Dec. 7, 2023 by The Post

DECEMBER 7, 2023 DATE DATE DATE A feature on Tim Albin’s dog, Macey... pg 10 An obituary for Robert Glidden... pg 15 The best movies of the year...pg 22

FEATURES FOR FINALS

Signs light up the windows of Puff for Tobacco LLc located on Court Street. in Athens, Dec. 3, 2023. (BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST)

City Council seeks to limit underage nicotine use ALISON PATTON FOR THE POST Marlboro, Breeze Smoke, Juuls and many other nicotine products are getting into the hands of people under the legal age of 21. To limit underage access to nicotine, the Athens City Council is considering an ordinance that will require smoke shops to get a license by Sept. 1, 2024, to sell tobacco products. Councilmember Sarah Grace, D-At Large, reintroduced the tobacco retailer license, or TRL, ordinance, and the council gave the amended version a first read Monday, according to a previous Post report. James Wanke, a relative of the owners of uptown convenience store Silver Serpent Exotic Gifts, spoke at the Monday council meeting to oppose the license ordinance. He said his family’s business has a perfect underage record for tobacco and alcohol purchases and the council should focus on underage drinking at uptown bars, which is a more “serious and relevant” issue. City Law Director Lisa Eliason said the amendments were minor clarifications experts from Tobacco 21 and the American Heart Association suggested. “They reviewed the ordinance,” Eliason said. “They made some changes (and) suggested some changes. Things like adding a definition. Then I presented it to Sarah, and she presented it to Council.” TRL is a local government-driven policy that mandates smoke shops that sell any “nicotine delivery device or mechanism” have a license to sell those products, Ohio Regional Director of Tobacco 21 Wendy Hyde said. There is no statewide license for vapor nicotine products, so without the TRL, smoke shops selling only vapor products can sell to whomever they want with little con-

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sequences, Hyde said. “If you sell only vapor products, you don’t need to have a license at all through the state, and so there’s no way to enforce what’s being sold or to whom that is being sold,” Hyde said. “(Being) licensed at the local level allows for an enforcement mechanism to be put in place.” Hyde said the ordinance won’t affect businesses because it’s not prohibiting the sale of tobacco. According to the ordinance, If a smoke shop is caught selling to someone underage, the first offense is a $350 administrative fee; the second offense within three years is a $500 fine and a seven-day TRL suspension; the third offense within three years is a $750 fine and a monthlong TRL suspension; the fourth offense within three years is a $1,000 fine, the TRL will be revoked and the license holder can’t sell tobacco products or apply for a license for three years. A fifth offense within three years results in another $1,000 fine and a permanent ban from obtaining a TRL. “It defines the penalty structure involved if a retailer fails to comply with the law, and it’s at no cost to the City of Athens,” Hyde said. “This is revenue neutral for the citizens and the taxpayers of Athens. The program is supported by the license fees that the retailers pay on an annual basis.” Hyde said the TRL is not a new law, but it creates a local enforcement system that fixes the “loophole” between the state and smoke shops. There are 25 cities in Ohio that have already passed a TRL Hyde said and the governments of at least three other cities are talking about adopting the policy. The Athens Office of Code Enforcement and Community Development and the Athens City-County Health Department will have the authority under the ordinance to do unannounced compliance checks and give citations.

However, the code enforcement office will license businesses. “When they approached us, it just seemed like a good fit because we do enforce the smoke-free Ohio workplace state statute,” Administrator for the Health Department Jack Pepper said. “We have historically done a lot of tobacco and policy work out of the department.” The department hasn’t figured out how exactly it will do enforcement or if there will be an underage component, Pepper said. The ordinance requires the department to do two unannounced compliance checks and a follow-up check three months after a retailer fails to comply. “In the early stages, it would be really quite frankly, just as simple as spinning the permitting process of making sure that everybody that needs a permit has one,” Pepper said. “Making sure that they’re selling what they tell us that they’re selling and that they’re not selling anything that they shouldn’t be.” Pepper said the original ordinance was supposed to include a clause regarding banning flavored vapes. Flavored vapes tend to be marketed toward children, Pepper said, which means children are more likely to become lifelong users at a young age. “We’re certainly disappointed that this particular version of the ordinance doesn’t include that,” Pepper said. “However, we’re taking baby steps, and I think that the current version is a baby step toward that.” Eliason said the ordinance will have a second reading at a special session Dec. 11, and the final reading will be Dec. 18. If passed and signed by Athens Mayor Steve Patterson, the ordinance will go into effect after 30 days.

@ALIPATTON13 AP208619@OHIO.EDU COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ETHAN CLAWSON

Trespassing at Boyd, fire alarm set off at Washington KENDALL WRIGHT FOR THE POST This doesn’t sound good Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to The Plains in response to a 911 call. The call came in three different times from three different areas, suggesting the caller was in a moving vehicle. Units patrolled the area but did not locate the caller. I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo A man making inappropriate comments to a minor on Carl Drive in The Plains was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Officers filed a report and, as of last week, an investigation is pending. We have enough fire alarms already An incident of criminal mischief at Washington Hall was reported to the Ohio University Police Department. A student was found tampering with a fire alarm and was issued a summons for criminal mischief. Girls just wanna have fun A female possibly hanging out of a car window in the area of US 33 and state Route 682 was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Officers patrolled from Athens to Nelsonville but did not locate the vehicle. Meow A suspicious person on North Plains Road, The Plains, was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The caller told officers that she heard things being knocked over on her porch. Upon arrival, deputies found two cats on the porch. No further action was necessary. I mean, you tried The Ohio University Police Department was notified by the security alarm at Boyd Hall after hours. Two students were charged criminally for trespassing.

You might need that A stolen license plate and vandalism on Enlow Road in Athens were reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The victim told officers that he found his license plate was gone and that his vehicle was also vandalized. A report was taken. Get this baby an iPad! Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified of an open 911 call coming from Oakdale Road in Glouster. Upon arrival, deputies determined that children were playing with the phone and there was no emergency. Soon, my child A complaint of cattle in the road on Bethany Ridge Stewart Road was reported to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies contacted the cattle owner, who told officers that he was repairing a fence and would get the cows back in. No further action was necessary. Limit your screen time A complainant went to the Sheriff’s Office to report harassment that had taken place. Officers spoke with both parties and advised them to block each other on social media. Failure to yield is a tricky one A traffic crash on Bobcat Lane was reported to the Ohio University Police Department. An individual was issued a citation for failure to yield. Identity theft is not a joke! Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a woman about possible identity fraud. A report was filed and deputies advised the woman of steps to take moving forward.

@KENDALLKWRIGHT KW229520@OHIO.EDU

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Culinary Services accommodates student allergies, has limited dining hall options PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER Ohio University Culinary Services offers general accommodations for students with food allergies and preferences. Culinary Services prioritizes the Big Nine allergies, which include milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame. Angela Bohyer, registered dietitian and nutrition educator of culinary services, said the university focuses on Big Nine accommodations, but it also accommodates vegetarianism, veganism, gluten-free and religious dietary restrictions. “Margaret's, a concept in The District on West Green (located in Boyd Dining Hall) is gluten-free. No gluten foods are served here and students can eat here without ordering ahead. We can also accommodate food allergies here upon request,” Bohyer wrote in an email. For special diet requirements, food allergies and GI issues, students must either reach out to Bohyer or they will be directed to her so she can offer assistance, Alex Semancik, a communications specialist, said. Aside from meeting with students with allergies, Culinary Services also partners with The Allison Rose Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to those with food allergies. Employees also must undergo annual Allergen Training, Bohyer said. Semancik said the university receives a lot of positive feedback from parents and students. However, Grace Chinsky, a sophomore studying nursing, has celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disease that affects a person’s gut when they consume gluten, and she is allergic to nuts and sesame, she said her experience with Culinary Services was not personalized to her needs. “I did meet with someone before school started, and she kind of just said, ‘You'll find something’” Chinsky said. “There weren't really any options that were dictated strictly toward me. There was nothing I could find that was meant to be gluten-free.” During her meeting with the nutritionist, the only options for those following a gluten-free diet were Nelson and Boyd Dining Hall’s salad bars and Margaret's. Bohyer said the Boyd Dining Hall is a nutfree food court, where none of the recipes contain peanuts or tree nuts. Boyd was the better option in terms of an allergy-free food selection, Chinsky said. 4 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

Inside Nelson Dining Hall, Dec. 5, 2023. (JENNA SLYMAN | FOR THE POST)

However, it was more inconvenient for her due to living in Biddle Hall on East Green, so she often ate in Nelson. “Nelson doesn't have anything that's strictly gluten-free,” Chinsky said. “It's just the regular food they have, and if something happens to be gluten-free on its own then it is, but they don't have a separate section or anything like that.” Something Chinsky found helpful was the labeled menus because they helped her distinguish what she could eat. “I do like that things are kind of labeled

on the menu,” Chinsky said. “They have little symbols that mean things, but I think it would be more helpful to kind of reach out to students and … if they can provide things that are a little more targeted to not having those (allergens) in them.” Bohyer said the dining courts’ nutritional fact label is online or on the OHIO Eats app. To improve the experience, she would recommend making the experience more personal and specific to each student. “I would have liked for them to kind of be a facilitator and reach out to some of the

staff because that can be kind of a nervous thing to do,” Chinsky said. Emily Stokes contributed to this report.

@PAIGEMAFISHER PF585820@OHIO.EDU

OU works toward improving transfer students' experiences

The Alumni Gateway at Ohio University in Athens, Nov. 8, 2023. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

EMILY STOKES FOR THE POST Changing schools can be scary for transfer students. Fortunately, Ohio University is making strides to welcome them as they would any other first-year Bobcats. Assistant Director of Undergraduate Student Orientation Abbey Cliffel said transfer students experience a modified version of Bobcat Student Orientation, or BSO – which acclimates first-year students with OU before classes start – that caters specifically to transfer students. "A lot of it is just getting them familiar with their new place," Cliffel said. “(It’s about) getting them connected with current students, other transfer students, as well as just the overall Ohio University community." The university also offers OHIO Transfer Day. The day is dedicated to introducing students to faculty in their particular area of interest, helping them learn more about transferring credits, connecting them with campus resources and allowing them to explore campus. Cliffel said some of the programming is the same for transfer and freshmen students, but what sets the groups apart is acknowledging transfer students' prior college experience. "We want to get them acclimated and share information (about OU) that will help them be successful as a student here," Cliffel said. Cliffel said transfer students may face added barriers when scheduling classes compared to other first-year students. "They're coming in with a lot of credit, previous cred-

it from another university, and so scheduling courses can sometimes be a bit of a challenge,“ Cliffel said. Cliffel also noted that incoming freshmen may face some of the same scheduling accommodations as students who enter college with advanced placement or dual-enrollment credits. Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of the Online, Transfer and Credit Services Center Rob Callahan said the enrollment management department is working with faculty to become even more transfer-friendly than it has been over the years. Callahan said the process for transferring credits is based on the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC, which sets the standards for how credits can be transferred. "We do have some constitutional discretion in terms of grades, non-traditional credit, especially as we expand to private and out-of-state institutions," he said. Callahan said the Articulation and Credit Services team put together credit evaluations for admitted transfer students within 24 to 48 hours. He said the team's goal is to get the transfer credit evaluation back to the students as quickly as possible so they can determine if they want to enroll at OU. "It's actually something that most colleges don't do," Callahan said. "Most other brick and mortar institutions have a very long delay process." OU was recognized last June for the fourth year in a row as one of the nation's top transfer-friendly schools, as out-

lined by an OU press release. "That's a recognition of all the efforts that we put into certainly not only students with credit but transfer students," Callahan said. "We want to be a welcoming place for transfer students." Bella DePasquale, a junior studying media arts and studies and recording industry, transferred to OU this fall from a Kent State University regional campus. "I just couldn't find anything else like it in Ohio and nationally for the price," DePasquale said. "I wanted to focus more on the business, copyright law and just the whole music industry." DePasquale said her overall experience transferring was positive, although she wished there were more ways to connect with both transfer students and students in general. "It seems like for the freshmen, they offered more bonding opportunities with other students, but the transfer one did not," DePasquale said. "It felt like I was going through some of it alone." Despite this, DePasquale said she was able to find ways to get involved on campus. "It's been very easy to get involved in different activities and organizations," DePasquale said. "When I moved down here in August, I was like, 'This is the best decision for me.'"

@EMTHEGEMMY ES542222@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

The cost of living in a college town ABREANNA BLOSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER From costly groceries to overpriced textbooks and school supplies, navigating a budget as a college student can be challenging. The burden of monthly rent and utilities only adds to the cost of living in a college town. According to a 2021 survey by Realtor. com, 35% of college students said they could not afford to rent an apartment in their college town and 19% said their parents were helping them pay rent. Additionally, 44% blamed the overall real estate market in their college town. Maggie O’Connor is the director of property services at North America Students of Cooperation (NASCO), an alliance of group-equity housing. O’Connor explained there are a multitude of barriers that students may face when trying to find affordable rental rates in college towns. “The requirement to put down a significant amount of money as a security deposit, references from previous housing experiences, these are all things that are really common in the housing rental market,” O’Connor said. Bob Prebe, the owner of Uptown Realty Group, said the market determines the rent rate. If a rental company markets a rental rate too high, they risk having an unoccupied property. On the other hand, too low of a rental rate could result in a loss of profit. As he explained, rental ranges in Athens are drastic. “You could be from $325 up to $1175 per month per bedroom, and that is an incredibly wide range,” Prebe said. Rental companies determine these prices by an array of factors including proximity to campus, property condition and amenities. Prebe noted that despite market conditions, there are alternative options students may find more affordable. “Definitely looking outside the Uptown area or even outside the city or even maybe lower cost areas of the city of Athens, you could probably find something that would be considerably cheaper,” Prebe said. If a student is seeking housing through a rental agency, Prebe suggests asking landlords numerous questions and doing research before making any definitive decisions. “Take some time to really do your research so that you're making a good decision for you,” Prebe said. Cooperative housing, or co-ops, is another housing option that helps students navigate a challenging rental market. NASCO works closely with the Athens Student Cooperative Organization, a group of cooperatively owned and managed houses. Daniel Miller, NASCO’s director of properties, said co-ops are nonprofit organiza6 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

The River Park apartments on Ohio University's South Green, Oct. 17, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | FOR THE POST)

tions. All the people living at a co-op work together to manage and control the property. They make decisions about who is going to move in, what rent should be set at and what the environment should be like. Typically, rent would only be raised to keep up with inflation or to make repairs on properties. “They're also really great at keeping rents in control over time, because if the people who live there have to vote on what the rents should go up to then they usually will have a good reason for it,” Miller said. Miller said many NASCO co-op members

pay about 50%-70% of the average rental market price, serving as a means of affordable housing. There are two co-op properties under NASCO in Athens, The Vine and Fire House. Both have different eligibility requirements for becoming a resident. The NASCO website provides a comprehensive list for anyone interested in starting their own co-op. “The issue of affordable housing is so overwhelming and co-ops can provide a relief to that, that isn’t just housing, but a community too,” O’Connor said. For students who find themselves faced

with housing insecurity, resources can be found at Bobcats Helping Bobcats.

@ABBYBLOSEE AB532721@OHIO.EDU

Female members of OU Eagle Scout fraternity find solidarity, encourage inclusivity

Now Accepting Applications

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SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY FOR THE POST The Boy Scouts of America, or BSA, is a national organization that was founded in 1910. BSA provides outdoor scouting, community service and leadership experiences for American youth, a demographic that was only recently updated to include young women. When BSA extended membership to both boys and girls in 2019, a young girl in Mentor —who is also a current Ohio University student — jumped at the opportunity. “Both of my brothers were involved in the program as long as I can remember … it was kind of a challenge for me to do the same thing my brothers did, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m up for a challenge,’ so it started out of spite, to be honest,” said Maura Murray, a sophomore studying nursing. Once Murray began engaging in program activities, she discovered how much she loved the outdoor experiences and gaining more leadership capabilities. Eventually, she founded a troop in her area and took on the many responsibilities associated with the youth-led organization, including becoming an Eagle Scout. Although the community allowed Murray to feel supported as a female Eagle Scout, and she was able to utilize her brother’s many connections to find prospective members and leaders, balancing the responsibilities of founding a troop with the newly established concept of female Scouts made for a whirlwind experience. “It was really interesting to learn all of it, and I had a lot of background and other leadership things I’ve done … that made it a little bit easier, but at times it was stressful,” Murray said. Murray’s association with other Eagle Scouts and her love of the program led her to join the fraternity of Eagle Scouts at Ohio University, Epsilon Tau Pi. Despite the recent acceptance of females into the world of scouting, Murray was the first female member to be initiated. “I was kind of just interested to see how the guys would react because we’re all Eagle Scouts, we all have stuff in common, we all have pretty much the same values in that sense,” Murray said. These communal values helped Murray feel welcome in the fraternity, and she wholeheartedly threw herself into the program. When Murray began running social media for the fraternity, she tried to find more female members. “I heard a lot about how there are other females who said they were interested but just never came back, so I was like, ‘I know they’re out there,’” Murray said. “It’s such an outdoor, nature school so you kind of figure there have to be some.” This hunt for other female Scouts on campus led to the induction of Amelia Stranges, a freshman studying environmental science. Stranges’ older sister joined BSA after membership opened up to females, and her younger sister followed. “I kind of just realized that I liked the environment, and I liked the things they were doing,” Stranges said. “I started going to meetings and…I just kind of fell in love with it. We do a lot of outdoor things and community service, and those

Maura Murray, a sophomore studying nursing, joined the Boy Scouts of America in 2019. Photo provided by Maura Murray

are all things that I love and find important.” Although Stranges personally never felt unwelcome in her troop, she said she believes having another female member of the fraternity made the process of joining a male-dominated organization much easier. “I think it might have helped that Maura was there … but I definitely felt very welcomed, they seemed excited to have me and it’s really nice to have Maura there,” Stranges said. “I’m sure it was probably harder for her because she was the first girl, but they were all very welcoming.” Nearly three years have passed since the first female Eagle Scouts were appointed — only a blip in the lifespan of BSA — and its been an important time of growth and positive change for the BSA “Since I started the scouting program itself, the times have definitely changed … It’s a lot more accepted; it’s the new normal which is nice,” Murray said. “Of course, you’re going to have those haters — the people who have been in Scouting since their youth … who are so set in their ways — but I think, overall, the whole thing is changing. They’re making words more gender inclusive; they’re changing their books to have pictures of males and females, so that has come a long way.” Although there are still many barriers to break and norms to revamp, progress is undoubtedly underway within BSA. Both Murray and Stranges are pioneers of that progress and said they hope their involvement in the organization will inspire other young women to experience the world of outdoor adventure.

@SOPHIAROOKS_ SR320421@OHIO.EDU

Accepting Applications

SUMMER SEMESTER 2024 OPEN TO ALL UNDERGRADUATE SCRIPPS MAJORS & MINORS For Information Email  Hebah Abdalla Lehmann abdallah@ohio.edu

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Medical Students for Choice generates education, advocacy CARLY DELUCA FOR THE POST This year, Medical Students for Choice is celebrating its 30th year of operation as an umbrella organization that has over 220 chapters in medical schools around the world. One of those chapters is at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, or OUHCOM. OUHCOM’s chapter works to provide reproductive rights education to future physicians and actively makes a difference in the medical school regarding abortions. Medical Students for Choice started in 1993 as a form of advocacy in the abortion rights movement. At that time, there was little education in medical schools about the potential health risks of abortions or how to perform them in general. Since then, Medical Students for Choice has strived to provide information on all aspects of reproductive health care and expand knowledge of abortions in medical schools. Jane Balbo is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and the Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at OUHCOM. She said Medical Students for Choice began at OU when she was in medical school, but more than one individual’s involvement helped it become the organization it is today. “This organization’s most recent iteration was started by Tiffany Stainfield, who is an ER doctor in Michigan,” Dr. Balbo said in an email. Involvement in Medical Students for Choice at OU has ebbed and flowed over the years, but recently, the organization’s strong executive board keeps it alive. Alyson Johnson is a second-year medical student and the president of Medical Students for Choice in OUHCOM. She aims to put on at least three events a semester to educate future providers about reproductive rights. Some of these events include IUD workshops, sex education nights, abortion documentary screenings and book clubs to further education on family planning. “We provide the IUD training and we do 8 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

the abortion workshop which is teaching you how to perform an abortion … just to give you context to see if this is something you might want to do as a provider,” Johnson said. Medical Students for Choice produces hands-on experiences to help familiarize medical students with reproductive health procedures. For example, abortion workshops are performed on papayas and dragon fruits to represent how one would work in a medical setting. “I think a lot of people think of abortion as this big scary topic that they don’t like to talk about sometimes,” Johnson said. “So when we do these workshops … they realize ‘Oh wow, this isn’t that different.’” Not only does this organization provide education to future physicians, but it also advocates for people with uteruses in the medical school community. Education on reproductive rights is still limited within medical schools, so Medical Students for Choice writes to senators and members of Congress to create change within the political and education system. “We are working with the overarching organization with fundraising efforts and fundraising for the Ohio Abortion Fund,” Johnson said. No matter what specialization a medical student may choose, Medical Students for Choice is a way for students to take initiative in their education and gain more knowledge on controversial topics such as abortions. Hailey Wilson is a second-year medical student who serves as the vice president and runs the social media for OUHCOM Medical Students for Choice. She said the firsthand interactions she’s had with medical professionals have taught her a lot. “I like having a community of progressive, like-minded colleagues,” Wilson said. “Having those super interactive, hands-on learning experiences that we don’t get inside the classroom is a great advantage of (Medical Students for Choice).”

@CARLYDELUCA04 CD057322@OHIO.EDU

Orgullo Boricua: Bobcats create space for Puerto Rican students ALYSSA CRUZ CULTURE EDITOR There are approximately 1,728 miles between Athens and the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan. Two Bobcats, Jordon Lebron and Amalia Feliciano, are doing their part to bring the culture of La Isla del Encanto a little closer to Ohio University and make sure Puerto Rican students feel welcomed and thrive. El 787 is a student organization that promotes and celebrates Puerto Rican heritage. The three numbers are the area code for the island, adding a personal touch to the club's name. The club has shifted in activity levels throughout the years, and the newly elected president, Lebron, is aiming to make it a well-known powerhouse club on campus. Lebron is a sophomore studying entrepreneurship and is no stranger to being involved with multicultural organizations due to his experience with the Latinx Service Coalition and Latino Student Union. It wasn't until the beginning of this school year that he reached out to the previous president of El 787 to gain more information about it. To his surprise, the former president offered to hand the leadership baton over to him, thus beginning his unconventional presidency. Lebron's main focus is reviving the club with organized events and opportunities for Puerto Rican students. He explained that his field of study influences his perspective on running the club. "I've been kind of treating it like an entrepreneurial venture — like a business pretty much — because there hasn't been anything going on," he said. "We have members, but it's not as active as I'd like it to be. So just really the goal is to get an exec board established and get the club pretty much back up and running again." The pair has many ideas regarding future programming, including a salsa night and generating hurricane relief funds. Puerto Rican students are not the only ones encouraged to attend events, as the invitation is extended to anyone who has an interest in learning more about the culture. Lebron shared the driving motivation behind dedicating his time and effort to the organization. "My ultimate goal with it is to pretty much have this be a safe haven for Boricua students that are on campus and pretty much ensure their success and help them in any way that I possibly can," he said. "Boricua," is a word used to refer to someone from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent, according to Merriam -Webster. The term comes from the name originally given to the island. "Borinquén." The name was given by the native Taíno population, whose ancestors settled the island nearly a millennium before the Spanish colonizers. Lebron said the population of Latinos on OU’s campus is relatively small, making up only 4% of the student body. Despite this, Lebron said he has had a great experience with the present population. "It's a very small population, so it kind of makes it easy to get to know everybody on an interpersonal basis," he said. "We're a small population, but we're mighty." Feliciano, a sophomore studying graphic design, is the treasurer of El 787. Lebron and Feliciano are cousins.

Jordon Lebron and Amalia Feliciano are two students dedicated to celebrating Boricuan pride at Ohio University with their organization, El 787. Photo provided by Jordon Lebron and Amalia Feliciano

"He was literally the only other Puerto Rican I knew, and we're related so that says a lot," she said. Feliciano said this perspective fueled her desire to become more involved in creating more opportunities for Puerto Rican students. "I'm from Cleveland, so I come from a lot of culture, and coming to an area where there are not a lot of Latinos, I found it to be very important to connect with other people," she said. "Once I did, I still found myself missing something." Already, Feliciano said they have seen interest expressed from other Boricuan students, especially freshmen. She and Lebron held a casual informational session at Donkey Coffee, and Feliciano was pleased with the turnout. "There were a lot of freshmen who ended up coming to the meeting, which was so exciting for me because that was something I struggled with a bit my freshmen year, so just being able to offer that to kids who are coming in now and just looking for that security and being with people of the same culture really made me feel good," she said.

Both Lebron and Feliciano expressed what their heritage and experiences have taught them. "It's shaped me to be a tough person, but a hardworking person and to understand it takes hard work to get what you want," Lebron said. Similarly, Feliciano is proud of her heritage and is excited to share it through El 787. "(It means) everything," Feliciano said. "I feel like it is just so deep-rooted in my lifestyle, the way I talk, the way I look, the way I interact with people. I am just so excited to share this with other people."

@ALYSSADANCCRUZ AC974320@OHIO.EDU

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Coach’s Best Friend: Tim Albin’s No. 1 fan has four paws ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

hen Ohio Head Coach Tim Albin pulls into his driveway after a long day at work, his dog, Macey, begins jumping with excitement to greet her dad at the door. Macey doesn’t care whether the football team wins or loses; she doesn’t care if Tim Albin had a bad day at the office. She’s just happy that he’s home. “There’s tough days for everybody, whatever profession that you’re in,” Tim Albin. “I would get home from recruiting when my children were young, and the door would open, and they’d both come running and grab onto my leg. One on each leg. Then, I’d open the door, and it was just one child on one leg because Tori, my daughter, had outgrown that phase, and then I walked in there one day, after having been gone all week, and there were no children on either leg … they had outgrown that phase, that was tough. But now, I come home and it’s Macey; she’s on that leg now.”

(Macey) chose us. She came and gave me a kiss on the cheek and my daughter a kiss on the cheek and we couldn’t leave without her. We brought her home; she’s been the biggest blessing to us.” - Brooke Albin Tori and Treyce Albin may be older and moving out of the house now, but for Tim and Brooke Albin, Macey is like the third kid they never knew they needed. Both Tim Albin and his wife Brooke Albin have always been dog people; for both, dogs have always played a big role in their lives. “I’ve always been a dog person,” Tim Albin said. “Growing up, we always had a couple of dogs. When Brooke and I got married, she had dogs. She had a dog growing up — an outside dog because she lived on a farm — but my dogs were always in the house where they’d sleep with you … We have a dog background.” Despite their love for dogs, it took some convincing for the Albin’s to get a dog of their own. Tim wasn’t sure he could give a dog its best life with his hectic schedule. He was constantly on the road for recruiting and games; the last thing he wanted to do was put a dog in a kennel with a chain link fence and some concrete. He knew he’d easily get attached. After some nagging from his children and a long conversation about dog sitters, the Albins decided that it was time. They needed a dog in their lives. “I told my daughter when we went in (to the shelter), ‘Don’t 10 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

get excited, we’re just going to go look,’” Brooke Albin said. “(Macey) chose us. She came and gave me a kiss on the cheek and my daughter a kiss on the cheek and we couldn’t leave without her. We brought her home; she’s been the biggest blessing to us.” Since that day seven years ago, Macey has been there for some of the most significant moments in the Albin home. Tim was named Ohio’s head coach and shortly thereafter took home his first bowl game victory at the Arizona Bowl in 2022. Brooke opened her own business in March of 2023. Tori and Treyce both graduated from college. Macey has been there to celebrate right alongside the family for all of it. “She knows when there’s upsetting things with the family, she knows when there’s happy things too,” Tim Albin said. “We got some bad news one time over the phone and we were having a big family discussion and she could tell and she helped us get through that … I’ve seen her help us through tough times but also the happiest of happy. Last year, we got home from the bowl game and we had a big blowout at the house and she knows … she’s a part of it all.” For the Albins, Macey is the leader of their home. She’s just as much part of the family as anyone else. The Albins make sure that Macey is taken care of and help causes that would matter to other dogs like her. Tim and Brooke Albin have taken their love for Macey as an inspiration to give back to the local Athens community. Once a year, the Albin’s will hold the “Cats Feeding Dogs” event at Peden Stadium. One game a year, if you bring dog food or dog treats to the stadium for donation, the Albins will pay your admission to the game. “It’s just a huge blessing that she’s been in our life; it’s like the family member that you never knew you needed,” Brooke Albin said. “That’s really what inspired it. The shelter — we’ve followed them for a long time — and it seems like they’re always at capacity or almost always at capacity or nearly at capacity and asking for donations. The blessings that these dogs have brought, it’s like they’re family members.” Although the Albins are always looking for a reason to give back, Macey has been the reason they have used their platform to help so many dogs in need at the local animal shelter. “To see my children and their interaction with Macey — I’m a softy — that impact, to me, its from my family and what the dog has done for me; that’s why I want to help, I want to help and encourage to give back to the community of Athens in some small way,” Tim Albin said. “We’ve seen so much from just taking one dog from that shelter … it makes it easy.”

@ROBERT_KEEGAN BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Photos provided by Tim Albin

CHARLIE FADEL FOR THE POST Ohio (2-4) took the short trip from Athens to Columbus to take on No. 12 Ohio State (6-1) on Tuesday. Although the game would start slow for both teams, Ohio State’s size advantage and defense proved to be too much for Ohio, who would fall by a score of 85-45. Coming out of the gate, it was a struggle for both teams offensively. Ohio’s biggest struggle was the press defense that Ohio State was running after made shots. However, Ohio State struggled to penetrate the Ohio defense early in the first quarter. The Buckeyes had to settle for threes, which, in the first quarter, were not able to fall at a consistent and efficient rate. Ohio’s kryptonite was the full-court press that Ohio State ran from its very first made basket of the game. Ohio is already a turnover-prone team, adding a press to that issue only worsened the turnover problems. Nearing the end of the second quarter, the Buckeyes became more balanced in their offensive attack.

Ohio University guard Madi Mace (3) drives toward the basket against Dayton University at The Convo, in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

the half (court),” said Ohio Coach Bob Boldon. “At times when were organized, we were able to run pretty good offense.” The fourth quarter saw Ohio State maintain its sizable lead, and the Bobcats fell to their in-state opponent.

@CHARLIEFADEL CF111322@OHIO.EDU

09! 18

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Ohio falls in road matchup with Ohio State

The second quarter saw Ohio State further take advantage of Ohio’s lack of height. Ohio’s tallest player is Kate Dennis, who is listed at 6 feet, 1 inch. The tallest player for Ohio State is Rebeka Mikulasikova, who is 6 feet, 4 inches. Mikulasikova started the second quarter, dominating on offense. She was able to use her size to get position underneath the basket and finish easy scoring opportunities. When Ohio left her open from behind the arc, she was able to attempt and convert a pair of triples comfortably. On the other end for the Bobcats, the shots just couldn’t fall in the first half. Ohio only shot 19.2% from the field in the first half, only making nine free throws, and it wasn’t able to draw any free throw opportunities. With all of the issues snowballing, Ohio went into the half trailing 42-13. The same problems continued for Ohio entering the third quarter. Time and time again, Ohio State would either find an open shooter to knock down a three or be able to get positioning to finish layups consistently. Following their made basket, the Buckeyes would press the two Bobcat guards, usually Jaya McClure or Madi Mace, and force a turnover on the inbounds pass. Following the turnovers, Ohio State would again have an open shooter or an easy layup to turn the good defense into offense. This is not a recipe for success for any team, let alone one that faced the size disadvantages that Ohio did. That recipe again showed on the scoreboard as Ohio was still trailing big entering the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter opened with a new lineup for the Bobcats. Peyton Guice played in her first game since 2022, coming off an injury, and Kailah Johnson, Asiah Baxter and Emma Barnett saw the court in the final frame and were able to produce well on offense. “I thought we did a good job of points in the paint out of

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

Uptown Holiday Events Begin The timeline depicts the full schedule of holiday events taking place on Court Street

Santa’s Corner Includes: Selfies with Santa in Santa’s workshop Drop a letter in Santa’s mailbox Free horse-drawn wagon rides 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bagel Street Deli: Face Painting

Community Tree Lighting 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Federal Hocking: Holiday Brass Band 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Brenen’s Coffee Café: Cookie Decorating 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Kismet: Bracelet Making 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

December 8 Opening Night Activities

Keith Chapman Jeweler: Open House

December 9 Activities

Athena Cinema: Holiday Craft provided by Visit Athens County 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parks Place: Cookie Decorating; Toys for Tots Drive and Dog Food & Treat Drive

Little Professor: Story Time 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brookfield Church: Hot Chocolate 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cross Court: Ornament Decorating Ohio is Home: Wooden Ornaments 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

2023 Athens Area Gift Guide G I V E A W A Y

Enter Today to win a prize valued at $150! courtesy of Chamber Member Businesses Athens Eye Care, Athens Food Rescue, Casa Nueva, Jackie O’s Brewery, Keystone’s Mac Shack, and Kismet

12 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

Santa’s Corner 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Alexander School Choir 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Community Caroling Sing Along Starting at noon

December 14 Activities

Santa’s Corner 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

December 21 Activities

December 16 Activities

December 23 Activities

Athena Holiday Film Series “It’s a Wonderful Life” Showing at the Ridges Starting at 5 p.m.

Santa’s Corner 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Santa’s Corner 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Provided via Athens Aera Chamber Website

scan the QR code and find the link to enter inside the guide! Submit an entry anytime between November 17th to December 22nd – one entry per person, please!

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Ohio playing Kent State in last home series before holiday break

EMMA ERION MANAGING EDITOR

Ohio is on its home ice once again this weekend as it looks to face Kent State. Ohio is coming off a hard-fought series sweep against Niagara, and it is looking to bring the energy of the second game against Niagara both nights. The Bobcat's first game against the Purple Eagles saw Laker Aldridge playing the hero, scoring in overtime to give Ohio a 2-1 win. Saturday night was a completely different story, with 9 different Ohio players scoring goals throughout the night with Justin Damon holding Niagara to only 3 goals. Head Coach Lionel Mauron was particularly happy with Saturday's offensive performance since the Bobcats took advantage of every opportunity to score. Now, against the Golden Flashes, the Bobcats will have to continue to work as a unit to ensure that they can move the puck down the ice efficiently. Here is everything you need to know before the series.

History: Last year, when the Bobcats took on the Golden Flashes, they swept them and shut them out in both games. Goaltenders Max Karlenzig and Garrett Alderman were the stars of these games. Players to watch: Kent State has some stellar players statistically, including JJ Creighton and Jack Kinsman, who have 31 and 29 points, respectively, and 11 and 12 goals, respectively. Will Cohen is on the rise with the Bobcats, scoring a goal in both games against Niagara. Although he had a bit of a slow start to the season, he has now garnered 8 points in his first year at Ohio.

Series Information: Opponent: Kent State (16-6-1)

@ERIONEMMA EE646020@OHIO.EDU

Date and Time: Dec. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. Location: Bird Arena

DII : Ohio takes on Michigan in two-game road series TYSON BERNATH FOR THE POST Game information: Opponent: University of Michigan Locations: Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan Dates: Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m. How to watch: The link to the stream for both games will be posted on the @ohiohockeyd2 Instagram story before the games. Ohio (10-5-0) is coming off a significant win against Indiana. Matthew Zazon and the Bobcats’ defense put the Hoosiers’ 10-game win streak to rest. Michigan (11-6-1) is coming off a 6-5 overtime victory against Louisville. The Wolverines are capable of putting 14 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

up goals in excess. Michigan has outscored opponents by 3-plus goals in five games this season, including a 16-1 victory over Central Michigan. Players to watch (Michigan): Asher Connolly and Cody Nielsen lead the team in goals with 15 and 14, respectively. They can find many of their opprtunities to score because of assist leader Jack Glen (11). Michigan can blow out its opponents, but it is also capable of winning close games. Michigan has won five games by only one goal this season and has won three of its four games that went into overtime. The Wolverines’ defense is capable of making stops as

well. Goalie Frank Fee leads the team in saves (220), but three other goalies have also seen significant ice time. Michigan can try to stay fresh inside the goal against the recently aggressive Ohio offense. Michigan stat leaders: Points: Asher Connolly (24) Goals: Connolly (15) Assists: Jack Glen (11) Saves: Frank Fee (220)

@TYSONBERNATH TB530021@OHIO.EDU

Current win - loss DII Hockey Wins - 10 Losses - 5 Home wins - 3 Away wins - 7 Home losses - 2 Away losses - 3 Porvided via Ohio University Bobcats Hockey Team

Robert Glidden, OU’s 19th president, dies at 87 KATIE MILLARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert Glidden, former president of Ohio University, died at age 87 Tuesday morning after a fall. Glidden served as OU’s 19th president from July 1994 to July 2004. Before that, he was Florida State University’s Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Music. Robert Glidden Hall, the music building on campus, was named for Glidden upon his retirement. According to a message from his family, he “had an accomplished career as a musician, educator and higher education administrator and positively impacted students, colleagues and friends.” Born in Grand Junction, Iowa, he completed his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. His passing sparked tributes from across the nation about his impact. “He was an amazing man and we bonded throughout his presidency and after — always working for the benefit of Ohio University,” Tom Hodson, former director of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism and WOUB Public Media,

said. “His intelligence, breadth of knowledge, curiosity and passions for his causes were beyond impressive. He was one of my heroes.” According to a previous Post report from March 1994, Glidden was chosen for OU’s presidency due to his integrity, fundraising skills and management style. “Dr. Glidden has a warmth and a comfortableness about him,” then-Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Charlotte Coleman Eufinger said in that same report. “People find him easy to talk to. They will want to listen to his ideas just because of his personality.” His family said a Celebration of Life concert will be scheduled later, and that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Grace Episcopal Church Music Fund or the Rockbridge Area Relief Association.

@KATIE_MILLARD11 KM053019@OHIO.EDU

Photo provided by The California State University

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

READ

The CFP committee got it right

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Andrew Bowlby The final (and most important) College Football Playoff rankings were released Sunday morning. After what you can imagine was hours of debate, I think the committee got the final rankings right: No.1: Michigan (13-0) No.2: Washington (13-0) No.3: Texas (12-1) No.4: Alabama (12-1) No.5: Florida State (13-0) No.6: Georgia (12-1) For the first time since the inaugural CFP there was true drama after the games played out on Saturday, leaving the committee to make tough decisions and leave someone out Sunday morning. Everybody went to bed wondering if the committee would do the unthinkable and take the undefeated Power Five conference champion Florida State team and unseat them with Alabama, a 12-1 conference champion. People pondered. Was Washington’s statement in the PAC-12 conference title game enough to propel them ahead of Michigan for the CFP’s top spot? Where would Texas fall after dominating Oklahoma State? Was there any hope for the two-time defending National Champion Georgia? All of the questions were answered Sunday morning and the CFP committee set up one of the most intriguing fourteam playoffs since its inception in the 2013-14 season. Florida State had one thing over Alabama: an undefeated record. However, Alabama possesses a clear advantage in most areas both on the resume and with an eye test. A lone loss from week two at the hands of the No. 3 and now CFP-bound Texas is the only blemish on Alabama’s case for the CFP. An injury to Florida State’s star quarterback Jordan Travis seemed to be the ultimate downfall of the Seminoles. Still, the committee made the correct decision. It was no doubt a difficult one, but Alabama at the end of week 13 was by far the better and more confident football team. Also, let it be noted that the committee does account for the injuries of star players. When looking at injuries, it is clear that Florida State had to be left out and Alabama had to be inserted into the final four. Another big piece of the decision is the strength of the schedule metric. According to the ESPN SOS metric, Alabama ranks fifth (the highest of the CFP top 6) and Florida State is down at 55.

This is a stark difference, mainly thanks to Alabama playing in a much stronger SEC conference. The Tide have in-conference wins over No.15 Ole Miss, No.17 Tennessee, No.14 LSU and No.1 Georgia. Florida State has wins over No.5 LSU, No.16 Duke and No.14 Louisville. Florida State got their best win in week one over LSU and took down a hot Duke team mid-season. Unfortunately, losing Travis didn’t allow the Seminoles to maintain momentum in the final weeks of the season. On the contrary, Alabama has been building momentum. They shook off the early loss to Texas and have been getting better since. With only one scare on the road against Auburn, Alabama has been a confident group taking care of business. Everything culminated Saturday night when Alabama took down Georgia. That Georgia team had won 29 consecutive games, back-to-back national championships and had been a consensus No.1 team across the country. Alabama beat them in Atlanta and made their case to be selected into the CFP. The Tide made it impossible to be left out. How could a team that has the best win playing their best ball be kept from the final four? It all came down to the argument of selecting the best four or selecting the most deserving four. The committee went with the best four after 13 weeks of play. Whether you agree with the decision(s) the committee made or not, I think the most important thing to remember is that the committee is made up of 13 people. People are going to, intentionally or not, look at everything as a collective. When breaking down the numbers and looking at each team, it cannot be done team by team in a vacuum. There are so many external factors, and all of the games interact with each other and have a significant impact on the perceived strength of every team. It was one of the most difficult decisions the CFP committee has had to make, but at the end of the day, after 13 weeks of football, they put the four best teams right now into the four-team bracket. If picking four teams was difficult this season, next year when the playoff expands to 12 teams it’s going to be that much harder. 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.

People should clean up after themselves

Drew Haughn Picture this: as you pound back the remainder of your 16-ounce Miller Lite, you take the time to shake back your flowy hair and flash your good friend Tom's grandmother a sly flirtatious smile. But wait! Instead of crushing the can in between your

massive bicep and tossing it carelessly to the already littered floor, you can take two steps to the left and turn right to find a perfectly amazing invention called the recycling bin. It's not cool or hip to litter folks. Nobody thinks so, not even Tom’s grandmother. Unfortunately, the more I wake up and walk to class or to get lunch on a Saturday, the more trash I notice lying in the grass, on the sidewalks and around residence halls on campus. That's why my decree today, dear reader, is to please make sure to clean up after yourself. It's an undeniable fact that Ohio University has a beautiful campus. However, college students have a tendency when getting intoxicated or when they are in a rush, to use the campus as their personal trash can. The even sadder fact is that Ohio University is home to a lot — and I mean a lot — of wildlife. I do not even need to pull out any facts or statistics to prove this. I have nearly risked chemical warfare by stepping on two skunks myself. And if I had a nickel for every deer and squirrel I saw, I could quite easily pay off next semester's tuition. Those little critters are also sadly hungry and curious, so the odds of them eating garbage and becoming sick or dying are very high. Also, we do not need a deer sipping the remainder of last night's Twisted Tea. We have all witnessed deer when sober get hit numerous times by oncoming traffic. We do not need a deer amped up off cheap alcohol that you left sitting

out last night to get up the confidence to ram your mother's 2009 Subaru Forester. I know that in the moment it is easy to simply throw trash away to nature. But this can be simply fixed by taking the little extra step of using trash bags, recycling bins or even pockets. I store about 90% of the trash I create in the back of my jeans pockets. Laugh all you want, but I throw my junk away. And I know what you're thinking, “Drew, are you telling me that you have never in all your time here at beautiful Ohio University, littered?” False. I have, and never will litter again. The only time I have remotely come close to littering was when I intentionally tossed trash around police. The reason? To make sure the boys in blue stay sharp and do their jobs of writing me up. If not, I reveal the sting operation and write THEM up to their superior. I joke, but in all seriousness, be aware of what you are doing and try to pitch in to keep our campus clean. It's easy and simple and does not take much effort to accomplish. Drew is a freshman studying communications at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of The Post. Want to Talk to Drew about his article? Tweet him @haughn_drew24.

Providing an alternative for finals

Quinn Elfers It’s December in Athens, which means that it’s now socially acceptable to sip on some hot chocolate while listening to Mariah Carey sing her heart out. While that sounds jolly and fun, it comes with the looming dread of finals week. I find it weird that we as students are just expected to accept the fact that almost every class we take must have a big final exam that makes or breaks our grades. Most of us aren’t straight-A students, so these exams can’t be taken lightly. The last thing anyone wants is to explain to their parents

that they need to retake a class because they failed a final. Some people aren’t great test takers, and it doesn’t help when the test could alter their college career in such a dramatic fashion. One test, no matter how big, should not hold so much power. I was once hopeless in thinking that there was no way around cramming all of the week before finals for my classes, until I took Philosophy 1200, “Principles of Reasoning." This class is unlike anything I’ve ever taken before. First of all, the professor prohibits the use of any electronic devices (to my chagrin). The professor also utilizes a chalkboard as his means of writing information down. I’ve never seen a chalkboard used in a class, let alone someone using it unironically. It’s not like the chalkboard is the only means of writing stuff down in the room, as there is a projector in the room that could be used to the same effect if not greater. If this class didn’t sound like it was trapped in time yet, one final caveat this professor includes in his class is that every grade in the class will come in the form of pop quizzes. The reason I bring up this particular class is because there is no big final exam in the class. There are many pop quizzes, but they are at most four questions long. While there have been 19 up to this point, I find it much more manageable than having a huge final test. If one were forced to pick between the class I just described and a class that is what the university expects us to take, I’m led to believe that at least some would take the former. I’m not proclaiming that we abolish all final exams. For some classes, it may be a necessity to recap what was learned. However, I do feel that it isn’t necessary for every class we take to include a final exam. The example I gave above does not have to be the only

workaround for final exams, and I’m positive there are a plethora of better solutions to this issue. We don’t study for all of our classes the same way, so why would we take finals the same way? Quinn Elfers 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 about the column? Let Quinn know by emailing him at me989022@ohio.edu.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

This semester’s staff deserves praise KATIE MILLARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As we approach the end of the Fall Semester and enter exam season, I hope each of our readers – whether Bobcat or Athens resident – is able to enjoy the incoming holiday season and take a well-deserved break. I know our staff at The Post deserves one. I am incredibly lucky to work with such a great team, and I am impressed daily by the creativity, passion and drive of The Post’s staffers. Over the next month, our team will be celebrating Winter “Break” as we will continue to publish in the coming weeks, albeit at a much lower frequency. As we shift into this new system for the next month (don’t worry, we will be back swinging for the Spring Semester), I’d love to take the opportunity to reflect on the great work our staff has done already this year. To start, our photography team has been incredible. Not only have they already won multiple awards for work completed early this year, but they have also consistently gone above and beyond. Director of Photography Alaina Dackermann and Photo Editor Zoe Cranfill have built a talented and dedicated staff, with photographers frequently volunteering to take photos of breaking news and last-minute assignments. These photographers take even the simplest assignments and provide engaging, artistic and pro-level photos. Our design team is also fantastic. Art Director Abbie Kinney and Assistant Art Director Emma McAdams create beautiful artwork to accompany stories, often creating several

masterpieces per day. The two are also the driving force behind changes for our print edition this year, and our print design has been incredible thanks to them and the dedication of other designers. We even began including a comic, too (check page 21 of this week’s edition) by Jackson Pennington. There is not enough space to name every one of our over 300 staff members, but each and every one of them has made The Post better. Our news staff has been fantastic with picking up breaking news and their willingness to investigate difficult subjects. We had the first two first-semester freshmen possibly ever — Jackson McCoy and Disha Hoque — complete in-depth, time-consuming projects, with the latter completing hers in a matter of days. Post TV has returned, with attention to detail improving episodes every week. Opinion section meetings are a highlight of staffers’ weeks. I am so proud of what everyone has done and feel grateful for the opportunity to continue to watch them thrive. My final thank you, however, is to each of you. We do this for and because of the readers, and it is a privilege to do so. It is such a source of joy to see people reading copies around town or to see a depleted newsstand. So please, keep reading and supporting this incredible staff. We cannot wait to return to print next year. Katie Millard is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Katie by tweeting her at @katie_millard11.

Happy holidays from The Post!

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The future of Bandcamp proves lack of transparency with users

JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST

GRACE KOENNECKE ASSISTANT THE BEAT EDITOR In 2007, Bandcamp was founded in Oakland, California by Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker. The premise for their online music distribution platform was simple: Artists should have more control over how they sell and market their music. Arguing that existing music platforms were charging fans too much for their services, Bandcamp became a respected outlet for artists, especially independent ones. Since its start in the music scene, Bandcamp has been strong with elements like an experienced editorial team, social features centered around sharing and discovery and Bandcamp Fridays, a monthly waiving of its revenue share “to help support artists on Bandcamp.” That initiative started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year the platform was sold and acquired by Epic Games, an American video game and software developer and publisher, even after earning $193 million in 2022. Many Bandcamp users were confused as to why a music platform would merge with a video game company; it caused concerns over the future of the service. Sadly, fans were justifiably worried. Two months ago, Epic Games sold Bandcamp to Songtradr, an American B2B music platform that claims to facilitate brands, content creators and digital platforms for licensing purposes. The company also laid off 16% of Bandcamp’s employees. Although Songtradr promised to not interfere with any of Bandcamp’s current and longtime employees, the company seemed to go against its word, especially after the acquisi-

tion was announced. In an article published by Wired, the publication said many employees were removed from critical systems and given little guidance for their futures at Bandcamp, leaving workers in a “really destabilizing” position. Following the article, Songtradr’s chief marketing officer released a statement regarding the issue, which said: “Based on its current financials, Bandcamp requires some adjustments to ensure a sustainable and healthy company that can serve its community of artists and fans long into the future.” After the layoffs were conducted, Pitchfork also spoke to many of Bandcamp’s former employees. One software engineer told the publication that cuts were spread out “fairly evenly” across all departments, except for customer support and editorial. They also said only three support specialists were left. Another current employee said the editorial department also only retained three editors and a designer and that Bandcamp Daily, the site’s music publication, would continue. Now that Bandcamp has cut much of its staff, it’s unclear whether the platform will stay alive going into 2024. It’s also lost a good percentage of its support from users, especially because the founders have been relatively quiet about its recent acquisitions and decisions involving Bandcamp’s employees. The interesting element to this whole issue is that Bandcamp has always relied on music lovers to keep it running, as Bandcamp Daily has become one of the main sources for

fans to stay updated on independent and mainstream artists. Also, it’s one of the only platforms with a heavy focus on covering lesser-known artists from a global standpoint and supporting freelance journalists and commissioning illustrations for editorial work. When Pitchfork reached out for comment from Songtradr about its change in direction from Bandcamp’s initial sentiment, the company said, “Over the past few years the operating costs of Bandcamp have significantly increased. It required some adjustments to ensure a sustainable and healthy company that can serve its community of artists and fans. After a comprehensive evaluation, including the importance of roles for smooth business operations and pre-existing functions at Songtradr, 50% of Bandcamp employees have accepted offers to join Songtradr.” With such a broad statement about the company’s future plans, the doubt from users surrounding Songtradr may cause Bandcamp to fail. While it’s hard to predict what will become of the platform, many fans are already looking for alternatives. Because the promotion and selling of independent music is already so fragile, one more wrong step from Bandcamp could result in its end. Over the next few months, fans will be keeping an eye on Bandcamp. Hopefully, there will be further improvements to save the platform from falling apart.

@GRACE_KOE GK011320@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

Etsy and Redbubble gifts to personalize Christmas KENZIE CALLAHAN FOR THE POST Holiday shopping is stressful, especially when faced with overwhelming gift options. But the never-ending mission to find heartfelt, unique gifts for everyone in your life ends with the holiday magic of Etsy and Redbubble. These sites are made up of thousands of small businesses offering handmade, often customizable gifts to appeal to every interest or want. Additionally, most artists on both sites dedicate time and resources to make high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces. Without further ado, here are some of the best gifts from Etsy and Redbubble:

sonalized cutting board, which starts at just $19.69. Also, consider a stylish gift like a baking apron selling for $18 and up. For the animal lovers Many pet owners love few things more than their furry companion, so why not get them a gift that shows it? Some great gifts for pet parents are a matching pj-set with their pets starting around $30 or customizable pet face socks for around $9. For your pets, get them a gift of their own like festive dog treats, which range from $5 to $15, or even a gift box for dogs starting around $38.

For the superfans For diehard fans of movies and music, Etsy and Redbubble offer a wide collection of affordable, unofficial merchandise like sweatshirts, mugs, socks and keychains. If you have a Swiftie in your life, there are Taylor Swift-inspired slippers for around $22. For fans of Marvel, consider a crafty bottle opener replica of Thor’s hammer, frequently starting at $9.99. There are even options for the youngest of fans. For example, give them a unique gift based on their favorite TV shows or characters like a customizable “Bluey” blanket, which start around $38.50.

For the artists Whether you’re shopping for a painter, musician or dancer, the perfect gift is out there. Consider something personalized like guitar picks and holders starting around $10. Some other great options for artsy recipients are customizable resin paint palettes for $35 to $40, or personalized jewelry reminiscent of their tastes to represent their passion. Giving gifts that show their passion is a sure way to make sure your loved ones will appreciate and use your gift to do something they love.

Home decor Another specialty of Etsy and Redbubble is the unique selection of home decor such as a zodiac sign throw pillow — perfect to tailor to an astrology lover — starting around $19 or custom neon signs, many of which on sale for the holiday season and cost as low as $48. For smaller decorations, eccentric gifts like a planter is another great choice. One example is an easily-found planter that looks like a Chinese take-out box for $18.65. Additionally, Etsy and Redbubble offer a wide variety of designs for bathrooms such as shower curtains, bath mats and soap trays. Anis Illustration’s shower curtains come in a variety of colors and designs and are currently on sale for $45.10.

For anyone If the person you’re shopping for isn’t so easy to buy for, consider simplistic, personalized gifts such as a heartfelt photo album keychain starting at $24 or a clear, custom mug. There are great customizable floral options for under $15 along with other items. Additionally, personalized coasters are usually under $15 and are a convenient, reliable gift for anyone on your list.

Kitchenware Kitchen supplies are always a great gift. Etsy and Redbubble take it a step further with customizable products from mugs to charcuterie boards. One product that stands out is a per20 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

@KENZIECAKE8 KC389422@OHIO.EDU

LAYNE REY | FOR THE POST

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Best movies of 2023 SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY FOR THE POST The movie industry has had a compelling year. Despite the Writer’s Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes going on for almost half of the year, there have been many outstanding films to grace the silver screen that serve to remind the world of the importance of the movie industry and the many people who work to create it. Here is a list of some of the top films of the year: “Barbie” A synopsis of the 2023 movie industry would be incomplete without the first half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and many other distinguished actors, the movie was highly anticipated for its promise of a landscape of pink cartoon details and the story of the beloved doll. It was critically lauded for its feminist commentary and inspirational messages. “Oppenheimer” The flip side of this summer’s blockbuster double feature is Christoper Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” The stunning cinematography and thrilling score help tell the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his collaborative invention of the atomic bomb in the 1940s. Those who are able to sit through the 3-hour film will experience an immersive and riveting story about some of the greatest ethical dilemmas of the 20th century, with the perfect blend of science and human drama. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” A recent addition to the list of the year’s successful movies is the prequel to The Hunger Games franchise. The film chronicles the journey of a young Coriolanus Snow from mentoring an underdog tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games to his rise to diabolical president of the Capitol. The film’s soundtrack, phenomenal performances and well-paced storytelling earn the film its place on this list. “Saltburn” From the mind of Emerald Fennell, “Saltburn” is a disturbing film. Performances from Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan lay the groundwork for a riveting story of two college classmates staying at one of their family estates for the summer. 22 / DECEMBER 7, 2023

ANYA SERRAO | FOR THE POST

No amount of preparation can help viewers anticipate the world of “Saltburn,” and it is a must-watch for fans of dark comedy and psychological thrillers. “Killers of the Flower Moon” Based on the 2017 nonfiction book of the same name, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a western crime crossed with a beautiful drama. The movie follows Mollie Burkhart as she tries to save Osage Nation members from greed-driven murders. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone, the movie is moving and tragic, filled with all of the elements of a true American classic. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” This sequel to Marvel’s animated masterpiece, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” delivered a compelling follow-up with unique attributes and homages to the vast world of the superhero character. Miles Morales continues his exploration of the multiverse and faces the realities of his life as parts of it are predetermined. The movie leaves audience members dying for the next installment of the series in all of its avant-garde animated glory. “Priscilla” After the 2022 film “Elvis” told the comprehensive story of the famed musician’s life, Sofia Coppola decided this was the year to tell the story of his wife, Priscilla. After years of ignorance of the woman’s tragic story and traumatic marriage with the singer, Coppola tells the true story of her struggles with the distant and aggressive man. While the movie is far from feel-good, it is a necessary story that was meant to be shared to shed light on the woman who suffered in Elvis’ shadow.

“Bottoms” “Bottoms” is a satirical teen comedy, combining elements of “Fight Club” and “Booksmart” into something unexpected and brutal. The concept of the main characters, two lesbian best friends, hiding their plans to finally lose their virginities behind the facade of a female fight club is just as outrageous as the film itself, and the wild ride that ensues is encapsulated in only an hour and a half. “Asteroid City” The latest project from acclaimed director Wes Anderson has every element of his famed style. “Asteroid City” is odd, visually stunning and features a cast of recognizable names, from Tom Hanks to Maya Hawke to Bryan Cranston. The futuristic ‘50s set hosts a production of the fictional play, Asteroid City, and a web of characters, UFOs and disasters masterfully tell the rest of the postmodernist story. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” Based on the coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is a perfect example of how to deliver a text-to-screen adaptation. Performances from seasoned professionals like Kathy Bates and Rachel McAdams, as well as the young talent of Abby Ryder Fortson, create the heart of the film — the relationships that guide us all through the early stages of growing up. The film will induce tears, laughter and a perpetual appreciation for the relationships that form us.

@SOPHIAROOKS_ SR320421@OHIO.EDU

5 movies to decompress after finals week NICOLE REESE | FOR THE POST

BROOKE PHILLIPS FOR THE POST Next week is finals week at Ohio University, which usually causes stress for students who are studying to ace those tests. Afterward, there may be a lot of pent-up energy deep within your body that is in dire need of expulsion. To wind down your mind and body, here are five movies — ranging from silly action movies to carefree rom-coms — to watch during the relaxation process. “Spider-Man” (2002) We’re starting strong with Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man,” released in 2002. The superhero movie is filled with action and drama as it follows nerdy Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) discovering himself and becoming your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The film is filled with great performances from Maguire, Willem Defoe as Norman Osbourn, aka The Green Goblin, and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson. Although the early-2000s CGI is a little outdated and the plot is a bit strange, it’s still a fun movie with a lot of heart. It’s sure to get you in the right mood, especially if you need to let off a little steam after finals week. “The Princess Diaries” (2001) Next is the heart-filled classic “The Princess Diaries” (2001), directed by Garry Marshall. In this film, we follow 15-year-old Amelia “Mia” Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway, as she transforms into the princess of Genovia. The acting in this film from both Hathaway and Julie Andrews as her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, is excellent. This is another heartfelt story filled with drama and comedy that has lasted 22 years since it came out. “The Princess Diaries” is definitely for the nostalgic folks who need to relax. “Fargo” (1996) Do you need something a little more brooding for your relaxation plans? If yes, then I suggest Joel and Ethan Coen’s crime drama, “Fargo,” released in 1996. Although this is a bit of a curve ball on this list, I assure you that the film is cozy and intriguing with its snowy Minnesota setting and silly, almost cartoonish characters. The movie follows Jerry, a small-town car salesman, who hired two criminals to kidnap his wife so he could receive ransom money from his rich father-in-law. We also watch

police chief Marge, a woman with a bubbly personality and a very visible baby bump, who tries to catch the two men after plans go haywire. It’s truly a fantastic movie, and now is the time to watch it if you need to escape reality and indulge in a thrilling tale for a moment. “13 Going on 30” (2004) Going back to comforting rom-coms, next on this list is Gary Winick’s “13 Going on 30,” released in 2004. The film follows Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old girl who wishes to be 30 after being humiliated at her 13th birthday. Her wish is granted and she has to navigate living as a 30-year-old woman. Jennifer Garner’s performance as Jenna Rink is truly the highlight of the film as she embodies the goofiness, innocence and drama of being a 13-year-old girl. The film holds several memorable moments, like the scene where everyone dances to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and does the choreography from its iconic music video. There’s also the unmistakable chemistry between Garner and Mark Ruffalo, who plays her love interest Matt “Matty” Flamhaff. The romance is heartwarming and sweet to watch. Overall, it’s a great comfort movie, and it’s sure to leave you in a state of relaxation as you recuperate from finals. “Juno” (2007) Last on this list is the beloved Jason Reitman coming-of-age comedy, “Juno” (2007). Written by Academy-Award-winning Diablo Cody, this movie follows Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) after she is faced with an unplanned pregnancy and has to decide her unborn baby’s future. Page’s performance as the highly loveable Juno is the highlight of this film. Other characters like Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), J.K. Simmons (Mac MacGuff) and Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) are pure comedy but become more in-depth as they interact with Juno. The plot is heartwarming and heartbreaking, but it makes for a happy ending in the finale. It’s certainly a time capsule of 2007 teen culture, which makes it all the more nostalgic and comforting — even if it can seem like a lot at times. Nevertheless, “Juno” is full of captivating performances with a beautifully crafted script that will leave you nice and relaxed after finals week.

@BROOKEKILLSLIVE BP655221@OHIO.EDU

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