day

Deputies were dispatched to Alderman Road, in Athens, regarding a report of possible trespassers in a vacant lot. Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with those involved and determined they were experiencing vehicle issues.

The individuals were told to stay on the right of way while waiting for their ride.

The deputies then resumed patrol.

H I O I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N S U L T I N G P R O G R A M ( O I C P )

H I O I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O N S U L T I N G P R O G R A M ( O I C P )

t i l l l o o k i n g f o r a s p r i n g o r s u m m e r i n t e r n s h i p ?

p p l y N o w ! s i p A P P L Y N O W F O R S P R I N G A N D S U M M E R C O N S U L T I N G I N T E R N S H I P S A V A I L A B L E O N T H E A T H E N S C A M P U S C O N S U L T I N G I N T E R N S H I P S A V A I L A B L E O N T H E A T H E N S C A M P U S

Study Space Locator, task force improves student study experiences

BIANCA GRIM FOR THE POST

As Finals Week approaches, adequate study spaces on campus at Ohio University will be increasingly utilized by students. Study spaces are public spaces for stu dents to meet with peers in a distrac tion-free environment to complete home work and out-of-class assignments. Across OU’s Athens Campus, there are many study locations including the Academic Research Center, Baker University Center, Patton Hall, Schoonover Center, Ellis Hall and Alden Li brary.

The Study Space Task Force locates study spaces on campus and makes recommenda tions to the university to improve the qual ity of such spaces for students, said Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for research and education services at university libraries.

On Oct. 26, OU announced that it was

launching a Study Space Locator, a mapping tool designed to help students locate study spaces on campus.

“Additionally, steps toward increasing inclusivity and belonging in study spaces should be layered into further iterations of the locator and will be informed by a re search project being undertaken this semes ter which is investigating student experienc es in study spaces on the Athens Campus,” Broughton wrote in an email.

Lauren Slanker, a senior studying psy chology, is Broughton’s research assistant for the study space task force and said they are currently planning on improving recog nition of study spaces.

Audrianna Imka, a freshman studying psychology and special education, used study spaces located at Alden Library and said it was a positive and productive expe rience. She said she was free of distractions and could complete her work.

“I was definitely more productive than I would have been in my dorm room because of the change of scenery,” said Imka. “A pos itive factor of using the study rooms is that you can meet with peers and talk to them about assignments in a productive space without disturbing anyone else.”

Slanker said the tool is helpful for stu dents who want to see what is available in each space before they commit to studying there. Some spaces are quiet, while others have whiteboards and outlets for students to use, she said. The tool also allows students to view the space’s furniture, lighting options and reservation information.

“We definitely plan to expand on more locations around campus, and we have also added some outdoor spaces to our tool,” Slanker wrote in an email.

Each study space is maintained by the college or university unit that oversees the building in which they are located. Howev

er, improvements to those study spaces are planned by the University Planning Office, Broughton said.

“While laboratories and studios are typ ically introduced to students through their program requirements, students must rely on word of mouth and serendipitous dis covery for much of their study space naviga tion. The ability to achieve academic success is dependent on equitable accessibility to learning resources including study spaces,” Broughton wrote in an email.

The task force is presenting at the Gradu ate Student Senate meeting in January 2023 to raise awareness of the study space locator among students.

Alden Library at Ohio University. (JESSE JAROLD-GRAPES | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY )

OIT working on request for proposal, Blackboard integration updates

SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST

Ohio University’s Office of Information Technology is currently working on two projects, one of which will upgrade integra tions in Blackboard and the other is a request for proposal to see what other learning man agement systems may meet the university’s needs.

As the university’s COVID-19 policies con tinue to wane and course structures change, the necessity of OU’s technology systems has also evolved.

“Before COVID, I remember accessing Blackboard every so often when I needed something to reference or to look at a ru bric,” Sam Winkler, a senior majoring in en gineering technology and management, said in an email. “Now I use it multiple times a day to find assignments, take quizzes, provide feedback to other students, watch lectures I have missed, and find resources.”

OIT has also recognized the increased use of technology within OU’s academic settings.

“From a teaching and learning tech stand point we have seen significant increase in technology uses (Blackboard doubled, Pan

opto had several hundred percent increase in use, Teams for classes was introduced for example),” Eszti Major-Rohrer, manager of Enterprise Learning Systems and Academic Technology Services, said in an email.

Jeffrey Wolfe, director of OIT’s End User Support, said the increase in Blackboard usage by students and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed OIT to receive more feedback from those who used it.

“The impact to OIT became an oppor tunity to work even closer with all users on how to integrate technology into the learn ing experience,” Wolfe said in an email.

Current updates within Blackboard are to existing integrations, which are other learn ing platforms that can be accessed through Blackboard, such as McGraw Hill, Pearson, Panopto and TopHat, Michelle Donaldson, Learning Systems Analyst III, said.

The routine updates will be made follow ing the close of the Fall 2022 semester and will include the retiring of platforms such as Cirrus by Paradigm, Evolve, Hypothesis and Ximera, according to OIT’s website.

The second project OIT is working on is a request for proposal, or RFP, to explore learning management systems, including the

upgraded version of Blackboard and systems from other companies. The RFP is currently in the evaluation period.

“We have been using Blackboard for 20+ years at this point and we are estimating that very soon Blackboard will announce that they no longer support the current look and feel that we have,” Major-Rohrer said.

With more students and faculty utilizing OU’s technology systems due to COVID-19 and the fast-paced evolution of learning and technology systems, OIT has recognized that it is time to evaluate whether the university’s LMS is meeting the needs of its students and faculty, Major-Rohrer said.

Major-Rohrer said she believes Black board will urge its users to use its newest version, which is why OIT is running an eval uation process now. This will enable time for conversations with those using the plat forms and to review what is available, Ma jor-Rohrer said.

“The change, in regard to outcomes of this RFP, either we stay with Blackboard but move to a new version of Blackboard so that will just look and feel more modern and more intuitive,” said Major-Rohrer. “Or, if the com mittee decides that that’s what they recom

mend, we might move to a new LMS, entirely a new system.”

The three companies that responded to OIT’s RFP will present their platforms during public demonstrations on Jan. 9 to Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each day over Mic rosoft Teams, which students are invited to join through links that will be published to OIT’s updates. Following the presentations, students will be asked to fill out a survey so they can provide feedback.

“Each day there will be a different vendor, and during that 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. timeframe … they’ll do (their presentations) and it will also be recorded,” Donaldson said.

Major-Rohrer said students would most likely not see a change gradually happening until Fall 2023; however, the intention is that Blackboard Ultra, the most updated version of Blackboard, will be in use or a new LMS will be by 2026.

Happy Holidays from ‘The Post’

Students’ feelings and advice for upcoming exams

ABBY JENKINS FOR THE POST

Twas the week before finals and all through the Greens, Bobcats flock to the library and study by any means. As sleep schedules and caffeine addictions become slightly se vere, there are still hopes that an A will soon appear.

It’s that time of the year again, and Fall Semester finals are right around the corner. Students will likely feel pressure and nerves over the next two weeks, regardless of their major or year. Whether it is a final project, an online paper or a good old-fashioned in-per son exam, it is time to crack open the books, head over to Front Room Coffee House and let the study sessions commence.

On top of final exams, students all over campus are involved in student organiza tions, Sorority and Fraternity Life, sports, jobs and hobbies. This can be time-consum ing and limit potential study or work time.

However, being a part of something out side of classes can be extremely beneficial for time and stress management skills. Addi tionally, having healthy outlets to help with stress like working out, journaling or creat ing art or music, can boost moods and help in implementing a routine or schedule, ac cording to the Mayo Clinic.

Avery Ochs, a sophomore studying jour nalism, prepares for finals despite her in volvement in many organizations.

“I’m a part of WOUB, I work for their so cial team, I’m also a part of PRSSA and 1804 Communication,” she said. “I love to play the piano (and) I’m part of a sorority too.”

Despite her vast involvement across cam pus, Ochs is still finding ways to get ready as finals week approaches.

“I’ll keep a list, and then I’ll do like an hour per project, especially when I have to do a lot of projects,” she said. “Like this semester, all my finals are projects.”

The type of exams or number of exams can also affect stress levels pertaining to stu dents. Some classes will give a final project as opposed to a test and vice versa. Work ing on projects or beginning to study for exams early in advance can be very helpful as opposed to waiting until the night before. Procrastination is a student’s worst enemy. However, even setting aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to review material or finish a project can help space it out enough to where there is less stress associated with it.

Changing study habits to more effective

ones can also be beneficial. Students can utilize methods like flashcards, active recall and mind mapping to name a few—no more highlighting sentence after sentence and re reading notes for the thousandth time. Get ting a good night’s rest and eating healthy can also overall improve your well-being and help anyone to feel prepared and confident in their work and skills.

Marcus Pettiford, a senior studying me chanical engineering, put an emphasis on

taking breaks and practicing self-care.

“There’s times when you definitely keep working and you know time passes, and you don’t even realize you haven’t eaten all day,” he said. “Definitely keep your fuel up.”

Upperclassmen like Pettiford have been through it all before and have many tips and advice for underclassmen struggling with stress and time management.

“Get an early start on what you need to review and frequently ask for feedback,” said

Pettiford. “Ask for feedback on every wrong thing you’ve done up to that point of the exam.”

OU provides many resources to help stu dents feel relaxed and ready to ace all their finals. Alden Library will provide resources and events all of finals week, including ther apy dogs on Thursday, Dec. 1, and Monday, Dec. 5, and “finals survival kits” while sup plies last.

Alden will always provide students with tutors and peer mentors for almost every class imaginable in order to really mas ter class materials before the big bad final. Charles J. Ping Recreation Center provides group workout classes, such as cycling and yoga, to help students destress and get in some daily movement.

Talking with friends and socializing can ease stress about exams because it can help students feel they are not alone in the over whelming nerves. Having an uplifting sup port group can be one of the best ways to destress during finals.

Maia Young, a freshman studying biology, shared her feelings and emotions about her upcoming four in-person exams.

“I definitely need to study more, but I’m not too stressed about them (exams) right now,” she said.

Young had taken college credit before coming to OU like many freshmen this year, so she believes it helped her immensely in preparing for what exams are like in college.

“I definitely know what to expect,” she said.

Although students all over campus might be feeling stressed or overwhelmed with the thought of finals looming over their heads, students also know what steps to take when that stress gets to them and have all kinds of strategies and discipline for taking on fi nals head first. With the end of the semester close in sight, good luck on finals to all, and to all a good night.

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

ShopLocal

PRINTS, PLANTS & POTS SALE

ArtsWest • 132 West State Street

Join us for the holiday edition of the Prints, Plants & Pots Sale to be held in the performance space and lower gallery of Arts West! At this truly unique shopping experience, the focus will be on handmade artwork, live plants, and ceramic work, all created or grown by local artists or horticulturalists. Get a jump on your Holiday shopping while supporting your local economy! Parking available behind Arts West.

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Sunday Dec. 4th 12pm - 5pm

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HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Dairy Barn Arts Center 8000 Dairy Lane

Join over 40 local artists, craftsman and specialty vendors for the annual Holiday Bazaar. PLUS Art Activities, Raffle and Hot Cocoa Bar!

Saturday Dec. 9th 3pm - 8pm

Sunday Dec. 10th 11am - 6pm

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

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Gay marriage protection act moves through Congress, students react

passing in the House of Representatives with a 267-157 vote in July, the Senate voted 62-37 to proceed with the vote on Nov. 16. A vote to pass the RFMA in the Senate could occur this week.

Jamie Carey, a senior studying plant biology, works at the LGBT Center and said it is difficult to conclude why people remain intolerant toward gay marriage, particularly after same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S.

“I don’t understand why it matters so much,” Carey said. “It’s so stupid like, what if (my boyfriend and I) also want to have a sweet little marriage and a sweet little ceremony? If we are functionally married, why should we also not have the benefits if we have financial interdependence?”

Although Congress is working toward protecting gay and interracial marriage, Carey said his trust in officials in power to protect the right to marriage is weak.

“It’s one of those things that I kind of just have to send to the back of my brain to get through the day,” Carey said. “I just need to continue forward and hope that there’s enough safeguards in place that this doesn’t happen. But honestly, I don’t have a lot of faith in the system anymore.”

The RFMA would officially repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which was signed into law by former Presi dent Bill Clinton in 1996 to federally recognize marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

MCKENNA CHRISTY CULTURE STAFF WRITER

Legally recognized marriage unions have been de fined by global governments. Many have enacted laws against marriages they determine are socially and culturally wrong.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a con curring opinion that the court should reconsider same-sex marriage. This concurrence argument also threatened the precedent set by the court protecting interracial marriage.

Students at Ohio University, such as Zainah Al Maita, a freshman studying psychology, recognize that same-sex re lationships are treated as inferior in the U.S.

“I feel like people still kind of view (same-sex relation ships) as a strange thing, which is really unfortunate because like just let people love who they love – so long as its consen sual, it’s not hurting anyone,” said Al Maita. “As far as samesex relationships go, (they’ve) been around for a long time.”

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in many countries, but LGBTQIA+ relationships have existed for just as long as heterosexual relationships.

In ancient world cultures, there were no noted differ ences between the modern-day distinctions of heterosexual and homosexual relationships and there were no “othering”

BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

concepts that established particular labels, according to the World History Encyclopedia. In Greece and Rome, the only thought given to same-sex relationships, mainly those be tween two men, was about the socioeconomic status of each partner.

The intolerance toward same-sex relationships first be gan with Christianity’s rise and its prejudice against other faiths, according to the encyclopedia. Once the Roman Em pire converted to Christianity, its teachings were largely considered overarching truth. Same-sex relationships were often perceived negatively by Christians, claiming the need to preserve traditional values, including sexuality.

In generations around the latter part of the 20th century, according to the encyclopedia, activism for LGBTQIA+ rights grew stronger. The Netherlands became the first country to legalize gay marriage in 2000, and 15 years later, through the U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. be came the 22nd country to legalize gay marriage. Currently, 32 countries allow same-sex couples to marry.

Thomas’ statements alerted members of Congress and advocates across the country of the potential threat to Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia – the case that legalized interracial marriage in 1967.

The Respect for Marriage Act, or RFMA, is currently being advanced through Congress and would codify and federally protect same-sex and interracial marriage if passed. After

Two provisions of DOMA were struck down in 2013 and 2015 by Supreme Court cases. The first case, U.S. v. Wind sor, ruled section three of the legislation unconstitutional, which codified the non-recognition of same-sex marriage to dictate who received insurance benefits for government em ployees and other economic benefits. Obergefell v. Hodges followed two years later and declared section two of DOMA in violation of the 14th Amendment because it allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The first provision of DOMA would be repealed by the RFMA and strike down the legislation.

Eris Miller, a senior studying psychology, is regularly at the LGBT Center and said they remember when gay mar riage was legalized in 2015, but it is possible people believed Obergefell v. Hodges meant homophobia would die.

“And I think they thought that’s where institutionalized homophobia ended and when Roe v. Wade was overturned … they weren’t realizing that this has an effect in every sense of bodily autonomy including who you choose to marry,” said Miller.

Marriage is seen as a way for partners in a relationship to show their dedicated love to one another – an innocent celebration – but people in same-sex relationships are often not afforded the same perspective.

“They look at people in same-sex relationships and with these identities, and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a political state ment,’” Carey said. “It’s like, okay, but I do just want to have a nice little ceremony with the man that I love. Do you think we’re just going against the grain for fun? Do you think me having to gauge how physically affectionate we can be with each other depending on where in Ohio we are fun?”

ILLUSTRATION

Week 13 Student Media Poll picks from ‘The Post’

WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR

MOLLY BURCHARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

ASHLEY BEACH FOR THE POST

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

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

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

Molly Burchard, Asst. Sports Editor

Top 5 1.) Georgia 2.) Michigan 3.) TCU 4.) USC

5.)

Ohio State

The last week of the college football regular season was crazy. There were a lot of upsets the past few weeks, and Week 13 was no different. Therefore, I did some shifting.

The only thing that remained the same in my Top 5 is Georgia, still standing at No. 1. Michigan brought their A game and tears to Columbus Saturday. Even I, someone who was born and raised in Columbus, was impressed with their offense. Ohio State could not stop the big play, as all but one of Michigan’s touchdowns came on a play of 45 yards or more.

TCU finished its regular season undefeated for the first time since 2010, and with the help of Michigan’s dominant win and its own 6214 win, it moved up to No. 3. TCU’s 62 points scored against Iowa State Saturday were the most it scored against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since it played Baylor in 2016.

USC entered my Top 5 for the first time this season after LSU dropped out, and Ohio State dropped to No. 5. USC has had back-to-back exciting wins against ranked teams and has been fun to watch all season, it would be cool to see them in the College Football Playoff.

Will Cunningham, Sports Editor

Top 5

1.) Georgia

2.) Michigan 3.) TCU 4.) USC

5.) Alabama

This is the most change I have had in my Top 5 all season, mostly fueled by Ohio State’s embarrassing loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes

drop out of the Top 5 for the first time this year after their first loss, and while they are certainly still alive for the playoff, they don’t deserve a spot after that performance.

LSU also drops out of the Top 5 after a loss to Texas A&M that totally destroyed any chance it had at a College Football Playoff appearance. Jayden Daniels’ shortcomings in the passing game were exposed, and the loss has rendered the SEC Championship game totally uninteresting.

USC and Alabama enter the Top 5 after beating their biggest rivals this weekend. The Crimson Tide easily dispatched Auburn to give themselves an outside chance at the playoff and USC beat Notre Dame to make sure that a win over Utah will definitely put them in.

Ashley Beach, Sports Writer

Top 5

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

Well, here is the change you’ve all been waiting for. Ohio State and Michigan finally faced off and it ended with an embarrassing loss for Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. Ryan Day is officially 0-2 in The Game and Michigan is officially No. 1 on my ballot.

TCU is one of the last undefeated teams in the FBS and it’s in the Big 12 Championship. Its social media presence may be impressive, but its play is ten fold.

Ohio State and USC both only have one loss, which means they can hang in the Top 5. I personally did not believe that another team was worthy of a spot.

SCAN HERE TO READ THE REST

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SMP

Title

50th anniversary highlights growth at Ohio

Women in sports have not been afforded the same opportunities as men.

In 1972, the U.S. Department of Education passed an amendment to the Civil Rights Act. The amendment, called Title IX, stated that “no person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The legislation created drastic changes for women and 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of its passing.

“Here we are at the 50th anniversary of Title IX and it has been such impactful legislation,” said Julie Cromer, Ohio athletics director. “There are a handful of women who are around, who are still with us on this earth, who were instrumental in pushing that legislation through. We talked to them about what they envisioned for women at the time and where we are now, it’s kind of beyond our wildest imaginations.”

OU is required to comply with Title IX at all levels. From providing equal facilities for female students to hiring female staff and reporting sexual misconduct, according to Kerri Griffin, the director and Title IX coordinator at OU.

Title IX ensures women have a seat at the table, including in intercollegiate athletics.

Compliance is decided through 10 factors. Whether the selection of sports

and levels of competition effectively accommodate the interests and abilities of members of both sexes; the provision of equipment and supplies; the scheduling of games and practice time; travel and per diem allowance; opportunity to receive coaching and academic tutoring; assignment and compensation of coaches and tutors; provision of locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities; provision of housing and dining facilities and services; publicity.

Over the past 50 years, Ohio has struggled to meet compliance. However, it continues to make slow progress.

WICA Era

OU had women’s athletics before Title IX through the recreation department and later the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics association.

Catherine Brown was a coach and a professor at OU. She coached the field hockey team from 1968 to 1971 and founded the women’s lacrosse and track and field programs. She also advocated for better treatment for women in sports at OU and drafted a letter to OU administration requesting more paid time off and better conditions for female coaches, according to former Ohio coach Kim Brown.

In 1970, the women’s athletics budget was $913, according to the year’s financial report. After the ICA and WICA merger, the budget increased.

Coaches and athletes still had to put their own money toward travel, lodging and equipment without reimbursement. The 1973 edition of the Athena yearbook

estimated that Ohio provided an operating budget of $500 to the women’s basketball team and all that remained at the end of the season was 17 cents. What the budget didn’t show was the $1647.27 that the coaches and athletes contributed.

The overall women’s athletics budget bumped to $18,000 during the 1973-74 school year and then to $48,000 in the 1974-75 year. However, the budget change didn’t solve all the problems. Despite the many additions to the WICA program in recent years, the athletic department still wasn’t equitable, according to the 1975 Title IX report.

Peggy Pruitt became the Women’s Athletic Coordinator in 1975. Pruitt’s job resembled that of an athletic director but for women’s sports. She was also the field hockey coach from 1975 to 1977 and the tennis coach from 1975 to 1982.

Even after Title IX was adopted, there were still issues within the athletic department. Male department members pushed back because they did not want to give up part of their budget for the women’s teams.

“Some people are always more willing to do things in a new way and some people like the old way,” Pruitt said. “I think anytime you add something new, people are afraid you’re going to take away something old. Especially there was a little apprehension on the part of the men’s coaches.”

When Title IX was implemented, Julie Zdanowicz was an athlete under Pruitt and Kim Brown. Zdanowicz said that she could not see or feel the effects of Title IX on campus as it pertained to athletics.

“What I mean by that is, for example, we still had to buy our own cleats to play field hockey and lacrosse. That wasn’t covered,” Zdanowicz said.

Zdanowicz didn’t study under the recreation umbrella, so she was not as involved in athletics affairs. However, she understood that the treatment of male and female athletes was not equal. The women did not receive proper equipment

and did not have an adequate locker room. Male sports, such as football, received everything they needed.

“We knew we had to perform and show what we were capable of even though we didn’t have all the resources we should have,” Zdanowicz said.

There were 15 special talent awards for the nine female teams and 120 scholarships for the 10 male teams in 1975. Most of the women played without reward, even though some had won state championships.

Kim Brown took over the field hockey program in 1978. Even then, the equipment for women still lacked and she had to make her some of her own out of dowel rods and vinyl.

Inequities still extended to travel during Kim Brown’s tenure. The team traveled to away games in station wagons that had the back hatches tied shut to stay closed. The safety of the vehicles was so questionable that Kim Brown took out extra insurance in case of an accident.

The women faced more challenges once they got onto the road. They had $4 to $6 for food during the trip, which was unheard of for men’s sports. The 1975 review also found that the meals budget for men’s teams totaled $86,200 and the women’s budget totaled $14,850.

“Sometimes, not when I was coaching there, but before I was there, the students would ask the cafeterias to pack them a packed lunch so that they could have food because they didn’t have any money to pay for food on the trips,” Kim Brown said.

However, the equal opportunities programs guidelines state that “a university is not required to make equal expenditures for men and for women, but it must provide ‘equal athletic opportunities for members of both sexes.’” It didn’t matter how much money was given to the women for anything.

NCAA Era

Inequities were bandaged when women joined the NCAA and Mid-American Con-

ASHLEY BEACH FOR THE POST

Kim Brown said that field hockey was given home and away uniform tops with reversible wraparound skirts. Other programs were awarded true uniforms as well and no one had to wear their physical education uniforms any longer.

The regulations on how many athletes could be rostered on the travel squad became more equitable due to the new rules. However, the accommodations on the trips were still less than.

“If men can sleep one to a bed and have a buffet, then women shouldn’t be sleeping four to a bed and eating at McDonald’s and that’s how things were, and that didn’t change when we went into the MAC,” Kim Brown said.

Another thing that didn’t change was the quality of the outdoor sports’ playing surfaces. Kim Brown said she and the other women’s coaches often did their own maintenance on their fields because OU neglected to. OU administration became aware of one of the rundown surfaces after a trip to the field hockey field, now known as the Mill intramural fields.

“I was always thankful, (and) I don’t know why this happened, (but) we had a home game and some big, important people from campus came down like the provost and a couple of people… and there was a huge dust storm on the field, it happened every day, but I was so happy that it happened so those people could see how miserable it was (to play there),” Kim Brown said. “After that, we got a little better care of the field.”

Despite less-than-ideal conditions, Ohio’s women thrived in the 1980s. The field hockey team won a share of the first MAC title in 1981. However, they were given a paperweight for their accomplishment because there was not enough money to purchase rings. The men’s basketball team won a MAC title that same academic year and were given rings.

Ohio was the runner-up in the first-ever MAC Championship for softball in 1982, the women’s basketball team took home

a MAC championship in 1986 and field hockey collected its second championship in 1987.

OU conducted the first Title IX review of the 1980s in 1982 and followed up with another in 1987.

The 1987 report applauded the improvement of the laundry services, quality of practice equipment, protective equipment for certain sports, availability of service and professionalism of equipment staff.

Other areas of improvement included transportation and accommodations on the road. The committee found that the department had implemented adequate travel standards for meals and hotels for all teams.

The committee learned that the field hockey team was playing on an illegal field. Every school that played Ohio that season complained about the poorly maintained field. The field also lacked water facilities, including drinking water and toilets. The softball field was also due for repairs at the time.

Locker rooms were a major issue. The committee “concluded that the ICA (had) made no attempt to eliminate this ‘significant disparity.’ There (had) been no changes in locker room assignments since 1982,” according to the 1987 report. The report also stated that all but one locker room had its original carpet and lockers.

Chris Nichols Allwine was a member of the women’s cross country and track teams from 1987 to 1991. She was an AllMAC nominee all four years. Allwine held the 10,000 meter record when she graduated and was inducted into the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.

The women’s cross country team had tremendous success during Allwine’s career. The team, led by Mo Banton, won the team MAC Championship from 1987 to 1992. However, their success did not exempt them from equity issues.

“Our locker room was not usable,” Allwine said. “I know the guys, their locker

room was in much better shape than ours. I remember going in there for a couple of team meetings and thinking ‘oh my gosh, they actually have a clean locker room.’”

Allwine believes that the women’s cross country and track programs were afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts. The only major issue was the locker room.

“We would go in (our locker room) to use the restroom and that was it,” Allwine said. “We would not shower in there… very rarely would we change in there just because it was pretty rundown.”

OU conducted another review in 1994. The report found that many of the issues from the previous two decades of reviews stood, including equipment disparities, coaching equivalency, locker rooms and

travel accommodations.

The coach to athlete ratio for female sports stood out when compared to male sports. Men’s basketball had an athlete to coach ratio of two to one, while field hockey had a much different ratio.

“The disparity between the woman who was the field hockey coach, who had 18 athletes and no assistant coach, as opposed to the (men’s) basketball team, where they had three or four different assistant coaches and some other people in addition to that,” said Jessie Roberson, former faculty athletics representative.

“The argument that’s always made is that it was in response to market forces.”

Other coach-related issues popped up as well. All male coaches were on multiyear contracts, but not all women. Also,

Former field hockey head coach Kim Brown holds a newspaper featuring the main headline about a 1-10 football season and a smaller headline about a women's cross country win on Oct. 24, 2022. (JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

definitely misinterpretation taking place at that time.”

Ohio has turned a new leaf since those cuts, though. It has narrowed in on the 10 requirements of Title IX and has increased its commitment to equity.

“The sophistication of our operations around our female sports programs has evolved quite a bit,” Cromer said. “You see more operationally a more profes sionalized approach to their support… more business-oriented professionalized mature development of services around them, whether it’s communications or marketing, or even internally and in some of our career development, it’s just more sophisticated.”

Cromer was hired in 2019 as the first fe male athletic director at Ohio. She played an integral role in realigning the content department, which has allowed Ohio to give more publicity to its female athletes.

faculty athletics representative and professor Jessie Roberson

for a portrait on Oct. 24, 2022. Roberson was a member of the Title IX review committee of 1994.

(JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

several male coaches received courtesy cars as perks. One female coach had a courtesy car, according to the 1994 Title IX review committee’s report.

“That was part of the university’s con tract with the car dealers,” Roberson said. “They tried to argue that they shouldn’t have to consider that in considering the equities of how they were paying men versus women.”

The locker room situation still hadn’t been solved. There were two teams that shared locker rooms in the 1990s: field hockey and softball. The report reflect ed the dinginess that Allwine had expe rienced and the insufficient security and amenities of the locker rooms.

The women knew they were jipped, too. “Several coaches of women’s sports expressed concern about whether they or their programs were taken seriously by the department or the rest of the univer sity community; there has been a mark edly higher turnover rate among women’s head coaches than for men’s head coach es,” according to the 1994 report.

Schools were supposed to be Title IX compliant by the end of the 1970s, but the women were still feeling uneasy. Higher education institutes had pushed the idea that they had worked toward equity, but it had been 20 years and schools were still not in compliance.

“That was a point in time where men in college athletic administration would hold press conferences to announce that they were going to break the law less,” Rober son said. “I will never forget the commis sioner of the Big Ten having a press con ference to announce that all of the schools were going to aim for 60-40 distribution

in scholarship allocation, which is essen tially an announcement that you’re going to break the law less.”

2000s to Now

Ohio did its best to uphold the stan dards of Title IX as it moved into the 2000s, even though that meant it had to cut programs.

On Jan. 25, 2007, OU announced that it would drop the men’s indoor and out door track and field, women’s lacrosse and men’s swim programs after the 200708 year. The decision to cut lacrosse was made due to financial reasons.

It wasn’t the first time women’s la crosse was on the chopping block. The program was brought back to the varsity level in 1999, according to a previous Post report, but due to the sport’s high finan cial commitment, it was dropped not even eight years later.

The men’s programs were cut to com ply with Title IX requirements.

“We are not in the financial position to add a women’s program and therefore must take alternative measures to contin ue our commitment to compliance with this federal statue,” former athletics di rector Kirby Horcutt said to the Associat ed Press at the time of the announcement.

The athletes that were dropped only knew once it was announced. It caused a stir because the choice was seen as a mis interpretation of Title IX.

“At the time that decision was made, I believe Title IX was misinterpreted,” All wine said. “The intention was to bring equality to women’s sports to have just as nice facilities and opportunities, but not at the cost of men’s programs. There was

Publicity was one of the largest dispar ities recognized in each Title IX review of the 1980s and 1990s. There has been an explosion in media coverage, marketing and fan engagement for women’s colle giate sports over the past ten years, but overall, the landscape of women’s sports has changed dramatically since Title IX was implemented.

“Not only in terms of the number of opportunities for young women to come through their collegiate experience and be scholarship athletes at the varsity level, but also for the culture around women’s sports, the support and the infrastructure around women’s sports,” Cromer said.

Coach Ali Johnstone has witnessed that change. Johnstone played field hockey at Ohio from 1998 to 2002 and has been both an assistant and head coach of the pro gram.

Johnstone is happy to see that athletics has taken steps toward equity. Her team no longer has to board vans at 5:30 a.m. to practice at a high school in West Virgin ia like she did because Ohio has a proper playing surface now.

“I don’t know if (today’s athletes) tru ly know the transformation we went through,” Johnstone said.

The idea of an “Adidas Christmas” didn’t exist when Johnstone was an ath lete. The team wasn’t given loads of ap parel and shoes. Johnstone recalled that if she and her teammates were to tear their shoe, they had to tape it together for the rest of the season.

“We didn’t have that,” Johnstone said. “That didn’t exist. It was green and gray: green cotton shorts and gray cotton T-shirts that were leftovers from the football team, which I thought was awe some because I had never been given a free T-shirt before (as an athlete). We had a sweat suit and maybe a rain jacket or something. Now, it’s like running shoes, turf shoes, (etc.) which are good. I mean we needed all that stuff back then.”

The athletics department has also be come more unified over the years. No teams are stuck on their own because they all work together.

“We have support from marketing, we have support from sports informa tion, we have support from academics (and) we have support from the medical staff. It feels more team-oriented. For all teams,” Johnstone said. “Whereas before, it seemed like we had support but it was only here and there. Whereas now, I can just walk down the hall (in the office) and just talk to someone about something and they have ideas and I don’t have to beg them for ideas. It feels more holistic.”

However, change hasn’t been easy, and more issues have presented themselves as time has marched on.

“I think the challenge for leaders at this time is to continue to push the evolution and adaptation of culture to match the spirit and intention of title IX,” Cromer said.

Ohio has grown since the passage of Title IX, but Ohio athletic administra tors like Cromer agree there’s still more to be done. The standards of equity have changed since 1972 and they are constant ly evolving. The administration and all U.S. athletes must continue pushing for change.

“I think we have vastly improved in terms of opportunity and the quality of opportunity for young women and yet, as an equity measure, we continue to have room to grow,” Cromer said.

Former

poses

How Ohio keeps its diet and weight under control during a taxing season

MARC GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POST

Wrestling is not for the weak.

The stress of doing full body combat with another human being makes wrestling one of the most difficult sports in collegiate athletics. Being constricted to a 32-foot diameter area also makes it challenging. Arguably, the most strenuous aspect of wrestling is dieting practic es and weight management.

In his 25th season as the Ohio wrestling coach, Joel Greenlee knows a thing or two about properly preparing an athlete’s body for competition.

“I think that it really comes down to an in dividual basis,” Greenlee said. “Obviously, you can do the (NCAA) thing where you cannot go less than 5% body fat and not be able to lose more than 1.5% body fat in a week. I think that once you do that, you can get a good gauge at what weight you can and cannot be at during the season.”

From the coaching staff’s perspective, it de pends on how much effort and care the athlete dedicates to their body. Greenlee leaves it to the athletes to figure out what works best for them, but he is happy to help if there are any questions regarding practices. He uses his ex perience as a major factor in this decision.

“I think that the resources in college ath letics are way better than they’ve ever been,” Greenlee said. “As far as nutritionists, dieticians are concerned, (you) have to take advantage of it and ask me those questions.”

On the other side of the spectrum, athletes have mixed feelings on dieting programs or lack thereof. Graduate student Alec Hagan has been at Ohio for six seasons, which has given him time to figure out his stance on dieting pro grams. Hagan, like Greenlee, understands that staying proactive in one’s diet is a key to suc cess.

“I think that the coaches do a lot to help us out. They have a lot of snacks in the locker room … In the end, it is pretty simple for a lot of us,” Hagan said. “You just need to work out more than what you put in. I usually just try to cut it, try not to drink a lot of calories. I also try to space out six little meals throughout the day … I space them out to get my metabolism going and be able to burn those calories throughout the day.”

In Hagan’s case, he experiments with dif ferent practices. He is a sixth-year athlete and has a twin brother, Kyran, who also wrestles for the Bobcats. The ability to have a bit of trial and error in regard to the weight and diet manage ment programs are key for Hagan.

“I think that coming in as a freshman, I thought that I could cut weight like an idiot,” Hagan said. “Like (Coach) Greenlee said, a lot of guys think it is cute and funny to be a lot over and have to cut. I remember in my freshman year, we drove to Iowa State. I think we went to McDonald’s the night before to grab something easy. I went out there in front of 5000 people and got pinned. I went on my phone to see it uploaded to FloWrestling and it hit me that this is not funny. I decided that I needed to keep my diet under control and fix this issue.”

Although that lifestyle might work for some wrestlers, others need more guidance from the coaching staff. One of the main tenets of Green lee’s weight management program is that being lean is far better than making a certain weight.

“I think you need to be lean just because the work ethic and workouts are different,” Green lee said. “You have to fuel your body the right

way. I think everybody is more physically ma ture in college, so it is less about pure abilities and more about other things. It is hard for you to be successful at a high body fat.”

The philosophy that Greenlee and the entire Ohio coaching staff subscribe to is worthless if the wrestlers refuse to buy into it.

“We are not eating with them,” Greenlee said. “We are not in the dorms everyday, you have to figure that stuff out on your own and as it goes.”

The elder statesmen in the locker room is what makes the “buy in” easier for younger wrestlers. Hagan, being one of the most expe rienced wrestlers, knows that the responsibility falls upon him to lead the way.

“Setting an example in the locker room if (someone) is struggling with their weight. I can tell him things that worked for me and try to get him away from just cutting corners like

taking the easy way out by sweating off weight and losing water weight quickly instead,” Hagan said. “Getting down to a body fat level where you are healthy and can wrestle well instead of trying to cut a bunch of water weight late … I also tell them that eating crappy foods will make you feel crappy in the end.”

Greenlee and Hagan have both watched countless wrestlers step onto the mats with varying levels of success. One thing that has driven success for wrestlers is their ability to maintain their physical health. Ohio has a long season ahead of it, but it will survive under Greenlee’s watchful eye and with proper nutri tion.

Ohio University’s Alec Hagen wrestles University of Buffalo’s John Arceri at The Convo in Athens, OH, on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. (DYLAN TOWNSEND | FOR THE POST)

Get to know Ben Roderick

WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR

Ben Roderick was the No. 6 basketball re cruit in Ohio in 2019, and Jeff Boals getting him to commit to Ohio in his first season as head coach was a sign of what Boals would build in Athens.

Since joining the Bobcats, Roderick has be come one of their most important players and was instrumental in their 2021 NCAA Tourna ment run.

This season, Roderick has transitioned to a different role, leading the team in minutes among non-starters and serving as a vital sixth man for Ohio. Roderick is averaging 8.7 points per game, and after shooting just 22% from three last season, he is shooting 50% from be yond the arc through six games this year.

The Post chatted with Roderick about his favorite TV shows and video games, his love for golf and more.

The Post: When you are traveling, what are three things you need to ensure you have on every trip?

Roderick: I need my AirPods, whether that’s listening to music or watching a show. I need my laptop to do schoolwork or watch shows. And the last thing I gotta have is my toiletry bag. Those are always three things I check for.

TP: What shows have you been watching re cently?

Roderick: I finished “House of the Dragon,” I loved that show. Now that we’re on the road, I’m trying to pick up a couple of new shows. I’m going to rewatch “House of Cards,” I love that show. Maybe “Game of Thrones” again, “Des ignated Survivor,” or even “Seinfeld.” Those are the shows I really like.

TP: Were you a big “Game of Thrones” fan when it was first on?

Roderick: I didn’t watch it when it was first on, and then I started watching it during COVID, and I watched it all the way through, and I love it now.

TP: What did you think about the ending? Ob viously, it was pretty controversial, and a lot of people didn’t like it.

Roderick: I don’t think it was that bad. It definitely felt a little rushed, but I think people overreacted a little bit. I definitely think they could have put a bit more thought into it and made it a little bit longer.

TP: And you mentioned “House of the Dragon,” have you finished that?

Roderick: I watched it every Sunday with my roommates. It was a great show, and I wish there was more to watch.

TP: Which would you say is better, “House of the Dragon” or Game of Thrones?” Which did you like more?

Roderick: I’ve seen “Game of Thrones” throughout, so I’m going to say that for right now, but with “House of the Dragon,” I feel like the first season was really good compared to “Game of Thrones,” so I’m excited to see where they take it the next couple of years.

TP: You mentioned watching shows and watching film, but what are some of your oth er hobbies when you’re not working out or practicing?

Roderick: I love to play golf; that’s probably my favorite hobby. If you don’t find me on the basketball court, you can probably find me on the golf course with my friends. Another hobby of mine is playing video games. The new “Call of Duty” came out, and the new Warzone’s coming out, so especially during the winter when it’s cold outside, I’ll play with my buddies and it’s a great time.

TP: So how long have you been playing golf?

Roderick: I took lessons when I was a little kid, and then I stopped playing for a while, but I kind of picked it back up during high school and then during COVID, I really started playing again. These past couple years, I play three or four times a week if I don’t have stuff to do, I

love it.

TP: Do you play at the course on campus, or do you go somewhere else?

Roderick: I do both. The course on campus is pretty easy to go to, it’s like two minutes away from my house. But if I’m ever looking for an 18-hole course I’ll go up to Columbus since I’m from there and play a course there.

TP: You mentioned you’ve been playing the new Call of Duty, what do you think of it so far?

Roderick: I like it, I like how you have to use different guns to unlock other guns. I like how that creates gun diversity. And the new War zone comes out tomorrow, so I’ll be hopping on that as soon as we get back. I’m excited. Hope fully, it’ll be good.

TP: We just talked to Elmore James, and he said you guys play NBA 2K a lot, do you play that with some of your teammates?

Roderick: I do not. I play “Madden.” But no one on this team has beaten me in “Madden,” so that’s all I’m gonna say. @WILLOCUNNINGHA WC425318@OHIO.EDU

Senior Ben Roderick poses for a portrait before Ohio’s practice in The Convo on Nov. 15, 2022. (ASHLEY BEACH | FOR THE POST)

CHRISTO SIEGEL

You may have seen a sign in the background of College Football Gameday last week in Columbus that read ‘RANK OHIO.’ That sign was from me, and I trekked across a sea of thousands of Ohio State fans as possibly the only person in the city wearing green and white. Fans jeered and laughed at my sign, but I was dead serious. It’s about time the Ohio Bobcats are ranked in the College Football Playoff Top 25.

The Bobcats have completely flipped a script following their 2021 campaign. They’ve mirrored their 3-9 record with a blazing 9-3 campaign, including their last seven in a row.

Ohio has far and away been the best team in the Mid-American Conference, and it hopes to show that off in the conference championship against the Toledo Rockets this weekend. Their offensive unit ranks first in the MAC in total yards, yards per game, passing yards, points scored and points per game.

The trio of quarterback Kurtis Rourke, freshman running back Sieh Bangura and wide receiver Sam Wiglusz is one of the most lethal in football. Rourke was named MAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and earned the Vern Smith Leadership award. Bangura was named MAC Freshman of the Year, and Wiglusz was voted onto First Team All-MAC, one of nine Ohio players to make an All-MAC team. Tons of credit can also be given to head coach Tim Albin, who was named the MAC Coach of the Year.

Rourke has been spectacular this season. He is 16th in passing yards and tied for 18th in the country in touchdowns, despite missing the last game of the regular season with a torn ACL. He threw for 537 yards against Fordham, setting a program record, and produced a stellar 25/5 touchdown to interception ratio. He’s spearheaded an offensive unit that is 32nd in the country in total yards and 33rd in yards per game.

His backup, CJ Harris, is no pushover, either. Harris stepped up in Ohio’s most recent game against Bowling Green with four total touchdowns. Harris’ ran all over the Falcons, rolling in for three touchdowns on the ground. Ohio will have to lean on him to win the conference but he

proved he’s more than capable of leading this team.

Now, Ohio isn’t exactly statistically in the top dogs of defense in the country. However, it’s been a different story over the last six weeks. The early season included games against tough out of conference teams and a forgettable game against Fordham. Since Oct. 15, Ohio has held each of their opponents to no more than 24 points, with an average of 18 points per game. If they were able to hold their stellar second-half defense for the length of the full regular season, the team would be tied for 10th in points allowed with Penn State and Alabama.

Ohio has yet to beat a ranked team, but has beaten two bowl-eligible teams, and can add more if victorious against Toledo. Without necessarily a quality win, ‘quality losses’ are an unofficial litmus test for where a football team stands. The three teams Ohio fell to in the regular season were all solid.

Penn State was one of them, currently ranked eighth in the country for the college football playoff. Then an overtime loss to Kent State, who fell to the No. 1 team in the country, the University of Georgia. Kent State tied for dropping the most points on Georgia all year, and Georgia is Top 5 in just about every defensive statistical category. Ohio’s other loss came to the Iowa State Cyclones, who played much better than their record indicated, as they suffered numerous close losses to ranked opponents.

Ohio can strengthen its case if it emerges a conference champion this weekend and a bowl game against an undetermined opponent to close out the season. The name is out there, though. It was voted the 25th best team in the country by two voters for the official rankings. The #RankOhio movement has grown on Twitter and the Bobcat Bandwagon won’t stop until they’re officially nationally recognized.

Christo Siegel is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Christo by tweeting him at @imchristosiegel.

The return of the artisans

We live in a world dominated by machin ery and modern technology, but artisanship contributes profoundly to certain industries today.

An artisan is a skilled worker that special izes in creating things by hand. It is thought that an artisan, no matter how skilled, cannot compete with modern technology. Regard less, there is still room for artisan products to thrive. Modern artisan practices range from meat-curing to jam-making, to barrel toasting and cocktail-making.

In the barrel-making industry, the seem ingly outdated craftsmanship of creating barrels by hand and “toasting” them to age and store wine contributes immensely to the flavor of the product. Since its practice has declined, there are limited educational opportunities to achieve a “master cooper” status, which drives the profession’s value through the roof.

Today, there are only a few dozen master coopers in the world. According to Ramiro

Herrera, a master cooper and the sole bar rel-maker for Caldwell Vineyard and Winery believes, “For wine, the oak barrel and the level of toast make up about 50% of the fla vor. For spirits, the charred wood makes up more like 85-95% of the flavor.”

Though this is only one example, the re cent rise in artisan cocktails is transforming the bartending industry, and returning soci ety to artisan methods of drink-making.

“Mixology” is defined by Merriam-Web ster as “the art or skill of preparing mixed drinks.” A “mixologist” focuses on creating entirely new cocktails and develops recipes, while a bartender mixes and serves them. Thus, the artisanship in mixology lies within the craft and the ingredients.

Mixologists spend much of their time mapping out new cocktails on paper, then step into a kitchen to form their drinks, re sulting in very little time behind an actual bar. Mixology is generally accepted as a re fined and in-depth study of the art of mixing drinks.

“Drinkmasters,” the recent Netflix se ries, showcases world-class mixologists and

their dazzling cocktail-crafting skills as they compete for a cash prize and the title of “Ul timate Drink Master.” In the show, artisan techniques and ingredients are suggested to be the future of the industry, and they aren’t far off. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest data shows that the demand for mix ologists and bartenders is expected to grow by 18% through 2030, which is “much fast er than the average for all occupations,” as the average growth rate for all occupations is 5%.

The show features traditional techniques such as smoking a cocktail, layering and in fusions. These methods require high-quality booze as well as fresh ingredients that are typically locally sourced.

Businesses such as American Spoon, Ben ton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams and Ironbound Farms are prime examples of lo cally-sourced products that are shipped and used by other businesses for their originali ty and quality. All three businesses produce high-quality products in limited batches due to their size and utilize team-building skills to achieve a specific outcome.

Though we may not realize it, these arts can unite communities and typically un reachable populations. For example, previ ously incarcerated people are given the op portunity to apprentice at Ironbound Farms, which allows them to support themselves and their families while being offered a sta ble source of income and a mentorship pro gram at a local farm within their community.

In a world that often seems polarized and oppressive, artisanship has the power to en gage the creative side of our brains and unite groups of people together to drive innova tion and imagination at a time when we need it the most.

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

RYAN’S RANT

The ugly truth about fake news

RYAN MAXIN

It’s time we all accept this universal truth: “fake news” doesn’t exist — at least not in its conventional definition. When I hear someone say the phrase, I cringe a little. It’s not that I’m naive enough to think false information doesn’t exist out there in the world; in fact, I know the dissemination of it has gotten increasingly worse over the past decade as the world becomes more intercon nected through platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Never before have billions of people had such accessible communica tion channels at their fingertips, and some have undoubtedly used those channels to spread lies that appear legitimate.

My issue with the term “fake news” is one of semantics. The phrase doesn’t ac curately represent what it describes, and

it has damaging consequences.

As a journalism student, I’ve learned that words matter. In order to create the most accurate story, one must use words that precisely convey what one is trying to express. “Fake news” does not do that.

For starters, the word “news” by itself implies truth. Though Merriam-Web ster defines “news” as “a report of recent events” with no contingency that the re port must be truthful, it’s generally un derstood and expected that news should be accurate and credible.

You wouldn’t say something is “fake true,” because the English language, de spite its flaws, already provides a conve nient word for that: “false.”

I suggest we as a society move to call “fake news” what it really is. Terms like “disinformation,” which describes false in formation that is deliberate and malicious, and “misinformation,” which describes

false information that is accidental or in complete, are more accurate and precise terms than the blanket “fake news” phrase. But of course, those terms don’t provide the fear factor that “fake news” does.

The saying has developed into a popular mantra hurled at news that people, partic ularly politicians, don’t like in an effort to discredit it, according to the University of California Santa Barbara. Though the first instance of “fake news” being used as a phrase dates back to the 1890s, according to Merriam-Webster, it was famously used by both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential Election and popularized by Trump after he was elect ed.

Another problem with saying some thing is “fake news” is that it damages the reputation of journalism altogether. Peo ple often associate the word “news” with journalists and reporters, and rightly so.

But saying something is “fake news” when it comes from any place other than an ac tual news site discredits the principles of accountability and transparency that journalists are taught to uphold. How can something be called “fake news” if it’s not coming from a legitimate news site?

The substance of “fake news” certain ly exists, but it’s wrongly labeled. Apt de scriptors like “disinformation” and “misin formation” can clear up a lot of confusion and keep “fake news” from being a catchall term for whatever people believe is in accurate.

News is news, it can’t be faked.

Ryan Maxin is a junior studying jour nalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Ryan know by tweeting him @ryanmaxin.

The best finals studying methods

ALICIA SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

The last hurdle before break is fast approaching: finals. The dreaded exam period fills students with anxiety as they try to find the study method that works the best for them. Fortunately, we’ve found a few that work pretty well.

The “No Phone” Method

This method is pretty self explanatory. By not letting yourself use your phone, whether it’s through powering it down, putting it out of reach or simply leaving it in another room, you eliminate a major distraction.

The Feynman Technique

Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman developed a simple technique to better understand a subject. The method is to simply look at the material you are studying, and then pretend that you are explaining the concepts to a 12-year-old child. By simplifying the subject, you force yourself to think deeper, thus contributing to your understanding.

Rewriting Notes

This is a method that I can strongly attest to. Not only will it refresh your memory of the material you’re aiming to study, but the physical act of writing your notes out forces your brain to be a more active participant in the studying

process, which enables you to better commit the subject matter to memory.

Studying in Intervals

By studying in intervals, you give your brain time to rest, allowing it to better retain the information being studied. This is known as the Pomodoro Technique. It recommends studying for 25 minutes, followed by a short five minute break. Some may find it easier to study for fifteen minutes, while others for 50 minutes. It’s all up to your personal preference!

Taking practice tests

Research has shown that by answering practice questions in a simulated test, it allows for active retrieval of information in the brain, which helps students commit the information to memory better and have an easier time retrieving that information during the actual test. There are also websites that are built for this, such as Quizlet.

Mind Mapping

If you’re a visual learner, this is an ideal technique for you. By creating a map that connects concepts with explanations as to why, you’re better able to visualize the material in a way that is more palatable for you.

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

5 homemade gifts to give to your friends and family this holiday season

GRACE KOENNECKE FOR THE POST

As the holidays approach, it’s time to start thinking of gifts for friends, fami ly and significant others. Yet, with prices soaring, it can be difficult to think of af fordable gifts.

If you’re anxious about spending too much money this holiday season, have no fear. Here are five homemade gifts to give during this time of year.

A cute, nostalgic scrapbook

If you’re into crafts and have an artistic side, make a scrapbook for a loved one. All you have to do is stop at your local con venience store and develop some photos and get a couple of glue sticks and stick ers. This gift will last a long time and prove to the person you love how much effort you are willing to dedicate to their gift. Your scrapbook can be silly, nostalgic or

even romantic. It will be a cute surprise to whomever you’re dedicating it to.

A hand-knit scarf or hat

Since it gets cold during the holidays, why not break into a new package of yarn and get crafty? If you’re new to knitting, look up a video on YouTube or TikTok. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t want to stop. Start simple by making something like a scarf or hat. Trust me, this home made gift will have your friends and family jumping for joy over a new clothing item that will keep them warm and cozy.

A handwritten letter

Writing out your thoughts is a great way to show your appreciation for a person. You can tell your friend, family member or sig nificant other how much they mean to you, your favorite memories with them or your

favorite things about them within your let ter. You can also include inside jokes and hopes for their future if you’re feeling sen timental. You can even use a fancy pen or set of stationary to make the letter special. Go beyond writing by drawing a picture or writing song lyrics or a poem. Whatev er you want this person to know, put it on paper.

A tie blanket

Tie blankets are also extremely easy to make. First, pick out a set of fleece from a craft store. Next, lay the two pieces of fleece on their opposite sides. Trim off any ends to make the two pieces fit each other with a pair of scissors. After, cut off three to four inches from each corner and then cut little slits all the way around the fabric. Finally, tie all the slits together, with every two slits tied into a knot. Once it’s all said

and done, you’ll have a tie blanket! It is an essential gift for a person who loves the holiday cold but wants to stay warm.

Used books

Choose a book that reminds you of the person you’re planning to give something to, and write a little note on the front of the book to say why you chose this book for them. By doing this, you’re saving your self and your friends and family money and giving them something they can learn from. You can wrap the book in wrapping paper that fits its theme or tie a bow around it. This gift is simple, saves space and shows someone in your life that you put some thought into their gift this year.

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN ADAMS

Here’s your 2022 Christmas wishlist guide

GRACE BREZINE ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR

As Christmas approaches, you may have a few items in the back of your head that you have been wanting. Whether you are going to ask for a gift or treat your self, there is a multitude of items that will make the perfect gift. Here are items to add to your wishlist for this year:

UGG Classic Mini Platforms

UGG has been coming out with many new styles of shoes recently, with its mini platforms being one of the most popular. They are said to be extremely comfort able and elevate any winter outfit without making you look too formal or too casual –the happy medium. They also come in the colors chestnut and black, arguably the best and most universal colors that UGG

boots come in. You can wear these with just about any clothing item for many dif ferent occasions.

Sephora gift sets

Sephora has come out with its annual, limited edition gift sets for the Christmas season. Ranging from makeup to skincare, there is a gift set for every need. If you’re looking for a new lip combo, Charlotte Til bury has a pillow talk lip set. It includes the famous pillow talk lip liner, lipstick, gloss and its hyaluronic ‘happikiss’ for a more natural look.

Sephora also features a mini holiday must-haves set, which will keep you in check for Christmas. This set includes minis of the Benefit roller mascara, Char lotte Tilbury setting spray, Livingproof dry shampoo, Sae starglow, Summer Fri days jet lag mask and the popular Brazilian

bum bum cream.

Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cook book

A cookbook is a wonderful gift for your self or family and friends. While cooking may come easy to some, it is a learn ing process for others. This cookbook by Tieghan Gerard has easy and healthy rec ipes that are fun and a step up from your normal chicken and rice or spaghetti and meatballs. There are also 125 recipes, so there’s something new to cook every time you turn on the stove.

3-in-1 wireless charger

This wireless charging station from Amazon is a great gift for those Apple lov ers out there. This product can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time. It will make your life easier and

your space less cluttered without all the cords.

Self-cleaning water bottle

If you are like most people, washing your emotional support water bottle can seem like a hassle at times, especially if you strictly use one water bottle. How ever, Amazon sells a stainless steel wa ter bottle that neutralizes the bacteria and cleans your water with the attached purifier. It comes in six different colors and two different sizes, too. You will have peace of mind knowing you are drinking clean, filtered water.

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN ADAMS

AFSCME employees are calling on Ohio University to RESCIND budget cuts that eliminated nearly 100 jobs and cut the union workforce t by almost 20 percent even before the COVID epdemic. Enforcing budget cuts is dangerous and unhealthy for the students and university community AFSCME members serve.

Betty Emmert