Jan. 25, 2024 by The Post

Athens receives clean energy award... pg 2 Commuter students deal with winter weather.. pg 8 First-years experience their first snowfall... pg 9 JANUARY 2025 DATE DATE25, DATE

Athens celebrates national gold designation for clean energy EMILY STOKES FOR THE POST The City of Athens encouraged the growth of clean and affordable solar energy, and its efforts were noticed when the national program SolSmart awarded the city with a gold recognition level. In 2017, Athens received the bronze designation for maintaining clean energy efforts throughout the city, but only six years later it was awarded the gold status. A Facebook post by the city of Athens highlighted the new designation and shared the city’s efforts to gain the achievement. “A gold designation shows we have met national best practices to encourage solar energy use at the local level,” according to the post. “The City of Athens worked with SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance team to increase local knowledge of solar energy.” SolSmart is a U.S. Department of Energy program led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City/County Management Association. Athens joined over 500 other cities, towns and regional organizations in gaining the SolSmart designation in leadership for solar energy. Athens City Council President Sam Crowl talked about the designation and what it represents in terms of Athens’ leadership in solar panel usage. “They want to try and make it as easy as possible for any individual to put solar “They want to try panels on their roof,” he said. “We know that and make it as easy a lot of cities haven’t as possible for any updated their code reindividual to put solar quirements in many years, maybe long bepanels on their roof,” fore solar panels even were a popular thing.” - Sam Crowl, Athens City Crowl said there Council President could be a lot of permits or other obstacles that keep people from installing solar panels, which is why the SolSmart program targets encouraging cities to make it easier to use and install solar power. He said Athens is a progressive city, and its sustainability efforts only continue to develop. He also said Athens Mayor Steve Patterson told him the city is not far off from achieving the platinum level designation, which is the highest achievement level through the program. Crowl highlighted the code changes made and updated to make solar panels more accessible for city residents. made a lot of changes to the requirements and code enforcement to really expedite the process of putting solar panels so that people don’t have all those obstacles,” Crowl said. “As I understand, it was a lot of the work that we did in the city for permitting and to encourage solar instead of discouraging.” The city’s website offers different ideas, resources and a

The OHIO Ecohouse on Dairy Lane, Jan. 23, 2023, in Athens, Ohio.(MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

checklist for Athens residents who are interested in installing solar energy in their home or business. The post indicated the city’s new commitment to Athens residents is a three-day business turnaround on permitting solar to their homes. The city also invested in adding solar at major energy-consuming facilities, including the community center, city pool and the wastewater treatment plant, Crowl said. “Our biggest energy user is our wastewater treatment plant, so that’s why we put that solar panel installation right by the plant … so that we can offset the amount we spend every year on electricity,” he said. Kokosing Solar, formerly known as Third Sun Solar, started in 2000, growing interest in solar energy and has become a respected leader and household name for local solar in Ohio. Crowl said one reason there is so much solar in the city is because of the work of a company like Kokosing being located in Athens. Caitlin Garrity, marketing specialist for Kokosing Solar, said the company collaboratively works with the city of Athens to meet desired outcomes, installation timelines, project locations, aesthetics, costs, financing options and system designs.

“We estimate that Kokosing Solar has installed about 3,400 kilowatts of DC power in and closely around The City of Athens,” Garrity wrote in an email. Kokosing’s recent solar installations for the city of Athens include the community center, wastewater treatment plant and city pool, Garrity said. Garrity said the combination with SolSmart and other federal incentives aimed at rural areas and former coal communities are enticing solar installations. “The City of Athens has certainly been a leader in clean energy policy and deployment for many years,” Garrity wrote in an email. “(This) makes Athens and surrounding counties prime areas for businesses, non-profits, universities and local governments to deploy solar energy.”

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OU strives for high retention PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER Ohio University has had record-breaking enrollment rates for the past two years but is now shifting its focus on the retention rates of students. During the Student Senate’s meeting Wednesday, Student Trustees Mia Citino and Garrett Meek said there is an increase in retention rates across all of OU’s campuses. For regional campuses, there is a 66% retention rate and an 84.7% rate at the Athens campus. The trustees also said 54.7% of students graduate within four years, and 71.5% of students will graduate within six years. At the OU Board of Trustees Jan. 18, Provost Elizabeth Sayrs and Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace Boeninger presented enrollment and retention rate numbers. Within this presentation, Sayrs said the retention rates differ among regional campuses. “We know that the shift of course modality has a significant impact on retention on regional campuses,” Sayrs said. “So different campuses, different universities have different actors that have their retention.” Several programs are not offered on regional campuses, as well as economic barriers, Sayrs said, which can result in students wanting to relocate and finish their degree online. The overall retention rate is affected by how many students attend and withdraw from a university, but the retention rate can also shift within certain programs without impacting the overall retention rate. “As you shift students, for example, into an honors program, where the retention rate is higher, that doesn’t impact on the overall university retention, as you shift into nursing the retention rates lower back,” Sayrs said. Retention rate is something the university is concerned

with from fall semester to spring semesters and between academic years. President Lori Gonzalez made this clear at a media conference at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year. “I think (retention) really is a testament to the quality and the value of an education at Ohio University more of our students who were here came back in the fall, we call that our retention rate and that went up, which means that students are coming back and that they’re more likely to finish their degree,” Gonzalez said. More recently, at an OU updates session held on Monday, Boeninger mentioned the university’s recent record-breaking enrollment numbers within the past academic years but reminded everyone that enrollment was not the only goal. Boeninger, at the media conference with Gonzalez, said that the main goal for the university is not to have record-breaking enrollment every year but to graduate and produce successful students. “Our goal is really more about ensuring successful student outcomes, that we’re graduating students and putting them into workforce and graduate programs, and that kind of thing with a great degree of success that’s happening as well and that will continue to be our focus,” Boeninger said. One way OU is continuing to focus on the retention rate is through certain programs and scholarships to maintain the retention of certain student populations, such as regional students. “We found the areas that impact on retention, so one is the regional promise program and this was the scholarship program for Pell-eligible students in the region, and you can see that their retention rate was way higher,” Sayrs said. The enrollment office has also started to work toward managing the number of students OU as an institution can sustain.

“We are also starting to be very planful about this capacity analysis,” Boeninger said. “What do we need to understand about how many students we need to operate well, and at what point we might need to think about volume.” Retention rates were not included in this report because OU’s website does not have numbers updated on its current website that reflect the record-breaking freshman classes of the last two years.

CAMPUS EVENTS

OPEN MIC

NIGHT

Week of January 25th - February 8th Social Engagement & Student Org Events

Sunday, January 28

Tuesday, January 30

Friday, February 2

The New Political Spring Interest Meeting Open to All 7:00 - 8:00 pm RTV 097

OHIO Basketball Morgan’s Message Mental Health Awareness Game 7:00 PM Convocation Center

Friday’s LIVE Season premiere hosted by Cara Finnegan and Zach Zimmerman; musical guest Bella DePasquale 8:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515)

SCAN

for more events

Thursday, February 1 180: CRU Weekly Meeting 7:30 - 8:30 pm Morton 235

Saturday, February 3 Bobcat Tabletop 12-hour board game event: scheduled gaming events, Magic the Gathering draft, and raffles 10:00 am-10:00 pm Living Learning Center Register on Bobcat Connect

* To have your event included on this calendar make sure it is registered on Bobcat Connect!

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Sorority & Fraternity Life

February 5-10

FRIDAYS

? E R TU

Interfraternity Council Recruitment Week various events VIEW on Bobcat Connect

SIBS WEEKEND

2024 events

E R DA

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The Front Room Baker Center

6:00 - 8:00 pm THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

Businesses comply with plastic bag ban PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER An Athens city ordinance to restrict the use of plastic bags in restaurants and businesses went into effect Jan. 1. Athens City Council passed the ordinance April 3, according to a previous Post report. Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, said every establishment he has visited since the ordinance went into effect has been using alternatives to plastic bags. “CVS, Seaman’s, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, Kindred Market, College Book Store, Ace Hardware; Those are all places that are using regular old paper bags,” he said. Swank said before the ordinance passed, there were some objections to switching from single-use plastic bags, and he said he expected there to be pushback. With the ordinance in effect, he said he thinks people are already starting to acclimate to the new rule. “People will get used to it,” he said. “I think people are already getting used to it three weeks in … We're seeing more and more people bring their own bags, which is the ultimate goal.” Like businesses, Athens citizens are adjusting quickly to the change. “I would say that I think the ban is going

beautifully, and I see folks carrying their reusable bags, making the adjustment quickly,” Nancy Pierce, an Athens resident, wrote in an email. “We’ve gotten so much positive response from businesses and consumers.” The original idea for the ban was formally brought to the council by a previous council member, Jennifer Cochran, in 2016 Swank said. However, the original ordinance was never voted on by the council due to the way it was structured. Swank said in 2018, The Kroger Co. announced its plans to eliminate all single-use plastic bags by 2025. In 2019, Swank said he got involved with a group of individuals who met to discuss bringing similar legislation to Athens. When he was elected to the council in 2022, Swank said he reconnected with the group and advocated to bring forth the legislation to the city. Dec. 27, 2023, days before the legislation was to go into effect, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming the ban was unconstitutional according to sections of the Ohio Revised Code and insisted the city stop enforcing the ban. Swank said, to his knowledge, the city had not responded to the lawsuit as of Jan. 18. “We're now into the 18th day of this, and then the stores that I've stopped in to check … the transition has gone very well,” he said.

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Nicholas Polsinelli, owner of the Little Professor Book Center located at 65 S. Court St, said he had stopped using plastic bags about two years before the ordinance took effect. Instead of single-use plastic bags, the bookstore used canvas tote bags for customers to purchase for $10 or customers can bring their own bags. Polsinelli said he had made the personal decision to stop using plastic bags for environmental reasons, but he was worried it may have been an inconvenience for customers. “After talking with some of my customers that seemed like they were approving of that change, I committed to that, and we slowly kind of weeded out using plastic bags,” he said. “And that has largely been a positive (change) for us with our customers.” Polsinelli said the transition has been easy, especially with the student population who typically bring in various bags. He is starting to see more Athens citizens begin to bring their bags. Like Polsinelli, Pierce said she also believed the switch from single-use plastic bags would help the environment. “I would say that scientists are beginning to state that single-use plastics are one of the biggest causes of climate change – from

both pollution and production,” Pierce wrote in an email. “And that they are a huge problem for human health, in our food, water and air, coming at us from both their use and production.” When Swank heard that Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the country, was switching to no longer having plastic bags due to environmental reasons, he said it makes sense for other companies to also want to make the switch.

@PAIGEMAFISHER PF585820@OHIO.EDU

One of the new paper bags from College Book Store (ALAINA DACKERMANN| DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHERY)

Multiple ambulance requests, horses loose in Athens KENDALL WRIGHT FOR THE POST Hello, hello baby A suspicious vehicle parked along the road on Old Seven Road in Coolville was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Once deputies arrived they spoke to the individual and found that he worked for a telephone company. Social snake A complaint of telecommunications harassment was reported to the Athens City Police Department. The Ohio University Police Department took a report of harassment via text messages and phone calls. One after another A man attempting to steal vehicles and break into buildings in Jacksonville was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Once deputies were in contact with the individual, the man was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail. No further action was necessary.

A student was issued a citation for disorderly conduct by intoxication and transported to O’Bleness Hospital.

The man was arrested and taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail without incident.

Ba ba ba ba ba (what dispatch heard) Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported to Strouds Run Road for a 911 hangup call. Once at the residence, deputies found that a small child was playing with the phone and that there was no emergency.

… Maybe limits aren’t learned An ambulance was requested at Ryors Hall for an underage student, according to OUPD. A student was issued a court summons for underage consumption of alcohol and criminal mischief. The individual was also transported to O’Bleness Hospital.

No car is safe Property damage done to a vehicle in Parking Lot 132 was reported to the Ohio University Police Department. OUPD wrote a report. Don’t get caught An active burglary on Armitage Road in Athens was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, deputies located and detained the suspect while investigating.

Dolla dolla bills Counterfeit money at the Marathon gas station in Guysville was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. A report was taken and as of Tuesday, the investigation is pending.

@KENDALLKWRIGHT KW229520@OHIO.EDU

Life alert An ambulance was requested at Baker University Center, according to the Ohio University Police Department. Officers responded to an individual who fell. In good hands? The Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Truetown Road in Millfield to check on a dog that was reported to possibly be neglected. Upon arrival, deputies determined that the dog seemed to be in good care. What did the wall do to you? An incident of destruction of property at Bentley Hall was reported to the Ohio University Police Department. OUPD reported that damage was done to a wall. They’re ready for the fests! Two horses running loose on a property in Athens Township were reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies then contacted the owner of the horses and asked them to find and bring the horses home. Limits are learned An ambulance was requested at Ryors Hall for an offense of disorderly conduct, according to the Ohio University Police Department.

An Ohio University Police Department patrol car sits in front of Baker Center in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

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The Fibonacci Fellas pack venues, rock Athens music scene PHOTOS AND STORY BY ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST As the spring semester begins, the stress of getting into a new routine can be a lot to deal with. Add on the frigid temperatures Athens has seen for much of January, and it can be easy to stay in. One band strives to wash away that sadness and bring in the fun. The Fibonacci Fellas have had a place in the Athens live music scene since October 2022. Blending comedy and punk rock, the trio regularly packs venues with fans ready to mosh and dance. Drummer Sam Mader, a junior studying music production, said the band loves the support it has gained from the fans. “It's just super involved,” he said. “I think the fans make the show, it's all about them. It's so much fun when they give us energy.” With the high energy of The Fibonacci Fellas’ music and stage performances, fans have the opportunity to let loose in ways they normally would not, even at other concerts. Almost every song the band plays is accompanied by mosh pits, jumping and dancing. Even on stage, the trio makes it a point to be as engaging as possible. “We love seeing the audience getting into things, and we love doing some call and response,” he said. Vocalist and guitarist Ben Nowak, who graduated in 2023 with a degree in music production, said behind the energy and over a year of performances, he still struggles with nerves before a show. “It always starts off as awkward, and then as time goes on, the audiences are always so nice and flattering,” he said. Nowak said the bandmates rely on one another to make sure a show ends up how they want it. “We have a consistent thing where we'll play a show, and it'll always be like, ‘Was the show good or was the show bad?'” he said. “Typically, when the shows are good, it's when Sam plays really well and we forget everything else. We just run around on stage.” Bassist Henry Price, a senior studying music production, said he doesn’t let a bad performance affect him. “Whether it goes good or bad, playing in this band is fun,” he said. “If I'm doing well or if I'm doing poorly, it's always a good time.” With all three members coming from a background of punk, rock and metal, as well as starting at the time Rent Free was a staple 6 / JANUARY 25, 2024

in Athens music, The Fibonacci Fellas knew from the start that their goal was to make loud, fast – but most importantly fun – music. Price said his musical background started well before he came to Ohio University. “I really loved punk and metal music,” he said. “I took guitar lessons for a while, and then I started writing and making things up … I've been playing for quite a while now, probably about a decade.” Nowak said his history with music came from a rather unexpected place. “When I was in grade school, they were trying to teach us not to do drugs,” he said. “They had a steel drum band come in. I genuinely really wanted to play the steel drums, and I thought my way into that would be through the school band. So I did that.” To date, the band has released a twosong single, “The Fibonacci Fellas are Back!,” as well as two EPs, “CREAMS” and “BITTERS.” There are also plans to release a new single in the future. All their releases can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Mader said the names of the EPs come from the differences in tone and writing. “We thought one was a little more nice sounding, and one was a little more edgy sounding,” he said. “Ben said we need something like creams and bitters. And I said, ‘That's a great idea.’” The Fibonacci Fellas have one upcoming show Feb. 16 at The Union, 18 W Union St., with further details to come. The band said it can be found on Instagram at @thefibonaccifellas.

@ETHANHERX EH481422@OHIO.EDU

Moshing, dancing and all-around fun

Students discuss OU’s uncommon majors GINA NAPOLI FOR THE POST From engineering to journalism, Ohio University has over 250 programs that provide students with a compelling education. Despite students’ interest in OU’s popular programs, it is important to explore the majors that are not as common but continue to educate and create opportunities for Bobcats. According to Ohio’s enrollment data, three of the majors studied by first-year students that showcase low enrollment include philosophy, industrial and systems engineering and linguistics. Between 2016 and 2022, first-year students who studied these majors averaged under 10, all with the highest enrollment in 2018. Although each student has their own interests, it is fascinating to discuss why students steer away from majors such as these. Chloe Fabricante, a sophomore studying philosophy, expressed her thoughts on why students do not commonly major in philosophy. “I really do think that a lot of people don’t know what philosophy is,” Fabricante said. “If they do know what philosophy is, they hold the very commonly held view that as Dr. (Jeremy) Morris in our department puts it, ‘Philosophy is for people who have time to waste.’” Fabricante further rebutted this statement, discussing the importance of philosophy, as it not only improves basic skills such as reading and rhetoric but also provides an understanding of human mannerisms. The engineering and technology program also consists of several majors; however, industrial and systems engineering is significantly lower in enrollment compared to the others. Caroline Incanno, a freshman studying industrial and systems engineering, talked about the positives to studying in her major, as well as the influence of her professors. “I think that’s what is so special about ISE,” Incanno said. “You can make these kinds of close connections with the staff … there’s such a broad range of experience held by the ISE professors.” Despite her enjoyment of the program, Incanno mentioned how many students often end up switching from ISE to another branch of engineering, as the major is broad and helps students narrow down their specific interests within the field. Alongside their interests, students’ backgrounds and connections play an important role in deciding a major. Whether their interest originates from family traditions, traveling or curiosity about different cultures, each student has a specific reason for choosing their major.

NICOLE REESE | FOR THE POST Aidan Hosler, a freshman studying linguistics, discussed what inspired him to study linguistics and how he connected with his major. “I started teaching myself German and learning about German culture,” Hosler wrote in an email. “This sparked a love for languages and cultures.” Hosler continued to talk about how he plans to earn his certification in German, and his goal is to work with people from around the world. Although some majors lack high enrollment, with the amount of programs at OU, each student is bound to find the perfect fit. According to Brian Collins, the chair of classics and religious studies, the program currently consists of only 35 students after combining with the classical languages and world religious departments in 2021. Reyna Mazur, a freshman studying clas-

sics and religious studies, talked about her interests and how she combined them to discover the program. “I feel like leaning more toward the humanities brought me to this major,” Mazur said. “I’ve always loved history, and I love literature, but not enough to make those my main course of study. I felt like this was a perfect match.” Mazur continued to discuss how people often steer away from the classics department due to the assumption it only revolves around museum and academic studies, thus creating limited job opportunities. However, the chairs in the classics department, Dr. Collins and Dr. Drogula, illustrated the different types of job opportunities available for Mazur and her classmates. “Dr. Drogula is one of the chairs in my department, and he and Dr. Collins put together a pamphlet of all the different jobs that

you could possibly get from being a classics major,” Mazur said. “Classics helps develop critical thinking skills and helps you understand how other people are thinking or how they could be thinking.” When studying a certain field, students need to remember they can expand their knowledge and explore different topics outside of class. Fabricante discussed how the Philosophy Club welcomes new students and encourages them to learn without feeling the pressure of commitment. “It’s super fun, and we learn about philosophy, and we also do fun presentations and stuff,” Fabricante said. “It’s a great opportunity to just learn more about it and kind of just explore a little bit without committing to anything.”

@GINA_NAPOLI_ GN875322@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

Commuter students navigate winter weather ABREANNA BLOSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER Snow covers the ground, ice lines the roadways and a persistent chill lingers in the air – it is winter in Athens. With the winter season comes a unique set of challenges for commuter students at Ohio University – forcing them to choose: miss class, or embark on a dangerous, frosty commute? According to the Ohio University website, students who commute must live within a 50-mile radius of campus. Housing and Residence Life approves approximately 450 commuter contracts every year. Jan. 19, Brandon Petrie, a junior studying engineering technology and management, began his daily 40-minute commute to Ohio University. However, he quickly realized how dangerous traveling would be in the snowy weather. “I started my commute there,” Petrie said. “I had to turn around because my car was just going off the road.” As a commuter student, Petrie is not alone in his struggle to get to campus amid icy roadways, snow storms and frigid temperatures. During winter months, Molly Pennington, a senior studying communication sciences and disorders, starts her morning by remov-

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ing snow and ice from her vehicle. “I have to get ready for classes like 30-45 minutes before the class time even starts,” Pennington said. For her, the biggest struggle is securing a parking spot once on campus. A majority of spots near academic buildings are taken by the time she arrives. “It's really, really hard to find good parking spots right now just because of the weather,” Pennington said. For Pennington and other commuters, after snowfall, parking lots on campus become difficult to navigate. Parking space lines are completely hidden, resulting in a disorganized arrangement of vehicles. “I've definitely noticed that they haven't cleared the parking lots as well as they should have with the snow that we've recently had,” said Madachi Roberts, a freshman studying wildlife biology and conservation. On the first day of spring classes, Pennington parked near Peden stadium, only to find the lot was in complete disarray. “People were just kind of parked wherever for the most part because the lines weren't visible and that kind of created a little bit of a hazardous parking situation,” Pennington said. Another challenge for commuters parking on campus is driving within the confines

of the university. Roberts said it can be difficult to access campus parking lots if university roads are not cleared. “I feel as though maybe they don't clear the roads that might need to be cleared to access parking lots,” Roberts said. “That's where the hardships come in.” Petrie, Pennington and Roberts have learned an array of lessons as a result of their travels. For example, Pennington said the best place to park is in the sun. “When (a car) sits there in the shade, it gets all icy and cold and it's so much better if you have a nice sun-warmed car,” Pennington said. Roberts emails her professors in advance to let them know she may have a difficult time arriving on campus. She also makes sure to keep emergency supplies in her car. “I have extra supplies just in case I need to stay in my car for a little bit longer than anticipated,” Roberts said. As the winter carries on, these commuters all share an important sentiment – no class is more important than safety. “If it does not feel safe to travel, don't,” Pennington said. “The class will always be there, you won't. So don't travel if your gut says it's not safe.”

@ABBYBLOSEE AB532721@OHIO.EDU

Cars in a commuter lot on Stewart Street, at Ohio University, Athens, Jan. 20, 2024. (TALITHA MALOY | FOR THE POST)

First-time snow seers recall magic An impression made in the snow outside of Patton College of Education Jan. 20, 2024 in Athens, Ohio. (ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR)

GABRIELLE CABANES FOR THE POST For many students at Ohio University, snow can be a pretty normal thing. Having grown up in northern parts of the country where snow is usually common, seeing snowfall is just another part of the winter months. For some students, however, the recent snowfall in Athens may have been the first they had ever seen, or at least the only snow they actually have had the chance to interact with. While a significant fall of snow is usually magical no matter one’s age or how often they have experienced it, for others, seeing snow on the ground may be something completely out of the ordinary and their reactions to the powder-like sparkling substance can be quite incredible to capture. Hopefully, students from more tropical areas didn’t forget their snow gear. Although the snow may be beautiful to look at, the freezing-cold temperatures mixed with incredibly low wind chills can sometimes make for a rude awakening and rough adjustment

for students used to the sun. be able to experience snow. Izaak White, a freshman studying com“It was pretty neat because one of my puter science, said he is originally from St. classes got canceled, and I got to go out Petersburg, Florida, and there and play with it,” he this past week was the said. first time he had ever exEmma Anderson, a perienced snow before. He freshman studying media said he originally found out and social change, said she about the snow when his is originally from JacksonI think I’m still mother called him to tell ville, Florida, and although him he should be expect- enjoying it just because she has driven through ing some flurries. snow before, this year it’s different. I definitely the White said he had only in Athens was her first do miss the warm, but time experiencing living in ever seen snow in Christmas movies and that he a snowy environment. it’s still nice to be in had expected it to be a lot She said although she something I haven’t colder than it actually was. has needed a little bit of He was also surprised by help from her peers, Anhad before.” the softness of the powderson has been able to - Rachel Grant, Freshman, dery substance. adjust well to the weather. White said he is thank“It’s been an interesting Broadcast Meteorology ful that his roommates adjustment because obviprepared him with the ously I’m not used to the appropriate equipment needed to be in the snow and when it first started to turn cold snow as it is something he had never had to my roommates would laugh at me because I deal with before. He said he was excited to didn’t know how to layer properly,” she said.

“So they had to teach me how to properly layer so that I could stay warm.” She said although she will eventually be excited to go back to warmer weather, she is happy to experience something so new to her. “I think I’m still enjoying it just because it’s different,” she said. “I definitely do miss the warm, but it’s still nice to be in something I haven’t had before.” Rachel Grant, a freshman studying broadcast meteorology, said she is originally from Delaware and, despite some common misconceptions, snow is very rare and almost never falls in that part of the country. She said she was able to spend time in the snow this week and that she was very happy about it. “I remember walking out of my dorm and I had my winter boots on,” she said. “I was hopping in the snow so excited to actually see it and play with it.”

@GABRIELLECAB1 GC183621@OHIO.EDU

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Ohio’s penalty kill skills help lead to victory EMMA ERION MANAGING EDITOR It would still be ideal for the Bobcats to avoid racking up too many penalty minutes, as playing on the kill does still technically mean they have a disadvantage. However, the way they play on the kill is what is overall advantageous to them as a team. Garrett Alderman, the Bobcats goaltender who helped earn them a shutout Jan. 20 against Toledo discussed his perspective on the kill as a goaltender. “The kill was amazing … (Toledo’s) power play had maybe two shots on goal the entire game, and even yesterday, too, our kill was doing a really good job. I’m really proud of those guys ” said Alderman. Ohio is impressive playing on the kill, and the pressure it faces trying to keep a goal from going in potentially leads to more scoring opportunities for the team. Ohio plays harder on the kill — and as noted by Alderman — keeps the other team from getting scoring opportunities. The passion the Bobcats play with on the kill could potentially correlate with victory, showing that they don’t crack under pressure, they thrive.

@ERIONEMMA EE646020@OHIO.EDU

10 / JANUARY 25, 2024

Taking a look at why Ohio is losing road games CHARLIE FADEL FOR THE POST This report was compiled prior to Wednesday night’s win. As of Thursday, Jan. 25, Ohio is now 1-8 on the road after their victory at Central Michigan. Ohio has not won a road game this season. It is currently 0-8 when playing away from The Convo. You will have to go back to Feb. 1, 2023, to find the last time Ohio won a game on the road. That game was against Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Ohio secured its victory by a margin of 10 points, thanks, in part, to now-Baylor guard Yaya Felder’s 24 points for Ohio. This year’s squad is much different from those in previous years in more ways than one. Last year’s team won six games, two of which came at home and the other four on the road. This year’s team also returned only seven players from the 2022-23 roster, allowing opportunities for fresh faces — both transfers and freshmen — to come in and impact the team in a major way. As of Tuesday, this year's team sits at 5-11, only two wins away from improving on the win total from last year. Ohio has had success shooting the ball in a major way this season; in previous games, the coaching staff has constructed impactful game plans on defense that have helped the team win. However, so far on the road this season, the team has not been able to steal a game at an opponent's arena, so why is that? A few things jump out when looking at some advanced stats comparing the team’s play at home and away. The first issue is the team’s turnover percentage when away from Athens. Taking care of the ball has been a problem all year for the Bobcats, but the issue becomes worse when playing on the road. Turnover percentage weighs the number of possessions that end in a turnover; in eight home games this year, the team has a turnover percentage of 19.4%. The difference is made clear when comparing that number to the 27.3% turnover percentage on the road. The other glaring statistic is the difference in points per possession when looking at the team’s games on the road and at home. Per Synergy Sports, Ohio averages .713 points per possession this season. The stat becomes even more intriguing when splitting up the road and home games. In all eight of

Monica Williams (13) during the Ohio Women's Basketball game against Eastern Michigan at The Convo, Jan. 10, 2024. (SKYLAR SEAVEY | FOR THE POST)

the Bobcats’ games at The Convo this season, they have reached their average number of points per possession in every home game but one, the game against Indiana State, where they won with a points per possession average of .710. Ohio failed to reach the .700 benchmark in every road game but one. The only road game it reached .700 points per possession was in a loss against Kent State. Averaging a turnover on more than a quarter of your possessions is not a recipe for winning games. Thankfully for the Bobcats, their turnover issue has been getting better lately, posting a modest 21.5% turnover percentage over their last two road games. As for the points per possession statistic, it gives an insight into how efficiently a team is using their possessions. On the road, it is clear that Ohio is not getting the most out of its time with the ball, thus allowing opposing teams to take advantage of transition opportunities off either turnovers or missed shots. Ohio still has a lot of games left this season, and if it can fix its problems on the road, it will secure a victory away from Athens in no time. @CHARLIEFADEL CF111322@OHIO.EDU

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

NFL fans show their pride in Athens HANNAH CAMPBELL PROJECTS EDITOR Ohio University is 152 miles away from Cleveland Browns Stadium, 131 miles away from Paycor Stadium and 135 miles away from Acrisure Stadium. Yet, Browns, Bengals and Steelers fans at OU find ways to carry on their childhood fandom to the brick streets. According to OU enrollment records, over 12,000 of the university’s undergraduate enrollment are residents of Ohio. Many students, in turn, come to campus repping Ohio football pride. The only two Ohio teams from the National Football League are the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, as students from the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, many of OU’s Pittsburgh Steelers fans still find ways to support their team.

12 / JANUARY 25, 2024

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Home Is Where the Heart Is Many football fans cite their childhood families and hometowns as the reason that they support a certain team. For Chloe Maushart, her love for the Bengals came from her dad. A senior studying integrated mathematics, Maushard said her family has had season tickets for Bengals games throughout her childhood. Some of her favorite memories are going to the first home game of each preseason with her dad and sister. She said her family would hang out in the shaded section of the arena and visit the pro shop for souvenirs. “It was really just a fun way to get us together and get us going into the games before my parents felt we were old enough to be at the actual games,” Maushart said. Maushart said her dad has had season tickets in the same

section for many years: Section 344, Row 7 in Seats 1, 2 and 3. Her dad would frequently split the tickets among family and friends, with their family friend Tom attending the most with them in her adult years. She said Tom would often sit in Seat 2 of their section. During the 2021 season, each time he came to a game, the Bengals would lose. In hopes of better luck, Maushart and her dad moved Tom to the section’s third seat. Confident in their decision, Tom made a deal with Maushart if the Bengals won the game. “Tom is a massive jokester,” Maushart said. “As we’re tailgating, he goes ‘Chloe, if we win this game, you’re getting ‘Seat 2’ tattooed on you.’” Coincidentally, the Bengals had won the game. The following week, the Bengals won another home game with Tom

in Seat 2 and Maushart in Seat 3. A few days later, Maushart tattooed the section and seat number on the back of her neck. Similar to Maushart, Bridget Burkett, a junior studying special education, has been an avid Cleveland Browns fan since her childhood. She said she had four older brothers and Sundays were spent watching the Browns games in her house. “As I got older, it took more of a role in my life because we would go to the games and go down to the tailgates,” Burkett said. Burkett said her family loved the team so much that her cousins and brothers purchased a bus and painted it orange, white and brown in support of the team. “Every Sunday morning, we go down on the bus and tailgate in the (stadium) lot,” Burkett said. College Community After moving to Athens for college, Maushart said the community of Browns fans differed greatly from her hometown. She said many of her friends are either Browns or Bengals fans because many of them reside in Ohio. She said she also believes many people root for the Bengals in Athens because it is the hometown of their quarterback, Joe Burrow. “I have a lot of friends who are lifelong Bengals fans like I am, but there’s also a lot of bandwagon fans or people who are fans because Joe is from here, and it seems like a natural fit to root for his team,” Maushart said. Maushart said, especially during the 2021 season, that she encouraged her friends to support the Bengals as they succeeded during the playoffs. “I think it just helps because even (with) the bandwagon fans, it creates that camaraderie where you want to have that experience of excitement,” Maushart said. For Burkett, she feels as though Browns fans are not as invested in the game on campus as residents in her hometown are. “There's still a little bit of a disconnect,” Burkett said. “It’s just a football game to some people, but back home, if (the Browns) lost, your whole Sunday was ruined. The whole week was ruined.”

Fans Flock to the Bars With rival fanbases come separate territories. Different NFL teams frequent different Court Street bars to watch the games. Student and local fans even “designate” bars to watch their teams’ games at. For Bengals fans like Maushart, she said she would often go to Courtside Pizza, 85 N. Court St., and Cat’s Corner, 110 W. Union St., to watch the games. She said Courtside, specifically, had an “uplifting community” of Bengals fans who attended and supported their team. “It was really awesome,” Maushart said. “It was surrounded with Bengals fans, even the bartenders. Even if they might not have been a big Bengals fan, everyone was there for the camaraderie.” David Cornwell, owner of Courtside Pizza, said the bar and restaurant was previously considered a place for Browns fans because of many of its workers. However, it may have shifted because of the student fanbase. He also said that Joe Burrow’s parents, Robin and Jim, have previously visited Courtside Pizza to give the bar a ball from a Bengals game. He said that might have also contributed to the shift.

“It’s just a football game to some people, but back home, if (the Browns) lost, your whole Sunday was ruined. The whole week was ruined.” - Bridget Burkett, junior, studying special education

Nevertheless, Cornwell said the fanbase in the establishment can shift based on the success of either team. “We were packed for the Browns game (in) the playoffs,” Cornwell said. “If Cincinnati were in the playoffs and had success, we’d be full of Cincinnati fans.” For Browns fans such as Burkett, she said she often goes to Stephen’s On Court, 66 N. Court St., and Cat’s Eye Saloon, 12 N. Court St., to watch the team. She said one of her best experiences was at Cat’s Eye Saloon, where they held a watch party for the 2024 playoff game versus the Houston Texans. “It definitely felt more like I was at home because they had a little tailgate set-up of food and everyone was very welcoming,” Burkett said. For Steelers fans, there is only one bar on campus that they might call home. Walking into Lucky’s Sports Tavern, 11 N. Court St., one will notice the Steelers’ season schedule hanging by the door. Memorabilia and other decorations are spread out across the bar, and you may even find a bartender wearing a jersey behind the counter. Shawn Ritchie, one of the owners of Lucky’s, was surprised to hear that the bar was still considered a Steelers bar on campus. He said he has noticed fewer students from Pennsylvania attending OU and going to Lucky’s to watch the game. “I grew up being a Steelers fan and my family is from that area, so (Lucky’s) just became a Steelers’ bar,” Ritchie said. “Now, those days are gone.” Ritchie said the bar was previously considered to be a large Steelers bar and was even noted as one on Iron City Beer cans, a Pittsburgh brewing company. Ritchie said he also feels as though fewer students go out to bars and restaurants on Court Street to watch games because of accessible technology. “Anyone can watch every game from their house, so I just think the technology has transitioned away from actually going to a sports bar,” Ritchie said. Substitutive Supporting As the Steelers, Browns and Bengals have all lost their respective games in the playoff round of the NFL, students and residents alike look for new teams to support. Maushart admitted she cannot root for the Baltimore Ravens in “good faith,” as they are the only team remaining in the AFC North division. Because she also dislikes the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, she said she is rooting for the San Francisco 49ers. Cornwell and Burkett, on the other hand, said they support the Detroit Lions in the final playoff games. “(The Lions’) fanbase is also similar to the Browns,” Burkett said. “(They are) very energetic, exciting and they’re just a good team to watch.”

@HANNAHCAMPBELL HC895819@OHIO.EDU

KATIE MILLARD | EDITOR IN CHIEF THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Ohio tackles obstacles on, off mats with travel, scheduling MARC GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POST

ollege wrestling has never been a sport for the faint of heart. The difficult weight programs, strenuous competition that comes in waves and having to keep up with academics are just a few of the roadblocks that would make most ordinary people throw in the towel. One of the most unnoticed aspects of sports, especially collegiate sports, is travel. For Ohio, travel is one of the aspects that can make or break an athlete. In total, Ohio will travel over 11,500 miles during the 2023-24 season. This figure is drawn from a calculation of miles both to and from each dual or tournament. For reference, that is less than 1,000 miles of the distance between the North and South Poles and significantly more than the distance between Athens and Sydney, Australia. The awe-inspiring distances that Ohio travels only rival the mental strength of the student-athletes to overcome travel fatigue and then perform at their highest levels. The schedule itself is something of a masterpiece. As anyone can attest, creating a schedule is rather exhausting. Even on the smaller scale of creating a class schedule, individuals can feel overwhelmed and frustrated. In the case of a college sports team, it falls to the coaching staff to schedule a certain number of opponents. That responsibility never truly ends, much like

Ohio University sophomore Mason Brugh after his victory over the George Mason at The Convo, Jan. 19, 2024. (AMBERLEE GLADWELL | FOR THE POST)

14 / JANUARY 25, 2024

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

recruiting or instructing athletes. While the Mid-American Conference alleviates some of the scheduling headaches by organizing given MAC duals, the real challenge comes through nonconference scheduling. After that, Greenlee and his coaching staff made up of former Bobcats Cody Walters and Shakur Laney, are tasked with filling in the holes in the schedule. This season, the Bobcats have 18 match days on the calendar with 13 of those being duals, three invitationals or tournaments, the MAC Championships and the NCAA Championships. When deciding who fills out the schedule for Ohio, Greenlee and Walters head the task, but Greenlee admits that Walters does the heavy lifting on that front. Every season, the schedule is crafted in a way that intends to challenge the athletes with strong competition while also making the most sense for the program as a whole. “I think a ton of things go into it,” Greenlee said. “One, we want pretty good competition. We want somebody that has some ranked guys on their team and go from there … Second, we want something we can afford. For example, if we wanted to wrestle Cal Poly and have them come here, that is an expensive trip for us. We probably don’t want them to come here if we have to return the dual. We like to try to piggyback off what West Virginia does. If they have somebody coming out from the Big 12, those guys don’t always want to come down to wrestle West Virginia in one match. We can also try to get somebody from that, and it is the same way with regards to Ohio State.” Greenlee also factors in the quality of competition. For example, he mentioned that Penn State called Ohio to wrestle in Happy Valley. Greenlee declined the offer not because he would not want to wrestle one of the best programs in the country, but because he thinks it would do more harm than good for the team.

The entire purpose of creating the schedule is to challenge the team. This is seen in the turnaround from the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and a dual against Navy in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Additionally, the coaching staff took the opportunity to wrestle with a different Big Ten program, Michigan State, for an added challenge. No matter the opponent, Greenlee said that he acknowledges that the team is very equipped to take on this challenge. “I tell them ‘Hey we’re going to Navy and you’re going to have to wrestle, but you are getting a couple days off,’” Greenlee said. The other aspect that is challenging when it comes to the schedule is how the team has to travel. Greenlee reports that the team will only fly to a pair of events this season: the Las Vegas Invitational and the NCAA Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. Outside of that, Ohio will be on the bus for the entirety of its travel. Greenlee said he fondly recalls his time traveling to events. “I actually enjoyed back in the day when we took van rides,” Greenlee said. “There was no television, no cell phones and a lot of good team-building things happened there.” The camaraderie that Greenlee references is also something that happens during the season with travel. Greenlee talks about the ways the athletes pass the time on some long trips, whether that be playing cards, sharing stories or just generally enjoying the company of a teammate. Between all the logistics of the sport, the bottom line for Ohio is to continue winning. The team refuses to use any of the logistics, such as immense travel, as an excuse. Moreover, Ohio’s season goals rely on its ability to overcome these obstacles. With Greenlee’s expertise and tactical choices, Ohio’s hopes of winning its first MAC title since 2001 look brighter than ever.

@MBGOLDSTEIN1107 MG126321@OHIO.EDU

Ohio looks to bounce back against Kent State BOBBY GORBETT SPORTS EDITOR Ohio (9-10, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) is nearly two-thirds through its regular season and is still searching for its first road win. Ohio will look to change its road winless start against Kent State (10-9, 3-4 MAC). Despite playing much better basketball in the last two weeks than it had to start MAC play, Ohio dropped a close game to Akron on Tuesday. Ohio held Akron to just 67 points but shot 38.9% from the field to score a season-low 57 points. Friday night, the Bobcats will look to put its loss behind it with a quick turnaround against Kent State. While every MAC road game is a test, Kent State is not quite at the same level it has been in years past or even at the same level as Ohio’s previous opponent Akron. The Golden Flashes started the conference slate with a mediocre 1-3 record before bouncing back with road wins against Northern Illinois and Bowling Green. Here is what to know for Ohio’s game against Kent State.

GAME INFORMATION:

OPPONENT: Kent State LOCATION: Memorial and Athletic Convo-

cation Center

TIME: Friday at 6:30 p.m. HOW TO WATCH: CBS Sports Network

MEET THE OPPONENT:

HEAD COACH: Rob Senderoff (13th season) PROBABLE STARTERS:

01 VonCameron Davis 04 Chris Payton Jr. 13 Jalen Sullinger

15 Mike Bekelja 42 Cli’Ron Hornbeak

STATISTICAL LEADERS:

Points: Sullinger (15.2 per game) Assists: Giovanni Santiago (4.1 per game) Steals: Santiago (1.4 per game) Rebounds: Payton Jr. (7.8 per game) Field-Goal Percentage: Hornbeak (68.3%) Three-Point Percentage: Tyem Freeman (56%) Free-Throw Percentage: Sullinger (87%)

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HISTORY:

In the last 12-plus years, Ohio has had its challenges with one of the most consistently successful MAC programs, Kent State. The Bobcats have gone just 11-17 against the Golden Flashes since the beginning of 2011. More concerning for the Bobcats, though, is their current four-game losing streak against the Golden Flashes. Last season, the Bobcats played two close games against the eventual MAC champion but lost in both games. Ohio has not defeated Kent State at Kent since the 2013-14 season.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Chris Payton Jr.

In his fifth year in college basketball, Payton Jr. has blossomed into a do-it-all type of player for Kent State. At 6-foot-7-inches, Payton Jr. leads the Golden Flashes in rebounding and blocks, averaging 13.9 points per game. Payton Jr. has shown he can also step outside and knock down a 3-point jumper, with six makes on the year, and is shooting an efficient 51.4% from the field.

@GORBETTBOBBY BG238320@OHIO.EDU

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Jaylin Hunter (12) Guard position on Ohio University’s Basketball Team looks for an open teammate at The Convo, in Athens, Ohio on Jan. 20, 2024. (JOE HALLQUIST | FOR THE POST)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

NBA players who deserve All-Star Starter spots

Charlie Fadel All-star fan voting for the NBA closed Saturday night. Talent is at an all-time high in the NBA, and many players have cases to be selected as starters. These players are my picks to represent their conferences as allstar starters.

Eastern Conference:

Backcourt: Tyrese Haliburton and Donovan Mitchell Tyrese Haliburton is on my list as making what would be the second all-star appearance of his young career, a well-deserved honor. Even more so than last year, Haliburton has been playing at an all-NBA level all season and has helped a young Pacers team earn the best offensive rating in the NBA this season. His numbers are gaudy, putting up 23.6 points per game and a league-leading 12.6 assists per game. Haliburton’s numbers have earned him a spot in the Eastern

Conference starting lineup. As for Donovan Mitchell, he has again been playing at an elite level. He is carrying his usual scoring load averaging 27.8 points per game and 5.9 assists per game, a career-high in the absence of Darius Garland. The Cavs are 12-3 in their last 15 games and are standing at fourth in the East. Mitchell has stayed consistent as the Cavs leader, and that earns him a starting spot. Frontcourt: Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo are very similar players, so I will group their explanations together. They are both former MVPs still very much in their prime putting up career numbers and leading their teams to wins while doing it. Embiid averages more points per game than anybody in the game, and Giannis is still one of the league’s best defenders. Although Jayson Tatum’s stats aren’t career bests like Embiid’s and Antetokounmpo’s, he is the best player on the league’s best team, and that alone gets him a starting slot in the East. Boston has been incredible this season, currently holding the league’s best record and only losing one game at home, as well as beating the odds-on title favorite.

Western Conference:

Backcourt: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has improved every year since being traded to Oklahoma City from Los Angeles, and this year he has thrived on a young Thunder team, becoming a dark horse MVP candidate. His Thunder team is second in the West, wildly ahead of schedule being one of the league’s best teams. Gilgeous-Alexander’s league-leading steal numbers and 31.4 points per game are the backbone of Oklahoma City’s success. As for Luka Dončić, his points per game and assist numbers are career highs, averaging 33.6 and 9.2 in those categories respectively. His play has been a huge reason why Dallas has answered most of its questions after missing the playoffs last year, aside from its still inconsistent defense. He is sure to always put up around 30, 8 and 8. As long as he is still putting up those numbers, he will be finding himself in the all-star starting five. Frontcourt: Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokić and Kevin Durant I have Anthony Davis earning a spot in the starting lineup. Davis has always been known for two things — his astounding defensive ability and his inability to stay healthy. This

year, the defensive ability has stayed on the court for all but two games the Lakers have played this season. The Lakers have been disappointing, but Davis is still an elite player. Nikola Jokić is still at the top of his game, throwing crafty passes and displaying silky footwork in the post. He is once again just a few stats off averaging a triple-double. Denver is also again one of the league’s best teams with a record of 30-14. There isn’t much more to be said for Jokic, who will be in the starting lineup for many years to come. As for Kevin Durant, he has molded his game in new ways to fit with Phoenix. While loaded with star power, Phoenix lacks a true point guard, as well as defensive stability inside, and Durant has adapted his game to partially fill those needs. He is still the ultimate offensive weapon as well, currently on the edge of the 50-40-90 club. For those reasons, Durant takes my final starting slot in the West. Charlie Fadel is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Charlie know by tweeting or emailing him at @CharlieFadel or cf111322@ ohio.edu.

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‘Buckshot Roulette’ is a great time if you love bad vibes

Sorrel Kerr-Jung Every so often, I’ll stumble into a game with almost no expectations. Usually, it’s because a single screenshot caught my eye on social media. That’s exactly what happened with Mike Klubnika’s breakout indie game, Buckshot Roulette. At first glance, it looks an

awful lot like Inscryption — one of my favorite games of the last few years — but it’s not an entirely unfair comparison. Like Inscryption’s first act, Buckshot Roulette is all about being locked in a grimy room with an antagonistic force obsessed with games of chance. Where Inscryption’s antagonist, Leshy, wants you to play a fairly straightforward deck-building roguelike, Buckshot Roulette’s nameless dealer is more interested in a twisted new take on Russian roulette — with a shotgun. From there, the comparisons to Inscryption fade into the background. There’s no epic alternate reality game to dig into, no intriguing FMV side story; it’s just you, the dealer and a shotgun. You know how many blanks and live rounds are in the gun, and on your turn, you choose whether to shoot yourself or the dealer. If you choose yourself and wind up with a blank, you can choose again. If you choose the dealer and it’s a blank, then it’s

the dealer’s turn. If it’s a live round … well, you can probably guess the outcome. You can use a few things to improve your odds — a handcuff that prevents the dealer from moving, a magnifying glass that lets you check the current shell or other things of that nature. They’re in limited supply and they’re doled out at random, so it’s dangerous to build your strategy around those tools. Instead, (for the most part) you’ll have to rely on basic probability and a desire to take risks. It’s a simple game built around a simple point of tension, but it’s also relentlessly engaging. I’ve gotten hooked on its endless randomizer mode, which allows you to place your virtual life on the line over and over again, chasing a huge payout. It scratches the same part of my brain that games like Yahtzee do. Taking risks, making informed decisions and securing a victory from a lucky guess feels good. I am also a big fan of bad vibes. I love hor-

ror games not only because they scare me, but also because the aesthetic of a neutral space perverted by horrible events is appealing to me. The obvious mechanical tension of blindly choosing between victory and loss feels that much more important when tied to a literal shotgun. Buckshot Roulette is gross. It’s uncomfortable and unnerving. It’s also a deceptively deep and engaging board game-like experience. For someone like me, who enjoys being uncomfortable, unnerved and playing board games, it’s a hit. Sorrel Kerr-Jung is a junior studying virtual reality game development at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Sorrel by tweeting her at @sorrelquest.

Everyone needs to be listening to Chappell Roan

Lillian Barry Chappell Roan is a glittery, red-haired superstar. She’s a masterful performer. She’s a midwest princess, a femininomenon, a super ultra graphic modern girl. She’s also pop music’s next big thing. Roan has been steadily climbing in popularity since the release of Pink Pony Club in 2020, and, despite being dropped from Atlantic Records the same year, she’s continued to release a truly impressive lineup

of energetic hits. Now, she’s opening for the Olivia Rodrigo GUTS tour and headlining her Midwest Princess Tour this summer (including stops in Ohio.) To find out why her music has enraptured thousands, you only need to take a look at her most recent album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” The album features countless lively tracks, such as “HOT TO GO!,” which is deeply reminiscent of a cheer routine. Here, Roan is able to capture the bubbly feeling of a crush and bottle it into the perfect dance song, complete with a step-by-step number, where she tells the listener to “snap and clap, now touch your toes/ Raise your hands, now body roll/ Dance it out, you’re hot to go.” This, along with the addictive chanting of H-O-T-T-O-G-O in the chorus, solidifies the song as the ultimate party anthem. And it doesn’t stop there. The similarly electrifying “Femininomenon” and “Red Wine Supernova” further prove Roan’s endless talent, combining upbeat instrumentals with Roan’s ethereal vocals, which seem equally as suited for ballads as it does for fast-paced pop music. Her lilting voice leaves you hanging onto every word and the music itself almost beckons you to start moving.

But it’s not just her voice that makes her so magnetic. Roan’s confidence, personality and unique style make her impossible to forget. She’s drawn a lot of attention from the LGBTQIA+ community in particular for the queer themes in her work — most of the songs on “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” are about gay culture, same-sex crushes and hookups with other women. For example, In “Super Ultra Graphic Modern Girl,” she sings about wanting a “super ultra graphic modern girl like me,” and in “Naked in Manhattan,” she describes a high school crush on a girl. Meanwhile, “Casual” and “My Kink is Karma” detail situationships gone wrong, referencing the very specific experience of queer heartbreak while still managing to keep the same vibrant sound consistent with the rest of the album. Perhaps the most tender is “Pink Pony Club,” a very vulnerable, genuine homage to gay clubs inspired by a gay bar in West Hollywood and “Kaleidoscope,” a ballad about a failed relationship. Not to mention Roan’s notable love for drag queens — she often asks local drag queens to open for her shows, and even describes her stage persona as a “drag version of [her]self.”

It’s hard not to love her. In addition to her eye-catching fashion and compelling personality, her music has an almost addictive quality to it. If you listen to a Chappell song, expect to be nodding your head to it for the rest of the week. With her ever-increasing popularity and her infinite well of talent, I’m placing my bets on Chappell Roan as the next pop obsession. Lillian Barry is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Lillian know by tweeting her at @lillianbarry_.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

OU should reconsider severe weather protocol

he recent barrage of winter storms across the eastern U.S. made its way to Athens last week in the form of high winds, heavy snow and unprecedentedly low temperatures. Still, the Athens campus remained open and classes resumed as normal, although many professors held class online. The decision to keep the school open amid a large-scale deep freeze spanning across the country was a bold move and did not go unnoticed by faculty and students. Obviously, students are on campus to receive an in-person education rooted in experience and discussion, best conducted through consistent, in-person classes. However, the safety risks associated with driving in rural areas in inclement weather combined with the likelihood of further severe weather — likely brought on by climate change — means that the university should reconsider its protocol. For most students, a cold, snowy walk to class is not the end of the world at a walkable campus like OU. The problem is that OU is also a campus in a rural area where many professors and students commute to work and it takes longer for salt trucks and snow plows to reach the neighborhoods surrounding Athens. Thus, the university asking everyone to come to class as usual is also asking students and professors to go out on unsafe roads in below-freezing temperatures. If students do not risk their safety in this way, they may be penalized in class. Professors are left with the decision of switching classes to an online format or canceling it altogether when the school is telling them one thing and common sense is telling them another. One of the biggest draws to OU is how beautiful the campus is, and its beauty cannot be separated from the hills that envelop it. This means the university needs to take care in understanding that commuting at OU is much different than commuting at Ohio State or Cincinnati when weather hits. Acknowledging this difference could look like asking for input from faculty and staff and commuter students to better understand where exactly students and staff are coming from and how likely it is they will have a safe route to work or class. Simultaneously, many scientists think this extreme weather is just the beginning. The theory of Arctic Amplification suggests that intense cold snaps such as last week’s are just as much a consequence of human-caused climate change as melting glaciers and rising sea

People walking on College Green Jan. 22, 2024, in Athens, Ohio. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)

levels. This theory suggests climate change does not simply mean the warming of the planet, but more volatile weather patterns all around. Being in the Great Lakes region puts Ohio specifically at an even greater risk of being permeated by the polar vortex that so often hits the Northeastern U.S. Although weather events such as what was experienced across campus last week will not necessarily become more common, when they do occur, they will come with heightened ferocity. Severe winter weather brought on by climate change is not going anywhere and neither is OU. In order to maintain dedication to the safety of faculty and students, OU needs to revisit its protocol in instances of severe weather of all kinds, not just severe winter storms. 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 Asst. Opinion Editor Megan Diehl. Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage.

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The death of the preteen: ALICIA SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

any viewers scrolling through TikTok in the past few weeks have seen at least one video about 10-year-olds buying products from skincare brands like Drunk Elephant at Sephora. While those jokes are lighthearted, they highlight a glaring issue. The stage between childhood and the teenage years has faded, leaving children between 9 and 12 without much time to transition. The era of the preteen, or "tween," has disappeared. But what happened to the once flourishing demographic? There are a few things to blame. The first reason is the lack of media for preteens. The 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s were great times for tween media. Movies for tweens were extremely popular and mass-produced. Films like "The Sandlot" employed humor and some elements that were too mature for young children but deemed childish for older audiences. Thus, they fell directly into the tween demographic, with content palatable for children in their middle school years. Another example comes from the bookto-movie adaptation "Bridge to Terabithia." It tells the story of Jess and Leslie, two friends who create an imaginary kingdom. However, Leslie tragically dies at the end, leaving Jesse to deal with the grief of losing a friend. This film was considered too mature for children, but the dark theme of death combined with a lack of explicit content made it perfect for preteens. Furthermore, television shows for tweens were extremely prevalent around the end of the 20th and the start of the 21st century. These shows were often serialized, following a plotline while still showing less explicit content and more childish humor. TeenNick is a perfect example of that. It started as a programming block on its parent channel, Nickelodeon, before branching into its separate channel. Many of the programs on this were aimed at older kids and young teens, such as "H20: Just Add Water.” It dealt with darker themes of family issues and relationship problems, but nothing that a preteen could not handle. Similarly, other shows like "House of Anubis" had some content that would be considered too scary for younger kids but too childish for older teens, making it just right for a preteen-age child. However, many of these shows and movies aimed at the tween demographic have disappeared in the past few years. Very few are still being released, eliminating the crucial bridge between children's media and media for teens and adults and exposing preteens to content that is too mature for them.

Among the few still being released was the series "Julie and the Phantoms," which was aimed at the demographic. The show portrays a teenage girl coping with the loss of her mom and pursuing her dreams in music with the help of a band made up of ghosts. It dealt with themes of grief, the afterlife and queer relationships in a way that was easy for people that age to understand. However, it was canceled after one season, showcasing the turning away from tween media in the television and film industry. Another example, "Turning Red”, which was released in 2022, was aimed at a tween audience. The main character, Mei, faced the trials and tribulations of puberty and middle school while occasionally turning into a giant red panda. It had a goofy premise that tackled topics like menstrual cycles and the struggles of growing up, which was another thing that was too mature for young kids but too childish for older kids, making it perfect for preteens. However, the movie was slammed for making the characters too "immature," "childish" and "annoying." The issue here was the characters were simply acting like preteens. But the lack of media is not the only reason for preteens' disappearance. The deficiency of places for them is also to blame. There is a massive lack of "third places" in America. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term, which refers to a place outside of the home (or the first place) and work (the second place). They exist to be a place for socializing and community building. However, many third places in America no longer exist or now cost money (or more money than they previously did). There are still some third places. Children have parks and playgrounds. High schoolers and college students have coffee shops and restaurants. Adults have bars and gyms. But what about preteens? Many third places for preteens have become more expensive or more limited. When people in that age range think of places to meet up and hang out, what do they think of? Bowling alleys, arcades, malls. Many of these locations are either shutting down or changing dramatically. Bowling alleys have raised their prices to keep up with inflation and the demands of the times. Other places, like arcades, simply do not have enough clientele and have shut down. Malls have also been hit hard, as online shopping has become the main source of consumption. Those changes have eliminated third spaces for preteens, pushing them more into online spaces instead of the outside world with peers their age. Also, many of the stores once geared toward tweens have either closed or changed. Justice, a once massive retail chain with preteens as its main demographic, was perma-

The disappearance of a demographic

NICOLE REESE | FOR THE POST nently shut down in 2020. Claire's, another retail chain with the same demographic, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and closed stores across numerous malls. There is also an absence of fashion and clothing for preteens, which leaves little to fill in the gap between what a child wears and what an older teenager wears. This is why a massive shift has occurred towards older, more mature fashion and styles for tweens. But store closings are not solely the reason for the disappearance of tween fashion and clothing. Stores work in tandem with social media to create a perfect storm for the absence of preteen expression. Young people are on social media now more than ever. While many platforms require the users to be at least 13 years old, Insider Intelligence found that over 2% of TikTok's user base is 11 years old and younger. While this might seem like a small amount, the app has over one billion users worldwide, which means that it is possible to estimate that roughly 25 million people, age 11 and younger, are on the app. This means they are exposed to an online culture wildly different from the real world and often made up of older teens and adults. After all, many influencers are around that age, and their job title is quite literally to influence. Their platforms also consist of mostly younger audiences, who look to these influencers for fashion and cosmetic tips and other sources of inspiration. Stores like American Eagle and Hollister Co. have partnered with TikTok stars like Addison Rae and Charli and Dixie D'Amelio, releasing lines of clothing centered on the TikTok stars. However, these influencers are

all in their late teens and early 20s, modeling clothing typically outside the appropriate age range for a preteen. Impressionable tween audiences are inclined to want to look like their favorite TikTok stars and often attempt to emulate these styles. Aside from influencers, the explosion of cringe culture has also played a major part in the demographic's disappearance. While behavior deemed "cringe" is nothing new, what constitutes "cringe" has expanded. Many things that younger kids and preteens typically enjoy have been considered "cringy" by older audiences and, as a result, have been shamed and given a negative connotation. Take video games like “Minecraft” and “Fortnite,” for example. Both are harmless, fun games for preteens that do not feature mature or explicit content. However, both have taken on a negative connotation in recent times. While shaming people for their interests has been happening for a long time, the anonymity of online spaces has made it much easier and has far fewer consequences. Cringe culture also targets people who do not quite fit the status quo. At the tween age, when kids begin to enter the real world, they will figure out how to fit in and adhere to social norms. However, the prevalence of social media and the normalization of shaming people for not fitting a certain look or lifestyle have forced preteens to abandon their interests and lifestyles to fit a more uniform, older one.

@ALICIA_SZCZ AS589820@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

Lil Nas X controversy: When Jesus turns scandalous NYLA GILBERT FOR THE POST

il Nas X has defended himself against public scrutiny several times in the past few years. His self-titled album and song “MONTERO” broke the internet back in 2021 due to its controversial imagery. The music video included the singer sliding on a stripper’s pole down to Hell and giving the devil a lap dance. This led to a Twitter feud involving Christian users on the app. Following the discourse, Lil Nas X released limited-edition Satan-themed shoes, which he said included a drop of his blood. Two years later, he is again receiving backlash for his creative liberties in his new single, “J CHRIST.”

The “J CHRIST” cover art and music video

The “J CHRIST” cover art depicts Lil Nas X as Jesus on the cross. In an Instagram post, he said the cover is “dedicated to the man who had the greatest comeback of all time.” The music video shows a great deal of symbolism about rebirth, reformation and combating demons. He put LGBTQIA+ people, especially BIPOC LGBTQIA+ members, at the forefront of his music video. Many biblical scenes are referenced in his video. One of them is Noah’s Ark, a popular symbol of rebirth and new beginnings after the literal destruction and rebirth of the world. In a TikTok video, Lil Nas X breaks down a few more of the many references in his music video, including Windows XP Wallpaper, “Bring It On” (2000), Roddy Rich’s “The Box” and Moses parting the Red Sea. Also included in the music video is the legendary Ts Madison, the first Black transgender woman to star and executive produce her own reality series. At the end of the music video for “J CHRIST,“ a quote from 2 Corinthians 5:17 appears: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” This message explains the entire meaning behind the singer’s newest concept: a new age and a new beginning. Lil Nas X is marking a new era in his artistry.

The Backlash

Since the music video’s premiere, Lil Nas X has received hate for using biblical imagery in his video. Twitch streamer Kai Cenat had much to say during one of his live streams: “God gonna handle you, bro. He’s extremely disrespectful. Go on his page, bro. He’s disrespecting God himself. He’s disrespecting the whole culture.” He even goes as far as to say he hates the rapper. Many Christians online say that his song is mocking God, Jesus and Christianity. Numerous people claim the song is blasphemous. Most of this condemnation can be attributed to the usage of Satanic imagery in his last album, “MONTERO.” Numerous members of the public accused him of promoting Satan and Satanic practices. This garnered the opinions of Candace Owens, an American conservative commentator. She tweeted that Lil Nas X’s Satan shoes were a real cause of Black oppression in America. Lil Nas X also openly expresses his sexual orientation. In an article for Billboard, he responded to a homophobic and cruel tweet from rapper Boosie Baddazz, who told the “J CHRIST” rapper to commit suicide while spouting various other harmful ideologies based on Lil Nas X’s sexual orientation. The tweet has since been deleted.

How has Lil Nas X responded to this backlash?

Lil Nas X posted a video on Instagram explaining his intentions for the “J CHRIST” video. “I know I messed up really bad this time,” he said on Instagram. “I can act unbothered all I want, but it’s definitely taken a mental toll on me. I’m not some evil demon guy trying to destroy everybody’s values and stuff like that. That’s not me.” He states that his use of biblical imagery conveys a message of rebirth, citing how he used it to pay homage to Jesus Christ and reference a notorious comeback. “When I did the artwork, I knew there would be some upset people simply because religion is a very sensitive topic for a lot of people,“ he continued. “But I also didn’t mean to mock. This wasn’t a f--- you to the Christians. It was literally me saying, ‘I’m back like Jesus.” He further explains that his background can change the perception of his current project: “I know given my history with the (‘MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)’) video, anything that I do relate to religion can be seen as mockery. That just was not the case with this.” He has also posted multiple tweets expressing his feelings on the discourse surrounding his music video: One tweet states: “I’ve crossed satan up and broke his ankles, snapped his neck and literally killed him, made a song referencing the return of Jesus, and somehow yall still think im a 20 / JANUARY 25, 2024

satanist. I can not win lmaooo.” In another tweet, he replies to a now-limited tweet, expressing his frustration with the changing narrative surrounding his creative works and expression by the public: “Y’all just be talking to talk because if anybody knows me as an artist, y’all know I put my life and soul into everything I do. The entire Montero album was me being vulnerable. You lot are rewriting history like hell, and honestly, f*** yall for that.”

This wasn’t a f--- you to the Christians. It was literally me saying, ‘I’m back like Jesus.” Lil Nas X has been very vocal in the press and conversation surrounding his art, making sure that his true intentions and purpose are known. While he is currently the artist getting the most flack for it, he surely is not the only artist to use Jesus or biblical imagery as a tool for expression.

Why do other artists get a pass?

As stated best by Lil Nas X himself, he is not the first -- nor will he be the last -- artist to dress up as Jesus in a music video. Madonna’s 1989 song “Like a Prayer” received much backlash for its music video’s imagery, including burning crosses, the appearance of wounds in the same areas as Christ during the crucifixion, and the coming-to-life and kissing of a Black Jesus statue. The video is now banned at the Vatican. Lil Nas X is receiving a similar backlash to what Madonna faced back then. While the criticism against Madonna was fueled by anti-feminist sentiments, the current Lil Nas X backlash is fueled by homophobia. To compare, rapper DaBaby released a single titled “TOUGHSKIN” music video shows images of him tied to a cross. The video also shows men with white masks and red suits trying to harm him with a saw but being unable to, as he has tough skin. When brought into the conversation combatting the scrutiny of Lil Nas X, people deflected by saying the song didn’t receive much attention when it was released. However, the video currently has over 2.1 million views on YouTube and 3.4 million play counts on Spotify. After his inappropriate comments made at Rolling Loud Miami in 2021, DaBaby’s reputation took a major hit. However, none of it caused any advert scrutiny when he paid homage to Jesus in his creative statement on rebirth and perseverance. While pop-rap artist Doja Cat’s album “Scarlet“ was indeed controversial, it didn’t receive that much public scrutiny specifically from the Christian community. In a music video for “Paint The Town Red,” Doja Cat is seen riding a green creature with horns, dressing up in red and posing as a couple with the grim reaper. While she did receive public backlash for this, it was not nearly as long-lasting. The conversation surrounding Doja Cat’s creative expression has been very quiet. She is selling out concerts and even breaking records. The music video for “Paint The Town Red” currently has 177.1 million views on YouTube and the song has 801.5 million play counts on Spotify. DaBaby and Doja Cat definitely received different reactions than Lil Nas X. While DaBaby’s went undetected, Doja Cat’s comeback with the “Scarlet” album was extremely successful. Even seemingly boosting her career even more. This may be because some artists take their work more seriously; Lil Nas X has been a troll for many years, and people tend to take his serious intentions as mockery. In an Instagram video and tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “The problem is y’all judge everything at face value. I’ve never released a visual without an underlying meaning and y’all know that. But since I’m a troll, y’all discount my art as just ‘pissing ppl off’.” This is very well true. However, the added criticism of his sexual orientation and race has added layers to the scrutiny he gets from both inside and outside his own communities. While Lil Nas X has admittedly handled situations poorly and had ideas misconstrued, his creative mind and works of expression deserve to be treated fairly. He himself stated a great point: “People have been recreating biblical stories for thousands of years. Everybody devout Christians when Lil Nas walks in the room, though.” Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world. It is one of the most explored and spread throughout history. The use of biblical imagery, literature and symbolism has been around longer than the first of the Crusades. The use of Jesus’ likeness to make political and creative points has been around since the first century and will continue to be.

@NYLA_GILBERT_ NG972522@OHIO.EDU

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Why movies are not marketing as musicals LOGAN HUMPHREY FOR THE POST A recent viral video on social media consists of a room full of theater-goers watching the 2024 reboot of the 20-yearold teen flick “Mean Girls.” The viewers groaned and laughed as the main character Cady, broke into song, signifying that the audience was dissatisfied with the film’s musical element. The "Mean Girls" reboot is a movie musical based on the musical of the same name, which is based on the movie of the same name, then based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes.” But audiences weren't fully aware that this newest rendition was a movie musical due to its marketing. Trailers lacked that important detail, and it wasn't the first to do it, as other recent releases like "Wonka” and "The Color Purple” used the same tactic. Not everyone who went to see Timothée Chalamet as the famous Roald Dahl character expected him to belt out a tune, either. But ultimately, the trick proved to be successful, as "Wonka" made over $507 million with its $125 million budget. This new marketing trend hasn’t come out of nowhere; the past few years of movie musicals have included box office flops, shoddy criticism and low audience scores. There was a time when a movie musical could do tremendously well at the box office, whether it was a Broadway adaptation or an original screenplay. Films like "La La Land," "A Star is Born" and "The Greatest Showman” created an everlasting impression on viewers, and filmmakers are consistently trying to reach this type of high again. Yet, in this modern era of turning musicals into films, producing them costs more and more. Within the past five years, most movie musicals in theaters have not been making most of that money back. Granted, many were released during the COVID-19 pandemic when every other movie was also struggling to stay alive. However, the movie musical genre itself has suffered the most with flop after flop. Whether or not these films received high critics and audience scores, a glaring problem persisted, which resulted in a broken age of the movie musical genre. A starting point in this particular era was the disappointment in the late 2019 installment of "Cats." Despite a star-studded cast, like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and Idris Elba, the film's jarring CGI was enough to turn most viewers off and received 19% on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2021, when theaters began to open up again, a myriad of musicals were set to release. One of the first that was released was "In the Heights," the multi-Tony award-winning musical. Though the film garnered high-rated reviews, scoring 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film failed to hit its box office goal. Another release this year was the modern musical "Dear Evan Hansen," which received a pleasant "A-" CinemaScore. However, that didn't stop the film from being rated 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming yet another box office flop. A driving factor could have been the controversial casting choice of 27-year-old Ben Platt to play a teenage boy. Director Joe Wright, known for literary adaptations like “Pride and Prejudice,” released “Cyrano” this same year. “Cyrano” was liked by audiences, as seen in its 85% Rotten Tomatoes audience score. However, unlike his other literary adaptations, Wright's film only made $6.3 million out of a budget of $30 million. Steven Spielberg's “West Side Story” finished in 2021. It earned a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, similar to the original 1961 rendition. However, the film's $10.5 million opening was no22 / JANUARY 25, 2024

MIA PISHOTTI | FOR THE POST

where near surpassing its $100 million budget. Even some of the movie musicals that came out on streaming did not hit the mark. Camila Cabello starred in the 2021 readaptation of "Cinderella,“ which was released only to Amazon Prime Video. But it was the negative reception of the film that provided a month's worth of memes. However, Netflix did achieve success with "Tick, Tick… Boom!”. In that same year, the service also began streaming "Diana: The Musical,” which received a whopping 12% on Rotten Tomatoes. "West Side Story," "Cyrano" and "Tick, Tick… Boom!" were the only musical films in this era to receive Oscar nominations. There were 10 nominations between the three movies, with only one winning an award, which went to Arianna DeBose for "Best Performance for an Actress in a Supporting Role." Instead of receiving Academy Awards, this era of films

picked up a multitude of Razzie nominations and awards more than any other type of accolade. Ultimately, after several low-rated musicals and box office flops in recent years, movie-goers have most likely grown tired of this genre, hence the groans while viewing the newest movie musical "Mean Girls." Yet, with film studios utilizing untruthful advertising, the movie musical genre seems to be in a new era. An era where studio executives have instituted a new marketing tactic that could potentially fix this persistent problem for movie musicals today.

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Artists face pros, cons of musical independence WILLIAM TROYER FOR THE POST Well-known musical artist Kesha parted ways with her record label Kemosabe Records and management this past December after settling multiple lawsuits with the owner of her former label, Dr. Luke, which was settled out of court this past June. An artist doesn't necessarily need a label to become famous or to get their music heard. Several artists are widely consumed today and are independent, such as Logic, who released his first album away from Def Jam Recordings, "College Park." Chance the Rapper is widely known as an independent rapper, even mentioning it in his lyrics on "No Problem" and many more. With that in mind, here are some pros and cons of being an independent artist versus a signed artist on a label. It's sometimes hard to define what it truly means to be independent. However, with bands such as Radiohead, who have been in several major label contracts but also chose to self-release "In Rainbows," or Chance the Rapper, who never signed to a major label but signed a two-week exclusive streaming deal with Apple Music in 2017, there are some constraints. Now, it's hard to tell what's independent. Is it someone who makes music independently throughout their career, or does an independent also mean once being on a label but now creating a body of work independently? Being an independent artist, especially in today's music world, is more complicated than it seems. Yet, independent artists make up nearly 40% of the global music industry, the highest since the early 1990s. With global streaming platforms such as Spotify catering to more diverse music, it's much easier for independent artists to become discoverable. While that's the case, Spotify will more likely cater to playlists sponsored, promoted and curated in the interests of major labels. Being a significant artist requires you to juggle many hats, from logistics, creating and selling records and press, to the autonomy of creative expression and flexibility.

You have to meet many demands. As an independent, you don't have to meet those demands. With music software more accessible than ever to the general public, it's easy for people to make at-home studios and start producing their music. Funding programs like Kickstarter and Patreon make it easier than ever to finance a music career. While creating independently offers a lot of freedom, being independent has many downsides. You're missing out on comprehensive visibility. Labels have the infrastructure for worldwide distribution. This increases the potential for international exposure and revenue, along with professional expertise that can guide artists through various aspects of their careers and provide financial support for marketing, touring and internal and external connections. Labels also have a budget, a comprehensive professional team, and status and reputation. Independent artists can achieve those things, but they are much more complicated than when sharing a standard label. While touring is funded through the label with massive budgets, if you're independent, touring is all on you. The artist's dime and ability is to book shows. You'll most likely start in your region and play at small venues, which due to the pandemic shutdown, limits shows. That also makes independent artists bear more responsibilities than if they were with a label or with a group. The meaning of being an independent artist comes down to what the artist visualizes for their music. If you control the various works you put out, including all the marketing and budgeting, that artist would be independent. However, signing with a music label will sign over your rights to the music you create and a percentage of your royalties. With the growth of streaming platforms and easier access to music recording software, we're seeing more independent artists take the forefront and lead the future of music.

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