The City of Athens is putting the plastic bag ban on hold
Break down Ohio Football’s weekend loss against Syracuse
Editorial about JD Vance and Appalachia
Old brick, new brick, RED BRICK
Red Brick Tavern rebrands, renovates for Fall Semester
DISHA HOQUE | ASSISTANT HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR
The Red Brick Tavern, located at 14 N. Court St., is preparing for its grand reopening after extensive renovations over the summer. Although the bar is still open to the public, all renovations are expected to be finished by Friday and Saturday, according to Daniel DeLuca, the owner and operator of Red Brick.
Known in Athens for its discounted drinks from 6-9 p.m., also known as Brick Break, and energetic DJs, the bar began interior renovations at the end of the Spring Semester. The new additions to the tavern include a patio area, additional bar space, an upstairs bathroom and an additional entrance to the basement.
These new additions utilize a previously unused kitchen space and empty parking lot, according to Daniel DeLuca, the owner and operator of Red Brick. This increase in space was needed to accommodate the rapidly growing Ohio University student population post-Covid pandemic.
“Now that we’re getting back to 4000 (new) students every year, it seems like there are going to be a lot more students,” DeLuca said. “So to offset that, we needed to have more
space in order for that to work.”
The physical changes to the tavern are part of a larger plan to relaunch and rebrand Red Brick’s identity as an Athens bar.
Anika Rood, a senior studying marketing, has been working with the owner since last spring on updating the tavern’s image.
“We really just wanted Red Brick to be the most entertaining bar on Court Street,” Rood said. “So whether it’s live music efforts, (a) variety of DJs or other events. (DeLuca) really just wanted Red Brick to be somewhere that you could go just to have entertainment of any form, whether it's laughing with your friends … or the live music.”
Centering events and highlighting local talent is a key part of the bar’s rebrand, including a Live from Red Brick radio performance every Wednesday.
“(Performances) help local talent be able to get on the radio,” DeLuca said. “ I know it's not the ‘80s anymore, so the radio doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it gives them a good stepping stone.”
Spotlighting these local bands and
talent also benefits Red Brick’s reputation, according to DeLuca.
“Whatever we can help with the local music scene, that's a big, big benefit for us,” he said.
DeLuca and Rood plan to continue highlighting students as part of the bar’s rebrand.
“Going back years and years and years, since the DeLucas took over Red Brick, there's (always) been pictures of students in the bar, whether it's just day-to-day or if it's an event,” Rood said. “... We really prioritize showing the students and showing the experience that's made in Red Brick, rather than just posting a simple graphic telling you what the specials are for the day.”
Ryann Winters, a senior studying psychology, is a customer of Red Brick and holds positive views on the renovations.
“It (is) a lot cleaner than it used to be and the layout looks a lot nicer,” Winters said. “Since they’re so busy, there’s (now) more room to be at when there’s a bunch of people in (Red Brick).”
Along with enjoying the new renovations, Winters also mentions seeing
changes in the atmosphere and morale in the bar.
“I think the (employees) are more on top of their game, as well,” she said. “They got new card scanners to be more efficient, so they’re faster with customer service.”
Pawpurr’s Bar, located across from Red Brick at 37 N. Court St., is owned by DeLuca as well. Pawpurr’s also underwent minor changes this summer to more comfortably accommodate the influx of students, including clearing out a pool table and an old cooler.
These changes to the bars are all in efforts to match the increase in student population and create a more comfortable experience for customers, according to DeLuca.
“We just want to really be the entertainment hub for people to come in (and) have a good time,” DeLuca said. “No matter where they are, what stage of life they're in, as long as they can come in and say, ‘I had fun that night,’ that’s really what I’m looking for out of all this.”
The outside of Red Brick Tavern on Court Street in Athens, Sept. 2, 2024. (ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Canvas goes ‘fully live’ within 7 colleges
SUZANNE PIPER | FOR THE POST
Canvas made its second-year return to Ohio University as the campus adjusts from the prior learning management system, Blackboard.
OU announced the switch from Blackboard Learn to Canvas April 27, 2023, in hopes of a more modern, user-friendly system to enhance the learning experience.
Canvas is now “fully live” with more than 3,000 courses utilizing the new system, Senior Director for Teaching and Learning Systems Eszti Major-Rohrer, said. Only 600 courses remain on Blackboard.
According to the Canvas Learning Management System Implementation page, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business, the OHIO Honors Program, Regional Higher Education, Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Scripps College of Communication, and University College have moved all programs to Canvas as of Fall 2024.
“We're hearing really great feedback from students, and that makes sense because we picked Canvas because it was a more intuitive, friendly, student-facing system,” Sarah Poggione, vice provost for undergraduate education, said. “At the same time, it makes it a little bit more difficult for faculty because the transition from Blackboard is really sort of a different configuration, different way of thinking.”
Major-Rohrer said although it is still early, feedback from students
A computer screen displaying the CANVAS webpage Jan. 15, 2024.
(ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
and professors has been good so far.
“Very soon, we'll be able to publish some results and official feedback too, but so far, fingers crossed, everything looks good,” Major-Rohrer said.
The Office of Information and Technology, or OIT, has partnered with the Office of Instructional Design, or OID, and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, or CTLA, to help students and staff smoothly transition into Canvas. Each office created resources for both groups to help the experience.
“We have been also telling students
and faculty to use Canvas support, which is 24/7, so if someone runs into an issue very late at night, Canvas support is available, chat, email, phone call,” Major-Rohrer said.
Chief Information Officer Chris Ament said that many professors and instructors have also used this opportunity to redesign courses, improving their students' education experience.
“It's a great opportunity for them to rethink things, think about how to make it a little bit more streamlined, modernized, friendlier format, and really sort of take that time to sort of
contemplate what they've been doing in courses,” Poggione said. “They're taking the opportunity to really sort of rethink, redesign some aspects of their course.”
Phase 1 began in the 2023-24 spring semester, with 90 courses and 55 faculty members implementing Canvas, according to a previous report done by The Post.
“Phase 1 really gave us a lot of great information and good insights, but now it's such a broader spectrum of classes and students,” Poggoine said. “I think we'll learn a lot after this particular semester.”
Come spring 2025, OHIO Online, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health Sciences and Professions and the Patton College of Education will move their programs to Canvas.
“Spring is another big semester for us, with a lot of courses in fine arts, for example, and Voinovich school going live, OHIO online continues to push out courses,” Major-Rohrer said. “I think the next two semesters, we'll see lots of movement to Canvas, and then hopefully, a year from now, it's all in.”
Spring 2026 will be the last chance for professors to save any material from Blackboard. Blackboard will be fully retired in June 2026.
CAMPUS EVENTS September 3rd - 16th
Social Engagement & Student Org Events
Tuesday, September 3
OU Catholics Student Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Christ the King Holy Family Ctr.
Wednesday, September 4
Fridays Live
Open Cast Auditions Day (1/2)
7:00-9:00 PM
Studio C (RTV 515)
Thursday, September 5
NPPA OU
Welcome Meeting
& Checkout Room Demo
7:00 - 8:00 PM
RTV Room 456
Fridays Live
Open Cast Auditions Day (2/2)
7:00-9:00 PM
Studio C (RTV 515)
Bridge OU
Information Event
6:00 -7:00 PM
Tupper Hall 304
Saturday, September 7
Bobcat Tabletop All Day Gaming
10:00 am- 10:00 PM Living Learning Ctr.
UPC Petting Zoo 5:00 - 9:00 PM Morton Field
Get the Scoop with SAB! 3:00 - 5:00 PM Outside Baker 4th Floor
The Picardy Thirds Auditions! 5:00 - 8:00 PM Gildden Hall Room 472
Sunday, September 8
Club Clay Information Session
4:00 - 5:00 PM Seigfred 519
OU Catholics Student Dinner 7:00 - 8:00 PM Christ the King Holy Family Ctr.
Monday, September 9
South Fest Live!
6:00 - 8:00 PM LLC Amphitheater
Korean Culture CLub
6:00 - 7:00 PM GOrdy Hall 315
Tuesday, September 10
New Chords on the Block Auditions!
2:00 - 4:00 PM Glidden Hall
Wednesday, September 11
Trivia Night with DJ A-Roc
6:30 PM
Nelson Commons
UPC How-To Series
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Baker Theatre Lounge
SAB Open House 5:00 - 7:00 PM Konneker Alumni Center
* To have your event included on this calendar make sure it is registered on Bobcat Connect!
Saturday, September 14
Bobcat Bash 4:00 - 7:00 PM South Beach
UPC Stuff a Bobcat 6:00 - 8:00 PM Baker Theatre Lounge
Sunday, September 14 Paw Paw Festival 12:00 PM
The first 15 Students get free tickets and transportation! Meet at the Living Learning Center
SCAN
Meet Student Senate President Dan Gordillo
OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER
Ohio University Student Senate
President Dan Gordillo had an unprecedented path in his presidency. Now, in his first academic year in the role, he’s hoping to make some changes within the Senate to better serve the OU students.
According to a previous report by The Post, Gordillo originally ran for the senate executive board on the Unity ticket. The ticket consisted of Reagan Farmer as president, Gordillo as vice president and Johnny Susany as treasurer.
Each candidate from the ticket received more votes than the others represented on the ballot, and the ticket as a whole solicited more total votes — 2,281 to be exact — than in the last eight election cycles.
According to Gordillo, the future of his public service depended on the Unity campaign’s success.
“I had done two years in Senate, and I had also done a three-year class presidency back in high school,” Gordillo said. “Student Government was very close to me, and I knew that if I lost this election, there was a very slim chance of me coming back.”
Gordillo said he felt like a little kid when he found out his ticket had won.
“The bout of excitement literally made me shake,” Gordillo said. “I had this huge burst of energy. I ran around Baker.”
However, Gordillo’s excitement was quickly tempered by news that the Unity president-elect Reagan Farmer was to be impeached. According to Gordillo, the decision to remove Farmer created confusion among the body as to who would succeed her.
“It was decided that, per former graduate assistant Divina Cooley and Dean of Students Kathy Fahl, who would receive advice from Ohio University’s legal team, to give the presidency to the vice president elect, which was myself” Gordillo said.
Once Gordillo was sworn in, a special election was held for the vice president position, which was ultimately won by the College of Arts and Sciences Senator Kiandra Martin.
After the special election, Gordillo ordered everyone to take a break to recharge before the school year began. The break allowed the new executive board time to refocus its platform.
According to Gordillo, the team’s policy platform mostly follows the original Unity ticket; however, it puts more emphasis on transparency and accessibility.
“I can’t just pass a resolution and say, ‘let’s be more transparent,’” Gordillo said. “We need a behavioral change, and that is something which all the executives agree on so that we never let senate go back to the way it once was.”
Gordillo plans to implement more informative newsletters, frequent fireside chats with representatives and an anonymous form for students to fill out with complaints and suggestions for the organization. He hopes these types of programming will increase public participation in Senate and influence its perception of the organization.
“If I want people to think that Senate is professional, I should act like a professional,” Gordillo said. “Senate does a lot of good things, people just don’t hear about it, which always leads to the misconception that Senate is like a really good mock government because we don’t do anything just like the real government.”
With the school year underway, Gordillo hopes Senate can use smaller victories, like increasing access to representatives, to hold its current approval position. He also hopes to use bigger victories, like increased funding for student organizations like the International Student Union, to improve its reputation with the student body.
Along with its external improvements, Gordillo hopes to foster a positive culture inside of Student Senate. He said this means supporting senators and commissioners to keep them engaged and encouraged.
“I could be a president, but I can’t get anything done without them,” Gordillo said. “I have a ton of expe-
rience in this organization. I want to share that knowledge, share that experience, so that way we can benefit the entire student body.”
Ultimately, Gordillo hopes his presidency will shape a better future for Senate and OU students it serves.
“I remember being a timid freshman who was a little bit scared of everybody’s office, and I want to make sure that everybody who walks through these doors, whether they’re a first timer or they’re a veteran, that they know we can get good stuff accomplished here,” Gordillo said. “I want to make this place better, and I think that’s half the battle.”
Police Blotter: Drug trafficker busted in Stewart
TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST PARKING PREDICAMENT: ATHENS Ohio University Police Department responded to a traffic crash Thursday in Parking Lot 127, according to OUPD.
The driver was cited for failure to control his or her’s vehicle, according to OUPD.
MALE BUSTED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION: STEWART
A man from Stewart, was taken into custody Wednesday on felony drug charges, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives with the Athens County
Task Force located Estep at his Stewart residence after an extensive drug trafficking investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The man was charged with two counts of felonious aggravated trafficking of drugs and two counts of felonious aggravated possession of drugs, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Some of his charges were elevated for trafficking occurring within 1000 feet of a school zone, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
NOT THE MAILBOX!: THE PLAINS
Deputies responded to Poston Road for a hit mailbox Wednesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
A report was made, and the incident is in review, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
CHILD LOCKED IN VEHICLE: ATHENS
Deputies responded to a child locked inside a vehicle Wednesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The child was locked in the vehicle with the air conditioner running. Upon arrival at Mush Run Road, the deputies were able to unlock the vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the child was unharmed.
FIGHT CLUB #1: THE PLAINS
Deputies responded to a dispute at Athens High School Tuesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Juveniles were reported fighting in the parking lot. The deputies separated the parties upon arrival, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
FIGHT CLUB #2: THE PLAINS
Deputies responded to a dispute at Connett Road Aug. 26.
Two males were reported fighting. As the males left in separate cars, one male threatened to get a gun, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies patrolled the area. They did not locate the males or the cars, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
GUNSHOT WOUND: ATHENS
Deputies responded to a person
wounded by gunshot in Athens Aug. 25, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
WELLNESS CHECK-TURNED-ARREST: THE PLAINS
Deputies responded to 128 N. Plains Road. on a wellness check-turnedarrest Aug. 24.
While on the initial wellness call, deputies received information a female was held at the residence against her will. Deputies located the female, who said she was not being held, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
While at the residence, deputies also located and arrested a man who had an active warrant for his arrest.
Deputies completed both calls, and Kiser was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
DUI ARREST: ATHENS
Deputies responded to a traffic stop on U.S. 33 and State Route 682 Aug. 23, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol requested the Sheriff’s Office’s assistance for the stop.
A female involved was arrested for driving under the influence. Deputies returned to patrol.
Photo provided by Dan Gordillo
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)
Tim Ryan promoted to captain of OUPD
OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER
The Ohio University Police Department promoted Tim Ryan to captain following the retirement of his predecessor, George Harlow, in late July. Ryan’s position was effective Aug. 6 and made him second-in-command of the university’s police force.
According to Chief of Police Andrew D. Powers, Captain Ryan brings 20 years of experience at OUPD to his new position, including service as a patrol officer, field training officer, member of the SWAT team, detective, lieutenant and staff lieutenant.
During Ryan’s time with OUPD, he led the department’s implementation of a new CAD/RMS system, upgraded the communications center, coordinated the creation of a virtualized communications center with the County 911 and implemented the body-worn camera program. He currently oversees OUPD’s transition to new portable radios and served briefly as Acting Chief of Police, according to a University Communications and Marketing press release.
According to Ryan, the opportunity to serve as captain was just another way of building better relationships between the department and the community and a chance to learn more about and advance in his policing career.
As lieutenant, Ryan volunteered as a community engagement officer, a division that now reports to his position as captain, and said his experience and leadership style make keeping the university community safe a collaborative effort.
“My diplomacy is valuable,” Ryan said. “Working with others across campus, and genuinely being interested in feedback, being the type of person that wants to listen and hear, and also just being a longtime community member now and having all the way back to my student days and RA days, someone who’s deeply invested in the community
and a great community for everyone, and I love that.”
This enthusiasm for public service and the community made Powers optimistic about Ryan’s ability to fulfill the captain role, Powers said in an email.
“He has a well-earned reputation for being collaborative, building strong relationships and leading with integrity and compassion,” Powers wrote. “I am looking forward to Captain Ryan taking on a bigger role in shaping the department’s future by applying his passion and energy to the areas he is now tasked with overseeing.”
that wants the best for OU (is valuable).
“I think (the captain role) is more community-facing than the lieutenant role was, which I really enjoy,” Ryan said. “The lieutenant role is a little bit more internal facing, you know, investigations, OUPD process, supervising those areas. The captain role is definitely more community-facing, with meetings and partnerships outside of OUPD.”
According to Ryan, the community-building aspect of his new position is what excites him the most.
“OU is a special place,” Ryan said. “It’s an inclusive environment where everyone is working toward the same goal. We all want the same thing, and I think that’s unique. Not every community has so many people working toward a better tomorrow
According to a University Communications and Marketing press release, Ryan’s new position will “oversee areas such as policy and procedure, public information, compliance (Ohio Collaborative, Clery Act, etc.), internal affairs, community relations, criminal investigations and the recruitment and hiring process.”
Powers added in his email that Ryan’s personality also makes him the ideal officer for attending public meetings and engaging with the community through events like Coffee With A Cop.
“While I don’t see any obvious areas in need of improvement, I am confident that Captain Ryan’s attention to detail will help us identify things we are currently doing well but could be doing better,” Powers wrote.
@OLIVIAGGILLIAND OG953622@OHIO.EDU
Athens County judge finds City’s plastic bag ban unconstitutional
After nine months in effect and a lawsuit from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, an Athens County judge has ruled the City of Athens’ single-use plastic bag ban violates state law.
According to Judge George McCarthy, the city had no authority to pass the legislation, despite its home rule argument, as it directly conflicts with state law allowing retailers to decide whether or not to use the bags.
In his decision delivered Wednesday, McCarthy wrote that single-use plastic bags are solid waste
and subject to disposal and recycling. He said it is clear that the state legislature can regulate its use.
While McCarthy recognized the city’s environmental efforts with the ban, he reaffirmed his decision to overturn the ban by saying Ohioans deserve a choice to use single-use plastic bags.
He added that the ruling would also help minimize confusion between state law and local ordinances.
The ban is now on permanent hold. The city has made no appeal.
@OLIVIAGGILLIAND OG953622@OHIO.EDU
OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER
Paper bags in Jefferson Market in Athens, Feb. 17, 2024. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)
An Ohio University Police Department patrol car sits in front of Baker Center in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
Basket Case announces hiatus, anticipates return
After a brief and tornadic run through the music scene of Southwest Ohio, the members of Basket Case have been scattered across the country. Despite the months and miles standing between them and their next gig, the sextet remains closely connected through the memory of their time in Athens and their plans for the future.
Basket Case began with Izze Kaukonen, Cass Wilhelm and Bodean Reese, the group’s vocalist, bassist and drummer respectively. The three played together in high school and reunited within the past year alongside one of the group's guitarists, Andre Hallenburg, a junior studying contemporary music and digital instruments, or CMDI, and music production and recording industry, or MPRI. A few months later, guitarists Jenna King and Collin Smith joined the group, the former a fifth-year
student studying psychology and the latter a senior studying music therapy.
“Collin and I joined … early July,” King said. “They already had a lot of shows booked, one specific show at Nelsonville (Music Festival) at the end of July. So that was pretty stressful but it was really fun … I’m not used to playing the funkier, groovier styles so it was fun to learn how to play that, but it was definitely a lot of work.”
The funk and groove of Basket Case comes largely from Wilhelm’s bass playing, and there is an additional range of influences and styles that contributes to what the bassist described as a “versatile sound.” Reese cited the influence of jazz on his drumming, while Kaukonen believes seeing a Mannequin Pussy concert in Columbus intensified the group's grunge sound.
“We’re … alternative rock, usually a bit on the heavier, grungier side,” Reese said. “We can also pull back and
play a lot more clean or slow stuff.”
With a unique combination of sound, Basket Case easily found a home within the eclectic performance space of The Union, located at 18 W. Union St.
“Whenever I play at The Union it’s kind of low stakes since we’ve played there so many times, and it’s fun when there’s a low stakes show because I feel like everybody just has fun and we end up playing better,” King said.
When it comes to the atmosphere of a show, Basket Case finds the core of a crowd's energy to be in the friends of band members. According to Reese, seeing friends have fun in the crowd gives a show an exciting edge. Wilhelm believes the group also functions better when each member strikes a chord in communal work ethic and motivation.
“If you don’t have shows and you’re not stressed … we wouldn’t be as productive,” Wilhelm said. “But it’s
also harder to focus on enjoying the show if everyone’s super stressed about playing well.”
An average Basket Case setlist consists primarily of original songs and no more than one or two covers. The band’s continual workshopping process allows the group to stay sharp and motivated as it plays an ever-growing number of shows.
“We all refine as we continue to play it (a new song) up until our show, and also after our shows,” said Kaukonen.
As the band continued to grow as songwriters and musicians, the members also grew closer as a collective outfit. Although Smith believes the group was quick to become close as friends and collaborators, the guitarist still noticed an incremental shift with each passing gig.
“I feel like each show got progressively better sounding and also I was able to let loose more and just have fun,” Smith said.
After an exciting summer in the Southwest Ohio music scene, Basket Case announced a hiatus via the group's Instagram Aug. 12. The temporary split was caused by Kaukonen’s return to the University of Vermont and Wilhelm’s return to the University of Washington after spending a year off together in Athens. The group plans to return for Benefest in November, as well as winter and summer breaks. Other future plans for Basket Case include an album release in tandem with the group’s reunion show in a few months.
The success of Basket Case, from house shows to Nelsonville Music Festival, stems from a tangibly jovial and harmonious group dynamic, as well as the support of friends and strangers alike. King described the ingredients of successfully joining the Athens music scene in their simplest and truest terms.
“I think when you just have fun playing on stage and you make good music … a lot of people will come out to see you,” she said.
(ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY | HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Restaurant Salaam brings culture, dishes to Athens
Restaurant Salaam, a popular eatery on 21 W. Washington St., has served Athens residents Mediterranean dishes since it opened in 2006.
Hilarie Burhans, co-owner and executive chef of Salaam alongside her husband, Mark, never planned to venture into the restaurant business. Salaam was originally a Hookah bar called Shishah Café.
Shishah was a small, cramped space on Court Street. At that location, the Burhans introduced a lunch service at the bar using only two hot plates
and a countertop convection oven. Burhans had some culinary experi- ence and experimented with serving some ethnic dishes at the bar.
“When I was a kid, I lived in Ethiopia and I lived in Pakistan,” Bur- hans said. “My parents lived in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, so I had eaten food from all over. I used to teach for Hocking College in the off-campus programs as a culinary arts instruc- tor, and I used to teach classical and international cuisine a lot. I’ve just always been a food person.”
In November 2006, Ohio voters passed a smoking ban which pro- hibited smoking in public places and places of employment, giving the owners approximately one year to decide how to transform the business. Burhans shifted solely to food and introduced a new dinner service.
“People just really liked our food, and they wanted more of it,” Burhans said. “We were just really busy, and the facility was completely inade- quate to be an actual restaurant.”
One of their regular customers approached Burhans and told her about an available space just off of Court Street on West Washington Street, and she said she immediately fell in love with the Burhansspace. and her husband decided to take the plunge and officially moved to their current location in 2009, and renamed the restaurant to Salaam, a common ArabicSalaamgreeting. serves a variety of lamb dish- es, including lamb rib chops, marinated in a Turkish pepper rub Burhans herself devised. The restaurant’s coconut chicken curry is another fan favorite, which is a homage to the eth- nic cuisine Burhans enjoyed growing up. The menu’s prices range from $8 to $30. Adam Jordan, the specials chef at Sa- laam, has worked at Salaam for 16 years and helps devise new
options to add to the menu along- side Burhans.
“We have a very diverse menu,” Jordan said. “We also cater to peo- ple with religious restrictions. We are a small town that gets really big because we have so many students, and they come from all over the world.”
Athens resident Susan Williford and her husband have been eating at Salaam for years, and are regular customers at the establishment.
“The quality of the food is excel- lent,” Williford said. “The service is very good. We love some of their signature dishes, so we come spe- cifically with some things in mind of what we might get, and it's always consistently high quality. It's one of the nicest restaurants in Athens.”
Burhans’ main goal for the restau- rant was to provide quality interna- tional food to the people of Athens and create an inviting atmosphere that kept patrons coming back for more.
“Hilarie (Burhans) has done such a nice job of decorating and making sure the place is warm and inviting,” Jordan said. “She’s lived all over the world, and all of that is reflected in the restaurant as well.”
Burhans created a warm, welcoming environment in her restaurant, making it a place patrons want to come back to often, and she treats her employees like family.
“It’s been great,” Jordan said. “Hi- larie and Mark both. They’re amaz- ing people to work for. At this point, we are basically like family – we do Thanksgiving together. I couldn’t ask for better bosses.”
@CAMISEYMORE CH525822@OHIO.EDU
Snag drivers discuss delivery service competition
SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY | HUMAN INTEREST
Snag drivers are hard to miss. Whizzing by on electric scooters with bright red cooler backpacks in tow, these food delivery drivers pride themselves on their ability to efficiently serve one of Athens’ major demographics: the hungry college student.
According to the Snag website, “Snag emerged as a direct response to the exorbitant fees and long wait times that plagued the existing deliv- ery services.” The company employs college students like Theodore Van Sweringen, a sophomore studying in- ternational business, to deliver items stocked in the Snag store on Stimson Avenue.
“I always thought of Snag as just alcohol delivery, but I’ve delivered everything,” Van Sweringen said.
Although the Snag store certainly contains countless units of alcohol, the store’s interior is bigger than it appears externally and can thus hold as many groceries and goodies as the collegiate heart desires. Although ordering from Snag is not exclusively reserved for college students, Snag stores only exist on college campus- es, and the college student demo- graphic makes up a majority of the service's customer base.
“A lot of freshmen will order … but I’d say the majority of it is frats and sororities,” said Skylar Peterson, a se- nior studying communication studies. With his experience driving for multiple services, Peterson attested to the differences between Snag and its competing delivery services. Aside from only offering deliveries from a set list of inventory (as opposed to a service that picks up orders from restaurants), Snag also differs from
other courier services in their pay.
“I really did not like DoorDash,” Peterson said. “It’s a lot of unneces sary stress driving around … because you can’t actually see how much you’re going to earn … with Snag I’m making a base salary alone, so that’s a lot better than coming home and sometimes only having 90 bucks for the week.”
According to Snag driver Kaid en Artman, a sophomore studying accounting and finance, Snag is a step ahead of its competitors for the customer as well as the employee.
“I’ve ordered from Gopuff before but they don’t really know their way around campus,” Artman said. “I feel like since we’re all students we all know typically what every street name is … we all know the whereabouts.”
Similarly to Peterson, Artman usually finds himself delivering to students, but he delivers to the ones living in off-campus housing as opposed to dorms. Although Peterson has found Snag driving to be a favorite among the jobs he has held, he has also experienced the negative aspect of the work.
“A lot happens to everybody here, everybody has their one event that’s happened,” he said before recounting a situation of verbal assault while making a delivery a few months ago.
Artman has run into trouble with inclement weather, which only caus es the store to close at the discretion of individual managers.
“There was one winter storm that was really bad,” he said. “We were open, I was taking orders but I just couldn’t see anything.”
After about a year of driving for Snag, Artman has come to find Snag to be “not a bad job.”
CAMI SEYMORE | FOR THE POST
The outside of Restaurant Salaam on West Washington Street, Sept. 2, 2024. (MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)
STAFF WRITER
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Don’t lose hope in Ohio football
ROBERT KEEGAN III | SPORTS EDITOR
For the entirety of the offseason, the conversation around Ohio football was all the team lost. Kurtis Rourke, one of the best passers in school history, entered the transfer portal shortly after the conclusion of the regular season. A slew of transfers followed, leaving Ohio’s faithful fans confused and worried about what was coming.
Running onto the field against Syracuse for week one, nobody on the outside was sure what to predict. The Ohio offense featured returning starters only on the offensive line to start the game. For the defense, Ohio started three transfers under first-time defensive coordinator John Hauser.
Despite all the changes and uncertainty, the Bobcats came out in week one and proved they could be a competitive team at the mid-major level.
Led by first-time starting quarterback Parker Navarro, Ohio was able to march down the field with ease at different points throughout the game against a formidable ACC defense. The Ohio rushing attack looked to be improved from last year with transfer Anthony Tyus III and redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt Jr.
Tyus had a breakout game with over 200 rushing yards, becoming the first Ohio running back to reach such a mark since 2021 when Demontrae Tuggle reached the threshold. Navarro has a few starts sprinkled throughout his long college football tenure but has never started the season as No. 1 on the depth chart. Navarro is almost the polar opposite of his predecessor, Rourke, in his gameplay. Though Navarro can drop back and sling the ball downfield, he is a well-skilled dual-threat quarter-
back who can threaten defenses with his legs.
The common downfall of a team with little experience is its ability to convert in big moments. The Bobcats, however, showed no issue coming up big when the team needed it.
To start the game against Syracuse, Ohio faced a critical third-down conversion on offense. The JMA Dome was as loud as it would get all day, doing all it could to hinder Ohio’s ability to convert. Despite the noise, Navarro dropped back in the pocket and threw the ball across the middle of the field to a wide-open Coleman Owen for the first down.
This specific play was what Ohio fans saw during the entirety of the Rourke era: an ability to slow down the heart rate of the offense and just make a play.
Ohio coach Tim Albin never lost faith in his staff to put together the best team possible over the offseason. Since Albin took over as head coach in 2021, the team has had two 10-win seasons and only one losing season.
Albin knows how to build a football program, and as long as he’s at the helm, Ohio fans shouldn’t doubt the team’s ability to be competitive.
Following the Syracuse game, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about what’s to come this season.
Albin pointed out after the game that a team makes a big jump between week one and week two of a season.
Coming up on a competitive game with South Alabama this weekend, Ohio will look to get its first win under its belt and continue to prove that despite a few key departures, there’s no reason to be worried about what’s to come.
@ROBERTKEEGAN_ BK272121@OHIO.EDU
Ohio football players get ready to warm up before their game against Syracuse Aug. 31, 2024. (ROBERT KEEGAN III | SPORTS EDITOR)
Ohio received big contributions from transfers despite loss
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
Following a Myrtle Beach Bowl victory last season, Ohio (0-1) loaded up an almost entirely new roster for the 2024 season. New starters and projected contributors filled the depth chart as the team stepped into Syracuse’s (1-0) JMA Dome in what would end up being a 22-38 loss. Despite this, Ohio saw two of its most recent additions, running back Anthony Tyus III and wide receiver Coleman Owen, provide massive contributions, combining for 340 yards and two touchdowns on the day. The two graduate students took very different paths to Ohio. Owen, a team captain, came in from Division II Northern Arizona, where he recorded 2,272 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns over 39 games. Tyus III hails from the Big Ten’s Northwestern, where he was never a featured player.
Tyus III recorded 203 rushing yards, making the most of each touch, averaging 12.7 yards per carry. In a single game, Tyus III put himself just 35 yards short of what he accomplished in 12 games last season. Tyus III thanks Ohio’s offensive line, another much-changed unit.
“Those guys battle,” Tyus III said. “My biggest thing is if they score, they’re in the endzone, I’m in the endzone … it starts with the o-line up front and those guys battle. I’m proud of them.”
Tyus III broke off runs for 46, 44 and 21 yards, but it’s safe to say he thinks he could have had more. After an unsuccessful red zone trip, where the Bobcats’ chose to pass, Tyus III let Ohio coach Tim Albin know he wanted an opportunity to put the ball in the end zone.
“Trey (Anthony Tyus III) let me know in a nice way, coming off the field, he was wanting the ball,” Albin said. “That’s why Trey’s a great com-
petitor.”
Although sophomore Rickey Hunt Jr. got the start, Tyus III played the vast majority of the second half. The plan, Albin says, was to split carries between the two backs each drive, but Tyus III just had the hot hand in the second half.
“Rickey Hunt, great running back. We both feed off each other; we learn from each other,” Tyus III said. “… Doesn’t matter who’s in there; we all want to eat, and at the end of the day, it's just about coming together.”
From the slot, Owen’s debut provided a bright spot for Ohio as well. Despite a passing game that stands to improve, Owen hauled in 10 receptions for 137 yards, showcasing a strong connection with quarterback Parker Navarro.
“I was impressed with Parker’s anticipation on a couple of those throws,” Albin said. “He’s (Owen) not (6-foot-4-inches), and he trusted that Coleman was going to be in-breaking
versus out-breaking.”
Owen’s toughness was a key for the Bobcats, even to the chagrin of Albin, who had to play around the injury to junior receiver Max Rodarte before the game.
“He (Coleman Owen) probably played too many snaps,” Albin said. “I know Coleman’s not going to like what I just said, but that’s the kind of guy, kind of athlete he is.”
Regardless of whether Tyus III and Owen receive the same kind of usage they had in the season opener, which seems unlikely, their impact and ability to mesh into a team that is still so new was an emphasis against Syracuse, and Albin will look to continue to get production from his transfers throughout the season.
“We set the standard … We want to raise the bar,” Tyus III said. “All the new transfers, we all bought in and came together. We have a great group and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
This past weekend in Ohio Sports
Friday, Saturday and Sunday represented the first full slate of Ohio sports to kick off the 2024-25 school year. Three different teams played their season opener, while four teams saw action over the weekend. Here is all you need to know about Ohio sports this past weekend.
FOOTBALL
Ohio got started on its 2024 football campaign over the weekend in Syracuse, New York, where it found itself on the wrong end of a 38-22 defeat. Ohio running back Anthony Tyus III, a transfer from Northwestern, put up big numbers in his first game with Ohio, tallying 203 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Tyus became the first Ohio running back since 2021 to rush for over 200 yards and was the only running back of the weekend to rush for more than 200 yards against a Power Four opponent. Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord gave the Ohio defense problems in its week one matchup, passing for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
Ohio will face tough decisions for the rest of the season after defensive captain Jeremiah Wood left the game with an injury against Syracuse. After the game, Ohio coach Tim Albin confirmed that Wood will miss the season with a torn ACL.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball (2-1) saw its season get off to a hot start this week as hosts of the Bobcat Invitational at The Con-
vo. Ohio hosted Xavier, Appalachian State and Wright State, playing one game against each en route to a winning weekend.
Ohio’s first matchup came Friday against a Xavier team that finished well over .500 in the Big East this past season, resulting in a 3-0 Ohio win. Despite the sweep, the Bobcats won with a total point differential of 9, never winning by more than 5 points.
The closely contested theme of the weekend would squeeze a win out of Appalachian State Saturday in a 3-2 contest. The undefeated streak would close against Wright State, as Ohio would find itself losing in a 3-0 sweep. Wright State finished the weekend 3-0 after winning every set it played.
Ohio’s highest scorers were Anna Kharchynska and Kam Hunt, with 44 and 37 points, respectively. The two often scored at the end of an assist from setter Chariti McKellar, who tallied 64 assists over the three matches.
SOCCER
Soccer’s (2-1-1) week included only one game, a home stand against Valparaiso Sunday. The Bobcats were firing on all cylinders after their week-long break, winning in a 5-0 shutout.
Offensively, Ohio was aided by Scout Murray’s first hat trick of the season, all three goals coming consecutively for Ohio. Murray was assisted twice by Jaimason Booker and once by Iro Fakinou. Ohio also benefited from an unassisted goal by Ella Deevers and an end-of-game make from Lillian Weller, coming off assists from Anna
Burchett and Maia Soulis. Defensively, it was Celeste Sloma holding strong in goal for all 90 minutes, as she’s done in three consecutive games. Sloma was only able to record one save, largely because the defensive cast in front of her was able to completely shut off Valparaiso’s advances, conceding nothing.
FIELD HOCKEY
Ohio started its season over the weekend with two matchups against formidable opponents on the road, each ending in a loss. The Bobcats could only score a single point through the two-game stretch. Friday, the team started its season with a game against Stanford, where it could not do much to stop the Cardinal offense. 20 minutes into the game, Ohio was already down 2-0. The Bobcat's only score of the weekend came against Stanford, thanks to
a goal by Natalie Lafleur. Against New Albany, the No. 20 ranked team in the country, Ohio couldn’t score a single goal en route to a 4-0 defeat.
HOCKEY
Ohio won’t get its hockey season started till late September, but in some of the biggest sports news of the week, Ohio coach Lionel Mauron announced he is no longer going to be with the team. Mauron had been with the Bobcats since the 2020-21 season. The Bobcats will now scramble to find their new head coach with only a few weeks to go till the start of the season.
LOGAN ADAMS
ROBERT KEEGAN III
SPORTS EDITORS
The inside of the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, where the Bobcats took on the Orange in their season opener. (LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR)
Ohio coach Lionel Mauron departs after three seasons
After one season as assistant coach and three seasons as head coach, Lionel Mauron’s time with Ohio has come to an end. It’s a bittersweet moment, as he departs for a new opportunity in the NCAA, but Mauron leaves behind an impressive legacy. He was the 2023 ACHA MD1 Coach of the Year, brought the team to the ACHA National Semifinals twice, and departed with an overall record of 72-29-11.
Mauron joined the Bobcats as an assistant coach in the 2020-21 season, which proved to be a challenging time, being in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a difficult situation,” Mauron said. “A lot of players that were recruited couldn’t come and obviously, the whole environment was very difficult.”
The Bobcats ended the season, which didn’t begin until late January, with their worst record to date at 6-16.
“We could only play so many teams, only the best teams were playing, so our record was honestly not very good, not where we wanted,” Mauron said. “So the whole vibe in the locker room was kind of hard.”
Mauron took the challenges in stride, using the time as a learning opportunity to grow his knowledge of coaching, as well as the Ohio pro-
gram itself.
“It was a great experience, to just be thrown in the fire and learn,” Mauron said. “I really enjoyed that first year, even though, hockey-wise, we didn’t do as well as we wanted.”
Mauron’s first season as head coach started as a whirlwind — he was given the job during training camp and was once again “thrown in the fire” on the tail-end of the pandemic. It was his first head coaching experience, and he had only weeks before the first game to understand the ins and outs of leading a team. Luckily, he had a strong support system behind him the whole way.
“I knew that the team really wanted me to be in this position, and they were supportive and also very understanding when things were not going to plan,” Mauron said. “So for me, it was just nothing to lose, right?”
The team ended the season with a 17-20 record, a strong improvement from the season prior and a solid performance from Mauron in his hectic first season as a head coach.
“Everything I was trying was new, the guys were excited, we had good players,” Mauron said. “We had a better year, we made it to Nationals, we beat Minot who was number one. So overall, it was very stressful, but it was so fun.”
As his career with the Bobcats
progressed, Mauron was able to work on the three goals he set for himself when he stepped into the role of head coach.
One of those goals was recruiting, and rebuilding the team after losing players to graduation. That goal was more than achieved, as one of his recruits, Luc Reeve, was the 2022-23 ACHA Player of the Year. He’s had other recruited players produce star turns, such as Laker Aldridge and Matheiu Ovaert. This exciting rebuild helped him to achieve his second goal.
“I wanted to make sure the relationship … with our alumni and our Booster Club was strengthened,” Mauron said. “So I wanted to make sure that people came back to OU and wanted to support it.”
At any home Ohio game, the booster section of the bleachers is packed full, a testament to Mauron’s efforts on his second goal. Mauron’s last goal was a little different from the first two, however.
“The last part was to be involved with the community, and I think with the youth hockey program, we have done a great job,” Mauron said. “The attendance at the game went up, that was the highest ever last year. So I think that we have done a pretty good job in all three areas.”
Overall, Mauron has had some
amazing moments while he has been with the Bobcats. He described beating Minot State in his first year as the most emotional he has ever been at a hockey game, especially since the victory came after that particularly tough COVID season.
He also described playing in Nationals this past season as one of the most fun moments, especially since it ended with an exciting and wellfought game against Adrian, who ended up taking the championship. All-in-all, he got to see last year’s team come together as a family.
“Finally, the group came together, and to see them deal as a team every day is, for me, the most rewarding part,” Mauron said.
As excited as Mauron is to pursue his new opportunity, he still feels a tinge of melancholy about walking out the doors of Bird Arena.
“Right now I’m sad, especially when I see the opportunity that lies ahead … the relationship with the guys, we became so close over the years that they’re part of my family,” Mauron said. “I spend more time with them than with my wife. You don’t want to leave Ohio behind.”
EMMA ERION | SLOT EDITOR
Forward Jack Glen (24) gets ready to face off against Kent State at Bird Arena in Athens, Dec. 8, 2023.
(ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Podcasting empowers voices but oversaturates media
NYLA GILBERT | FOR THE POST
Podcasts have given some of the best viral moments in the past year. No Jumper, Crime Junkie and Theo Van are just some of the recognizable names associated with the rising podcast trend. With the many varieties of podcasts coming into the mainstream, internet users are seeing opinions, knowledge, discoveries, misinformation and disinformation. The trend does bring questions of whether the world of podcasting should be regulated more.
In the United States post COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a public decline in mental health due to a lack of social interaction. On top of this social isolation, many political and social issues reached a head that brought millions to the streets to protest — such as the death of George Floyd in 2020. With the craving for social interaction and the newfound compulsion of many to use their voice, people took to the mics.
Podcasting has given a rawness to the world of media. People are filling in the gap between the unheard and
the “voiceless,” where people are taking their positions as the watchdogs of the government and other media sources. As there are around 4.18 million podcasts worldwide with an estimated 504.9 million listeners globally, there is a podcast option for everyone. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024, 44% of Americans listen to podcasts, and only 32% of Americans trust the media.
A majority of Americans have started seeking podcasts and television shows to get their information. Podcasts have created a network of parasocial, information-based relationships with the public and the media.
This rise in popularity has also gotten people more involved in their local communities. True crime has become a popular genre of podcasts and has seen benefits and proactivity in bringing cases to the media's attention, including solving some cold cases.
RRecently, podcaster and content creator Stephanie Soo was praised for talking about the case of two South Korean sisters. Actress Jang Ja-yeon was sexually assaulted by executives and big names in the South Korean movie and entertain-
ment industry, which resulted in her death by suicide in 2009. Her younger sister died by suicide six days later, according to The Korea Times. Their mother, who is referred to by her surname, Jang, has advocated for the reopening of her daughters’ cases and for the assailants to be brought to justice. With the release of Soo’s video in 2023, Jang’s fight for her daughters has reached widespread media attention globally, with many social activists now helping with the case.
Others are using their platforms to inform and entertain. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson uses his podcast StarTalk to highlight niche, unrecognized studies of science; some episodes may even change the way you sleep, literally. He is giving the public access to expertise in actively ground-breaking fields.
Although podcasts have benefited society by bringing in a sense of community, getting people involved in their surrounding communities and providing groundbreaking information to the public, there is always a downside to unfiltered media.
There is an over-saturation in the podcasting market that is already causing some to feel burnt out with the concept. In a 2019 article, journalist Jennifer Miller interviewed Nicholas Quah, former head of “Hot Pod.” Quah said, “Anyone can start one and so anyone who thinks they can start one will do it — it’s like the business of me.”
This was elaborated on in the article by Karen North, a clinical professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. North wrote, “Being a podcast host plays into people’s self-importance. And it projects that importance to others. Public speaking and consulting gigs now often go to ‘the person who’s the expert and has the podcast.’”
“The thing about podcasts is that it’s very, very hard to determine popularity,” North said. “It’s easy for the host to appear to be an influencer. And whether anybody finds that podcast or listens to it and the bounce rate — who knows?”
However, many podcast hosts have started to spew hateful and derogatory messages. Some hosts spread harmful rhetoric that has negatively influenced audiences and use unethical practices for their content.
Many podcasts talk about the same topics, with the defining factor of podcast popularity being the size of the audience. There also seems to be a new take on media regulation with platforms like podcasts. However, podcasts are shown to be the newest platform for information and parasocial content, but there is a need to question how sustainable it is because of the overpopulation of the platform and oversaturation of content.
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Dress to Impress offers new era of gaming, fashion fusion
CAMI SEYMORE | FOR THE POST
Dress to Impress, a simple dress-up game on “Roblox,” has suddenly become a pop culture phenomenon, despite it originally being made for kids.
“Roblox” is a gaming platform where users can create and play games made by themselves or other players. Roblox has over 40 million games to choose from, with Dress to Impress being one of the most popular with over 2.4 billion visits.
Lyanna Smith, a sophomore studying animation, is a self-proclaimed super fan of Dress to Impress.
“I think ‘Roblox’ is a really fun way to support young game developers,” Smith said. “That’s something I hold really near and dear to my heart as an
Users can interpret the theme however they see fit, using the limited outfit options to fit their vision. Players typically incorporate current pop culture references in their looks, appealing to users of all ages looking for a fun, interactive and light-hearted game to play over the summer.
Smith, who was already high up in the worldwide ranks of the game, decided to invest in a membership to improve her gameplay.
“I wanted to be a VIP because I was getting sick of VIPs winning,” Smith said. “You have way more options for clothing items, and you have your own private room and you play on private servers.”
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animation major, since a lot of people in my field go on to make games. So, ‘Roblox’ is an excellent way for those developers to get ahead in their careers.”
This summer, Dress to Impress blew up on social media sites like TikTok and X and is now one of the most popular games on the platform. Users are given a randomized theme to create an outfit around and have five minutes to walk around a dressing room full of customizable clothes, accessories, makeup and hair options. The avatars then walk down a runway, and other users rank each other from one to five stars. The user with the most stars wins.
Olivia Beatty, a sophomore studying communication studies, plays Dress to Impress nearly every day.
“It’s just fun, obviously, and there’s the competitive aspect to it,” Beatty said. “But, I also think it’s a good way to express yourself and just come up with different things that fit the themes.”
Sophia Faiman, a sophomore studying hearing, speech and language sciences, plays the game more casually.
“I just love playing it with my friends and my roommates,” Faiman said. “We’ll all go in one room and play it against each other and sometimes play as duos. I don’t know — it’s just fun.”
Due to its popularity, Dress to Impress announced a collaboration with Charli XCX and her newest hit album “BRAT” Aug. 17 via X, which targets the game’s newfound Generation Z audience.
The recent update to Dress to Impress included the album’s neon green aesthetic with a new themed lobby, dressing room and
runway, along with brand-new hair, makeup and outfit options to match.
“I love it,” Beatty said. “It’s such an interesting combination. That is the last person that I would think would collaborate with Roblox. I think it absolutely brought in a new demographic of people.”
Dress to Impress has been the surprise online hit of the summer, and its collaboration with Charli XCX only heightened its popularity.
“It kind of coincides with everything going on this summer,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of feminine power going on. Last year we had the The Eras Tour and the ‘Barbie’ movie, and this summer we have ‘BRAT’ and Dress to Impress. It’s this resurgence of feminine-dominated media in pop culture, and it’s also just really fun.”
Whether it is just a silly game to play with friends or a new cultural phenomenon, Dress to Impress has changed the social media landscape by introducing a mindless pastime anyone can enjoy.
(MIA PISHOTTI | ART DIRECTOR)
‘Pop the Balloon of Find Love’ evolves speed dating concept
LEANNE ABEL | FOR THE POST
There have been many different dating shows over the years, beginning with “The Dating Game” in 1965. Producers have tried to pique our interest in the most unique ways possible. Unsurprisingly, another dating show premiered on YouTube in January 2024.
“Pop the Balloon or Find Love” was created by married couple Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu to redefine how love is found. Amuli is the host of their show; however, the rest of the show is completely digital and unscripted.
The idea is contestants pop a balloon to signal their disinterest in the other contestant. About 5,000 single people have flown from California, Louisiana, Rhode Island and New York to Phoenix to participate in this game. Each episode runs for 90 minutes.
Instead of a fake and staged show such as “Love is Blind,” the concept is based on speed dating. If one person does not like one thing the other has said, the first contestant can pop their red balloon and let the other know they are uninterested. This show focuses on people who are in their late 20s, 30s or 40s. Some of these contestants already have kids from previous relationships. The goal is to prioritize people with full-time jobs who are just looking for committed relationships.
As a result of the show, one couple announced their engagement. Mike Braswell and Nicole “Khe” Okeke met on an episode in June. Braswell said, “Once you find the person, you kind of know.”
The series has gained a big reaction on TikTok as their top video has gained 5.7 million views. Many people have made reaction videos and gained millions of views as well. TikTok user itstrinontwitch
has over 23,500 followers and has reviewed this show a few times, gaining thousands of views on each video. Another TikTok user, _cchub, has also reacted and received half a million views for his reaction video about the show.
Unfortunately, the show has also gained negative press due to the comments some contestants have said about each other. One notable negative comment occurred in the eleventh episode when Kayla, a contestant, called fellow competitor Aaron a “Ninja Turtle” in reference to his alleged arrogance. Before Kayla clapped back, Aaron commented on the hair on her arms and disrespected her voice.
Many people have reposted other clips of the show on TikTok and reviewed it on their own, commenting on the negative things these contestants will say to each other. Regarding Episode 11, people commented, “Napoleon complex,” “Ninja turtles got me dropping my phone,” and “He’s like mini Mike Tyson.”
Some members of social media have made content discussing the colorism on the show. TikTok user Datura Jonez made a video complaining about the men popping their balloons because of a scar a woman had. Jonez said, “Whenever there’s a darkskinned woman, they pick out the tiniest of tiniest things” and then went on to talk about the comparison between men’s ideas of black and white women. In Episode 15, a candidate named Talisha had many contestants pop their balloons because she was “too light.” With the show focusing primarily on African-Americans, this is a big issue. TikTok is not the only social media that has bashed this show. Twitter users have made comments such as “pop the balloon or find love is a threat to society.”
Another issue with the show is that many of the women on the show are popping their balloons immediately after seeing the men. In some instanc-
es, when one woman pops the balloon, the rest follow. Everyone is attracted to different people, so following the majority of the group will not get the intended result of the show.
Amuli and Matundu are not the only people who are trying to experiment with new ideas for dating shows. While most of them are not speed dating, many dating shows are about figuring out if you like the other contestants very quickly after seeing them for the first time.
While there are some differing opinions and outcomes of the show, it has gained millions of subscribers, indicating they are doing something right. Even if just one couple got married from the show, the creators have helped some and given entertainment to many others.
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D: M. Night Shyamalan’s 'Trap' includes creative elements, storytelling
JUDE HANNAHS | FOR THE POST
If M. Night Shyamalan’s filmography were put on a graph, it would be all over the place due to quality inconsistency and audience attachment. Shyamalan has made successful films, such as “The Sixth Sense” (1999) and “Unbreakable” (2000), but has also made a handful of duds like “After Earth” (2013) and “The Happening” (2008).
“Trap” falls somewhere in between Shyamalan’s most powerful films and his lesser-recognized works. Though “Trap” has a lot of flaws, its strengths are so powerful that it makes for a decent watch.
To quote Admiral Ackbar, “It’s a trap!” In classic Shyamalan fashion, things are not as they seem for Cooper Adams (Josh Hartnett) and his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue). The two try to have a fun time while attending a concert performed by fictional pop singer Lady Raven (Saleka Night Shyamalan).
During the film, audiences learn Cooper is a serial killer, and the concert is a way to capture him with police blocking every entrance and exit. Cooper is put to the test as he tries to escape the concert while making sure his daughter does not discover his true identity.
Hartnett’s performance is a major strength of the film. As Cooper, Hartnett is given a chance to play a character he has not portrayed before. Instead of showing how Cooper commits his crimes, the film is similar to a cat-and-mouse chase. However, Cooper is the mouse instead of the cat. Hartnett
rides the line perfectly at being someone who looks completely innocent but has something off about him. He is incredibly clever as well, and his performance could help spark a potential sequel in the future.
Some of the most enjoyable moments of the film are seeing Cooper under stress and watching him figure out how to escape the concert without Riley getting suspicious. He encounters several situations where he could easily be caught if he did not have insider knowledge, such as the secret codeword only police and employees know.
A common trend in almost all of Shyamalan’s films is having odd character choices, even in his highest-rated movies. Another worth pointing out is the bizarre dialogue in “Trap.” His characters often use dialogue that does not make them feel like real people; “Trap” is no exception.
A lot of the dialogue in the film is standard, but there are some moments where a character will
say something that may sound cool on paper but comes off as cringy. One instance is when Cooper tells Riley her friends would be “so jelly” because she went to a Lady Raven concert. Since the strange dialogue is only sprinkled throughout the film, it is not enough to ruin the experience.
The setup of “Trap” is amazing, however. The film takes an unexpected turn when the third act arrives and Lady Raven is put in a horrible crossroads situation where she could become a hero or villain. Without going any further, Saleka’s performance as Lady Raven needs to be addressed.
Saleka does a great job playing Lady Raven. Her ability to act out scenes in many different phases of emotions is challenging and outstanding. Shyamalan has a pretty talented family to say the least. His other daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, had her directorial debut film earlier this summer with “The Watchers” (2024). Although Saleka’s main career is focused on singing, she should consider acting in future films.
Fans of Shyamalan know he likes to include a twist in all of his movies. The twist in “Trap” is a bit of a let-down and does not feel earned. Without detailing its spoilers, the twist would have been better if a character like Riley had told information on her father to the authorities. “Trap” is far from a perfect film. It contains a lot of issues, but that does not stop it from being a film worth a watch. If you are a fan of Shyamalan’s filmography, then “Trap” is an essential watch. The film is still playing in theaters but is also available to rent and buy online.
Rating: 3/5
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
Social Breakdown: New Taliban laws oppressive to women
BRIANNA TASSIELLO | ASST. OPINION EDITOR
The Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue recently issued new morality laws, which prohibit women from speaking or showing their bare faces in public. The goal of such laws is the “promotion of virtue and the elimi- nation of vice,” according to ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Fa- rooq. The “vice” in question is men’s desire, and women’s voices are ap- parently a form of intimacy that can be used to lead men into temptation. Forcing women and girls to pay the price for men’s wrongdoings is nothing new, especially for those who live in Afghanistan. The Taliban has long imposed harsh restrictions on women’s rights, including not allow- ing them to travel alone and depriv- ing them of access to education. The recent additions, however, are even more troubling.
The U.N. condemned the new laws, with Roza Otunbayeva, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, saying they extend “the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home apparently deemed a moral violation." The Taliban denounced those concerns.
If the idea is to prevent men’s temptation, one can only wonder why the Taliban does not go directly to the source: itself. It is extremely common for Taliban members to sexually assault women, especially the ones they arrest and imprison for breaking those laws. If those men in power cannot control their urges, then perhaps they should be the ones locked away and covered up. Other-
wise, it seems as though the moti- vation is not eliminating temptation, but rather oppressing women.
Additionally, restricting women will only affect women. Men who live under the Taliban’s rule, although also victims of their government, rarely face repercussions for acts of violence they commit against women. And that is not surprising; men are essentially told their hands are forced by the women they assault.
It is also important to note both men and women are prone to temp- tation, as it is a natural facet of humanity. Men are only slightly more likely than women to feel sexual desire, and both genders feel sexual desire daily; if women can contain theirs without needing men to be invisible, so can men.
When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan for a second time in August 2021, it vowed to respect women’s rights and take on a more moderate form of governing; before, it had carried out what can only be described as an attack on the rights of women and girls, including clos- ing their schools and forcing them to quit their jobs. That promise was not kept, as things have only gotten worse for Afghan women.
If they fail to abide by the Taliban’s new laws, women and girls could be subject to “warnings, confiscations of property or detention of up to three days,” according to Global News. And before they were even official, the ministry had already been enforcing the new restrictions and had detained thousands of people for vio- lations. Now that they have formally
been written into law, the number could rise.
What is happening in Afghanistan is a violation of human rights, and it is concerning that it is not being talked about on a larger, global scale. To punish anyone for the actions of others is objectively wrong, and the restrictions the Taliban has placed upon women and girls are oppres- sive. They need to be recognized as such.
Brianna Tassiello is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Brianna? Email her at bt977520@ohio.edu.
Editorial: JD Vance falsely depicts, misrepresents Appalachia
FROM THE EDITORS DESK
Most people know Sen. JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, as former President Donald Trump’s running mate for the upcoming presidential election. Others, however, know him as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” the memoir he released in 2016 about his experience growing up in Appalachia — a book full of stereotypes about the region and its people.
Vance, a Middletown, Ohio, native who has been serving as a U.S. senator since 2023, claims the title of Appalachian, but there is a reason many of his people do not claim him. His memoir portrays Appalachians as unintelligent and unwilling to work — labels that have already plagued them for years — and also implies they are at fault for their own circumstances, as Appalachia is one of the most im- poverished regions in the U.S. What Vance’s memoir fails to take into account are the systemic factors that have contributed to Appalachia’s struggles, including economic ex- ploitation, particularly through coal mining. The region has an abundance of natural resources, and up until the 1970s, it was the main place from which the U.S. extracted its coal. However, most of the wealth gener- ated from the coal extraction went to buyers who purchased the mines, not local communities.
The coal industry in Appalachia helped the American economy prosper, and although it did provide
jobs for Appalachians, the region remained largely impoverished — as well as environmentally harmed, as coal mining has detrimental effects on air Whenquality. the need for coal in America began to decline in the early 2000s, the millions of people dependent on jobs provided by the mining industry were hit hard, Appalachia being one of the most affected regions, with its employment rate dropping 50% between 2011 and 2016.
Appalachia was essentially used and discarded, and communities were left to fend for themselves — to blame Appalachians for hardships they had no hand in causing is inaccurate.
Some other key themes in “Hill- billy Elegy” include the depiction of Appalachia as an area riddled with addiction and substance abuse. Although the American opioid crisis has disproportionately affected the region, Vance oversimplifies its cause to be merely an issue with personal responsibility and a lack of self-disci- pline. He ignores other contributing factors to the crisis in the region, such as inadequate access to health- care and over-prescription of opi- oids.
His narrow-minded portrayal has reinforced the stereotypes and mis- conceptions that already surround Appalachians. Some have also sug- gested Vance isn’t from Appalachia at all, as Middletown is not technically
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considered a part of the region.
As a public figure, Vance has extreme influence over the public’s perception of Appalachia, and he also has the power to influence policy- making. He has sold over a million copies of “Hillbilly Elegy,” with the sales skyrocketing after Trump chose him as his nominee for vice presi- dent. If Vance's false depictions of Appalachia are widely accepted, that could have serious consequences for the region’s people, in terms of both social stigma and policymakers not making an effort to fix systemic issues.
It is also important to note that “Hillbilly Elegy” ignores the rich his- tory and culture that has existed in Appalachia for centuries. The region’s people are diverse, community-ori- ented and resilient, but most impor- tantly, they are not a monolith, and to reduce them to such is a disservice to them.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Alyssa Cruz, Manag- ing Editor Madalyn Blair and Equity Director McKenna Christy. Post edito- rials are independent of the publication's news coverage.
(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)
LIBBY
EVANS
From the Grapevine: All autonomous rights should be protected
| FOR THE POST
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states, “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion.” This inferred the separation of church and state, an important part of our country’s societal structure. Freedom of religion is a part of freedom to autonomy, or the right of self-governance. It allows for daily practice and beliefs people choose out of their own free will that do not harm anyone in the process. However, other rights of self governance similar to religion aren’t always included in this separation.
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy states personal autonomy is “the capacity to decide for oneself and pursue a course of action, often regardless of any particular moral content.”
All people have an inalienable right to their autonomy, whether that means getting tattoos, choosing a career, traveling wherever they please and so on. This could even go as far to say every person has the right to make bad decisions as well as good ones. People must face the consequences of their own actions, but they have the right and the ability to decide their course of actions. When autonomous beliefs such as who a person will love or what a person will do with his or her’s body do not harm or threaten anyone, the government should not be able to keep them from making
TAYLOR
those decisions. Church and state should incorporate more than just religion. The state should be separated from any law regarding peaceful, autonomous rights and beliefs.
Personal autonomy in itself is comparable to religion because religion is a well-known, well-respected autonomous right in our First Amendment. According to The Heritage Foundation, religious freedom means “people shouldn’t have to go against their core values and beliefs in order to conform to culture or government.”
If this is true for religion, it should be true for other personal core values and beliefs. This webpage also describes how religious freedom is the ability to live according to these beliefs and speak on them publicly and peacefully.
There are limits on freedom of religion as decided by the Supreme Court. The Free Exercise Clause of the first amendment said there must be “compelling interest” for them to interfere, so the government can interfere if a religious practice threatens public health or safety. Religious freedom does not mean any act under the umbrella of religion is protected if these acts were to physically harm another person.
Compare this limit to any other autonomous right to a person’s body or beliefs. If choosing a path in life affects only the person who makes the decision, a governing body should not tell anyone what they can or cannot believe, who they can or cannot love or what they can do with their own body.
Table Talk:
There are always factors that should be considered, such as minors or dependents who aren’t capable of handling the same rights and who need to be protected. The ability to consent for many scenarios is given to a minor around the age of 12, but varies from state to state. However, if a belief or decision of any child does not harm themself or others, the government cannot and should not interfere with the situation or take away their legal guardian’s discretion.
All people have the ability to decide who they will be and what kind of life they will live. Our society recognizes the freedom to continue traditions and unique practices of someone’s faith, demonstrating core values and beliefs. If we can recognize the fundamentals of importance in this expression, the parallels to any autonomous right should be equally prioritized.
These rights are a key part of forming a strong identity and peaceful communities. Naturally having autonomy, these communities will unite whether rights are taken or not because no one can take away the right to feel or exist in one’s truest version of themself.
Libby Evans is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Libby know by emailing her at le422021@ohio.edu.
Politicians skew loan forgiveness statistics for gain
ORCUTT | FOR THE POST
Student loan forgiveness is a tense topic in politics. Both Democratic and Republican politicians turn to statistics about federal student loan forgiveness programs to illuminate each others’ faults. These actions create confusion for voters and enrollees of these programs.
One of the Biden-Harris Administration’s most appealing financial policies is the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, or the SAVE Plan. Though the SAVE Plan has relieved student loan debt for many Americans — nearly 8 million to be exact — the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a pause on the SAVE plan Wednesday, according to a press release by the House Budget Committee. The pause further confuses enrollees who don’t know where they will stand with their payments.
According to an issue brief from the White House, SAVE “introduces flexibility compared to previous repayment plans.” SAVE is an income-driven repayment plan, which calculates student loan payments based on the borrower’s earnings. The calculation for SAVE enrollees also waives unpaid interest at the end of each month to lower monthly payments, according to the brief.
However, others believe the SAVE plan is an irresponsible use of federal and tax funding. Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Rep. Jodey Arrington said in a statement, “The so-called ‘SAVE plan’ is a back door loan cancellation on the taxpayers’ dime and, even worse, it forces mainly lower-income individuals to pay off loans of higher-income college students.” The reality of the class divide may be less knee-jerking than Arrington alleges.
In 2022, Rep. Glenn Grothman said, “Nearly 60 percent of all student debt is held by the rich and upper-middle class,” according to a newsletter from his office. However, this is misleading.
The group Grothman labeled as “rich and upper-middle class” were people earning $74,000 or more. In 2022, the average middle-class income was $106,092 for a household of three, and the low-income average was $35,318, according to the Pew Research Center. Therefore, the “rich and upper-middle class” group was more middle-class. Grothman likely mislabeled the group this way to push his political agenda.
The statistic Grothman cited is also affected by the relationship between finishing a bachelor’s program and economic status. According to Brookings, a non-profit, nonpartisan research group, 74% of higher-income students enroll in a bachelor’s program compared to 36% of middle-class students and 23% of low-income students. That means students from higher-income families are more likely to finish their programs than other students, accruing more student loan debt in the process, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Democrats are also guilty of skewing the benefits of the SAVE plan. According to the White House issue brief, “the immediate benefits of having more disposable income are well understood. The SAVE plan also offers significant long-term debt relief.”
SAVE enrollees with loan amounts of $12,000 or less will “receive loan forgiveness after making the equivalent of 10 years of payments,” according to Federal Student Aid, a year is added for every additional $1,000. The repayment term is capped at 20 years for borrowers with undergraduate loans.
Though the benefits may seem great for low-in-
come and middle-class borrowers, one must consider the bigger picture. Low-income students in bachelor’s programs are less likely to finish them than high-income students, and they are more likely to have gone through a two-year program before the bachelor’s program, according to Inside Higher Ed. A primary reason for the retention issue is limited financial support; low-income students may be unable to afford to finish their Bachelor’s program, resulting in lower student debt.
However, people with bachelor’s holders earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more in median income in their life than those without a Bachelor’s, according to the Social Security Administration. Students who can’t finish their Bachelor’s degrees potentially have lower student debt, but they may have less income to pay it off than graduates with higher student debt. Low-income students are also more likely to attend a two-year program before a bachelor’s degree, potentially leading to more debt they struggle to pay off. Therefore, the benefits of SAVE may be exaggerated for low-income students.
Politicians skew student loan forgiveness data to push their agendas. Voters are the rope in a proverbial tug-of-war across the political aisle, ultimately leaving them confused about the SAVE plan and other forgiveness programs. Voters cannot rely on their representatives to present them with accurate data and information on student loan forgiveness; they are forced by political greed to rely on themselves.
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.
