February 28, 2019

+ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

THE FRONT LINES As the opioid crisis continues, EMS services learn how to adapt

P12

Richland project delayed P10 Esports rising in popularity P15 How Athens balances its budget P20

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

New ‘Post’ editor to be announced soon

LAUREN FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Well, for our newsroom at least.

Soon, we’ll be hiring a new set of newsroom leaders and planning for the coming year. This Friday, The Post Publishing Board will gather to hear presentations from candidates who have applied to be the next editor-in-chief of The Post.

Whoever gets the position has a lot to look forward to. They get to write this incredibly pretentious column every week for no particular reason. They’ll receive lots of angry emails and the occasional suspicious package mailed by local residents who want their conspiracy theories published. They’ll make printing mistakes and will have to come back to the newsroom in a 3 a.m. stupor to resend the paper to the press.

But at the end of the day, they’ll realize just how cool it is to work with 100 or so of your closest friends. They’ll gain valuable insight into the university and the region that will challenge their perspective and make

them think deeply about what the community cares about. They’ll make plenty of mistakes along the way and learn a few humbling lessons about leadership.

The curse of working for a college newspaper is that our leadership staff turns over every single year. That means that while the next few months will be hectic, it’s also an exciting time to be in our newsroom.

Seniors will be packing up their desks and moving out, while underclassmen make big plans for the coming year.

The new editor’s focus may shift the way we do things. Maybe these changes will be tangible to readers. Maybe things will look the same on the surface. I can’t make that call right now. However, I have faith not only in the ability but in the visions of our candidates.

In other exciting news, you’ll soon see a brand new name on our masthead — Andrea Lewis, our incoming student media sales internship manager. With her decades of experience in marketing, event planning

and project management, Andrea is exceptionally well-prepared to take the helm of our business operations. And after about a year or so without a “real adult” running our business side, we’re thrilled to welcome Andrea to our team next week.

Although we’ll have a new editor-in-chief very soon, I’m not bowing out just yet, and I have no intention of lame ducking my way to the end of the school year. We still have plenty of plans in store for the rest of Spring Semester.

If you have ideas for how we can finish out this year strong, it’s not too late to send them my way. We’d love to hear from you, and we appreciate your patience as we prepare for the future.

Lauren Fisher is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editorin-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Lauren at lf966614@ohio.edu or tweet her @Lauren__Fisher.

Cover photo by Emilee Chinn

THE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAUREN FISHER MANAGING EDITOR Maddie Capron DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Alex McCann ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Jessica Hill CREATIVE DIRECTOR Abby Gordon EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Sarah M. Penix, Ellen Wagner INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR Bailey Gallion SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Holbrook CULTURE EDITOR Alexis Eichelberger OPINION EDITOR Chuck Greenlee COPY CHIEF Laila Riaz ART ART DIRECTOR Abbey Phillips GRAPHICS EDITOR Riley Scott DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Meagan Hall DIGITAL DIGITAL PRODUCTION EDITOR Megan Knapp SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kate Ansel BLOGS EDITOR Georgia Davis DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Alex Penrose DIRECTOR OF PODCASTS Cal Gunderson

POST

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Student swipes increase at Ping for new semesters TAYLOR JOHNSTON FOR THE POST Recent data suggests students at Ohio University utilize the Ping Recreation Center steadily at the beginning of each semester and not just during the New Year.

Ping saw the most student swipe access during the academic year in February and September and the least amount of swipes during May, according to university data from 2015 to 2018. A total of 518,000 swipes were used in 2017, which was the highest annual amount of student access.

While the highest number of swipes did not occur during the month of January of each year, a stronger correlation is due to the new semester, Brittany Barten, the member services coordinator for Campus Recreation, said.

Ping does not have any programs or marketing strategies that focus on New Year’s resolutions, she said.

“I think that not only students but faculty and staff as well, they’re coming back to campus, they have a few days down, and this is their best time to get off on the

right foot,” she said. “The deeper you get into the semester, the more projects, the more finals, the more exams you have, the less willing you are to sacrifice personal experiences I guess.”

Madison Linville, a sophomore studying journalism, said she decided over winter break to start going to Ping more at the start of the new semester.

“I can see that there would be a decrease throughout the semester because students would want the semester to have a good start,” Linville said.

The average in January in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 was about 64,000 swipes, but in February the average was about 70,000 swipes. That is possibly due to students arriving back on campus after winter break in the middle of January, so more swipes are used during the month of February, too.

“To see that January we’ve got pretty good numbers, but even in February, we are seeing really good numbers,” Barten said. “So, that’s what leads me to believe that it’s less likely a New Year’s resolution and more likely that they’re just coming back for the semester.”

Even in September, the number of swipes is high. The academic year does not start until the end of August, and Ping starts allowing Fall Semester students in midway through August, she said.

“That’s actually one of the main reasons why people don’t work out or stop working out is because they ‘don’t have enough time’ and I think our data really reflects that,” Barten said. “The deeper you get into the semester, the more projects, the more finals, the more exams you have, the less willing you are to sacrifice personal experiences I guess.”

This January, there was a total of about 52,000 swipes. According to the data, the number of swipes decreases toward the month of May each year, which is also toward the end of the academic year.

Tessa Corio, a sophomore studying exercise physiology and a personal trainer at Campus Recreation, said she personally has not noticed an increase in personal training clients since the new year.

“I theorize that this could be due to people taking their resolutions/goals into their own hands and wanting to

work towards them independently,” Corio said in an email. “Also, with all the fitness Instagram pages, blogs, etc., pre-made workouts are extremely accessible, so people might not feel the need to get a trainer.”

Corio said she noticed the number of students swiping into Ping diminishes “tremendously” in just a few months after the New Year.

“I believe that if these people did seek the help of personal trainers, they would better adhere to their fitness programs and goals,” she said in an email.

In order to retain students’ swipes into Ping, Barten said she and her colleagues are focusing on compiling information and working with Institutional Research to look at different demographics.

“I think for the future we will just continue working on grabbing these demographics to help us to reach out to students and really show our value in their collegiate experience,” she said.

@TF_JOHNSTON TJ369915@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Title X protects reproductive health The Trump-Pence administration is finalizing a shameful attack on the reproductive health care of those in Southeastern Ohio.

For 40 years, Title X has been the nation’s family planning program that offers affordable birth control and reproductive health. Four million across the country and more than 59,000 people in Ohio rely on this program for health services.

Title X ensures that every person — regardless of where they live, how much money they make, their background, or whether they’re insured — has access to

basic, preventive reproductive health care such as birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and well-woman exams.

The Trump-Pence administration’s proposed changes to Title X would require providers like Planned Parenthood to neither discuss nor refer abortion with their patients, leaving the organization with no choice but to act in the best interest of patients and providers and refuse to participate in the unethical Title X program. These changes take direct aim at people with low-incomes, people of color and un-

derserved, rural areas.

Athens County has the highest rate of poverty in Ohio, making the availability of affordable health care services especially important in this area. Planned Parenthood is the only Title X provider in Athens County, offering vital reproductive health care services at sliding scale prices. I personally have depended on the Athens health center many times for services I could not have afforded otherwise, and I cannot imagine what I would have done without them.

The finalization of Trump’s domestic gag rule will revoke essential resources

from Planned Parenthood and other Title X providers, stripping away their ability to provide basic reproductive health care to Athens County residents who need it the most.

Most importantly, those of us in Athens County will have nowhere else to go for high-quality, affordable care.

We must stand up against this attack on rural Ohioans’ ability to access to essential health care.

Emma Schultz is a graduate of Ohio University.

ALL SHOOK UP

Precedent should be called into question NICK SHOOK is a senior studying political science prelaw at Ohio University.

4 / FEB. 28, 2019

A decisive legal case is being hashed out in the nation’s capital this month after a breach in power between the legislative and executive branches of government unfolded. President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border last week has caused quite a rift in Washington D.C. among lawmakers. So far this year, conservatives in the Republican Party have been pushing to secure funding through a bipartisan bill for President Trump’s southern border wall proposition. A bipartisan bill has not been reached and as a result, last Friday, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border citing, “a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency. The southern border is a major entry point for criminals, gang members, and illicit narcotics... Because of the gravity of the current emergency situation, it is necessary for the Armed Forces to provide additional support to address the crisis.” It is up to the president’s discretion, to decide if the nation is experiencing a national emergency.

According to the Customs and Border Protection and the Drug Enforcement Agency, approximately 90 percent of all heroin that entered the country in fiscal year 2018 was apprehended at ports of entry to the United States and not at the southern border as Trump believes. When locating where the majority of methamphetamine is entering the country from, the available data from Customs and Border Protection states that in 2018, CBP seized 67,292 pounds of meth at legal ports of entry, compared with 10,382 pounds seized by Bor-

der Patrol agents along borders. The reality of the drug smuggling situation at the southern border is that the only drug that is regularly being smuggled over the southern border is marijuana according to CBP and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had repeatedly declared his dissatisfaction with a presidential national emergency declaration previously, but last Friday claimed he now supports the move because it averted the continued suffering of a government shutdown. One which ominously loomed over the American people for a record 35 days, and ended on Jan. 25th, just one short month ago. McConnell has put the blame of the shutdown, not on the president who refused to sign bipartisan bills presented by congress to him during the shutdown, because they did not include the $5 billion of dedicated monies for wall funding demanded by Trump. McConnell stated last Friday that President Trump’s emergency declaration, “is the predictable and understandable consequence of Democrats’ decision to put partisan obstruction ahead of the national interest. I urge my Democratic colleagues to quickly get serious, put partisanship aside, and work with the president...”.

This logic of thinking is a dangerous precedent to set, one that will undoubtedly come back to haunt congressional Republicans when a Democratic president inhabits the office of the presidency. If we allow for the president to essentially shred the constitution by making up declarations of emergency because congress will not appoint his specific demands, we will have set our government up for imminent failure that will long surpass

the historic 35 day mark that US citizens were subjugated to earlier this year In the year 2000, illegal border crossings between ports of entry was over 1.6 million instances compared to only 400,000 instances in 2017. The so called drug smuggling epidemic has been proven to exist prominently at ports of entry and not at the southern border. A study published by the Pew Research Center identified the number of undocumented immigrants in the US to be at 10.7 million in 2016, a substantial decrease from the 12.2 million undocumented immigrants in 2007. These numbers may still sound high to some people, but consider what Trump said during his campaign, “I am now hearing it’s 30 million, it could be 34 million,” when referring to the number of undocumented immigrants in the country. If anything is clear right now in this political turmoil, it is that Trump has obviously not done his homework. This is a clear example of how relying on opinion and not research when shaping policy does not garner support, and how when a president fails to garner support, declaring a national emergency to get your way is not the solution, it is the problem. I for one am looking forward to the fit that Trump will throw in the future if his precedent stands and every social policy he is against becomes law because of his own overthrow of the system of checks and balances.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Let Nick know by emailing him at ns258814@ohio.edu.

Plan your spring break based on your star sign RILEY RUNNELLS FOR THE POST Spring break is right around the corner, and though some people have their hearts set on a certain destination, planning your spring break can prove to be a lot of pressure. Don’t give up yet. Here’s where you should go to based on your star sign: Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) — Greece As a Capricorn, you favor power, structure and quality craftsmanship. Greece is home to some of the greatest architecture to feed your structure-loving needs.

The architecture and traditional celebrations will make Greece your most powerful spring break yet.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) — Bahamas As an Aquarius, you’re fond of water, futuristic advancements and having fun with friends. You’ll be able to sit by and play in the water while enjoying all of the technological advancements the Bahamas are making, including the fully functioning resorts and the nightclubs or even just a gorgeous aquarium.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) — Italy As a Pisces, you rely on your imagination and artistry to get you through life. Your compassionate, gentle and artistic natures will come out in Italy. It is home to some of the most impressive and complex artwork in the world, and everywhere you go you’ll find some new and old art to enjoy.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) — Toronto As an Aries, you tend to be courageous, passionate and optimistic. Toronto is home to many adventure opportunities and locals who aren’t afraid to help you out with tourist suggestions.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) — Hawaii Taurauses value romance, working with their hands and being outdoors. They’re also reliable and practical with a romantic tendency. Hawaii offers parasailing, snorkeling, surfing and an exciting nightlife scene without being too overwhelming, so it appeals to your practical side.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) — Ireland As a Gemini, you crave cities with culture: music, books, magazines and chatting with everyone you meet. Ireland strays away from the normal spring break tropes, but it has all of the excitement in

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER

the city. There’s an ample amount of culture to be found between the food, the music and the excitement of city life.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) — Disney World Orlando As a Cancer, you’re no stranger to being in touch with your emotions. You are a fun-loving and whimsical individual with the biggest imagination. Disney World will bring out the little kid in you, spiking your imagination and emotional nature.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) — New York City Leos are all about being bold, emotional and dramatic. The fearlessness and longing to take risks will make New York City the perfect destination for you.

In addition to their love of the bold and dramatic, Leos also love the theater, taking vacations, expensive things and brightness. New York City is home to some of the finest shopping destinations — not to mention Broadway.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) — Kenya As a Virgo, you favor animals, nature and hard work. You have a deep sense of humanity and love connecting to life, so a trip to Maasai Mara, Kenya, is the perfect opportunity to explore your passions.

Kenya has many different animals you might not see every day, so your passion can be fulfilled by going on a safari and witnessing those animals in their habitats.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) — Cancún As a Libra, harmony and cooperation with an emphasis on style are the ideals you value. Cancún holds endless possibilities. It’s also a great example of harmony between wild nightlife and relaxing afternoons. Cancún is also a stylish place to get a suntan and an experience you can brag about long after spring break.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) — Ibiza As a Scorpio, you favor focused, deep dives into the world. You can’t be alone because you love sharing experiences

with others. On the other hand, you also favor harmony, gentleness and the outdoors. Ibiza has both the exciting experiences with others and the gentle harmonic outdoors. The nightclubs of Ibiza have a world-famous reputation, complete with performances by DJs like Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Kygo and The Chainsmokers.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) — Amsterdam As a Sagittarius, you’re inclined to dream big, take risks and face the impossible. You also love to travel and learn philosophy. Amsterdam is home to many attractions and sights, but also home to museums and galleries for you to explore history and learn something.

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

POLICE BLOTTER

Amazon package, shopping carts stolen MEGAN CARLSON FOR THE POST Alexa, someone stole my package.

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from Carol Lane in The Plains on Monday.

The man said he did not receive a package that was expected to be delivered from Amazon. Amazon was requiring a police report to file a missing package report. Currently, no one knows the whereabouts of the package, and no one has accepted the delivery.

KICKING GHOST The sheriff’s office was called to North Plains Road on Friday for a criminal damaging report.

The caller said his son saw someone kicking their vehicle. When the father went out to look, he did not see anyone near the vehicle but noticed two dents in the trunk.

The complainant said he has had an ongoing feud with an old roommate but could not prove that he was in the area, according to the report. The case is closed.

SAVE MONEY. LIVE BETTER. The sheriff’s office responded to North Rodehaver Road on Friday for a suspicious man pushing a motorized shopping cart.

A patrol was conducted but no one was located that matched the description of the man. Later, deputies discovered two motorized shopping carts that belonged to Walmart along South Canaan Road. The Athens Police Department and Walmart were notified, and a Walmart representative was sent to recover the two carts.

LOST AND FOUND The sheriff’s office took a report by phone from a resident on Pleasant Hill Road on Friday.

The caller reported property stolen from their barn. The property was later discov-

ered on a trash pile not far from the barn.

LOOKING FOR MAIL The sheriff’s office responded to Vore Ridge Road on Thursday in reference to a suspicious man checking mailboxes along the road.

Deputies patrolled the area but did not locate any suspicious man.

OH DEER! On Friday, deputies were on patrol in Athens Township when they encountered a vehicle in the roadway that appeared to have struck a deer.

Upon making contact with the driver, deputies found that the woman had only discovered the deer but had not been the one to hit it. The vehicle that struck the deer was unknown and not present. The deer had extensive injuries during the collision.

Deputies ended the deer’s life and ensured that it was safely removed from the

roadway. With no other vehicles or subjects involved, no further action was necessary. Deputies returned to patrol.

WHAT’S IN THE BAG? The sheriff’s office responded to a call on Perry Ridge Road for a report of suspicious persons.

The caller advised that three men were walking along the roadway with backpacks. Deputies patrolled the area but were unable to make contact with the men. No further action was needed.

WHEN YOU FIND FAKE MONEY On Thursday, the sheriff’s office received a report of a counterfeit $100 bill that was found on Ellis Avenue in Chauncey.

According to the report, the bill was collected and placed into evidence. The case was closed.

@MEGCHRIISTINE MC199517@OHIO.EDU

NEWS BRIEFS

Realtor owes thousands; Russ winners announced SARAH M. PENIX NEWS EDITOR APD RECEIVES TWO REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT The Athens Police Department received a rape report and a gross sexual imposition report Tuesday.

An 18-year-old woman reported she was a victim of rape on the city’s east end.

This matter is under investigation and no further information will be released at this time pending the investigation.

APD also responded to a call on Athens’ west side for a report of gross sexual imposition. A report was taken, and an investigation is ongoing.

There have been three reports of sexual assault to APD since Jan. 13. The Ohio University Police Department has received two reports of rape since Jan. 13.

APD INVESTIGATING ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE AFTER OPOSSUM DIES The Athens Police Department is investigating a report for animal cruelty that occurred sometime between Thurs6 / FEB. 28, 2019

day night and Friday morning.

APD received a call Friday afternoon from a woman who was seeking information about where to report an animal cruelty crime against a wild opossum, according to the media release.

In a call to APD on Friday, a woman said her son contacted her about an opossum behaving “oddly” by rubbing its face and pacing in the parking lot of the Southeast Ohio History Center, 24 W. State St. The woman wanted to know if she needed to file a police report or contact another wildlife organization.

She called Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Wildlife Rehabilitator Gina Jackson and was told to have her son bring it in. Jackson said the opossum had been deliberately tortured and burned by someone.

AUDITOR SAID ATHENS REALTOR OWES UNIVERSITY OVER $20,000 An audit report by the Ohio Auditor of State released Tuesday demanded a recovery of funds from an Athens landlord and former Ohio University donor.

In March 2015, the university signed a lease agreement with John Wharton, owner and broker of Ohio Reality, to use a house and adjoining land as residence for former OU President Roderick McDavis.

The agreement stipulated Wharton could bill the university for maintenance and repair expenses. Wharton improperly billed the university $20,449 when he entered a lease agreement with McDavis.

During the course of the lease, the university made payments to Wharton for maintenance and repair expenses it never requested. These payments included deck replacement, sod replacement and other property related expenses, such as a duplicate payment for lawn care supplies and services.

CITY COUNCIL: MEMBERS DISCUSS SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOLS Athens City Council members discussed sustainability efforts within the Athens City School District building project with Superintendent Tom Gibbs at Monday’s meeting.

Gibbs presented to the council updates on what has been happening with the city school building project. The project includes construction of two new elementary schools and renovations to Athens Middle School and High School.

So far, there have been two planning committee meetings. The number of rooms in each future elementary school and the size of those rooms has been discussed.

“We’re having those difficult conversations about how many students per class,” Gibbs said.

OU ANNOUNCES FOUR FINALISTS FOR DEAN OF RUSS COLLEGE Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali announced Friday the four finalists for the dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

The finalists include Naira Helen Campbell-Kyureghyan, Mei Wei, Survarau De and Ajay Mahajan.

@SARAHMPENIX SP936115@OHIO.EDU

CLASSIFIEDS

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

School of Nursing, GRID Lab team up on Narcan simulation project CHLOE MEYERS FOR THE POST The School of Nursing, Ohio University GRID lab employees and an Ohio Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program grant turned an interprofessional classroom simulation into an educational 360-degree video about Narcan, a drug used to combat opioid overdoses.

Sherleena Buchman, an assistant nursing professor, came up with the idea for the original simulation.

“The ultimate goal is that we save a life — you know, that’s what we want to do as nurses and I thought it’s not just nurses that can save a life, it is anybody,“ Buchman said. “So, this entire simulation is created for the layperson.”

After one of her classes ran the simulation, she wanted to showcase their work by holding an event so others could also witness the importance of Narcan to break down some of the stigma that surrounds it.

“In nursing, we have a history of doing simulation, bringing things to life to enhance clinical judgment and critical thinking,” Buchman said.

Jake Morgan, a senior studying integrated media and a GRID lab employee, said the main purpose of turning the simulation into a virtual reality project was to make people aware of how serious the opioid epidemic is, especially in Ohio.

Narcan only targets the opioid reactants in the blood and in the brain, so it’s always better to use Narcan even if someone is unsure if the person has truly overdosed on an opioid, Morgan said.

“Sometimes if you can’t help from one angle, you look another way,” Buchman said.

“And while providing education on how to administer Narcan and how to call for help might not be the solution to stopping people from taking the opioid, it is a solution to saving a life until we can get to that next cure, that next piece that needs to happen.”

Buchman said she and GRID lab employee Eric Williams chose to use virtual reality for the project because it was the best way to make the simulation more immersive, real and meaningful to those watching.

With a headset used to watch 360-degree videos, the viewer can look around the room and see everything. They can see what is under the bed, what is on the walls, who walks by in the hallway and more.

“Virtual reality puts the user in the 8 / FEB. 28, 2019

middle of the scenario, allowing them in-person experience without actually putting someone in danger,” Mitchell Cook, a junior studying integrated media production who is also a camera operator and GRID lab crew member, said in an email. “It is one of the most real and influential ways for someone to experience something and learn something regarding specific situations without actually being a part of it.”

Morgan said the decision to create a 360 video allowed them to showcase things like the bystander effect. At one point in the video, two students walk by in the hallway and stop to see what is going on inside the room without doing anything to help the current medical situation.

“That was a big point, that the bystander effect is real. People who just walk by and see these things happening and they don’t do anything,” Morgan said.

“With traditional video it might have been hard to include that or it just wouldn’t have felt as real.”

The video is in the completion stage as the team awaits approval from the Institutional Review Board to do research, Buchman said. Next, they would like to hold some viewings and have focus groups to get feedback about how the video impacts people and if it increases knowledge.

After getting approval and receiving feedback, the team wants to make a second video geared toward providers.

In acute care settings like hospitals, the staff is usually well-trained because of experience working in the emergency room. Home health care nurses and clinic nurses don’t get the same experiences as hospital nurses, so Buchman said she would like to make another video geared toward that specific audience.

Buchman is now working on getting headsets of her own so when people come to her to see the video, it will be more accessible. The video is between seven and eight minutes long, and those participating in a focus group would be asked to stay back for 15 additional minutes to answer questions.

“Not everyone has to participate in the research,“ Buchman said. “It is more important to me that people know how to help save somebody’s life.”

@CMWRITRIX CM335617@OHIO.EDU

W HAT

Opening Day of Reservations for the 2019-20 academic year.

WHEN

March 20, 2019 at 9 a.m.

WHERE

Make event requests by calling 740.593.4021, by visiting the reservations office in 419 Baker University Center or online through Virtual EMS.

Property tax calculations affect students, residents GEORGE SHILLCOCK FOR THE POST Owning property in Athens County requires dealing with the task of deciphering just how much one has to pay in property taxes.

Since those taxes are used to pay for such a wide array of expenses, most everyone in the county benefits at some level from what they pay for, including students at Ohio University.

“Property taxes affect student renters at OU as much as any other person,” Anirudh Ruhil, a professor of leadership and public affairs, said.

Ruhil said students often don’t know much about tax codes, how they are calculated and what they are used for. He said he finds that concerning.

With that data, one might think local government isn’t getting a lot of revenue.

The amount of taxable property in the county shrinks even more when you factor in the property owned by the government, which are completely tax exempt.

Public property exemptions are especially prevalent in Athens County because three of the largest agencies include the Wayne National Forest, Ohio University and Hocking College. Most of the revenue the county receives is from agricultural and residential property, but 26 percent of the total taxable revenue ends up being exempt from the exemptions public property.

Students, and others who pay rent, often pay for those taxes indirectly. In most cases, landlords include property taxes in their calculations for rent or lease payments as they fluctuate year-to-year. That leads to students usually not knowing how much of their rent payment goes toward paying property taxes on the house.

The first step to calculating the property tax of land and residence involves knowing the appraisal value and the taxable value set on it. The appraised value is an evaluation of the property’s value at any given point in time; the taxable value is set by the state, which in Ohio is 35 percent of the appraised value. People only get taxed

on the 35 percent.

Property owners must then factor in rollbacks for residential homes and agricultural property. Also, owners need to factor in exemptions for things like energy incentives, renovations, veterans, seniors, the disabled and homesteads.

A property owner in Athens, for example, pays a rate of 9.21 percent of the taxable value of a home before exemptions and reductions. In total, that person would pay about $1,979.74 per $100,000 in appraised value.

In Athens County, residents pay anywhere between $1,695 and $2,389 per $100,000 of home value a year prior to deductions and exemptions.

That rate is calculated by the rates of taxation for 2019, which is the sum of rates at the county, township, school and municipal levels. There are 14 townships, two cities and eight villages that make up the 36 different taxing districts in the county, which also includes school districts.

After reductions for real estate, agricultural and residential properties, the rate drops to 5.65 percent. Reductions for commercial, industrial, public, utility and real property drops the rate to 5.70 percent. The rate drops even further when exemptions are applied.

Jill Thompson, the Athens County auditor, said a lot of people don’t realize that the state is giving them a discount by taxing them on only 35 percent rather than taxing them on the entire property.

“The devil is in the details,” Thompson said. “What is concerning to me is that the rate is set annually at 35 percent, and if that changes it would turn the tax system upside down.”

Property taxes are used by local government communities to fund education, road and highway construction, public servants, and other services that benefit residents at-large. The rates are set and often changed by laws and levies for schools and other public departments.

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Students cross Richland Avenue on Feb. 25 where a new pedestrian tunnel will be built. (BLAKE NISSEN / PHOTO EDITOR)

Richland construction project on hold until 2020 ABBY MILLER STAFF WRITER The Richland Avenue Pedestrian Passageway project is further delayed due to a lost bid by the City of Athens.

On Thursday morning, bids opened for the Richland project.

That bid was lost, Athens Mayor Steve Patterson said during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

That was the second attempted bid the city has lost for the Richland project. As a result, the Richland project will be delayed again.

“The project will not be done in 2019,” Patterson said. “We will be exploring options with ODOT.” Collaboration with ODOT and Ohio University may help make a more successful bid, Patterson said. The city already has a more than $8 million grant from ODOT to fund the Richland project.

Ohio University will also contribute funds to the Richland project.

The increased price has al10 / FEB. 28, 2019

ready drawn concern from council members over city overspending, according to a previous Post report.

Patterson said there are benefits to moving the project to 2020. Contractors will have fewer projects to work on and more time to sort out the logistics.

That does, however, leave safety in the meantime as a concern.

Councilman Pat McGee, I-At Large, said the idea for the Richland project came to council about a year ago. When the project was introduced, there seemed to be a sense of urgency in order to ensure student safety. Now, with another lull in construction, McGee calls for council to do something in order to prevent an accident from occurring.

“I had suggested early on to have some sort of traffic guard or police,” McGee said. “Can you have something set up so that there’s actually something done during this time period?”

McGee said a traffic cop is a more efficient way to deal with Richland’s heavy traffic flow.

Currently, progress from the Richland project has included going through the design process and hearing input from citizens. OU has also put input into the design. Patterson wants people to know progress is still being made on the project despite the bid being lost.

“We haven’t been sitting on our hands, just know that,” Patterson said. “Trust me that we’re exploring every possible thing that we can moving forward.”

Patterson said he would bring up the Richland project at his next monthly meeting with OU President Duane Nellis. He also hopes to discuss it with OUPD. The Richland project, a pedestrian pathway connecting West Green and Baker Center, was originally slated to begin this summer and finish before Fall Semester 2019. Now, Patter-

son estimates that it may take up to a semester to complete.

Director of Public Works Bob Heady approached City Council and asked for $3 million to complete the project. That price has increased, with the city now estimated to pay about $3.4 million, according to a previous Post report. Of that cost, OU originally was going to pay $4,000.

Patterson met with OU administration and requested additional funds, receiving $150,000 more for the project.

“To me, this is a great example of continued collaboration between the university and the city,” Kent Butler, D-1st Ward, said.

McGee was never a proponent of the project. He said it was an example of how the city tends to underestimate project costs and then have to move around money to pay for projects.

“One of the things I’ve noticed when I’ve come to council is how we tend to throw lots of

money at rather small projects, or large projects, making them larger,” McGee said.

Councilwoman Sarah Grace, D-At Large, shared the same concern but still supported the Richland project. She said the project is critical for resident and student safety.

“I see it daily,” Grace said.

“There is a very high risk of accident and injury at this intersection, and while it is a large investment, … I think it’s critical.”

Despite the project being stalled, councilman Peter Kotses, D-At Large, wants to thank the city engineers for their hard work so far. It was hard for the city to make a comprehensive design that balanced both safety and traffic concerns, he said.

“The timeline, the space itself, … there are some variables that are out of our control,” Kotses said.

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU

OU to take out loan for new HCOM building COLT AUSTEN FOR THE POST Ohio University has turned to an internal bank loan to help fund the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s, or HCOM’s, new medical education building.

According to the fiscal year 2019 university budget report, OU will be paying off an internal bank loan until March 2049, or 30 years, for a grand total of $130,950,000.

By the time OU is finished paying off the internal loan, the new building will have been used for more than 20 years.

Though the loan is internal, the university will still pay a principal payment, interest rates and monthly payments.

The internal loan does not affect credit because it’s not from a bank; instead, it’s taken out through the Office of Financial Services. The new building will be the first of its kind and is projected to cost $65 million.

Overall funding will be taken from two other areas of the university budget. Chad Mitchell, chief of staff for the Division of Finance and Administration, said OU will reach into departmental funding by us-

ing $5 million from the HCOM reserves account. The university will also use $6 million from the donation given by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation in 2011. The university is also taking a $54 million internal bank loan at a 4.75 percent interest rate.

Rob Dickerson, a business finance instructor and small business owner, said sometimes it is inevitable for a business — especially a university — to take out loans and create debt.

“Debt is acceptable as long as it is manageable and it is for operating capital,” Dickerson said. “You don’t want to get so deep into debt that it will strangle you.”

Despite the excitement surrounding the new building, university loan debt has skyrocketed to a total of nearly $443 million.

According to the fiscal 2019 budget report, the debt will also have significant affects on other areas of the university budget. Student tuition will continue to rise for the second consecutive year, now costing incoming in-state students $12,618 per academic year. This is about a $400 increase per student. According to the 2019 university budget report, the university total revenue by student tui-

tion is projected to be 12.8 percent­— a 1.3 percent increase from last year.

There has also been a substantial cut toward academic funding. In 2018, the university funded a cumulative $11 million to all students, academics and research.

According to the 2019 university budget report, scholarship money awarded to students has decreased by $3 million, and academic research funding has decreased by $1.6 million.

This means while programs may be getting new facilities to work in, they will have less money to practice research in them.

The 2019 university budget report also shows an increase in salaries and wages for university staff. There will be a $10.8 million cumulative pay increase in salaries and wages of OU staff members for the 2019 fiscal year.

In addition to the overall increase in wages, benefits also increased. The total amount paid for staff benefits this year was $121.9 million, which is $5.8 million more than last year. Overall, the university is paying $16.6 million more to its staff than the previous year.

Dickerson said an increase in wages

can largely affect how well a business can run. In terms of a university, increased wages and benefits are oftentimes used to attract qualified employees.

The university’s total revenue of 2019 is the same as it was in 2018. This means that while university costs have increased by $24 million, it is bringing in the same amount of money.

While OU is taking out loans and increasing staff pay, they are not intaking more money to account for other payments. According to the 2019 university budget report, the university will not be profitable at the beginning of the next budget report.

The new HCOM building will be put in a 114,000-square-feet space on West Union Street. The location is strategically placed in the same area as OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and end in November 2020, said Noel Davis, the project manager for campus development in HCOM.

@COLTAUSTENW CW506217@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

FROM THE BRINK

Local EMS can mean the difference between life and death during an overdose

Robert Sochia (left) and Robert Brandenburg (right) treating a patient before taking her to the Emergency Room at O’Bleness on Feb. 15. (EMILEE CHINN / PHOTO EDITOR)

BENNETT LECKRONE

SENIOR WRITER

achel Fouts was on a routine run with an ambulance near Steubenville when she saw her first overdose. // Fouts, an emergency medical technician, and her team had just dropped off a patient at a hospital when a car pulled up next to their ambulance. //Inside the car, a woman screamed that her friend had just overdosed and needed Narcan, a life-saving drug that can treat narcotic overdoses. // “She knew everything,” Fouts said. // Before medics could ask any questions, the woman pushed a man out of the car and sped off. Fouts recalled that the woman nearly ran him over in the process. She thought the occupants of the car were afraid for both themselves and for the man who had overdosed. // “They didn’t want to get in trouble, but they wanted to help him,” she said. // The man was barely breathing, and although he wasn’t technically their patient, Fouts said she and her crew got him on a gurney and into the hospital. // Fouts, an Ohio University graduate, works with Athens County Emergency Medical Services as well as another department in Hopedale, a small village in Harrison County. // That overdose was just the first that Fouts would deal with. She isn’t alone in her experience: local EMS agencies in Athens County and in surrounding areas deal with overdoses on a regular basis.

12 / FEB. 28, 2019

THE FRONT LINES Ohio is in the grips of an opioid epidemic.

More than 4,800 Ohioans died of unintentional drug overdoses in 2017, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That number represents more than a 1,000 percent increase from 2001, when just over 400 Ohioans died of unintentional overdoses.

The number of deaths would be higher if not for quick-responding emergency departments and Narcan, generically called naloxone, which can bring patients overdosing on opioids and narcotics back from the brink of death.

In Athens County, EMS responded to 74 reports of overdose from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018, excluding alcohol or unknown sub-

stances, Deputy Chief Tami Wires said. A total of 47 doses of naloxone were used on those patients.

Athens County EMS, along with police departments, are often the first on the scene of an overdose, Lt. Kayce Carrick said. Often, little is known about the situation until crews arrive on scene.

Carrick said that often means EMS staff put themselves at risk to save patients.

“Safety is always key for our crews,” Carrick said, adding that patients can react in unpredictable ways when they are revived.

“When you bring them back they can become very violent.”

Carrick said safety is a constant worry for her and other EMS leadership. Staff have been bit, kicked and punched on runs.

An epidemic of opioid use has gripped Ohio for years, but it is constantly changing. Robert Sochia has been working with the Athens County EMS for more than a decade and said he has seen both the prevalence of drugs and the method of use change over time.

“Back when I started, we didn’t have the overdoses we have now,” Sochia said. “I went almost half my career before I had to give my first Narcan dose.”

According to the Ohio Department of Health, heroin use and the use of prescription opioids like painkillers has been on the decline in recent years. That void has largely been filled by fentanyl, an opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Fentanyl, which is often mixed with stimulants like meth and cocaine, represents a challenge to EMS workers who are trying to revive overdosing patients.

Carrick said that as fentanyl has become more prevalent, so has the amount of Narcan that is used to revive patients.

“In order to combat fentanyl, it’s a very high dosage,” Carrick said.

Sochia echoed Carrick, adding that it takes more Narcan just to bring patients back to a livable level.

“Before, a single dose and they would be awake, walking and talking like nothing happened,” Sochia said. “Now we’re getting sometimes ... two, three or four doses in until they’re able to groggily wake up.”

Athens has multiple EMS stations and 43 full-time staffers, as well as various part-time staffers, ACEMS Chief Rick Callebs said.

Athens owes its EMS framework to a federal program to expand EMS access in the area that began in the 1970s and ended for Athens County in 2011 when the county created the ACEMS, Callebs said.

While Athens has enough stations and trucks to adequately cover the county with space to spare, some smaller counties deal with limited resources and all of the same problems.

STRETCHED THIN In Meigs County, three full-time trucks patrol the roads with two additional volunteer trucks providing support.

That situation is an improvement, Meigs County EMS Director Robert Jacks said.

Meigs County has seen the construction of a freestanding emergency department since Jacks became EMS director in 2013.

That, along with having additional trucks, has been a “tremendous help,” Jacks said.

The county, however, still lacks a permanent hospital. That means the county sometimes goes without a truck as crews make the half-hour journey to Athens or Gallipolis to get patients the care they need.

“We have a lot of elderly, a lot of health-related issues in our county that we’re kind of pulled away from at times because of the opi-

ABOVE: An Athens County EMS paramedic vehicle.

(EMILEE CHINN / PHOTO EDITOR) RIGHT: Robert Brandenburg and Robert Sochia take a patient into the Emergency Room at O’Bleness on Feb. 15.

(EMILEE CHINN / PHOTO EDITOR)

oid epidemic,” Jacks said.

Limited resources in an economically distressed county can also lead to issues, Jacks said. Many patients cannot afford an ambulance and rely on Medicare or Medicaid to pay for their ride.

“Most of our patients are usually on Medicare or Medicaid, so we don’t get fully reimbursed for those runs,” Jacks said. “It’s a challenge to balance the books at the end of each pay period.”

Ambulance rides aren’t cheap: training, equipment and staffing quickly adds up. In Athens County, the charge for a basic life support run is $600, plus $11 for every mile that the patient is in the back of the ambulance, Wires said. Athens County EMS receives about $217 from Medicaid during this type of run, Wires said, but added that it depends on different types of Medicaid.

ACEMS also receives about $7.50 per mile on most runs.

Wires said much of the bill is often “written off” due to contractual obligations with medicaid.

Despite challenges with funding, Jacks said Meigs County EMS does its best to keep both its patients – and themselves – healthy.

“Before the opioid epidemic they were in stressful situations,” Jacks said of his staff. “If you add the epidemic on top of that, they’re getting pulled in different directions.”

Meigs County EMS has tried different approaches to deal with stressful situations and mental health issues, Jacks said, including a stress management team and putting exer-

cise equipment in the station.

EMS is one of the most stressful occupations in the U.S., according to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. On top of that, pay tends to be low.

“Left unaddressed, the resulting stress from crisis calls can result in mental or physical health problems many years later,” former Fire Captain Mark Lamplugh wrote.

Even despite the long hours, high stress and low pay, Jacks said EMS tend to be unsung heroes.

“It’s not really recognized for the importance to our community,” He said.

The opioid epidemic has even caused misunderstanding among some across Ohio who question why EMS continue to revive people who have overdosed multiple times.

WHY THEY REVIVE The use of Narcan to revive patients from overdoses has been questioned across the state, with some officials wondering why EMS agencies continue to bring patients back from the brink.

In 2017, Dan Picard, a city council member in Middletown City, Ohio, wondered if the city should continue responding to reported overdoses, according to the Dayton Daily News.

“I want to send a message to the world that you don’t want to come to Middletown to overdose because someone might not come with Narcan and save your life,” Picard said. “We need to put a fear about overdosing

in Middletown.”

At the time, Middletown was reportedly on track to spend up to $100,000 on Narcan doses for that year compared to a budgeted $10,000. Similar sentiments have been shared across the state.

For EMS, however, there is no question as to reviving patients who are overdosing.

Sochia said it doesn’t matter who is in need when there’s a job to do.

“We don’t judge,” Sochia said. “We’re here to treat someone. (Narcan) is one of the many things we have in our toolkit to take care of a person. We have a responsibility, and a duty, to do everything we can.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences and long-lasting changes in the brain.” It is defined as both a brain disease and a mental health disorder.

On the front lines of the opioid epidemic, EMS see and deal with that disease in a very real way.

Callebs said addiction is not something that warrants punishment, but rather treatment.

“Addiction is not something you can arrest yourself out of,” Callebs said. “You can’t jail your way out of this problem. It’s not a matter of taking people and arresting them.

That doesn’t get to the core of the problem.”

Callebs said that while EMS does not provide long-term services, they collaborate with Athens County agencies like the Sheriff’s Office and the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board to help get patients long-term care.

Dealing with drug overdoses and people struggling with addiction every day has changed the perceptions of many EMS staff, including Callebs.

“The drug epidemic issues we’ve seen in the past 10 years, they transcend gender boundaries, they transcend age boundaries, they transcend economic boundaries,” Callebs said.

Callebs said he thought the nature of the drug epidemic changed people’s perceptions and the societal stereotypes that had previously depicted addiction and drug use. Many people, Callebs said, got addicted to painkillers prescribed to them legally.

ACEMS Captain Jason Hager emphasized that paramedics exist solely to help people, regardless of their situation.

“That’s why we do this job,” Hager said.

“We’re not here to say that you’re a bad person because you do drugs.”

Sochia said he’s always been against drug use but added that his time with the EMS has changed his perspective on addiction and treatment.

“It can affect anybody,” Sochia said. “Any family can get caught by that dragon.”

@LECKRONEBENNETT BL646915@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

DIY crafting promotes self-care in Athens KERI JOHNSON FOR THE POST Athens, a small college town, has a reputation for art. Ohio University helps promote that reputation by providing weekly craft nights.

Marti and Stewie craft nights are Thursdays at 9 p.m. in West 82, supported

by Housing and Residence Life. The HowTo Series, on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., is on the second floor of Baker Center and is operated through the Campus Involvement Center.

Craft nights are a noncommittal, fun, free extracurricular with which students can easily get involved.

“Any kind of student can enjoy this kind of stuff,” Kellee Steffen, the residence director at Atkinson House, said.

“We don’t require a certain skill level, and you don’t have to come every week.

Just stop by, hang out and get a free craft.”

Crafting seems to be overall good for one’s well-being.

“It’s a good de-stressing activity,” Steffen said.

Marti and Stewie craft night is a healthy alternative to Thursday nights when the weekend unofficially begins.

“It’s an alcohol-alternative activity, so it’s something that people can come into on a Thursday night, when typically that’s a going-out night,” Steffen said. “Instead, they’re able to hang out with their friends and paint something.”

Other than a good social environment, students are also able to take home the craft each week. When dorm rooms look bare and overwhelmingly beige, some students may make crafts to give their room a little more personality.

Crafts offered by Marti and Stewie differ each week.

“We do canvas painting, we do different wooden crafts that students can paint,” Steffen said.

Sometimes the types of crafts are themed or altered for special occasions.

“For Valentine’s Day, we did heartshaped crafts and then we’ll do Ohio letters or OU letters — different stuff like that,” Steffen said.

Guests can come to Marti and Stewie’s craft nights, Steffen said. Everyone is welcome as long as supplies last.

“I think a lot of the students also use 14 / FEB. 28, 2019

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

“

I feel that especially being in a college town, it’s a good way to use the other part of your brain that students are not using as much. It gives them a break,” - Audrey Yane, a manager at Beads and Things the crafts we provide as little, cute decorations for their residence hall room or their apartment off-campus,” Steffen said.

Jenna Jackels, a freshman studying pre-nursing, went to her first craft night with a few friends last Thursday.

“I’ve been getting the emails for a while now, and I’ve always wanted to come,” Jackels said.

Jackels enjoys painting but doesn’t always have the money or time, she said.

“I want to come more often. I think it’d be a fun way to be with friends just to get

out of my dorm,” Jackels said.

Another great resource for aspiring crafters and artists is the local business, Beads and Things, 8 N. Shafer St. “People can just come in a make jewelry,” Audrey Yane, a manager at Beads and Things, said.

Customers can come in Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to look at the vast array of beads offered and make jewelry. The only things needed before coming into Beads and Things are creativity and time.

“We give free instructions. You don’t need to know how to make anything.

You just have to have to have plenty of time,” Yane said. “You have to be able to be sparked with ideas once you start seeing beads. You don’t have to come in with a plan.”

The creative process is a therapeutic one, Yane said. There’s a lot of value in making something yourself.

“There is such a thing as art therapy,” Yane said. “Not only are they getting something for themselves out of it — art therapy — but if they’re making something for someone else, they’re getting something unique and from them … part of art therapy is doing it yourself.”

There is also great value in making something with your own hands, something that is guaranteed to be unique.

“It’s definitely better than just stopping in at Walmart and picking something up,” Yane said.

Like Marti and Stewie’s craft nights, Beads and Things has a great environment for finding something to do with friends.

“A lot of people will come in with a friend, so it just also makes for a good time to socialize,” Yane said.

Certain times of the year are busier than others, Yane said. A stop by Beads and Things during finals week makes for a great stress reliever.

“I feel that especially being in a college town, it’s a good way to use the other part of your brain that students are not using as much. It gives them a break,” Yane said.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

Esports on the rise in universities as official varsity sport JESS UMBARGER ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Not many people have the skills to play a video game for hours at a time, moving their fingers more than 500 times a minute and analyzing everything happening around them while working as an individual, but also on a team.

The people who have those skills don’t play traditional competitive sports; they play video games competitively.

During the 2018 League of Legends World Championship, more than 200 million people tuned in to watch the competition, according to Esports Charts. That is nearly double the amount of people who watched Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to Nielsen.

“A lot of times language issues and cultural issues break down because we both know the game,” Jeff Kuhn, who works in instructional innovation at Ohio University, said.

With that large growth in the popularity of esports, universities across the globe are starting to consider competitive video game playing a sport. There are more than 125 colleges in the U.S. that have varsity esports teams, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports. OU currently does not have a varsity esports team, but there are more than 200 members in the Bobcat Esports club. “(Bobcat Esports is) bringing all of these players across campus together to play games, and I think the more universities that get involved with esports, the more we can show that the more diverse the group, the more fun we have and the more skillsets we bring to the table,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn strongly believes esports should be the next sport colleges add as a varsity sport.

“We keep in contact with alumni and donors through football,” Kuhn said.

“What happens when these kids aren’t interested in football anymore? What happens when those traditional mediums the university communicates to their students with is no longer what students care about?”

There needs to be more ways to communicate with students and alumni, Kuhn said. Adding esports as a varsity sport is a way to keep up with the

The Ohio Esports club discusses matters pertaining to the esports community at the Copeland Annex on Feb. 25. (COLIN MAYR / FOR THE POST)

changing times and keep up with what students want.

“Kids who like sports get to perform for their university. They get to be a Bobcat, so to speak,” Kuhn said. “Esports are just a result of players wanting validation.”

Playing esports is athletic in its own right, Kristofer Meyeres, a junior studying finance, management information systems and business analytics, said.

Meyeres is also the president of Bobcat Esports.

“It’s actually really tiring to go on for hours and hours playing because there’s so much mental and somewhat physical (work) that goes into playing for that duration,” Meyeres said.

Meyeres believes there are many opportunities for universities to bring in esports teams. There are a lot of students with gaming skills who don’t have the outlet to use them.

“I think it’ll be really cool if leagues started forming in colleges because then you’ll see the rivalries form,” Meyeres said.

Kuhn agrees with Meyeres that universities can help improve the world of

gaming for its students.

“We have some difficulties, but as games become more socially acceptable, we are going to see a lot of that (toxicity) disappear in favor it being more open and diverse,” Kuhn said. “I really think universities can help propel that and model the behavior.”

Despite the growing popularity of video games and esports, there are some underlying downfalls. There are small groups that play and will badger female players, players of color and players of different sexual orientations, Kuhn said.

Things can get heated while playing video games, like any other sport.

“Sometimes these games are highly emotional, and you might yell something, but having the wherewithal to know that’s not acceptable is part of that process,” Kuhn said.

A way to fix that issue is by having the other players be more vocal about welcoming others and shutting down negative comments, Kuhn said.

“I definitely think the overall community is a force for good, but the loudest,

smallest group gets the most attention,” Kuhn said.

There is also the issue of the stereotype surrounding people who play video games, which causes people to shy away from playing. Meyeres finds the stereotype that people who play video games don’t socialize with others annoying.

“We have socialized. We have things we interact with. We live and breathe as people, too,” Meyeres said. “We aren’t some basement-dwelling weirdos that just plays games all day.”

Dana Kawar, the chief operating officer of professional esports organization FlipSid3 Tactics, is impressed with how Meyeres and OU are developing the esports organization.

“I actually am very excited about how OU is handling their sort of foray into esports,” Kawar said.

Starting with students and growing out from there is similar to how video games were developed because the video gaming community is very grassroots-like, Kawar said.

“I think how you guys are going about it with starting with your own students and starting with your own community and starting with your own space is exactly how gaming itself is,” Kawar said.

With all of its growth, Bobcat Esports is not a varsity sport. Right now, it is a large group of people coming together to play their favorite games and compete against other teams.

Even though esports is not a varsity sport at OU, it means a lot to the people who play.

“People are beginning to look at video games, and they are starting to say, ‘Hey, I love this thing, and I want to do something with it’ so I think that’s why games are growing,” Kuhn said. “In the past, people thought it’s a waste of time, but it’s not.”

Meyeres, who has been playing video games since he was a child, cherishes esports.

“Esports to me is a celebration of a player’s individual skill and a teams skill at the same time,” Meyeres said.

@JESS_UMBARGER JU992415@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

Barber Isaiah Dupler cuts Maya Maynard’s hair at The Chop Shop on Feb. 19.

(ANTHONY WARNER / FOR THE POST)

The Chop Shop barbershop on Court Street on Feb. 18.

(ANTHONY WARNER / FOR THE POST)

Barbershops continue to be staples in local culture SOPHIA ENGLEHART FOR THE POST The warm atmosphere of the Chop Shop barbershop is immediately evident when customers first step through the door. The sound of shears whirring to life, the smell of hair gel and chatter about the latest baseball stats permeate the air as customers sit quietly along the wall, waiting their turn.

The Chop Shop, located at 20 S. Court St., is a hole-in-the-wall retro barbershop where students and adults alike can indulge in a quick trim and conversation.

Open since 2008, the Chop Shop is known for its edgy new styles, second-generation barbers and open accommodation to all customers.

“The community within a barbershop was something that always stood out to me,” Andrew Swan, a junior studying mechanical engineering who regularly visits the Chop Shop, said. “People always talk.”

Despite its prevalence among big cit16 / FEB. 28, 2019

ies and in film, barbershops have become something of a hidden gem — a piece of history that has sunk comfortably into the background of the American lifestyle. As popular places of social gathering, particularly within small towns and neighborhoods, barbershops have come to represent something like a safe haven.

“The barbershop has always been a big pillar within communities,” Justin “Jay” Smith, a 23-year-old barber who works at the Chop Shop, said. “Growing up, the barbershop was where I would go whenever I needed advice: what to do, what not to do, advice, funny stories. There were always barbers and mentors of the community that I could talk to.”

Smith has been barbering for 13 years and grew up in his family’s barbershop in his hometown of Columbus. Smith had his first brush with barbering at a young age when he cut his best friend’s hair in an attempt to appease his mother.

“My best friend had forgotten to get

his hair cut, so I gave him one so his mama wouldn’t get upset with him,” Smith said.

“She found out anyway and made me keep cutting his hair, so I’ve been his barber ever since. That is when I first really got into it, and I grew to love barbering.”

In the entertainment industry and in the media, barbershops are often depicted as a staple in African-American culture.

In movies like Barbershop, Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Barbershop: The Next Cut, barbershops are broadcast as a primary rendezvous for African-American localities. That convention, however, does not seem to persist to Athens.

“Most city barbershops are distinguished from black and white,” Smith said. “The unique thing about OU is that we cater to all demographics, so we get everyone in here from different countries and backgrounds.”

Despite their similarities in services, the dynamic between salons and barbershops contrasts greatly. The fashionable,

expensive overtones of salons can differ from the simplicity and classic style of an everyday barbershop. In a modern-day world where it seems as if everyone is constantly in a hurry, the barbershop is a quiet nook where customers can go to relax and take a minute to breathe in the trusting hands of their barbers, then walk out of the shop clean and refreshed.

“I’ve gone into salons my whole life,” Griffin Kennedy, a freshman studying wildlife and conservation biology, said. “But the whole atmosphere of (the Chop Shop) was different. It was a lot more chill and low-key.”

For the Chop Shop, it’s clear through the vintage charm and relaxed vibe that barbershops are defined by the people, not by what is seen on the TV screen.

“That is what I like more than money, just being able to meet different people,” Smith said. “I value people over money.”

@ENGLEHART_SOPHIA SE269217@OHIO.EDU

Athens Lightsaber League attracts attention BAYLEE DEMUTH STAFF WRITER On occasional nights at the bottom of Morton Hill, a fury of neon blue and green light can be seen clashing together in midair. From far away, it might not make much sense, but the closer one gets, those glowing lights begin to take the form of lightsabers.

The Athens Lightsaber League (ALL) started as a couple friends just messing around and fighting with lightsabers, but it has blossomed into an activity enjoyed by not only members, but also any students who happen to catch the league in action.

ALL started when people began interacting with the members and getting excited over dueling with lightsabers. That attention made Isaac Stern and some of his friends consider making lightsaber dueling an official student organization.

“We were just interacting with everyone coming down Morton Hill on a Friday night, coming back from Court Street,” Stern, a sophomore studying sports administration and the treasurer of ALL, said. “Everybody was getting so excited like, ‘Oh man, lightsabers.’ We started talking about it more seriously and made it happen.”

During the warmer months of the school year, ALL meets more often, dueling with interested people walking by. The group even brings an extra lightsaber or two in preparation for those encounters.

The dueling ALL does is based off the Star Wars universe, where Jedis and Siths have certain forms for how they swing their sabers when they’re fighting and how to stand while in a duel. ALL takes the time to get those techniques down so they may duel properly.

“We try to learn as much of that as we can during the meetings,” Stern said.

“Sometimes we’ll have official practices where we’re learning a technique. Other times we’re just fighting. It’s sort of just a mix of messing around and teaching moments.”

Although ALL works on forms and being articulate in duels, they’re still just a group of friends that enjoys hitting one another with lightsabers.

“It’s more like fencing in a way,” Stern said. “You’re trying to hit the other person before they hit you, but with less finesse.”

ALL has accumulated a good amount of members in the short time it has been an organization, but it’s always looking for more people eager to join.

Michael Bryant, vice president of the Athens Lightsaber League, swings a lightsaber outside of Gamertsfelder Hall on Feb. 22.

(MEAGAN HALL / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

“

The social aspect is so unbelievably cool. I love every single time somebody just runs down the hill like, ‘Can I fight with lightsabers?’ It’s my favorite experience just to make somebody’s whole night like that.”

- Michael Bryant, a sophomore studying games and animation “We’ve talked about doing flier handouts or tabling at Baker Center,” Stern said. “We’ve also considered having duels and filing with the university to hold funds so we can buy more lightsabers for public use, or rent spaces if we ever want to hold formal events. But that’s all longterm thinking.”

Michael Bryant, a sophomore studying games and animation and the vice president of ALL, has been a part of the group since the beginning and has seen the effect it has on the general public.

“It’s what we live for,” Bryant said.

“People are happy to see us and know

that we’re down here.”

Initially, Bryant couldn’t believe the positive response other students had toward ALL. People who come down Morton see lightsabers and eagerly want to fight with them. It’s something that makes sense in Bryant’s mind.

“I think in the beginning I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t believe how many people are not giving us the business about it. They’re totally about it,’” Bryant said. “After that, I was thinking it made total sense.”

ALL’s President Brady Knipp is training Bryant and Stern on the technical aspects

of all different forms that takes place during a duel. Bryant hopes to get to the point where they train others so ALL can have a lot more experienced people who can participate in actual duels.

For now, Bryant enjoys focusing on the social impact ALL has on the people around him who constantly approach ALL’s duels to try it out themselves.

“The social aspect is so unbelievably cool. I love every single time somebody just runs down the hill like, ‘Can I fight with lightsabers?’” Bryant said. “It’s my favorite experience just to make somebody’s whole night like that.”

Fellow member Gage Antill, a freshman studying biology preprofessional, is also super into the publicity ALL gets every night he and his friends are out fighting.

“When you’re out here with the community, intoxicated or not, it’s just a ton of fun to be with everybody here,” Antill said. “Even if it’s just random people, it’s always a great time for us.”

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

MEN’S BASKETBALL

A tale of two backcourts The Bobcats led with under 6 minutes left, but Kent State’s backcourt stepped up

SPENCER HOLBROOK SPORTS EDITOR Antonio Cowart, Teyvion Kirk and Jason Preston defended well for the first 34 minutes.

But basketball is a 40-minute game, and Kent State’s senior backcourt didn’t care what happened before the 6-minute mark of the second half.

Ohio was clinging to a 4-point lead with under 6 minutes to play Tuesday when Jaylin Walker, the Mid-American Conference leading scorer, got an open look for 3, and he knocked it down.

Walker and his fellow senior guard Jalen Avery were held in check by the defending trio from Ohio for a majority of the game, but the experienced duo combined for 19 of Kent State’s final 21 points in the Ohio’s 78-73 loss inside the M.A.C. Center.

“Walker and Avery have been through a lot of battles together,” Ohio coach Saul Phillips said.

“They certainly played like it down the stretch.”

Ohio’s backcourt is young: Kirk’s a sophomore; Preston’s a freshman; Cowart is a junior but a transfer from a junior college.

They are promising young talents, but they aren’t as tested as their counterparts.

Walker and Avery are veterans.

They’ve been in too many basketball games to count, and they know how to play a full game, even when injured. Avery’s been nursing a sore ankle; Walker nearly didn’t play due to a quad bruise.

Phillips is starting to realize how important experience is.

Last week, Ohio traveled to Buffalo and got waxed. The Bobcats were beaten by 47 by a group of juniors and seniors in Western New York that have played together and now own a top-25 ranking from the Associated Press.

“They’ve gotten old,” Phillips

18 / FEB. 28, 2019

VIEWER GUIDE OPPONENT: Akron

GAME TIME: 2 p.m.

WHERE: James A. Rhodes Arena

Ohio guard Connor Murrell (#10) attempts to block a 3-point attempt from Kent State’s Jalen Avery (#0) during the Bobcats’ game in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent, Ohio, on Feb. 26.

(COLIN MAYR / FOR THE POST)

said after the Buffalo loss. “They have a bunch of veterans, and we’ve perpetually had a young roster here for a myriad of reasons. That’s been unfortunate, but it’s a fact. Good mid-major teams are veteran laden. It’s hard to be a good young mid-major team because you’re going to get poached by high-majors. They’ve gotten old. They’ve done a good job of that.”

Kent State’s gotten old, too, but the Bobcats weren’t trounced by the Golden Flashes. They had a 4-point lead with under 6 minutes to play. Remember? They learned from the road loss to Buffalo, and they applied it to their trip to Kent. But learning only goes so far.

Ohio has won two road games this season: a December game against Detroit Mercy and an early in-conference win at Ball State, who remains firmly in the MAC basement alongside the Bobcats.

Conference games are tough, especially on the road. Ohio’s youth doesn’t help the cause, either.

Phillips loves his core. Preston, Kirk and Cowart join the young frontcourt of Jason Carter and Ben Vander Plas. That’s a group that can have success at a high level, but that success hasn’t come yet.

The Bobcats had chances to put Kent State away, something veteran groups do. They had a chance to show the rest of the

conference that they’re more than their 4-11 MAC record and build off their upset win over Bowling Green from last week.

But experience matters.

“The seniors came up and made some big plays,” Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said of Walker and Avery.

Ohio doesn’t have seniors in the backcourt. Kent State does.

Ohio was able to shut down Jaylin Walker and Jalen Avery for 34 minutes, largely keeping the seniors quiet during that time.

Avery and Walker just happened to play all 40.

@SPENCERHOLBROOK SH690914@OHIO.EDU

How to watch: Ohio vs. Akron can be watched on ESPN3 through select television providers.

How to listen: The game can be heard on the Ohio IMG Sports Network, which is online through OhioBobcats.com.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Ohio found success in road games this season ANTHONY POISAL STAFF WRITER Ohio loves to hit the road.

It may seem backwards, but it’s true.

The Bobcats have traveled 12 times this season and, besides one loss to Toledo on Feb. 13, they’ve had no complaints when they play as visitors — nor should they.

Ohio owns one of the best away records in the Mid-American Conference at 9-1 and went 2-0 in its two neutral-site games in November. The top three spots in the MAC have frequently shifted with a bevy of talented teams emerging this season, but the Bobcats have never fallen out of a top-two position.

That’s because of Ohio’s ability to win on the road. Some of its biggest wins, such as its Jan. 5 overtime win against Buffalo or Feb. 9 win over Central Michigan, have happened on the road in some of the toughest environments in the MAC. But the Bobcats don’t mind that at all.

They actually love it.

“It’s just more fun,” Amani Burke said.

“I think we compete at a higher level when we go on the road because I feel like we get this sense of it’s just us against everybody.”

Shouldn’t Ohio be more comfortable playing in The Convo, though? The Bobcats have the biggest arena in the MAC, and the athletic department spent nearly $2 million to install a four-sided videoboard this offseason that has made the 50-year-old building feel a lot younger.

It’s not that the Bobcats don’t enjoy playing in The Convo. They certainly don’t mind watching their own introduction videos, playing in front of home fans and having the luxury of no travel after games.

But after nearly four months of daily practices and a game or two each week inside the venue, the Bobcats appreciate something new. It somehow sharpens their focus, and it’s why they play better in clutch situations, like when Burke made the go-ahead layup with 44 seconds left in front of 1,208 screaming fans Saturday against Kent State.

Coach Bob Boldon has obviously enjoyed Ohio’s consistent road success, but not even he has a true explanation for why the Bobcats, who are still 11-2 at home, have appeared to play a bit better when they’re not in Athens.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s a counter to

what you think is going to happen. Like, I don’t know.”

Burke believes some players have enjoyed hearing opposing fans taunt them.

She’s heard plenty of comments about her brother, Trey, who’s in his seventh NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, but she’s mastered the art of never taking an insult personally.

When Ohio traveled to Toledo, a fan sitting close to the court yelled “Shame on you!” to Burke, who simply turned around and stuck her tongue out.

The fan returned the gesture.

It occurred in the Bobcats’ only road loss of the season, but it still showed that Burke was unfazed and only having fun.

“Don’t tell coach Bob that,” she said. “It was just fun little stuff like that because (for) some teams, it really gets under their skin. But I feel like with us, we kind of laugh about it. It’s fun for us.”

The true reason behind Ohio’s success, however, is its revamped chemistry. Players and coaches have constantly suggested Ohio’s chemistry is better than it was last year, when it went 16-15 and got bounced in the second round of the MAC Tournament.

Ohio was young last season, and it still is — three of its five main starters are sophomores or younger. But the Bobcats became a closer team after they learned from their struggles last season.

The refined chemistry is especially apparent when the Bobcats travel.

“You do feel like you’re in your own separate group when you go into restaurants and other people’s hometowns, in hotels,” Boldon said. “You very much stand out, so you very much need to stick together.”

Ohio will need its road success to continue into the last leg of the regular season and postseason. The Bobcats have two road games left on their schedule, including a crucial game against Miami on March 6 that may determine the No. 1 seed of the MAC Tournament.

The RedHawks defeated the Bobcats when they visited The Convo on Jan. 30, but now Ohio will be in the driver’s seat — literally.

And that may be for the better.

@ANTHONYP_2 AP012215@OHIO.EDU

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BUILDING A BUDGET A look at making the yearly budget in Athens ABBY MILLER STAFF WRITER ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

20 / FEB. 28, 2019

Taxes

Grants

Parking / Streets

Licenses / Fees

Receipts

Legal

Permits

$10,383,080

$85,760

$784,000

$178,400

$212,400

$864,000

$646,120

K

athy Hecht sits in an office riddled with paper. Stacks of manilla filing folders line her desk. Her bookshelf is filled with rows of binders, and boxes on the floor have even more files. The desktop of her office computer is just as crowded. Small icons virtually take up the entire screen.

“I should clean some of that stuff out,” Hecht said. “But who has time?”

Paper floods Hecht’s office, and with just the city’s expenditures budget stacking up to be 43 pages long, it’s no surprise why.

As city auditor, Hecht’s time is devoted to the numbers. One of her largest jobs is helping create the city’s yearly appropriations ordinance. In order to create a realistic city budget, Hecht must look at projections, compare past numbers and estimate city revenues. The work is time consuming, but necessary and is done by various city officials as early as six months in advance.

STARTING EARLY Ohio law requires that municipalities have their yearly budgets passed by Jan. 1.

Formal meetings to discuss the appropriations ordinance begin in September and stretch until mid-December.

For Hecht, the process begins as early as June.

Hecht’s main responsibility lies in creating the revenue budget, she said. That includes making estimations on how much the city will spend within various departments. Mayor Steve Patterson creates the expenditure budget, which tries to pinpoint how much each department will spend in the year. To uphold her end, Hecht uses revenue data from past years.

She has a large spreadsheet file on her computer that outlines her process. Some boxes are highlighted in bright yellow, and they all contain figures.

Hecht said she took the city’s actual revenue from 2017 and 2018 and used it to project how much the city would bring in this year. She highlighted items she was unsure about and included the money from last year that carried over, which amounted to $1.3 million.

Hecht and Patterson are not the only ones bringing data to the table during meetings. The city finance and personnel committee and City Council President Chris Knisely are also included in that process.

Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward, heads the finance and personnel committee. He describes his role in creating the budget as “very involved.”

The finance committee meets weekly with the city auditor, mayor, service safety director and president of council, Risner said. Departments will have meetings on their own as well.

“The departments in turn look at, again, what are their capital needs, what equipment replacement might there be, what do you need for fuel, what do you need for any equipment that has met its useful life supplies,” Patterson said. “So there’s a lot of other things to think about.”

Hecht said that sometimes departments don’t give themselves much room between the money they have to work with and what’s budgeted. That may require Hecht to step in.

“We have to make any adjustments and say, ‘you have to reduce your expense budget because I don’t think you’re going to get all that revenue,’” Hecht said.

A LIVING DOCUMENT The appropriations ordinance that requires City Council approval deals with all sources of expenses that the city may encounter. All those expenses are listed under the yearly expenditures, letting the city know how much money needs to be allotted for that year. Once all the appropriations are made, they are put into an ordinance for council approval.

Risner describes the appropriations ordinance as a living document. Even when the budget gets passed by City Council, it is still subject to change through amendments.

If a department is spending more money in a month than it normally would, it becomes short, Risner said.

Meanwhile, when another department isn’t spending as much, that money can be transferred. City Council has a formal way to obtain those fund transfers.

“You can’t just simply go and take it,” Risner said. “There is a process you have to go through to do that.”

Any changes to the city appropriations must be made through an amendment. Those amendments go through council in the form of ordinances, which originate in Risner’s finance and personnel committee and then work their way back to the Athens City

Council.

Much like Hecht’s work, all of the budget is built off estimates. The goal of the appropriations ordinance is to anticipate the needs of the city and where money will need to be allocated.

“You know, you do the best you can with the information that you’ve got,” Risner said. “I can make some assumptions. Revenues will be a certain amount.

You know that you’re going to be spending more money in the coming years.”

Even then, some changes cannot always be anticipated. For example, Patterson said there was a recent sewer line collapse on College Street. That project was not included in appropriations.

“That was something that wasn’t anticipated and it was (a) really deep dig,” Patterson said. “So we’re going to have to appropriate monies and likely transfer some monies from one account to another to cover the cost for that project.”

Risner said one of the most problematic funds is the Community Center and Recreation department. The estimated community center expenses for 2019 is $1,105,376, according to Athens’ 2019 expense report. The revenue for the center is only estimated to be $1,062,100. On top of that, an additional $50,000 is allocated for “Phase II” of the community center, which will also bring in a revenue of $19,000.

“We’re trying to break even,” Risner said. “That’s a difficult department. There’s so much flux going on. One little thing can really change everything. Chemicals for the swimming pool can go up.”

THE BULK OF THE BUDGET This year, Athens’ appropriations ordinance totals to about $45 million, Hecht said. A significant amount of this money is put into the general fund. The general fund is an umbrella fund that encompasses most of the city’s day-to-day expenses.

This includes items such as vehicle maintenance and postage. This year, there is about $15.9 million budgeted for the general fund, according to the 2019 expenditure estimate.

Income taxes are the largest source of city revenue, Hecht said. Those dollars are mostly put into multiple funds in the general fund.

“The tax revenue goes into several different pots,” Patterson said. “Everything from the general fund, which is our larg-

Miscellaneous

$1,722,084

est fund … but then we also have the arts, parks, and recreation levy that’s going into capital improvements.”

The first area that is budgeted is the payroll of city government officials, Hecht said.

Some of the most costly expenses in the City of Athens general fund include paying for fire service and police enforcement. Those two services account for almost half of the general fund’s expenses, Hecht said. “(Police and fire) are 24-7 operations, so it’s costly,” Hecht said. “But we’ve got to have it.”

The police department costs about $4.7 million each year, according to the 2019 expenditures. The fire department costs more than $3.6 million.

Personnel expenses also account for about 60 percent of the total $45 million budget, Risner said. Within covering personnel, multiple facets must be accounted for. Wages, benefits and health insurance all add up, Risner said.

Some Athens residents have specific concerns on what should be highlighted more in the city’s budget. Among them, Wolfgang Suetzl says that the city should spend more money on its infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Prioritize that,” Suetzl, an Athens resident and assistant professor of media arts and studies, said. “They’re doing some great things, and they should just continue those.”

Risner said that Athens’ yearly budget is nothing compared to that of Ohio University. The university’s 2019 budget is estimated at about $770 million, according to OU’s budget book.

Nonetheless, there is much to be analyzed by the City of Athens before and after appropriations are approved. It’s a constant cycle of reevaluation and estimation. Formally, the budget process lasts only about seven weeks. Although the process is much longer on Hecht’s end, she’s still glad that an entire team helps put it together.

“Budget process has been better the last couple years,” Hecht said. “It is a collaborative process. It has to be.”

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender ABC Players’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to tell a tale as old as time RILEY RUNNELLS FOR THE POST It’s a tale as old as time: Beauty and the Beast.

The ABC players will perform Beauty and the Beast the musical, sponsored by Stuart’s Opera House. The performance will span two weekends, with the first taking place Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Chris Parsons, the director of the show, is excited to present his third show with the ABC Players in what is shaping up to be the most elaborate production the company has ever performed.

“It’s a Disney show that everyone is familiar with,” Chris said. “It’s difficult to produce in the sense of not disappointing anyone, but also not copying what has been done before. So a lot of recognizable elements are there, but it’s different enough that people will be really interested.”

The Disney animated movie was released in 1991, and it was followed by the musical debut in 1993. The movie and musical adaptation were both composed by Alan Menken, but Menken added a significant number of songs to the musical to further the story.

After previously directing ABC Players’ productions of The Addams Family and Godspell, Chris wanted to do something big and fun, and started exploring along the lines of Disney. Once Beauty and the Beast was suggested, he latched onto the idea and immediately started planning.

“Beauty and the Beast just kind of popped into our heads, and we really didn’t think twice about it after that,” Chris said.

Though Beauty and the Beast will be only his third show with the ABC Players, Chris is no stranger to the theater. In addition to his work with the ABC Players, Chris is the head of the drama department at Athens 22 / FEB. 28, 2019

(PROVIDED via Morristowne Photography)

High School and is the managing director for the Ohio Valley Summer Theater.

He got involved with the ABC Players about four years ago when he and his wife, Alexis, moved to Athens and she was cast in their production of The Little Mermaid.

Alexis is one of the two choreographers of Beauty and the Beast, and Chris said she has had a big hand in directing the show as well.

“She’s been doing theater longer than I have,” Chris said. “She really stepped up to help me direct this beast; pardon the pun.”

In addition to their backstage roles as directors, Chris and Alexis are both featured onstage in the production as well.

Chris is playing the infamous villain, Gaston, and Alexis is dancing in the ensemble.

Chris and Alexis both agree that the best part about the show is the elaborate dance numbers. Chris is excited for the audience to see “Be Our Guest,” which is the big show-stopping number that he thinks will be the crowd favorite. For Alexis, her work on “Gaston” has been the best part, and the part she’s most excited for the audience to see.

Chris pitched the show back in the summer, auditioned the cast right after Thanksgiving, and the rehearsal process began a few weeks before winter break.

Chris knows that the tone of the rehearsal process is important, and he likes to create a comfortable and safe environment for the cast and crew.

“The rehearsal process has been great,” Chris said. “My favorite experiences have always been on the shows that felt the most comfortable. The more comfortable I was, the more likely I was to make bold decisions, so I try to cultivate that environment for my cast. We save all of the drama for the stage.”

The ABC Players have been partnering with Stuart’s Opera House for many years to perform shows. The company performs about three to five shows there every year, and Chris thinks the partnership is amazing and a blessing, especially for a production as large as Beauty and the Beast.

Brian Koscho, marketing director for the opera house, appreciates the diversity from the regular program at Stuart’s Opera House to bring in the community theater shows.

“Working with ABC Players is great because we’re able to, as an organization, offer community theater and other performances in addition to our regular programming,” Koscho said. “It really diversifies what we do here, and it’s a great opportunity for us to please the parts of our audiences who love theater.”

In addition to the excitement of the show and the appeal of Disney, Chris believes the show has a very timely message to offer the audience.

Between the message, the hard-work of the cast, and the exciting dance numbers, Chris and Alexis both think the show will be a must-see.

“It’s going to be one of the best times that you’ll have all year,” Alexis said. “It’s the songs that everyone knows, it’s the story that everyone knows, and it’s just two and a half hours to forget about your worries and live in a world of fantasy and fun.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

WHAT’S GOING ON? MEGAN GORDIN FOR THE POST

FRIDAY Mental Health Awareness Concert at

10 p.m. at Casa Nueva, 6 W State St. Support mental health awareness with music, food, friends and fun at this event hosted by OU’s American Music Therapy Association. Another show will also be performed on Saturday.

Women’s History Madness at 11 p.m. in Kantner Hall’s Hahne Theater. Celebrate Women’s History Month by attending a show about the role of women in the United States, which was written, cast and performed all in the span of just one week. Admission: Free

SATURDAY Spring Sing at 7 p.m. in the Baker

Center Theater. Enjoy an evening of performances by campus acapella groups including The Leading Tones, Title IX, New Chords on the Block and Vocaholics.

Admission: Free Wild Honeybees Mardi Gras Dance Party at 7:30 p.m. in Temple-

ton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Dance the night away to New Orleans-inspired Mardi Gras music performed by The Wild Honeybees with special guest The Largemouth Bass Band. The stage will be decorated by Honey for the Heart. Admis-

sion: $5 with OU ID; $7 General Admission The Larger Sound with Brett Trottier

Prime Campus Locations

at 8 p.m. at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 W. Washington St. Listen to local artists in a fun atmosphere while drinking your favorite Donkey beverage.

Admission: Free

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at 10:30 p.m. at Bird Arena. Dream about warm weather by ice skating with your friends at this summer-themed event. The recreational skate will directly follow the men’s hockey game against Kent State University. Admission: $6

1-6 Bedrooms Palmer, Hocking, Stewart, E. Union Milliron, West Washington, Coss West State, Franklin

SUNDAY Project FTK Dreaming of a Cure Fashion Show at 5 p.m. in Baker Ball-

room. Support childhood cancer awareness and benefit NC4K, a nonprofit that supports the families of children with cancer, by attending this pajama fashion show. There will also be concessions, a raffle and a photo booth. Admission: $10 March Contra Dance at 6:30 p.m. at ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. Dance to music by the local band Stump Juice Trading Company. All are welcome; no experience or partner is required.

Admission: Suggested donation of $10 for adults; $3 for students

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MARCH Match Up

86 North Court Street

March 28, 2019 6-8 p.m.

Hosted by Chef Tim Try beers from local breweries at Jefferson Market bit.ly/OUCulinaryStudio $25/ticket

Trio Fibonacci at 7:30 p.m. in the

Glidden Recital Hall. Finish out the weekend with an OU Performing Arts Series-sponsored performance by this group from Montreal composed of a cellist a violinist and a pianist.

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