February 8, 2024

What does it mean for Ohio to ban gender affirming care? pg 6 Why doesn’t OU have a homecoming king or queen? pg 8 What is the outlook for softball this season? pg 10 DATE DATE 8, DATE FEBRUARY 2024

A FIGHT FOR RIGHTS

Local volunteers create petition to save Lake Logan BIANCA GRIM FOR THE POST The docks at Lake Logan State Park, Feb. 5, 2024, in Logan, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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ake Logan State Park, located in Hocking County, has been negatively affected by urban developments, agricultural activities, pollution and climate change.

Volunteers and other Athens residents are working together to improve the lake’s quality.

In October 2023, the Lake Logan Association was formed to help preserve, restore and protect the lake. The group’s goals include involving citizens in the Southeast Ohio area to advocate for environmental policies and secure funding for the lake.

Maria Diaz-Myers, a volunteer in the association, said the association’s purpose is to advocate for a healthier and cleaner lake.

About a week after the association was formed, the group created a petition to improve the lake’s conditions. The petition pinpoints three crucial actions: removing years of sediment build-up from all areas of the lake, creating a comprehensive lake management plan and repairing the dam’s main outlet valve so it can be lowered in the winter.

Carol Mackuy, a volunteer in the association, said the sediment build-up is a problem for the lake because it has made it much shallower and increased vegetation growth and takeover, affecting navigability, boating ability and fishing aspects.

Mackuy said the dam wasn’t fixed until Jan. 30; before then, it had been in disrepair and not functional for three years. The project kept getting delayed due to issues like the weather.

However, to achieve its goals and fix the lake’s issues, the association needs the support of the local and state governments to provide sufficient funding.

The petition is currently 714 signatures away from achieving its goal of 5,000 signatures. Anyone interested in signing the document can go to the association’s website to sign virtually.

“It just has not had the kind of maintenance and management that it has needed to keep it in its original state and for its original purposes,” Mackuy said.

Mackuy said she heard comments that restoring the lake and its purposes was too late. Hearing those comments inspired her to take action and get involved with ways to improve the lake.

“I didn’t want to believe that (it’s too late), and I still don’t want to believe that, and I think what we have learned so quickly is the community does care … It’s just that there was no group that stepped forward to represent the citizens,” she said.

Myers said the organization is associated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or ODNR, Liason Committee and has had previous meetings with the committee to voice its concerns.

Along with Mackuy’s involvement in the Lake Logan Association, she also serves on the ODNR committee.

“It was our goal to reach out on behalf of the organization’s concerns … try to open up a line of communication with the state from the top down,” she said. “So we could really understand what their intentions were, what they wanted to do, what their plans were and are.”

Myers has also expressed how important it is to spread the word among younger generations.

Hailey Barnhill, a first-year student on the pre-med track, said it’s important for younger people to realize the restoration of Lake Logan applies to them now and will still apply to them in the future.

“Right now, (the lake) might (matter to) the people who are trying to save it – it might be their lake right now, but in the future, it’s going to end up being our lake because this younger generation is the future and the lake will get passed down to them,” she said.

Isabella Clark, a second-year student studying environ-

mental science and sustainability, said vegetation has taken over a significant area of the lake, and there are no trees or plants surrounding the area, which makes it difficult for wildlife to thrive.

“The amount of grass and vegetation are not good for the fish and wildlife,” Clark said. “We need to remove some but not all of the grass and vegetation and remind ourselves that the lake is home to the fish. Grass is a good thing for animals and other species that live at that lake but not in overabundance.”

Clark also addressed how water pollution caused by urban developments and other agricultural activities that use fertilizer with chemicals affects Lake Logan.

“When the rain comes down, the rain causes flooding, which causes all the chemicals from the fertilizer to spread to nearby bodies of water, which then contaminates the lake,” Clark said.

“This leads to poor water quality, and the chemicals are making the water toxic, which is causing algae to develop among the lake, which depletes the oxygen levels and threatens the lives of the fish.”

Clark said climate change has also impacted the lake’s fish and aquatic life. When water temperatures rise, the lake’s balance is disrupted, affecting aquatic life.

“All these issues with climate change further give us a reason and motivation to help improve the lake’s long-term health and sustainability and improve the quality of life for the wildlife and aquatic life,” Clark said.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the Lake Logan Association can complete the survey and register as a volunteer.

@BIANCAGRIM19 BG748021@OHIO.EDU COVER BY MIA PISHOTTI

2 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Electric car infrastructure coming to Athens PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER

Athens city officials are planning to bring electric vehicle, or EV, charging infrastructure to the city to mitigate carbon emissions as part of the project to renovate the Athens Armory at the end of Court Street.

“The City of Athens participated in a charging infrastructure collaborative learning program where we learned about the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program,” Deputy Service-Safety Director, Andrew Chiki, wrote in an email.

Originally, the grant was only going to be applied to funding the charging infrastructure in Athens, but it was discovered that having more communities involved would make the program more successful.

Implementing the chargers is possible through some state government grant funding and from a partnership with the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council, or SOPEC. A grant writer was hired through SOPEC to secure the funds.

The grant’s total comes to more than $12.5 million, with $1.3 million being allocated to projects only in Athens. The city is required to match 20% of their share of the grant, Chiki said.

“The match doesn’t necessarily mean actual cash but can include the cash value of things that are being installed to support the installation of the charging stations,” Chiki wrote in an email.

Twenty-eight other communities located between Dayton and Athens will receive money from the SOPEC grant.

“Dayton is going to get a large number of charging stations,” Mayor Steve Patterson said. “These 28 communities are going to have charging stations as well, so it just became really big.”

The other entities that received money from the grant include the Athens City School District, Ohio University, Gallipolis, Buckeye Hills Career Center, Albany, Nelsonville, Chauncey, Athens County, Belpre, Trimble, Amesville, Shawnee, Rio Grande, Gloucester, Racine, New Lexington, Somerset, Pomeroy, Piketon, New Concord and Dayton.

“It also provided the ability for smaller villages that have no way to receive funding for something like this to be able to participate and grow the network,” Chiki wrote in an email. “One of our goals is to expand the charging network throughout this region so that charging a vehicle won’t be a barrier for someone to adopt an electric vehicle in the future.”

Although Athens has several residents with electric cars, Patterson said the new chargers will be utilized more by people driving through Athens.

“If you have an EV, (charging) is something that you have to be mindful of along the way … and this (infrastructure) will certainly help with that,” Patterson said.

Sam Crowl, city council president and director of sustainability at OU, said he believes EVs are significantly better for mitigating carbon emissions than cars that run on gas.

“Overall the long-range where we really focus on greenhouse gas emissions and what we’re doing to our planet, in terms of climate change, electric vehicles are definitely a better choice than regular gas vehicles,” Crowl said.

However, nothing involving sustainability is that simple, Crowl said. There are also some environmental problems with how the minerals are harvested to create EV batteries.

“We do know that the extraction has created a lot of societal problems and a lot of environmental problems where those minerals are extracted,” he said.

CAMPUS EVENTS Week of February 8th - February 15th Social Engagement & Student Org Events

Thursday, February 8

Fri. & Sat , February 9 - 10

180: CRU Weekly Meeting 7:30 - 8:30 pm Morton 235

East End Game Nights Video+Board Games Snacks available Friday 7:00 - 10:00 pm Saturday 8:00 - 11:00 pm Jefferson Hall, 1st floor

SCAN

for more events

Sunday, February 11 Commuter Superbowl Party Free Snacks 6:30 pm East End, Jefferson 160

Friday, February 15 ACRN GOTH PROM The Union Doors open at 8:00 pm $8 admission (+$2 under 21) Friday, February 16 Friday’s LIVE Season 52 E02 hosted by Carmen Szukaitis 8:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515) andPlay Concert 8:00 pm Glidden Recital Hall

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

ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR

Athens city government has recently implemented other environmentally friendly legislation, such as banning plastic bags in restaurants and other businesses. Patterson said this was done in the hope of making the world a cleaner place for future generations.

“The legislation that comes through and by-in-large being passed by City Council is an effort to not only meet what our own goals are for reducing our carbon emissions in the community, but what we’re doing statewide, nationwide and globally when it comes to reducing carbon emissions,” Patterson said.

@PAIGEMAFISHER PF585820@OHIO.EDU

OPEN MIC Tuesday FEB 14th PALENTINE’S NIGHT Arts & Crafts Food + Drink Baker Theater Lounge 7-9pm

ate Celebr

Sorority & Fraternity Life

February 8, 12, 13, Sophomore Housing Exemption Meeting 7:00 pm Morton 201

NIGHT FRIDAYS

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E R TU

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N E V YE

The Front Room Baker Center

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

Gunshots heard, lost phone found

KENDALL WRIGHT FOR THE POST

bomb threat, according to the Ohio University Police Department.

OUPD assisted the Nelsonville Police Department with the minor.

Zero Dollar Tree A shoplifting incident at the Dollar Tree in The Plains was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon arrival, deputies identified the suspect and escorted him out of the store. As of last week, criminal charges are pending.

Something you never want to lose A stolen firearm was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

As of Saturday, a report was filed and is under review.

Too engrossed in nature A cell phone was found on the bike path near The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

An individual stopped a deputy to return the phone. The phone was collected and entered into evidence.

Let them live Juveniles playing in the road on state Route 329 in Stewart were reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Once deputies arrived, they told the kids to move out of the road. No further action was necessary.

Maybe he was colorblind?

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported to Guysville in response to a suspicious vehicle.

Officers did not find anything when they patrolled the area, but they did stop a vehicle for a stop sign violation. No further action was necessary.

There’s no place like home A suspicious female on Hebbardsville Road was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies talked to the woman, who told officers she was lost. Deputies then gave her a ride to the City of Athens.

Better safe than sorry The Explosive Detection Canine Team was sent to Gallia County in reference to a

Baker is a wild place to be An unruly child at Baker University Center was reported to the Ohio University Police Department.

Upon arrival, deputies served the customer with a trespass complaint, and no further action was required.

Pew pew pew Gunshots heard in the area of state Route 550 in Athens were reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with multiple people who said they did not hear anything. Others outside seemed not to be in distress or need assistance either, so no further action was necessary.

Collab!

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office stepped out with the Athens Police Department on Court Street together. No assistance was necessary.

Lost and found A woman on Ohio Ave. in The Plains called the Athens County Sheriff’s Office to report stolen property found.

The woman told deputies that she found a jacket in her yard when taking her dog outside. Officers collected the jacket and placed it into evidence.

OFF CAMPUS

Just doin’ my job A trespass complaint on North Plains Road in The Plains was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The caller told officers that a customer was yelling at the owner of the business and making threats.

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

Returning Student Room Selection 2024-25

PARKING

SELECTING ROOMS

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Elliot Street • Athens

You can now find the contract on your Housing Self-Service page (ohio.edu/myhousing) to complete!

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marks YOUR spot CALL 740-594-9098

Bromley Hall

To qualify for the upcoming room selection, you must complete the housing contract and submit the $200 housing deposit by 4 p.m. on February 28th

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Student senate hosts party in honor of Period Project PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER Student Senate will be hosting a student engagement opportunity to honor the implementation of the Period Project on Feb. 22, from 5-8 p.m.

The event will be held in the Baker University Center Atrium, located on the third floor, and will consist of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a DJ, raffle baskets, games, food and drinks, as well as some tables with resources for those who menstruate.

The project is an initiative started by Senate President Megan Handle, a senior studying social work, to install free menstruation product dispensers in all bathrooms around Ohio University’s Athens campus.

OU became the first university in Ohio

to offer free period products to students, according to the university’s website. OU’s president’s office awarded Student Senate $260,000 to put toward the project, according to a previous Post report.

Reagan Farmer, student senate treasurer and a junior studying political science, said, while she does not have an exact number, she estimates the engagement party will cost around $1,800. It is being funded through Senate funds, part of which was acquired through a grant from the student affairs office at the beginning of the academic year.

Handle said student senate has been calling those funds “magic money,” and has put them towards student engagement projects like the period party. The Senate has been allocating this money for grant proposals and passion projects.

Handle said the period project is her passion project. The “magic money” was also spent on other projects including improvements made to the Multicultural Center and the distribution of 1,000 nightcaps, a product that covers people’s drinks, to students for Halloween.

“I think the party is an amazing way to celebrate all that President Handle has done for this project,” Kylie Christa, senate’s director of public relations and a junior studying psychology said. “It’s a really great way to not only celebrate her but the project as a whole.”

The party will be advertised through various means on campus including banners, a TV ad in Baker and an email dedicated to the event in hopes of having a huge turnout, Christa said.

Other organizations will also be invited to set up a table and collaborate with the Senate for the event, including the Office of Health Promotion, the Women’s Center and the Women’s Affairs Commission, Christa said.

Letitia Price, the assistant director of the Women’s Center, has also been involved with both the Period Project and the period party.

Price said working on the Period Project has been one of the smoothest projects she has worked on and is excited to be a part of the celebration.

Students can expect a celebration of menstruators on campus, Price said, marking the movement of being the first university in the state of Ohio to provide free menstrual products across campus.

Price also said she is hoping for the period party to become an annual event to maintain effort and awareness within the movement.

“It’s still an important topic to talk about period poverty, talk about periods, menstruating and product availability,” Price said.

“Each year, we will do our best to keep folks engaged and made aware of all the updates of the project as it continues and unfolds.”

Currently, the period project is entirely university-funded, Price said. The first round of installing dispensers took place over winter break and covered 15 buildings on campus.

Maintenance also plans to install the second round of 5-10 buildings over spring break, Handle said.

“We’re doing the highest traffic bathrooms first,” Handle said. “It’s hard to do them when we’re all here since they’re going building by building, so you can’t shut down all the bathrooms in one building to get them done.”

The campus buildings with menstrual product dispensers in the restrooms include Baker, Alden Library, Ping Recreation Center, The Convo, Schoonover Center, Academic and Research Center, Memorial Auditorium, Chemistry Building, Bentley Annex, Bentley Hall, Heritage Hall, Walter Fieldhouse, Patton Hall, Morton Hall and the Aquatic Center.

Although there is expected to be a much larger turnout of women than men attending the event, Christa and Handle encourage everyone to come to the party as a way to remove the taboo around menstruation.

“It’s fun to destigmatize, and to make it a more open conversation is a huge goal of the project,” Handle said. “I think the party goes along with that, this is why we did the project. Let’s talk about our periods, let’s make it okay to do that on our campus.”

@PAIGEMAFISHER PF585820@OHIO.EDU A pad and tampon dispenser on the wall of a bathroom in Bentley Hall Jan. 31, 2024. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

Advocates, stakeholders oppose Ohio’s gender-affirming care restrictions ABBY BLOSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER The past few months have created a foggy future for many Ohioans. State leaders and legislators have imposed restrictions on gender-affirming health care, creating an increasingly anti-trans environment. “(Current proposals) will still have a devastating impact on trans and non-binary youth in Ohio, and it’s totally unprecedented,” said Carson Hartlage, a TransOhio board member.

One of the restrictive measures is House Bill 68, a piece of legislation that bans gender-affirming health care for minors and prohibits trans-women from competing in women’s sports.

Mallory Golski, the civic engagement and advocacy manager at Kaleidoscope Youth Center, went to the state house on Dec. 6 to testify against House Bill 68 on behalf of Kaleidoscope.

“It was powerful to hear a lot of these parents and trans Ohioans who would be impacted by this,” Golski said. “It was empowering, but also at the same time, it was just heart-wrenching.”

Golski reflected on one particularly impactful testimony from a mother, Anne Anderson.

“I’m here today to support my daughter,” Anderson said during her testimony on Dec. 6. “The problem is, I don’t know if it’s going to matter.”

In an emotional statement, Anderson gripped the podium, imploring legislators to keep life-saving care accessible for Ohio trans youth.

“I’m begging you on behalf of all of Ohio’s trans kids not to pass this bill,” Anderson said. “It’s no good. It’s going to bring harm.

There’s going to be major repercussions.”

Dec. 29, Gov. DeWine vetoed House Bill 68. The veto served as a victory for opponents of the legislation.

However, on Jan. 10, the Ohio Senate voted to override DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68. Despite nearly 7 hours of testimonies against the legislation, the bill will go into effect April 23.

“I walked away that night thinking like, ‘Wow, we’ve done something,’ and then, only for them to, unsurprisingly, pass the legislation anyway,” Golski said.

State Representative Gary Click, the primary sponsor of HB 68, argues the legislation will protect minors.

“The SAFE Act literally saves adolescents from experimentation and will return our

6 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

institutions to the evidence-based medicine that they should have never forsaken,” Click wrote in a press release following the Senate’s override.

HB 68 is not the only restriction being placed on gender-affirming care within the state.

Rhea Debussy, the director of external affairs at Equitas Health, explained on Jan. 5, Gov. DeWine proposed administrative rule changes that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors and adults alike.

If enforced, the rule proposal would require numerous prerequisites to receiving gender-affirming care, including counseling and a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

“DeWine’s proposed administrative rules would place an undue burden on medical providers and patients and if enacted as they’re currently written, these rules will impact access to equitable health care for trans non-binary gender expansive and intersex people across Ohio,” Debussy said.

Debussy said this proposal is an infringement on the decision-making ability of patients and health care professionals.

“It’s our position at Equitas Health that politicians should not be making patient’s health care decisions,” she said. “Instead, health care decisions should be made by patients and health care providers.”

Despite restrictions and proposed rule changes, all the mentioned organizations – TransOhio, Kaleidoscope Youth Center and Equitas Health will continue providing support to the Ohio transgender community.

TransOhio offers name change grants and an emergency fund to help people access care.

“TransOhio has been fighting bills like this for years, and we probably will continue to do so for years,” Hartlage said.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center provides gender-affirming clothes to youth along with housing and behavioral health services.

Equitas Health does not provide gender-affirming care to those under the age of 18, but Debussy said she will continue providing services and support for adults for as long as possible.

“We will continue providing gender-affirming care, we will jump through whatever administrative hoops we need to jump through to continue providing care to trans, non-binary, gender expansive and intersex people,” she said. “And that is a fact.”

@ABBYBLOSEE AB532721@OHIO.EDU

MIA PISHOTTI | FOR THE POST

OU students anticipate the 2024 presidential election KAYLIN PICKETT FOR THE POST

I

t has been four years since President Joe Biden was elected into office, meaning it is once again time for a presidential election. Although it is only the primaries, many voters are already anticipating the election.

There are currently eight nominees still in the running. Two Democrats, three Republicans and three from other independent parties. The favored candidates from these eight are Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, just like in 2020.

For many students, this is the first year they can vote in the presidential election, and many of them have mixed feelings about the candidates.

According to Circle, there are over 8 million people who will have reached voting age in 2024, meaning the young population will play a crucial role in determining the next president.

I don’t feel very represented by the people that are running for the presidency,” - Hiley Kresse, a junior studying communications

She said feels that none of the main parties really represent her beliefs.

“I feel like the Conservative Party is very far in one direction,” she said. “Democrats are still kind of middle of the line, and they’re not taking any more strong stances on things.”

Several other students shared Kresse’s sentiment about the election and the candidates.

This year is Rowan Thompson’s, a sophomore studying integrated language arts, first time voting in a presidential election.

“I'm not super overwhelmingly supportive of either of the candidates,” said Thompson. “There are no candidates chosen yet.

But any of the projected candidates, I'm not really feeling either.”

Thompson is hoping for a candidate from an independent party to make it to the gen-

eral election this year. She thinks that with that there will be more variety and new ideas coming into politics.

Both Kresse and Thompson expressed that they hoped that regardless of which candidate is elected president, they follow through with the ideas and beliefs that they expressed during their campaign.

I would prefer a candidate to be very vocal about their opinions, and what they believe is true, and what they would want to bring into a political scene,” - Rowan Thompson, a sophomore studying integrated language arts

Kresse used some of President Biden’s actions as an example of this.

“I think that there's been a lot of things he has not taken super strong stances on just out of trying to preserve his presidency,” Kresse said. “I wish he would stand up and take more strong stances.”

One candidate, other than Donald Trump and President Biden, that has stood out is Nikki Haley. She is the former governor of South Carolina and a former United Nations ambassador.

Though she is making herself known, she is not necessarily well-liked among students.

One stance that Nikki Haley takes is raising the age to receive Social Security to 70. Additionally, she said would want to change the retirement age. Lilly Bruggeman, a sophomore studying psychology and social work, disagrees with this stance.

“They think the retirement age should be increased to 70 when America's life expectancy is 77,” Bruggeman said. “The politicians we have now could potentially really ruin things for us just because we don't want to work until we die.”

Students also wanted to see a change in the divisiveness of politics. Thompson talked about the importance of seeing both sides of the story and how there needs to be more

KELLY ERNST | FOR THE POST

diverse viewpoints among elected leaders.

“Politics are very divisive, and I feel like sometimes our politicians are just playing into that and encouraging that division,” said Kate Sensenich, a junior studying English.

Regardless of which candidates make it to the general election, these students still plan on voting for whoever they think will be a better fit as the president of the U.S.

“I will still vote no matter (what) because I think that voting is important,” Kresse said.

“Even if I don't 100% back to the person that all will end up voting for. I do think it's kind of a lesser of the two evils situation.”

@KAYLINPICKETT KP240121@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

Homecoming Queen tradition dethroned after COVID-19 KATIE MILLARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

G

igi De Buselle wore a crown of roses when she was crowned Ohio University’s 1964 Homecoming Queen. De Buselle was born in Germany but hailed from Cleveland, and Saturday, Oct. 24, 1964, she hoisted a trophy during the homecoming football game against Miami.

De Buselle was just one of many Homecoming queens in the over 82-year tradition. Despite the popularity of the former honoring of Homecoming royalty, the tradition has not been a part of Homecoming celebrations for the past four years.

The coronation was paused when COVID-19 hit, as homecoming traditions were carried out largely virtually. According to Josh Gruenke, director for student organizations and campus programming, some students suggested the Homecoming King and Queen tradition should be discontinued after COVID-19.

In response, a committee of representatives from University Communications and Marketing, the Alumni Association and the Division of Student Affairs met to discuss alternatives. “(The committee) decided that in lieu of a Homecoming court, there were alternative options that could better highlight our students’ successes, such as recognizing OHIO’s senior of the year award winners,” Samantha Pelham, a media relations specialist and university spokesperson, wrote in an email.

Pelham said the committee is currently in the process of detailing what a new recognition tradition could be.

Homecoming as a concept emerged among college campuses in the 1910s, but it made its way to OU for the first recorded time in 1919. A Nov. 14, 1919, edition of the Green and White – The Post’s predecessor – wrote “We are prepared to accommodate all Ohio Alumni who will return for the Home Coming on November 22.”

The first mention of a Homecoming Queen is in the 1937 Green and White coverage, which mentions crowning an Ohio Queen and a Marshall Queen, with the representative of the winning football team crowned the official Homecoming Queen. However, the tied Homecoming game led to a joint crowning. While this is not introduced as a new concept, neither the Green and White nor the Athena Yearbook coverage from 1936 mentioned a queen.

With several years off during World War II, the 1946 Homecoming was an exciting event. The crowning of a queen returned, with an Athena Yearbook spread displaying the queen candidates atop a float in the annual parade.

The Post itself published the annual crowning of the queen on the front page of its annual Homecoming edition, printed the Friday of Homecoming weekend. In 1964, a scandal broke out when the Homecoming Committee accused The Post of leaking secret Homecoming details in the past. The committee refused to share queen and court selections in advance so they could appear in its annual edition. According to University Archivist and Records Manager Bill Kimok’s digital 2020 OU Homecoming history, The Post left the space allotted for the announcement intentionally blank.

In the 1960s, activist mentalities lessened enthusiasm toward Homecoming, temporarily phasing out certain traditions or resulting in low turnouts. In the early ‘70s, homecoming festivities were largely replaced by an Oktoberfest celebration.

A 1975 Post article discussed apathy in Athens, and the then-president of the Center Program Board, Nadine Loma-

8 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

kin, said she was glad the campus began to celebrate again.

However, the return of certain traditions did not involve the return of a Homecoming queen competition, which was largely believed to not fit into Athens’ spirit at the time.

“That concept didn’t really go away on other campuses,” then-assistant director of the Alumni Association G. Douglas Voelz said regarding Homecoming queens. “But I’m not sure that we will ever get back to that point here. I don’t know if Athens is behind or ahead. We’re just different.”

Some students, however, still felt a homecoming queen belonged on campus, resulting in various student organizations sponsoring their own Homecoming Queens. The same year, 1975, introduced the Miss Black Homecoming Pageant.

A decade later, in 1985, the title raised questions about segregation.

Two queens were set to be named that year, one by the Interfraternity Council and Women’s Panhellenic Association, who planned to crown a Greek Homecoming Court, and one crowned by the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, or BSCPB, and National Panhellenic Council, which governed historically Black Greek organizations.

“Black students are slighted here, and we need something special for us,” Renee Mahaffey, then-second-year BSCPB president, said in a 1985 edition of The Post.

Mahaffey said the Greek contest was a popularity contest, saying that is why the contest was initially discontinued the decade prior. Instead, the Miss Black Homecoming Queen title was awarded based on how much money candidates raised for charitable causes.

“All of the girls are winners,” Denise Shepard, then-assistant associate chairman for the BSCPB, said in a 1978 Post report. “They are the ones who, by fundraising, make this whole evening possible. The girls are aware of how the queen is selected, so there is little, if any, jealousy.”

In 1987, a king and queen were crowned alongside a Miss Black OU Homecoming Queen. The king and queen duo were seniors nominated by their respective sorority and fraternity homes, and the winners were selected based on which houses donated the most canned food to the Red Cross.

The BSCPB Homecoming tradition lasted 33 years, ending in 2010 when OU began crowning an official king, queen and court once more. Instead, the BSCPB coronation was held during Parents Weekend, which led to a drop in attendance and general confusion.

“It’s been very difficult for us not to have (the coronation) during Homecoming Weekend,” Leah Ward, then-president of BSCPB said in a 2010 Post report. “Even the freshman

didn’t understand why it wasn’t during Homecoming.”

To ensure students did not think she was bashing Homecoming, she applied for Bobcat Court – the OU Homecoming Court – to smooth over any perceptions.

Bobcat Court invited seniors with a 2.75 GPA or higher to apply to be on the court. Five male and five female students were selected for the Court, and online voting determined the king and queen.

The tradition continued until 2019, with the final crowning. According to OU’s announcement of the 2019 Homecoming Court, over 100 students were nominated, and 32 were selected to complete interviews. From those interviews, only 10 were chosen to sit on the court.

The final crowning took place during the Homecoming football game. The winners, Jewel Henderson, a sports management major, and O’Neal Saunders, a management information systems and analytics major, did not indicate ending the tradition, but no royalty has been crowned since.

COVID-19 overthrew OU’s storied monarchy.

@KATIE_MILLARD11 KM053019@OHIO.EDU

First Homecoming

1919

First Homecoming 1937 Queen First Homecoming since WWII

1946

Homecoming enthusiasm 60s dampens Homecoming First Miss Black traditions return, Homecoming Queen does not 1975 Pageant

Two queens crowned

1985

OU takes over 2010 the coronation Final King and Queen crowned 2019

Alum Paul Miller celebrates 100th birthday so that I could write a story covering the game,” Miller said.

After working in the position during his first semester, Miller said he planned on taking the rest of the year to focus on his grades.

However, he said the Dean of Women, Irma Voigt, asked him to serve for the remainder of the year.

In addition to his work at The Post and the Athena Yearbook, he was an active member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity on campus.

He said the connections he made in the fraternity have encouraged him to remain active with other alums. Miller even lives just a few houses down from another fraternity alum now.

“I just had fond memories of the fraternity and the work I had done to start my career,” Miller said. “I kept track, as I could, of the half dozen (members) that I was closest to.”

Following graduation from OU, Miller started his first job at the Canton Repository.

He spent about five years at the paper, covering sports in the Massillon area, including football. He said a stand-out memory from his experience was covering a football game from the sidelines and with a camera, while his editors took his usual seats in the press box.

Miller briefly served in the army before joining the Akron Beacon Journal. He no longer covered sports, instead covering local

HANNAH CAMPBELL PROJECTS EDITOR

F

or many alums, their ties to Ohio University stay strong after graduation. Paul Miller’s ties to OU have stayed tightly tethered for nearly 80 years.

Miller turned 100 years old Wednesday and reflected positively on his time at OU and the years that followed.

“I have very fond memories of the university,” he said. “I was busy when I was there, but I enjoyed it and still recommend it.”

Miller graduated from OU in 1947 with a degree in journalism. He had an early interest in journalism, but initially started classes at the University of Akron during World War II. After the war ended, he decided to attend OU’s campus because of its well-known journalism school.

As soon as he started classes, Miller knew he wanted to cover sports. He had previously covered sports for his high school newspaper, so he applied to be the sports editor of The Post.

Miller said he enjoyed his experience as a sports editor, but it is very different from how reporters cover OU sports now. As sports editor, he was not able to travel for away games.

“When the Bobcats were out of town, I was listening on the radio and making notes

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Miller still recommends the university to others who want to study journalism and have a fulfilling career.

“My work through the years taught me that (the school) was very economical and good in their production of The Post, but they were also tremendous in their preparation for people taking a job on a paper,” Miller said.

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news and working on the copy desk. Miller worked there for 13 years before serving as the editor of The Marion Star.

He said another stand-out memory from his career occurred on the evening of his first day on the job. Miller attended a dinner in honor of former President Warren G. Harding. The next morning, a reporter from The Marion Star turned in a story covering the event but missed the most newsworthy part of the evening.

“An old gentleman, who had been the honorary speaker the year before, came up to the microphone,” he said. “The meeting was over then, shortly thereafter. In 15 minutes, (the speaker) dropped dead in the hallway.”

Despite his career’s jarring start, Miller went on to receive numerous awards throughout his career, including placing third in a national safety writing competition for a special edition story regarding traffic deaths. He continued writing safety editorials and won the state’s first-place award for eight years.

Miller has had a lifetime filled with love and family. He was married to his first wife, Marty, for 50 years. Together, they had three children, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Marty later passed away, and Miller met his second wife Mary Ellen. They were together for almost 20

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Motivated Ohio squad looks to dominate MAC this season

LOGAN ADAMS FOR THE POST

After a successful season for Ohio in 2023, it ended in heartbreak. The team fell to top-ranked Miami in the Mid-American Conference tournament, ending its hopes of making the NCAA tournament.

The Bobcats started the 2023 season slow, only winning five of the team's first fifteen matchups, but the team got hot during conference play. Ohio won 10 straight games from March 24 to April 4.

The team finished 20-9 in the MAC, which was good enough for the second seed in the conference tournament.

However, after beating third-ranked Central Michigan in the semifinals, Ohio could not overcome Miami, who had given it trouble all season.

"In times where you don't find the result that you worked for, most of the time it's a motivation," Ohio Coach Jenna Hall said.

"There's been a little bit of that burn for the team across the board."

Now, the motivated Bobcats are projected to finish second in the MAC, per the

MAC Coaches Preseason Poll. Entering their second season under Coach Jenna Hall, the reigning MAC Coach of the Year, the Bobcats are confident.

The team is heading into its 2024 campaign with many key returners from the previous season. All five players with a batting average over .300 are returning; Annalia Paoli, Alexis Dawe, Yasmine Logan, Tori O'Brien and Emma Hofner are back for the Bobcats. All of those players, except for O'Brien, who missed a handful of games last season, finished in the top six in at-bats for Ohio.

"With the experience we have returning from last season, the whole year has been about consistency," Hall said. "We have 19 players that are all on board and connected."

On top of their upperclassmen returners, the Bobcats are also bringing back a handful of talented underclassmen who will be looking to build on impactful first years. Shelby Westler finished third on the team in home runs as a freshman, while Belle Hummel fin-

ished second in at-bats.

The most impactful first year from last season, who will be looking to build on her successful first year, is pitcher Skipp Miller, reigning MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year.

Miller boasted an 18-13 record as a pitcher for Ohio, boasting 20 complete games. In the MAC, Miller got her feet under her, tallying 14 of her 18 wins against conference opponents.

The Bobcats will be leaning on Miller even more in 2024 after the departure of Kylie Coffelt, a now-alum of Ohio who had the second-most innings pitched for Ohio last year.

Coffelt was a valuable option along with the freshman phenom in Miller, going 10-7 herself. When the Bobcats are required to rest Miller, they'll be looking at a group that is unproven at the college level but has the full confidence of Coach Hall.

Hall believes that the entire pitching room has put in hours of hard work this offseason to replace Coffelt, especially returners Kee-

gan Moore and Ellie Greene. Hall also sees freshman Mikie Lieving as someone who brings a different look to the mound and expects her to have an impact throughout the season.

Infielders Brenna Farmer, Emily Caron and outfielder Izzie Wilson will join this year's freshman class alongside Lieving. Hall believes all four will be ready when their time comes. They all played in high-level high school competitions coming into the program and eagerly awaited their chance to join the Bobcats.

"I think we're all determined that we want to win this year; I mean, that was the goal last year," Skipp Miller said. "The entire team's goal is to win, and we're all going in with the mindset like, 'let's dominate.’"

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‘The Grudge Match’ has makings of a classic rivalry MARC GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POST Rivalries make sports. The world of athletics would look drastically different without the countless battles between the Yankees and Red Sox, North Carolina and Duke, Michigan and Ohio State, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, Celtics and Lakers – the list goes on.

A rivalry is characterized by a mutual disdain for an opponent and a level of deep respect. While there is no love lost between Ohio and Kent State, the respect and admiration of the other program exists in full.

Ohio Coach Joel Greenlee holds that mutual respect for his counterpart at Kent State, Jim Andrassy. The two are some of the longest-tenured wrestling coaches in the Mid-American Conference.

Andrassy has the upper hand over Greenlee in the head-to-head matches with a 13-7 record, including a stretch from 2003 to 2017 where Kent State won 12/15 matches. That trend, however, has flipped in recent years.

Ohio has won three of the last four meetings, including a 28-9 win last season.

As the rivalry has grown, so has the relationship between Greenlee and Andrassy.

The two have a complicated relationship, albeit one that has become less complex recently.

“I think we pretty much hated each other early on,” Greenlee said. “I think we have kind of become friends over the course of the last few years.”

A major part of the rivalry that keeps it going is the passion of the athletes. The familiarity between the athletes is stark. The teams will participate in the same tournaments and wrestle common opponents. The familiarity creates tension, the tension creates hard feelings and the hard feelings create a heated battle on the mats.

“I don’t like to lose to anybody in the MAC,” Greenlee said. “They’re all our rivals, but (Kent State) is probably the biggest one. We recruit the same kids, all that stuff.

It’s just more important for us to win that match.”

Like many famed ones in sports, the rivalry is not without its special trophy. The winning team in "The Grudge Match" will take home a metal plaque that is passed between the teams and resides in the locker room of the victorious team until the next meeting. A few years ago, when the trophy was in the possession of Kent State, it was stolen, prompting Greenlee to outsource for a new one.

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Greenlee said a former wrestler, Zeb Miller, helped come up with the idea after Miller, who teaches at Paintsville Riverside High School, had a shop teacher create a plaque for the wrestlers’ locker room. After the plaque was stolen, Greenlee commissioned one for Ohio’s team.

"A guy that I have known for years has a metal work business,” Greenlee said. "I came across one of the things that he made and was like ‘That’s pretty cool. I bet he could do that for us.’ I called him up and said, ‘What do you think? This is the old one.’ He said, ‘I can do better than that.’”

The plaque is easily the most notable aspect of the rivalry from an outsider's point of view. Greenlee says that he likes the plaque because it does a great job of motivating the team.

"The Grudge Match" trophy is the only thing on a shelf in the Ohio locker room, and the absence of that trophy is noted for the

next calendar year.

This season, Ohio will make the threehour drive north to Kent State. After last season’s 28-9 win, Ohio and Kent State had to forgo the handshake line after words were exchanged following the final bout.

This year, Ohio prepares to make the trip to enemy territory, where Kent State will be hungry to avenge the big loss. With a large crowd set to pack the MAC Center, Greenlee emphasizes the emotions and crowd.

“It is going to be our biggest crowd of the year,” Greenlee said. “When we go up there, we’re going to get a huge crowd because 80% of our team through the years has been from the Cleveland area … I never squish emotion much because you have to realize that wrestling is an emotional sport.”

Like any rivalry, Greenlee hopes that his Bobcats not only defeat the Golden Flashes, but dominate them. He is looking for a clean sweep in his favor, all 10 bouts going the

Bobcats’ way to leave no doubt about which team owns the rivalry.

The mission for the Bobcats is to make it a business trip: go on the road, beat their rivals and return to Athens with the trophy.

However, in "The Grudge Match," there are no guarantees, only winners and losers.

@MBGOLDSTEIN1107 MG126321@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

The Post Predict

CHARLIE FADEL FOR THE POST

The Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs need no introduction. Since Patrick Mahomes made his first NFL start, the Chiefs are 73-22 in the regular season and 14-3 in the playoffs. Kansas City has been to six straight AFC Championship games, winning four of those games along with two Super Bowls.

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are among the greatest of all time at their respective positions with each passing week, and in case you haven’t seen, Kelce is dating the world’s biggest pop star.

It is easy to point to the many reasons why Kansas City will win Sunday. The Chiefs have been to the Big Game in the past, even beating the 49ers in Super Bowl 54. Mahomes is by far the best in the sport, regardless of position, and his defense has played phenomenally in the playoffs, holding Lamar Jackson to just 10 points in the AFC Championship game.

There is more to look at than just Kansas City’s personnel and some of the data points that favor it over San Fransico in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday. With the rise of advanced stats in recent years, data that takes a deeper dive into why the Chiefs are successful is more available.

After Mahomes posted his highest interception and second-lowest passing yard totals of his career during the regular season, the two-time MVP has stepped up his game to new levels in this year’s postseason. Expected points added, or EPA, gives insight into how many points a quarterback adds to his team per dropback. Mahomes ranked 10th in the statistic with a regular season .07 EPA per dropback. In the playoffs, that num-

ber has quadrupled to a staggering .28 EPA per dropback.

The improvement of Mahomes’ stats comes at the right time for the Chiefs, who have made their fourth Super Bowl of the Mahomes era despite having the worst 12 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

regular season record since Mahomes took over. Additionally, they have had to go on the road to Buffalo and Baltimore in the last two weeks to make it back to the biggest stage.

The Divisional game in Buffalo was the first non-Super Bowl playoff game on the road

that Mahomes has played in his career.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy finished the regular season leading all quarterbacks in various statistics such as passer rating, EPA per dropback and total quarterback EPA.

However, since the postseason has begun, Purdy’s EPA per dropback has been cut drastically, going from .26 EPA per dropback in the regular season to just .12 EPA per dropback.

It has been shown time and time again that quarterback play wins Super Bowls, and Purdy’s play as of late has not been elite, especially when compared to Mahomes’ goliath numbers on the other sideline.

For the defensive side of the ball, both teams are neck and neck in many categories, but Kansas City has the edge. Kansas City led the league in sacks this season and finished second in points allowed and second in yards allowed. In the playoffs so far, the Chiefs have allowed 11 fewer points than the 49ers even though they played an extra game. The Chiefs' defense is red hot right now, coming off an all-time performance against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game. Kansas City forced three turnovers, four sacks and held Baltimore to just 3-11 on third down.

The 49ers on the other hand are coming off an NFC Championship game that saw the Lions outgain the 49ers while putting up 31 points on them as well.

Super Bowl 58 is going to be a great match-up, but the two teams are coming into the game playing different types of foot-

ball. Kansas City has been the better team since the postseason started, and I expect the trends to continue with Kansas City winning its third Super Bowl in five years.

Score Prediction: Kansas City 27, San Francisco 17

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 emailing or tweeting him at @CharlieFadel or cf111322@ohio.edu.

ts: Super Bowl 58

ANDREW BOWLBY FOR THE POST

The San Francisco 49ers Arguably one of the most successful franchise in football history is back in the exact spot it was in four years ago: playing for a Super Bowl against Kansas City. However, so much has changed in the nearly 1,470 days since the two heavyweights last met.

The 49ers experienced a disappointing 2020 season that saw them win only six games. They quickly responded by achieving back-to-back NFC Championship game appearances in which they fell short to the Rams and Eagles.

However, this season there is a more confident vibe around San Francisco. Watching them play all season long, it is clear they are more dangerous than the team that faced the Chiefs in Super Bowl 54.

From the Week 1 domination of the Steelers all the way to the team’s eighth Conference Championship, it feels like this could be the year that the 28-year drought will end.

That feeling stems largely from what Kyle Shanahan has put in place over the last seven seasons.

The Shanahan family name has historically surrounded the Super Bowl. Kyle’s father Mike Shanahan won back-to-back titles with the Denver Broncos in 1998 and 1999.

Kyle first made it to the big game as the Atlanta offensive coordinator in 2016. After the 2016 run, Kyle Shanahan was hired by San Francisco and he has been there ever since, leading the 49ers to their seventh (2020) and eighth (2024) Super Bowl appearances.

The 49ers offense has been one of the NFL’s most intricate since Shanahan’s takeover in 2017 but it will have to find a way to crack one of the league’s top-three defenses.

Taking a peek back at the last Super Bowl matchup, the 49ers held a 20-10 lead with 2 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, San Francisco was held scoreless for the remainder of the game, gaining just 49 yards total. The 49ers have to avoid an offensive lull or beating the Chiefs gets exponentially more difficult.

The offense that crumbled under pressure four years ago is also immensely different from the one that will take the field this year. Most notably in the backfield, with Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.

Purdy’s story has been told a million

times. The last pick in the 2022 draft, who got a chance with the 49ers, has now been to back-to-back NFC championship appearances and, of course, this year, a trip to the Super Bowl.

When he makes the start Sunday, Purdy (24 years, 46 days) will become the third-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, behind only Dan Marino (23 years, 127 days) in 1985 and Ben Roethlisberger (23 years, 340 days) in 2006.

His story is almost equally as impressive as the stats he has produced on the field.

Purdy has thrown for the fifth-most yards in the NFL this season, while only ranking 16th in completions and 20th in attempts.

Purdy is an efficient passer and has thrown for over 300 yards five times this season and, more importantly, has only been held under 200 yards one time (Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns). Meanwhile, Kansas City hasn’t allowed a 300-yard-passer since Jalen Hurts in the Super Bowl last year.

The other piece of the San Francisco backfield, arguably more valuable, is Christian McCaffrey. When the 49ers made the trade for McCaffrey mid-season last year, everything changed. The team added another dynamic weapon to its already elite offensive arsenal.

What McCaffrey does for the San Francisco offense is crucial to beating Kansas City.

According to Pro Football Reference, McCaffrey was tied for the fifth-best approximate value.

Although it has had some faults so far through the postseason, the San Francisco offense is still undeniably one of the most dangerous in football. Yet, the defense has also been remarkable, consistently making big plays in every game.

The 49ers are the third-best scoring defense, third-best rush defense and the 14thbest pass defense.

And when the team needs a big play, they seem to have a knack for finding it. The de-

fensive unit is tied for the league lead with 22 interceptions and tied for the seventh-most sacks. Nick Bosa led the 49ers defensive line with 10.5 sacks, but 16 players recorded at least one sack in the regular season. In the playoffs, Bosa has the only two sacks the 49ers have recorded.

A major part of the path to a victory for the 49ers is to continue to get a consistent pass rush without blitzing. San Francisco blitzed on just 18% of plays in the regular season, the third-lowest rate in the NFL. Yet, they were still one of the best teams at getting to the opposing quarterback.

If the 49ers are still able to get a rush against the Chiefs without blitzing, that will allow them to commit more players to covering the passes of Patrick Mahomes, a necessity for defeating the Chiefs.

Finally, San Francisco has an X-factor in Kyle Juszczyk — one of the most intriguing players in the NFL. No offense uses a fullback like the 49ers do, and that could lead to Juszczyk making a huge impact.

The Chiefs are going to be focused on slowing down the many other weapons. So, Juszczyk, who only had three receptions in the last Super Bowl, may be the game-changing factor for the 49ers.

Although the Chiefs have defied the odds again and made it back to the Super Bowl, this matchup may be too much to handle.

The 49ers have a deeper roster with more explosive pieces that give them the edge in this highly anticipated Super Bowl.

Score Prediction: San Francisco 30, Kansas City 27

Andrew Bowlby is a sophomore 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 about the column? Let Andrew know by tweeting him @andrew_ bowlby.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Ohio is playing depleted, but what else has led to losses?

LOGAN ADAMS FOR THE POST Ohio (7-13, 4-6 Mid-American Conference) has endured a turbulent season of injuries thus far into its 2023-24 year. As of late, several major contributors have been sidelined.

Leading scorer Jaya McClure has played just 40 minutes since Jan. 13. Defensive stalwart Cassidy Lafler hasn't seen the floor since Jan. 3. Transfer portal addition Kennedi Watkins has missed the Bobcats' last three games, and most recently, starting forward Bengisu Alper went down with an ankle injury against Buffalo.

While short-handed, Ohio has seen its biggest high of the season in its three-game win streak, headed by its talented trio of freshmen: Monica Williams, Bailey Tabeling and Laylay Fantroy, propelling them to .500 in the MAC at a time. However, Ohio has faltered since that streak, suffering two big losses to Buffalo and Ball State.

It's easy to blame the injuries for these huge losses, but the Bobcats' level of play has declined, showing major deficiencies in several areas.

The one that sticks off the stat sheet has been shooting. Over the two-game skid the Bobcats have gone on, the team has shot 34.2% from the field, going 39-of-114 overall.

When watching the game, it seems the team is taking whatever its opponent gives them, but to a degree that's unsustainable.

Against Buffalo, the team shot a season-high 39 3-pointers. Buffalo was conceding early clock deep shots for Ohio's best shooters, giving Ohio fewer quality possessions and allowing Buffalo to get more possessions overall.

On top of the shots they've been getting, their best shooters have been in a bit of a slump. Over those two games, Tabeling, who shoots 45.8% from three, has gone 5-of-21 from deep. While they've been getting increased production from the young Bobcats, there's reason to believe they're being overextended due to the lack of veterans running the team.

The flashes have been impressive, and inevitably, all shooting slumps come to an end, but this is undoubtedly a part of the team's slump.

In addition to individual performances, the Bobcats hit a rough part of their sched-

Ohio Women’s Basketball players gather in a huddle during the Bobcats’ game against Buffalo at The Convo, Jan. 31, 2024. (MORGAN CLARK | FOR THE POST)

ule. Ball State is undefeated in MAC play, with its only losses coming to ranked opponents. The Cardinals have outmatched every team in the MAC, and it is evident in their undefeated record in the conference.

On the other hand, Buffalo features the nation's third-leading scorer, Chellia Watson, who, at the time of its matchup against Ohio, was coming off a 47-point performance. When Watson got going, Buffalo's offense was seemingly impossible to stop.

Once Ohio gets past its final nonconference game against Texas State on Saturday,

the team will have a chance at redemption against Ball State. From there, the schedule should begin to ease up. It's a crucial point in the season for the team, as they hope to maintain a spot in the MAC tournament come the season's end. If the Bobcats recoup their injured talent, they'll have a real chance at getting into the postseason.

@LOGANA_NBA LA486821@OHIO.EDU

2024 Lazaroff Memorial Lecture

Roma, Jews, and the Holocaust

presented by Professor Ari Joskowicz, Vanderbilt University

Thursday, February 29th 7:30 pm | Baker Theater Join the Ohio University History Department for the 2024 Lazaroff Memorial Lecture. Guest Speaker, Professor Ari Joskowicz from Vanderbilt University will discuss the history of the genocide of Roma and Jews during World War II and their quest for justice.

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14 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

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SWIMMING AND DIVING

Ohio has the chance to do something special ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR It’s been quite the year for Ohio sports already; during the fall season, the soccer program won its first Mid-American Conference Championship in its history and the football program picked up a Power-5 football win at home against Iowa State. The field hockey and volleyball teams also turned in MAC tournament-worthy seasons.

Now that the calendar year has turned over and Winter sports are at the heart of their seasons, both basketball teams are on their way to improvements from their 2022 campaigns, while the Wrestling team has a handful of nationally ranked wrestlers. One team, perhaps the most impressive team Ohio has right now, has flown completely under the radar.

Ohio’s swim and dive team is currently

7-0 with the MAC Championships quickly approaching.

Some students at Ohio might not even know that Ohio University has a swim and dive team, let alone an undefeated swim and dive team that features one of Ohio’s best freshman athletes — two-time MAC Diver of the Week, Astrid Pichardo.

On the swimming side, seniors Gabrielle Brust and Ami Hornyak headline a roster of impressive athletes.

Brust recently won MAC Swimmer of the Week in the same week that Pichardo took home her second Diver of the Week honor.

Ohio is one of just two schools in the MAC to sweep both Swimmer and Diver of the Week in the same week.

On the other hand, Hornyak broke the school record in both the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM last season for Ohio and will be looking to defend her first-place

finish in the 100-yard breaststroke at last year's MAC Championship meet.

Hornyak and Brust signify the development of the program under sixth-year Head Coach Mason Norman. Over the past few years, the program has grown to become a competitive program in a solid conference.

Athens will have the rare opportunity to host the MAC Swim and Dive Championships. What will be the host team, Ohio, has just as good a chance as any to win it in its stomping grounds.

The event will take place from Feb. 28 to March 2.

Ohio already has some experience against the teams it will be seeing in the Championship meet, with a 4-0 record in the MAC already. A win against Akron, the reigning MAC Champions, at the beginning of November, solidified Ohio as a top contender in the conference, and since then, the team

hasn’t lost.

Ohio hasn’t won a MAC Championship as a team since the 2011 season. This year, the team is as talented as ever to try to break a 13-year drought from winning the MAC. Ohio’s biggest competition will be Akron, who has won nine of the last 10 MAC Championships. However, Ohio already beat Akron once this year in a head-to-head meet.

When MAC Championship time comes, fans will be sure to see some of the best collegiate swimming in the country and maybe even Ohio’s first championship in over a decade.

Ohio University swimmers dive in for the 200 Freetyle in dual meet against Ball State University on Jan. 27, 2024.

Stephanie Balthaser (18) competes in the 3m diving dual against Ball State University Jan. 27, 2023.

@ROBERTKEEGAN_ BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Photos by MORGAN CLARK | FOR THE POST

Ohio University swimmer competes in the 1000 freestyle in dual meet against Ball State University on Jan. 27, 2024.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

The ‘Saltburn’ effect and how we got here Libby Evans “Saltburn,” directed by Emerald Fennell, was released Nov. 17, 2023. People strolled into theaters with popcorn anticipating a fiery gay romance with Jacob Elordi.

They left with fear in their eyes and mouths agape. Recipes for a Bathtub Water Cocktail popped up, the 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” made its way back on the charts and “Saltburn” themed parties can be found on every block. What is Gen Z’s obsession with this movie, and how did it get its hooks into us so profoundly? My answer: the creation of an aesthetic.

This aesthetic culture shift has happened many times. It happens fast, news spreads quickly and the next thing you know it’s the theme of American Eagle’s summer collection.

One example of this phenomenon is “Euphoria.” Many people knew of the HBO original from Zendaya’s prior fanbase and were talking about it because it was graphic, bona fide, intense and controversial. “Euphoria” in itself became an aesthetic. It was easy enough with glittery makeup, sparkly hair, Y2K clubbing outfits and the “Euphoria” soundtrack.

Similarly, we saw this with the effects of the Netflix original “Outer Banks” in 2020.

Men wore Hawaiian shirts and little neck scarves, copying John B., played by Chase Stokes, who then gained even more publicity when the media realized Debby Ryan was his dopplegänger.

You may be asking, what do these shows and movies have in common? Two things: attractive people and a niche aesthetic; Zendaya and hallucinogens, Chase Stokes and the “pogue life” and now, Jacob Elordi and opulent Oxford indie sleaze.

“Saltburn” is the perfect recipe for a new media obsession. First and foremost, Jacob Elordi already gained attention from “The Kissing Booth” (2018) and “Euphoria,” so when his stans heard about him in a new gay romance film with an eyebrow piercing, it had to be seen, igniting moviegoers once the wildfire picked up.

Secondly, drawing inspiration from “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999), “Saltburn” has a creepy aura from the very beginning. It veils obsession and malice with love, and escalates first slowly, then all at once. The main character, Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), shifts from the archetypes of the innocent child and lover to rags to riches, and suddenly, to evil genius.

The protagonist slowly reveals insanity, similar to the plot of artists becoming ob-

sessed with their work, such as “Black Swan” (2010) or “Whiplash” (2014). The rising insanity and chaos in the mind of the main character have similar effects to horror plots, with the end presenting the thrilling finale and rush of adrenaline.

The third ingredient to the recipe for success is rebellion and fun. Indie sleaze comes into play as the college party lifestyle pairs with old-money mansion luxuries. The group at the Saltburn manor are rarely on their phones, and they waltz around tennis courts and poolsides in extravagant black tie ensembles on holiday from lavish Oxford parties.

They lay naked in fields to tan, drink, smoke, throw glorious birthday parties and partake in every other party boy fantasy. This element of fun and rebellious youth draws in the media appeal and younger audience.

So what trends does this culture tsunami entail? Looking at stylists’ predictions of 2024 fashion trends, preppy looks with polo shirts, plaid skirts and knit sweaters are the leading trend prediction, stemming from Oxford chic.

Along with academic glam, luxury is in, with tailored button-ups, silks and “old money” styles on the rise. 2023 held a lot of British bloke styles tied in with coquette ballet shoes and bows. 2024 shifts to a sophisticat-

ed, luxurious version of this, hand in hand with a resurgence of ‘90s and early 2000s looks and more pops of color.

The last scene of “Saltburn” is a memorable dance to “Murder on the Dancefloor,” the disco-pop hit of 2001. Its reappearance on the charts might be foreshadowing an early 2000s comeback.

In addition to fashion and music, “Saltburn” inspires a new kind of high culture in film. Similar to “Euphoria,” some may see it as romanticizing hedonism, and not many films pair an indie youthful aesthetic with insanity in a graphic manner.

When movies were first accepted into high culture, “Saltburn” would never make it to theaters and would be wildly inappropriate, but since society has become more comfortable expressing these ideas, different genres can take preconceived expectations of sexuality out of one’s comfort zone for a new level of drama and thrill.

Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post.

Outfit repeating is cool, practical

Abby Jenkins Picture this: it’s a beautiful morning, the sun is shining and you are getting ready for your day. The outfit you picked for this morning is perfect, you stand back in the mirror and admire your sense of style. Then the thought hits you, “Have I worn this before?”

This very moment would ruin my day and I have had enough. When I have an outfit I enjoy wearing, I will wear it more than once with pride. The negativity behind outfit re16 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

peating is toxic, impractical and childish, especially in a college environment.

According to Fox Business, almost 50% of women have worry or stress related to outfit repeating. This statistic is too big for how silly of an issue this truly is. I’ve covered a lot of silly social issues in previous columns, but the statistics for this one are honestly shocking.

Before coming to Ohio University, I attended schools that required uniforms. For about 12 years, outfit repeating was almost a way of life for me. It was something I did every day and the only things I would change were my hair, my sweatshirt and maybe my shoes. This was something I became very used to, and coming to college, I became hyper-aware of when I wore certain outfits over and over.

That feeling became exhausting very quickly, and it didn’t happen overnight when I felt like I could wear an outfit week after week without people potentially noticing.

But after some time, I am finally at a point where I do not care about what I show up in.

Now, I am not condoning pulling a fire

outfit out of the dirty clothes pile. Please wash your clothes. What I am condoning is wearing that clean outfit the next week without any guilt or shame. Outfit repeating is self-expressive. If you have an outfit you are proud of creating or putting together, you shouldn’t just whip it out biannually.

These are articles of clothing you enjoy, so wear them.

It should be normal to repeat outfits, especially with how much closet room we students have at school. It’s also cost-effective, so there’s no need to buy a new pair of pants after everyone in your lecture hall saw them last Tuesday.

Even if you are someone who is against repeating an outfit, there is always a way to take an outfit you’ve previously worn and make it new again. Accessorize and layer stuff. You’ll be surprised with your own creativity, and suddenly it feels as though you have an entire new wardrobe.

Now that we have established why outfit repeating is normal, don’t be that one person who points it out. Maybe you do happen to notice, but keep that to yourself. Don’t fur-

ther the negativity of the subject and don’t continue to put down people who partake in what should be a very normal part of life.

Clothes are a way to express yourself, especially during your college years when there are no dress codes to restrict the things you wear and the way you wear them.

In a place where everyone has a closet the size of a shoebox, I will proudly wear my outfits week after week with no shame. I encourage everyone to look past the silly nature of avoiding the same outfit twice. Just wash them, please.

Abby Jenkins is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Abby know by tweeting her @abbyjenks18 or emailing her at aj205621@ ohio.edu.

Stop remaking movies that are already good

Mackenzie Shuman “Carrie” is a 1974 horror novel written by Stephen King about a girl with telekinetic powers who goes on a rampage and brutally murders everyone in her high school.

The book inspired the 1976 film of the same title, which has since become a horror classic. In 2013, “Carrie” was devolved into an absolute mess of a remake.

In the past decade, more remakes of classic movies have been released, some great, but most awful. Of course, filmmakers have released “reenvisioned” films for decades and it is not a new concept. However, recently, it has felt more like a money grab than an artistic choice, and tasteless reboots are submerging the market.

When Hollywood directors see the success of one film, they seem to want that success for themselves; what better way to get that than by releasing the same film?

Remakes are often worse than the originals and these reboots take popularity and attention away from films that deserve it.

Especially with movie franchises like Star Wars and Marvel, people get more excited about new movies coming out because they are familiar, and people know what quality to expect. “(Remakes) are usually part of a franchise and are therefore a proven monetary commodity,” according to an article from Brigham Young University’s The Daily Universe. “People gravitate toward what is familiar as a way to help funnel out excess information.”

Moreover, rather than redeveloping a film using new technology and director influence, these films are often direct copies of the original. Good examples of this are Disney’s live-action films.

“The Little Mermaid” is a cartoon Disney classic, but the live-action version featured minimal changes to the story and overall atmosphere. The movie was highly anticipated

because of the nostalgia value of a classic Disney movie, but it largely disappointed critics because of its lack of imagination.

Some remakes are just plain bad. Going back to the 2013 adaptation of “Carrie” – the same story that created a horror classic in 1976 – somehow created an easily forgettable horror movie 40 years later.

The original film is scary because it is mysterious and thrilling, and it doesn’t tell the audience everything. In the remake, the plot and characters are much more exaggerated; they are more horrific and less strange, which beats the creativity out of the plot. It’s like watching a fan of the 1976 movie try to describe the concept to their friends. After reading the novel and watching both films, I found that the 2013 movie is disconnected from the charm and thrill of the original story.

There are rare times when reboots work, though. Take, for example, the movies surrounding the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” All three of the movies have been widely successful and incredibly different.

The 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” starring Gene Wilder, is much brighter and more whimsical than “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which came out 34 years later.

The 2005 film starring Johnny Depp, based on the same story, is nearly unrecognizable compared to the original — yet it still works. With “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet, we get another, but very different, look at the classic story. Every fan may have a favorite among the trio, but none of these films are widely disliked.

The Willy Wonka movies are a good example of how different directors can take one story and expand on it, which is exactly how reboots should be approached.

If a movie sequel or reboot is going to work, the director must be creative. Ultimately, a flood of remakes could represent a lack of creativity in Hollywood.

While many incredible new movies are still being released, it is important to notice that we are seeing more remakes now than ever, and they are weighing down the film industry. It’s time to fill writers’ rooms and start working on some new ideas. Let good movies live on in their original formats.

Kenzie Shuman 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 talk more about it? Let Kenzie know by emailing her at ms667222@ohio.edu or messaging her on Instagram @zieshuman.

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

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Take part in the political process The past few years have been a lot politically, leaving many out of the political process. Young Americans feel left behind by the two-party system and are wary of traditional politicians, with young people planning to vote at a lower rate in the presidential election this fall than they did in 2020.

As today’s college students became eligible to vote, American politics became more complicated; two hard splits were occurring within both the Republican and Democratic parties.

The current political climate is not just polarized but muddled. It is hard to begin when there is no clear place to start.

In 2020, 48% of adults aged 18-24 voted in the U.S. presidential election, this being the lowest voter turnout of any age group but very high for the demographic. For so many young people to passionately disapprove, regardless of party, of what our government is doing and then not vote, is not productive or conducive to change.

Young Americans need to swallow their pride, ask questions, not be afraid of being wrong and ultimately participate in both local and national government.

The system will go on regardless if millennials and Gen Z vote. The responsibility of voting, therefore, that younger generations

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 21, 2024.

(JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

share with the rest of the population remains the same. It is better to attempt to make an impact and not succeed than to not try at all.

The immense sense of apathy toward the American political process and climate coming from the younger generations can only be expected given the hand they have been dealt: a planet that may be past the point of climate recovery, government corruption at the highest it's been in a decade, mass shootings that are less surprising than ever, a resurgence of violent extremist sentiments and general confusion about the economy.

However, there are people who are making decisions about these things, and they are not just the president. Getting involved and voting locally is much more powerful than only coming out for the presidential election even if it means needing to do a little more research on specific candidates and issues. Local politics will have much more of a direct impact than the presidential election. Information on Ohio representatives and senators can be found here.

Still, all hope is not lost on younger generations, specifically, students who proved

Editor-in-Chief | Katie Millard Managing Editor | Emma Erion Equity Director | Alesha Davis EDITORIAL News Editor | Madalyn Blair Asst. News Editor | Donovan Hunt Culture Editor | Alyssa Cruz Asst. Culture Editor | Abby Jenkins Sports Editor | Bobby Gorbett Sports Editor | Robert Keegan III Opinion Editor | Tate Raub Asst. Opinion Editor | Megan Diehl The Beat Editor | Aya Cathey Asst. The Beat Editor | Grace Koennecke Projects Editor | Hannah Campbell Investigative Editor | Alex Imwalle Copy Chief | Addie Hedges Slot Editors | Arielle Lyons, Jackson McCoy, Ashley Pomplas, Tre Spencer ART Art Director | Abbie Kinney Asst. Art Director | Emma McAdams Director of Photography | Alaina Dackermann Photo Editor | Zoe Cranfill DIGITAL Director of Web Development | Tavier Leslie Audience Engagement Editor | Logan Jeffries Asst. Audience Engagement Editor | Jenna Skidmore Director of Multimedia | Cole Patterson Asst. Director of Multimedia | Kendall Timms BUSINESS Media Sales | Gia Sammons, Molly Wilson Director of Student Media | Andrea Lewis 18 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

their capacity for political involvement by the overwhelming turnout in Athens to pass Issues 1 and 2. 12,583 people voted “yes” on Issue 1 while 12,096 voted “yes” on Issue 2.

In the near future, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for students to get further politically involved. Locally, Athens Mayor Steve Patterson recognizes the need for more affordable housing in Athens, and voters can help hold plans accountable. The Ohio Primary also will be held on Tuesday, March 19, and students can vote locally or in their hometowns. It is also possible to register to vote online in Ohio using this link.

Even when it doesn’t feel like it, the government is supposed to work for the people, not vice versa.

Editorials represent the majority opnion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Cheif Katie Millard, Managing Editor Emma Erion and Equity Director Alesha Davis, and opnion editors: Opnion Editor Tate Raub and Asst.

Opnion Editor Megan Diehl, Post editorials are independent of the publication’s ews covrage.

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Women dominate, make history at the 66th Grammy Awards GRACE KOENNECKE ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR The Grammy Awards is a special night for music lovers all over the world. As a ceremony known for its performances, celebrity announcements and shocking upsets, this past Sunday was surely a night to remember.

With a return from host Trevor Noah at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, here is an overview of what happened at the 66th Grammy Awards: Album of the Year: “Midnights” by Taylor Swift Sunday, Taylor Swift made Grammy history by being the first woman to win Album of the Year four times for her albums “Fearless,” “1989,” “folklore” and, now, “Midnights.”

After having a peak year in her career thanks to her widely popular “Eras Tour,” it’s no surprise the singer took home the night’s biggest prize. Swift also caused commotion with the announcement of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” after receiving a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

With a range of songs that explored themes ranging from Swift’s breakup with longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn to her struggles with an eating disorder and depression, “Midnights” is one of the singer’s most poignant works. Swifties were captivated by songs like “Anti-Hero,” “Karma” and “Lavender Haze” for months, proving Swift’s lasting impact as a singer-songwriter.

However, this category has a long history of sparking controversy at the Grammy Awards, which rapper Jay-Z pointed out beforehand during his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. He noted how the Grammy voters have never awarded many of his musical peers Album of the Year, including his wife Beyoncé, making the speech one of the more thought-provoking of the night.

“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady (Beyoncé), but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year,” he said. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work … The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”

Swift’s win, while historic, served as a reminder that diversity in the category has yet to be improved. An emphasis on the repetitive nature of the awards caused many viewers to stop and reflect on the faults that come with highlighting mainstream musicians, usually from the white majority.

Song of the Year: “What Was I Made For?”

by Billie Eilish Another tough category proved an easy feat for now nine-time Grammy-winner Billie Eilish. Winning Song of the Year for “What Was I Made For?” from Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” the singer’s powerful song took the

world by storm. It also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in January.

Deeply poetic and relatable for many female-identifying listeners, the track deals heavily with self-worth and likability, which viewers saw in “Barbie.” Eilish’s feature in the blockbuster film shows just how memorable a simple melody and piano-backed chorus can be, especially at a time when women’s rights are constantly being challenged.

Best Pop Solo Performance: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus won her first Grammy for her viral chart-topping hit “Flowers,” the only lead single off last year’s “Endless Summer Vacation.” Cyrus also won Record of the Year, making the night full of impressive wins for many female musicians in attendance.

In “Flowers,” Cyrus channeled heartbreak into a self-empowerment anthem. Using wordplay and lyricism structured similarly to Bruno Mars’s “When I Was Your Man,” the singer transformed her sound to create a catchy and unforgettable song that will define her career for years to come.

Best New Artist: Victoria Monét Victoria Monét has been in the music industry as a producer since the 2010s, and she was nominated for seven Grammy Awards this year. Due to the release of her album “JAGUAR II” last year, the singer-songwriter has grown in popularity for her solo work and won Best New Artist on Sunday.

Monét’s strong work ethic and sense of confidence have made her career so fruitful, and it was inspiring to see her finally get the recognition she’s deserved for years. With iconic songs like “On My Mama,” the singer’s status is now well cemented in Grammys history, especially after following in the footsteps of other Best New Artist winners like Samara Joy and Megan Thee Stallion.

Best Rock Performance: “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius Last March, boygenius garnered fame and success in 2023 after releasing its first studio album, “the record.” One of the album’s lead singles, “Not Strong Enough,” became an instant favorite among fans and won Best Rock Performance. The win was historic in itself for a queer band led by Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. The band beat out other big names such as Metallica, Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys.

“Not Strong Enough” pulls from 1990s rock reminiscent of artists like Sheryl Crow, integrating the themes of heartbreak and self-destruction to make one of the group’s best songs. Serving as another well-deserved win from Sunday, the group plans to go on a hiatus after a busy year of touring and promoting “the record.”

Best Rock Album: “This Is Why” by Paramore The three-time Grammy-winning band is now the first female-led band to win Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards. The long-awaited victory comes nine years after Paramore’s first win with “Ain’t It Fun” for Best Rock Song in 2015. “This Is Why” served as the first single off the trio’s sixth studio album of the same name, released last February.

A song about not wanting to face the outside world after a global pandemic and political unrest, the track was a unique shift in tone from Paramore’s last album, 2017’s “After Laughter.” Integrating psychedelic rock guitar hooks reminiscent of bands like the Talking Heads, members Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro proved their innovation and constant creative experimentation was successful with a Grammy win.

In Memoriam performance Another annual tradition at the Grammy Awards is its remembrance of musicians who had died during the last year. Stars such as Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste and Fantasia Barrino sang covers of works

such as Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The performance also honored the following artists: Tony Bennett, Jimmy Buffett, Shane MacGowan, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tugoy the Dove, Ahmad Jamal, Andy Rourke, Rudolph Isley, Mary Weiss, Burt Bacharach, Gangsta Boo, Les McCann, Denny Laine, Chita Rivera, Jane Birkin, Wayne Kramer, David Lindley, Randy Meisner, Charlie Robison, Michael Rhodes, Gary Rossington, Gary Wright, Terry Kirkman, George Winston, Melanie, Jean Knight, Rodriquez, Marlena Shaw, Russell Batiste Jr., Rita Lee, Bobby Caldwell, Aaron Spears, Magoo and Gordon Lightfoot.

Lennox called for a ceasefire in Gaza during her cover of O’Connor’s hit, saying, “Artists for ceasefire!” The statement comes days after over 10,000 pro-Palestine supporters called for an immediate ceasefire during a march in London. It was the first demonstration since the United Nations top court ordered Israel “to ensure it does not commit acts of genocide.

@GRACE_KOE GK011230@OHIO.EDU

NICOLE REESE | FOR THE POST THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

Rom-coms decline in quality KENZIE CALLAHAN FOR THE POST The 1990s and 2000s are universally known as the peak of the romantic comedy, or rom-com, genre. With movies like "When Harry Met Sally…," "10 Things I Hate About You" and "50 First Dates," it makes sense why many movie buffs consider the genre to have reached its prime in the years spanning from the late 1980s to the 2000s. But what has changed since then?

One major rom-com, "Anyone But You," hit theaters in December 2023. It stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," told through the heart-warming love story of Bea and Ben. After sharing a classic coffee shop meet cute, a misunderstanding turns them against each other until they find themselves in the same wedding party months later. Forced to stay in the same beach house in Australia and get along for the sake of the wedding, the two rivals fake a relationship until they find themselves falling in love.

Despite earning nearly $152 million at the box office worldwide, the film's collective rating is a weak 6.7/10 on IMDb and 3.2/ 5 stars on Letterboxd.

Many audience members pointed out the mediocre acting, one Letterboxd user writing, "You could tell me there was a teleprompter behind the camera and I would 100% believe you."

Furthermore, rom-com fans seem tired of seeing the same type of conventionally attractive people star in romance movies, with many Letterboxd users comparing Powell to stars like Tom Cruise and Chris Hemsworth.

One IMDb user describes the film as "neither brilliant nor dreadful," and accredits the film's mediocrity to the predictability of the storyline: two objectively attractive individuals falling in love, separating and ultimately finding each other again.

Another similar outcome resulted from Netflix's "Your Place or Mine" (2023), which boasts a star-studded cast featuring actors Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher as long-distance best friends Peter and Debbie along with other notable actors such as Jesse Williams, Tig Notaro and Zöe Chao.

After a single hookup in college, Peter and Debbie have stayed best friends for 20 years, even when Peter moved from Los Angeles to New York. Now a single mother, Debbie heads to stay with Peter in New York for a week to get her degree when the babysitter backs out.

Instead of postponing the trip, Peter insists on watching her son, Jack, himself. They stay at each other's places for a week, and Peter bonds with Jack. Debbie learns about Peter's goal to be a writer and his true feelings for her.

The cheesy film has a low rating of 5.7/10 on IMDb and an even worse 2.2/5 stars on Letterboxd, with many reviewers pointing out flaws and major plot holes in the storyline that are hard to get past.

For example, one Letterboxd review notes the ridiculous idea that Debbie would have to fly across the country for a single accounting class as well as the contradictions around Peter's character, a wealthy businessman who is referred to as "irresponsible" throughout the film for no apparent reason.

Many recent romantic comedies have adopted the same 20 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

formula, relying on attractive stars and aesthetics to overshadow weak, low-effort plotlines. This sets them apart from the more impactful films from the genre’s golden era.

For example, "When Harry Met Sally…" (1989) has a rating of 7.7/10 on IMDb and 4/5 stars on Letterboxd, not because of its star-studded cast featuring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and Carrie Fisher, but because of the memorable, thoughtful storyline that included their complicated love story told by Harry and Sally themselves.

While the film benefitted from its talented, attractive cast, it is ultimately remembered more for its originality in scenes like the one at the diner, in which Sally performed an unforgettable fake orgasm. The associated line, "I'll have what she's having," is still a topic of discussion with the film's star, Billy Crystal, 24 years later.

Not all newer romantic comedies are destined for poor reviews, though. A great example of this is "Palm Springs" (2020), which stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as Nyles and Sarah, who meet at a wedding where Sarah is the maid of honor. After saving face for her during her speech, Nyles forms an alliance with Sarah that comes in handy when they

find themselves stuck in a time loop.

Forced to relive the same day over and over again, Nyles helps Sarah learn to enjoy life more by invoking chaos on the never-ending wedding celebrations, while simultaneously falling in love.

Acquiring a rating of 7.4/10 on IMDb and 3.8/5 stars on Letterboxd, fans appreciate the less-than-realistic approach to a love story as well as seeing two main characters that are realistically attractive.

"I love when two white people who you can tell weren't 'hot hot' in high school but are now 'definitely hot' as adults have incredible chemistry," said one Letterboxd user.

Overall, it is impossible to say if the romantic comedy genre is dying; however, if it is, it’s clearly a result of lazy writing and unoriginality. Movie producers need to realize that relying on A-list actors and overdone clichés is not enough to earn the approval of romance lovers and get to work on high-quality rom-com movies that people want.

@KENZIECAKE8 KC389422@OHIO.EDU

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Four Short Reviews #2 JUDE HANNAHS FOR THE POST

1. “Maestro”

"Maestro," starring Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Silverman and Maya Hawke, is a biopic about famous American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Mulligan). Recently, it has received extensive media attention, and for good reason.

For one, Cooper's performance as Bernstein is incredible.

There was not a moment in the film where I thought I was watching Bradley Cooper. Cooper does not look like Bernstein in terms of appearance (even with old age makeup), but he perfectly captured Bernstein's personality and mannerisms, and it's something to be in awe of.

Mulligan's performance as Montealegre is also fantastic.

Both actors understood the assignment when they read the script for this movie. They naturally feel like a married couple that has been together for 30 or 40 years. Another impressive aspect of the film is its cinematography. There are both black and white and color sequences, which are equally terrific to look at.

"Maestro" should be my favorite movie of 2023, but it was not. I couldn't decipher what Cooper and screenwriter Josh Singer were trying to say. Is this a movie about the rocky marriage between Bernstein and Montealegre, or is it more in line with a traditional biopic narrative structure?

I have only seen "Maestro" once, so maybe a rewatch will provide a better understanding of Cooper and the rest of the crew's message. Even with that small criticism, the film is extremely well-made, and it definitely feels like a lot of heart was put into the entire production. With this and "A Star is Born" (2018), Bradley Cooper has proven himself to be one of the most exciting filmmakers in Hollywood today.

Rating: 3.5/5

2. "The Iron Claw"

"The Iron Claw" is directed by Sean Durkin and stars Zac Efron, Holt McCallany, Jeremy Allen White and Lily James.

The film centers around the true story of the Von Erich brothers and the tragedy that struck their family, as they rose to fame in the professional wrestling world during the early 1980s.

I am interested in every A24 film regardless of who directed it, starred in it or what the film is about. "The Iron Claw" looked promising based on its trailer, so I went and saw it with my sister. The film is much more than that. This is one of the best films of 2023.

For one, the acting is incredible. Everyone brought their A-game, especially Efron, who plays Kevin Von Erich. I never thought much of Efron as an actor, but here, he really shines.

He is not just the one good-looking teenager from High School Musical (2006) anymore for me. My second favorite performance in the film is McCallany, who plays Fritz Von Erich, the father of the Von Erich brothers.

McCallany is a very good character actor who has appeared in many things like "Mindhunter" (2017-2019), "Fight Club" (1999) and even Joss Whedon's "Justice League" (2017).

I'm glad that he was in this film because he expertly pulls off the parent who is more demanding and not easy to get along with. Kudos to whoever decided to cast him in the role. He's fantastic.

As mentioned, every cast member performed well. White plays Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson plays David Von Erich and Stanley Simons plays Mike Von Erich. Each broth-

22 / FEBRUARY 8, 2024

er has equal time to establish themselves and feel like real three-dimensional people instead of background characters, even though Efron's Kevin is the main character.

The main theme of the film is brotherhood. I do not have a brother, but watching "The Iron Claw" with my older sister was a special experience because it made me appreciate that I have a sibling I can connect with. Despite the Von Erich family's losses, Kevin remained strong and continued life with his wife and sons. While his brothers were not with him in this life, he will definitely get to see them again in the afterlife.

"The Iron Claw" is a truly beautiful film about a particular topic that isn't given much spotlight when it comes to mainstream film and storytelling. It has a great cast, a phenomenal soundtrack and well-choreographed wrestling sequences, and it is more captivating than your average sports movie.

Rating: 4/5

3. "Ferrari"

"Ferrari" is directed by Michael Mann and stars Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey.

The movie is about Enzo Ferrari and his troubled relationship with his wife Laura Ferrari and mistress Lina Lardi (Woodley). He also deals with the loss of his first son with Laura.

Another focal point of the film is Enzo Ferrari taking a chance with the Mille Miglia, an iconic race that spans over 1,000 miles across Italy, after the company he and Laura built 10 years earlier goes bankrupt.

Mann has been on my radar pretty recently. In the span of a few months, I watched both "Collateral" (2004) and "Heat" (1995) and was absolutely blown away by how great they were. When news broke that his latest film "Ferrari" would be released in a theater near my home, I was the first person in line to get my ticket.

"Ferrari" left me in an odd spot after watching it. I didn’t dislike or like it. There were many times while watching the film when I felt pretty bored and honestly on the verge of falling asleep at certain moments. There isn’t anything in "Ferrari" that I found necessarily bad, but rather I didn't find anything interesting about the film that would keep me thinking about it.

The performances from Driver as Enzo Ferrari and Cruz as his wife Laura Ferrari are solid. The film is well-shot and features plenty of well-edited sequences involving drivers testing out Ferrari vehicles on racetracks. However, I just felt kind of empty after I left the theater. I do not know how else to put it.

Maybe sometime in the future, I will give "Ferrari'' another viewing and hopefully see what Mann was trying to say with it. Again, it's not a bad movie by any means. It just did not complement my taste in cinema. For movie fans, give it a watch. For fans of Michael Mann's work, give it a watch.

Perhaps you'll find something worthy about it that I didn't.

Rating: 3/5

4. "Echo"

"Echo" is the newest miniseries produced by Marvel Studios and stars Alaqua Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tantoo Cardinal and Chaske Spencer. The series takes place after the events of "Hawkeye" (2021) and follows Maya Lopez (Cox) as she tries to escape the sinister Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (D'Onofrio) which leads her to return to her hometown in Oklahoma and reunite with her family.

I had no interest in watching this series initially. Like many, I have been burnt out by superhero movies for a while now and was only curious about certain superheroes and what

ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR movie or television show was going to be made about them.

Some of those superheroes include Batman, Spider-Man and, ironically, Daredevil.

When I found out that the teaser trailer for "Echo" was trending on X, I decided to watch it and see if it was something I may or may not be interested in. To be completely honest, I was quite shocked after watching the teaser trailer.

The serious approach it took while also providing original Netflix Daredevil fans with the likes of D'Onofrio's Kingpin and Charlie Cox's Daredevil made the show all the more intriguing.

My expectations for "Echo" were pretty high. The question is whether or not those expectations were met. The answer is: kind of. Don't get me wrong, "Echo" is a breath of fresh air compared to other more recent Marvel releases like the laughable mess that is "Antman and The Wasp: Quantumania" (2023). "Echo" is average at its best. When it's not at its best, it feels uninspired.

I do appreciate the showrunners for making the tone of "Echo" more serious and not goofy like most other Marvel projects – but it doesn't feel earned. It reminds me of when Warner Bros. took a drastic change and made its DC Comics films sillier.

One angle of the show that I did find heartwarming is the relationship Lopez has with the rest of her family. All of the actors and actresses act like believable family members, and no one feels out of place or unnecessary. I also liked the approach this series had when it dealt with themes of Native American heritage. It's a nice touch and something that separates it from other superhero media.

It is also worth noting that all the actors who played members of Lopez's family had to learn sign language because the character and the actress Alaqua Cox are deaf. It's always a standout when cast members learn a skill they didn't have previously.

At the end of the day, "Echo" is sadly just another series to fill the pit of other seemingly pointless and substanceless superhero movies and television. It is not bad at all, just forgettable. But hey, don't just read my review about it. Give it a watch for yourself to come to your own conclusion.

Rating: 2.5/5

@JUDETHEDUDEHANNAHS JH825821@OHIO.EDU

'SNL’ adapts to viewership decline

NYLA GILBERT FOR THE POST

Since it first aired Oct. 11, 1975, "Saturday Night Live," otherwise known as "SNL," has been a staple in American comedy sketch shows. Over its 40-year history, the New York City-based show has experienced many ups and downs.

“SNL” Season 49 has received trending headlines: Major news outlets covered actor Jacob Elordi's debut episode; the "Euphoria" actor's appearance and performances by rising star Reneé Rapp, actress Rachel McAdams and rapper Megan Thee Stallion created tidal waves in the press.

With the public's newfound viewership and online engagement, many have questioned the show’s decline or newfound revival as a mainstream show. As late-night and live television programs lose viewership, many wonder if “SNL” runs the risk of cancellation.

Is "SNL" declining?

Over the past several years, "SNL" has received up-anddown ratings. In 2021, Season 47 saw a 35% drop in ratings from the previous year. The New York Post remarked that these ratings were similar to those of the final two episodes of Season 46, noting that it may be the start of a new normal for “SNL.” In 2022, in an article for The Wrap, writer Benjamin Svetkey pointed out Season 48's low viewership by stating, "The program's audience has been shrinking for decades: This season's premiere pulled in only four million viewers, making it the least-watched in the series' history."

During this time, "SNL" saw some of its worst ratings. The episode featuring Oscar Isaac and Charli XCX received some of the lowest numbers in ratings and viewership of the season.

The episode, airing in March 2022, received 4.4 million viewers compared to its year opener, on Jan. 15, which reached just over 5 million. This marked its fourth decline of the year and a loss of 300,000 viewers from the previous episode.

Many broadcast shows have lost viewership to streaming services, and "SNL" is no different. In 2018, The Hollywood Reporter conducted a poll on why Americans switched to streaming services. The results showed that 56% of those polled deemed cable "unaffordable," and 47% said the same about satellite television.

Who is watching "SNL?" In a 2023 poll curated by Newsweek during the writer's strike, 50% of American adults said they do not miss "SNL" "at all." The rising generations are showing less and less interest in "SNL," particularly Generation Z. According to Statista, the most frequent viewers are those between ages 30 and 44. Of that surveyed population, 19% stated that they watched the program often, and 28% said they watched it sometimes.

The show's leading demographic tends to be those old enough to experience and remember the height of "SNL" in the 1990s. These viewers remain not only the target audience but the most engaged one.

New comedians and musical acts The departure of "SNL" veterans Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong left the public wondering about returning faces and new additions.

Some of their departures are for reasons disclosed to the public. McKinnon stated she left because her body was exhausted. Bryant has been working on numerous other projects that need her priority, including developing an animated series for Peacock.

Fresh faces, new ideas and younger hosts may be "SNL’s"

saving grace. New members include Cleveland native, actor and comedian Molly Kearney, who made history as the show’s first non-binary member. Other new members of the show’s diverse cast include Marcello Hernandez, Micheal Longfellow and Devon Walker.

Performances by artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Reneé Rapp have sparked younger viewers' interests and paid off in the past year. Many believe "SNL" is getting funnier by introducing new comedians and rising pop culture stars.

Jacob Elordi's appearance as host of "SNL" created a lot of social media buzz, as his episode garnered 4,340,000 views. This is a 2,994,000 viewer increase from its previous Jan. 6 episode, with Ana de Armas, which received 1,346,000 views.

While the buzz surrounding these rising stars is helping to keep the "SNL" name in the mainstream, it is not creating a steady source of viewership. This causes concern that "SNL" is being viewed as more of a platform for fans to see their favorites, versus "SNL" being seen as its own individual entity.

The content just isn't funny While "SNL" rose to fame due to its hard-hitting nature, it seems to be lacking the opinions of the public. Intellectual comedy is something that "SNL" was known for, especially around major election seasons. However, many believe that the show’s political comedy is extremely lacking and even painful to watch. Many referenced Alec Baldwin's portrayal of Donald Trump as agonizing to watch.

Some pointed out the political bias of "SNL," taking a liberal stance in some of their portrayals of conservative figures and, on the opposite end, making fun of the wrong things concerning the Democratic party.

The show has also been critiqued for its cultural relevancy and lack of timely content. As recently as 2022, the show invited Dave Chappelle to host, even after his controversial remarks surrounding the transgender community. Shane Gillis, a former "SNL" cast member who was fired five years ago for making racist remarks, will host the show on Feb. 24.

Both of these decisions received mixed reviews online.

Controversial hosts aren't new to "SNL"; the serious stance that their fleeting audience is willing to take is. Audiences would rather view the content of people they have grown to love and respect based on their political views than support a platform they deem problematic.

While it seems that the veterans of "SNL" plan to end the show at 50 seasons, there may be hope for more. With a growing, diverse cast, new creative freedom for writers and younger hosts, there is hope for the future of "SNL" yet again. There may be hope of making it to Season 100.

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