April 4, 2024

Advice Alerts:

Students receive

text messages

meant to inspire growth

mindset

Ohio University has been sending messages to undergraduates for four years, giving unsolicited advice, asking well-being-based questions and encouraging healthy mindsets.

Those text messages are from OU’s MyOHIO Advice free text-messaging system for all Athens campus students that began during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote a growth mindset in students.

MyOHIO Advice is a partnership with Persistence Plus, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning, or ACE. Specifically, Chad Barnhardt, assistant dean of students, and Suraiya Padiyath Abdulla, director of graduation plans and advising technology, work closely with MyOHIO Advice.

Persistence Plus is an over-the-phone support system that gives interactive “nudges” that are sometimes personalized to the student based on students’ interactions.

Eric Eickenhorst, a junior studying finance and analytics, said the texts typically inspire self-reflection and are usually encouraging.

A personalized message sent to Eickenhorst in 2022 said, “Happy end of semester from my OHIO ADVICE! Have a great summer, Eric, and good luck with work, school, and everything else you do.” Eickenhorst responded to the message, “I’m gonna cry; I will never forget you.”

However, other messages are more generalized based on the students who opt in to receive the messages.

An example of a generalized text message sent to OU students March 19 reads, “It’s easier to learn material that is presented in different ways. If you are learning from a book, try online videos too or listen to calming music.”

The nudges are based on the Nudging Theory, proposed by authors Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in their book “Nudge.” The customized nudges are backed by proven behavioral science that Persistence Plus prides itself on, increasing at-risk student graduation rates by 6%.

“We take the concept of the nudge – the idea that the right message at the right time can motivate people to make decisions that lead to success – and apply it to higher education,” according to the Persistence Plus website.

Persistence Plus molded nudges to help students follow through with their academic goals by planning details for when and where they will take action, such as studying and visiting office hours.

“To help students follow through on academic goals, we prompt them to form plans that include specific details of when and where they will take an action such as studying or visiting office hours,” according to the Persistence Plus website.

Some text messages base their questions on the general well-being of the students. March 26, students received a message reading “College students often have a range of concerns towards the middle of the term as they face increased academic pressures and personal challenges. Are you experiencing any of the following? Text: Finances, Social life, Grades, Stress, Career.”

If students were to respond with concerning messages, Persistence Plus would contact the Ohio University Police Department in a life-threatening situation.

In other emergency-related situations, Persistence Plus will inform the Office of the Dean of Students and the ACE. A CARE Team Referral concern form would then be filled out, Abdulla said.

“We help students perceive their setbacks as common stumbles on the way to a degree,” according to the Persistence Plus website.”

However, Eickenhorst sometimes enjoys replying with silly messages back to the MyOhio Advice messages.

In a text message from March 1, 2023, Eickenhorst received a message from MyOHIO Advice that read, “Do you need help with academic writing? We can help with any step of your writing process and it is free.” Eichenkorst responded with “No, I have a journal but thanks boo.”

However, not every student enjoys the messages and some have even unsubscribed. Adbulla said 92% of students are subscribed, leaving 8% of the Athens undergraduate program unsubscribing from these messages.

“Students are informed about this text service via an email from Ohio University before they receive the first message,” Alexander Semancik, an OU spokesperson, wrote in an email. “The email contains details about the service, the benefits of being subscribed and information on how to opt-out if students are not interested.”

COVER PHOTO BY ETHAN HERX

SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST

Accidental gunshot wound, bull on the loose

ALISON PATTON FOR THE POST

STAYING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Athens County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a house on state Route 682 for a disorderly male.

When deputies arrived, the man refused to speak or to open the door. No further action was taken.

DRUNK BUT NOT DRIVING

Deputies responded to state Route 682 for a male acting drunk and disorderly, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The man found a ride and another place to stay. No further action was taken.

SWIPER NO SWIPING

Deputies were dispatched to Johnson Road in The Plains for a theft report, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies spoke with the individual who had property taken without their consent.

Deputies tried to retrieve the property, but couldn’t contact the suspect. Dep -

uties will be pursuing theft charges.

APRIL FOOLS

Athens County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a breaking and entering complaint in Chauncey.

Deputies found everything to be OK after speaking with the caller on the scene.

DRUNKEN DRIVING TEST

Deputies responded to a report in Albany for a man who was passed out behind the wheel of a parked vehicle, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

While the man was OK, he did have an active warrant issued by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers conducted a field sobriety test. The man was arrested on his warrant and transported to jail.

ATHENS MOST WANTED

Deputies arrested a man on an active warrant issued by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The man was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville. He will remain there until picked up by the Marshals.

SHOTS FIRED

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Vore Ridge Road for a possible report of shots fired from a vehicle.

Deputies patrolled the area but didn’t find anything on the vehicle of shell casings.

While on scene, the deputies were notified of an abandoned vehicle in the roadway, which was towed.

BUT I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING

The Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a dispute on state Route 682.

Deputies determined no threats or physical violence occurred, but arrested one of the individuals involved.

The man had multiple arrest warrants and was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail without incident.

OOPS…

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to O’Bleness Hospital for a gunshot wound.

After all parties were contacted, the incident was determined to be an accident.

No further action was needed.

MESS WITH THE HORNS, YOU GET THE BULL

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a bull roaming the roadway on state Route 78.

Deputies and the owner got the bull back into the fenced area.

WATCH FOR CARS

OUPD took two separate reports for non-injury crashes.

The first happened at Ellis Hall, and the other happened a little under an hour later at Peden Stadium.

KEEP IT LOCKED

OUPD took a report for theft and criminal mischief.

There was damage to a vehicle located in Parking Lot 53, the red lot by the River Gate apartments.

Missing automotive parts were also reported.

Public officials balance safety concerns, light pollution in Athens

EDITOR

Safety and lighting concerns on campus can potentially conflict with concerns over light pollution and environmental harm. Athens city officials and Ohio University staff currently work to balance these factors in decision-making about lighting on and off campus.

pollution issues. However, the city has to abide by and enforce these city light laws. The laws also determine where lights can be placed.

Farmer also said that in the past, Senate executives have gone on safety walks with administrators to scope out potentially dangerous areas with little to no lighting. Those walks have since stopped, but Farmer said the Senate hopes to implement them again.

There are specific codes that reference lighting requirements and light pollution, City Planner Meghan Jennings said.

One subsection of the Athens City Code states that adequate lighting needs to be placed along streets where the city planning commissions see fit while adhering to light pollution standards, including appropriate lamps and reflectors to minimize light pollution. Another subsection gives guidelines on technical requirements to reduce light pollution, including restrictions on light glare and how much illumination can be permitted.

Andrew Stone, service-safety director, said the city’s main concern is the quality of life for residents. Light pollution is minimized, in part, so that Athens residents can see the stars at night and not be kept awake by light glare coming from other properties. Stone said the city receives more complaints about areas being too dark than about light

Light trespass is also a concern for the city, Jennings said. Light trespass is when lighting from one property makes its way onto another without permission from residents. With ongoing construction projects on East State Street, the city has received several complaints about LED lights, Jennings said.

Ohio University also regulates lighting for construction projects on its property using Green Building Standards, Ohio University Office of Sustainability Director and City Council President Sam Crowl said.

“All the projects that happen on campus, anytime somebody wants to put in outdoor lighting, then they need to follow the Green Building Standards that minimize night sky light pollution,” Crowl said.

Safety concerns with a lack of lighting do indeed arise for students. Reagan Farmer, Student Senate treasurer and a junior studying political science, said she has heard from numerous people there are concerns about spots on campus with dim lighting. Specifically, Farmer said the space behind Nelson Dining Hall and the walk to River Park are places she has heard have dim lighting.

Light pollution, while still a priority for the university and the city of Athens, is not a major concern compared to other sustainability endeavors. Crowl said the Night Sky Initiative is something the Office of Sustainability maintains so that the university is adhering to light pollution standards while keeping campus property safe.

Crowl also said the city focuses on the Night Sky Initiative. He said the university works in tandem with the city of Athens to ensure both have stayed within light pollution standards, allowing for the potential of increased tourism.

There are Athens outdoor tours on the Ridges, which look at the observatory, he said.

“I actually am a big fan of looking at the night sky and I know that the physics professors and the astronomy professors who have for the past about 20 years been working very hard both to get those ordinances in the city of Athens as well as in the design standards are doing so because that observatory is so cool … because of the lack of light pol-

lution, it’s a great place to really see what's going on in the stars,” Crowl said.

However, Jennings said the Athens Sustainability Action Plan focuses heavily on recycling and other environmental issues over light pollution. The city also works to identify parts of Athens that need better lighting, like the West Side neighborhood, she said.

Safety should always be the number one priority for students, Farmer said.

“If we can make people feel a little more secure, and safe, then that’s probably worth the other consequences that might occur,” Farmer said. “But I certainly would have to have more conversations with the people that have those concerns about light pollution to learn a little bit more about the topic.”

Stone said the city faces a major challenge in balancing light pollution and safety concerns.

“The challenge for public safety officials … is you're balancing public safety with light pollution,” Stone said. “Demands for more streetlights, demands for streetlights in new places that they don't exist, demands for better lighting at private property because of either real or perceived crime.”

JACKSON MCCOY SLOT

Stars above Radar Hill in Athens, March 20, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

Calendar for Mom’s Weekend

SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

Outdoor Pursuits is hosting a zip line at the Ridges from 4-7:30 p.m. A shuttle will pick up attendees at the climbing wall in Ping Recreation Center, 15 minutes before each time slot. The course includes a climb up a 40-foot tower and a 250-foot zip line. The zip-line event will also occur on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Attendance: $30

Housing and Residence Life is hosting a commuter-specific event at 5 p.m. in 160 Jefferson Hall, located at 101 E. Union St. Commuters and moms will be doing a craft with snacks supplied.

Attendance: Free

Ohio Baseball is taking on Western Michigan at 6 p.m. for a “Mom’s Night Out” game at Bob Wren Stadium. Ohio University athletics will have fun festivities throughout the game.

Attendance: Free for students, $5 general admission and $2 for groups with more than 10 people.

Hillel is hosting a Shabbat at 21 Mill St., with services starting at 6 p.m. and the din-

ner following at 6:45 p.m. The menu includes roasted tomato soup, assorted quiches, fresh green salad, fresh fruit and desserts. An RSVP is required to attend this event.

Attendance: Free with RSVP

The Athena Cinema, located at 20 S. Court St., is hosting two screenings of Mamma Mia! at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The event has a special cocktail, Aperol spritz, to coincide with the Mediterranean vibe. Another screening will show Saturday at 11 a.m., with mimosas as the specialty cocktail.

Attendance: $8; drink prices may vary

Outdoor Pursuits is hosting a campfire at the Ridges from 7:30-10 p.m. Outdoor Pursuits will provide campfire snacks and transportation. There will be marshmallow roasting, constellation spotting and hot cocoa. The event will return Saturday at the same time.

Attendance: $20

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

Ohio Well-being and Recreation is hosting three fitness classes at Ping. A cycle class will be held in the cycle studio from 12:302:00 p.m. A cardio dance class will be held in studio 219 at 10 a.m. Finally, an F45 Training class will be held in the F45 studio at 11 a.m. and requires an F45 membership.

Attendance: F45 training free with membership; cycling and cardio dance free to all.

Outdoor Pursuits is hosting a day hike through Conkles Hollow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes transportation from Ping to Conkles Hollow and back.

Attendance: $20

A chance to meet and talk with President Lori Gonzalez is being held at 10 a.m. at the Academic Engagement Center. Moms and students will meet Gonzalez for tea, coffee and pastries.

Attendance: Free

Latitude 39 is hosting a brunch with specials from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., located at Baker University Center. The first 500 people will receive a Moms Weekend glass.

Attendance: Free glass for first 500 people with dinner, brunch special prices vary

The Black Student Cultural Programming Board is hosting its annual Moms Weekend event at noon, located at Baker Floor 2 Atrium and Multicultural Center. The event will include food, dancing, massages, mocktails, a photo booth and painting.

Attendance: Free

The Acacia Fraternity is hosting a 5k run

or walk at noon at Athens West State Park, Shelter 1, W. State Street. The event will raise money for pancreatic cancer in honor of alumni brother Justin Baldinger’s grandmother who passed away in 2008.

Attendance: $30

University Program Council is hosting a moderated Q&A session with TV stars and dance moms Christi Lukasiak and Kelly Hyland at 2 p.m. in the Baker University Center Ballroom. Dance Moms is a reality TV show about the Abby Lee Miller Dance Company.

Attendance: Free

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

Outdoor Pursuits is hosting a paddling event at Dow Lake from 10 a.m. to noon. All equipment and instruction will be provided and no experience is required.

Attendance: $20

The Center for Student Engagement and Leadership is hosting a bouquet-making at noon in Baker Theater Lounge. The event will have enough supplies for around 100 bouquets.

Attendance: Free

@_SUZIEPIPER

SP249021@OHIO.EDU

Know your rights: navigating fest season, underage consumption

ALISON

PATTON FOR THE POST

Now that Fest Season is officially here, students and partygoers alike will soon crowd the streets along with employees of the Athens Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.

Walk-In & Virtual

With the next big fest weekend including Congo and High fests, located on Congress Street and High Street, April 12-13, managing attorney at The Center for Student Legal Services Stephanie Russell-Ramos shared tips for staying out of trouble.

Students under the legal drinking age shouldn’t go to places that are permitted premises locations, including bars, or attempt to buy from anywhere that sells alcohol, Ramos said.

While police can enforce underage drinking laws, so can the Ohio Department of Liquor Control – who are typically dressed in plain clothes.

“Any place that has a permit to sell alcohol is where you'll see (liquor control) agents,” Ramos said. “So, that could be a liquor store, that could be a gas station, that

could be a bar.”

Fests are block parties though, so the get-togethers happen in backyards – outside of permitted premise locations.

Ramos said to stay in the grass and not go on the sidewalk with alcohol. If leaving a party, students should leave alcohol behind.

“Even if you are 21, you can get charged with public intoxication, open container and those sorts of things, as well as (disorderly conduct by intoxication),” Ramos said.

If a police officer stops a student, the best thing to do is to stay respectful and answer identifying questions, like your name, address and birthdate, Ramos said.

However, if it is an interaction based on underage consumption and giving a birthdate is self-incriminating, a person doesn’t have to provide that information, Ramos said.

“You are not required to answer all of their questions or any other of their questions, and you can always ask for an attorney, you can always say ‘I’m not going to incrimi-

nate myself,'” she said.

Mill Fest kicked off March 23 with the Athens Police Department, or APD, issuing one citation for disorderly conduct by intoxication with resisted arrest and another case for an underage consumption charge for the whole weekend, APD Chief of Police Nick Magruder said. However, Magruder said the Ohio Department of Liquor Control’s agents in plain clothes handed out a lot of citations for open container violations.

“It's very likely the way that the majority of the officers charge here in Athens, you are charged and released as long as there's someone that can come pick you up if you appear to be intoxicated,” Ramos said. “If you just have a fake ID, and you're charged, you're likely going to be released soon. It's very rare that they take individuals to jail.”

Ramos said student legal services can see up to 50 underage consumption, or UAC, cases for the entirety of Fest Season.

Magruder said borgs have been a “huge issue.”

According to Poison Control, a black-out rage gallon, or borg, is about half a gallon of water with up to a fifth of vodka added, along with water flavoring and electrolyte powder.

“Walking around with an open container is one thing that we've noticed, and that also the department of liquor control (has noticed),” Magruder said. “They're the ones that really hammered those violations and cite a lot of people for that.”

Magruder said there are two types of citations given: a minor misdemeanor for people over the age of 21 for disorderly conduct, which is similar to a traffic ticket, and a third-degree misdemeanor for a UAC, which includes a mandatory court appearance.

A first-time offender for a UAC is usually eligible for a diversion program, which can seal the person’s record upon successful completion, Diversion Program Coordinator Kate Enger said.

“The story I hear the most is just that they were at something like a fest, and it's usually a liquor control agent pulled them aside and said, ‘I’d like to see some ID,’” Enger said.

There are five requirements to complete the program.

A participant must pay a $195 program fee and a $160 court fee within three months of enrolling, according to the alcohol diversion program contract.

There’s a community service day to be useful to the community, Enger said. It’s an eight-hour day of volunteering with the city or at a nonprofit organization.

Participants can take the mandatory class right after the service day, which knocks out two of the requirements.

People also have to read the book “Drink ing Games” by K.T. Hovland and complete a writing assignment, according to the con tract.

The program requires participants to remain sober for the full three months of the service.

Even if you are 21, you can get charged with public intoxication, open container and those sorts of things, as well as (disorderly conduct by intoxication)”.

– Stephanie Russell-Ramos, managing attorney at The Center for Student Legal Services

“It's 90 days to really actively seek out things to do away from the bars and away from the fests and we are more than happy … to suggest to people things they can do,” Enger said.

A participant who successfully com pletes all five requirements has their records sealed, Enger said.

“It's like, all right, you understood that what you did was not the best idea,” Magrud er said.

However, partygoers aren’t the only peo ple who run the risk of getting a citation. Party hosts can also get into trouble.

A nuisance party is defined by the Athens City Code as a social gathering that involves disorderly conduct, illegal open containers, public outdoor urination or defecation, un lawful sale or consumption of alcoholic bev erages and more.

The citation is an administrative ticket that requires the crowd to disperse, Ma

Common Offenses

• Public intoxication

• Open container law violations

• Underage consumption

Common Citations

• Nuisance party citations, which require the crowd to disperse or the host is given a mxinor misdemeanor.

• Minor misdemeanor for disorderly conduct for offenders over the age of 21.

• Punishable via fine, although these fines cannot exceed $150.

• Third degree misdemeanor for underage consumption.

• First time offenders are usually eligible for the threemonth Diversion Program to seal participants’ records of misconduct.

• This program involves a $195 program fee and a $160 court fee.

Students present diverse perspectives in films

incredibly important to me, especially the lesser-known stories that come out of Appalachia,” Rogers said.

very aware of the privilege that it is to have a platform to say something and I try my best to at least want to represent Blackness.”

From the annual Athens International Film and Video Festival to various film clubs on campus, students interested in creating films have various avenues to showcase their talents.

For some Ohio University students, like Andrew Bowman, a sophomore studying film production, this can help them create a unique identity.

Bowman discovered a passion for movies after watching Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” in 2016. Bowman said while he likes creating everything, he feels most inspired to tell compelling stories with unique visual and auditory elements.

“I feel like the first thing I always think about with making a film is striking imagery,” Bowman said. “I think of the best films (and) the best images from a film that I could possibly make, and then I think about the music.”

Zinn Rogers, a sophomore studying film production, also developed an interest in film at a young age. Rogers created a series of short films involving alien puppets as a hobby before it turned into a more serious creative endeavor.

Their film production interests have continued evolving into a current love for showcasing issues surrounding Appalachian culture.

“I’m from West Virginia, so Appalachian history, class issues and social issues are

Like Rogers, Jayla Neal, a junior studying film, conveys more personal experiences in her films. Neal said many of her projects showcase the Black experience outside of the stereotypical Black trauma film.

“There’s more than one way to represent struggles and strife without it always having to be something like, ‘This person was in a situation where they were called a slur’ or where they were harassed in a harsh manner,” Neal said. “There’s more ways to show the Black experience without it always falling to that default that’s always perpetuated within (the) media.”

Neal’s films have explored themes of mental health, friendship, relationships, healing and self-love. Neal said she wants to create films that make people feel emotionally represented.

“I think a lot of what I like to prioritize is that characters don’t always have to be the strong friend … or plaster a smile on their face, and it’s OK to have emotions and to feel certain things,” Neal said.

Despite struggles finding Black actors for her films, Neal said her heightened awareness of her role as a Black filmmaker fuels her passion to represent Black life, specifically Black women, in her works.

“I’m 100% aware, like, ‘Wow, I am the only black woman in this class or in my cohort,’” Neal said. “But I think because of that, I am

The film curriculum also allows undergraduate students, like Bowman and Rogers, to gain experience by volunteering to work on student-run film sets. Rogers said these experiences helped them streamline their specific interests in filmmaking.

“I started to realize more of what I’m interested in and what I’m less interested in,” Rogers said. “I think that was forged through set work, which is something I’m now realizing I don’t want to do, but I had to do it to realize that.”

While working on these film sets with a majority of graduate students, Bowman and Rogers have experienced many cultural perspectives from the graduate cohort.

Bowman said international students make up about 80% of the film M.F.A. program. He said the cultural knowledge gained from these diverse backgrounds is a major benefit of OU’s film curriculum.

“I think Athens, in particular, has one of the most strangely multicultural environments in terms of art because not many other university programs have this sort of infrastructure for international students,” Bowman said. “So, for a small Appalachian town in Southeast Ohio, it’s pretty rare that you’d have … probably hundreds of films made in Athens by people not from this country.”

Neal said bringing a diverse atmosphere to film scenes can help marginalized com-

munities realize their voices can be recognized.

“I feel like that’s why it is so important to have diversity within the space of film because it’s not something that is often seen, prioritized or heard behind the scenes, or even in front of the camera,” Neal said.

Outside of interacting with international students, Rogers said their interest in watching films made outside of the U.S. helps them gain a larger perspective on filmmaking outside of the Hollywood system.

“I think extending our gaze out of the Western-centric lens allows you to see a level of filmmaking that just doesn’t exist in the West,” Rogers said. “A level of attention to craft and attention to art that comes from a completely different perspective.”

Despite a definitive film scene not being established in Appalachia, Bowman said Athens is home to a diverse selection of artistic filmmakers, especially within the student population.

“We don’t lack in creatives at all, in terms of the people at the school, so I think it’s a pretty nice, little controlled environment to experiment with film production,” Bowman said. “I can’t think of a safer place to learn the craft of filmmaking.”

TREY BARRETT FOR THE POST

EMMA MCADAMS ASST. ART DIRECTOR

Studio Ragheb explores Arab-American identity at AIFVF

ETHAN HERX FOR THE POST

For some in Athens, Fest Season means partying, drinking and having fun with friends. But happening around the same time is a different kind of fest, the Athens International Film & Video Festival. For its 51st year, occurring April 8-14, AIFVF will be hosting filmmakers from throughout the world, from Serbia to Denmark to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh-based Studio Ragheb, consisting of an Arab-American filmmaking couple, Ahmed Ragheb and Lily Ekimian Ragheb, will be debuting its latest short film “She Sings” at AIFVF. The short film will premiere Friday, April 12 before the feature film “First Hermanubis: Initiation” at 1 p.m.

“She Sings” is an experimental, 15-minute film that follows the main character, Aziza, as she goes through a recurring dream about singing a song that she does not know. Ahmed Ragheb discussed how having the point of view of Aziza in her dream lent itself to the story.

“We basically inhabit her dream space for almost the entire film,” he said. “And through that, we use that as a springboard to talk

about a lot of things that we're very passionate about, including the idea of cultural identity, especially as it relates to Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans.”

Throughout the film, the hue shifts to a deep red, indicating when the perspective has shifted to within Aziza’s dream. Lily Ragheb said the red indicates Aziza coming closer to her homeland of Egypt.

“I think the red also draws her closer to this final performance, where you see the hints of it sort of in the beginning, but it's getting closer to Egypt," she said.”It’s this Arab-American character who is grappling with her identity and so there's this part of her that seems a little bit, not unattainable, but it's something that she's trying to grasp and that's the thing that's most distant.”

The film takes place in Pittsburgh and Cairo, Egypt, where it was also shot. Ahmed Ragheb was born in Cairo and the couple met in school there before moving to Pittsburgh in 2019. Lily Ragheb was born in Washington D.C. but spent much of her life in Pittsburgh. Because of the couple’s identity as Arab-Americans in the Rust Belt, they wanted to make it a focus of the film’s main character. Ahmed Ragheb said that the goal of the

film is to help shift the narrative around people of Arab descent in film and media.

“A lot of what we do comes back to not only being Arab-American but also trying to influence how Arab-Americans are portrayed on screen,” he said. “It's not in the context of trauma or immigration or something that we're usually used to. I think that was something that was front of mind, for sure.”

Near the end of the film is an original song written and performed on screen by musician Daniel Knox, whom Studio Ragheb has worked with on multiple projects. While Knox is present in the film, Ahmed Ragheb said his character represents Aziza.

“They (Arab-Americans) have these two ideas of themselves that are always living inside,” Ahmed Ragheb said. “Am I Egyptian, am I American am I both? So to have this denim-clad, country-singing inner American was something that we loved the idea of, and we want to draw that out a little bit.”

In most cases in film, the viewer does not see someone singing a song. Lily Ragheb said having Knox on screen added greatly to the film.

“We would have been happy with just the song but we were much happier to have him

CAMPUS EVENTS April 3rd - April 26th

Social Engagement & Student Org Events

Friday, April 5

Friday’s LIVE

Season 52 E05

hosted by Dasia Dewberry & Larissa Strong

8:00 pm

Studio C (RTV 515)

SCAN for MOM’s Weekend Events

Saturday, April 6

Dance Moms Q&A with Christi and Kelly 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Baker Ballroom

Blossom Hack

Hackathon 24hr 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Sunday

*Register on bobcat connect to reserve your merch!

Sunday, April 7

Moms Weekend

Bouquet Making 11:30 - 2:00 pm

Baker Theater Lounge

Thursday, April 11

The Paradox of Dogmatism Dr Michael Veber

6:30 - 7:30 pm

Ellis Hall 226

Friday April 12

Painting with Bob Ross 2:00 - 6:00 pm

Baker Center 3rd Floor Atrium all are Welcome! - Free Snacks

Variant Fashion Show

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Central Venue

29 Carpenter Street

actually sing it in the film,” she said.

The trailer for She Sings can be found on Studio Ragheb’s website and YouTube channel. The couple can be found on Instagram at @studioragheb. The film itself will premiere at the AIFVF at the Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court Street, and is free for students.

April Observing Nights 8:30 - 10:30 pm

Ohio University Observatory 174 Water tower Dr

* Weather Permitting Friday April 12

LOBSTERFEST

April 12-14

Friday and Saturday 6:00 - 8:00 pm

The Union

Sunday 10:30-12:00

Galbreth Chapel

ECLIPSE

WATCH PARTY PAWPRINT PARK

APRIL 8TH 2:00 - 4:00 PM

SCAN for more events

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

Photo provided by Studio Ragheb

Music producers in Athens shape the industry

JACKSON MCCOY SLOT EDITOR

In the music industry, the behind-thescenes action in creating music is just as important as the recording artist. For students studying music production at Ohio University, knowledge of this behind the scenes helps them as artists and as future music professionals.

Josh Antonuccio, the director of the School of Media Arts and Studies, said the role of a music producer lies in shaping their clients’ visions.

“A music producer’s job is essentially to execute the vision of the artist to synthesize ideas, both creative and technical, so that on the other side of the recording, and mixing process, they have an assemblage of songs or a single song that matches as closely as possible to the imagination and kind of overall scope of where the artists want to go musically,” he said.

Entertainment organizations in Athens help create spaces for young music professionals to get a feel for what their future may look like. Luke Calder, a senior studying music production and the recording industry, co-founded the company Midnight Music with his friend, Nick Thompson, to give Athens musicians an opportunity to create and perform music.

“I created the company so I could perform live and give other people the same opportunity,” Calder said. “When I was a freshman and sophomore here at OU, those performing opportunities weren’t really there. And that was frustrating for me because performing is absolutely my favorite part about making music.”

The Media Arts and Studies school at OU also provides students an opportunity to record and perform music in the form of Brick City Records. Brick City Records, a record label and capstone project for students in the music production program, provides experience in the music industry, Antonuccio said.

“In the capstone for the major, Brick City Records, the students as a part of their major get to select and then produce for artists of their choosing,” Antonuccio said. “So they’re building resumes ready for experiences as they’re in school. So there’s a lot of engagement with the industry and with the actual process.”

Music production is a heavily male-dominated field; in the 2023 study “Lost in the Mix,” women and nonbinary producers were found to be vastly underrepresented, and men outnumbered them 19 to 1.

This doesn’t stop women and nonbinary people from pursuing music production, however. Sydney Tisdale, a senior studying music production and recording industry, has worked with other women in her major to create a more inclusive space.

“I’m a part of WIMI, which is the Women In Music Industry club,” Tisdale said. “It is a great space for women that are in this kind of thing to just make connections and network and also get outside of the school and meet people that are also women in the actual industry, which is really cool.”

Antonuccio and Calder both said there are multiple networking opportunities within the music production program at OU, pointing to things like South by Southwest and other trips in the Media Arts and Studies school. Calder, who also releases music under the name Auburn Hill, said as a student

and performer networking in the program is very important to establishing a career.

“You work with people that have been in the industry and production program,” Calder said. “You work with musicians, you work with mixing engineers, you work with mastering engineers, you work with managers who work with industry professionals, people that you really got to get close to when they’re in the program … they can help you to continue and be there for whatever you need.”

The versatility of a music producer is also undervalued, Tisdale said. Even if she

enrolled in the music production program because she loves to perform music, she has learned there are more options than just performance.

“I love writing songs, I play the guitar and I sing, so that’s pretty much what led me to go into (music production),” she said. “But now I’m seeing that there’s a lot more, just opportunities and avenues for me to get into outside of those that I had started with.”

ACRN Recording Studio in the ACRN Station in Baker Center, Athens, Mar. 27, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

Whit’s scoops up custard, smiles

SOPHIA ANNESS FOR THE POST

Ohio University students often find themselves looking for a sweet treat to get after a long day of exams, studying and extracurriculars. It is convenient when there is a place to fulfill those sweet treat cravings right on the corner of Court Street and Union Street.

Whit’s Frozen Custard is a beloved and valued part of the Athens community.

Whit’s was first opened in Granville in 2003 by Chuck and Lisa Whitman, and the location quickly became a valued family business. The family style of the original Whit’s was reflected in each store that opened across the U.S., as each location is family-owned.

Terry Wells is the owner of the Athens store, and the general manager is Jay Miller. Miller has been with the business for about 10 years and is the main caretaker of the business.

Miller makes sure that Whit’s is a safe space for people of all backgrounds and communities, as he makes sure his sign on the door is visible to all. Miller has basic rules of no sexism, no racism and no homophobia in his store to keep a positive and uplifting environment.

as he feels they have become a very tightknit group who enjoy each other's company. The staff is hardworking, which makes his job much easier, and he said he is thankful for the staff he has on board.

“Right now in this particular moment, all of my employees are simultaneously becoming friends,” said Miller. “I have times where I’ll have employees not get along very well. I love to see them get along and hang out outside of work, too.”

Isabelle Coulter, a junior studying graphic design, has been an employee at Whit’s for a little over a year. She noted how busy the business can get.

“The beginning of the school year (is the busiest),” said Coulter. “I was here over the summer, and it would have busy moments. Once all the students came back and it was really hot outside, there were lines out the door and down the street.”

Coulter discussed the community feel of the job. She said she enjoys the overall atmosphere of the job and appreciates the positive vibes the job provides.

really nice though. It's busy, but it's doable with the coworkers that we have.”

Gavin Carrig, a sophomore studying journalism news and information, frequents Whit’s and is an avid fan of its frozen custard. He finds himself going there often after covering a basketball game.

“I like how there's many throughout Southeast Ohio,” said Carrig. “I feel like each one is tailored to the certain community that it serves.”

Carrig also finds there is a certain atmosphere when going to a Whit’s that makes the whole experience more positive.

“I think the community vibe is super cool,” said Carrig. “And I like to see how they intertwine that into each location.”

Whit’s has an expansive menu, and there is sure to be something for everybody. Whit’s generally has a price range from anywhere between $2 and $7, making the custard affordable for students and Athens residents.

“I like to keep an open atmosphere here,” said Miller. “I like seeing people from all varieties and all backgrounds in the same place.”

Miller also appreciates his current staff, @SOPHIA_ISABELLA0415 SA425522@OHIO.EDU

“(The job) is pretty fun,” said Coulter. “I like all my coworkers and our general manager creates like an overall good vibe for everybody. It's obviously when the weather's

Ohio makes improvements through transfer portal

BOBBY GORBETT SPORTS EDITOR

As March fades into April, the college basketball season is heading toward its dramatic conclusion. Meanwhile, teams watching the NCAA tournament from home have already turned their attention to next year and are looking to make key additions that will help them achieve their long-term goals. Now, more than ever, the transfer portal is a huge portion of talent acquisition in college basketball.

Luckily, Ohio has already joined the transfer portal party with the addition of former Ashland center Victor Searls.

As a senior last season, Searls averaged 15.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Searls was efficient for Ashland with a 68.8% field goal percentage.

With AJ Clayton confirming, via Instagram post that he will return to Ohio for his senior season, the team will likely be solidified in its frontcourt for the 2024-25 season. The jump from DII basketball to DI isn’t an easy one but Searls should provide Ohio with some more lineup flexibility with his 6 feet, 9 inches and 245-pound size, more prototypical of a center.

With two years of quality experience as a starter for Ashland, Searls at worst provides Ohio with solid depth on the bench to back up Clayton. With Clayton’s offensive versatility in mind, it could be possible that the two frontcourt teammates share the court together throughout the season. Searls, a graduate transfer and All-Great Midwest Conference player continues a theme of Ohio adding older players to its roster. Searls’ experience could be very useful for a younger player like Ayden Evans, who will be a freshman center for Ohio in 2024-25.

Ohio has no transfer portal departures to this point, a strong sign for the program. With Jaylin Hunter and Miles Brown leaving Ohio for graduation, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ohio look for a point guard in the

portal to replace them.

While Ohio still has strong scoring options at the guard positions, such as Shereef Mitchell, Ajay Sheldon and Elmore James, it may look for a reliable ball handler to take over for the loss of Hunter.

Regardless of the moves Ohio makes or does not make, Ohio Coach Jeff Boals and the rest of the coaching staff have built a young and improving roster, mostly with its own recruits.

Ohio may have another strategic portal

addition coming, but as it is, the program has the depth and high-end talent to make a run for its second MAC championship in the last four seasons.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tom House, Small Forward House, a sophomore from Florida State, is a player to watch for Ohio. Originally from Dayton, House received an offer from the Bobcats out of high school. House played

two seasons with Florida State but did not get substantial playing time.

AJ Smith, Guard

How about one more AJ? According to reports on Twitter, Smith has heard from several schools since entering the transfer portal, and Ohio is one of them. As a sophomore, Smith averaged 14 points and nine rebounds for Southern Indiana.

Human and Animal Services

Ohio coach Jeff Boals calls out to his team against Akron in the MAC Men’s Basketball Semifinals at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio, Mar. 15, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

Gideon

Antle

is having one of the best seasons in Ohio history

Ohio’s 2024 season has been as up and down as it gets. The team has beaten teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament just a year ago and suffered crushing losses against some of its biggest Mid-American Conference rivals.

Through it all, though, there has been one constant: Gideon Antle crushing baseballs.

Antle, who currently holds a conference-leading .422 batting average, has the chance to add himself to the Ohio record books among some of the greatest players in Ohio history. If the season ended today, Antle’s batting average would rank No. 3 all-time for a single season and be the best year an Ohio hitter has had since Mike Echstenkamper hit .424 in 1979.

Not only has Antle’s batting average excelled, but he is also on pace to be among the leaders in doubles for a season. With 25 games left, Antle already has 12 doubles, which puts him on pace to finish with just a tick over 24 doubles, which would be the third-best mark in Ohio history.

Antle is also on pace to finish in the top 10 all-time for the most single-season hits, RBI and slugging percentage.

What Antle has done so far this season has been nothing short of spectacular. At the end of the season in June, the center fielder could very well have completed one of the best offensive seasons in Ohio history.

The fifth-year senior out of Missouri has had a season that is worthy of a MAC Player of the Year honor. Antle would be the first player in all Ohio sports to win such an award during the current academic year.

Antle would become just the third MAC player since 2017

to hit above .400 in a single season. The only other time a player finished with above a .400 batting average was last season, when Aidan Longwell of Kent State and Jeron Williams of Toledo hit .403 to share the 2023 batting title. Williams was later named the MAC Player of the Year.

If a player hits above .400, there should be no question who wins Player of the Year. However, Antle’s season has been overshadowed by his team’s inconsistencies and an inability to win close games.

Ohio’s less-than-impressive 8-16 overall record as we reach the halfway point in the season is significant because so far in the 2023-24 sports season, there has been a trend of the Player of the Year being the best player on one of the conference’s top teams. There is still a fair amount of season left to be played, but as of today, Ohio ranks amongst the worst teams in the MAC.

For Men’s Basketball, Akron’s Enrique Freeman was named MAC Player of the Year before his team went to Cleveland and won the MAC Championship. Toledo’s Dequan Finn was

tabbed as the MAC Football Player of the Year after leading his team to another MAC Championship game. In Women’s Basketball, Toledo’s Sophia Wiard was named Player of the Year after leading her team to a 17-1 conference record.

Baseball differs from these sports in a myriad of different ways, but when looking at Antle’s Player of the Year chances, it’s important to understand that unlike Basketball and sometimes Football, one player can not carry a whole team to victory. While Antle has propelled the offense and often provides much-needed clutch hits, Ohio will not be able to share the success of the MAC’s best teams without a better performance from its pitching staff.

No matter where Ohio finishes in the final MAC standings, if Antle can stay on the pace that he is currently on, there should be no question who gets the MAC Player of the Year award.

@ROBERTKEEGAN_ BK272121@OHIO.EDU

ROBERT KEEGAN III

SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio baseball players walk onto the field after they win their second game against Central Michigan at Bob Wren Stadium, March 23, 2024, in Athens. (ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR)

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Ohio’s defense has excelled in its recent win streak

LOGAN ADAMS FOR THE POST

After a 1-6 start to Mid-American Conference play, during which Ohio (17-18, 5-6 MAC) allowed 5 or more runs in all but two games, the team has started to hit its stride in its most recent two series, winning its last four games.

Its current stretch, which includes a threegame series against Central Michigan and a mid-week doubleheader against Kent State, has featured elite defense across the board, excellent fielding, pitching and low run totals throughout the week.

In three of its last five games, the Bobcats have allowed just a single run, with only 2 and 3 runs allowed in the other two games. This has been Ohio's best defensive stretch of the season, as the team has allowed 8 total runs over five games compared to the 43 it allowed in its first six games of MAC play.

Ohio has allowed an average of 5.8 hits per game, a massive credit to both the pitching and fielding units. Skipp Miller, who pitched 24 of the 35 total innings over the last five games, deserves credit for the Bobcats’ defensive prowess.

Miller, a two-time MAC Pitcher of the Week this season, has had an excellent redshirt sophomore season despite Ohio’s slower start.

Another catalyst is junior second baseman Lauren Yuhas, who has been playing her position lights out, making many pivotal plays all season. Statistically, Yuhas has been one of the most impactful players for the Bobcats’ defense, with 53 putouts and 30 assists.

Ohio Coach Jenna Hall has described Yu-

has’ play as aggressive. Any time a ball is hit in her direction, there’s little doubt that the play won’t be made. Every big play by Yuhas is at the perfect time and when the Bobcats need it most, continuously stealing outs or finding herself involved in double play opportunities.

Following a game against Central Michigan, Hall said the theme for defensive improvement and toughness is improving the team’s short-term memory. In sports, staying confident through forgetting bad plays is one thing, but focusing on learning from them while not getting hung up on a mistake is what Hall and the Bobcats focus on.

These short-term lessons are key for longterm improvement and becoming a consistent and successful team.

While the offense has yet to find its stride, still finding itself on the wrong side of shutouts from time to time, it has had its explosive moments. Now, with the defense starting to come together, Ohio will be able to capitalize on those explosive offensive nights more often, giving the team more leeway to make offensive mistakes in the nights that aren’t as high-scoring.

Over the last five games, Ohio has shown tremendous improvement through learning these lessons on the fly, and it has shown both on the field and the stat sheet.

Looking ahead on the schedule, Ohio has a chance to continue building momentum against a struggling Northern Illinois team before heading out for its second-to-last nonconference game against Ohio State, which is 17-8 in nonconference matchups.

Members of the Ohio softball team celebrate during the second game of the doubleheader against Central Michigan at Ohio Softball Field, March 29, 2024, in Athens. (ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR)

Tori O’Brien, driven by her furry companion, has become a revelation for Ohio

MARC GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POST

“Archie!”

The excited voice of Tori O’Brien stretches out as she is approached from where she is standing just beyond second base.

Ohio’s second game of its doubleheader against Central Michigan has ended. Ohio head coach Jenna Hall finished talking to her team, and the players began to gather their belongings from the dugout to talk to parents next to the bleachers at Ohio Softball Field.

Tori O’Brien and a few teammates hang back. A visitor is approaching. This visitor is an expected one, and although small in physical stature, has a profound effect on many. This visitor struts toward its companion, moving its legs quickly without going terribly fast.

This visitor is none other than Archie, O’Brien’s Miniature Dachshund. Archie holds the title of team mascot right next to Rufus.

Since he was adopted by O’Brien last year, Archie has enjoyed some of the spoils of life. Like many only children, he enjoys the complete attention of everyone around him. In fact, Archie also has an Instagram account and was invited to participate in the media day photos for the team. Archie, according to O’Brien, has become more comfortable with pushing boundaries and even acting out at times.

“He was a lot better behaved,” O’Brien said. “Now, he’s a big barker.”

Archie has arguably been one of the most consistent members of the team over the last two years. He sits in the stands for every home game, rain or shine. Sometimes when it is hot or sunny, Archie can be found under an umbrella and resting on a blanket at the top of the bleachers, enjoying the lush life that many only imagine living.

O’Brien is in an unusual position as a student, athlete and pet owner. Normally, having just two of those things are enough to drive one crazy, but O’Brien balances it all. That balance does not come without some struggles and challenges, though.

“The hardest thing I ever did was the first time I ever had to drop him off when we were traveling,” O’Brien said. “I was crying. It felt like dropping my kid off at school. It was so weird.”

The responsibility to take care of another living thing does not just extend to what O’Brien does, but the trust she has for Archie. She is at a point where she knows that she can leave him alone at home while she

is at practice or class and be confident that he will be ok with her there. She does admit, though, it helps considerably that “he sleeps pretty much all day” and that his short legs make it virtually impossible for him to reach things on the counter.

O’Brien understands the fact that she has learned a lot about life by having another living thing that relies on her.

“I’ve learned… I need to go let Archie out and then I can go (do social things),” O’Brien said.

“The responsibility of knowing that I have a priority and a living thing at home that I have to take care of.”

That sense of enhanced responsibility is something that can be seen in her play on the field. This

season, she has increased her batting average by nearly 40 points, moving to the top of the lineup for Ohio. O’Brien has noticed that, statistical improvements notwithstanding, she has put more pressure on herself while she understands the context of the game.

“One thing that I’ve noticed is I put a lot of pressure on myself at the beginning of the game to get on base and show my teammates that we are going to be able to hit this girl,” O’Brien said. “I feel like when I get a leadoff hit, it is a sign

saying ‘We’re going to hit this girl…’ I started to realize that the first at bat is not the whole game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

O’Brien has refined her approach and has hit .343 since the beginning of MAC play. Additionally, O’Brien has nearly surpassed her number of RBI (8) from last season in just 26 games. Some of the improvements can be traced to her moving up in the order, but others are due to her mental improvements.

“I have done a good job of focusing on what I can do and what I’m good at,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes, I get a little bit out of my realm, but I reel myself back in.”

After every single home game for Ohio, O’Brien knows exactly where to look for her best friend on four legs. Usually, Archie will come to her and greet her with an excited yip. O’Brien will pick up Archie and take hold of his leash and parade him around the field, much to the joy of the other members of the team. When all of the fanfare is over for the two-year-old pup, O’Brien plucks Archie off the ground and cradles him in her arms and walks away from the field. After all, it is just the two of them finding their way in this world. PROVIDED

We may be consuming plastic every day

Every single-use plastic water bottle you have ever drank is still on Earth or has transformed into toxic chemicals that still linger in the atmosphere. The same goes for any single-use plastic ever used. That is because plastics cannot naturally break down, and scientists have not found a good solution to dispose of them; likely because the only true solution is to stop mass-producing single-use plastic.

But those plastics aren’t just sitting in landfills and polluting oceans, they are also in our blood, lung tissue and placentas. A 2023 study done by Columbia and Rutgers universities found roughly 240,000 nanoplastics in a liter of popular brands of bottled water, which raises serious concerns about how much plastic humans are truly consuming.

Microplastics, which are 5 millimeters or less in size, are smaller than a sesame seed. They break down and form nanoplastics, which are so small they are undetectable to the human eye. Because nanoplastics are so tiny, it is easier for them to enter the human body.

But their small size makes researching them even harder. The researchers at Columbia and Rutgers just discovered how many nanoplastics are in water bottles, they did not explore potential health impacts on humans. That is because of a lack of standardized methods to test health impacts.

But, surely, plastic inside the human body can’t be a good thing. Plastics have harmed ecosystems, the atmosphere and animals’ well-being. We do not need research to tell us that plastic inside our bodies is harmful, we need research to tell us how it is harmful or at what point it becomes harmful.

There are various chemicals used during the production of plastic, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, Bisphenol A, or BPA, and phthalates, which are all known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can affect development and reproduction in humans. Pigments and dyes, among other chemicals, are also known carcinogens.

But, again, because nanoplastics are so hard to study, scientists don’t know how many could be inside the human body; thus, they don’t know the concentration of those dangerous chemicals either.

If water bottles contain hundreds of thousands of nanoplastics, how many nanoplastics are we consuming from other plastic-wrapped food and beverage products? Nearly every product at the grocery store comes wrapped in plastic, including the inner plastic lining of aluminum cans. Nanoplastics could be leaching into all of our food and beverages.

And that only accounts for plastic particles from the plastic wrappings and containers, not the actual products inside. There is an abundance of plastic water bottles floating in oceans, rivers and lakes, leaving nanoplastics for fish and other sea creatures to consume. So not only does our food have plastic in it, but our food’s food does, too.

Research also shows airborne microplastics are “especially prevalent indoors” and that humans are “thus continuously exposed to atmospheric MPs (microplastics.)” Other research suggests that microplastics may accumulate in the human body and that chronic exposure is a concern.

Plastic is in the air we breathe, water we drink and the food we eat. That means we are constantly taking in more and more. Worst of all, there is no way for us to escape it. Yet another reason why we must evade our dependence on single-use plastic.

The research about plastic has one major conclusion: plastic is inside of us and will continue to be for a long time. However, research thus far has failed to inform what it means for human health. Plastic has long been an environmental crisis, but new studies about the amount of plastic in human bodies raise questions about whether it is or will be a health crisis.

Taylor Henninger is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree?

Tell Taylor by emailing her at th873120@ohio. edu.

We Need To Take Action for Child Stars

With the release of “Quiet on Set,” many viewers’ childhoods were crushed by learning about the extent of manipulation and torment many of the young actors faced while working for Nickelodeon. From emotional abuse to sexual assault, everything came to light with testimonies and anecdotes recalled by the now grown-up actors.

In one of the most shocking moments of the show, Drake Bell from “Drake and Josh” recounts his experience of being sexually assaulted by dialogue coach and fellow actor Brian Peck over four months. When asked what happened, he described the experience by saying “Why don’t you imagine the worst thing someone could do to someone as sexual assault? I don’t know how else to put it.”

As the documentary is still releasing episodes, there are still more stories that have yet to be heard. The series has made people consider laws and protections regarding young actors in Hollywood, specifically if the industry is doing enough to protect children. The short answer is not at all.

The documentary’s co-director Mary Robertson said that her main concern regarding children working in Hollywood was that along with the actors usually being the sole providers for their families, they “Oftentimes, … feel as though they don’t have the advocates or allies necessary to help them navigate and understand when they have the ability to say ‘no,’ or ‘I’m uncomfortable with that,’ or ‘I’d like to change that.’”

There’s no real safe outlet for child actors, or at least one they can fully trust. As shown

in “Quiet on Set,” parents of the actors were often kept outside the circle, meaning their children would fully be under the supervision of strangers, adults who were supposed to protect their children, but rather took advantage of their innocence and limited knowledge of the world.

The system was set up for them to be taken advantage of, and Hollywood has done next to nothing to change the pattern of abuse. According to TheWrap, there are rules in place regarding child actors, specifically “Current guidelines call for parents of minors to keep their child within “sight and sound” at all times, and for a child actor’s shift to be regulated.”

The article also mentions that even during the initial events of “Quiet on Set,” Nickelodeon allegedly didn’t run background checks on those working with minors. An insider at Nickelodeon even said that “unions don’t like them,” clearly showing the network’s focus on its image rather than the well-being of the underage actors.

With everything that’s come out, it’s unclear where the stories told on “Quiet on Set” will go next. However, with the information already released, the abuse of mi-

nors extends throughout the entertainment industry as a whole. In just the short time since the documentary’s release, it has made waves on social media. It’s sparked a massive conversation surrounding child actors and how they need to be better protected in the industry.

I believe it’s extremely important for us as outsiders to take it upon ourselves to help, whether by simply sharing information or making GoFundMe’s and legislative changes to ensure that child actors are safe while in the workforce. I don’t think “Quiet on Set” is a first step, but it’s another step in opening a younger generation’s eyes and understanding it’s not out of our power to make a change.

Mia Ashby is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Mia by emailing her at ma237419@ohio.edu.

Taylor Henninger

Mia Ashby

The Bob Dylan biopic is long overdue

Robert Allen Zimmerman began his career in music during high school playing in rock bands in the northeastern mining town of Hibbing, Minnesota. While attending the University of Minnesota in 1960, he discovered the beat poetry scene in Minneapolis and developed an affinity for folk singer Woody Guthrie.

By January 1961, Zimmerman dropped out and traveled to New York City to perform and visit Guthrie as the aging folk singer battled Huntington’s Disease. He also left Robert Zimmerman behind and adopted the alias Bob Dylan after Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. With the simple decision to relocate, Dylan cemented his future as one of the most prolific writers in music history. He became so important that over 60 years later, a biopic is being made about him starring one of the most renowned actors of our generation: Timothée Chalamet.

The importance of Dylan’s contributions to the musical world cannot be overstated as there has truly never been anyone else like him. He took blues, folk, country and rock influences and made something completely different. His social commentary set the stage for other artists to engage as heavily as they did in the civil rights movements of the 1960s.

His early albums are classic, quintessential folk music, often rooted in the story of the working man and the fight against the oppressor (whoever he may be), Cold War anxieties and/or love and loss. His early

songs mostly consist of his unconventional singing and strumming open chords on an acoustic guitar.

Dylan became a god in music and then smashed his own pedestal on July 4, 1965, when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival. The day Dylan went electric is one of the most pivotal moments in all of music history, pointedly marking his left turn from folk to rock and foreshadowing the more sonically complex sound of his later albums.

Much to the disdain of the folk purists who wanted rock and folk to stay far away from each other, Dylan went electric out of spite after he heard the festival organizer making condescending comments about another group set to perform. Dylan the electric convert would go on to further embrace a rock influence on his next albums, making for a much fuller albeit different sound.

Not only did Dylan break musical boundaries in a truly unprecedented way, but he also challenged the way musicians were expected to interact with the media. In various interviews, Dylan can be found needling the life out of a reporter, playing word games and spinning the questions back to force them to

reflect on themselves and their own motives. He’s sticky and agile at the same time while maintaining the non-threatening air of being a 20-something from Minnesota.

This may be one of the most interesting and even endearing things about Dylan: his ancient words and profound spirit are offset by a shockingly unpretentious demeanor.

Dylan also has written a plethora of songs that have been made famous by other artists. “It Ain’t Me Babe,” popularized by Johnny Cash and June Carter, was written by Dylan a year before they picked it up and features a much slower and stripped sound in Dylan’s version. Jimi Hendrix’s iconic “All Along the Watchtower” was also written and originally recorded by Dylan. Even My Chemical Romance covered Dylan’s “Desolation Row.”

To see someone as talented and renowned as Chalamet step into the role of Dylan all these decades later is so incredibly moving and a massive testament to all the ways Dylan has burned his name into this world.

Megan is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Megan about her article? Email her at md396520@ohio.edu.

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Progress needed in women’s sports coverage

Title IX was enacted in 1972, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in school sports or any other program that receives federal funding. Over 50 years later, Title IX has generally been upheld, but sexism and racism continue to creep into sports in more deceptive ways than what can be identified within the confines of the amendment.

Recently, there has been a massive uptick in attention to women’s college sports, with women’s basketball particularly gaining attention. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark broke an alltime scoring record for NCAA basketball, surpassing the late Pete Marvich’s total of 3,667 collegiate points, and the public is hyper-fixated on her. Louisiana State University’s Angel Reese has also garnered a lot of attention for her abilities on the court and declared for the WNBA draft on Wednesday after a loss to Iowa.

The attention women’s college basketball has gained recently is spectacular in terms of representation for young women and girls who want a career in basketball. However, female athletes are pitted against each other and subjected to commentary and standards that male athletes do not experience in the same way.

In February, Reese made a gesture referencing John Cena’s “you can’t see me” catchphrase to Clark during a game. It spurred a lot of rumors online and overall gained a lot more attention than it needed to. In the time since, it has become clear that there is no issue between the two players, just the typical level of aggression and passion that bubbles up when playing a competitive game at such a high level. Reese even congratulated Clark after she broke the scoring record.

Consider all the minor acts of aggression that turn into physical fights in men’s college basketball. Now look up “college basketball beef” and find three stories alleging beef between Clark and various other women’s college basketball players before a male college basketball player is mentioned in the context of a conflict within a headline.

As some media try to throw women against each other, other media work to tear everyone down altogether with sexist and racist statements thinly veiled as relevant sports commentary.

On Monday, Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times issued an apology for his NCAA women’s basketball tournament matchup preview after he was criticized for referring to the Ti-

gers as “villians” and “dirty debutantes,” even describing the matchup between the Tigers and the UCLA Bruins as one between good and evil.

LSU’s women’s basketball roster is predominantly made up of Black women, and it does not seem coincidental that the language Bolch used describing a predominantly Black team held such negative connotations.

Again, it is so important that younger players see representation of other women athletes, but not all representation is good representation. Not only are young girls seeing their idols pitted against each other and criticized for playing competitively, but women athletes are still only getting attention when they do something monumental.

Clark’s record-setting, for example, did a lot in bringing women’s sports more into the center of the public sports conscience. Compared to the prevalence of men’s sports coverage, though, there is still a massive gap in the level of appreciation women’s sports receive. Women should not need to be record-breaking to receive equitable coverage compared to their male counterparts.

Women’s college basketball has been major in drawing more interest in women’s

sports, but players continue to face challenges that would be unacceptable and never would have come up if they were men. Only when sportswriters begin focusing on the game as opposed to the gender of the players will true progress be seen in the attitudes around women’s sports.

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'Quiet on Set' reveals horrors behind the scenes at Nickelodeon

ELIZABETH TALAGA FOR THE POST

Warning: the following article contains mentions of sexual assault.

"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" is a four-part documentary about the mistreatment of employees at the popular kid's television network Nickelodeon. The series reveals horrific allegations against dialogue coach Brian Peck and producer Dan Schneider by former child actors and writers on the network. The docuseries can be streamed on MAX and Discovery+.

DAN SCHNEIDER

Dan Schneider is a former Nickelodeon producer and screenwriter. He worked on multiple shows for the network, including "All That," "The Amanda Show," "Zoey 101," "Drake & Josh," "iCarly" and "Victorious." Nickelodeon hired Schneider in 1993 and remained with the network until 2018. Allegations against Schneider include racism, sexism and creating a toxic work environment.

Often, scenes that Schneider wrote pushed for sexual references and child actors dressed in age-inappropriate clothing. Schneider was also known to write scenes that showcased actors' bare feet and even posted pictures of female actors' feet online.

Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton were the only two female writers during the first season of "The Amanda Show." In the documentary, the writers described Schneider's disturbing behaviors during their time with the network.

Kilgen said Scheinder showed her pornography on his computer and repeatedly asked her for massages. In exchange, he would put one of her sketches on the show.

The two women were also expected to split a single salary and Schneider threatened Kilgen when she reported her salary to the Writer's Guild of America.

Giovonnie Samuels and Bryan Hearne starred in "All That" in 2001 and acted in sketches written by Schneider. Samuels said those sketches were torture for them. Hearne and Samuels said their objections about some of the sketches were ignored. One required Hearne to be submerged in peanut butter, which dogs would then lick off.

In a sketch that required him to wear a skin tone costume, Hearne said someone told him the skin tone should be "charcoal."

"Quiet on Set" is not the first time allegations have surfaced about Schneider. Jennette McCurdy, former star of "iCarly" and

"Sam & Cat," talked about her experiences on set with Schneider in her 2022 memoir, "I'm Glad My Mom Died."

McCurdy never explicitly mentions Schneider's name, but she frequently refers to someone she calls "The Creator." Schneider created both "iCarly" and "Sam & Cat."

McCurdy says "The Creator" was "mean-spirited, controlling and terrifying." She also said she was pressured into underage drinking, and "The Creator" was prone to throwing tantrums on set.

Another child star known to have suffered under Schneider's leadership is Amanda Bynes. Bynes originally worked on "All That" before starring in "The Amanda Show" in 1999. Since the premiere of "Quiet on Set," old tweets allegedly written by Bynes reveal that Schneider may have abused her.

One tweet says, "Can you imagine having an abortion at 13 because your boss impregnated you. Committed because your father touched you."

While the account is unconfirmed to be Bynes, she was 13 when she started "The Amanda Show." The Twitter account was created under the alias Ashley Banks, and one of the tweets included a picture of Bynes' photo ID.

Bynes reportedly declined to appear on "Quiet on Set."

In response to the release of the documentary, Schneider said, "The main thing I would change is how I treat people and everyone. I definitely didn't give people the best of me. I didn't show enough patience. I could be cocky and definitely overambitious and sometimes just straight-up rude and obnoxious, and I am sorry that I ever was."

BRIAN PECK

Another notable name in the documentary was Brian Peck, dialogue coach on "All That" and "The Amanda Show."

Peck was arrested in August 2003 for "lewd acts with a child" after a minor's family reported that Peck had molested a child over six months. "Quiet on Set" revealed the child was former Nickelodeon star, Drake Bell.

Bell starred on "The Amanda Show" when he was 12 and starred in "Drake & Josh" nearly five years later. Bell revealed that Peck manipulated him and his mother into cutting ties with his father, who was his manager at the time.

Peck convinced Bell's mother to let Bell sleep over at his house after driving him to and from auditions. Bell recalls sleeping on Peck's couch and waking up to being sexually assaulted. The abuse continued until Bell eventually told his mother what was going on after Peck repeatedly tried to get the role of Bell's father on "Drake & Josh."

Peck was sentenced to 16 months in prison in 2005 and was required to register on the sex offenders list after pleading no contest. After his sentence, Peck was hired by Disney to work on "The Suite Life of Zach & Cody," but was fired shortly after when the network learned about his conviction in 2006.

In 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of "attempted child endangerment" and a misdemeanor of "disseminating matter harmful to juveniles" after sending inappropriate text messages to a minor.

Bell was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. The victim alleged that Bell started grooming

her when she was 12 and sexually abused her when she was 15.

On "Quiet on Set," Bell said he took responsibility for the charges and did what was asked of him, but "the media grabbed a hold of so much misinformation and it absolutely destroyed me."

Bell was also accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend in 2020, but he denied these allegations at the time. Bell is currently focusing on his music career and just released his new song, "I Kind of Relate."

Overall, "Quiet on Set" seems to barely scratch the surface of what was going on behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. There are possibly countless horrific stories from former child actors that are still untold.

MIA PISHOTTI | FOR THE POST

'COWBOY CARTER' is a rootin'-tootin' success

ARIELLE LYONS FOR THE POST

The ever-evolving Beyoncé has done it again, folks. The highly-anticipated Act II of her album "RENAISSANCE" has finally arrived, surprising fans with a complete 180-degree genre flip.

On "COWBOY CARTER," listeners hear various types of country music and musical legends like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton making appearances. Beyoncé puts a unique spin on the genre, blending hip-hop beats with old-fashioned guitar while remaining true to her signature sound.

Similar to Taylor Swift's early discography, this album is country music for people who hate country music.

Like "RENAISSANCE," much of "COWBOY CARTER" must be listened to as a full project rather than a compilation of individual songs. There are several interludes, some of which are short vocalizations by Beyoncé and others that introduce the next song by revolutionary artists like Linda Martell.

These interludes take up a seemingly massive runtime on the one-hour, 18-minute album. Over four minutes of the record are tracks with a runtime of under a minute, and there are two other tracks with a runtime of under two minutes. This makes the album feel more bloated than its predecessor, especially since far fewer interludes directly connect with the following songs.

Although the album is far longer than it needs to be, the experience is like watching "Oppenheimer" or "Killers of the Flower Moon." Yes, these films take up more time than necessary, but they are masterpieces and that long runtime tells an important story.

Interestingly, plenty of music critics have criticized the length of "COWBOY CARTER," but these negative reviews are still in the minority. Many other music reviewers are overwhelmingly happy with "COWBOY CARTER."

The album opens with "AMERIICAN REQUIEM," a harmony-stacked epic introduction to the record's sound. The lyrics explain why Beyoncé decided to make a country album.

They express the rejection from country fans after the singer added a country song, "Daddy Lessons," to her 2016 album "Lemonade:" "Used to say I spoke, 'Too country'/ And the rejection came, said 'I wasn't country 'nough'/ Said I wouldn't saddle up, but/ If that ain't country, tell me what is?"

“BLACKBIIRD," a cover of The Beatles song, is heavy with features from Black female country artists. Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts and Brittney Spen-

I'm still a Creole banjee b- - - - from Louisianne (Don't try me)."

cer all debuted within the last five years and are already soaring in popularity following their features on the track.

"16 CARRIAGES" debuted alongside "TEXAS HOLD' EM" back in February, and although it did not receive the same virality as "TEXAS HOLD' EM," the song makes a huge impact on its own. The lyrics help the listener get inside Beyoncé's head, showcasing her guilt as a mother when she tours and is away from her children when she performs.

"PROTECTOR" marks the first feature of Beyoncé's daughter Rumi in her discography. Her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy made several appearances in both Beyoncé and Jay-Z's music and on Beyoncé's "Renaissance World Tour." It's a sweet ballad to follow "16 CARRIAGES," dedicating more time on the album to her children and the internal battle Beyoncé feels about her role as a mother.

"TEXAS HOLD' EM" is one of the album standouts, and for good reason. Not only is the song already a certified banger (it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and over 900,000 TikToks use the sound), but it plays into the self-parodic nature of post-9/11 country music, leaning into the honky-tonk sound and allusions to country-coded things like square dancing.

The next-biggest standout is Beyoncé's remix of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." The classic country tune you know and love is turned on its head, and instead of feeling scared of Jolene's beauty and her temptation of the narrator's partner, Beyoncé has had enough of this Jolene.

Rather than begging Jolene not to take her man just because she can, Beyoncé sings, "I'm warnin' you, woman, find you your own man / Jolene, I know I'm a queen, Jolene /

There's already been plenty of discourse surrounding the lyrical changes, with many arguing that the narrator's fascination with Jolene makes the song different from other country songs with a similar subject. In contrast, Beyoncé plays into the stereotype of shaming the female temptress. It will be interesting to see how the public feels about this cover as the years pass.

"COWBOY CARTER" collaborates with modern artists like Post Malone and Miley Cyrus. Two songs also feature Shaboozey, a hiphop and country artist, and another song features Willie Jones, a young Black country singer. These songs are all incredibly different from one another, showcasing Beyoncé's love of genre-bending. If "COWBOY CARTER" gave an award for "most genres in one song," that award would go to "YA YA." The song begins with a sample of Nancy Sinatra's classic "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" and quickly turns into an early 2010s-esque upbeat pop dance beat. There's even an interpolation of The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," keeping the track jam-packed with references and twists. It is the most fun song on the album and one of the best in the "RENAISSANCE" series thus far.

Overall, "COWBOY CARTER" is a unique fixture in Beyoncé's discography, and it will be interesting to see where it fits in her ever-changing legacy. It's certainly not for everyone, but it is for Beyoncé fans.

If you are more of a casual Beyoncé listener, you will likely find yourself bored by the interludes but delighted by the album's simultaneous sincerity and wink at the country genre.

ABBIE KINEY | ART DIRECTOR

Media’s role in shaping perceptions of law enforcement

NYLA GILBERT FOR THE POST

Police corruption and brutality were placed under a microscope following the death of George Floyd. Many monumental events proceeded the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the insurrection of Jan. 6 that cost the lives of five people.

Law enforcement saw a critical low in support as #DefundThePolice spread across the nation like wildfire. Countless came forward about their experiences with brutality, corruption, and the ineffectiveness of police forces. This includes mishandling sexual assault cases, displaying racial bias, and maintaining misogynistic practices. Female cops have been subject to large amounts of sexual misconduct within the police force.

There is much work to be done before law enforcement’s ethics align with their titles. Public unveiling has yet to stop the frequent amount of cop promotional content that is overshadowing the needed reform.

WHAT IS COPAGANDA, AND HOW IS IT USED TO UNDERMINE REFORM?

Copaganda is a combination of the words cop and propaganda, and it describes media geared to combat the negative portrayals and the public’s perception of law enforcement. The visibly manufactured positive content has aided in disinformation about important socioeconomic issues in marginalized communities.

In an article for NPR, Eric Deggans found that many experienced members of the entertainment industry rarely noticed media’s drastic effects or how television shows influence the general understanding of important societal issues.

Emmy award-winning television producer David Simon said two of the biggest problems with cop shows are the depiction of cops and the lens the shows are shot through. No matter how flawed, they are viewed as the nation’s last line of defense against threats of drug dealers and addicts. Second, these shows are always showcased from the perspective of law enforcement. “As any good producer can tell you, where you place the camera is where the audience will empathize,” Simon said.

Simon has nicknamed this idea the “Thin Blue Line” narrative.

In 1984, the hit show “Miami Vice” aired on NBC. The show’s executive producer Michael Mann told NPR that the show was inspired by real-life experiences he and the other creators of the show had heard while hanging out with real criminals in Miami. “Miami was really ‘Casablanca,’” says

Mann. “It was the northern banking capitol for the whole of the South American drug trade … just this gorgeous, Caribbean twilight zone in which anything seemed possible.”

Nelson George, a cultural critic, remarked on how “Miami Vice” mixed the tropes of an extroverted outlaw and a brooding officer to create something new yet patriotic.

“Americans love gangsters … The War on Drugs … that’s the American narrative, that we’re fighting our best against this tide,“ George said. “(The audience) can also enjoy the glamour and perks of having outsider figures who can dress better than the average cop, have nicer cars and better soundtracks. Now that’s sexy.”

The show portrayed the war on drugs as a global danger. It also coincided with the increase in Americans who viewed the War on Drugs as the nation’s No. 1 problem: 63% of Americans in 1989, which would fall to 30% in 1990, a year after the show ended.

These depictions often humanize law enforcement while taking human interest issues and turning them into building blocks for storylines. These media tropes aid stigmas that villainize those who need help. “Miami Vice” helped fuel the drug hysteria of the ‘80s that paralyzed many Americans in fear.

In the 21st century, we see the outcomes of content portraying the savior complex of

law enforcement, which can embolden people incorrectly.

Over the past five years, copaganda has started using social media to boost engagement and spread rhetoric. On June 25, 2020, The Metro Nashville Police Department released a music video, written and performed by Sgt. Henry Patricelli, dedicated to George Floyd. Police departments across the nation are buying social media ads to combat negative media about law enforcement. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, departments posted content kneeling, offering tearful messages, snacks and posing with Black children.

Without context, nothing is wrong with the actions themselves. However, it shouldn’t take a tragic use of lethal force or public exposure of corruption for police to get involved with the communities they swore to protect.

SOME COP SHOWS ARE CHANGING THE MOLD

Arron Rahsaan Thomas, creator of “S.W.A.T.,” is passionate about changing how people of color and marginalized demographics are portrayed by law enforcement shows. Ridding the “colorblind approach” taken by many POC creatives and using his personal experience, he encouraged others to do the same in hopes of “increasing empa-

thy for diverse thought and life experiences would be more ideal.”

Thomas hopes “S.W.A.T.” improves the quality of cop shows and the overall perception of law enforcement and interactions with people of color. He cites it as the duty of Hollywood creators to create real change and recognize that their content has real-life consequences.

“We, as creators in Hollywood, have to be willing to expand the point of view from which these stories are told … Failure to do this can have real-life consequences,“ he said. “Ultimately, efforts to improve can and will lead to better TV shows, more nuanced cop procedurals, and, who knows, maybe even impact real-world interactions between police and community.”

There are consequences to pushing biased messaging in mainstream media. While copaganda is being addressed, there are also people out there working to create lasting change, not only to emphasize nuance but to create genuine positive relationships between law enforcement and the public.

Although copaganda is still a concern, there is hope for a positive evolution in the media, creating a reality where law enforcement live up to their oath.

SIIMPLY_NYNY

NG972522@OHIO.EDU

DACKERMANN DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

ALAINA

Young and in love?

Gen-Z’s perception of romance

Dating apps, situationships, rules, theories—love in the modern era has gotten infinitely harder. Generation Z is approaching love very differently, for better or worse.

According to a survey by the New Pluralists Collaborative, 28% of Gen Z in America identify as LGBTQ+. While this might not seem like a large percentage, this is nearly double the amount of millennials that identify with the group (16%), quadruple the amount of Gen X (7%) and seven times the amount of baby boomers (4%). This indicates that a larger number of queer people are “on the market,” creating a different dating landscape in which heterosexuality is not an assumed default.

There is also a trend of disinterest in formal relationships among Gen Z. Only 56% of Gen Z adults stated that they had had a romantic partner as a teenager. For context, 69% of millennials and 76% of Gen X were in relationships at least once during their teenage years.

Not only are people less likely to be in a relationship, but they are also less likely to want to start a relationship. A report from the dating app Hinge stated that 56% of Gen Z users are so worried about rejection that they miss their chances with a potential partner. The report ties this newfound anxiety to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many members of Gen Z came of age. Reaching adulthood during such a turbulent time caused a spike in anxiety for many, with the World Health Organization reporting a 25% increase in cases. The Hinge report reflects this, stating that Gen Z is 47% more likely to say the pandemic made them more nervous when it comes to talking to people.

Relationships and dating have also become undeniably expensive. In an era of high inflation rates and stagnant wages, many members of Gen Z are finding that dating has begun to cost too much money. Additionally, many seek financial stability before adding another person into the mix.

Cultural attitudes surrounding committed relationships have also shifted. Casual dating, or dating without a long-term goal, has become much more socially acceptable, with roughly 50% of adults engaging in a non-monogamous casual relationship at some point in their lives. Dating is now as much about having fun and learning what you like as it is about finding a long-term partner.

This casual attitude toward dating has also given rise to situationships. Situationships are a type of relationship between two people that sits in the gray area between friendship and romantic partnership.

Some have found that situationships allow two people to explore their sexualities and what they want in a relationship without labels. It can also be fun and enjoyable for those who aren’t sure what a future together may hold, be it through extraneous circumstances or simply not knowing if you want the relationship to con-

tinue.

However, situationships also come with countless drawbacks. Often, many people are not on the same page about what they want or how they feel, leading to mismatched expectations and hurt feelings. Alongside this, feelings of anxiety often stem from the amount of uncertainty in situationships. In short, while an undefined, label-free relationship can be fun, there is a price to pay.

TikTok has also greatly impacted the way young people perceive romance. Countless dating “rules” and “theories” have been discussed on TikTok by young adults and teenagers with little experience. For example, “orange peel theory” has been making the rounds on the app, where someone “tests” their partner’s love for them by seeing if they’ll peel an orange for them without asking. While many have taken issue with the idea of testing a partner, many have also tried it.

Similarly, the “first love theory” has been on the app for a while. In short, it states that men will always love their first love more than anyone they enter a relationship with. This then implies that dating and love afterward is pointless, which is simply not true. These rules and theories ultimately contribute to a more rigid culture regarding dating, which is incompatible for a generation so heavily in favor of bending the rules and getting rid of labels and tradition.

Gen Z is ultimately changing how people see the dating

ALICIA SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

JENNA REITZ | FOR THE POST