Why the fest season dates changed… pg 2
What are the most popular majors at OU... pg 7
Why is the Internet obsessed with aging… pg 22
The Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities presents: “Special Edition, A Year in Photos” to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Fest Season is long anticipated by partygoers, but a recent announcement indicated that the dates have changed for some of the big weekends.
Congo Fest, High Fest, Palmer Place Fest and Palmer Fest have all been moved up a week, according to a post shared on Instagram by BrickLife Entertainment. The fests will take place on April 12, 13, 19 and 20, respectively.
The post, which received 1,532 likes, stated the shift in date was because of a scheduling conflict with the City of Athens. However, The Athens Police Department’s Instagram account commented on the post, explaining that the city nor the police department had any involvement in setting fest dates.
“We don't have any say, we don't want any say in it and we're not going to either,” Athens Police Chief Nick Magruder said.
Magruder said the post alluded to the opposite of what he said happened, which is that allegedly BrickLife Entertainment approached the City of Athens about changing dates.
“We want to make sure that we at least said something like, ‘Hey, don't get mad at us,’” Magruder said. “We don't have (any ability) to say ‘No’ because we don't sanction them at all.”
He said BrickLife has not been in touch with the APD since the Instagram post was shared.
The contradicting information about who or what changed the dates has left some students confused.
Kaelyn Walther, a senior studying journalism, said when she found out about the fests’ date changes, she was disappointed because it meant she couldn’t go to all of them now.
“As a senior who has looked forward to being able to make it to all fests, to not be able to make it to everything but also not able to make it to my own fest (Congo Fest) was frustrating,” she said.
Walther said she viewed BrickLife as a
“for the people” company, and although it does plan good shows and events, she said, it seems to be ignoring students’ comments.
She, along with others who commented on the post, expressed their annoyance with changing High Fest’s date from April 20 to April 13. For many seniors, who missed out on the first two years of a traditional college experience because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important to have a good fest season, she said.
“To have that kind of ironic date on an ironic fest would have been the cap to a great senior year (and) kind of to make up for (the pandemic),” Walther said
BrickLife responded to one user’s comment about wanting High Fest on April 20 and said it would be willing to protest in front of city hall.
Anne Mathew, a junior studying neuroscience and a senior resident adviser in Sargent Hall, said that there is an increased responsibility for RAs during fest season.
Mathew shared that students often act out in ways that usually require some sort of RA action.
“We have a lot of students walking back really drunk to the point where they can't really get back to their room, or they get back drunk to the room but they can't get their key or they lost their key. Sometimes they'll just pass out in the hallway, outside their door,” Mathew said.
However, RAs do not know what happens to students who receive disciplinary action, Mathew said.
“(We) actually don't get much information on our side,” Mathew said. “What we can tell the students is that we'll write it up and we'll send it to the conduct process, and then they'll review it.”
As fest season nears sooner than expected, participants prepare for the hectic party weekends. However, Walther reminds festgoers that students are ultimately the people behind what makes fest season fun.
“I do think that there should be some kind of reasoning (why the dates were changed) distributed to the people, especially the students that are taking part in it,” Walther said.
“Quite honestly, if the people want High Fest to be on 4/20, we can make High Fest on 4/20. We can do that ourselves. (BrickLife) is just kind of putting this on and it's really up to us to do, and if we really want to do it.”
_JACKSON_MCCOY_ JM049122@OHIO.EDU
The United Academics of Ohio University, or UAOU, organized a “Day of Action” on College Green advocating for improved job security and academic freedom among faculty. Over 150 faculty members and students attended the rally dressed in red attire to show solidarity. UAOU aims to address issues such as inadequate pay and deteriorating working conditions.
The push for unionization stemmed from faculty layoffs in 2020, associate professor of English Joe McLaughlin said, prompting discussions on fair compensation and shared governance. Faculty discussed salary disparities compared to other Ohio universities and advocated for participation in university decision-making. Student speaker Hannah Louck stressed the positive impact of unionization on academic morale. The rally ended in a march into Cutler Hall to deliver a letter to the President. The university said it would respond by March 8.
See cover photo on pg. 1
Ohio judge dismissed appeal, moves forward with fracking on public lands, state parksMAGGIE AMACHER FOR THE POST
An Ohio judge dismissed environmental groups’ appeal for an emergency stay to delay the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission’s decision to award bids to frack under Ohio’s state parks and public lands.
Now, fracking is allowed under 1,004 parcels of publicly owned land, including Salt Fork State Park, Valley Run Wildlife Area and Zepernick Wildlife Area, said Melinda Zemper, a steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks.
Franklin County Ohio Clerk of Courts of the Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page ruled in favor of the commission and said Save Ohio Parks lacked the statutory authority to challenge the commission’s decisions and the standing to take legal action, Zemper said.
The now-dismissed lawsuit said the process for the decision included an alleged failure to follow the Ohio Revised Code, specifically section ORC 155.33, which outlines eight criteria the commission must follow, and it must allow citizens the opportunity to speak out or have a hearing.
Earthjustice filed the appeal and emergency stay on behalf of Save Ohio Parks, Ohio Environmental Council, Buckeye Environmental Network and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Zemper said.
According to a previous Post report, fracking is the process of fracturing underground bedrock and injecting high-pressure fluid into the rock formations. The high-pressure fluid creates cracks in the bedrock formations for natural gas, oil and brine to flow through.
Fracking is planned in 14 designated areas of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or ODNR, and Ohio De-
partment of Transportation, including Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s largest state park at 20,000 acres, with nine well pads within 395 feet of the park’s border, Zemper said.
The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission selected the highest and best bids to lease mineral rights under select ODNR properties, according to a press release from ODNR.
In each bidder’s lease agreement, the state receives a 12.5% payment, as required by state law, according to the release. Winning bidders also pay additional money to the state as an incentive. The total lease bonuses for ODNR properties gain $59.7 million and extra financial incentives and forms of payment.
Loraine McCosker, a steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks, said Earthjustice initially filed a lawsuit against House Bill 507 in April 2023, challenging its constitutionality due to the multiple amendments added without public input. The lawsuit is ongoing.
House Bill 507 was created in December 2021 to revise the number of poultry chicks sold in lots from six to three. A year later, an amendment was added to the bill to mandate state agencies to allow fracking on Ohio public lands.
Judy Smucker, a steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks, talked about the urgency of stopping fossil fuels to protect the environment and future generations, as it can lead to cancer and birth defects.
According to the National Center for Health Research, or NCHR, fracking involves the use of over 100 chemicals that can disrupt hormones, called endocrine-disrupting chemicals, found in water near fracking sites. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, increased risks of infertility, diabetes, and breast, testicular and vaginal cancer.
According to NCHR, living close to fracking sites could affect unborn children as well. A study in Colorado showed that children born to mothers living near fracking sites faced about a 30% higher risk of developing congenital heart defects.
“These are public lands, they’re not industrial lands,” McCosker said. “These lands were set aside for human recreation and protection of those lands to keep them not preserved but conserved.”
Anne Sparks, a member of the steering committee of Save Ohio Parks, noted the poor regulatory oversight throughout the entire process, stressing the potential hazards and spillover effects beyond the park’s borders.
Sparks pointed out the potential harm resulting from wastewater leaks from holding pods or transport trucks. The water is stored in injection wells, some of which have been discovered to leak in Athens County.
“The whole environment is basically affected,” Sparks said. “There’s no way to say that the impact will not extend beyond the borders of the park.”
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, fracking releases large amounts of methane. Fracked shale gas wells could exhibit methane leakage rates reaching up to 7.9%, making it more harmful to the climate than coal.
“We have to stop fossil fuels,” Smucker said. “Everything you read is that this is what is destroying our environment. We are approaching tipping points … we have to not just reduce emissions, we have to stop the emissions.”
@MAGGIE.AMACHER
MA657122@OHIO.EDU
SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST
Athens County Sheriff’s Office took a walk-in report of a scam from someone pretending to be the police.
The impersonator told the complainant that someone was claiming to be the police and needed to give them money or he would be arrested.
The sound of gunshots on Truetown Road was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies patrolled the area and did not come into contact with anyone with a firearm.
Ohio University Police Department reported an intoxicated person at Tiffin Hall.
The student was charged with underage consumption and possession of a fake ID card.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of suspicious activity at the intersection of McDougal Road and Mill Creek Road.
Deputies determined there was no criminal activity after speaking with people who were partaking in a scavenger hunt.
Athen’s County Deputies observed a suspicious vehicle on Clover Lane while on patrol.
The vehicle was unoccupied and had a
note that said the vehicle had broken down.
Deputies resumed patrol.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on state Route 682.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke to the property owner but were unable to locate anyone who had called.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol requested assistance from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office for an OVI crash in York Township.
Deputies responded to an intoxicated driver and a vehicle on fire.
No further action was taken by deputies.
The Ohio University Police Department received a report of an assault at Bromley Hall.
The report was unfounded.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of loud music and trespassing in Athens Township.
Deputies patrolled the area but did not observe any trespassers or excessive noise.
Athens County Deputies investigated a report of a 911 hang-up call on Oakdale Road.
Deputies found no emergency and the call was a result of children playing with a deactivated phone.
A man reported an unauthorized use of a
motor vehicle to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The man said his daughter used the vehicle days prior and had not returned with it. As of Thursday, the investigation is still under review.
The Hocking College Police Department requested the Athens County Sheriff’s Office to patrol Lake Snowden due to an activated alarm.
Deputies patrolled the area and found all buildings to be locked. No further action was needed.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a verbal dispute on First Street.
The parties were disputing over personal property and were advised to separate by deputies.
After the parties agreed to separate, officers returned to patrol.
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a resident in The Plains hearing noises.
Deputies checked the crawl space of the home but did not find anything
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a commercial burglary alarm in Albany.
Deputies found the activation to be accidental after they spoke to someone with a key. No further action was required.
Hey, I’m walking here (insert Italian accent)
Athens County Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person.
Units identified the male matching the description given by the caller, who said he was walking to a family member’s home in the area. No further action was needed
Butt-dial
Athens County Deputies investigated a 911 hang-up call on Radford Road.
The caller was contacted and deputies discovered the call to be a misdial. Deputies resumed patrol.
Are you for real?
A threatening incident was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office on state Route 144.
Deputies attempted contact with the caller but she had left her residence before they arrived.
Deputies resumed patrol.
Relatable
Athens County Deputies responded to a mental health complaint on Main Street in Coolville.
Deputies determined the individual needed to see a mental health professional and transported them to the hospital for evaluation.
Licenses aren’t for everyone
A wrong-way driver on U.S. 50 was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies patrolled the area and were unable to locate the driver.
The Athens Armory, located at 2 W. Carpenter St., a historic building part of the City of Athens since 1997, will have a new look around this time next year as the city is working toward redeveloping the building into a community and business center for residents.
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson said that once the $4.9 million project is completed, it could host a variety of events, including small conferences, wedding receptions, musicals and other performing arts productions, depending on the needs and requests of Athens residents. There will also be a space dedicated to remote work.
City Council President Sam Crowl said a local organization called BlueDot Networking will manage the office spaces, which are to be flexibly designed. The space will have movable kiosks, cubicles and conference tables. However, a part of the second floor will be dedicated to the Athens County Foundation.
“It’ll have a little stage and infrastructure to encourage that kind of community,” Crowl said. “Those are the most exciting pieces, I think, about bringing the armory back and having the public in there utilizing it, and the plans are beautiful, so I’m really hopeful.”
Patterson said there are not many city-owned spaces that have a capacity large enough for some events, which influences people to utilize Baker Center. But with the addition to the armory, he said, it can be another larger option for residents.
Crowl said a big piece of funding for the project came from state-level money in the capital budget of $600,000. The city also acquired additional support funds from the city’s ARPA fund for $500,000, the city’s General Revenue Fund for $400,000 and the Appalachian Community Grant Program for $2 million.
Patterson said a Community Development Block Grant covered costs of nonconstruction, which includes a lot of the furnishings of the building.
Further indoor renovations include adding a veterans’ hall of honor in the foyer, which will recognize service members who were stationed in the armory, Patterson said. He added that there will likely be revolving displays honoring the regiments, done with the help of an Ohio National Guard historian in Columbus.
Patterson said the city had some difficulty finding a contractor willing to construct the renovations within the city’s
budget. He said a lot of contractor’s proposals were $800,000 more than the engineers estimated costs; however, since then, they found areas to trim some additional costs down. At this point, he said they are going to start construction as the changes shouldn’t push back the completion date.
Crowl said the facility will also be solar-powered, the money coming from the Athens carbon fee, SOPEC. The solar power will cost around $130,000 of the fund’s estimated $160,000 pool.
“Anytime we have the opportunity like this one to use (the fund), it’s definitely a good thing,” he said.
Patterson said the roof of the armory will also need to be replaced to ensure the solar apparatus is secure. He said there is another community improvement fund that can be
applied for the roof replacement.
Bringing together young, student veterans and older, local veterans is a favorable prospect to Seth Rogers, Student Senate’s director of veteran affairs. Rogers said he hopes the project can create a welcoming common space for new and old veterans to utilize and feel appreciated.
“Seeing that this is something from the city, I think would be nice for them that it’s not just OU putting it on for them, the city cares as well,” Rogers said. “This is a welcoming community to be in.”
Standing in a huddle, each member of New Chords on the Block put their hands together. Within seconds, all the members jump and raise their voices, chanting, “Chords, Chords, Chords.” Energy lights up the room, and New Chords is ready to commence its final rehearsal before the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, or ICCA.
New Chords on the Block was formed in 2010 as the first mixed a cappella group at Ohio University. The name originated as a reference to the boy band, “New Kids on the Block,” and because it was the newest a cappella group on campus at the time. Of the 17 members, 16 competed Saturday in the ICCA, taking fourth place overall.
Feelings going into the competition were tense, but club president Larissa Strong, a senior studying political science and sociology-criminology, was confident in the group’s abilities to shine.
“I think we’re in a really, really great spot,” Strong said. “All of our new members are incredibly talented. I’m so proud of how far they’ve come just from not being in the group at all to being very highly valued members.”
Strong joined New Chords in 2020 and has found a family within the group since then. The chemistry among the group is clear in its performances, practicing for months to perfect its routine. For a competition performance to come together, it typically takes the group around four months to learn the song and choreograph.
“I really feel like everyone in New Chords really likes each other and everyone enjoys spending time together,” Strong said. “So even though we’ve been really busy prepping for competition, I know that we all spend a lot of time together outside of those pre-planned rehearsals.”
Preston Nichols, a freshman studying choral music education, beatboxes for New Chords. Although this is his first year with the group, he is excited to be a part of the action and continue his passion for a cappella.
We’re like best friends ... and it makes me so happy. Just coming into a rehearsal and knowing there are people that actually care about you.”
Logan Long, New Chords member at large
Nichols recalled a memory at the University of Cincinnati during his first solo, when a fellow Chords member gave him some words of encouragement before getting on stage for the first time.
“(When) we’re set to go, we’re hyping each other up,” Nichols said. “Sese actually told me to get into the mind of Beyoncé — ‘I am Beyoncé.’”
Logan Long, a sophomore studying psychology, is the member at large for New Chords. She began her singing journey in the second grade and has been with the group for two years helping choreograph. Long sees New Chords as an extension of her family and a close-knit group of friends.
“Even though all of us aren’t within the same majors — we don’t have that many classes together — we come together,” she said. “We’re like best friends. We have multiple inside jokes from years past … And it makes me so happy. Just coming into a rehearsal and knowing there are people that actually care about you.”
Members of New Chords are accepted through auditions in the fall and practice two-to-three times a week depending on the events on its schedule. Countless hours go into its routines, but for New Chords, rehearsals are anything but work.
Despite graduation growing near, feelings and memories with New Chords will remain key moments during Strong’s time at OU.
“I will be stepping down and graduating, but I’m really excited to see what they’re going to continue to work on,” Strong said. “I know whoever steps into leadership after me and after my current exec board is going to be just perfect for the job because I can think of every single member of New Chords right now, and I know they would all leave New Chords with just so much skill.”
Although the season is over for New Chords, the future holds more memories and the potential to return to the ICCAs again next year, this time seeking victory beyond the quarterfinals.
“I am so excited to see what new members we bring in next year,” Long said. “This year, we brought in so many new members that are beyond talented. The vocals, how we sound, is just amazing this year, and I just can’t wait to see what else we do for the end of the year.”
Ohio University’s 250+ programs across nine colleges provide a diverse palette of subjects to explore during undergraduate education. When making a college decision, many students tend to account for the quality of their prospective program of study.
Gabrielle Dozer, a junior studying nursing, mentioned the program’s faculty was a drawing factor.
“The professors really stuck out to me,” Dozer said. “It’s hard because you’re in a big class with sometimes over 100 people depending on the class, but (the faculty is) still really good about being intentional.”
OU’s nursing program is the most popular major for undergraduates, with 31% of 2022 graduates earning a degree in registered nursing, according to U.S. News. The program is currently ranked as the #1 nursing school in Ohio by Niche.
Dozer is also serving in the military and mentioned the nursing faculty was supportive in helping her stay on track with courses.
“I had to take a break for a year with nursing, but a lot of (faculty) worked very well with me when I was leaving, coming back and transitioning,” Dozer said. “They’ve all been really respectful and willing to work with me, which was something I very much appreciated.”
Along with being open to accommodations, Dozer also mentioned that the handson experiences the nursing program offers were a drawing factor for her.
“My clinical instructors have been phenomenal,” Dozer said. “In explaining whatever I have to do, whether it’s putting in catheters or IVs, they’re really good with words and helping me calm down.”
Dozer is not the only student drawn to OU because of experiential learning opportunities.
Jaidyn Hughes, a freshman studying biological sciences and Spanish, decided to go to OU because of the conservation and wildlife opportunities available.
“All of my general education courses are still in line with what I want to do with my career,” said Hughes. “I never feel like I’m wasting time with any of my classes here. I’ll get so much hands-on experience, especially starting next year. I think I’ll be honestly, overqualified.”
Aside from students undecided in their majors, biological sciences was the most
ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR
populated admitted field of study during the 2022 Fall Semester with 348 students enrolling, according to OU’s website.
Hughes mentioned that the biological sciences program was not the only drawing factor to OU for her and she fell in love with the campus location as well.
“My grandma has been telling me since I’ve been 5 years old that when I go to college, I need to be at least two hours away from home because that’s how you grow as a person,” Hughes said.
Another popular major at OU, journalism, also attracts students because of experiential learning opportunities outside of coursework.
“I really like public speaking so I came onto the news and information track to get more experience with WOUB and Newswatch,” said Paige Mountain, a freshman studying journalism. “(OU’s) journalism program is so good, so I just kind of figured it’s a good way to start a career.”
Journalism was the fifth-most enrolled major for the 2022 Fall Semester first-year class, with 140 students. OU’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism was ranked #4 in College Magazine’s best schools for aspiring editors in 2023.
Aside from the strong programs offered at OU, Mountain also mentions the campus itself being a drawing factor when touring the school.
“Coming here, I just kind of felt like this is where I’m meant to (be),” Mountain said.
In addition to being attracted to the college initially for their field of studies, students share a feeling of belonging and satisfaction with their college decision.
“It’s such a gorgeous campus, my dad calls it a ‘Jaidyn-campus,’” Hughes said. “It’s just such a beautiful place. I love it.”
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Ohio University is a rigorous organization composed of typical college students with atypical college lives; schedules are filled with intense training, extracurriculars, military science and aerospace classes.
Cadets in the ROTC must manage school and physical training while also learning leadership and management skills.
OU offers both Army and Air Force ROTC programs, the latter of which has been recognized as the Best Small Detachment in the Region twice in the past five years.
Students can join the ROTC for various reasons as it offers many different benefits and career path opportunities.
Brandon Larimore, a sophomore studying biology, is in the Army ROTC and said he, like many others, joined the ROTC because he had always seen the military as a path, but also wanted to earn a college degree right out of high school.
“I applied for the Army ROTC scholarship in high school,” Larimore said. “Military was always something I saw in my life, but I also wanted to go to college first. That is one benefit of the ROTC. With the ROTC scholarship, I get tuition covered.”
For cadets in the ROTC, the day begins before the sun comes up. During the spring semester, the Army ROTC has morning training at 6 a.m. three times a week and five times a week in the fall.
Bryce Olive, a sophomore studying business, is in the Army ROTC and said his Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings start around 5:15 a.m.
“We typically wake up at 5:15 to get there by 6 and it goes to 7,” Olive said.
The Air Force ROTC, or AFROTC, has physical training twice a week on Mondays and Fridays and includes a combination of high-intensity interval training and running. Occasionally, the AFROTC performs the Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment which is a 1.5-mile run, one minute of max pushups and one minute of max situps.
In addition to morning physical training, many cadets participate in extracurricular programs that require additional workouts. Olive said on days when he has training for an extracurricular, he’s up even earlier.
“If we are on special teams … we wake up at 4:45, go run and get our PT (physical training) out of the way and then go to class,” Olive said.
Olive and Larimore are a part of the Army 10 Miler, in which cadets train for the 10-mile race that takes place in October in Washington D.C. every year. Larimore is also a part of the Bold Warrior special team.
“We will train in the summer and then when we come back we will start training every day leading up to October,” Olive said. “It’s great for teamwork, we usually run together.”
The Army ROTC has various extracurricular programs including the Bold Warrior special team, Red Leg, Color Guard, German Armed Forces Badge of Proficiency, 3 Gun Shoot and Xavier Best Ranger.
The AFROTC offers extracurricular activities as well such as survival training, Honor Guard and community service.
After physical training, cadets still have a day of major-specific classes ahead of them. Along with classes for their majors, Army ROTC cadets must attend a military science class and AFROTC cadets must attend air and space studies classes once a week. In addition to their course load, cadets also attend a leadership laboratory every Wednesday.
Leadership laboratory topics include U.S. flag protocols, tactical room clearing, small-unit field tactics, strategy development, open-water survival skills and group leadership challenges.
Olive and Larimore both agreed the work-life balance is difficult to maintain as an ROTC member.
“The ROTC is a lot more time-consuming than anyone really gives it credit for,” Larimore said. “A lot of people in the program are involved in multiple extracurriculars. If you’re beyond the level of a freshman, then you have a leadership position as long as you have people you are responsible for. You have to make sure they’re set up, they know what to do, they know where to go, and they do it well.”
“The work-life balance requires a little more, but it’s still great,” Olive said.
Maggie Guagenti, a freshman studying biology, said she
has observed the dedication ROTC students have.
“I don’t know a ton about the ROTC, but I do have a couple of friends that are a part of it,” Guagenti said. “I can see how much they’re dedicated to it and from what I can tell, they all really enjoy being a part of it.”
According to OU, 60-70% of OU’s Army ROTC go on to become active duty officers when they graduate, which is what Olive plans to do in the 1st Armored Division.
Larimore plans to join the National Guard, allowing him to complete his Ph.D. in biology and fulfill his service obligation.
Joining active duty and the National Guard are just two of many different paths available to postgraduate ROTC cadets. The training and academics of the ROTC aim to equip cadets with unmatched leadership and project management skills to support their future endeavors.
As Macklemore famously said, “One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up.” This is true for many Ohio University students as thrifting maintains a popular form of shopping.
There are many different thrifting and second-hand options in Athens for locals and students to enjoy. Many may not know about some of these locations or what they could potentially find when shopping there.
Isaac Morgan, a freshman studying nursing, recommends shopping at many different locations off OU’s campus, specifically Goodwill, Little Wing Curiosity Shoppe & Thrift Store and Athens Upcycle.
“Goodwill (is a good place to shop) because there’s more abundance and everyone knows about it, but the pricing is pretty expensive,” Morgan said. “But Athens Upcycle has like $3 shirts, and like $4 pants. It’s really nice. Then Little Wing nobody knows about it so it’s really nice.”
Little Wing is a thrift store in Athens tucked away behind the mall and IHOP and located at 1006 E. State St. Morgan said when he shops there, he typically has to park in front of the mall or IHOP and walk behind the building to access it. Another way to access the store is by walking through the mall.
Of all the off-campus thrifting locations, Morgan most highly recommends shopping at Goodwill because it is more mainstream and easier to locate directionally. Goodwill is located at 175 Columbus Road and is a long-standing nonprofit chain with a range of pre-owned clothing, furniture, housewares and more.
Not only is buying second-hand cheap, but it is also sustainable. According to Retail Dive, if every person bought one secondhand garment when shopping in place of a new one, it would lower CO2 emissions by
has over 5000 posters in stock. This second-hand store has two stories of items to shop through.
“(Uptown Costumes) has a lot of variety,” Coven said. “I go upstairs and then there’s a lot of cute sweaters and stuff for fall.”
Something else that draws Coven to shop at this location is the distance from campus. Uptown Costumes is located at 12 S. Court St., making it accessible to students who do not have a car.
Andrew Falkosky, a freshman studying theater performance and acting, recommends shopping at Athens Underground when just looking for a store to browse on Court Street.
“To be honest when I went there, I went with a couple of friends because we were just like, ‘Oh, let’s check this place out,’” Falkosky said. “I think the only thing I did get was a VCR because I think that kind of stuff is cool. It’s an aesthetic thing.”
Falkosky purchased the VCR player from Athens Underground as a gift for his dad. At home, his dad has a collection of old videotapes, so Falkosky thought the purchase would make for a thoughtful gift.
“If you’re on Court, give it a look,” Falkosky said. “You might find something cool and might make a profit on something.”
more than 2 billion pounds.
Caleb Hansman, a sophomore studying music education, also recommended going to Goodwill as someone who does not typically thrift for second-hand clothes.
“(Goodwill) is a pretty good option if you’re shopping on a budget and you just need an emergency dress shirt, your emergency concert pants or some slacks or something like that,” Hansman said.
Athens Goodwill is a great option for students who are looking for a last-minute concert or formal wear for reasonable costs.
It is one of the largest second-hand stores in Athens with clothing selections for men, women and kids. This thrift store also has furniture, books and games for those looking to shop for something other than clothing.
Livi Coven, a freshman studying psychology, sociology and women’s gender studies, recommends shopping at Uptown Costumes on Court Street.
Uptown Costumes sells a wide variety of costume accessories including wigs, makeup and hats. The store also sells and rents full costumes, offers vintage clothing and
Athens Underground is located at 90 N. Court St. and carries vintage clothing and antiques. It also carries a wide range of antiques and collectibles, with new merchandise arriving every week.
According to CBS News, thrifting has become increasingly popular, with the sale of used clothes expected to exceed $77 billion by 2025. It seems Bobcats are doing their part to make this statistic a reality.
With the regular season finished, Ohio (76, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) now shifts its focus toward the MAC Championship. With an outright win, it would be the Bobcats' first tournament win since 2001.
Ohio will head into the tournament with star power within the 157-pound and 165-pound weight classes. Both Peyten Kellar and Garrett Thompson hold the top seeds in their respective weight classes.
Kellar and Thompson look to be the first Bobcats to win an individual championship for the first time since 2017. Shakur Laney, who is now an assistant coach for the team, was the last Bobcat to win the MAC Championship when he won the 125-pound weight class.
All around, the Bobcats possess great wrestlers who could make a splash in the upcoming tournament. 174-pound wrestler Sal Perrine and 184-pound wrestler Zayne Lehman rank second and third in their divisions respectively.
Perrine may have a chip on his shoulder this time around. He looks to take home MAC gold for the first time in his career after
two heartbreaking seasons. The junior from Northfield had been just a few matches away from winning it all his past two seasons. He finished third in his class in 2022 and finished fourth in 2023.
Match Information:
Dates: Friday, March 8 at noon, Saturday,
March 9 at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Kent, Ohio
How to Watch: ESPN+
Storylines:
MAC Dominance
Since Ohio’s last tournament win in
2001, only three teams have won the MAC Championship. Central Michigan has won 11 straight Championships from 2002-2012. This was followed by a dominant nine-year reign from Missouri from 2013-2021 before leaving the MAC in 2021. Finally, Lock Haven won the past two championships. Lock Haven will look to three-peat and continue the long-standing tradition of decade-long reigns.
The Defending Champs
Lock Haven comes into the tournament as the team to beat. Despite not holding the best regular season record, the Bald Eagles have the wrestlers to repeat as champions. Lock Haven’s lower weight classes are the best in the MAC — it holds the top-ranked wrestlers from the 125-, 133- and 141-pound weight classes. Anthony Noto will be a wrestler to look out for, as he stands with very few due to his winning the past two championships in the 125-pound weight class spanning back to when he was a freshman. Gabe Stickland of the 133-pound weight class will also be a defending champion for Lock Haven.
ME989022@OHIO.EDU
Coming off one of the hottest starts in program history, Ohio has cooled off a bit following a 1-3 weekend at the Governors’ Classic in Clarksville, Tennessee. The three straight losses over the previous weekend demonstrate Ohio might still have room to grow, particularly offensively, as it went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position with a sacrifice fly.
Regardless, the beat rolls on and Ohio hits the road for its final tournament before home games and full series get underway.
Here’s everything to know about this weekend’s Beach Chicken Brawl:
Tournament Information:
Opponents: Boston University, Coastal Carolina, George Mason
Location: Conway, South Carolina
Dates and Times: Game 1: Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m., Game 2: Friday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m., Game 3: Saturday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m., Game 4: Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m., Game 5: Sunday, March 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Streaming is available for Game 2 as well as Game 4 on ESPN+
Live stats: Available on statbroadcast.com for all five games
Games 1 and 3 vs. Boston University:
2024 record: 13-1
Head coach: Ashley Walters, 9th season
Statistical leaders:
Batting average: Avery Lizzy (.514)
Hits: Kayla Roncin (24)
Runs: Lauren Keleher (17
Home runs: Keleher (4)
RBI: Keleher (4)
Strikeouts: Kasey Ricard (53)
ERA: Ricard (1.27)
Its season so far:
Boston has been one of the best mid-major teams in the country to start the season. The 13-1 start illustrates the dominance in the early part of the season as it has been averaging 7.43 runs per game. The well-rounded offense has been led by Avery Lizzy, whose .514 average is No. 10 nationally.
In the circle, Boston is led by Kasey Ricard and Allison Boaz, both of whom have an ERA below 2. As a team, Boston is No. 15 in the country with its 1.67 ERA.
Some of the awe-inspiring numbers behind the start for Boston do not come as a surprise as the reigning Patriot League Champion returns the majority of its roster from last season. In the Preseason Poll, Boston swept the five awards and received 12 out of the 14 first-place votes.
Games 2 and 4 at Coastal Carolina:
2024 record: 12-6
Head coach: Kelly Green, 15th season
Statistical leaders:
Batting average: Indya Smith (.356)
Hits: Delaney Keith (19)
Runs: Smith (12)
Home runs: Iyanla De Jesus (4)
RBI: De Jesus (15)
Strikeouts: Raelee Brabham (56)
Its season so far: Coastal Carolina has hosted three different weekend tournaments, with the Beach Chicken Brawl marking its fourth. Homefield advantage or not, the team has been very good this season. The 12-6 record does not display the fact that, with the exception of Liberty and Oakland, all of its losses have come against Power 5 opponents.
At the plate, Coastal Carolina has not stood out quite as much as Boston. However, that should not diminish any of the productivity from the team this season. Led by Keith and De Jesus, Coastal Carolina’s two representatives on the Preseason All-SBC Team, the offense has been able to scrap for enough runs in order to win. Coastal Carolina is 5-1 in games decided by two runs or fewer.
In the circle, Coastal Carolina has been ruled by the magic number five. In games that it allows less than 5 runs, Coastal Carolina is 12-2. In the circle, Raelee Brabham has impressed this season, emerging as the ace of the staff.
Game 5 vs. George Mason:
2024 record: 7-10
Head coach: Justin Walker, 4th season
Statistical leaders:
Batting average: Rachel Warrens (.370)
Hits: Warrens and Mariaina Bozek (20)
Runs: Warrens (12)
Home runs: Kamryn Inman, Sydney Bales, Maddy Myers and Logan Pickford (1)
RBI: Myers (12)
Strikeouts: Carly Cooper (30)
ERA: Kylie Wilkerson (2.18)
Its season so far:
Coming off an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, expectations were high for George Mason entering the season. To start the year, it has not lived up to them as it lost 4 straight to open the season. Despite failing to live up to lofty expectations, this is a very solid team.
Last season, Ohio coach Jenna Hall got her first win in her first game as Ohio defeated George Mason. This year, George Mason is led by a contact-first approach that has only seen it hit a total of 4 home runs on the season. Additionally, George Mason has struggled to push runs across the board as it averages only 3.67 runs per game. That being said, the tone-setter for George Mason is Warrens, who leads in multiple categories offensively.
Overall, George Mason does not stand out by any means on paper. However, it is a team that lives on opponents’ mistakes and capitalizes on errors and walks.
The path to becoming a musician is a difficult one to walk alone. For those looking to begin their musical careers in Athens, there are options when it comes to creating a supportive team. The town is home to many entertainment companies, record labels and artist promotion services that are designed to help burgeoning artists on their journey through the music industry, as well as to provide the college town with high-quality entertainment for parties and events.
One of the newest entertainment companies in Athens is Midnight Music. The company is co-founded by Nick Thompson, a senior studying media arts production, and Luke Calder, a senior studying music production and recording industry. Calder is also known by his stage name, Auburn Hill.
The company was founded in July of 2022 and grew in staff and following until its breakthrough performance.
“Our first Union show was in April of last year, which coincidentally coincided with the Music Industry Summit here and it was just crazy,” Thompson said. “The whole experience was just insane. That was the first show where we were all like, ‘Wow, this is really happening for us and this could be something to pursue continuously.’”
According to Calder, the purpose of Midnight Music is to foster a hip-hop community in Athens, which he believes was previously missing.
“I got the idea for Midnight Music because it was so difficult to get booked as an artist in Athens, and now we have this thing where artists can come and share their voice and their stories through music,” he said.
This year, Midnight Music is responsible
for six different events, including a recent album launch party thrown for Cano, a local artist and member of the organization. According to Thompson, the process of planning an event begins with setting a date and figuring out what has to happen to make that day go smoothly.
“A lot ends up happening the week of because you’re like, ‘OK, something didn’t work, how can we scrounge around and find a solution to the problem that we have in time for the event?’” Thompson said.
Calder described the process of putting on events as a “total group effort,” and this emphasis on collaboration extends outside of the individual company. Midnight Music is anticipating an upcoming partnership with Brick City Records, a student-run record label with similar motivations. Each year, the label signs four artists and releases their albums, with this year's lineup consisting of
Huey Slims, Top’d Off, The HouseGuest and Young King Noah.
“All of our artists pretty much already have a platform in Athens, but (our mission is) to just widen that scope and get them some more shows,” said Sophia Cardone, a senior studying music production and the Director of Marketing for Brick City Records.
In her position, Cardone is responsible for managing the marketing campaigns for each artist and their album releases.
The collaboration between Midnight Music and Brick City Records is intended to expand the reach of Athens artists to surrounding cities, something Cardone said she believes has never been done before at the label.
“Shout out to everyone at Midnight because they’re amazing and they’re getting into basically being a functioning label right now … they’re helping us put together the
Columbus show, financially and production-wise, and we’re going in on it half-andhalf to connect the Athens and Columbus scene,” said Devon Hartless, a senior studying music production and recording industry, and the Director of Production Operations at Brick City Records.
Hartless’ responsibilities are to oversee the production of the four albums, which involves hands-on col laboration with the different teams that handle the re cording, mixing and mas tering process of each album.
“I help each team navigate through that and act as quality con trol between artists and teams to make sure art ists are getting what they want,” he said.
Other leaders at Brick City Records are Myles Brooks, a se nior studying music production and recording industry, and Zach ary Knoblauch, a recently graduated Ohio University alum and the Assistant Director of Production. Brooks fulfills the remaining quality control needs as the Assistant Director of A&R (Artists & Repertoire), while Knoblauch acts as a support system for Hartless.
come is the place artists go before they become mainstream and … popular, and people will realize that and come to us and want to get on stage and rock shows out,” Calder said. “That’s what we’re here to do — put on live events, get the best out of our artists and create an awesome atmosphere for the people that come to see our shows.”
In addition to original performers, Midnight Music also hosts events featuring a rotating roster of DJs in order to highlight the EDM scene in Athens. According to Calder, DJ shows are made possible by staff members and friends of the company who are willing to hop into the booth.
One of the biggest entertainment companies in Athens, Brick Life, also puts heavy emphasis on its DJs. The company provides entertainment for many of the local bars, primarily Red Brick Tavern, 14 N. Court St., and Pawpurr’s Bar, 37 N. Court St.
tainment … I’ve been running a business since I was in sophomore year of high school,” Debeljak said. “So, given the fact that I literally run another business that’s exactly like what we’re doing here at Brick Life, they decided that I would be the best fit, especially with how passionate I am about stuff like this.”
The focal point of Brick Life is enhancing events, so the entertainment provided by the company primarily serves to further the interest of the event and its host, rather than that of the DJ or performer. However, the structure of Brick Life allows DJs to exercise their creativity in different ways.
“As DJs, we can find little creative ways to transition into different things,” Debeljak said. “It’s a fun, experimental and creative aspect for us, and then it’s also a way to keep our guests and clients energized, excited and guessing the whole night.”
“We picked up (The HouseGuest) right when they started developing their own brand,” Hartless said. “It’s just awesome to have the opportunity to see them blossom into the artists they want to be … On the flip side of that, we have Top’d Off who is ending their project because they’re all going separate ways after graduation, and that’s also a uniquely beautiful project to view.”
“We have an agreement that if one of us … emotionally or schedule-wise (is) going through difficulties, that person can take a step back and the other person can step forward,” Knoblauch said.
Brick City Records recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary and has represented some of the most iconic bands and performers to walk the streets of Athens. While the mission to support artists on their journeys has remained the same, Hartless believes this year has come with some changes to the organization.
“Over the years it has mainly been … a collaboration between artists and students where students have the ability to learn while we provide artists opportunities, but this year we’ve taken a bit of a pivot and I wouldn’t refer to us as a student label anymore,” he said. “I think we’re an independent label and we’re actively trying to get as many opportunities as possible for these artists to really make sure we set them up for proper careers.”
Setting artists up for their futures often means acting as a bridge on their path to achieving long-term goals, said Brooks.
“Our goal is definitely to elevate the artist and put them on the forefront of wherever they want to be,” Brooks said. “So we really try to listen to their goals and where they want to be, and then help them create a way for them to feasibly get there.”
Similarly, Midnight Music hopes to act as a way for artists to further their goals while providing a source of electric entertainment for Athens residents.
“What I envision (Midnight Music) to be-
“The whole point of having a DJ at your function is to amp up the crowd and keep the music going constantly … when you have DJs who can read the crowd and notice how they’re reacting to a certain song … it just keeps that party entertainment going,” said Vince Debeljak, a sophomore studying music production and recording industry and this year's head of Brick Life.
Brick Life has been around since 2017 and “serves to help OU retain that No. 1 party school spot,” according to Debeljak. For eight months a year, the company puts on four shows a day from Wednesday through Saturday. They also play a huge role in special events like Santa Fest, Halloween and
Meanwhile, Brick City Records centers its entire year around the artists signed to the label. This year, its list of signed artists is split down the middle when it comes to genre; Huey Slims and Young King Noah both fit within the rap/hip-hop genre, while The HouseGuest and Top’d Off represent the indie band scene of Athens. Although figuring out how to promote such differing styles of music has come with its challenges, Cardone believes the variety of sounds is a positive thing for the label.
“I think because we have those contrasting music types that it really does fit in with the style of Athens because … there are a lot of rap music fans here,” she said. “At the same time, there are so many people that love going to Casa or The Union and seeing those bands perform.”
Knoblauch is also satisfied with the artist distribution this year because even within the two overall genres, the four artists have so many differing traits to offer. For example, Huey Slims is described as a more chill, poetic rapper, whereas Young King Noah
All three of these companies hope to eventually expand their brands outside of Athens.
“There’s talk of taking what we’ve built and bringing it to L.A. because we know a lot of that local artist and performance need is very sought after, especially out there, and I feel like we could really succeed if we do the same thing we’ve been doing,” Thompson said about the future of Midnight Music.
For Brick City Records, expanding into Columbus alongside Midnight Music is a huge first step for the label and for the future of the artists they represent.
“It means a lot to spread out and to have a base that is larger than what Athens is,” Brooks said. “We’re trying to expand out of that and give these artists as big of a platform as we really can.”
Through the extensive OU alumni network and demand for high-quality entertainment in college towns, Debeljak hopes to bring Brick Life to other colleges across the state.
agement to client communication to weekly scheduling, a role Debeljak has spent years unknowingly preparing for.
“The whole reason I was elected was … because of my previous experience in enter-
“I think all of (our) artists are going to go
as far as they want to, but I really see the absolute highest of peaks for both Huey and Noah,” Brooks said.
Hartless also noticed a difference between the two bands that stems from the
“If we can get some guys and establish a Brick Life in Columbus … anything to get the name out there and help us become recognized as the Ohio College DJ Collective, that would be really cool,” he said.
Each member of these organizations finds motivation in different areas. For Knoblauch, it has been helping artists achieve their goals as well as fulfilling his creative needs and putting his ideas into production. Thompson finds rewarding moments in many different aspects of the company.
“Some people think we’re just doing this for fun, and part of that is true … we (also) take this very seriously because that gives us leverage in terms of industry positions,” he said. “We’ve already met so many fantastic connections through doing this, and if we didn’t do this we would not be in the position that we’re in now, so I just can’t thank people enough for being a part of it.”
As Mid-American Conference regular season basketball wraps up, the Bobcats’ 2023-24 regular season is becoming increasingly magical. After an uninspiring 1-3 start, Ohio has turned its season around, winning 10 of its last 12 MAC games to improve its conference record to 12-5.
From an outsider’s perspective, Jeff Boals’ case for MAC coach of the year may not be an obvious one, as Ohio will likely end up where it was picked to finish before the season in third. However, when you consider where Ohio was after the first seven games of Conference play, it becomes much easier to see why Boals deserves recognition.
After the injury of preseason MAC second-team player AJ Brown, Ohio was struggling to find its identity. Not only did the Bobcats win just one of four games to start MAC play, but they also went just 2-4 prior in December.
Since then, however, Ohio has gone to a more traditionally sized starting lineup with Aidan Hadaway starting at the power for-
ward position and Miles Brown providing the team with defense and experience in the starting lineup. As talented as Hadaway is, Ohio’s coaching staff deserves credit for the major development made by Hadaway after his addition to the starting lineup.
Hadaway isn’t the only member of Ohio’s frontcourt to make significant improvements, which prior to the season may have been considered a weakness. AJ Clayton has become not just a scoring option but a very underrated interior defender. Clayton’s perimeter capabilities offensively allow Ohio to play with great spacing and speed, and his defensive improvements mean Ohio is not as susceptible as other undersized teams to being outplayed by bigger, more physical teams on the defensive end.
While Jaylin Hunter has been as solid as many would expect a preseason first-team All-MAC player to be, Ohio’s resurgence after the poor start is due to the continued development of players like Clayton and Hadaway by the Ohio coaching staff.
Often, Coach of the Year honors go to the coach who has led their team to the greatest level of success above expectation or the
coach whose team finishes in first place. As of today, Boals qualifies in neither of those two categories. However, Ohio is just one game out of first place behind Akron and Toledo. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Akron and Toledo lose their final games and Ohio wins to share the MAC regular season title.
Even if that doesn’t happen, why should a one-game difference between the firstplace team and third-place team disqualify Boals from being considered for MAC coach of the year?
Ohio likely will not finish the regular season above preseason expectation, but what would Ohio’s preseason expectation have been if voters knew the team would be without AJ Brown for the entirety of MAC play.
Bringing Ohio back from not just a p?or start to MAC play but a 2-7 stretch in December and January without a key contributor to a 12-5 team at the end of the regular season, Boals is as deserving as any coach for MAC Coach of the year. Ohio men’s
CHARLIE FADEL FOR THE POST
The scene was set for Ohio’s Tuesday afternoon matchup against in-state opponent Youngstown State. The sun was shining and with Luke Olsen on the mound for the Bobcats, spirits were high at Bob Wren Stadium.
Things did not get off to the most ideal start, however. Olsen allowed a run on a wild pitch, and then two additional runs from an RBI single from Youngstown State’s Alejandro Covas.
Ohio responded in the batter's box in the bottom of the second with Clay Cutter walking to bring home Trae Cassidy, who was making his first start as a Bobcat.
Things looked grim just one inning later as Ohio found itself down 12 runs after a nightmare of a third inning that saw Youngstown State put 10 runs on the board.
The 13-1 hole that Ohio found itself in was partly its own doing. Pitchers Landon Price and Carson Denham pitched the entirety of the third inning and gave up a combined 3 runs off walks and hitting batters.
Youngstown State’s Derrick Tarpley Jr.
provided Youngstown State with power to go along with the walks as he blasted a 3-run home run to deep center field that hit the top of the batter's eye.
“We’re having some walk issues and things like that,” Ohio Head Coach Craig Moore said. “We’re falling behind in counts. You got to get ahead in counts because then you can actually pitch ... It puts the hitters at a disadvantage.”
With Ohio down big, Jacob Tate brought the dugout together to rally the troops in an attempt to spark a comeback.
“Tate, one of our leaders on the staff, he brought us together and said a couple of words to get us fired up and ready to go,” centerfielder Gideon Antle said. “That was awesome man, just having other leaders on the team that are like, ‘Look we need to take initiative, we need to get after it.’ We know we’re never out of a game.”
Whatever was said by Tate worked wonders as the Bobcats would respond immediately, matching the Penguin's explosive inning with a 10-run inning of their own.
Similarly to Youngstown State’s mammoth inning, Ohio would earn a lot of its
runs off free passes to first, with 3 Ohio runs scoring from walks and being hit by pitches.
Bryce Smith would get the bats going, as he laced a triple down the third base line that would send all three men on base home.
Gideon Antle continued his scorching hot hitting as well, smoking a ball into left-center field that scored 3 runs and brought Ohio within 2 runs of tying the game.
In the fourth inning, with two men on base and a chance to take the lead, Antle once again stepped in and stepped up, coming through with another 3-run home run to give Ohio the lead.
“I fouled a good pitch off and then I was able to get one that I could really handle,” Antle said. "I got it up in the air and I knew it was gone off of that, it was awesome.”
Ohio continued its scoring run as Antle would again use his bat to provide Ohio with juice, belting a double to left field that would score Ohio’s final 2 runs of the game.
Ohio led 21-14 going into the seventh inning. Despite strong efforts to retake the lead from Youngstown State, Ohio would hold onto its lead thanks in part to the strong pitching of Adam Beery, who came into the
game and provided Ohio with three innings of stability.
Beery’s pitching efforts were enough to earn him the win, and Ohio a statement win after being down by 12 runs, finishing the game with a score of 21-19.
As March begins, internship season slithers closer and closer. Students are flocking to job postings, and hundreds of applications are filed every hour. It leaves me wondering: Why is there so much pressure to find an internship?
In most majors, completing an internship is crucial to show employers that you have experience in your field of interest and is even a requirement for some Ohio University majors, but landing an internship can be extremely difficult. Being offered an internship is a process, and it’s incredibly flawed.
First, you have to apply. After an application is complete, some employers require personality or problem-solving tests that applicants must complete to advance in the consideration process. If you pass these tests, you will begin the preliminary screening process with a recruiter or Human Resources representative who asks basic questions such as “How do you manage time?” and “Are you legally allowed to work in the U.S.?”
If you pass the screening with the recruiter, you will move on to an interview with your direct supervisor and maybe your supervisor’s boss. Then, based on the scoring criteria, you will be selected (or not). Simply put, it’s a terribly long process that you’ll have to complete multiple times while facing constant rejection to potentially receive an offer.
Most job postings require an applicant to be a junior or senior, as the company is often looking to hire an intern full-time after the experience is over. But how does one qualify for an internship? With other internship experiences, of course! And how does one land an internship as a first or second-year student to be qualified for the corporate-giant internships they want to work for after graduation? I have no idea. But, by some mir-
acle, I was offered an internship as a freshman and two more as a sophomore, so here is what I am doing.
Let’s limit expectations early: do not expect a human to read your resume.
While I wish I could have a creative and photo-oriented resume, the plain, bulleted resume is the way to go. Often, if you apply to positions on LinkedIn, Indeed or Handshake, an AI platform will access your qualifications and read your resume first. Companies use AI to select top applicants from the hiring pool and then have a recruiter or HR representative look at it. The College of Business has an amazing template for those creating a resume.
Next, apply like none other. You’ll hear professors, advisers, and maybe even parents say, “Apply, apply, apply.” I hate echoing in on this, but actually applying is the first step in any application. If you don’t, you won’t get anywhere.
Be extremely determined. You will spend a copious amount of time simply filling out applications, and only a few will contact you for the next steps. Expect not to hear back from companies after interviews, and don’t take it personally. In some cases, hundreds of applicants were interviewed, and only selected candidates were notified after the
interviews. It’s extremely frustrating, but do not give up, tackle rejection and perceive it as an opportunity to apply to more places.
In full transparency, most underclassmen do not have internships, and that’s OK. Find experience in your extracurriculars or current job. Learn to find valuable, real-world experience in your extracurriculars — join the student newspaper to get bylines, ask for more responsibility at your job and find a way to display upward movement on your resume.
Good luck with your internship search, and if you haven’t already started, apply, apply, apply!
Abby Waechter is a sophomore studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Abby know by emailing her at aw087421@ohio.edu or by tweeting her @AbbyWaechter.
one person really stood out from the crowd at the event: Florida State running back Trey Benson. Benson ran several events at the combine this year, his most impressive being his 40-yard-dash time which clocked in at 4.39 seconds and ranked him third in the class. Combined with elite-level speed, Benson also demonstrated great athleticism putting up an 89 combined score for this category. Benson also has great pass-catching ability bringing in 20 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown this season.
able. Brooks showcases great speed at the first and second levels while also being able to make defenders miss open-field tackles. Brooks also demonstrated receiving potential, grabbing 25 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown.
NFL free agency is going to see one of the biggest free agent classes at the running back position in years with players like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley hitting the open market. That being said, a lot of teams do not want to spend big money bringing in a veteran and would rather address their backfield through the NFL draft. This is a significantly cheaper way to acquire talent for a team's rushing attack and this class has a few standout rushers that could help improve a team's running game.
Now that the NFL combine has passed, we have a much better idea of some of the great prospects in this year's draft. However,
The one major critique of Benson was that at Florida State he split carries with a lot of rushers in a deep backfield. This brings into question his ability to be a bell-cow rusher. His ability in pass protection was not great despite his large frame. Benson would be a wonderful addition to any team's backfield as a developmental piece and could be picked up in the late second or early third round by the right team.
The combine can be a tricky tool to use when grading prospects because of notable omissions to the testing pool. This concept applies to Texas rusher Jonathon Brooks, who didn’t participate due to injury. Brooks had the college football world taken aback by his amazing all-around ability. At 6 feet and 207 pounds, his ability on the field is remark-
The only thing preventing this dynamic rusher from being drafted higher is that he is coming off an ACL tear he suffered during the season. Despite this injury, Brooks put up over 1000 yards during his last season at Texas. The 20-year-old could very well be the first rusher taken off the board in this year's draft, more than likely to be selected in the middle of the second round.
Benson tested great and Brooks has the most potential, but the rusher who no doubt had the most absurd production this year had to be Michigan running back Blake Corum.
The first thing that comes to mind when looking at Corum is his ability to score touchdowns, putting up a ludicrous 27 touchdowns, which broke Michigan's all-time single-season touchdown record. Corum is your standard uphill running back who is best suited in short-yardage situations. His ability in the passing game also makes him very friendly to quarterbacks as he was an exceptional blocker for his size.
Corum is already 23 years old, which, with the lifespan of a runner in the NFL being significantly lower than other positions, may cause teams to overlook him. The other big question is that most of Corum’s production came on goal-to-go plays which may bring into question the validity of his stats. With these factors in consideration Corum could be a steal depending on where he is drafted, which will more than likely be late in the third round.
There are several other great options in the draft such as Oregon's Bucky Irving or Wisconsin's Braelon Allen but among the crowd, these three stand the tallest. The running back position is one of the most important for teams to have depth at, so don’t be surprised to see all of these players getting picked on Day 2 of the draft. This class doesn’t have a can’t-miss prospect — unlike last year with Bijan Robinson — but these players could develop into quality starters in the league.
Jasper Greuel is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Jasper about his column? Email him at jg453620@ohio.edu.
Bobby Gorbett
“‘Dune: Part Two’ is the best solitary piece of art that has ever existed and will ever exist. I curled up in the fetal position and bawled tears of joy at the conclusion of this science fiction masterpiece. To those who haven’t seen “Dune: Part Two,” this is how far-fetched the reviews have seemed to be for the last two weeks. Having enjoyed “Dune: Part One,” I was excited to see the sequel but certainly skeptical of the ridiculous reviews. That changed when I decided to be the judge of the film myself.
At the end of the movie one thing was certain: “Dune: Part Two” is among the greatest sci-fi movies ever made.
It should come as a surprise to no one that “Dune: Part Two” will not be remembered for its dialogue. “Dune: Part Two,” director Denis Villeneuve’s perfect film would have no dialogue in it. Despite this, there are still multiple great lines in “Dune: Part Two.” From the innocent boy choosing the desert mouse nickname to the fearless leader of the Fremen overpowering a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, Paul Atreides’ ‘Silence!’ signified a completed character arc for the movie’s anti-hero.
There’s also something about the simplicity of the line, “Nice fighting, Atreides,” from Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen that stuck with me days after I watched the film. Butler’s poised delivery of the line despite his character breathing his final breath cemented the fact that the character represented something larger than your run-of-the-mill villain. As he had shown in his introduction as a character in the black-sun gladiator sequence when he fought a sober Atreides fighter, Harkonnen was an honorable fighter as evil as he was.
Sci-fi movies are not known for dialogue, just ask Mark Hamill, but they are certainly known for innovative effects and incredible cinematography. Like the original before it, “Dune: Part Two,” checks both of those boxes and then some.
For starters, the CGI is done so well that viewers might actually believe 100-foot-tall
sandworms exist in real life — I know I certainly did. Some of the shots in this movie, especially those in the black-sun scene, are absolutely spectacular. The scene, filmed completely in black and white, is not just a time trick from Villeneuve but is indicative of a planet without color.
For all of the complaints of nothing happening in the first movie — some valid — those have no place in “Dune: Part Two.” Without spoiling too much, the action-packed ending of “Dune: Part Two,” wraps up the first two films perfectly while opening up the door for a third film.
While “Dune: Part Two,” checks so many boxes that the other great Sci-Fi films check, the aspect of the movie that puts it alongside some of the all-time classics is the performances. The star-studded cast in “Dune: Part Two,” undoubtedly proved its worth. Butler had 10-15 lines in the movie by my estimation but still found a way to steal the show as Harkonnen. Butler’s physicality and facial expressions make the character so much more than a boring antagonist.
Rebecca Ferguson plays a completely different character than the leader and mentor of Atreides she played in the first film but was every bit as interesting as the Fremen mother.
Zendaya’s performance as Chani is probably the best of her film career. Her intensity and anger in the last shot of the movie will leave the audience begging for more.
Chalamet is incredibly convincing as a strong leader of thousands of people. Many questioned Chalamet’s capabilities to step up in such a role, but the 28-year-old actor silenced any doubters and is probably on his way to his first Academy Award.
Every great sci-fi movie needs one thing: commitment. “Star Wars,” had talking robots and a giant-talking Bear, “Alien,” had a talking-amputated head, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” ended with what is insinuated to be a human zoo. The point is that almost all sci-fi movies can be downright weird at times, but the second people involved start to question the vision, is the second they become laughable. The greatness of “Dune: Part Two,” is the culmination of so many different people pointed in the same direction completely committed to fulfilling Dennis Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s vision.
Bobby Gorbett is a senior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Bobby know by tweeting him @GorbettBobby.
The “About Us” section of Report for America’s website is as well-intentioned and polished as they come. Report for America believes in saving the local press and contributes to this cause by placing reporters at local newsrooms nationwide and using money the organization has raised to help pay their salaries.
Report for America identifies a crisis in the collapse of local journalism which it says has “created a crisis for our democracy.” It identifies itself as a solution and emphasizes the need for journalism in all areas of the world. The organization generally does good work that helps out both reporters navigate a difficult industry and helps smaller papers with fewer resources thrive.
Report for America’s words lost their weight when it announced it would be phasing out partnerships with hedge-fund owned publications, such as those owned by Gannett, which owns over 100 daily newspapers across 44 states, or McClatchy, which owns 29 daily newspapers across 14 states.
Editor-in-Chief | Katie Millard
Managing Editor | Emma Erion
Equity Director | Alesha Davis
EDITORIAL
News Editor | Madalyn Blair
Asst. News Editor | Donovan Hunt
Culture Editor | Alyssa Cruz
Asst. Culture Editor | Abby Jenkins
Sports Editor | Bobby Gorbett
Sports Editor | Robert Keegan III
Opinion Editor | Tate Raub
Asst. Opinion Editor | Megan Diehl
The Beat Editor | Aya Cathey
Asst. The Beat Editor | Grace Koennecke
Projects Editor | Hannah Campbell
Investigative Editor | Alex Imwalle
Copy Chief | Addie Hedges
Slot Editors | Arielle Lyons, Jackson McCoy, Ashley Pomplas, Tre Spencer
ART
Art Director | Abbie Kinney
Asst. Art Director | Emma McAdams
Director of Photography | Alaina Dackermann
Photo Editor | Zoe Cranfill
DIGITAL Director of Web Development | Tavier Leslie
Audience Engagement Editor | Logan Jeffries
The existence of these two companies alone allows for thousands of reporters at smaller local media to keep their livelihoods intact.
Journalists typically have a difficult relationship with these larger media companies. A media conglomerate’s takeover feels like being bought out, an admission that a publication is no longer self-sustaining enough to function independently. In many cases, they lay off staff unsparingly and have been tied to a decline in political engagement in the areas they serve, according to SSRN journal article.
What is more important than the ego of a paper, however, is its ability to serve its audience and employ journalists who have dedicated themselves to serving others. It is not the role of Report for America to pass judgment over smaller, local publications that have made the difficult decision to open up to a large media company as such a large organization when these local papers are struggling to even stay afloat.
The pulling of funding almost seems per-
Asst. Audience Engagement Editor | Jenna Skidmore
Director of Multimedia | Cole Patterson
Asst. Director of Multimedia | Kendall Timms
BUSINESS
Media Sales | Gia Sammons, Molly Wilson
Director of Student Media | Andrea Lewis
formative, a statement on the rise in media conglomerates taking over that forgets the only people being hurt from this decision are those who have little to do with these corporations besides relying on them to get paid.
The staff of local papers include some of the most dedicated and hard-working journalists you will find. Oftentimes, these staffs exist solely to inform underrepresented, underserved and under-reported-to communities. To write off these publications as simply selling out and thus being unworthy of being assigned reporters is to completely ignore the core purpose of journalism that Report for America so deeply prides themselves in promoting: conserving democracy and providing accurate information to everyone in every corner.
The landscape of journalism is undoubtedly changing and there is no one this is more apparent to than the budding journalist, constantly told how the industry is dying and that they will never find jobs. Report for America’s role is to marry publications that
need help with reporters who need jobs. To phase out newsrooms that have turned to companies like Gannett or McClatchy for assistance is to punish local and community newsrooms for trying to stay afloat in a landscape they have little control over.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Katie Millard, Managing Editor Emma Erion and Equity Director Alesha Davis, and opinion editors: Opinion Editor Tate Raub and Assistant Opinion Editor Meg Diehl. The Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage.
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Instagram is one of the most globally downloaded apps of all time, and many users have either public or private accounts. For some, a public account is used to share photos of life events, memorable trips and relationship statuses. Others prefer a private account and use the space to post more "authentic" personalized content.
Private "fake" Instagrams, now famously referred to as "Finstas," allow users to post things that may not fit the "usual" Instagram aesthetic. For example, many celebrities have begun to use Finstas to post more intimately. Musicians like Drake and Lorde have become staples of this phenomenon, going under names like @quilteddiamonds and @ onionringsworldwide.
In 2011, "Finstagram" was the first term to describe accounts users created to share content with selected groups, typically their closest friends. The term has maintained steady traction but reemerged online in 2021 after a U.S. Senate hearing.
The hearing targeted Instagram for its mental health effects on teenage users, with Senator Richard Blumenthal asking Antigone Davis, Facebook's global head of safety, questions about the app's intentions. In a viral question, he asked, "Will you commit to ending Finsta?"
Surprisingly, the question only sparked more interest in the trend. As Instagram became more "casual," through photo dumps and filterless photos, users started testing out Finstas again. During the COVID-19 pandemic, users on apps like TikTok urged people to "make Instagram casual," instead of curating perfect snippets of their lives.
Finstas allowed users to make a whole new identity. People picked who they wanted to see their account, usually keeping it to a small circle of friends. According to the INEQE Safeguarding Group, young people were particularly interested in Finstas because they provided more authenticity, connection, anonymity, freedom and privacy.
Even though Finstas have encouraged authenticity, they also have several downfalls. Finstas can foster exclusionary environments, especially if users block certain people from accessing their accounts. In an article by Kai Franco, the writer interviewed Finsta users about their experiences, with the exclusion being one of the most prominent side effects of Finstas.
"Sometimes, people still use code names while talking about other people, so you think it's you (they're talking about in private), even when it's not," said a user named
Candy. Meanwhile, others said Finstas can be harmful projections of people's personalities and values.
"I think it gives people an excuse to just be unhinged all they want without regard for the consequences," said another user named Marielle. "Like yes, it's your place to be 'unfiltered' but that does not mean you can use it for your unnecessary hate, problematic views or possibly triggering content. It becomes an extension to indulge yourself in a mindset that is pretty concerning."
Finstas are often used to post explicit content. In an article by LearnSafe, writer Kendal Harris said that teenagers use Finstas to post content they wouldn't feel comfortable showing their parents or other adult figures. This can be dangerous, as photos and videos can still be recorded and reposted by other individuals, and private information can fall into the wrong hands.
In 2018, University of Alabama student Harley Barber posted a video on her Finsta
account saying a racial slur. The university and her sorority, Alpha Phi, quickly found the video on Twitter, gaining mass attention overnight. LearnSafe encourages Finsta users to be selective about what they share online because once it's on the internet, it's out there forever.
If Finstas are used sparingly, they can be outlets for expression and protection. According to Kicksta, many users resort to Finstas to avoid the stress of posting regularly. By posting something that comes naturally to your mind or a funny anecdote from the day, Finstas relieve the pressure of appealing to a large audience. In these spaces, not every post has to be something extraordinary.
Another reason users make their accounts private is to hide posts from family members or acquaintances. People often make their Finsta usernames anonymous, like celebrity accounts, so there's an added level of protection from people recognizing you. This decision can be dicey, as employ-
ers can still find Finsta accounts. While they likely won't access the content, the account owner could still be probed on their intent in the future.
Lastly, Finstas can help users prioritize lightheartedness and personal connections rather than like and comment counts. Having an account that only your close friends can access may increase the number of positive interactions we see online.
As for the future of Instagram, Finstas will not go away any time soon, especially as the more laid-back approach to using the app continues. While there are many pros and cons to using a private Instagram versus a public one, Finstas should still be used with the same caution and understanding.
Recently, Taylor Swift has received attention from the media about how much CO2 she produces from her private jet. However, according to the myclimate carbon tracker, Swift does not produce the most private jet emissions. That website lets users see when and where celebrities and billionaires take private flights.
Emissions from aviation significantly contribute to climate change because airplanes burn fossil fuels. These fossil fuels not only release CO2 emissions but also have strong warming non-CO2 effects due to nitrogen oxides (NOx), vapor trails and cloud formations triggered by the altitude at which aircraft operate. These non-CO2 effects contribute twice as much to global warming as aircraft CO2 and were responsible for twothirds of aviation’s climate impact in 2018.
Here is a list of celebrities who produced more private jet emissions than Taylor Swift in 2023:
Blake Shelton: Ranked No. 22
Country singer Blake Shelton made the list of most-produced jet emissions over Swift. Shelton is ranked #22 on the list of celebrities who produced the most jet emissions on the myclimate website. He completed a total of 73 flights in 2023, traveling 73,994 miles and producing 3,168,483 pounds of CO2 emissions. Shelton was on his “Back to the Honky Tonk” tour in 2023 in over 15 U.S. cities for two months.
Jim Carrey: Ranked No. 15
Actor Jim Carrey has shockingly produced more jet emissions than Swift. He is ranked #15 on the list of jet emissions out of the 30 on the list. Carrey took a total of 78 flights throughout 2023. His flights totaled 123,329 miles and he produced 5,286,905 pounds of CO2 emissions. Carrey came out of acting retirement to work on the film “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which began filming in July 2023 in London.
Celine Dion: Ranked No. 10
According to the website, Celine Dion made a total of 69 flights in 2023 and is ranked #10 on a list of 30 celebrities who produced the most jet emissions. The total distance she traveled was 124,829 miles and she produced 6,232,247 pounds of CO2 emissions. It is unclear why Dion traveled so frequently in 2023 after canceling her European leg of the “Courage World Tour” for medical reasons.
Leonard Blavatnik: Ranked No. 8
Leonard Blavatnik is a Ukrainian-born businessman who is worth $31.3 billion. According to myclimate, he completed 121 flights last year and ranked #8 on most produced jet emissions. He traveled 144,236 miles and produced 6,901,130 pounds of CO2 emissions.
Steven Spielberg: Ranked No. 6
Film director Steven Spielberg is in the top 10 of the list, sitting at #6. Spielberg completed 120 flights and traveled 168,714 miles on his private jet. He produced 8,072,887 pounds of CO2 emissions from these flights. Spielberg did not direct any films in 2023, but his most recent film, “The Fabelmans,” was up for many awards at different ceremonies. He was also seen traveling and enjoying his summer in Italy in 2023.
Jay Z and Beyonce: Ranked No. 4
Jay Z and Beyonce are in the top five of the list, sitting at #4. Beyonce was on tour over the past year, so it makes sense why she is higher up on this list, but it is astonishing how no one seems to point the blame at this couple. The two completed 144 flights last year and traveled 222,237 miles. These flights produced a total of 9,519,119 pounds of CO2 emissions in 2023. Beyonce was on her “Renaissance World Tour” from May to October 2023, stopping at 39 cities.
Kim Kardashian: Ranked No. 2
It is no surprise to see a Kardashian at the top of the list, and Kim ranks #2. Kim Kardashian traveled more than every other celebrity on the list, with 165 flights. She also traveled the furthest, 301,428 miles. She produced 12,913,797 pounds of CO2 emissions from her private jet. Kardashian made a lot
of trips to Japan during the summer of 2023 and likes taking vacations all over. She also traveled to a lot of soccer matches because her sons are big soccer fans and like going to matches all over the world.
Travis Scott: Ranked No. 1
Rapper Travis Scott holds the top spot of celebrities who produced the most private jet emissions in 2023. Scott completed a total of 137 flights and traveled 205,142 miles. Shockingly, his private jet produced 13,362,879 pounds of CO2 in 2023. Scott began his “Utopia-Circus Maximus Tour” in 2023, traveling to 28 cities, in the U.S. and Canada.
Twenty-somethings are flocking to Sephora after learning TikTok users think they look decrepit.
Last month, TikToker Jordan Howlett went viral for his mature looks, stating that many people think his mother is his younger sister. Even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson believed they were the same age. Many viewers commented on his videos that Howlett looked to be in his mid-thirties. However, he is only 26 years old.
This sparked viral controversy with many hashtags and debates on social media, including #GenZAgingLikeMilk. This brings into question whether Generation Z truly is aging faster.
Is Gen Z getting more cosmetic procedures than millennials?
When the conversation was sparked surrounding the apparent premature aging of Gen Z, many said that cosmetic procedures were the cause. Many say that Gen Z is consuming plas-
tic surgery and other procedures more than any other generation. However, this is not true.
A 2023 survey for Weave found that 27% of millennials and 26% of Gen Z would prioritize cosmetic procedures from medical spas over eating out from restaurants, getting their hair done at salons and using at-home beauty treatments. Based on the survey, 50% of millennials and 47% of Gen Z believe cosmetic treatments are essential to their mental health.
According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, or AAFPRS, despite phrases like “Snapchat Dysmorphia,” Gen Z is not making major spikes in facial plastic surgery procedure numbers.
However, in 2021, 75% of facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in patients under 30 seeking cosmetic surgery and injectables. Another 78% believe there will be an increase in age prevention and early maintenance in the 20s to 30s age range, guaranteeing bigger procedures and surgeries down the line. The current dominant age range for cosmetic procedures is 35 to 55, but more young people seek these services daily.
In 2023, 83% of cosmetic procedures performed were minimally invasive, and the increase in noninvasive procedure options intoxicates younger audiences, as expressed by Dr. Sherard A. Tatum III, the president of AAFPRS.
“This generation is growing up with a greater awareness of what is possible when it comes to aesthetic treatments thanks to the normalization online,” said Dr. Tatum. “Rapid advances in non-invasive treatments and technologies allow younger patients entry into aesthetics with very little pain and downtime, making it more attractive to a larger patient pool.”
Many young social media users are transparent about the cosmetic procedures they have. Many influencers are taking their viewers along for the ride of their pre-op and post-op experiences.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Theda Kontis, a facial plastic surgeon in Baltimore, talks about the difference in response younger and older patients give her when asked if she can post their before and after pictures online.
“Older patients are sort of wishy-washy about it. Younger people are like, ‘Sure, when is it going to be posted?’ And if I don’t post it, they post it. — They want people to say, ‘Wow, you got your lips done,’” Dr. Kontis said.
Do millennials actually look younger than Gen Z?
In an article for Vogue, writer Daisy Jones recounts her encounter with a supermarket manager who ID’d her and didn’t believe that she was 30.
Jones listed all of the popular sayings of why millennials are “aging slower”; social media makes them aware of their appearance, “tweakments” like Botox and fillers and the perception that millennials’ depression gives them a vampiric-like aversion to the sun that keeps them from aging.
Jones believed it was due to the lack of an understanding of what 30 looks like. She cited that her clothing style of cozy hoodies, low-slung jeans and stick ‘n’ poke tattoos give her the illusion of adolescence.
Others are looking at millennials’ lifestyle choices, such as nutritious diets, cooking and self-care. Millennials have sparked a revival in the fitness industry, prioritizing fitness and wellness. On top of their influence in skincare and mental health awareness, they are also prioritizing a work-life balance and enriching social life.
How does social media affect “How old do I look” trends?
What does a 30-year-old look like? What should teenagers look like? In the early 2010s, people turned to Tumblr and saw images of young influencers in cardigans, colorful jeans, wedged boots and flower crowns. In the early 2000s, it would have been fuzzy boots, juicy couture purses, baby phat tracksuits and highlighted hair.
However, in 2024, what does age look like? The rapidly changing fashion trends make it impossible for there to be a generation-defining style or even brand. Many see younger generations accessing cosmetics they didn’t have at that age.
Social media has distorted the way Gen Z is viewed, with influencers with access to cosmetic procedures becoming the face of Gen Z. Gen Z’s anxiety with aging is a by-product of this phenomenon, including the effects trends like TikTok’s viral aging filter have had on this generational worry.
Gen Z’s anxiety about aging has yet to be backed by any real proof of accelerated aging. No supervillain has created a laser ray that causes Gen Z to age like Renesmee Cullen from “Twilight.” While the younger generation’s aversion to aging may be a concern for quarter-life crises, there is no science backing the aging theory.
Years ago, family vloggers began to appear on YouTube. What started as a way for parents to share special moments with viewers has now become an exploitative and invasive practice toward children.
Around 15 years ago, YouTube's "first family," the Shaytards, began sharing home videos and gained a significant following. At their peak, they received up to 4 million views on their YouTube videos and filmed multiple days a week. Today, they post twice a month.
From there, more families posted videos of their children on YouTube. Over the years, family vlog channels attracted many viewers and made a lot of money, especially now on TikTok and Instagram.
Due to a lack of child labor laws regarding content creation, children are often placed in front of a camera and expected to draw viewership. Over the years, vlog families have begun receiving backlash for making private moments public, such as a fight between siblings or disciplinary action.
"8Passengers," a YouTube family headed by Ruby Franke, followed the lives of Franke, her husband and her six kids, but people quickly picked up on moments that did not feel right.
In 2020, Franke posted that she took away her eldest son's bed for seven months, and she explained her decision in a YouTube video with her eldest son sitting with her. A clip from the video that has since been removed was shared on Law & Crime Network.
"Chad showed that he was not able to manage himself sharing a room with (redacted)," said Franke. "What you guys didn't know was Chad didn't get any room. He was sleeping on the floor in the family room."
Franke was arrested in August 2023, along with her business partner Jody Hildebrandt, after Franke's children were found in a neglected state. Franke has since been charged with four charges relating to child abuse and faces up to 60 years in prison.
"Officers from the Santa Clara Public Safety Department responded to Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Utah, after a neighbor called 911 to report that Franke's allegedly "emaciated" 12-year-old son knocked at his door asking for help, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by People," wrote Sean Neumann.
This is one of the most serious cases recently reported, but many other vloggers have faced controversy and made headlines.
TikToker Jacquelyn posts innocent videos of her child, including her showing off her outfits of the day and eating various foods. However, the number of views and saves on these TikToks is disturbing some users and leaving them concerned for the child's safety.
"A lot of these videos are out there," said content creator Brandon Conner, who posted about the controversy. "(They are getting) millions of views, and hundreds of thousands of people save these videos. They are likely not-so-good people."
Jacquelyn came under fire in 2022 for the same issue. However, she filmed a response and posted it for her viewers. They described the video as scripted and defensive.
"(My daughter) is my number one priority, and her upbringing and safety are my top job 24 hours a day," said Jacquelyn. "This account has allowed me to provide for my daughter and set money aside for her future."
Some families who gained fame from posting their children on TikTok have since stopped posting their children's faces to avoid them growing up in front of a camera.
Maia Knight, who rose to fame after posting videos about life with twins, said she always had plans to stop showing her kids’ faces once they were toddlers.
"I'm making a choice for my daughters to protect them," said Knight in a 2022 TikTok.
"I'm not taking a big stance about showing your kids or not online. I'm just doing what's best for me
and my daughters."
Viewers of various videos have raised concerns about children being sexualized, stalked or kidnapped. Innocent pictures of children that would not warrant a second glance by most have been prime targets for online pedophiles, particularly adult men. Some parents stop filming altogether to avoid their children being recognized past a certain age. Troubling interactions between child influencers and predatory adults have also taken place.
Knight has since continued to make videos without showing her children's faces. Today, she creates content about living a country mom lifestyle and cooking food for her family.
One TikTok user began making content about the possible horrors of family vlogs. Caroline Easom, known for skits and storytelling, began posting the "Sandwich Family" series on her TikTok page. The series follows a fictional family of vloggers who fake their
MIA PISHOTTI | FOR THE POSTages to appear younger, keep money from their children and fake illnesses and disorders for views.
"They are seen as these content machines, and they are presented to the audience like products," Easom told News 5 in Cleveland. "My content intends for you to ask, 'Why do I have access to this child being disciplined?'"
Thanks to Easom's skits, state Reps. Michele Grim and Lauren McNally proposed House Bill 376 to the Ohio House of Representatives. This bill would make it a law for parents who feature their children in vlogs to allocate a percentage of the money made per year to a trust fund, which they can access when they turn 18.
"I believe strongly in the power of storytelling to get people to care about issues they might not have otherwise cared about," said Easom. "I will continue to use storytelling to talk about the things that are important to me."
Kyle (center) takes part in a recent Teen Time event focused on dance. The ACBDD’s Teen Time is an after-school social club for individuals with developmental disabilities. The club is designed to help transition-age youth develop social skills and to have fun. Each event has a different activity. For some of those events, the ACBDD partners with Ohio University students who are studying physical therapy. (ACBDD staff photo)
Every year, March is designated as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which focuses on people’s diverse abilities and celebrates their contributions to our communities. For those of us at the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, we do that every day, all year round. But, for the month of March, we take a little extra time to promote who we are and what we do to a wider audience.
We pick a theme each year to capture what has been going on in the developmental disabilities field locally or nationally. This year’s theme is “Inclusive Athens County.” That also happens to be the ACBDD’s vision statement.
We chose the theme as a way of celebrating our county’s efforts to make our community more inclusive for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The annual “Special Edition” is anoth-
er way we commemorate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to showcase the work we do at the ACBDD. For this year’s Special Edition, we focused on telling our story in pictures. This is our “Year in Photos,” and it will highlight success stories, our dedicated staff, and our exceptional community partners. And this year, we are proud to include the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and The Post, the independent student newspaper, as new community partners and collaborators in creating, publishing, and distributing this Special Edition in print and online.
We are proud to live and work in Athens County, where incredible things happen every day to support, protect and empower our neighbors with developmental disabilities. After looking through this special insert, we hope you have a deeper understanding and appreciation of this field and feel just as proud to support our work.
Thank you.
Beacon School, whose mascot is the Beacon Ray, is a special educational service provider for the five local school districts in Athens County. Students residing within Athens County’s school districts with identified developmental disabilities can be referred to the program.
While attending Beacon, students receive developmentally appropriate academic education in addition to essential services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy,
speech therapy, and adaptive physical education. Beacon School staff are dedicated to supporting students with the most significant disabilities.
Programming at Beacon School and Preschool is tailored to meet the needs of students ages 3 through 21 years.
For more information, call (740) 5943539, ext. 229 or visit the website at athenscbdd.org/beaconschool/ — ACBDD staff
The Athens County Early Intervention program is a collaboration of several agencies serving parents and caregivers of children (3 or younger) who have developmental delays or disabilities. Services are provided in a setting that best meets the needs of the family.
The Service and Support Administration division (SSA) serves more than 420 children (3 years or older) and adults in Athens County. SSAs support individuals in determining and pursuing life goals by providing coordination across all life areas and across all systems.
SUPPORTS SUPPORTS
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce proudly supports the ACBDD and their mission to create an integrated and inclusive Athens County!
Integrate Athens is a division of ACBDD that supports the agency, the community, and the people we serve to help us all learn about the value of inclusion. Among some of Integrate Athens’ many accomplishments in 2023 were:
• Inclusion Pledge: The ACBDD’s vision, “Inclusive Athens County,” inspired a new initiative: the Inclusion Pledge. The Inclusion Pledge is
the community who want to help make Athens County even more inclusive for people of all abilities.
The ACBDD has invited individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses to sign the pledge and identify action steps that help improve awareness of what inclusion means and/or improve inclusiveness.
Athens County Commissioners were some of the first to sign the pledge. Other groups that have signed include the City of Athens,
Family & Children First Council, Athens County Children Services, Athens City-County Health Department, Alexander Local Schools, and the Athens-Hocking-Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.
• Sibshops: Last year, the ACBDD’s Office of Integrate Athens launched a new program called Sibshops. Sibshops is a support group for youth ages 8-17
who have siblings with a developmental disability. The experience provides siblings with information and support in a highly recreational setting. This effort is in partnership with Ohio Sibs and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
• ATCO Legacy Fund awards: Altogether, the ACBDD approved $20,371 in projects in 2023 to seven local organizations. The ATCO Legacy Fund was created to
carry on the compassion and philosophy developed at ATCO Inc., a much-beloved adult services program, well into the future.
Recipients in 2023 included the Athens County Community Singers, Athens City-County Health Department, the Alexander PTO, Nelsonville-York City Schools, Havar Inc., The Dairy Barn Arts Center, and the ABC Players.
Learn more at: integrate.athenscbdd.org
Emily is welcomed to the team at El Camino restaurant one month after graduating from Beacon School. Emily achieved that goal through her own hard work and with support from an extensive team who helped her prepare for finding and landing her first job.
ACBDD’s
ABOVE:
an alumnus of Beacon School and current employee; he takes pride in his work and said he plans to work at Beacon until the day he retires.
PersonnelPlus is a no-cost, no-obligation employment service of the Employment Options division of the ACBDD. Since 1983, PersonnelPlus has helped our region’s employers to hire reliable and dependable employees with disabilities.
It is important to pause and reflect on where we’ve been and how far we have come. We appreciate the opportunity to do so through this project. As we look to 2024 and beyond, we look forward to doing more great things, in collaboration with our community partners and with the support of Athens County residents.
ens Community Center. We hope you’ll consider joining us in this celebration of community partners and friends!
The 2024 Developmental Disability Awareness Fest will be on Thursday, March 21, from 6-8 p.m. at the Ath-
And we will continue to promote the Inclusion Pledge. If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, please let us know. We look forward to finding new and creative ways to make Athens County even more inclusive.
— Kevin Davis, ACBDD superintendent
The highlights from this year and featured in this Special Edition would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the ACBDD staff and the county’s provider staff. We thank you for all that you do, every day, to support individuals with developmental disabilities.
The print version of Special Edition was produced
for The Post by Andrea Lewis, Director of Student Media in the Scripps College of Communications at Ohio University, supported by the efforts of Gia Sammons and Molly Wilson from the sales staff to cover the cost of printing and distribution. Layout and design was provided by Bill Reader of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
