Looking ahead to Ohio's 2024 season
.500 Toledo team, Ohio has a runway to not only improve but excel in 2024.
ROSTER PREVIEW
@LOGANA_NBA LA486821@OHIO.EDU @ABBYJENKS18 AJ205621@OHIO.EDU LOGAN
With its first team scrimmage under its belt, Ohio’s 2024 volleyball season is on the horizon. The Bobcats have big shoes to fill on the court in 2024 after losing some of their highest-scoring players. However, Ohio approaches its season with high hopes.
Despite a disappointing end to last year’s season, Ohio showed off its individual talents in players who have since left. The Bobcat’s leader in kills, Caitlin O’Farrell; leader in assists, Tria McLean and leader in digs and service aces, Sam Steele, have all since graduated.
The Bobcats will look to players like Kam Hunt, a sophomore outside hitter with a killer swing who currently has 263 career kills. Additionally, Anna Kharchynska, Ohio’s tallest player, will continue to guard the net as she currently leads the team in blocks at 94. Ohio also looks to Chariti McKeller, an experienced setter, to lead the team on the court and deliver in both offense and defense.
Ohio begins its season looking strong on offense and scrappy on outof-system plays, which can be key to staying alive in matches and scoring points. Despite this, the Bobcats struggle when it comes to service errors, having a total of 239 lost points from last season on serving alone.
Ohio coach Geoff Carlston is stepping into his fourth consecutive season with Ohio volleyball for a total of nine years coaching the Bobcats. Carlston looks to return the team to its former glory, as his previous experience with the Bobcats resulted in a total of five straight conference wins between the years of 2003 and 2007.
Carlston is no stranger to building up a team of powerhouse players based on his previous experience. Choosing between a plethora of strong offensive players will be a difficult feat, however, the right decision could result in a heavy scoring season for the Bobcats. Carlston takes to the court this year looking to improve his current career record of 413-217.
Last year’s schedule was a gauntlet. Not just in the MAC; Ohio had to contend with a 31-3 Western Michigan team, as well as a Buffalo and Ball State team that tied Ohio’s second-place conference record, but in the nonconference schedule as well. Ohio faced off against a handful of high-major opponents, including 22-7 North Carolina State and No. 23 ranked Iowa State.
Ohio’s 2024 season begins at The Convo with the Bobcat Invitational, which Ohio will host for the third con secutive year. This time around, the invitational will feature Xavier, Appala chian State and Wright State.
The Bobcats’ season opener will be the third game of the invitational, where they will be pitted against the Musketeers at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The very next day, Ohio will finish the invitational with games against Appa lachian State (1 p.m.) and Wright State (7 p.m.).
Ohio will follow up its opening in vitational with the High Point Tourna ment Sep. 6, where it will face off with High Point and Mercer before heading west to Los Angeles for the SoCal Cup Sept. 12. Once there, Ohio will face off against Loyola Marymount and Utah State, as well as a battle-tested South ern California team that managed two ranked wins last season against No. 4 Washington State and No. 15 Arizona State.
Ohio will then finish out its invita tional play hosting its second tourna ment of the season in Athens with the Ohio Invitational, beginning Sept. 20,
Athens, a second matchup against Kent State on the road, a twogame series against Buffalo to close Ohio’s home schedule and finally two games to finish the schedule out in Bowling Green.
Some new faces are making their way onto the court this season with a total of four freshmen filling in for graduated seniors. Ohio will welcome three outside hitters, Lexi Grisset, Sierra Evans and Darbi Ricketts to the team this year. Ricketts also looks to fill in as a defensive specialist, making her a versatile asset on the court this season.
Also making her way to The Convo for the first time is setter Bryn Janke. She enters the team sporting an impressive school record of career assists, digs and aces at her high school in Wesfield, Wisconsin.
SCHEDULE PREVIEW
Following a disappointing ending to the 2023 season, in which Ohio fell in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament to a below
Photos by JACK TATHAM & SKYLAR SEAVEY
Micah McCarey holds launch party for congressional campaign
PAIGE FISHER | FOR THE POST ment,” Martin said. “I am so, so excited for him, and I’m super glad to see this turnout that we have today.”
Micah McCarey, Athens city councilmember at-large, hosted an official launch party Aug. 22 at The Pigskin, 38 N. Court St., to celebrate his candidacy for representative of Ohio’s 95th District. The theme ‘back to school’ was chosen for this party to honor those who work in education.
“Education has always been really important to me,” McCarey said. “My hometown of Oberlin, Ohio, is a small college town with a fierce commitment to education and inclusion, and my life at Ohio University, 15 years of employment and 21 years altogether, has reinforced my value of education.”
A large part of his campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of school funding and increase teacher compensation throughout the 95th District, McCarey said.
“When I was growing up thinking about our society, I thought, ‘shouldn’t teachers be the ones who are getting paid among the most?’” McCarey said. “Aren’t they doing some of the most critical work in terms of shaping young minds, character?”
While McCarey is trying to involve educators in the campaign through his platform, he also involves OU students directly.
Kiandra Martin, a senior studying social criminology and pre-law, is the student senate vice president and is helping McCarey’s campaign through student relations. She said McCarey supported her during the student senate president race last semester, and she was more than excited to be involved with his campaign.
“I’m definitely the biggest outreach to our OU Campus Student Engage-
Other students involved in his campaign are Lauren Sagers, a junior studying sociology and criminology, formerly the minority affairs for student senate, and Julianna Rittenberg, a senior majoring in political science.
“I think Micah is very much the definition of someone who should be in our government,” Rittenberg said. “He just genuinely cares about the people instead of trying to climb the ladder.”
Driving student involvement is a large aspect of McCarey’s campaign, Deputy Campaign Manager Cody Sigmund said. Although McCarey is going to be representing many people, one population he knows a lot about is college students, Sigmund said.
“We’re really hoping to mobilize college students to register to vote in Athens because this is your home most of the time,” Sigmund said McCarey represents a variety of diverse groups and can bring them together because he listens deeply and cares about individuals, even if they’re different from him, Sigmund said.
“I was a gay kid growing up in Appalachia, and having representation in halls of power is really, really important, not only does Micah represent that, but Micah represents, I think, a style of human interaction that is sorely needed in our legislature,” Sigmund said.
Other goals McCarey said he hopes to address with his platform are the five principles of sustainability that emphasize partnerships and prosperity, including creating partnerships with small businesses and helping them attain new resources.
“I’ve had direct experience, primarily through my work as a city council member, learning about some of the challenges that small businesses face accessing state grants, resources that can help them do anything,” McCarey said.
Staff and students active in McCarey’s campaign seem to have a positive outlook. The campaign is funded overall through donations from individuals and organizations.
McCarey’s campaign recently received $10,000 from Blue Ohio, a democratic organization focusing on having a democratic candidate in each state.
“I’m pleasantly surprised by how ready people are to support,” Sigmund said. “We do not have a lot of runway before the election.”
McCarey said he is also surprised to find the campaign fun, enjoying the challenge of developing campaign strategies and engaging with new people from across the six counties in the 95th District.
“It feels like an experiential learning journey because I’m having to do a lot of research into these communities, their past, their presence, and their hopes for their future,” McCarey said.
Student journalists are supporting the future of their field
OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER
Student media organizations are now facing an issue the journalism field as a whole has been seeing for years — a decline in support. Leaders of these organizations are rethinking how they operate to cover communities beyond their campuses.
According to a 2016 joint report from the American Association of University Professors, the College Media Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Student Press Law Center, journalism fulfills a healthful civic function even within an institution of higher education. This civic function, they argue, should not be influenced by those in power.
“Student media must be free from all forms of external interference designed to regulate its content” the report read.
The report suggested instituting state statutes that advance the editorial independence of student media organizations by protecting faculty advisers and sources whose vulnerability can make it harder for students to cover news of community importance.
In a speech given by Mary Beth Tinker — plaintiff from the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case — at Ohio University last March, the free speech advocate said the First Amendment is not just important for public demonstrations, but also for student journalism.
“(Journalism is) a very brave profession,” Tinker said. “It’s a very risky profession, but a very, very important one. We relied on journalists so much to learn about the Vietnam War, to learn about the Birmingham children and so much more.”
Tinker’s case set a precedent that protects the free speech rights of student journalists and emphasized the importance of free expression in the press.
According to Andrea Lewis, director of student media at OU, the right to
newspaper online, or whatever, (is) they have support to do that,” Lewis said. “Their content is what’s paramount.’
As student media director, Lewis said her primary job is helping student media organizations behind-the-scenes
Dr. Eddith Dashiell, Director of the School of Journalism, talks about the 100th Anniversary of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in the 1951 Lounge of Alden Library, Oct. 6, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. As of this date, October 6 is “Scripps Day,” as proclaimed by Mayor Steve Patterson.(MEGAN VANVLACK| PHOTO EDITOR)
free speech and a free press isn’t the only factor affecting student media organizations. Fostering an environment where students feel empowered to learn and challenge themselves is also important.
“The goal, whether it’s making a film, printing a magazine, putting out a daily
with processes like procurement, billing and budgeting.
After five years in the position, Lewis also recognizes how privileged OU student media programs are to have an advisor who works behind the scenes.
According to Alton Northup, editor-in-chief of The Kent Stater, the
lack of support has forced the consolidation of Kent State University student media organizations.
“Phase one is consolidating our TV Two and Kent Stater brands into just the Kent Stater and The Kent Stater TV,” Northup said. “The goal of this is to reflect legacy media while also participating in the new digital journalism that the real world is experiencing right now.”
Northup said in the fall he will instead serve as the news director for both the newspaper and television station. He added the consolidation will bring an ad manager, social media team and increase revenue for both the TV station and the newspaper.
While some newsrooms are making large-scale changes to their operations, some like The Collegian out of the University of Toledo, are getting off the ground again.
Editor-in-Chief Darby Stevens said the Collegian had been dormant for several years before students decided to revive it.
“It’s part passion and passion project,” Stevens said. “We’re only publishing four times a semester, which is up from last year.”
Stevens said the biggest challenge now is staffing.
Stevens said the Collegian is university-funded, but there hasn’t been any editorial influence. Stevens said they hope the paper becomes self-funded soon to establish journalistic integrity.
“Knowledge is power,” Stevens said. “That’s what it comes back to. Having not only an education but having an experience of a community.”
Micah McCarey is running for House Representative and hosted a campaign event at The Pigskin Aug. 22 (PAIGE FISHER | FOR THE POST)
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OU to remove blue light emergency phones across campus
MAGGIE AMACHER | ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Ohio University is in the process of removing its blue light emergency phones across campus, sparking a conversation about the future of university safety.
The blue light phones are located all across campus, along the bike path surrounding campus, and at the main entrances of each residence hall.
Since their installment in the 1990s, the blue emergency safety lights have provided a sense of security for the community. When activated, they connect students to campus security or local law enforcement.
However, with the growing use of cell phones, these blue lights have fallen into disuse.
Samantha Pelham, a university spokesperson, said in an email that in 2019, the university completed a study to assess the usefulness of blue light phones on the Athens campus and provided suggestions for future use.
provide a feeling of safety for students but are rarely used for emergencies.
“I do think that blue light phones for whatever reason, provide people a feeling of safety, and that is important to some extent,” Ryan said. “Is it worth it
Student Senate Bill 1920-25 suggested removing the blue lights and repurposing one or two into courtesy phones for students needing directions or access.
The study reviewed the blue light phone usage on the campus from 2010 to 2019 and the number of calls to Ohio University’s Police Department (OUPD) from 2018 to 2019, showing that blue light phones are not being used for emergencies.
“I can’t, in my career, remember ever responding to a blue light filing for a serious emergency,” Tim Ryan, OUPD’s staff lieutenant, said. Ryan noted how the blue light phones on campus
to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of something that isn’t really being used for its purpose but does provide people with the feeling of safety?”
Pelham said in the email that no blue light phones have been removed from campus yet; the plan is to phase them out and remove them as their equipment fails.
Over the years, OU has introduced alternative methods to improve campus safety. Ryan suggested different options such as texting 911, direct calls to OUPD and the Go OHIO app, which contains safety links and resources, as alternatives to the blue light phones.
A student organization, “Phone a Friend,” now provides students with a more accessible alternative to using cell phones for late-night safety concerns.
Jess Mitchell, the president and founder of the club, created the organization as a resource for students who need help walking home at night.
“That’s what my inspiration was for all this,” Mitchell said. “Basically, it’s going to be a student organization trying to connect with an approach against sexual violence on our campus. We are playing on historically red weekends, which, historically, rates of sexual violence have been the highest, like Halloween and Homecoming.”
Phone a Friend operates through an automated text messaging system for those needing help. A student must text the number, and two volunteers of the service will come to walk them home.
MA657122@OHIO.EDU
Police Blotter: Suspicious activity at Athens High School, horn blowing in Amesville
TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST
CALL-IN HACK
Deputies received a complaint of call-in hacking Thursday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies spoke to the complainant of Millfield, and a report was taken.
RUNAWAY
Deputies responded to Amesville on a runaway juvenile complaint Thursday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
A report was taken by deputies, and a search is underway to locate the juvenile, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
RV DISPUTE
According to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, an RV was reported possibly stolen Wednesday. Deputies responded to Glouster and made contact with a male who said he had spoken to the units the prior week, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The situation was determined to be a civil issue, and no further action was required.
NO TRESPASSING!
A suspicious vehicle was reported Wednesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle was reported turning around on a Radford Road property, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is pending.
MISSING, THEN FOUND
Ohio University Police Department took a missing person report Wednesday at 48 E. Green Drive.
The individual was later located in good health, according to OUPD.
TRACTOR TIP
On state Route 56, Deputies were advised of a tractor rollover accident Tuesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies located the accident to find passer-byers assisting the individual, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The individual involved in the accident refused any medical assistance, appearing in good health.
THE ELDERLY SUBJECT WANDERS CHAUNCEY
Deputies responded to Chauncey for a report of an elderly subject wandering the streets Tuesday, appearing lost and confused, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies arrived, identified the subject and contacted the subject’s spouse. EMS transported the subject to the hospital.
FALSE ALARM 1
An alarm was dropped at the Shriner building Aug. 19, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to Connett Road in The Plains and secured the building upon arrival, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
FALSE ALARM 2
Deputies responded to an activated residential alarm Aug. 19, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The alarm company canceled the response as a false alarm, and deputies returned to patrol.
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
Deputies responded to Athens High School Aug. 18 for suspicious activity, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies checked the school building and found an unlocked door. Deputies found no suspects and secured the building.
OPEN DUMPING
Deputies located a man on an active arrest warrant, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The man’s warrant was for open dumping, according to Southeast Ohio Regional Jail.
He was transported to Southeast Ohio Regional Jail without incident, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A blue light emergency phone stands on the side of the Baker University Center parking lot on Aug. 26, 2024. (MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)
Patrol Officer, Darren Olexa standing in front of two police cruisers, Feb.24,2024 during a routine traffic stop in Athens Ohio. (AMBERLEE GLADWELL | FOR THE POST)
Cranberry Casket breaks out, breaks glasses
MEGAN DIEHL | OPINION EDITOR
Smashed between psychedelia and grunge and amid a whole lot of noise sits Cranberry Casket, a fivepiece band that hit the Athens music scene in Fall 2023. The band’s sound is rooted in a patchwork of influence and appreciation of the unusual and experimental.
Vocalist and guitarist Martin Bradesca, a sophomore studying music production and guitar, said he began playing in bands in 2020. He took music more seriously during his senior year of high school but then had to abandon the bands he’d been working with when everyone left for their respective colleges. Once in Athens, he said Cranberry Casket formed from the ashes of four other bands that had to be left behind for school.
First to join Bradesca was songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist KJ Mueller, a junior studying production and guitar who had just left a Cleveland band that had gained a decent amount of traction. Bassist Luca Deliberato, a sophomore studying music education who had played in Bradesca’s high school band, was next, Bradesca said, then a Cleveland drummer named Steve Martis, a sophomore biological sciences major. With the addition of keyboardist Wesley Piai, a sophomore studying media production, the lineup was complete and Cranberry Casket was born.
Bradesca said it was very lucky everything and everyone came together in time for Cranberry Casket’s first performance at ACRN’s Battle of the Bands.
“From there, it just kind of snowballed,” he said. “We kept getting asked back, and I feel like that's the reason that we're pretty cemented in the scene now, is just because we kept doing stuff whenever we were asked to.”
Bradesca said the first few weeks of school last year were filled with intense rehearsals as Battle of the Bands took place Oct. 21 and the band had just formed.
“We really practiced ferociously for the first few weeks of the school year because we had to come up with completely new material,” he said. “We didn't have any songs for the band written at all, and we wrote all the
songs we played for that first show in the first few weeks of school.”
As Cranberry Casket began to play shows, Bradesca said Radiohead quickly became an important figure to the band, beginning with their Radiohead covers at The Union’s show, The Biggest Cover-Up.
“A bunch of people came in for our set and I just remember when we did Paranoid Android everyone was going pretty crazy,” Bradesca said. “I have a tendency to break my glasses a lot during shows … I also broke them when we were doing the Radiohead cover set because I shook them off my head and then I stomped on them accidentally.”
English rock band Radiohead formed in 1985 and is known for its fluidity of sounds that transcend subgenres of rock. Bradesca said the more peculiar aspects of Radiohead’s sound specifically are important to Cranberry Casket.
Among other influences on Cranberry Casket’s conglomerate of sound, Bradesca said the group’s bassist’s funk background brings a different flavor into the band’s sound, and English experimental noise rock band Black Midi also inspires them, as well as Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. As far as personal influences go, Bradesca said he particularly draws influence from John Dwyer of the garage rock band Osees.
“It’s kind of weird because we have all these Radiohead influences and then I’ll often have these weird garage rock moments in the songs,” Bradesca said. “And (Dwyer) uses a lot of weird delay effects that are just kind of ugly but kind of cool at the same time. You contrast a lot of the beautiful, Radiohead-y passages but then if you have the dissonance too, it's a cool contrast.”
In terms of collecting all these influences into a cohesive sound, Bradesca said Cranberry Casket is hoping to begin recording soon but wants to make sure whatever the band puts out is as good as it can possibly be.
“We’ve done a few recordings of our songs but we scrapped them all just because we want to do better every time and are not satisfied with it,” Bradesca said. “So you want to sit with those recordings and really make them
Photo provided by Maura Bradesca
perfect. But there’s also parts of us that just want to get stuff out of there.”
Bradesca said Cranberry Casket has been playing shows over the summer in Cleveland and has played a few shows in Columbus but wants to expand more within the Columbus and Cincinnati music scenes. In Athens, Bradesca said the band is looking to
play at Mouse on the Mound and the Bat Lounge in the future. As of now, Bradesca said Cranberry Casket’s next show is this Saturday at The Union.
MD396520@OHIO.EDU
Wing
& Thrift Store
Dirty Girl Coffee gives back, promotes women in Appalachia
ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST
Athens is known for its coffee culture. Shops such as Donkey Coffee, Brenen’s Coffee Cafe and Athens Rise and Grind are just some of the many spots around town both students and locals can go for their morning shot of espresso or afternoon pick-me-up.
But about 25 minutes north of town in the village of Glouster, Dirty Girl Coffee is one of the lesser known shops in the county. Located at 82 High St., right along the town’s main road, the roaster was founded in 2015 and moved to its current location in July 2023.
Jenna Keiffer, the media and social change manager and a barista at Dirty Girl, said the company does all operations out of its shop, including online sales.
“We do our sales out of here, but we also do e-commerce out of here as well, and then we do some wholesale out of here as well,” she said. “So shipping to bigger companies all around the United States.”
Jane Cazarozzi, co-founder of Dirty Girl Coffee, said the shop helps to establish their name and bring business to town.
“Our coffee shop is literally just a love letter to Glouster,” Cazarozzi said. “It exists just to be in touch with our community and have that skin in the game. And to fix up a building ourselves.”
The business sells both whole and ground beans, teas and merchandise on its webshop. The shop also offers a subscription service where customers can get beans shipped to their house for 10% off, plus shipping and tax. Shipping costs are based on weight and location. Founded in 2015 by Cavarozzi and Kara Tripp, the pair originally roasted beans in their home and sold the beans and drinks at local farmers markets. Cavarozzi said her dog inspired the shop’s name.
“We were on a pontoon boat with
our friends, and we had this old lab named Gypsy,” she said. “She jumped up on the boat, just shook and got mud, muck and gross lake stuff all over us. So we're like, ‘we're a bunch of dirty girls.”’
Not only does Dirty Girl roast and brew coffee, the business also helps give back to the Glouster community. Keiffer said its main mission is to help the town it has grown in.
“One of the things that is really important to Dirty Girl Coffee is giving back to our community because the community has done so much for us,” she said. “Jane is a part of Glouster Re-
Shana Collins works to protect students’ mental health
EMILY
STOKES | NEWS EDITOR
Shana Collins, a junior studying creative writing and psychology, made waves in her advocacy work at Ohio University, focusing on student mental health.
Collins has used her platform on Instagram as well as her membership in other on-campus student organizations to share university resources and push for new policies for students. She is the co-host of the open-mic poetry night at Donkey Coffee and a member of Sigma Tau Delta and Active Minds.
Collins said her student involvement allows her an outlet for creativity. She said after seeing many of the same students in housing communities, student organizations and classes, she has been able to connect with others.
Collins joined Student Senate as a vice commissioner in the Academic Affairs Commission last semester by speaking out for a bereavement bill, later joining the commission.
“It started with me emailing some people because I actually had an idea for a policy before I was a part of Student Senate,” Collins said. “Because of that policy, it just fits in with the Academic Affairs Commission because it regards attendance and other academic things.”
She was inspired to start the bill after suffering a loss in the family and realizing there was no university-wide bereavement policy.
“It can get kind of confusing to know like, ‘How many days am I allowed off?’” Collins said. “Consistency and advocating for student mental health when it comes to grief is important.”
Collins said she got involved after pushing for the policy and hasn’t looked back since.
Collins also has worked on Finals Fest and other various activities to help students de-stress during finals season.
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
“Just doing small events like that, to almost give students permission to pause for a second,” Collins said.
“I think sometimes, including myself, people need that reminder that, ‘Hey, it’s OK to pause.’”
Being a student representative, Collins said she tries to carry her advocacy into her Student Senate role.
“I just think it’s really important because it does impact other aspects of people’s lives and I just want students
vitalization Organization, and they do a lot of giving back to the community.”
The mission of GRO is to provide funding and resources from businesses to go back into the community, building safe spaces such as parks and revive abandoned buildings by bringing in more business. Cavarozzi is the board president.
Along with its support of GRO, Dirty Girl Coffee also works on projects aimed at women in rural and Appalachian Ohio and creating economic and social opportunities for them. Cavarozzi is also the board chair of the Ohio Women’s Coalition, or OWC, and a board member for the Athens County Foundation, or ACF.
OWC works to help women in these underserved regions to improve economic conditions and achieve financial stability. The OWC is based out of Columbus and works with women across the state. The ACF works for the economic and social development of Athens county.
Dirty Girl Coffee is open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. on Sunday. Dirty Girl’s beans can be found at Jefferson Market, Kindred Market and other locations around southeast Ohio that can be found on the Dirty Girl website.
@ETHANHERX EH481422@OHIO.EDU
Collins said she uses her connections with others to help her succeed in a student leadership role but also to keep her motivated to continue her work.
“It’s great knowing some of the people that are higher up at this university as well, and being able to connect,” Collins said. “It’s good to say, ‘Hey, I don’t know the answer to this question, but I know somebody who may be able to help answer this question.’”
Riley Rees, Collins’ co-host at Donkey’s poetry open-mic night, said they met Collins through a poetry group and later went on to ask her to co-host for the last academic year.
“She’s very outgoing but she’s just always open to not only meeting new people, but just being very empathetic to where people are at,” Rees said. “I think that has really encouraged her work.”
Rees said Collins carries this into her advocacy in Student Senate and beyond by seeing the struggles people are facing, being able to relate to them and then wanting to help.
Rees also said Collins has mentioned trying to get policies on the books for students to take advantage of them and to make sure there is something set in stone for anyone on campus who is in a situation where they need extra support
“It is not just people she knows individually, but trying to help the student body as a whole,” Rees said.
Rees said Collins is very dedicated and passionate as a person but also kind to others around her.
“That passion is not only in her own creativity but also being kind to others and being supportive of others,” Rees said.
to know, at least in my eyes, that the people that are leading them are there for them and want to continue advocating for them,” Collins said.
Collins also uses her social media to market and advocate for student mental health and events on campus.
“I think it’s important no matter what department the event is in that people know about it,” Collins said. “I would say I use social media for awareness … but also promotion of events.”
Collins said she wants to continue her passion for helping others in the future and is considering attending graduate school to become a neuropsychologist or a clinical psychologist.
“I definitely want to be the person who is approachable,” Collins said. “I don’t want to be the person in which people are afraid to ask for help.”
Dirty Girl Coffee in Glouster, August 25, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Field Hockey: What to know for Ohio’s opening weekend
ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR
After a competitive 2023 campaign, Ohio is looking to improve upon a 6-10 overall record as it opens up the 2024 season. Ohio’s record in 2023 doesn’t reflect the team's skill. Despite 10 losses, Ohio had a handful of quality wins, including Indiana and Kent State. It was also able to give No. 12 ranked Ohio State a tough battle that resulted in a narrow 1-point defeat.
Coming into 2024, Ohio will be tested by a tough Mid-American Conference Schedule that has a few tough non-conference games sprinkled in. To start the season, Ohio will be looking to get off on the right foot against Stanford and UAlbany this weekend.
The Bobcats will start their season in Muncie, Indiana, against the Cardinals on Friday afternoon. They will then play the Great Danes on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. Here is all you need to know for both season-opening games.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Stanford (Friday) and UAlbany (Sunday)
Time: Friday at 3 p.m., Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Muncie, Indiana (Friday), Columbus, Ohio (Sunday)
HISTOR Y
Ohio has matched up once with Stanford in each program's respective history, a game in 2018 that resulted in a lopsided 8-1 victory for the Cardinals.
For UAlbany, Ohio has had equal amounts of misfortune with two losses in two total matchups, each being one and two-point
losses for Ohio.
PLAYER TO WATCH (STANFORD)
Stanford comes off of an overall disappointing season that ended with 11 total losses. A bright spot for the Cardinals was freshman Gemma Townsend, who led the team with five goals and 13 total points. Townsend now returns as a sophomore looking to build on an impressive debut season.
PLAYER TO WATCH (UALBANY)
UAlbany will be a tough early-season test for Ohio. The Great Danes finished the 2023 campaign with a record of 13-6, a record that came in large part due to the performance of standout junior Alison Smisdom. Now a senior, Smisdom returns from a 23-goal and 53-point season worthy of a national All-American selection. To beat the Great Danes, Ohio will have to do what it can to slow down Smisdom and the offense.
PLAYER TO WATCH (OHIO)
Macy Lotze has been a stalwart for Ohio in the goal. After a career season where she recorded a career high in saves, completing 12 of her 16 starts, Lotze will once again lead the Bobcats defense. Against a team like Stanford, which lacks offensive firepower, Lotze’s real test will be against UAlbany where she will be tested by the many offensive options the team has to offer.
@ROBERTKEEGAN_ BK272121@OHIO.EDU
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Ohio University senior Meela Kopp (5) passes the ball vs Miami University at Pruitt Field on Oct.6, 2023. (AMBERLEE GLADWELL | FOR THE POST)
Football: Breaking down Ohio's quarterbacks
The quarterback position is often viewed as the most important position on a football team. The quarterback is the general of the offense and is highly important to the team's overall success. Having a good or bad quarterback can make or break a season.
Ohio has had some good quarter-
at Peden Stadium, April 20, 2024, in Athens. (ABBIE KINNEY | FOR THE POST)
back play in their previous seasons, so let's take a look at what the position looks like for 2024
WHO’S GONE
One of the biggest shocks of the offseason for Ohio was the news of longtime Bobcat Kurtis Rourke entering the transfer portal. Rourke had a very successful career at Ohio, putting up big numbers under center for the Bobcats. Last season, he had a solid year, going for 2,207 yards, 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 2022 was his best year at Ohio, however, as he was named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and overall Player of the Year after he put up 3,257 yards, 25 touchdowns and 4 interceptions before getting injured at the end of the season. He was not able to play in the 2022 MAC title game or the Arizona Bowl, a game that Ohio won on the back of another departing quarterback, CJ Harris. Harris was a very reliable backup for Ohio, leading the team to an Arizona Bowl victory against Wyoming after going for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He didn’t see much action in 2023 and transferred to Cal in the offseason.
WHO’S BACK
Ohio is returning a trio of quarterbacks in 2024, starting with the most notable, Parker Navarro. The grad student and former UCF quarterback will be starting games under center for Ohio in 2024. He returns after a big performance in Ohio’s victory in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Georgia Southern. Navarro had 120 yards and 1 touchdown through the air while adding 71 yards on the ground as well. Returning with him is redshirt freshman Jacob Winters and redshirt sophomore Callum Wither. Neither quarterback has any stats so far in their respective careers at Ohio, with Wither not seeing any game action and Winters entering one game in 2023. Both players will be fighting for the backup spot this season.
WHO’S NEW
Matthew Papas is the only freshman
in the Ohio quarterback room this season, coming from Grove City High School. In his senior year, he threw for 3,319 passing yards and 41 total touchdowns.
Additionally, Ohio added one quarterback via the transfer portal this season in Nick Poulos from El Camino College. Poulos will enter as a redshirt Junior and will compete for the primary backup spot with Wither and Winters.
POSITION OUTLOOK
The impact of losing both Rourke and Harris in the quarterback room cannot be overstated, as Ohio lost two veteran starting caliber players in the same offseason. However, Navarro impressed in his first game as a starter, coming in a bowl game no less, and his dual-threat ability will add a new dimension to this Ohio offense as Ohio coach Tim Albin has said.
@CHARLIEFADEL EF111322@OHIO.EDU
Preseason Student Media Poll picks from The Post
ROBERT KEEGAN III
LOGAN ADAMS
SPORTS EDITORS
CHARLIE FADEL
STAFF WRITER
Each week, the Sports' editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams for the Student Media Poll.
The SMP is a nationwide poll featuring 97 student journalists from schools nationwide.
The Post Sports will break down its ballots each week. Here are the top five, those dropped from the Top 25 and those added.
ROBERT KEEGAN III, SPORTS EDITOR
TOP 5: OHIO STATE
OREGON
GEORGIA
TEXAS
ALABAMA
NATIONAL CHAMPION: OREGON
Though not my No. 1 team in all of college football, I believe Oregon is the most prepared for a national championship this season. I don't predict that the Ducks will come out as champions of the Big 10 but in the new 12-team playoff format the team has a great chance to sneak into the bracket and make some noise.
I am a firm believer in this year's Big 10 and think that no matter what that conference will represent in the national championship game whether it be Oregon, Ohio State or even Penn State.
SLEEPER TEAM: MEMPHIS
Memphis is a clear favorite for me to be the group-of-five representa-
tive come playoff time. The Tigers will feature maybe the best defense in the American Athletic Conference, and led by returning quarterback Seth Hennigan, there’s little doubt that they will be the team to beat at the group-offive level.
CHARLIE FADEL, SPORTS STAFF WRITER
TOP 5:
GEORGIA
OHIO STATE
TEXAS
OREGON
ALABAMA
NATIONAL CHAMPION: OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are my pick for the national championship this season in what is a title or bust year for them. Ohio State invested lots of money into NIL to be able to bring back key defensive starters such as Jack Sawyer, Dezel Burke and Tyleik Williams. The Buckeyes were also able to go out into the portal and get players like Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin from Alabama and SEC Offensive Player of the Year Quinshon Judkins.
The Buckeyes are absolutely loaded with talent this year. They should not only be Big Ten champs by the end of the year, but national champs as well.
SLEEPER: ARIZONA
Arizona is one of the most intriguing teams in the college football landscape this year. The Wildcats are coming off a successful season that saw them win 10 games and end the season with a win in the Alamo Bowl. Their head coach from last season, Jedd Fisch, left to take the Washington head coaching job, but new head coach Brett Brennan comes
in from San Jose State to take over. The team is headlined by returning quarterback Noah Fifita and returning wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Both Fifita and McMillan are amongst the favorites for the Heisman.
LOGAN ADAMS, SPORTS EDITOR TOP 5:
GEORGIA OHIO STATE TEXAS
MICHIGAN
OREGON
NATIONAL CHAMPION: GEORGIA
It’s an obvious pick, but too often does the obvious pick get overlooked. Offensively, the Bulldogs are manned by one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Carson Beck, and a fun group of skill players surrounding him. Of course, Georgia’s calling card is its immense defensive talent, which has been near impenetrable the past few seasons. After losing the SEC Championship game to Alabama last season
and missing the Playoffs after a National Championship the season prior, Georgia is primed for a bounceback.
SLEEPER: NEBRASKA
Nebraska, a former Big 10 powerhouse, has fallen into purgatory over the last decade. The Cornhuskers finished under .500 in former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule’s first season at the helm, and even failed to get a 1,000 yard passer for the season. However, change is seemingly evident as five-star true freshman Dylan Raiola will take the reins as the Cornhuskers’ starting quarterback in week one. While the Big 10 remains stacked at the top, Nebraska has a chance to be a really fun and successful team in that second tier.
@ROBERTKEEGAN_ BK272121@OHIO.EDU @LOGANA_NBA LA486821@OHIO.EDU @CHARLIEFADEL CF111322@OHIO.EDU
Ohio football head coach, Tim Albin, during practice before the Spring Scrimmage
An Ohio University fan holds up a defense sign during the game against Kent State at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, Oct. 7, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS STAFF WRITER
Four ways to make a standout first impression
ELIZABETH TALAGA | FOR THE POST
As thousands of students begin a new semester at Ohio University, many are sitting with nerves and anxious thoughts about meeting their professors and making notable connections with people in their area of study. Students are under a lot of pressure to make themselves stand out amongst their professors and peers, and many understand how important making good connections in college is before stepping through the gates of campus. A handshake and a compliment is not enough to be remembered. And with professors seeing hundreds of students each day, it is difficult to know how to make a genuine connection — especially when it is a major-specific professor.
While first impressions can be tricky, it does not have to be so intimidating. Here is a foolproof guide to navigating the college connection scene and nailing that first impression.
GET TO CLASS EARLY OR STAY LATE
On the first days of classes, almost every student will line up to speak to the professor after class. However, for many, this is the only attempt they will make at connecting with their professors. If you are consistently speaking with your professor, it will give them more chances to remember your name while helping break down that awkward barrier. It is important you are consistent in greetings and practicing basic respect. You should also make a note to be early, which also applies to interviews or meetings and is a basic part of any professional interaction.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Your name, major and year is not enough to make yourself stand out in a sea full of other names, majors and years. According to the Harvard Business Review, the best way to introduce yourself is in the simple format of past, present and future.
past and future takes out the guesswork and stress of introducing yourself.
ASK MEANINGFUL, PERSONALIZED QUESTIONS
Whether you are in class, attending office hours, in a meeting or at an interview, asking purposeful questions can make a huge difference in making an impression on someone. Instead of asking generic, filler questions like “What’s something you would tell someone looking to break into this business,” you can ask something like
It may not be the best idea to mention the epic parties you got to every weekend. Instead, you mentioning an enjoyment of being around others in large and small settings shows you thrive around community, something that may be useful in a job setting. It is difficult to master letting your personality shine through while also trying to remain professional. However, it is a skill that will make those first impressions so much easier. You can start by looking deep and finding the best parts about yourself, then aligning them with what you are hoping to
To start, you state a present fact: who you are and what you are currently studying. Then, you can take a moment to share some context or background about yourself, such as experience or previous accomplishments. Finally, you should add some details about what you see yourself doing or what you want to accomplish.
You can separate yourself from the pack by straying away from basic introductions and sharing relevant information with a professor or other professionals. Also, making sure you are following the formula of present,
“What is one quality people who succeed in this area have.”
You can make a lasting impression in your interactions by asking more specific questions tailored to that person’s experience, background or field instead of asking generic questions.
THINK ABOUT YOURSELF
When going into a first meeting, it is important to know who you are and how exactly you want to present yourself. It is key that you find the right balance between being yourself and being professional.
accomplish professionally. Whether it is a professor or a professional in your field of interest, having to make first impressions can be a never ending occurrence. However, meeting people that can potentially help you succeed or guide you to better things is never a bad thing. Although they can be nerve-racking and anxiety-inducing, first impressions are incredibly great opportunities to open wonderful doors for yourself. If you keep these tips in mind, it can make the process even easier.
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
ALAINA DACKERMANN DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
‘Alien: Romulus’ features best, worst aspects of franchise
JUDE HANNAHS | FOR THE POST
“Alien: Romulus” (2024) is the newest installment in the Alien franchise from visionary director Fede Álvarez, who previously directed “Evil Dead” (2013) and “Don’t Breathe” (2016). One of the main themes in the franchise is being able to create life. With “Alien: Romulus,” Álvarez managed to get rather close to producing some life into this somewhat overdone series while falling into some traps of a typical Alien movie.
The film stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. The film is canon to the Alien movie universe and takes place after the events of Ridley Scott’s “Alien” (1979) but before the events of James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986).
After her contract is extended by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, young Rain Carradine (Spaeny) and her adoptive brother Andy (Jonsson), a synthetic human, are left with nothing on the mining colony, Jackson’s Star. However, Rain’s ex-boyfriend Tyler (Renaux) persuades her to join him on an expedition to an abandoned spacecraft and retrieve cryostasis chambers. With them, the group will be able to escape to a planet named Yvaga. The abandoned spacecraft they board is a ship divided into two sections titled Romulus and Remus, a reference to the classic Roman legend. Things are looking good for the group until they
accidentally unleash frozen facehuggers when gathering the cryostasis chambers. From there, the team is faced with a force of nature that is unpredictable, terrifying and alien.
“Alien: Romulus” is a weird film to dissect. On one hand, it delivers in its cinematography, score, acting and production design. The film is truly beautiful to look at and listen to as it echoes the same creepy atmosphere that made the original “Alien” so impactful. On the other hand, it is a messy assortment of references from other films in the series.
For those who adore the Alien franchise, it is the ultimate fan film. It contains callbacks to every film and even has inspiration from some of the video games based on the movies. However, this serves as a detriment to the film because it does not feel like it is doing something new with the original source material.
Beside that negative, the film does excel in other areas. The acting, for one, is great from such a small and young cast. Spaeny does an incredible job playing Rain. While Rain does share similarities with Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver), she still has plenty of differences separating the two. One of those differences is her relationship with Andy.
Rain and Andy have great chemistry despite only one of them being human; it is a testament to how great Jonsson is in the role. Casting directors should keep an eye on Jonsson, who pulls off the perfect balance of acting human and like an android.
Sadly, the same cannot be said for the other characters. The performances are there, but the characterizations of Tyler, Kay (Merced), Bjorn (Fearn) and Navarro (Wu) are not. These characters serve no other purpose but to be killed by the Xenomorphs. This film would have benefited from a few re-writes of its script, so that the supporting characters had more depth to them other than being alien chow.
A brilliant technical aspect is the use of animatronics and costumes for the facehuggers and xenomorphs. There are some scenes where CGI is used, but the inclusion of animatronics help conceal that and makes the aliens feel and look much more realistic than previous films, such as “Alien: Covenant” (2017).
The references to the other films will cause some viewers to roll their eyes, but one in particular is handled well. The black goo, introduced in “Prometheus” (2012) and used in “Alien: Covenant,” makes an appearance in the film. It is utilized in the climax of the film, where the character Kay injects it into her body which then gives birth to a creation scarier than any of the Xenomorphs.
This monstrosity does not have a lot of screentime, but it is just enough to give viewers nightmares — even when it is not at its full growth and potential. Honestly, it should have been the main conflict of the film. By the end, the audience wants Rain and Andy to stay as far away from that thing as possible.
“Alien: Romulus” is a mixed bag, containing a varying degree of mo-
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
ments. If you are looking to watch a decent horror film with people fighting off aliens, then this is right up your alley. If you are a fan of the franchise, it is only a matter of opinion of what the film is to you.
Rating: 3/5
@JUDETHEDUDEHANNAHS JH825821@OHIO.EDU
‘Brat’ summer: A recap of 2024’s biggest cultural phenomenon
MAGGIE PALMA | FOR THE POST
Charli XCX’s campaign for her newest album “BRAT” has been nothing but memorable. It started in May 2033 when she created a private Instagram page, called 360_brat, to post photo dumps, lyrics and snipits to tease her new music. In February 2024, she started teasing the album’s lead single “Von Dutch” and later remixed the song with Addison Rae. Charli faced backlash leading up to the release of the album because of the now iconic acid green cover. She responded to the criticism on X, finding “the constant demand for access
to women’s bodies and faces in our album artwork” to be “misogynistic and boring.” Later, her team created a “BRAT” generator website for anyone to create their own version of the cover, making her album inch closer to mainstream.
The album released June 7 to much anticipation and explores themes of partying, romance, insecurities and being a woman — all hidden behind loud synth beats. Charli’s hyperpop sound is nothing new, but “BRAT” feels straight from the 2000s indie sleaze era. It is the exact opposite of the clean girl aesthetic pop culture has gotten used to.
But what made 2024’s summer a brat summer?
THE BRAT WALL
In May, Charli livestreamed on TikTok and debuted an eye-catching green mural in Brooklyn, New York for her fans to enjoy. She popped out of a black SUV with a giant speaker to do an impromptu listening party and announce her next single “360.”
She later used the brat wall to announce the deluxe version of her album, by going live on TikTok as a muralist covered the green with white and added, “brat and it's the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not.”
Charli last utilized the wall to announce her remix of “Girl, so confusing featuring Lorde,” who many fans suspected the song to be about.
LET’S WORK IT OUT ON THE REMIX
Along with the album, Charli has released four remixes: “Von dutch
featuring Addison Rae and a.g. cook,” “360 featuring robyn and yung lean,” “Girl, so confusing featuring Lorde” and “Guess featuring Billie Eilish.”
The most popular collaboration was “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish, earning over 110 million streams on Spotify. The song was already a club-classic with crazy beats from producer The Dare, but the remix adds to the provocative nature with Eilish’s lyrics like “don’t have to guess the color of your underwear” and “I saw them when you sat down, they were peekin' out.”
The two end the song with a dig at Taylor Swift, who blocked both Eilish and XCX in the charts earlier this summer by releasing variants of her “Tortured Poets Department” around the release date of both of their albums.
Charli is seemingly not done with remixes, as she teased one more remix on TikTok posting a video to “360” remixed with Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” saying with the caption “maybe one more remix and then?”
IS THE APPLE ROTTEN RIGHT TO THE CORE?
One of the biggest dance trends this summer was the “Apple dance” created by Kelley Heyer on TikTok. The dance utilized Charli’s titular song from the album and had multiple celebrities hop on the trend. Charli made videos doing the dance multiple times, with other names such as the “Twisters” cast, Stephen Colbert, Kim Kardashian, North West and even Olympic Athletes performing the dance.
TikTok users could not scroll without seeing the dance several times.
However, lyrics expressing generational trauma are beneath the song’s fun exterior. Charli shares that while she realizes she is more like her parents than she thought, she gets to decide how similar she is.
POLITICS ARE “BRAT?”
In the height of “Brat summer,” an edit of Vice President Kamala Harris emerged with some of her most viral clips with a lime green filter over it. The song playing in the background was “360” and included Harris’s famous quote “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you,” from a speech in May 2023.
Once President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Harris’s campaign fully embraced “brat summer” with an X banner using the “Brat” logo to say “kamala hq.” Charli then took it upon herself to post “kamala IS brat” connecting the two.
Even though “Brat summer” may be over, Charli is far from done with the era. Later this month, she goes on tour with Troye Sivan for their Sweat tour, hopefully extending the momentum into a “Brat fall.”
(MIA PISHOTTI | ART DIRECTOR)
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Who are the nominees for the VMAs Best New Artist award?
SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY | HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Nearly four decades ago, MTV hosted the first Video Music Awards. Since then, the awards show has become a staple of the music industry and granted prestigious titles and name recognition to countless artists.
One of the most coveted awards is the “Best New Artist,” previously won by musicians like Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Eminem, Lady Gaga, One Direction and, most recently, Ice Spice. This year’s VMAs will be hosted Sept. 11 this year and will bring with it the newest addition to this list of winners.
One of the nominees is the modern queer pop icon Chappell Roan. Much debate has been held about the origin of Roan’s fame and her seemingly overnight success, even though the artist has been releasing music for the better part of a decade. Roan released her first single under her stage name in 2017 but began releasing singles from her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in 2020. The full album was released in September 2023 and was followed by her most streamed single, “Good Luck, Babe!,” in early 2024. Although she has previously opened for artists like Declan McKenna and Vance Joy, the most influential part of Roan’s rise to stardom was her opening slot on the most recent tour of the VMAs “Best New Artist” of 2021, Olivia Rodrigo.
Another nominee for “Best New Artist” is Gracie Abrams, whose fame is also due in part to a stint opening for Rodrigo on tour. Abrams first debuted in 2019, before eventually performing on Rodrigo’s Sour tour in 2022. She then released her first album, “Good Riddance,” in 2023. Abrams recently grew her fanbase by opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour in 2022 while simultaneously releasing her latest album, “The Secret of Us,” in June 2024.
creative blend of sound and styles is Shaboozey. The singer debuted in 2014 as a trap artist, but he has since shifted into a folk-pop style which creates a unique alt-country aesthetic. Shaboozey has previously collaborated with artists like Beyoncé and Noah Cyrus, and is set to open for Jessie Murph while promoting his recent album, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t
Further proving the affect established artists can have on the up-and-comers of the industry is Benson Boone, who also opened for the Eras Tour in London over the summer. Previously, Boone auditioned for American Idol in 2021, and although he was invited to the Hollywood Week, the singer withdrew from competition to focus on releasing his music. Boone gained some traction on TikTok in 2024 and has released multiple singles this year, including a song featured in the 2024 film “Twisters.”
On April 5, Boone released his first full length album, “Fireworks & Rollerblades,” and has continued to grow his following since then.
Teddy Swims also found his start on an online platform, specifically through posting covers on YouTube. The R&B-pop-country fusion artist released his first single through a major label in 2020 and has been consistently releasing music ever since. His breakthrough single, “Lose Control,” was released in June of 2023, in anticipation of his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1).” Also proving the influence major artists can have on a burgeoning career, the “Best New Artist” nominee recently opened for Greta Van Fleet on their latest tour.
Another artist on the list of nominees who offers a
Where I’m Going.”
The final artist on the list of nominees is South African singer-songwriter Tyla. She self-released her debut single in 2019 but broke into the mainstream four years later with “Water.” The single features a chorus of “Make me sweat, make me hotter / Make me lose my breath, make me water” that is guaranteed to still be stuck in the heads of young social media users over a year after its release. The single went on to be a part of Tyla’s self-titled debut album, which dropped in March 2024.
Each nominee for the “Best New Artist” award offers a different facet of artistry and genre-bendingtechniques, and each would be a worthy recipient of the sought-after accolade. In just over two weeks, one of the six artists will join the list of iconic performers who have all gone on to achieve high success in the competitive industry.
@SOPHIAROOKS_ SR320421@OHIO.EDU
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
OPINION
Taylor’s Table Talk: Pandemic, social media
impact political participation
practices will likely make voting less accessible but more secure in November.
As November approaches, voters prepare for the 2024 presidential election. However, since 2020, the way voters participate has changed by the year. Along with pandemic-related changes, social media has digitized and radicalized politics. The COVID-19 pandemic and social media use have altered how people engage in politics and elections.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people approach daily interactions. According to an editorial article published in Frontiers in Psychology, the pandemic created “negative impacts and challenges, but also opportunities for progressing how we communicate.” The pandemic also accelerated advances in communication technology, according to the article. The pandemic also changed how we approach political participation. According to a study of the 2020 presidential election, states drastically altered voting practices to accommodate the pandemic. According to the article, many states implemented automatic voter registration, revised absentee ballot excuse requirements and expanded early voting windows to accommodate COVID-19.
However, states began to reinstate and alter restrictions after the 2020 election passed. According to a 2023 article on the League of Women Voters website, Ohio passed House Bill 458, which created stricter voter identification requirements, limited drop box locations and shortened the absentee ballot window. The restriction of state voting practices from 2020
Alongside pandemic-related changes, social media has altered political participation. From the candidates’ point of view, social media has revolutionized political campaigning in 2024, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s “Knowledge at Wharton” podcast.
Candidates now can connect to constituents more directly than before, and some tap into pop culture trends to get their message across. This year, Kamala Harris’s TikTok campaign account, “Kamala HQ,” went viral for its use of popular Generation Z trends on the platform.
Social media also evens the campaign field for third-party candidates, as the platforms provide a low-cost means of connecting candidates to constituents. According to the Wharton School’s podcast, “money and access to formal communication channels pose huge barriers to new entrants.” Social media allows political newcomers to gain a boost in support, potentially kick-starting their campaigns. However, social media has also changed campaigning for the worse. For example, social media makes it easier to spread political misinformation through artificial intelligence content. Former president Donald Trump infamously uses AI images on X, formerly known as Twitter, to gain voter support in his campaign. On Aug. 18, Trump posted an AI image apparently of Harris at the Democratic National Convention, relating her to communist propaganda.
The virtual mud-slinging on social media manipulates voters’ perceptions of candidates, altering how they participate in politics.
Misinformation and social media algorithms have radicalized voters on both sides of the aisle. According to an article from the National Institute of Justice, individuals who spend time on certain platforms “may face an increased likelihood of being exposed to or engaging with hateful or potentially radicalizing content.” Social media can create a smokescreen that hinders voters from recognizing potentially radicalizing political content.
It is obvious: the 2024 presidential election will differ from its predecessors. The way we approached voting in 2016 looked different in 2020, and it will look different now. States backpedaling on pandemic practices makes voting more confusing than ever. In addition to voting practices, social media has dramatically changed political participation and communication leading up to elections. In the 2024 election, pop culture and artificial intelligence will permeate politics more than ever. The election will likely uncover the results of social media and the pandemic in political participation.
Taylor Orcutt is a junior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Taylor know by tweeting her @TaylorOrcutt.
Ethan’s Excerpts: Being sober at a party school is isolating
ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST
Over the decades, Ohio University has gained a reputation for being a party school. While some may argue — myself included — that the title is not as warranted in recent years, OU was ranked by multiple publications to be one of the top in the country. And a large part of party culture, not only in Athens but in American party culture in general, is alcohol.
However, many people — myself included — refrain from drinking for one reason or another. Personally, drinking has no appeal to me. I also have an addictive personality, so I choose not to go down that path. Unfortunately, that causes me to be a bit of an outlier.
According to UC Santa Cruz, about 65% of college students have had alcohol in the past month. And of those who do drink, roughly 50% engage in binge drinking, or excessive consumption in a short amount of time, according to the Alcohol Rehab Guide. On the contrary, about 28% do not drink at all, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This number is up from around 20% in 2002.
Binge drinking can cause an array of both physical and mental health issues. Some of these include stroke, liver cancer, a weakened immune system and depression. Another effect of alcohol is the changing of personality, such as
increased reactivity and anger.
Although the percentage of students in my shoes is not small, it can still feel socially isolating, especially if you do not know others who are sober. While some universities have social events aimed at creating a safe, alcohol-free environment, such as the University of Michigan’s Sober Skate, most colleges do not offer events like this. OU does have one substance free residence hall, Bush, and one group, R.I.S.E., aimed at those recovering from addiction, but other safe spaces for those who are sober are few and far between.
According to a survey by Niche, OU has an A+ rating in the party scene category, with Fest Season and Halloween ranking as the biggest social events of the year. Along with these events, which have a heavy focus on drinking, Athens is home to over 20 bars, only further encouraging the drinking culture. For those of us who choose not to engage, these events can cause a feeling of isolation and loneliness. There are a few ways to combat these feelings. One of the more popular is the Dry January movement, where people are encouraged to not drink for the entire month of January. While this is a good cause to raise awareness about the negative aspects of alcohol and push people to drink less, it does not address the roots of the issue, as many participants go back to their
normal drinking habits shortly after. More events across college campuses like UMichigan’s Sober Skate would allow for more people to meet and interact in a more positive light, rather than under the influence. Organizations and groups aimed at promoting social connections between non-drinkers in a safe space are also crucial to combating loneliness. Resources such as clubs and events aimed at being alcohol free, movements like Dry January and greater awareness of the negative effects of drinking on the body are just some ways of not only connecting people but helping to change health outcomes and the societal view of alcohol and drinking.
Ethan Herx is a sophomore studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or tweeting them at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherx.
TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST
Metal Mondays: Grunge fans should honor Black founders
JACKSON MCCOY | COPY CHIEF
Seattle is the undisputed epicenter of grunge music, a subgenre of rock characterized by its combination of heavy metal, distorted guitar and punk characteristics. Millions of fans listen to Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains each year, crediting the leaders of the ‘90s West Coast scene with jump-starting the genre.
Although those groups certainly propelled grunge into the mainstream of musical culture, they were not the founders of the genre. Bam Bam, the original grunge group, contrasts greatly with the typical masculine and white makeup of the most famous grunge groups — lead singer Tina Bell was a Black woman who stood at 5-feet-2-inches and adorned herself in a messy blonde wig.
Bell, dubbed the “Godmother of Grunge,” has unfortunately flown under the radar as a pioneer of grunge. Mark Yam’s acclaimed oral history of grunge, “Everybody Loves Our Town,” credits Bam Bam as a founder of the musical movement but never mentions Bell, who fronted the band with her husky yet versatile singing capabilities.
The group’s first EP, “Villains (Also Wear White),” was recorded in the early ‘80s in Reciprocal Recordings, the same studio Nirvana’s “Bleach” and “Incesticide” were recorded. Chris Hanzsek, owner of Reciprocal Recordings and a producer who worked with Mudhoney and Screaming Trees, later told Bill-
board magazine Bam Bam was the first band he ever recorded.
Additionally, alumni of the band have gone on to make huge contributions to grunge. Matt Cameron, the band’s original drummer, would later play in Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Kurt Cobain was an early fan and roadie for Bam Bam.
With a resume as stacked as Bam Bam’s, it may seem impossible that the group has stayed underground since its inception. The group was even voted the Best Seattle Band twice by local radio stations KEXP and KCMU.
However, the erasure of Black artists is a repeat issue in the city of Seattle and the genre of rock. Jimi Hendrix, easily one of the best — if not the best — guitarist to ever live, had to move out of the famed city in order to become a famous rockstar. Other bands in rock-adjacent genres, like Death and Pure Hell, were early pioneers in their music but weren’t given the credit they deserved until long after they began. The first rock artists were Black women; Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a Black gospel singer and guitarist, is a seminal rock and roll musician, and Big Mama Thornton similarly paved the way for the powerhouse vocals that are now associated with the genre.
Bam Bam and Tina Bell’s unfortunate near-disappearance from musical history mirrors that of Death, Thornton and the numerous others that came before them. Black artists have been left out of rock history for far too long.
Despite Bam Bam’s local success, Bell quit music fully in 1990, with the remaining members (including Bell’s husband, Tommy Martin) staying on to create an instrumental trio. A planned reunion of the original Bam Bam lineup was set to take place in 2012, but Bell’s sudden death due to cirrhosis of the liver eliminated those plans. All of her writings — diaries, lyrics and poems — as well as original Bam Bam music and videos were thrown out of her Las Vegas apartment without her remaining family’s notice. But listeners aren’t too behind the curve to credit the influence Bell and Bam Bam had on one of the most consequential musical movements of all time. Efforts by original Bam Bam bassist Scotty Ledgerwood for Bam Bam to gain more recognition led to a 2019 repressing of “Villains,” increasing interest in the band decades after the seminal album was recorded.
It is never too late to honor the founders of a genre. Increasingly, people are acknowledging the contributions of Black musicians in rock, and fans are getting a truthful window into the true origins of grunge and rock.
Jackson McCoy is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Jackson know by emailing or tweeting him at jm049122@ohio. edu or @_jackson_mccoy_.
Editorial: Journalism is crucial in the 2024 election
Journalists must always be hyper-aware of their role in the preservation of democracy, especially during election cycles. However, any good journalist should feel heightened pressure this election cycle given how fragile it has been made by the current context.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
The U.S. stands alone on a summit while the rest of the world looks on. To say the country is in uncharted territory would be an understatement. It is up to journalists to lead the way.
President Joe Biden has chosen not to run for a second term. The Israel-Hamas War has ripped the Democratic party in two. The Republicans struggle to balance former President Donald Trump’s rightwing grasp with more moderate conservatism. A third-party candidate gained traction, though he has since dropped out. The upcoming election is also the first in the U.S. with prevalent and accessible artificial intelligence, or AI, which only exacerbates the flood of misinformation and disinformation that already plagues our election cycle.
Journalists must always be hyper-aware of their role in the preservation of democracy, especially during election cycles. However, any good journalist should feel heightened pressure during the upcoming election cycle due to the current context that has made America so fragile.
Misinformation and disinformation are particularly dangerous regarding elections for two reasons, the first being that misinformation could contribute to an inaccurate public image of a candidate. Misinformation and disinformation have affected both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaigns. Following the assassination attempt on Trump, rumors went around that the shooting had been staged to
boost his campaign and public image.
A video has gone around of Harris in which she appears to say, “Today is today, and yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow, so live today so the future today will be as the past today, as it is tomorrow.” The video was edited in an attempted jab at her intelligence.
Simultaneously, both candidates themselves have spread false or misleading information. Harris said Trump was to blame for losing “tens of thousands” of manufacturing jobs when the U.S. actually added over 400,000 manufacturing jobs under Trump, but COVID-19 ultimately reversed these economic effects.
Trump said Harris “happened to turn Black and she wants to be known as Black” and had only previously embraced her Indian heritage. However, Harris’ father is Black, she attended Howard University, a historically Black college, and belongs to Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest Black sorority in the U.S. Candidates lying about each other to cast one another in a negative light is nothing new, but these lies take on new meaning given the political context in which the U.S. government currently exists. The stakes are simply higher right now. For that reason, it’s pertinent journalists embrace the role of government watchdog more ferociously than ever before, and they must do it so loudly that it drowns out even the loudest voices, specifically the ones coming from
behind the podium.
The 2016 election stands in the shadow of the wealth of disinformation that spread revving up to and after election day. Eight years later, a similar theme continues. What makes the approaching election different, however, is the role that AI is already playing in bringing disinformation to life. Trump recently posted an AI image of Taylor Swift where she seemingly is endorsing him.
Although the prominence of AI’s role in the election is still unclear, people can look to the October 2023 presidential election in Slovakia. Roughly 48 hours before election day, a candidate was four points ahead. Then, a fake recording, created using AI, came out in which the candidate appeared to claim he was going to rig the election. Although the recording was fake, it still cost him the presidency.
As journalists navigate AI themselves, it is important that they keep their biases in check and do not grow apathetic or pessimistic about their cause of informing the people. As the U.S. holds its breath and stares down the steep edge of this precipice, it is up to journalists to build a bridge to the other side.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Alyssa Cruz, Managing Editor Madalyn Blair and Equity Director McKenna Christy. Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage.
ABBY JENKINS
HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR
In upcoming years, millennials and Generation Z will become the majority of the modern workforce. With that comes almost a reinvented workplace culture – a workplace that appears to be more lax than in previous generations. Specifically, a space that presents a gray area in the “new” definition of “business casual” apparel. The official Oxford English Dictionary definition of business casual is as follows: “relating to or denoting a style of clothing that is less formal than traditional business wear, but is still intended to give a professional and businesslike impression.” The earliest use of the phrase goes back to the 1960s and hasn’t been updated for a more specific or modern approach.
Blabby Abby: Business casual clothes remain undefined for women
The Street goes on to list articles of clothing specific to business casual, offering a more straightforward question on what exactly a person should wear. The Street wrote, “Business casual is typically defined as no jeans, no shorts, no short dresses or skirts for women, optional ties for men, and a rotation of button-downs or blouses.”
After reviewing this definition, it leaves extremely minimal options depending on gender presentation, specifically females and non-male presenting individuals.
In a typical five-day-a-week, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. work environment where business casual is expected of someone, it can become increasingly difficult to sport various clothes as time progresses. While having https://thepostathens.slack.com/files/U02FE4W5Z0F/F07JE8XM78E/headshotabby. jpg?origin_team=T03LR3L64&origin_ channel=D043K5R4F42 a diverse style throughout the week may not hold importance to many, some value their presentation in the workplace above other things. Making impressions, looking the part and appearing to fit in with peers can make a difference in how employers view staff.
The modern definition of business casual is vague, outdated and restrictive to namely women because of the time of the phrase’s origin when it was only created with men in mind. Not only in terms of clothing but also grooming and cosmetically, women are typically pressured to feel more attractive and approachable in the workplace. Failing to comply can unfortunately result in losing respect from coworkers, according to the Seattle Times.
In addition, newer generations are more inclined to feel comfortable in the workplace, both in their physical clothing and the environment. With already facing negative connotations from older generations at work, the idea that younger generations are not dedicated or passionate about contributing to a job can make work feel even more awkward.
So what are people supposed to wear when the theme is business casual? While a pantsuit is the most obvious and quite possibly one of the only options when it comes to the theme, it is still a good option. When it comes to branching out, it becomes difficult and eventually, expensive.
The idea of having to sift through Google search for a respected brand of business casual clothing, selecting the items of clothing, and then having to drop an unfathomable amount of money just to appear presentable at work further adds to the problem of the outdated definition. More than one pantsuit would make a nice dent in anyone’s bank account.
The modern working world deserves a new, better and more specific definition of a dress code for going to work. As the dynamics will inevitably shift as younger generations continue to start entry-level positions, the stigma around business casual needs to end and a new way of dressing in a semi-professional environment should be a priority.
Abby Jenkins 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. What are your thoughts? Let Abby know by tweeting her @abbyjenks18 or emailing her at aj205621@ ohio.edu.
Four Trendy and Easy Back-to-School Outfits
CLARA LEDER FOR THE POST
Back-to-school season is officially upon us and with the fall semester kicking off, new and old Bobcats will be seen hitting the bricks in various trends. No matter what your style is, there are outfit options for everyone. Whether you are opting for a casual, put-together fit or a boho or on-trend “it girl” outfit, here are four versatile outfit inspirations to choose from.
THE CASUAL COOL OUTFIT
For a cool, casual outfit, the best option is pairing a graphic tee with shorts or flare leggings. Graphic tees are a go-to option to show off your unique style. Recently, mock jersey tees have been trending. These tees are a great sporty option, such as a “76” jersey from edikted which is currently on sale for $21.
If you are looking for a unique graphic tee, thrift stores are the place. For an Athens option, you can check out Athens Underground, a vintage store located at 90 N. Court St. If you are shopping online, Depop has unique and environmentally friendly second-hand finds.
A good graphic tee is the way to go for putting together a casual outfit while also following trends and making it your own. Graphic tees also never go out of style.
THE SPORTY, PUT-TOGETHER OUTFIT
Whether you are running around campus during a packed day, visiting Ping after class or like to be comfortable on the go, you will love a sporty look for class. One of the best options for a simple, yet put-together look is a matching set.
Matching sets reemerged in fashion last summer, and the trend is here to stay. For hotter days, a simple matching set option is biker shorts and an athletic tank. One athletic set from Amazon is currently $27, and even comes with two options for tops. You can also pair similar colored items in your closet for a matching set look.
A matching sweat set is a go-to option for Bobcats to stay cozy and cute in colder months. Amazon also has an amazing sweatsuit that looks high-end and retails for $40.
If you are looking for more options, Marshalls on East State Street has great styles to choose from. There are matching set options for every weather, and each are easy to accessorize with chunky necklaces or fun hoop earrings.
THE “IT GIRL” OUTFIT
With TikTok becoming front and center for fashion forecasting, trend cycles have been moving increasingly fast in the past year. An “it girl” outfit mixes trends and timeless pieces to create a go-to look.
For an “it girl” outfit, a jumpsuit is a great starting piece because of its comfortability and complement any style. A jumpsuit can also pair with an oversized sweatshirt and some sneakers.
The shoe of the year is hands down the Adidas Sambas, which start at $100. Along with the Adidas Sambas, the Gazelles and Campus shoes will most likely be sticking around for the rest of the year. If you pair one of these shoes with some ankle crew socks, you will have an “it girl” look. However, you do not have to own the trending shoe to complete the look. Any chunky sneaker of your choice will have the same effect.
THE BOHO GIRL OUTFITw
Maxi skirts took the top spot for trends this summer and are a perfect option for a more boho look for class. Maxi skirts are trendy and a great transition piece from summer to fall.
White maxi skirts, such as one skirt from Aerie under $40, are versatile and can pair with any item. A few outfit pairings include matching with colorful crochet tops, simple black tube tops or even a cute graphic tee. You can also opt for a floral maxi skirt, pairing it with sneakers and a simple tee for a casual look or a fitted top and some sandals.
Linen pants also made an entrance to the fashion scene this summer.
If you are looking for another boho transitional outfit, a pair of white or striped linen pants and a simple top will suffice. Both of these summer staples are perfect for achieving a put together and fashion-forward bohemian look.
CL125221@OHIO.EDU CLARA_LEDER
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take the hallway behind the escalators on the right hand side
The 110 breaks it down on College Green
ALAINA DACKERMANN DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
MEGAN VANVLACK
PHOTO EDITOR
Members of the Marching 110 put on a performane during the invovment fair on College Green Aug. 25, 2024. The band played serval different songs and performed multiple dances to the large number people and students gathered.
