November 15, 2018

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018

FINDING HOME After being a part of a mass exodus in Bhutan and spending 20 years without a state, a family finally found comfort in Ohio’s heartland

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Sigma Pi receives cease and desist

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Coffee shop opens in historic building P10 On the road with Ohio hockey P20

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Meeting OU alumni in the Big Apple

LAUREN FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I have to admit: I feel a bit guilty this week because I wasn’t able to be very involved with the planning of this week’s issue of The Post.

Between illness and traveling, I’ve basically been missing in action for the past two weeks.

But fortunately, I got the chance to spend some time in New York City this week on a trip with classmates from my business reporting class.

Along the way, we visited several news organizations headquartered in the city, including quite a few where I quickly noticed something curious: It seemed like everyone we talked to had some kind of connection to Ohio University. Three of the four professionals speaking to our group were OU graduates who had worked for campus media in some capacity.

And as we walked around one of the newsrooms, I couldn’t help but notice a few more familiar faces. Everywhere we went throughout the week, people were reminiscing about

their days in Athens, asking how Pumpkin was doing and bonding over favorite restaurants and classes.

I’m not one to profess much school spirit, but I am starting to get it. I’ve been to maybe two Ohio football games, and I think I might own a single OU-branded sweatshirt (but I’m also pretty sure it’s not actually mine). I slept through my first two Homecoming parades and have faked sick to get out of more than one pep rally.

However, sitting there in a conference room in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city below, I was met with a sense of camaraderie. We were hundreds of miles away from Athens, yet we were brought together by the shared experience.

Maybe it’s just the holiday spirit kicking in, but I’m feeling especially thankful for moments like the ones I had this week.

There’s an indelible power in the connec-

tions forged here, whether they’re the ones we make in the classroom, within our student organizations or around the conference table in a faraway city, long after graduation day has passed.

We try our best to write stories that everyone can enjoy, and we love hearing from all of our readers, but it warms my soul just a little bit extra whenever I check my inbox and see an email from an alumnus tucked underneath miles of mundane messages.

They not only bring a smile to my face, but they remind me that — no matter where we go — Athens will always be here to welcome us home.

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 Bharbi Hazarika

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 Madeleine Peck

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Here’s when and where undercover officers make arrests in Athens Ohio Investigative Unit agents make arrests at bars, restaurants, fests and more ASHTON NICHOLS SENIOR WRITER Of the 924 undercover officer arrests in Athens in the past five years, 454 — nearly half — took place at a spring fest.

According to data obtained from the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU), 1,661 charges and 925 arrests were made between Jan. 1, 2013, and Oct. 1, 2018, in Athens.

OIU agents made 147 arrests at Number Fest, 88 at Mill Fest, 59 at Palmer Fest, 51 at High Fest, 38 at Palmer Place Fest, 10 at Congo Fest and 5 at Milliron Fest. About 56 were labeled “Half Fest.”

Ohio University Police Department Lt. Tim Ryan said OUPD officers usually don’t patrol undercover, and he couldn’t think of a reason why they would.

“We have a need for a police presence that people can see,” Ryan said. “We don’t have room to not have any (unidentified officers).”

That’s because the OIU is the law enforcement agency in charge of liquor licenses. Some events, such as Number Fest, receive temporary liquor licenses — which means the OIU will come to enforce the license, Michelle Thourot, agent in charge at the OIU, said.

“We are the only law enforcement agency in the state of Ohio that is allowed to cite or issue a violation notice against a liquor license,” Thourot said. “We would be the governing body of that.”

Any law enforcement agency — including OUPD, the Athens Police Department or the Athens County Sheriff’s Office — can write a citation to an underage person breaking the law. The OIU, however, is the only agency that can cite a bar for a violation.

“Other law enforcement agencies can go in, do arrests, all of those things on a liquor license,” Thourot said. “But a violation or criminal activity on top of, let’s say someone is doing something they’re not supposed to do at a bar, (and) if the bar is also involved, we’re the ones that would cite the bar itself.”

Thourot said police departments often

request the OIU because it is the agency that handles the citations.

“That’s how we ended up working throughout the state with a lot of those law enforcement officers who have those fests or community events where there is a liquor license received,” Thourot said.

Exactly 179 arrests have been made during the Athens Halloween Block Party within the past five years. Data from the 2018 block party were not included.

Exactly six arrests have occurred during Homecoming within the past five years.

From the Uptown bars, 23 arrests have been at The Crystal, 15 arrests have been at Courtside Pizza, six have been at The J Bar, five at Pawpurr’s Bar, five at The Pigskin Bar and Grille, and two at Stephen’s On Court. Seven were at Pyramids Hookah and Bar. Thirty arrests occurred at unspecified locations in Athens. Three arrests occurred at Busy Day Market, and one occurred at Walmart.

Six arrests were at, or around, the Athens Kroger.

Thourot said there may be more arrests near Kroger because people may gather and pool money in the parking lot.

“There would be a lot of people that would come to that area, maybe underage, maybe not,” Thourot, said. “There would be an overage person going in and getting the liquor because it is the only place you can buy it in that area. That is why I think local and state law enforcement would be involved.”

Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said he does not have to invite the OIU because it is “autonomous,” but he expects them to be there.

“It’s always a given that they will be here, and we just coordinate efforts,” Pyle said. “They’re a state agency, so they go where people go. It’s not like you know there’s been a major event in the city that OIU doesn’t know about or doesn’t plan to attend in some fashion.”

Fests

Mill

Number of arrests

88

Palmer

59

High

51

Palmer Pl 38

Congo Milliron

10 5

@ASHTONNICHOLS_ AN614816@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

DEMS DISCUSS

Weight of words Oct. 21 through Oct. 27 marked a bloody week in the United States. Both horrendous acts seen throughout the nation stemmed from the most nonviolent and intangible beginnings: Words.

These attacks were similar in that they both found their foundation in hate speech. The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting occurred after months of the shooter, Robert Bowers, posting racist comments on social media. Cesar Sayoc, who Twitter has deemed “the MAGA Bomber,” targeted primarily Democratic political figures, all of whom were the focus of Trump’s bullying at some point.

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting found its roots on the social media site Gab, in which the shooter was able to discuss his hateful views amongst white supremacists, anti-Semitic bigots and other hate groups. Gab advertises itself as a “free speech alternative” to other social media sites and, according to HuffPost, Bowers was able to rant about immigrants and Jews on the site.

Earlier that same week, Sayoc was arrested for sending explosive devices to many prominent Democratic political figures and famous liberals.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the attempts, but the mere act of sending these bombs is not the only troubling part.

Sayoc was undeniably emboldened by Trump’s name-calling and fear-mongering. This is clear just by looking at Sayoc’s van, which had its windows plastered with images of Trump’s enemies in cartoonish crosshairs and claiming that one of Trump’s least favorite media outlets, CNN, “sucks.” Many of the people with crosshairs photoshopped onto them were the same people he attempted to physically harm when he sent bombs to them. CNN also received a package from Sayoc.

His targets can all easily be labeled as Trump’s enemies. Needless to say, none of Trump’s political allies were the recipients of these explosive devices. Instead, people like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama,

who have been frequent targets of Trump’s hateful comments, received these packages. Anyone who Trump deemed a political enemy was made a target of potential violence by Sayoc.

It should not come as a surprise that these acts stemmed from hate speech. However, many are still surprised that these violent acts are being connected to hateful posts and the spread of divisive political rhetoric. These attempts to divide and create enemies have done just that, and the true ugliness of this political divide has manifested itself through violence and death. The words of underground bigots and the rhetoric of the president of the United States have created the violent reality Americans now live every day.

Chloe Ruffennach is a sophomore studying strategic communications at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to reach at the College Democrats? Send them a tweet @OUCollegeDems.

EXISTENTIAL BINGE

‘A Star is Born’ is quite the star JACKSON HORVAT is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University.

On a normal day, my girlfriend and I are pretty in sync when it comes to what to watch. I’ve actually become shocked over the past few years at how in sync we’ve become in pop culture tastes. Inevitably, there are times where she falls in love with a film trailer on TV that screams “stereotypical rom-com.” Corny dialogue, upbeat music, golden washed cinematography – the whole deal.

And because I’ve gotten used to these occasional occurrences, I prepared myself for the lamest ride of a lifetime (after postponing the viewing as long as humanly possible) when she finally got me to go see A Star is Born. But you know what? I was wrong.

The film, while containing some cliche elements, really surprised me. I don’t know if it was the marketing I’ve seen or incorrect word-ofmouth, but I deemed this movie to be a lackluster film. But what it ended up being was a really solid, well-done movie that ultimately impressed me.

The dialogue was smart and well-structured, the scenes were beautifully shot and it was something director and star Bradley Cooper really put effort into — lest we not forget the camera power of Lady Gaga as well.

Each character immersed themselves into their roles and put forth such believable performances that I wouldn’t be shocked if some Academy attention comes their way. Gaga may be the best of them

4 / NOV. 15, 2018

all. In her role of the girl who doesn’t think she’ll ever make it in the music industry because of a lack of confidence in her appearance, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a perfect casting choice before. It felt like I was watching an actual documentary of her rise to fame. This isn’t even mentioning the immense chemistry she has with Cooper on screen.

Another brilliant aspect of this film, something that was pushed for by Lady Gaga, was the element of live vocals in all of the songs. Putting aside that each song was beautifully written and performed, the way they were performed seemed so real because they are. Cooper took guitar and vocal lessons, so after they got the go ahead to do live performances, they not only did it, but they also gave it their all. The passion, energy and effort is clear and adds a perfect element of realism to the film.

Yet, there are some cliche elements to it. The biggest was the predictability of the plot. If you haven’t watched the movie yet, skip the rest of this section.

While I enjoyed the movie and really found myself caring and rooting for the characters, I felt I had each twist and turn down in my mind always at least a few scenes before they happened. The biggest is the suicide of Cooper’s character. The movie opens with a shot of him in his limo after a concert, and in the background is a billboard with four nooses on it. This foreshadowing, combined with the straightforward nature

of the film, resulted in me not really being shocked by the demise of Cooper’s character at the end.

I wasn’t shocked, and quite frankly, I didn’t feel it was needed. The beginning of the film really sent its trajectory on the path most taken by movies.

Two polar opposite characters meet, fall in love, have struggles, the usual. And cliche for this movie in particular was the drug and alcohol addicted Cooper. I believe he should’ve really gotten better after he goes to rehab in the movie. Because the only thing we see plot wise is Gaga’s manager telling Cooper to stay away from her, which results in him suddenly doing drugs again and dying by suicide. I feel there would’ve been more power to surprise us with these two actually making it and Cooper’s character surviving.

All of that aside, I did end up enjoying A Star is Born. The acting, music and heart and soul of all those involved were clear. So give it a chance if you’ve been misinformed by marketing like myself.

It really is a movie that will surprise you in quality.

And maybe, just maybe, your significant other will drag you to a movie you’ll love.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post.

Do you agree? Tell Jackson by tweeting him at @horvatjackson.

BLOG

Prime Campus Locations

Seven songs for your karaoke night repertoire JILLIAN CRAIG FOR THE POST If you meander around Athens, any time after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, you will see a few eager students lingering outside of Uptown Grill, crowding Wendy’s and a substantial amount of students and Athens residents singing karaoke at the Smiling Skull Saloon. Some students may have a go-to song for that occasion, while others are just now discovering the hidden gem of Athens. Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, these songs are perfect to add to any karaoke repertoire: “DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ ” BY JOURNEY “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” is a karaoke staple at any and every karaoke event. The song is a timeless classic that fits all vocal ranges. Anytime it comes on, you can guarantee that the crowd watching you will join in and sing right along with you.

This song is perfect if you are attending karaoke night for the first time.

“TAKE ON ME” BY A-HA This exciting masterpiece by a-ha is well known to karaoke regulars and allows singers to test the upper limits of their range. The energetic tempo and rhythm will not only encourage others to attempt the daring vocals, but also will entice them to simultaneously dance.

“Take On Me” is best suited for the experienced karaoke attendant.

“RED SOLO CUP” BY TOBY KEITH For those interested in dabbling in country, “Red Solo Cup” is the perfect song to start with. This Toby Keith hit is great to sing if you think you’re awful at singing, if you enjoy country or if you want to step out of the pop and rock songs that are typically sung at any karaoke event. The vocals are very simple, as well as the lyrics, and plenty of people are familiar with the song if you appear to be struggling in the spotlight. This song is perfect for beginners and regulars.

“ICE ICE BABY” BY VANILLA ICE Maybe you don’t want to sing “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” like the 20 people before you. In that case, “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice might be the perfect song for you.

This song does not require any kind of vocal talent whatsoever, so you can sing

Now Leasing

this song sober or drunk and still receive a round of applause from the audience.

This ’90s throwback is still popular today and is perfect for both the beginner and the experienced karaoke singer.

“ZOMBIE” BY THE CRANBERRIES

If you are wanting to branch out from typical karaoke genres but aren’t ready to explore country or rap, “Zombie”

by The Cranberries is the perfect song to begin exploring the alternative genre. Beginners be warned, this song is only well known by a limited amount of people.

If you feel the heat of spotlight beating down on you and feel your body tense up, you might not receive as much help from the audience by singing this song. But don’t let that deter you from “Zombie” — it’s the perfect song to let out any angst or frustration you’re feeling on karaoke night. This song is best for experienced karaoke singers but can be sung by bold beginners.

“THANK U, NEXT” BY ARIANA GRANDE Are throwbacks not really your thing?

Don’t worry, this super catchy Ariana Grande song is perfect for the karaoke night when you’re feeling yourself.

Whether you’re getting over your ex or confident in yourself being up on stage, “thank u, next” is the song for you. Unlike most Grande songs, “thank u, next” won’t test your vocal range while you’re up singing your heart out. Due to its popularity, the song is perfect for both newbies and regulars because plenty of people will be able to sing along with you while you rock the stage.

“SUPER BASS” BY NICKI MINAJ

A timeless classic for anyone wanting to show off their rap skills, “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj is a great humpday song. This 2010 bop is perfect for anyone that knows the song as well as the back of their own hand. Because it is a more modern rap song, not everyone in The Skull will be able to catch up with the lyrics. First-timers and regulars can find equal enjoyment from this song as long as they are confident in their ability to rap as flawlessly as Minaj did in her most wellknown song of the 2010s.

@JILLIANCRAIG18 JC986517@OHIO.EDU

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NEWS BRIEFS

Former OU trustee’s son charged in his murder; drug-related deaths in Ohio increase SARAH M. PENIX NEWS EDITOR FORMER TRUSTEE'S SON CHARGED IN HIS MURDER The son of a former Ohio University Board of Trustees member was charged with aggravated murder, murder and tampering with evidence Nov. 7.

Jonah B. Lake, 20, said an intruder shot his father, 51-year-old Kevin B. Lake, in their Plain Township home on June 22, 2017, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

However, Jonah is in custody and will be arraigned in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court within the week.

“The investigation revealed that a home invasion had been staged, and investigators believe Lake’s son Jonah was responsible for the murder,” Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said in a news release.

According to a previous Post report, the former Board of Trustees member was found suffering from a gunshot wound in his bedroom. He died the next day at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, and the case was investigated as a homicide.

Jonah called the police after 7 a.m. and said he heard gunshots after his father got into an altercation with the intruder, and his father was unresponsive.

Days before Kevin was shot, the family said someone broke into their home, took a picture of Jonah while he was asleep and sent a threatening letter with the photo, according The Dispatch.

Kevin had stepped down from his role as an OU Board of Trustee member after pleading guilty to drug, tax and fraud charges in January 2017 for operating the Columbus Southern Medical Center as a pill mill.

DRUG-RELATED DEATHS IN OHIO INCREASED SINCE 2010 The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health (OAIPH) found in a research study that the number of overdose deaths related to cocaine and psychostimulant drugs, such as methamphetamines and amphetamines, has increased more than 5,000 percent over the past eight years.

OAIPH is an alliance formed between Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions, OHIO’s Voinovich

School of Leadership and Public Affairs, and the University of Toledo’s College of Health and Human Services to find the impact of opioid-related death.

Orman Hall, author of the analysis paper, said in an email that the mortality data was forwarded to the OAIPH from the county coroner’s office at the Ohio Department of Health through a public records request from The Plain Dealer.

“In Ohio, mortality data is considered sensitive but not protected health information,” Hall, also an executive-in-residence in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, said in an email.

PROTESTERS GATHER TO PROTEST SESSIONS RESIGNATION About 50 people gathered by the courthouse steps Thursday to protest President Donald Trump’s forced resignation of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The group, which included Ohio University students and Athens residents, braved the cold to show support for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign, which may

come under fire under interim Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.

Beth Clodfelter, Athens resident and organizer of the protest, said she hoped it would inspire people to take concrete action.

“I’m just really hoping that this will motivate people to contact their senators and ask them to protect the Robert Mueller investigation,” Clodfelter said.

Whitaker has been openly critical of Mueller and his investigation, according to CNN. He had called Mueller’s appointment “ridiculous” and “a little fishy” on a radio show in 2017 before accepting his position at the Justice Department.

Many Democrats see it as potentially damaging to democracy, including Pat McGee, who has been working as an attorney in Athens since 1980.

“How is the law different from a chess game? (In) a chess game they don’t change the rules,” McGee said. “What we are experiencing right now is a constant fluctuation of the rules.”

@SARAHMPENIX SP936115@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Intoxicated person bites homeowner; motorcyclist does wheelie in school zone KAITLYN MCGARVEY SLOT EDITOR Back in the day, McGruff the Crime Dog told people to “take a bite out of crime.” This week, crime took a bite out of someone else.

On Sunday, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Grass Run Road for an intoxicated person trespassing at a residence, attempting to start a fight and biting the homeowner.

According to the report, “due to the bizarre details of this call,” the suspect was transported to OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital for a mental health evaluation to make sure alcohol was the only substance being used.

Multiple criminal charges are being filed 6 / NOV. 15, 2018

against the suspect as a result of the incident.

THAT’S WHEELIE DANGEROUS The sheriff’s office took a report by phone regarding reckless driving on Thursday.

A bus driver witnessed someone on a motorcycle doing a “wheelie” and nearly hitting kids crossing the roadway near a school zone, according to the report.

Deputies attempted to contact the suspect at the residence where the driver was believed to be. The case was closed pending further incidents involving this issue.

GOT BEEF? On Thursday, the sheriff’s office responded to a theft on Wilson Street. A woman said she had several items stolen from her home

while she was on vacation. The items included clothing, dish towels, frozen beef and Star Wars collectibles.

She also told deputies that a friend had come by to take some yard sale items and believes the friend could have taken the other items as well. The incident is still under investigation at this time.

DRIVE AND DASH Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person on East First Street Monday.

The complainant had caught the person under their vehicle. The suspect left while the complainant went to get a phone to call the sheriff’s office.

Deputies checked the vehicle and found that the catalytic converter had been re-

moved by the suspect. The case is currently under investigation.

GUARD DOGS On Thursday, the sheriff’s office took a report on State Route 356 of criminal damaging of a vehicle in a driveway of a residence.

The woman said she was in her living room when her dogs began to bark. According to the report, when she went out to the porch to check, she heard a man yell “they’re home!” The suspects disappeared.

Her husband said the driver side window of the car had been busted out. The radio had been removed from his truck and placed on the ground near one of the other vehicles.

@KTLYNMCGRVY KM451814@OHIO.EDU

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An unofficial annex of the Sigma Pi fraternity located at 45 Mill St. (MCKINLEY LAW/ PHOTO EDITOR)

Sigma Pi receives cease and desist from OU after student death ELLEN WAGNER NEWS EDITOR Ohio University has issued an immediate cease and desist for all organizational activities of the Sigma Pi OU chapter following the death of a recent pledge, who was also an student, on Monday.

Collin Wiant, 18, of Dublin, was found unresponsive in an off-campus apartment that is allegedly an unofficial annex of Sigma Pi’s Epsilon chapter, according to a statement from the university. Wiant was a first-year student at OU and a recent pledge of the fraternity.

University Spokeswoman Carly Leatherwood said the administrative directive to the chapter was “as an abundance of caution” by the university.

On Tuesday, Martha Compton, director of the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility (CSSR), sent a notification of cease and desist to Elijah Wahib, president of Sigma Pi at OU. Compton said in the letter that CSSR “has received information which alleges that (the fraternity) has engaged in con8 / NOV. 15, 2018

duct that puts the health and safety of (its) members at risk and is not in compliance with the behavioral expectations set out in the (OU) Student Code of Conduct.”

The conditions of the cease and desist include that the group cannot meet in any capacity, officially or unofficially. According to the letter, that includes organizational meetings, executive board meetings, organizational programming, social events, philanthropic events, recreational sports competitions, and any trip or travel.

Chapter members may also not communicate via any means, including voice, email, text or any social media platform, without pre-approval from Compton. All chapter members will be notified of the directive, Compton said in the letter.

The fraternity must also send Compton a full list of its members (including potential new members and pledges), anyone who was given a bid but is no longer in the process and the reason they left, and any big/little pairings between organization members by 5 p.m. Thursday.

If Compton does not receive the above information, both the organization and Wa-

hib would be charged with failure to comply under the Student Code of Conduct.

CSSR has also initiated an investigation into the allegations that Sigma Pi engaged in dangerous conduct. Members of the organization may be required to appear before CSSR, or other university staff, and the members are expected to cooperate with the investigation.

“As both your organization and the university share a common goal of student safety, and in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we ask that members not discuss the topics covered in their meetings with each other,” Compton said in the letter. “This investigation will take some time, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.”

The administrative directive is not a university sanction, but the president and the organization are expected to comply with the terms of the directive. Failure to comply with the conditions of a lawful directive of a university official would be considered a violation of OU’s Student Code of Conduct and may result in both individual and organizational disciplinary action.

In the letter, Compton said she has been in contact with the Sigma Pi fraternity national staff and copied them on the message as well.

On Monday at about 3 a.m., the Athens Police Department responded with an emergency squad to 45 Mill St. after receiving a report of an unresponsive man.

Wiant was transported by Athens County EMS to OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Wiant’s death is being investigated by APD. The university is also cooperating with authorities for the investigation. APD Capt. Ralph Harvey said in a news release that more information will be released as appropriate and in coordination with the coroner’s office. At this time, APD has not identified any dangers to the public in the course of this investigation APD has notified Wiant’s family, and OU Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones has been in contact with the family. The university is also providing support to students and employees affected by Wiant’s death.

@EWAGNER19 EW047615@OHIO.EDU

Priest charged with sexual battery may have groomed minor, not been properly punished LOGAN MOORE ASST. NEWS EDITOR Authorities are concerned whether or not the Catholic priest charged two weeks ago with eight counts of sexual battery was appropriately punished last November by the Diocese of Steubenville, after he took a now-pregnant 17-year-old to a wedding, according to The Associated Press.

Henry Christopher Foxhoven, 45, of Glouster, was suspended from the ministry on Oct. 27, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton said in a Diocese of Steubenville news release. Foxhoven was charged on Oct. 30.

Detective Ryan Gillette ordered a search warrant of Foxhoven’s residence Oct. 29 and was joined by the Athens County Prosecutor's office, Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith said in a news release. Authorities found several used condoms and a used pregnancy test with a positive result.

Those items were sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing and analysis, Smith said in the news release.

“We must remain vigilant in assisting victims of sexual abuse,” Bishop Jeffrey Monforton said in a Diocese of Steubenville news release. “We will cooperate with authorities and assist in their investigation of this case.”

The Athens County Prosecutor's Office received a call from a wedding guest last year who said she witnessed Foxhoven inappropriately touching the girl, Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The Diocese of Steubenville sent a letter to Blackburn’s office this past week stating when it learned in November 2017 about the wedding incident, it suspended Foxhoven for a week and ordered the priest to receive counseling for boundary issues.

“

They pretend to care about and show the victim they really like them by giving them gifts, singling them out as a special person.

What they’re doing is getting the victim to answer to them, … to trust them.”

- Judy Block Jones, Midwest regional leader for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

The day after Foxhoven was charged, the Steubenville Diocese released a list of 17 Ohio Catholic clergymen who have admitted to or been accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Three of those 17 served in Athens parishes over a time span of about 20 years.

Joseph A. Martinkosky, Robert F. Marrer and Walter Plimmer each served as priests in Athens between 1955 and 1972. They are among the 16 priests and one seminarian listed in a news release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville. Those 17 “have been credibly accused or admitted to sexual abuse of a minor and removed from active ministry,” the release reads.

Martinkosky is the most recent of the three to have served in Athens. He served at Christ the King University Parish, 75 Stewart St., in 1972, according to the church’s website. Martinkosky was suspended from ministry in 1991, according to the news release.

Marrer, who is now deceased, served at St. Paul Church, 38 N. College St., in 1966 and at Christ the King from 1966 to 1970, ac-

The exterior of Christ the King University Parish, located at 75 Stewart St. (ALEX MCCANN / DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR)

cording to the churches’ websites.

Plimmer, who is also deceased, served at Christ the King from 1955 to 1957, according to the church’s website. However, Plimmer was suspended from the ministry in 1956, according to the news release.

The news release containing the list was released by the diocese on Oct. 31. It dates back to the diocese’s formation in 1944, the release reads, and most of the cases are decades old. “(The list) will help survivors of sexual abuse find the strength to come forward and these innocent victims can begin the process of healing,” Monforton said in the release. “I pledge to do everything possible to protect our youth.”

The Steubenville diocese contains 13 Ohio counties, including

Athens County, according to its website.

Christ the King and St. Paul are the only Catholic churches in Athens and exist as one parish.

They are two of the five churches in Athens County, according to the diocese’s website.

“I say to the victims and to all, for the actions of those with the care of souls who have acted in these horrible ways, as your bishop, I am very sorry,” Monforton said in the release.

Foxhoven’s case remains under investigation, Blackburn said.

He also said it’s possible additional charges could be presented to a grand jury.

Part of the state’s allegations is that Foxhoven groomed the minor for approximately four years in preparation for the sexual en-

counter that occurred, Blackburn said in an interview with.

“They pretend to care about and show the victim they really like them by giving them gifts, singling them out as a special person,” said Judy Block Jones, Midwest regional leader for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. “What they’re doing is getting the victim to answer to them, … to trust them.”

SNAP encourages those who have been abused to come forward to authorities or call SNAP at 1-877-762-7432.

Foxhoven is scheduled to appear in Athens Municipal Court on Nov. 26.

@LOGAN_RMOORE LM849615@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Coffee off the beaten path TEDI DELASHMET FOR THE POST Town’s End Coffee, 9133 Rock Riffle Road, is a fairly new coffee shop that sits peacefully along the Hocking River on the outskirts of Athens. The quaint shop is run by husband Dave Norris and wife Charlotte, who share a goal for exceptional coffee.

The location has served as many landmarks before the couple claimed it as a cafe.

The building was originally Athens County’s first post office with Ohio’s first dam directly behind it. The site additionally served as a mill, a milk processing site and eventually even became a barber shop.

Manager and avid coffee drinker, Dave, spotted the location when taking his daughter to school one morning and thought it would be a perfect place for a cafe. He began working on the concept up and till the opening in March 2018.

With many nearby coffee businesses closer to campus, Town’s End Coffee uses traditional styles to set themselves apart.

“We don’t have wifi and we don’t have indoor seating. It’s a traditional Italian stand up bar on the inside.” said manager Charlotte.

However, Town’s End Coffee is open to potential changes in the future.

“I feel like eventually we could go that way if we could expand. If we end up making enough or we’re able to do some kind of fundraiser to expand into the back of the building or outside where there’s a deck.

Maybe even add outdoor heating,” said Dave.

The Norris’ main goal for Town’s End Coffee is for the cafe to become a space for customers to escape their screens and interact with one another and ultimately enjoy the nature and beauty that is Athens.

“Since we’re next to the highway and just outside campus, we would be a place to get you where you’re going but not necessarily be your destination. We’re a good place to meet up with someone but as far as hanging out on a couch, Donkey Coffee is there for that,” Dave said.

The unique stylings of Town’s End Coffee makes it an enjoyable place for people to get coffee.

“A lot of the places uptown are packed and have a lot going on like music, people doing school work, people hanging out, playing games, and somewhere in between all of that the calm environment and the quality of the coffee gets lost,” said Mia Darnell, a freshman studying communication science and disorders.

10 / NOV. 15, 2018

The exterior of Town’s End Coffee in Athens. (BLAKE NISSEN / PHOTO EDITOR)

“Town’s End is harder to get to, but its setting is much more relaxing and the coffee is the best, so the distance is worth it.”

Town’s End Coffee focuses on their vision for customers rather than competing with the nearby cafes.

“The uptown places ... we didn’t want to take those customers necessarily. We were looking more for the customers who walk in, know the exact change, sets it up there, asks for a cup, grabs the coffee and leaves,” said Dave. “That is more like what we envisioned here, that there’d be certain moments where we’d walk people through a cupping or all the different ways we make coffee, and not be encumbered by other people who just want to be in and out.”

According to Dave, many people he’s met, including himself, are glad Town’s End Coffee is there because of experiences with difficulty finding parking uptown.

The cafe is near the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. Charlotte makes note of the shop’s presence along the bike path with attention drawn in from hikers passing to and from Bong Hill.

The cafe makes their coffee using kioto coffee, kioto coffee towers and siphon coffee.

Charlotte said that their specialty coffee comes from coffee lab roasters out of Tarrytown, New York. Town’s End Cof-

fee proudly serves oat milk to make their specialty drink, the White Chocolate Thunder, a white chocolate drink with oat milk and a double shot of espresso.

Town’s End’s espresso is an award-winning espresso. None of the espressos are dark roasted, but primarily a traditional northern Italian espresso with crema on it.

“We’re pretty happy with our coffee,” Charlotte said. “The one people seem to like the most is the Witch’s Brew and it’s a really nice, smooth and hearty blend.”

The majority of people still aren’t aware of the business, Charlotte said.

The Norris’ are currently struggling to create signage because of restrictions with putting things on or around the building’s property.

“We have to be careful with that,” said Charlotte.

Town’s End Coffee has been open to the public for the past eight months, however, they plan to work with the Athens Chamber of Commerce for an official grand opening one day.

“We haven’t gotten a hold of them yet because we’ve been trying to get our feet on the ground and really get a feel of what we are going for,” said Charlotte. “I think with Dave’s direction we have a pretty good idea.”

@RENEETEDIAN RD063317@OHIO.EDU

Bird Ice Arena

ILLUSTRATION BY RILEY SCOTT

A

BEYOND A REFUGE

t first glance, the acroamatic piece of amber-colored fabric stuck to the doorframe goes unnoticed and so do the chappals (slippers) tossed to a corner of the walkway that leads up to the burnished door. Binda Adhikari has a strict “no shoes inside” policy, which is typical in most Asian households. A tradition that the family neatly tucked inside their suitcases, in between the folds of their sarees and Dhaka topi, before heading to “America.”

The suburban house is overwhelmed by a sharp smell of mustard oil. The sound of sizzling spices quickly catches your attention, which is naturally drawn to the mosaic of colorful portraits of Hindu gods and godmen glued to the whitewashed-walls.

Binda wakes up well before dawn to prepare for the day, while little girls with pigtails bouncing on their shoulders shuffle around the house. Snuggled in an oversized gray cardigan, Binda swims around the kitchen island. Her hus-

BHARBI HAZARIKA | SENIOR WRITER

band, Bhagawat, says she is the hardest worker in their family. From preparing their children for school to reminding her in-laws to take their medicine, she does it all.

Raven hair clipped back, her eyes are fixated on the chopping board as she meticulously slices the tomatoes.

Binda hardly lets anything distract her, a determination that carried her through high school in the U.S. in her 20s. It’s not until she sweeps toward the kitchen sink to wash the greens, when the maroon-colored gnuiu, a Nepalese fabric wrapped around her waist, appears. Her attire seems to mirror their current lifestyle — a fusion of the worlds, mismatched yet balanced.

Unlike her daughter-in-law, Madhavi Adhikari hasn’t picked up the latest trend in fashion. A Nepalese wrapper modestly draped over her bosom, she sits in a corner of the living room gently rocking the cradle, back and forth.

The typicality of the Adhikari household is reflected in the roles played by the three generations, carrying

distinct experiences, tied with a single thread, which is their Bhutanese-Nepalese identity. It’s a characteristic that the suburban house dons well.

At first glance, the peculiarities of the houses in this neighborhood are unremarkable. From the outside, Etna Township passes for any other American neighborhood with symmetrical houses and coiling roads. The Columbus suburb, however, is home to over 30 immigrant families from Bhutan who were expelled from their native country in an ethnic cleansing attempt during the ‘90s.

They spent much of their lives in refugee camps across Nepal before they were catapulted to United States as a part of a United Nations’ third country resettlement.

“When I first came here looking to settle down, I saw plains,” Bhagawat said. “It reminded me of our village in Bhutan and I instantly knew I wanted to live here.”

The Adhikari household is the new normal in this bourgeois neighborhood.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

THE EXPULSION “I was jobless, homeless, countryless,” Bhagawat, a warehouse worker at KDC/ONE Columbus, said with an unusually resilient smile on his face.

Bhagawat and his family emigrated to Tucson, Arizona, in 2009 after living as refugees for 18 years in Jhapa, Nepal. They later moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 2013 to finally settle in their American life.

In the mid-1980s Bhutan, led by the monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck, began tightening its citizenship laws calling for “One nation, One people.” The Himalayan kingdom conducted a census of its demographic and then proceeded to evict nearly 100,000 people, almost all of them Hindus of Nepalese origin, including the Adhikaris.

It declared the Nepalese-origin community, called Lhotshampa, illegal immigrants, even though their lineage went back several generations in Bhutan. The process of cultural homogenization, administered by the king, required all Bhutanese to follow the lifestyle of the Drukpa, the lineage of the royal family who follow Buddhism, and its norms which included their eating, drinking and clothing habits, and even their speech.

Bhutan, which mainly comprises of people who follow Buddhism, which is a religion that touts its pacifistic and non-violent edicts, forced out a significant portion of its citizens using draconian measures. The anti-immigrant drive was implemented starting in 1989, when Nepalese books were rounded up in town squares and burned, Nepalese houses were rampaged, women and children lived in the fear of rape and abduction. From Bhutan, many were forced to escape to neighboring countries, where they lived in refugee camps along the border. It hasn’t let any of them move back.

About one-sixth of the Bhutanese population was cast out of the nation and had to seek refuge in the neighboring countries such as India and Nepal.

Considering the country’s relatively small population, the magnitude of this exodus was one of the world’s largest by per capita. The “Buddhist Shangri-La,” however, still seems to maintain its title by advancing the philosophy of “gross national happiness,” coined by the 4th King of Bhutan, Wangchuck, in 1972.

For Bhagawat, the hallmark happiness was just a veneer that cracked as soon as he turned 9 and was forced to flee the country.

Many asylum seekers ended up in the seven refugee camps in southern Nepal. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme among others were responsible for the camps, which were home to these Bhutanese migrants.

LIVING WITHOUT AN IDENTITY Camp life was tough both psychologically and physically.

Rife with disease and squalor, the Goldhap refugee camp became the new home for the

12/ NOV. 15, 2018

A lack of national credentials automatically made them ineligible to pursue jobs outside the camps and many were unable to provide sufficient nutrition to their family, let alone buy other luxuries such as clothes and shoes. There were some jobs available within the camps, but provided little incentive.

Bhagawat said he is educated and was a diligent student in the camp school, but the fact that he couldn’t get a job frustrated him.

Some days, Bhagawat would hike up the hills on the border of Nepal overlooking Bhutan and vignettes from days spent in his village in Bhutan would flash through his head.

He would contemplate sneaking back in. The temptation was as inconceivable as the idea of a home. A teenaged Bhagavad was forced to emancipate from his motherland before he came of age.

“It feels like my own mom has disowned me,” he said. “I am an orphan and I can never go back, they won’t let me.”

Madhavi Adhikari sits with her grandaughter Shreya Adhikari.

(BHARBI HAZARIKA / SENIOR WRITER)

Adhikaris. The camp had sprawling dirt streets monopolized by bands of scrawny children, who didn’t have anywhere else to play.

UN volunteers distributed food rations every two weeks. It included the staples: rice, lentils and some salt. The Adhikaris were often told to stretch the ration for as long as they could. Bhagawat’s mother, Madhavi, would come up with novel ways to keep her hunger at bay. She would often take a wet cloth and fasten it around her waist. The snug knot that hung just above her navel, hardly let her breathe, a sacrifice that the mother justified by necessity — one more day of food for her family.

People lived in feeble bamboo houses with thatched roofs and no toilets. The communal lavatories, which were basically pits in the ground, were located outside. Groves of banana trees separated the houses from each other. Tilak Niroula, Bhagawat’s nephew, said their houses had no electricity or running water. There were a few tanks and handpumps used to draw water, installed sporadically throughout the camp. Approximately 40 households had to share one tap. These low-

cost, temporary shelters housed more than 15,000 refugee families.

“It was miserable in the camps,” Bhagawat said. “Where to go? So many of my friends and other people committed suicide.”

Nature’s wrath was apparent and the thin walls of the houses didn’t help. The cottages were prone to fire, and rain would easily seep through their flimsy ceilings. Lack of building materials meant it wasn’t unusual for families to mount tents out of plastic from time to time.

The cerulean tents provided some relief to the eyes in the otherwise dusty-colored neighborhood. The tranquil blue of the tent, however, did little to offer seamless sleep to Bhagawat and his family.

Most of those refugees spent close to 20 years of their lives in the cramped nooks of southeastern Nepal.

Their title didn’t allow the people to step out of the refugee camps except for official reasons, Niroula said. They were forced by law to be confined to close quarters. Niroula knew if he stepped out, he would have no recognized identity to support himself.

DREAMING OF A HOME Now, Bhagawat sleeps on a comfortable mattress wrapped in clean white sheets. The walls of his house are solid and impenetrable, and he says he is thankful it doesn’t burn down. Bhagawat and Binda got married in the U.S. in 2010 and soon after they filed for citizenship. The family finally discarded their refugee titles for to become citizens of the United States in 2013 and for the first time in a long time, Bhagawat said he felt at home.

“I never thought I could say this,” Bhagawat said. “That I am a proud citizen of America.”

Chris Boian, the spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency for the United States and the Caribbean, said the UN Refugee Agency is invested in finding durable solutions for people fleeing persecution, war and violence across the world. Boian added that the UN proposed resettlement program has had a significant positive impact on the lives of refugees.

In 2016, the number of countries offering resettlement programs doubled, from 14 resettlement countries in 2005 to 37 countries worldwide, including the United States, according to UNHCR. .

“Resettlement is a discretionary activity.

In other words, it’s not mandatory for any country,” Boian explained. “It’s a choice that countries make for humanitarian reasons, to ensure that very vulnerable human beings such as women, children and men, who fled their homes are able to receive the safe haven and the ability to restart their lives with dignity that those countries themselves feel is necessary.”

Despite that increase, the dream of resettlement is a realization for a meager less than 1 percent of the global refugee population, Boian said. More than 99 percent still remain without a nationality or are internally displaced in their countries.

The privilege that comes along with the title of a citizenship is rarely experienced by refugees and asylum seekers. According to the 2018 UNHCR survey, there are 25.4 mil-

The Adhikari household prepares for Dussehra festival, a celebration symbolizing the victory of good over evil. (BHARBI HAZARIKA / SENIOR WRITER)

Binda Adhikari holds her younger daughter Shrenika.

(BHARBI HAZARIKA / SENIOR WRITER)

The Adhikaris pose for a photograph in their suburban home in Columbus, Ohio.

(BHARBI HAZARIKA / SENIOR WRITER)

lion refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18 worldwide. Additionally, an estimated 10 million stateless people, which previously included the Bhutanese-Nepalese diaspora, stand without a nationality or access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.

“Statelessness is a terrible tragedy,” Boian said. “These are individuals who are recognized as nationals by no country in the world and it has very sad consequences on the ability of these people to lead meaningful lives.”

The identity of a refugee has lent unfathomable challenges to families like the Adhikaris. Bhuwan Pyakurel, the chairperson of the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio, said the trauma of being displaced comes with added woes. Once resettled, the sense of entitlement that comes with being a citizen still seems like a distant benefit for several members of the community.

Serious mental health issues plague the Bhutanese-Nepalese diaspora in Ohio.

Pyakurel said several members experience post traumatic stress disorder that harkens back to the atrocious experiences of

“

Statelessness is a terrible tragedy. These are individuals who are recognized as nationals by no country in the world and it has very sad consequences on the ability of these people to lead meaningful lives.”

- Chris Boian, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency for the United States and the Caribbean

fleeing Bhutan and the subsequent refugee life. Many of them find it difficult to let go of their prior identity, which is why several still identify as “second-class people,” he added.

The self-attached title is a remnant of the profound vulnerability that the community experienced in Bhutan.

“We were scared all the time, twenty-four seven,” Pyakurel said. “We used to think anybody can kick us, anybody can hit us, anybody can do anything they wanted to us.”

The Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio with the help of North Community Counseling Center, a mental-health agency on the northeast side of Columbus, provides facilities to support the victims. It’s estimated that the center helps over 5,000 people annually by hosting programs and training that promote integration into society.

The mental health agency stepped in after the Trump administration and the Office of Refugee Resettlement nixed federal funds to the community. Pyakurel said the organization had initially received a three-year federal grant totaling $450,000.

Last year, after the federal government

canceled the funds, the group used its savings to operate. The services were well on their way to becoming defunct when the Columbus City Council donated $45,000, a fraction of their initial grant, but Pyakurel said any aid helps.

For most people, the struggle of living as a refugee is an afterimage prodded by the ceaseless images of the state in Syria and Yemen plastered on TV screens. The Adhikaris have known no reality other than the constant instability for much of their life.

Now, Binda and Bhagawat are grateful that they can finally offer to their children what they never had growing up — a stable life.

“We didn’t have a roof or anything in our classrooms. If it rained, class got over,” Bhagawat said recounting his school days in the camp. “But Shreya goes to a school that takes care of everything from her alphabets to if she is growing okay and that means a lot.”

@BHARBI97 BH136715@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Trans Awareness Week educates and empowers KERI JOHNSON FOR THE POST For Ariel Keener, a freshman studying sociology, Trans Awareness Week has a special meaning.

“Ironically, I came out almost three years ago during Trans Awareness Week, so it holds a special place in my heart,” she said.

Kenner finds Trans Awareness Week, which will take place nationally during the second week of November, to be a very personal and intimate time.

“It’s a very trying time, so I think Trans Awareness Week is a really good time to reach out, make a connection. It means so much during a hard time,” Keener said. “It’s the small things. Even if it’s just a Facebook post, it means the world to someone going through something.”

The Ohio University LGBT Center will celebrate Trans Awareness and Solidarity Week by featuring events each day addressing the realities transgender people face. The week will culminate with a vigil for National Trans Day of Remembrance and Resistance on Thursday.

The point of Trans Awareness Week is not only to foster conversation surrounding transgender issues, but also to educate the general public.

“On a professional level, (it’s) an opportunity to raise awareness and expand solidarity,” said LGBT Center Director delfin bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name.

“On a personal level, as a trans-identified person myself, (it’s) an opportunity to share a side of myself I don’t get to share very often — to grow through the conversations that take place and being able to understand myself differently.”

Trans Awareness Week predates bautista as director, but they have made their mark. bautista has made intersectionality a goal within the events that happen for Trans Awareness Week.

“Most of the discussions have to do with self-care and self-affirmation on one level or another,” bautista said.

Trans Awareness Week takes on a special significance here in Athens.

“Looking at the realities and experiences of trans Appalachian folks gets overlooked,” bautista said. “I think where we are geographically, sadly, we often don’t think about that.” bautista believes that a trans-inclusive Appalachia doesn’t require a new Appalachia, but an accepting one.

“We can talk about looking at the nar14 / NOV. 15, 2018

Ohio University’s LGBT Center lobby on Sept. 25. (AMELIA GREEN / FOR THE POST)

ratives in Appalachia that can be tweaked or refunneled to be trans-affirming or trans-celebratory,” bautista said. “Trans people have been vibrant parts of the community for a long time.”

As underrepresented as trans people are in Appalachia, many resources are available in Athens, such as Equitas Health Athens, an LGBT health organization, OU Campus Care and Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS).

“That’s a reflection of both that trans people are here, and that trans people are in need of additional services,” bautista said. “There’s also an organization that is open to faculty and staff, as well as members of the community.”

Trans Awareness Week has a greater meaning — it serves the Athens area as a whole.

“Outside of the trans community, the reality is that we’re here and that we’ve

made a lot progress as a movement, but there’s still a lot of work,” bautista said.

“How we talk about people, how we engage groups, individuals or heterosexual folk, and looking at how focusing in on this one community has rippled and sparked conversations about gender diversity as a whole.” bautista hopes Trans Awareness Week becomes as recognizable as Black History Month or National Hispanic Heritage Month. However, there is a caveat.

“Not commercialized, but that people know that there is a time period dedicated to the realities of trans people,” bautista said. “That it not be tokenized, not in the way that this is the only time we talk about trans people, but just highlight it a little bit more.” bautista also hopes Trans Awareness Week takes on a more positive and celebratory connotation, also similar to Black

History Month.

“I think we’ve done a good job at raising awareness about the heavy stuff, but we need a space to celebrate,” bautista said. “Moving forward, I’d like to balance that with the celebrations, not just here, but the wider movement as a whole.”

After Trans Awareness Week, people can stay involved by showing up to events, said Darragh Liaskos, social media coordinator for the LGBT Center and a senior studying media and social change.

Those who do not identify as trans can continue to express solidarity throughout the year.

“People can pay attention to trans people and offer solidarity by uplifting trans people and not overshadowing them,” Liaskos said.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

Creative writers weigh in on state of artistic field ALEXIS EICHELBERGER CULTURE EDITOR Matt Waxman thought he’d be a doctor.

When he first enrolled in college, he planned on studying pre-med or pursuing another STEM-related subject. The sciences were profitable, which likely meant job security. But Waxman had always been a writer. He’d known it to be a passion of his since he was a child, when he fell in love with reading and wrote books to share with his elementary school classmates.

After those initial college doubts and anxieties about pursuing a job in a creative field, he revisited writing and decided it was indeed a passion worth pursuing.

“I might make money being a doctor,” Waxman, a senior studying creative writing, said.

“But I just wouldn’t be happy.”

It seems that creative writing, like so many professions, has quickly and drastically been changing. In the age of technology, self-publishing through sites like Amazon or freely releasing work through sites like Wattpad is becoming more and more common. Some writers are finding success through the new media trends, while others find comfort in traditional publishing methods. In any case, each writer’s journey is their own, and their outlook on the industry varies just as their creative style does.

Waxman is an editor for the Ohio University student literary journal Sphere Magazine. In his editing duties, he prefers experimentation in syntax and character types. He looks for diversity when reading works submitted to the journal.

“There are a lot of experimental things that are being

“

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER

It seems to me that there’s space for a lot of different voices out there. Or you hope there is.

And there’s space for a lot of different stories.”

- Patrick O’Keeffe, an associate professor of English

published now that couldn’t be published before,” he said.

“I think that instead of boring people with the old sentence structure that we have in traditional writing, I think it’s kind of important to vary it as long as you can get what you’re saying across. There’s an artistic value to kind of changing it up.”

Morgan Roediger, a graduate student studying creative writing, fostered her lifelong passion for English by studying creative writing in her undergraduate education as well. She primarily

writes fiction, and although she hasn’t been published yet, she’s been working diligently to cultivate her writing into something she would be proud to publish.

“I guess I’m not pushing myself to publish right now because I’d rather get my work to a spot where I like it and where I’m comfortable with it before I send it out,” Roediger said. “I feel like I’m getting to that place now because I know looking from work last year compared to this year that I have come a long way as a writer.”

Despite the recent boom in

self-publishing, Roediger hopes to publish in a more traditional medium. Although self-publishing seems to be a viable option for many, she hopes to pursue publication through a more traditional medium by finding a literary journal that matches her own style and audience. From then on, she hopes to continue working on her personal prose and potentially teaching English coursework to others at the college level.

“To get your work out there, you just have to write,” she said.

“That’s the biggest thing — you have to take the time to write and really know your audience.”

Patrick O’Keeffe, an associate professor of English, has published two works of fiction. He, too, came to love reading and writing at a young age, and that eventually led him to pursue a master’s of fine arts in English from the University of Michigan.

“I had wonderful teachers, and I think I learned a great deal from them,” he said. “And I also had very supportive teachers, and it meant an awful lot to me.”

O’Keeffe wrote his first novel after graduating with his master’s degree, while also doing adjunct teaching. A story of his that was published in a literary journal caught the eye of an agent, who then helped him to publish his first book, The Hill Road. Now, when students pursuing creative writing ask him for professional advice, he tells them his publishing journey and encourages them to also consider applying to MFA programs.

In addition to a formal education, O’Keeffe said there’s also great value in finding trusted readers — a cohort of other writers to provide one with honest feedback can be incredibly beneficial.

“Community is important,” O’Keeffe said. “I think writers are really private. We’re private people. But I also think that community is important.”

But each writer’s path differs, and O’Keeffe does his best to provide helpful advice and feedback while also respecting each individual’s style and story.

Whether they hope to pursue a higher degree and work in academia or consider self-publishing, the creative industry often works on a case-by-case basis.

“It seems to me that there’s space for a lot of different voices out there,” O’Keeffe said. “Or you hope there is. And there’s space for a lot of different stories.”

@ADEICHELBERGER AE595714@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

Bobcats and Batons BAYLEE DEMUTH STAFF WRITER In the Ping Recreation Center gymnasium, a group of girls can be found vigorously throwing batons in the air one after the other in a seamless routine.

Bobcat Twirlers is a new student organization at Ohio University. Currently, the group is made up of 10 girls who are looking to perform at men’s or women’s basketball games and local parades, and they eventually want to compete at local group competitions around Ohio.

OU originally had a twirling team some years ago, but there was no push to keep it going, so it ended up dying off. It wasn’t until earlier this semester that Sherri Scott decided she would coach a twirling organization if there was enough interest to start it back up.

“When my daughter started going to OU, she and a couple of friends she twirled with decided they wanted to start back up a twirling group and wondered who else was here that might be interested,” Scott said. “We found out that OU has many talented twirlers with some type of competitive background.”

The Bobcat Twirlers currently have four twirlers who have competed in world championships, some of which members have won. There are also four girls in the organization who are local twirlers from Athens County.

“It’s a really good mix of very good and accomplished twirlers,” Scott said. “I’m excited to see how it mixes together.”

With the amount of talent and skill Bobcat Twirlers’ members have, the organization’s ultimate goal is to represent OU in the National Collegiate Twirling Championships by the end of next summer.

“We’re going to see what we can do this year, but that would be the first time OU has ever had a team compete in the collegiate championships,” Scott said.

For now, Bobcat Twirlers is not an organization that requires a time-heavy commitment, but an organization that lets whomever wants to twirl participate and have fun expressing their passion.

“As long as the interest is still there, I 16 / NOV. 15, 2018

Samantha Panley works on the Bobcat Twirlers’ group routine during practice on Sunday.

(MIDGE MAZUR/ FOR THE POST)

“

Twirling is a way of expression for me, and having this passion so close to home while also getting to share that love of twirling with other people is important.”

- Sara Stufflebeam, a freshman studying psychology and sociology

can see myself coaching after my daughter graduates,” Scott said. “I’ve loved the sport. It’s something I did before I had my daughter, and I’ll definitely stay involved.”

Miranda Scott, a sophomore studying interior architecture, has been twirling her entire life and is looking forward to what the pilot season will bring for her and the group.

“In the fall season, we’re getting to know one another, how we work together and what we can do,” she said. “But I’m expecting good things. I missed being in a group so I think it’ll be fun.”

Scott is a member of the Marching 110 and recognizes that there will never be a twirler a part of the marching band because of tradition, so having Bobcat Twirl-

ers is something she believes OU needs.

“There’s a lot of twirlers in the world, and I know a lot of people who don’t want to go to OU because we don’t have a twirling position, but if there’s a wellknown organization from OU, maybe they would consider that instead,” she said.

Cayla Caviris, a sophomore studying management information systems, joined Bobcat Twirlers because she’s been involved in twirling her entire life.

“I just love it, and it has been my passion. It’s kind of all I’ve ever known,” Caviris said. “I think every school should have a twirling team because it’s something a lot of people actually do. It’s just something really cool and gets people involved.”

Sara Stufflebeam, a freshman studying psychology and sociology, has been twirling for almost 10 years and is looking forward to sharing the art of twirling with other students of OU while being a part of Bobcat Twirlers.

“Twirling is a way of expression for me, and having this passion so close to home while also getting to share that love of twirling with other people is important,” she said.

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU

Ariana Kocab, 18, practices baton twirls during practice at Ping Recreation Center on Sunday.

(MIDGE MAZUR/ FOR THE POST)

United Campus Ministry celebrates 50 years BAYLEE DEMUTH STAFF WRITER To Evan Young, United Campus Ministry has played a significant role in building the quality of relationships among many grassroot, activist and social justice organizations in Athens.

“There are things UCM can do that no other organization can,” Young, the director and campus minister of UCM, said.

“It’s easier for us to be both a flag pole and a lightning rod in that way, holding up this vision of justice and taking the heat that comes with it.”

UCM was created in 1968 out of the ecumenical movement, which was a time when different protestant denominations were doing collaborative outreach. It has served as a nonprofit that offers a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, service projects around Athens and social justice guided by socially progressive and interfaith values.

UCM is celebrating 50 years of social action with a Justice Jubilee, its largest fundraising event of the year. It will celebrate all UCM has done, what it’s currently doing and the future.

It’s difficult for Young to point to lasting impacts UCM has had that people can see and identify, but individuals who have interned or volunteered with UCM have been shaped or led by experiences they’ve had through UCM. “Some of them have been powerfully impacted by our interfaith community building work,” Young said. “The importance of building relationships across persistent faith divides is work that stays with them wherever they go.”

As for the social justice advocacy work UCM has done, those impacts on Athens are much easier for Young to quantify.

“The most significant impact has been UCM as an incubator of grassroots, social justice and community service organizations in Athens, such as My Sister’s Place, the Athens AIDS Task Force and Rural Action,” Young said.

UCM works with those organizations, but it also provides a free meal every Thursday for dinner and Saturday for lunch.

“This is a place where people who have a concern they feel needs to be addressed by the community can come and get support and get connected with individuals and institutions who can help them with their vi-

sion,” Young said. “When you think about the lasting impact UCM has had, that’s probably the biggest one for the Athens community.”

UCM’s mission of using an interfaith approach to being socially progressive has been a driving factor of UCM’s success.

“When we think about the problem of divisions between folks of different faith traditions, we choose to approach it by creating opportunities for people from different faith traditions to meet each other, learn about each other and build relationships,” Young said. “We think that developing those relationships builds resiliency in our community.”

Robin Kelby, a graduate student studying computer science who uses they/them pronouns, participated as a volunteer, and eventually an intern, with UCM in their undergraduate years. They’re looking forward to serving on Thanksgiving when UCM will be partnering with the OU LGBT Center for Rainbow Thanksgiving.

“Rainbow Thanksgiving has become a highlight of my year, and I look forward to coming back and visiting with the interns and those we serve,” Kelby said.

Through their work with UCM, Kelby

understands the need for UCM in Athens.

“One of the principles that UCM tries to abide by is that we build bridges, not walls,” Kelby said. “UCM is a bridge between the university campus and the Athens community, which is sorely needed. Students who stay in the student-friendly parts of Athens may not realize the poverty and food insecurity that are also a part of Athens.”

Lacey Rogers, the assistant director of UCM, sees Athens as a fairly progressive place with UCM as an organization that focuses on people’s similarities instead of the differences that sometimes are used to separate groups of people.

“No place is completely free of the need for social justice work,” Rogers said.

“I think it’s important for us to be here to provide a place where people can figure out who they really are. We’re a college town, and college for a lot of people is figuring out who they are and what they believe in, how they want to give back to their community and what’s important to them.”

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

FOOTBALL

Plowing through the defense A.J. Ouellette’s career night powers Ohio past Buffalo

SPENCER HOLBROOK SPORTS EDITOR A.J. Ouellette is battling a cold.

That didn’t stop him from going sleeveless underneath his black jersey, despite freezing temperatures at Peden Stadium on Wednesday night. It didn’t stop him from running roughshod through a talented Buffalo defense on his way to the best rushing outing of his career.

He threw up on the sideline, took some medicine to help his stomach and sniffled through his news conference. But he also rushed for a career-high 196 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in Ohio’s 52-17 throttling of Buffalo on Wednesday night.

“It’s how you think it would feel,” Ouellette said. “We needed to have a statement game to show people what we were capable of. I think we did that.”

Ouellette had four runs of more than 20 yards. He had two rushing touchdowns. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry, and he used a Madden-like truck stick on Buffalo defenders to earn extra yards.

On his 8-yard touchdown grab from Nathan Rourke, he caught the ball around the 7-yard line, flattened a helpless Buffalo defender and stayed on his feet before stumbling into the end zone for his second score.

Those kinds of plays have become normal for the redshirt senior from Covington.

He knows the ropes of the MAC’s mid-week schedule because he has done it five times.

He rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and he’s 27 yards from accomplishing that again. He was second-team AllMAC last season. He’s cut his teeth in the weight room and on the field, barreling over de-

18 / NOV. 15, 2018

Ohio running back A.J. Ouellette runs the ball during the second half of the Bobcats’ game against Buffalo on Wednesday. (COLIN MAYR / FOR THE POST)

“

A.J. has had more than his fair share as you go back through the seasons and pick out plays that he’s been special at. I’m really glad to see him finishing up the way he is. I think right now he’s the best back in the league.”

- Coach Frank Solich

fenders with ease.

“There’s times where we go light in the weight room, and he’s going like 400 (pounds),” safety Javon Hagan said. “But that’s just him. As you can see, it’s paying off on game day.”

Coach Frank Solich, a former running back who had a similar style to Ouellette’s, knows a good running back when he sees one. He wasted no breath in voicing his praise for Ouellette.

“A.J. has had more than his fair share as you go back through the seasons and pick out plays that he’s been special at,” Solich said. “I’m really glad to see him finishing up the way he is. I think right now he’s the best back in the league.”

Ouellette’s bowling-ball style

has fueled the Bobcats’ rushing attack all season, but he’s especially shown that in Ohio’s (7-4, 5-2 MAC) past four games. He’s rushed for 570 yards in that span, and he’s set career highs for yards in a game in back-toback outings.

But don’t try to give Ouellette credit for those yards. He’s quick to deflect it and send it to Rourke, the offensive line and the coaching staff. He’s ending his Ohio career in a few weeks, and he’s going out with big numbers.

But to him, those numbers belong to the offensive line.

That’s the same offensive line that paved the way for 437 Ohio rushing yards against Buffalo (92, 6-1 MAC), who was giving up 153.9 yards on the ground per

game coming in.

The Bobcats’ five offensive linemen up front were slated to be one of the best in the MAC this season, but even with that, they have lived up to, and maybe exceeded, the billing. That unit, which features four upperclassmen, has been together for a long time. Four of them have blocked for Ouellette since they arrived on campus.

“I get more pleasure knowing that it’s a couple of the guys up front’s last couple games,” Ouellette said. “They work their butt off. I’ve had them my whole career. That’s the reason I’ve had such good career yards. Those guys are badasses up there.”

The Bobcats have rushed for at least 400 yards twice this season.

They’ve reached more than 390 yards on the ground four times.

Since rushing for only 46 yards in the Oct. 13 loss to Northern Illinois, Ohio has averaged 339.4 rushing yards per game. Why pass the ball when running the ball gets the ball moved as well?

After that loss to NIU, Solich put an emphasis on the run game, saying Ohio needed to get back to its foundation. Well, 1,697 rushing yards later, the Bobcats are back to that foundation.

More importantly, they’re 4-1 in those games. Ouellette is a big reason why.

In his latest performance, Ouellette had to juggle his workload with a cold. But like the Buffalo defense, the cold wasn’t near enough to stop Ouellette from a career high.

“All week,” Ouellette said of his cold. “I’m feeling a little better today.”

@SPENCERHOLBROOK SH690914@OHIO.EDU

BASKETBALL

Figuring out the 3-point game Ohio’s mix of players stepped up to fill in the roles of the Bobcats best 3-point shooters PETE NAKOS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Jordan Dartis and James Gollon sat far down the Ohio bench cheering for their teammates on a few big plays. It’s a perch that Bobcat fans will see them on for the foreseeable future, with no clear end in sight.

With their best two 3-point shooters out, the Bobcats were forced to look at their mix of veterans and underclassmen to step up. When teams can hit the 3-pointer, they can open up and stretch out the floor.

The blend of players rose to the occasion Monday, helping Ohio out of a firsthalf rut and giving the Bobcats an 81-73 win over Campbell in The Convo. It was the first of four games in the Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic.

“Knocking down 3-pointers opens up driving lanes for me. Tonight, it opened up the post,” redshirt sophomore forward Jason Carter said. “I think it helps stretch the floor.”

With 12:50 left to go, senior Gavin Block hit a 3-pointer in the corner closest to the Ohio bench to give the Bobcats a 49-46 lead. Block, who was knocked over after the shot and picked up by his teammates, pushed back down the court to play defense.

The lead was the first of the night for Ohio and the only one it needed. The Bobcats held on for the rest of the game.

That possession consisted of nine passes before Block hit the shot from the corner.

In essence, the possession was a glimpse of what the Bobcats try to achieve on offense: spreading the ball around, driving to the basket and kicking it out if nothing was available inside.

On the 3-pointer from Block, it was an example of moving around the ball after the drive inside didn’t work. More importantly, the assist on the 3 came from Carter at the top of the key, a testament to the effort of moving around the ball.

It was the only shot from beyond the arc that he made all night, missing his two other attempts. Still, it was a clutch shot made by a veteran who wouldn’t have taken that shot last season.

“We work on moving the ball and tak-

“

We have to make them.

James (Gollon) and Jordy (Dartis) make the majority of our shots. Not knowing them, guys know they need to step up. When it comes down to it, got to have guys knock down 3s.”

- Jason Carter, Ohio forward

ing the open shot,” coach Saul Phillips said.

On the night, the Bobcats knocked down seven 3-pointers and shot 38.9 percent. Redshirt freshman forward Ben Vander Plas knocked down four, including back-to-back 3s midway through the first half to bring the Camels’ lead to one point.

Jason Preston knocked down two as well. A true freshman guard, he started for the second straight game. Phillips said Preston is a pass-first guard, but he was able to balance the two Monday. (He finished with just one assist.)

Monday was a start to figuring out the 3-point game for the Bobcats. It’s one they’ll have to embrace without their top two shooters, but when the clutch play was needed, it was made.

“We have to make them,” Carter said.

“James (Gollon) and Jordy (Dartis) make the majority of our shots. Not knowing them, guys know they need to step up.

When it comes down to it, got to have guys knock down 3s.”

UP NEXT Monday’s game was the first of four in the 2018 Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic. The Bobcats headed to Jamaica on Wednesday for two games in Montego Bay. Game one is set for Friday against South Florida with a 4:30 p.m. tip-off.

Game two is Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ver-

Ohio University guard Jason Preston (#0) passes the ball during the match against Campbell on Monday, November 12, 2018. (ANTOHONY WARNER / FOR THE POST)

sus Loyola Marymount. The final of four games will take place back in Athens on Nov. 24 against Austin Peay, which is set for 2 p.m.

Phillips said he’s excited for his team to get to a new place for the growth of chemistry and growth, to get outside of the Athens bubble.

“This is brand new stuff for a lot of our

guys,” Phillips said. “To have our guys in a different environment. If they don’t have some fun they missed the point of this trip. It’s certainly all business, but there’s no reason to walk around paradise with a smile on your face.”

@PETE_NAKOS96 PN997515@OHIO.EDU

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

JANUARY 4–12, 2019 | EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FL FEE: $450 REGISTER ON WWW.RECSHOP.OHIO.EDU www.ohio.edu/recreation/outdoorpursuits 740.597.1396 THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

On the Road Again

TREVOR COLGAN | SLOT EDITOR

ILLUSTRATION BY MARCUS PAVILONIS

What does a club hockey team go through when it can only spend one night in a hotel for a two full-day trip? ick Grose had to run back inside Bird Arena. He had to make sure all the sticks were packed on the bus. He climbed back on the bus, and the driver checked to make sure everything was set.

The bus driver turned back and asked coach Sean Hogan to make sure everyone was on board.

“We’re leaving them if they aren’t here,” he said.

A quick laugh and then the bus started to drive down Oxbow Trail, on its way to Lynchburg, Virginia. Ohio was on its way for a two-game weekend series against Liberty.

Road trips for Ohio — a club team — are always interesting. Most of the schools the Bobcats travel to are far away, and the team has little to no budget for more than a one-night stay in a hotel, which means long bus rides through the night after the Saturday game.

This might be the Bobcats’ favorite trip of the year. LaHaye Ice Center is one of the best rinks in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. But 20 / NOV. 15, 2018

before they can get there, they have to go on a 5 1/2-hour bus ride. It’s the shortest trip the Bobcats make during the season, in comparison to the 11-hour ride to Iowa State.

Ohio came into the series against Liberty ranked No. 6 in the country. It began the season scoring double-digit goals in the four games against John Carroll and West Virginia. It had only lost one game outright, a 5-3 loss to Iowa State.

The ride to Lynchburg starts with a movie. The team has a discussion about what movie is going to be first. They bring a case of DVDs with about 30 or 40 choices, but whatever movie is chosen normally ends up being the same old movie.

“Same ones every time,” senior forward Matt Rudin said.

The first movie that freshman forward Ryan Higgins was sent up to put into the DVD player was American Wedding — the unrated version.

As the film begins, the guys on the bus start to spread out on their seats, some covering themselves with blankets to catch up on some sleep

after the 8 a.m. leave time.

One movie done, another one needs to go in.

Higgins heads back up, this time with Wedding Crashers.

At about 11 a.m., three hours into the trip, the bus rolls into a rest stop. The guys start perking up, ready for a chance to take a bathroom break or get some coffee.

Hogan asks Higgins to take a head count as the team piles back onto the bus.

“Poor Higgins,” Hogan laughs. “I turn around and he’s the first guy I see.”

The correct number of players are back on the bus, and soon the bus is back on the road to Lynchburg. The team, and Hogan especially, loves this trip. Hogan probably loves it because he hadn’t lost as the Bobcats’ coach against Liberty.

As the bus rolls farther along the 315-mile trek through West Virginia, Wedding Crashers comes to an end.

“We have a bunch of movies on the bus they’ve all seen,” Higgins said. “They want to see some-

thing new. The other day I got a good threefor-three deal at Walmart … Couldn’t be happier about that.”

There’s about two hours left on the drive to Lynchburg. That means two hours until the first full meal the Bobcats will eat since leaving Athens — if they didn’t eat in the morning.

The bus pulls into the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The team begins piling into the lobby, as Hogan hands out room keys. The team meal will be ready in the conference room soon.

The pregame meal menu typically consists of pasta. For the trip to Liberty, it came from Vinny’s, a local Italian restaurant. Trays of chicken Alfredo, ravioli, potatoes and salad are delivered to the hotel.

Then, it is time to nap. Two hours until the bus leaves for LaHaye.

Players start streaming out of the hotel lobby at about 4:40 p.m. Captain Cody Black, a forward, is the first on the bus. Grose and Shawn Baird are the last, as they needed some last-minute coffee.

Getting to LaHaye was an adventure.

The directions Hogan provided the driver from the second row of seats put the bus on a dead-end. The bus had no room to turn around, so the driver backs the bus all the way back down the road. Hogan laughed, told the driver to ignore him and said she can do her job. But as Ohio finds its way inside the arena, it’s stepping into one of the most unique places to play in the ACHA. “It’s always a lot of fun when we play here,” Hogan said.

Two hours are left until puck drop. The players find things to do in the arena until they have to get ready to play. Tyler Harkins, a healthy scratch for Friday’s game, buys Chick-Fil-A from the Liberty student union next door.

Now, it’s game time. Ohio storms back with three third period goals to win 3-2. Tom Pokorney scored the game-winning goal off a deflection from a Gianni Evangelisti shot.

It was the end of the comeback that helped the Bobcats ease the sting of a tough first 40 minutes.

Players move from a celebratory locker room to the bus. Now it’s time for some postgame food. Some head over to a restaurant by the arena with their parents, and the others get back on the bus for some pizza.

“It’s always terrible pizza,” Hogan said.

“This time, it’s Little Caesars.”

Time for sleep. For as long as Friday felt, Saturday is going to be busier.

Saturdays in the ACHA are about killing time. Most teams have little to no budget for trips. Ohio is one of those teams that doesn’t have a budget, Hogan said. That means the Bobcats have to figure out ways to kill about five hours after hotel checkout at noon — they can only stay one night — and puck drop.

“Saturday’s in the ACHA are a lot of wait-

The Ohio hockey team poses for a photo at the National D-Day memorial in Bedford, Virginia, on Nov. 10. (TREVOR COLGAN / SLOT EDITOR)

“

You know you’re going to have to go get sticks, you know you’re going to have to do all that stuff you don’t want to do, but you know you’ll get to their spot eventually.”

- Ryan Higgins, freshman forward ing around,” Hogan said.

But before departing the hotel, the Bobcats hold a team meeting and film session in the conference room. The normal software doesn’t work, which happens often. Luckily, the game was streamed on ESPN+, and Ohio made do. Hogan needed his team to see how bad it struggled early in Friday’s game.

After film study is checkout, the team piles onto the bus, with not much time to relax until after the game at 10:30 p.m.

A team meal is first up on Saturday’s itinerary. It’s Vinny’s again. This one comes with a little more food — and fun.

Forks and knifes start banging on the table, and the players look down. They’re checking their shoes. It’s a game called “shoecheck.” Someone crawls under the table with a spoonful of salad dressing. If they get caught putting dressing on someone’s shoe, they have to sing. But if they don’t get caught, whomever gets the dressing on their shoe has to sing. Jake Houston is the victim this time. He has to sing a capella in front of the team.

A few minutes later, more banging. Bryan

Ohio players join Liberty players in a post-game prayer in LaHaye Ice Center on Nov. 10.

(TREVOR COLGAN / SLOT EDITOR)

Lubin, a senior forward, is the victim. Houston and Lubin now plan a duet, a rousing performance of “Breaking Free” from High School Musical, complete with Houston flapping his arms like a bird along to the “soaring, flying” lyric.

After another pasta lunch from Vinny’s, the team heads to their planned event to kill time: The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Most of the time, the team doesn’t have anything planned.

Since Ohio has such a small budget program, other than food and one night in a hotel, it’s not often the team can have planned activities. The tour is a welcome change of pace. But members of the Blue Line Booster Club, one of the biggest sources of funding for Ohio, got tickets for the team to check out the memorial.

“Ohio hockey would not survive without donations from our alumni and the Blue Line Club,” Hogan said. “It’s just that simple.”

The team takes a guided tour through the monuments. It’s cold, but the team enjoys learning about the history. It’s always a change from the typical Saturday afternoon activity, which is usually nothing.

“It just made me appreciate everyone who is involved in war,” Rudin said. “Just protecting us so we can live a peaceful life.”

It also inspired the team. Greg Forquer, a booster, gathers the team after the tour is over and asks them who they are playing for.

Each other, they answered.

“Coming from him, it really pushed us,” Rudin said.

Even though the team had plans for some of the day Saturday, it still had time to spare and stopped at the old and reliable Walmart.

They wandered the aisles, searching for snacks to eat after the game.

After killing 40 minutes in Walmart, it’s

time to head back to LaHaye. It’s 5 p.m., two hours until puck drop. Those two hours are killed by streaming college football, kicking around a soccer ball and finally, warm-ups.

The team begins by stretching in the arena’s concourse, and 30 minutes before the game, is on ice to get skating, shooting and goalie warm ups.

Saturday’s game is unlike Friday’s as the Bobcats lose in overtime, 3-2. The locker room mood is a lot more subdued after they gave up a lead going into the third period, and their power play unit went 0-5.

“A lot longer ride when we lose,” Hogan said.

As the players lug their gear to the bus, a welcome treat has been provided by the parents and boosters. Jimmy John’s subs await the team instead of pizza. The bus pulls out of LaHaye and begins the long return trip to Athens.

As the bus pulls away, Higgins finds his way to the front for another movie; this time it’s Old School. And again, it’s something he doesn’t mind. He knows it’s a part of his duties as a freshman.

“You just got to look up to everybody,” he said. “You know you’re going to have to go get sticks, you know you’re going to have to do all that stuff you don’t want to do, but you know you’ll get to their spot eventually.”

After Old School and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the trip remains silent as the team stretches out to sleep.

The bus rolls down Richland Avenue past Peden Stadium and The Convo. It’s almost to its final destination at 4 a.m.

“Shortest trip of the year,” Hogan laughs, looking back at his tired team.

@TREVOR_COLGAN TC648714@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender ACRN Battle of the Bands to focus on local artists HANNAH BURKHART FOR THE POST Athens radio station ACRN is hosting Battle of the Bands this weekend for the first time this weekend, with the intent to focus on local artists.

The show will feature seven local bands, and the crowd members will vote on the winner with tickets they will be given at the door. At the end of the night, tickets in each band’s jar will be counted, and the band with the most tickets will win $150 and an ACRN in-studio performance. An audience member will also win a Thanksgiving-themed prize through a raffle.

“When people come together and make bands, it just makes me really happy because I don’t have the guts to be in a band,” said Diana Buchert, a senior studying music production and recording industry.

Buchert has been a part of ACRN since her freshman year and is now the station’s head of promotions.

“We wanted to do something that was unique and showcased the talent in the area,” she said. “That could draw in more people at once than grilled cheese stands every month.”

Sneakthief is one of the final bands of the evening to perform, beginning at 11:45 p.m. The group classifies itself as an acoustic punk rock band. Daniel Palmer is the lead singer and guitarist, Nolan Quigley is the bassist and guitarist, and Joe Fradette is the drummer. Palmer and Quigley are seniors at Ohio University, while Fradette is a junior.

The band started with Quigley and Palmer as the original members for a few months, and Fradette joined later on as the drummer. Fradette also plays keyboard on occasion, and he hopes to play it during one of the songs at the performance Friday. Sneakthief plans to play its four biggest hits during Friday’s set: “Choke Me Out,” “Graduation,” “Fallacy” and “Sistine Chapel.”

“The Union will be our first real stage, 22 / NOV. 15, 2018

The Union on Oct. 18, 2018. (BLAKE NISSEN / PHOTO EDITOR)

like, 4-foot elevated stage show,” Palmer said. “I’m excited for that.”

Sneakthief’s two favorite performances so far were at Casa Nueva and a house party during Halloween weekend.

“Casa Nueva was really cool, because normally when I play drums in crammed basements where the sound echoes off the walls, I’ll have to play with chopsticks instead of drumsticks, but I actually used drumsticks there,” Fradette said.

The Infinite Improbability Drive will be the first band to perform, beginning at 9:15 p.m. The band consists of drummer Jonathan Sisler, singer and guitarist Julian Runyon, guitarist Max Pelletier, guitarist Jesse Steward and bassist Emersynn McGuire.

Sisler, Runyon and Pelletier are juniors at

OU, McGuire is a sophomore and Steward is a recent graduate. The band classifies itself as progressive rock and will include a touch of psychedelic rock.

The name The Infinite Improbability Drive comes from the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The band started as a joke, but they ended up forming a legitimate band specifically for Battle of the Bands.

“The joke became reality, and here we are,” Sisler said.

The band has only been together for three weeks.

“We applied for Battle of the Bands before we had a band,” Steward said.

Runyon and Steward recorded an EP together and later recruited the other three members. All members had their

own solo musical endeavors prior to joining the band.

“We’re excited because The Union has a really good sound system, and I’m the drummer and I’ll actually be able to play with my giant drum set,” said Sisler.

The three songs The Infinite Improbability Drive plans to perform on Friday night are “CPU,” “Into Eternity” and “You Know Me,” with narration in between that ties the songs together.

“I’m excited because I’ve played at every place in Athens personally except for The Union,” McGuire said.

@HANNAHNOELBURK HB239417@OHIO.EDU

WHAT’S GOING ON? MORRIS WEIN FOR THE POST

FRIDAY The Picardy Thirds Showcase at 7:30

p.m. in Baker Center Theater. The Picardy Thirds host its annual showcase; singing everything it has worked on all semester. Admission: $3 ‘80s Night with DJ Barticus at 10 p.m. at Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St. “Oh, yes, it’s ‘80s Night. And the feeling’s right. Oh, yes, it’s ‘80s Night. Oh, what a night!” Come to Casa for the famed 80s night, brought to you

by DJ Barticus. Admission: $3

SATURDAY The Larger Sound at 7 p.m. at Little

Fish Brewing Co., 8675 Armitage Road. The Lager Sounds returns to Little Fish. With music influenced by bands like Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Sufjan Stevens and The Lumineers, it won’t rock your socks off, but rather gently rock you into a nice relaxed mood while you enjoy Little Fish’s brews and atmosphere. Admission: Free EDDA at 8 p.m. at Athens Uncorked,

14 Station St. Come see EDDA play some groovy, chill music with sounds from the saxophone and flute. The Facebook event speaks for itself, preparing potential attendees to, “expand your consciousness as you float on pulsing down-tempo, chill-out, dub and deep house beats, mixed with jazz, and bossa nova, layered with live saxophone and flute lines.”

Admission: Free

‘The Last Call’: The Union Documentary Premiere at 9 p.m. at, you

guessed it, The Union. Come watch the premiere of the documentary The Last Call, a feature-length documentary focused on the Athens local music scene and the 2014 Union Street fire. Admission: $6

SUNDAY Anna Stine: Homecoming Tour at 6 p.m. at Casa Nueva. Anna Stine returns to Athens on her Homecoming Tour in celebration of the release of her debut album, Company of Now. Come on down to support the local musician and Ohio University alumna turned professional musician. Her energetic bluegrass vibes will go great with some Mexican food served up Casa-style. Admission: Free

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MOVIE TIMES The Athena Cinema movie times

Beautiful Boy (rated R): Friday, 5:15, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; Saturday, 2:55, 5:15, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; Sunday, 2:55, 5:15, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.

Free Solo (rated PG-13): Friday, 5:10 p.m.; Saturday, 5:10 p.m.; Sunday, 5:10 p.m.

Mid90s (unrated): Friday, 9:40 p.m.; Saturday, 9:40 p.m.; Sunday, 9:40 p.m.

CATCH

M

GA G I B E TH

!

US H T I EW

Suspiria (rated R): Friday, 7:10 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 7:10 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 and 7:10 p.m.

Wildlife (rated PG-13): Friday, 5:20, 7:35 and 10 p.m.; Saturday, 2:50, 5:20, 7:35 and 10 p.m.; Sunday, 2:50, 5:20, 7:35 and 10 p.m.

@MORRIS_WEIN MW774315@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

Virtual healing

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

The MAC’s rising star

DEFENDER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

OF THE TURF

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Claire Buckey claims her territory on Pruitt Field despite recurring health problems P12

Free speech policy causes concerns P11 Cover: Medical field utilizes VR P12 Embracing local agriculture P20

ANOTHER REMEDY

President

Duane Nellis

+

Breaking down OU’s budget P12

MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE CHOOSING TO TREAT MEDICAL CONDITIONS WITH ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE INSTEAD OF DOCTORS VISITS PAGES 20-21

After a nearly yearlong nationwide search, Duane Nellis took office as Ohio University’s 21st president on June 12.

Now, Nellis reflects on his past and shares hopes for the future.

Safety Javon Hagan’s new role P16 Exploring the world of animation P20

Comparing expression policies P9

A sit-down with the president P12

Nellis in college P10

Sustainable volunteering P20

Hockey’s second-year starter P14

Effects of marijuana depenalization 9

OU Southern’s equine program 12

Volleyball setter’s move from Italy 18

Nellis’ previous employment P20

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

GRASS-ROOTS

ELECTIONS

L I F E S T Y L E Mamerto Tindongan finds life more valuable with less P20

DECK CAN GO HERE FOR A HALLOWEEN-RELATED STORY YAY BOO MWAHAHAHAHAH

Evaluating Trump’s presidency P8 TACO exceeds majority vote P15

PAGES 16-21

[

DECISIONS FOR ATHENS Hispanic students balance college P20

Pumpkin’s rise to Athens celebrity P12 Setting up haunted houses P16

Looking for an enriching college experience centered around teamwork and creativity?

Quilt empowers sexual assault survivors P19

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Foundation of The Post hasThe been serving Ohio University OHIO HOCKEY and the Athens area for more than 100 years, and we’re always hiring.

Baker 70: one year later

How Bill Gurnick put the Bobcats on the map P20

P12

+

Faculty diversity rises slowly P8 Photo story: MLK March P12

w

Closing the gender gap in STEM 11

COVER: Ohio’s next big investment 12

NEWS SPORTS CULTURE OPINION BLOGS MULTIMEDIA VISUALS PROJECTS Basketball’s star center P18

Dave Jamerson’s journey to God 20

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Healing the scars

P 11

+

T H W B H E Post-grad possibilities P10

CONTACT EDITOR@THEPOSTATHENS.COM

E Y I L L E A R D

A love for cult classics P20

Sibs Weekend events P22

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Pipe bursts in residence hall P8

It’s Women’s History Month. ‘The Post’ compiled a collection of stories to celebrate women in Athens and Ohio University.

Cultural problems with ‘Friends’ P19

Hockey works on power plays P21 Businesses in action P10

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

UNEARTHING A SECRET

She walks

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

by faith P12

The story behind a patch of farmland, a man and his reputation P12

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018

FOOD ISSUE

UNCERTAIN FREEDOMS P14

ATHENS CULTIVATES RESTAURANTS AND DISHES THAT STUDENTS AND LOCALS HAVE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE. THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE FAMILIAR FLAVORS.

The turnover rate of businesses P9

One team, one video game P19

Caligraphy in the digital age P20

Brunch life in Athens P6 Carriage Hill one year later P9

Donkey’s most regular regular P19

From junior college to Ohio P20

Athletes’ diets in season P17

Cover story: family kitchens P18 Updates on Union explosion P9

Land of opportunity P12

A dazzling history P20

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018

Fridging in comic book culture P18

REFLECTING ON THE YEAR Take a look at the different faces, places and events that highlighted the 2017-18 academic year through the lens of ‘Post’ photographers