September 10, 2024

University meal prices are increasing

3

Former OU basketball star Jason Preston says, 'I do' ... PG 7

The normalcy of having homesickness while at college ... PG 11

VOLUME 115, ISSUE 4

Coleman Owen has already made an impact at Ohio

ROBERT KEEGAN III | SPORTS EDITOR

The first time transfer wide receiver Coleman Owen stepped foot in Athens, he knew it was where he wanted to spend his final year playing college football. From the players and coaches to the campus and community, Owen fell in love with the idea of playing football for Ohio.

“The fans and the support here, all the players and everything, it wasn’t a lot like what I had at my last school,” Owen said. “Everyone here is super supportive, and they help me out a ton. Any help that I need I can go to the community or my coaches or whoever, and everyone accepts me.” Owen, a Gilbert, Arizona, native, didn’t plan on transferring. Life was pretty good at FCS Northern Arizona, where Owen was the No. 1 receiver. In five years with the Lumberjacks, Owen tallied the 9th-best mark in Northern Arizona history for receiving yards — 2,286 total — and receiving touchdowns—17 total. Owen was on pace to break school records in 2024 with the Lumberjacks, but his career was flipped on its head when most of the coaching staff was fired.

“I wasn’t planning on going into the portal … Ohio ended up reaching out pretty late, early January; I came on a visit, and that weekend, I just fell in love with the coaching staff and the players,” Owen said.

Northern Arizona had a subpar couple of years before Owen transferred, with a combined record of 13-20 from 2021 to 2023, which led to the mass exodus of the coaching staff. A big reason why Owen came to Ohio was to win.

“Ultimately, my goal in the portal was to find a place that wins games,” Owen said. “I didn’t win a lot of games in my first five years of college.”

Owen is a long way from home in Athens. Despite this, it didn’t take him long to fit right in with the Ohio offense and quarterback Parker Navarro.

Navarro, from Tempe, Arizona, about 30 minutes down the road from where Owen grew up, is a name that he had heard before Ohio, but while attending a Bible study together in Owen’s first few weeks on campus, the two quickly sparked a friendship.

“I remember just a few days after I was here, I was at a Bible study with (Navarro), and he just invited me over the night after,” Owen said. “I ended up hanging out with him and a couple other guys, and we’ve become really good friends after that … He’s one of

my best friends. I’ve known him for less than a year now, but we’ve grown our relationship with each other, and that translates onto the field.”

Owen and Navarro, who bonded over golf, faith and football, have a tight friendship, which is evident on the field. The quarterback and receiver duo are roommates off the field and constantly communicate about all things, football or not.

“It’s just a brotherhood deal, just doing all the hard work together, being in the weight room every day and on the field every day together, and just going through all the trials and things we go through,” Owen said. Including first-time starter Navarro and transfer receiver Owen, the Ohio offense features seven players who are either first-time starters for Ohio or players with minimal experience playing for the team.

In an offense with such little experience, Owen became one of the most vocal leaders early in pre-sea-

son camp. Just a few weeks before the season started, Owen was named among three offensive captains for Ohio. Among the team’s six captains, Owen is the only one who hasn’t been with the team before this season.

“There were a lot of guys on that sheet of paper that we could vote on that deserved that spot,” Owen said. “Just seeing that they voted me as a captain was awesome.”

Owen has helped the team come together in the offseason after so many departures at the end of 2023. The newly dawned team captain said he and a group of guys like to get out on the golf course between practices and get together for Bible studies.

The occasional golf outing has become a well-endeared event for the team. The usual foursome on the golf course is Owen and Navarro, with defensemen Ben McNaboe and Blake Leake. Other players trickle in for the occasional round to get in on the action.

“We’re all super competitive, we’re all athletes, and that’s just what we love to do,” Owen said. “I think being out (on the golf course) competing against each other, but at the end of the day, knowing this is my teammate and I need to be able to compete with this guy, but also love this guy at the same time. It translates to football.”

On a team with so many newcomers, Ohio already seems to be bonded like a team that has been on the field together for years; Owen is just happy to be a part of it.

“I think we can break records,” Owen said. “We’re focusing one week at a time, trying to win games, but I think we have a lot of potential, and we can really do something special this year.”

Coleman Owen (6) wide receiver for the Bobcats.

(MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR & JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Red Brick Tavern’s post-renovation relaunch draws crowds

DREW HOFFMASTER | FOR THE POST

After completing summer renovations, The Red Brick Tavern welcomed returning and new customers during a relaunching event Friday.

From late April to early August, Red Brick, located at 14 N. Court St., went through renovations to make use of empty space and to draw in customers.

The tavern was bought by Dan DeLuca in 2006 and was passed on to his son, Daniel DeLuca, in 2014. About three years ago, Daniel DeLuca began talks regarding renovations to increase capacity and breathe new life into the bar.

The renovations added a patio where former parking spots were, a lounge area with a jukebox and three televisions and restrooms upstairs, increasing the bar's overall capacity. Daniel DeLuca said the goal of recent renovations was to update the space so it could be as efficiently safe as possible for customers to come and go without issue.

“We finally had the ability to do that by expanding into the back, and it gives a good flow to the bar so (people) can come in and out and exit,” Daniel DeLuca said.

The staff was excited by the renovations and relaunching event to display the bar’s changes to the city of Athens. Senior Anika Rood, a media

intern employed at The Red Brick Tavern through Dahlen Communications, said she felt the event would bring back past bar-goers and draw connections.

“I think that everybody, at least, has a couple memories in Red Brick,” Rood said. “I just think that seeing the new space and kind of reliving past memories in there is like the biggest thing.”

The relaunch event started at 7 p.m., and a ribbon-cutting followed at 7:30 p.m. The ribbon was cut by Daniel DeLuca and met with cheers. At the event, the Ohio University Athletics Department and Twisted Tea set up a table handing out shirts, washcloths, sunglasses and water bottles. Red Brick also featured a photo booth where customers and friends could take photos at the event. Tony Slone, an alternative rock and country artist, and a DJ performed at the event.

Matt Dedich, a senior studying accounting and marketing, attended the event after seeing the announcement for the relaunching on social media. Dedich said he has come to the bar for a while and comes back because the staff is like family.

“I'm very impressed with how they've been able to try to recommit their name,” Dedich said. “It's cool that we've seen this place change for

as much as it has for the last couple weeks since I've been back. It's just the fact that it's the same old Red Brick.”

Dedich said he enjoyed the relaunch, especially with the merch, music and drinks, but the night felt the same as any other night at the bar.

“This place has always been special,” Dedich said. “To me, it's just the fact that more people are able to recognize the fact that this place is a pretty damn good place. Beer is cold, the people are cool, and they got a better bar now.”

The Red Brick Tavern team struggled to find the perfect date, debating between having the event on Labor Day weekend but ultimately decided against the weekend.

“I think we chose to do it after Labor Day weekend since more students would be here,” Rood said. “So that’s kind of in hopes that more of the student body is able to experience Red Brick kind of maybe hear a little bit more about what went into the ‘new’ Red Brick Tavern.”

Daniel DeLuca was happy that the event went well and had positive reception. He said the event had an amazing turnout and went with no major problems.

“People were excited,” DeLuca said.

“It was a good small group of people who came out to see it. The best way to put it, is it was like an open house where everyone had fun.”

Local businesses hesitate as city appeals plastic bag decision

After an Athens County judge overruled Athens’ single-use plastic bag ordinance Aug. 28, local businesses are in limbo until the matter is finalized.

Judge George P. McCarthy of the Court of Common Pleas overturned the ordinance because it violated state law, according to a previous report by The Post. Structurally, the decision pinched the home rule provision, which allows cities to act independently, as long as they follow state law.

According to Theodora Gregg, the adult educator for Athens ReThink Plastics, the organization was disappointed but unsurprised by the decision.

“We recognized that there was a very good chance that this summary judgment would not be in our favor,” Gregg said. “But, we’re planning to continue our work; our work is to educate the public and work with businesses. This ruling does not really change our focus.”

When City Council passed the plastic bag ordinance, the reactions of local businesses varied. For Little Professor Book Center, the ordinance did not change its current bag policy.

According to Nicholas Polsinelli, owner of Little Professor Book

Center, the store had not regularly distributed single-use plastic bags since 2021.

“I had stopped using (plastic bags) regularly at the start of the pandemic,” Polsinelli said. “Once the lockdown was lifted, I was talking with some of my more environmentally-minded customers. I started thinking about it a little more and decided we would start to roll back on using plastic bags.”

The ordinance reaffirmed the store’s policy. But since its overturn, he sees no reason to change the policy.

“Most of our local customers approved of our shift away from plastic bags,” Polsinelli said. “I don’t see any particular reason to return to using them.”

However, the ordinance also created hardships for other local businesses.

According to Gene Armes, the general manager of the Ohio University College Book Store, the store suffered a financial loss after the ordinance was passed.

“We tried to find the best, most economical, paper replacement we could make available to our customers, but replacing plastic bags with paper cost us over $8,500 extra per

year,” Armes wrote in an email.

Though the costs increased, and the bulkier paper bags required more storage space, the College Book Store continued to provide bags to customers free of cost, according to Armes’s email.

“At the end of the day, I feel we should always provide a suitable bag to every customer who decides to shop our store and needs something to carry their purchase in,” Armes wrote in the email.

After the overturn, returning to plastic is not an easy task for local businesses.

“We can’t really make any type of an immediate switch back to plastic completely, due to having several paper bags in the store,” Armes wrote.

“We do plan to make plastic bags available upon request, as long as we have leftover stock.”

However, McCarthy’s overrule is not necessarily the end of the plastic bag ordinance.

City Council voted Tuesday to appeal McCarthy’s decision to the Fourth District Court of Appeals, according to meeting footage. Athens Mayor Steve Patterson supported the appeal at the meeting.

“The law director (should) take this up a level, even if we have to go to

the Ohio Supreme Court,” Patterson said. “I think it’s important to us, as a community, to hang on to every ounce of home rule we have.”

As a local business owner, Polsinelli said he supported the appeal as well.

“I don’t really understand the point of the decision to undo the bag ban, but it’s really hard for me to believe a city like Athens wouldn’t want to encourage this kind of environmentally friendly practice,” Polsinelli said.

According to Athens City Law Director Lisa Eliason, the city has 30 days from the date of the Court’s decision to file the appeal. A threejudge panel would then hear the case. Until then, local businesses wait for the final verdict.

“It would also be unwise for us to just immediately go back to ordering plastic bags right away,” Armes said. “There is a chance the ban could be reinstated upon appeal by the city.”

With this hope for the ban to be reinstated, Armes is looking towards potential policy changes.

“We will revisit our paper versus plastic decision once we have a better idea of how the courts are going to ultimately rule on this issue,” Armes wrote.

Dan DeLuca, owner of Red Brick Tavern, cuts the ribbon at a relaunching event after renovations. Photo provided by Anika Rood.

OU dining increases prices amid food inflation

MARY KATE MCNAMEE FOR THE POST

The cost of food on Ohio University’s campus has risen significantly in the past year amid inflation and maintaining food quality.

OU provides students with food options such as dining halls, food trucks and markets; however, the prices of food from some campus dining locations are higher than average for the typical college student.

A smoothie from Boyd Dining Hall’s Smooth Moves is currently $8, raised from its previous price of $6.75 in Spring 2024.

The $1.25 increase in smoothie prices can be credited to the increase in the prices of ingredients and the quality of those ingredients, according to Chito Trinidad, assistant director of retail operations.

“We’d rather focus on keeping that quality but having to charge more for it,” Trinidad said.

Although inflation has run rampant in the last few years, Frank Pazzanese, executive director of culinary services, said the increase in food prices across campus cannot be attributed to COVID-19.

“I don’t think we should blame anything on COVID anymore,” Pazzanese said.

Pazzanese said OU raises the price of certain food items once a year at the beginning of every fall semester.

“We only raise our prices once a year at the beginning of the semester, and before we do that, we actually do a very robust survey,” Pazzanese said.

The survey includes all the grocery and convenience stores in town and finds the medium of those food prices. Pazzanese said OU tries to stay below that medium.

Trinidad said the market prices are more similar to those of convenience stores than those of actual grocery stores, as the markets offer a lot of packaged food at steep prices.

“Jefferson marketplace is built like a grocery store, but it buys like a convenience store,” Trinidad said. “We can only give the pricing that we’re able to based on our purchasing.”

Many variables affect the pricing of food on campus; for instance, if oil prices increase, the cost of plastic increases and so do the market food prices.

“At Jefferson Market, Nelson and Boyd markets, some of the things that people don’t realize, a lot of our goods are packaged there,” Pazzanese said.

Pazzanese also noted that all goods on campus are delivered by truck, so OU may be charged a $300 fuel charge on any delivery.

Mikayla Kunkel, a food pro-coordinator at Boyd Market, said the high food prices could strain many students.

“Students should not have to

worry about what they’re able to eat on a day-to-day basis,” Kunkel said. “It’s a heavier stressor than it used to be.”

Kunkel has noticed patterns since working at Boyd Market when it comes to students purchasing food, such as students saving up their meal swipes.

“Saturday is the day that everybody comes to spend their meal swipes,” Kunkel said. “You’ll be getting students coming in and using all 14 or however many meal swipes they get in a week on that day, and they’ll buy not the most nutritional food.”

Many students have begun to notice the increased prices and have experienced what Trinidad called “sticker shock,” which is when buyers are surprised after learning a product costs more than expected, after a significant price increase.

Josh Cable, a junior studying psychology and a transfer student from Columbus State Community College, has taken note of the expensive food options compared to his previous college.

“I know that there are just increases in food pricing just everywhere, but I see it on campus,” Cable said. “It’s a lot more expensive than, let's say, Walmart, for example.”

While many students pay more for food, the money ultimately goes back to the students, according to Pazzanese. The university uses budgeted money from student consumers to return to a scholarship fund.

“One of the things I’m really proud of is this year alone, I’ve budgeted to put $7.3 million back into the university and scholarship funds,” Pazzanese said. “Other companies that would be a profit, that’s not a profit for us. That is something that we give right back to the university in a specific package.”

Trinidad emphasized the culinary team is committed to providing a great food experience for students without compromising quality.

The Brick City Deli truck sits outside of Bentley Hall, Sept. 9, 2024. (ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Nationwide Children’s to open Athens care facility

OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER

Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced it will open a new medical center on the campus of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital beginning in November.

The facility, located in the medical office building at 26 Hospital Dr., will provide specialty care for patients who are up to 21 years old. It is a part of the hospital’s Close-to-Home Care program and brings nationally-ranked healthcare to the Athens community.

According to a 2023 Athens County Health Report, access to healthcare was identified as one of the top three health needs in the region. The increase in access and diversity of care is what LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, president of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, hopes Nationwide Children’s will address for the community.

“Access to family-centered health care will become more accessible than ever before as a result of this relationship,” Lucas-Helber wrote in an email. “OhioHealth offers a robust mix of services for the adult population of our community, but we know that parents and caregivers often must travel out of the community if their children require specialty care not offered locally.”

their families.

Although Nationwide Children’s will not provide emergency care, it will bring cardiology, gastroenterology, genetics, pulmonary, urology, pediatric surgery and ear, nose, and throat services. It will also bring

pared to non-Appalachian Ohio.

As a result, the report found Appalachian Ohio has a 15% higher Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease mortality rate, a 21% higher injury mortality rate, an 8% higher diabetes mortality rate, an 8% higher suicide rate and an 18% higher poisoning mortality rate (including deaths from drug overdoses) compared to non-Appalachian Ohio.

Lucas-Helber said by combining the strengths and resources of the two organizations, Nationwide and O’Bleness are creating a medical hub in southeast Ohio where families can find support for their medical needs and improve the health and well-being of

the Center for Family Safety and Healing and the Center for Health Weight and Nutrition to the area.

According to a report by the Athens Foundation, Appalachian Ohio has 30% fewer primary care providers, 41% fewer mental health providers and 65% fewer specialty physicians per 100,000 people com-

Reports like these help Nationwide Children’s Vice President of Planning and the Close to Home Network Libbey Hoang make informed decisions about what community health needs are.

“We do believe that all children deserve access to high-quality pediatric care and, you know, do everything we can to continue to improve the lives of children living in Ohio,” Hoang said. “Those children include people up to age 21 for the services that we’re able to provide there.”

While her focus remains on unveiling the current services, Hoang hasn’t ruled out any additions to the facility or service list.

“We will continually assess the market, continually assess the feedback from the patients and families and from other clinicians in the market, our partners and determine how they continue to meet the need, where we can,” Hoang said.

Police Blotter: Student assaulted at Chauncey bus stop

TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST

DOG BITE REPORTED IN COOLVILLE

Deputies responded to a dog bite report in Coolville Thursday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The dog warden responded to Seminary Street for the dog bite. An investigation is pending, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTED IN NELSONVILLE

Deputies responded to Nelsonville for a report of suspicious activity Thursday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies then patrolled the area and contacted the suspected individual, who said he lived in the woods, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies advised the individual to find a different place to stay. No further action was taken, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

STUDENT ASSAULTED AT CHAUNCEY BUS STOP

Deputies responded to Millfield Wednesday for a reported assault occurring at a bus stop, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The complainant stated her daughter had been assaulted at a bus stop in Chauncey.

She informed the deputies that school officials would be filing charges in conjunction with her report, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

DISTURBANCE

AT EVERGREEN ESTATES

Deputies responded to The Plains for a disturbance Wednesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies patrolled Evergreen Estates in reference to a man arguing and shouting with others.

Deputies located the man and served him a trespass complaint form. The man was taken to another location, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

BREAKING AND ENTERING INVESTIGATION

Deputies responded to a business on a possible breaking and entering Tuesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon arrival at the business in The Plains, deputies found damage to the front door and possible signs of entry.

Deputies took a report, and an investigation is pending, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

ATHENS TEACHER ASSAULTED

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to an assault on an Athens High School teacher. Deputies took the report Tuesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Athens High School is proceeding with disciplinary actions, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

MISSING STREET SIGNS

Deputies responded to a report Tuesday from the mayor of Chauncey regarding stolen street signs, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies recovered the street signs at Creekside Apartments on 105 Lexington Ave., according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Three juvenile female suspects were identified, and the incident is under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

STOLEN LICENSE PLATE

A woman reported her license plate was stolen Aug. 31, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The plate was entered into the system, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The case is under investigation.

JUVENILE WIELDS KNIFE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISPUTE

Deputies responded to a domestic violence dispute involving a knife Aug. 30, according

to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived on the scene at Spreading Oaks Village in Athens. On scene, deputies arrested a juvenile for domestic violence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

NO SHIRT. NO SHOES. GREEN HAT?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a man walking naked with a green hat in Albany Aug. 29.

Deputies patrolled Carpenter Road and State Route 681 for the man, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies spoke with witnesses who advised the man had no shirt but was otherwise clothed, according to the Sheriff’s Office. No further action was taken.

The sign outside of the OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital on Hospital Drive, Sept. 4, 2024, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)

Students bring disbanded frat back

Six years after being disbanded, Dawson Buchwald and David Seymour, seniors studying music education and music production and recording industry studies, and the new founder and co-founder of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, knew Ohio University’s campus needed a community like the freshly revived fraternity.

“Our whole goal is to create a hub for musicianship here in Athens and to really create a good social group for people who want to hang out with other musicians, be around other people with similar ideas and goals,” Seymour said.

The fraternity was originally founded at OU in 1924, but in 2018, due to a lack of interest in OU students population it disbanded until 2024. Buchwald and Seymour, who have been friends since being in a freshman learning community together, wanted to change that.

Last year, Buchwald and Seymour began the process of bringing back the fraternity with Assistant Director of Bands Justin McCrary. McCrary is an alum of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, giving them an experienced hand in helping the fraternity become reinstated.

So far, they are on step two of three, finalizing the process by acting as a colony for a few years. A ‘colony’ is a newly established fraternity organization that is recognized by the university, but has yet to receive chapter status, before officially becoming a fraternity.

The idea of re-establishment was first brought up by one of Buchwald

and Seymour’s friends from sophomore year. When that friend didn’t come back the next semester, Buchwald was still ready to get the ball rolling.

An aspiring high school band director, Buchwald is involved in Marching 110 where he plays trombone, and was also in a college rock band with Seymour last year named The Talk Show Hosts performing during Halloween and Milliron Fest last year.

Seymour, also involved in the Marching 110, is more interested in the music production side of the business, hoping to have his own studio one day.

With their differing interests in the music world, Buchwald and Seymour are combining their talents to create a completely new fraternity experience that is not yet available on campus.

“A big part of our organization is the charity aspect of it,” Seymour said.

“It’s called Mills Music Mission. The idea and philosophy of the mission is to go around and try to empower the community and people through music. We’ll go around some recovery facilities and put on these free public performances for them to help bring that sort of spirit.”

Seymour expressed his excitement in holding performances at places in the community including nursing homes and public schools. Seymour and Buchwald explained they aim to do service through music.

But for now, the two are starting small by simply raising excitement and involvement for the fraternity.

“The next step is just building on where we’re at right now, moving

forward, creating our own traditions, sort of building the fraternity and creating its own identity with events we do,” Seymour said.

The organization will have weekly meetings and rehearsals. Casual hangouts will be hosted by the fraternity Sundays to get to know everyone involved. Buchwald hopes that the group’s performances will show what Sinfonia is about.

“Once we start being seen by people, the number one thing I want them to see is that people in the group are having fun, enjoying themselves, and just enjoy each other’s company,” Buchwald said.

The fraternity’s current members are also bringing their talents to the table in order to further develop the re-establishment of the fraternity.

Andrew Falkosky, a sophomore studying acting, is an active member of Phi Mu Alpha.

“Dawson is a very good friend of mine,” Falkosky said. “I found out (about Phi Mu Alpha) through him and he said that I would be very welcomed here and I would be a valuable asset to the fraternity.”

Falkosky is interested in arranging the music the group performs. Although he is passionate about contributing to the fraternity in this way, he is hoping that through the recruiting process, they will find members who are interested in composition as well.

“I’ve mainly been trying to arrange music for it, but I would also like to see if I could get assistance on that,” Falkosky said.

Falkosky and the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity are welcoming everyone who’s

interested in getting involved.

“We want dedicated people,” Falkosky said. “We want people who want to better their lives through music. We want hard-working people, talented people but we’re very welcoming in that regard.”

Although it’s the beginning of the new semester, Buchwald has expectations that he hopes to see play out by the end of the fraternity’s first official year.

“I want to be recognized as some sort of an influence on the musical community in Athens,” Buchwald said. “Right now, we have a decent bit of recognition, but not much to back it up with, because we’ve just been meeting, kind of hanging out together, which is great, but I want to be able to show it to everyone else.”

MA417020@OHIO.EDU

CAMPUS EVENTS September 10th - 28th

Social Engagement & Student Org Events

Tuesday, September 10

Mental Health Resource Fair

Health Promotion

11:00 - 2:00 PM

Baker 240/242

Sunshine & Cyanotypes

OU Camera Club

6:00 - 8:30 PM

Strouds Run State Park

Panhellenic House Tour

OPEN TO ALL

$1/1 house or $8 for 10 houses

6:00-8:00 pm

Presidential Debate Watch Party hosted by TNP and CSEL

NON-PARTISAN EVENT

800 PM

Baker Theatre Lounge- FREE FOOD

Wednesday, September 11

Midweek Bible Study

Encompass Campus Ministry

7:00-9:00 pm

Baker 366

Thursday, September 12

Regular Discussion

BridgesUSA OU Chapter 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Gordy 302

Weekly Gathering: Cru

7:30-8:30 PM Morton 201

Friday, September 13

Bandana Project Health Promotion

ALL DAY

Baker 4th Floor Entrance-Tables

Sunday, September 15

Bingo & Brunch

hosted by UPC

10:30 am -12:30 PM

Baker 240/242

Hipanic Heritage Month Cookout hosted by the Multicultural Ctr

12:00 - 3:00 PM South Beach

Monday, September 16

IFC’s Mt Olympus: Meet the Fraternities tabling Event 6:00 - 9:00 PM Baker Ballroom

Tuesday, September 17

Constitution Day Lecture

7:00 PM Athena Cinema FREE EVENT

Thursday, September 19

Humans vs Zombies hosted by Bobcat Blasters

THeme Halo Reach *multi-day event

6:00 pm - Saturday at 11:45 PM

Walter Hall 135 & 235

Friday, September 20

Friday’s LIVE Season 53 E01 hosted by Alex Imwalle

8:00 pm

Studio C (RTV 515)

Bobcat Hockey

September 20 & 21

Purdue Northwest @ OHIO • 7:00 PM Bird Arena

September 27 & 28

Kent State @ OHIO • 7:00 PM Bird Arena

October 4 & 5

OHIO @ Maryville • 8:15 PM & 5:15 PM

St. Louis, MO (follow on X for streaming link)

SCAN

The Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity crest. Provided by Dawson Buchwald.

Merchant Market brings blues rock back

MEGAN DIEHL | OPINION EDITOR

On the back patio of The Union, located at 18 W. Union St., three members of Merchant Market huddled on a bench in the corner. The band goes on in 20 minutes. It's Friday night, but the concrete is still hot while conversations and smoke ooze out into the alley.

Vocalist Mak Price just graduated from Ohio University in December 2023 and felt the itch to start a band. Merchant Market was formed with a slew of musicians who have since left the band, but alongside Price, two original members remain: keyboardist Carl Mccutcheon, a junior studying music production and rhythm guitarist Kaed Fulton, a senior studying graphic design.

Along with Price, Mccutcheon and Fulton, the current Merchant Market lineup includes lead guitarist Andre Man, a junior studying music production, drummer Bo Reese, an electrician, and bassist Diego Buhay, a junior studying biology.

Price said the majority of the group’s influence comes from musicians of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The blues and psychedelia of this era provided a basis for the kind of music the band wanted to make, she said.

The band The Doors is characterized as a merging of blues and acid rock. Price said The Doors were extremely influential to Merchant Market. The Doors vocalist Jim Morrison’s ferocious vocals and provoc-

ative stage presence align seamlessly with darker themes and psychedelic musicality from the rest of the band. They became a massive counter-cultural symbol in the 1960s as a result.

“The ‘60s and ‘70s was the beginning of the counterculture movement and I think that holds a lot of weight because it was the first time in America people really started to go against the grain, kind of say, ‘We don’t have to live super conservatively, we can have fun and we can like live music and dance in fun ways,’” Fulton said.

Price said Morrison’s depth, both lyrically and within his image, spoke to her. Mccutcheon added keyboardist Ray Manzarek of the Doors was influential in the role the keys play in the band. Manzarek specifically is known for his fusion of jazz with psychedelic rock.

“The Doors have a particular sound when it comes to the keys, just this groovy, sick … I don’t know, it's cool,” Mccutcheon said.

Mccutcheon added the keys create dimension in the band’s sound.

“The keys, I think, definitely bring a depth into it, it's the bluesy rock sound,” Mccutcheon said. “The psychedelic feel, it definitely expands the sound a lot.”

The music of the ‘60s and ‘70s was heavily influenced by political happenings. The Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. and conservatism changing within the American identity spurred many rock artists known as “the greats” today into embracing music as a way to spread a message.

“Whenever you reach a platform that large, I feel like you should almost have an obligation to use that platform to benefit your society and help with stuff like that,” Fulton said.

Price also emphasized the role that various queer identities play in how the band made a place for itself in the Athens music scene, as the rock scene has long been dominated by men.

“I love that we have that diversity here because there’s a lot of men and it can be intimidating with that as well,” Price said. “Even as a singer, there aren’t a ton of female singers.”

Price said she appreciates the sense of camaraderie between bands in the Athens music scene and emphasized the importance of making

connections with other musicians instead of falling into competition.

“There’s a lot of stresses with bands and whatnot,” Price said. “But getting to play with everyone is the best part of it.”

Even as someone new to playing in bands, Fulton said the experience has overwhelmingly been a good one.

“I was just super excited, especially the aspect of performing was super cool to me and just being able to work with other people that had a similar interest in some really cool music was awesome,” Fulton said. “I’ve loved every one we’ve played with now.”

MD396520@OHIO.EDU

College Book Store gives back to OU

DISHA HOQUE ASST. HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR

College Book Store, or CBS, at Ohio University, outside of Alumni Gateway on 50 S. Court St., has provided students and alumni with school supplies and paraphernalia since 1952.

CBS, originally selling primarily textbooks, features $8.88 T-Shirt designs, titled ‘Crazy Eights,’ and $18.08 sweatshirts, priced in honor of OU’s founding year. The campus-known deals were implemented years ago to compete with other previously open bookstores.

“We were trying to find a way to set ourselves apart, outside of the other two stores (not being) locally owned,” Gene Armes, general manager of CBS, said. “(These deals) really helped, today we’re the last surviving bookstore on campus.”

The two other competing bookstores have since closed, but the specialty deals at CBS are still advertised today.

At the heart of CBS is the part-time student employees, hired by Angela Strock, operational manager of CBS. According to Strock, the Book Store staff functions similarly to a family.

“We just really want everybody to have a good experience here and set them up for success, not failure,” Strock said. “That's why we support them as much as we do.”

Stark has worked at CBS since 2001 and is celebrating 23 years at the store in the coming months.

Samantha Brown, a junior studying middle childhood education, has worked at the bookstore since Febru-

ary 2023.

“(Working at CBS) did help my college experience,” Brown said. “It just kept me very busy, and it kept me focused, and it made me not procrastinate as much.”

Brown’s last day working at CBS is Thursday, and she said the job gave her valuable experience working with customers.

“(Working) gave me just overall good work experience,” she said. “So much happens here. Working retail, it’s strictly customer service, I have to think quick on my feet.”

True to its name, CBS opened primarily selling textbooks and class materials for students. As textbooks began to phase out of college syllabi, the bookstore adapted by increasing its athleticwear and clothing stock.

“I feel at some point it could get to the point where the Book Store might not be the proper name for us,” Armes said. “I mean, we'll always be ‘the Book Store,’ because when students come on campus, the first place they want to go is the bookstore.”

According to Armes, the title holds more meaning than a simple definition of what the business provides.

“We'll never get away from the name because we can’t,” he said. “I mean, just what it stands for, and for all the alumni.”

The familiar designs from the Book Store, which can be spotted on students and alumni around campus, are designed by Andrew Stout and his staff. Stout began as a part-time employee at the store and is now part-owner and assistant manager, working alongside Armes.

“We work really hard to have the newest things on the floor and make sure that we have what's in and what everybody wants to wear,” Strock said.

The managing staff at CBS often defer to their student employees for help coming up with designs and inspiration, as well.

“The bottom line, I always go to my students because they're the audience, they are our market,” Strock said.

Outside of T-shirts and Ohio athletic wear, the Book Store’s stock is diverse. With Greek Life, Art, School supply and textbook departments alongside the OU gear, the bookstore continues to expand its stock every school year.

Across the street from the bookstore is The House and Cross Court, located on 45 S. Court St. The two shops sell similar items and are under

the same ownership and management as CBS.

Outside of being a business, the Book Store also engages in local philanthropy efforts. According to Armes, CBS makes donations to various fundraising efforts weekly.

“We try to accommodate all of the (fundraising) because frankly, that’s our bread and butter,” Armes said. “We try to sponsor people that sponsor us.”

The Book Store runs completely locally, including being locally owned and supplied. Its website highlights the shop as, “Run from the ground up right here in Athens.”

CBS continues to prepare for its busiest time of the year, Parent’s Weekend and football season, according to Armes, with its managers and staff.

Merchant Market during one of their gigs. Photo provided by Kaiden Deck.

The outside of the College Book Store located on Court Street in Athens, Sept. 9, 2024. (MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)

OU to ‘I Do’: Jason, Micaylah Preston share wedding story

ABREANNA BLOSE | FOR THE POST

Under the warm Jamaican sun, surrounded by crystal waters, beautiful flowers, family and friends, Jason Preston and Micaylah Preston exchanged their vows in paradise. Though they officially said “I do” July 20, the Prestons’ love story began just over 4 years ago in the heart of Athens.

Jason Preston first met his future spouse at Ohio University during the winter of his freshman year. Jason Preston is now an NBA player for the Utah Jazz, and Micaylah Preston is an entertainment marketing strategist. The rest was history. The couple officially started dating in July 2020 on College Green. Jason Preston asked Micaylah Nash (now Micaylah Preston) to marry him at Easton Town Center, located in Columbus, in December 2022.

During their engagement, the couple had many decisions to make about their wedding.

“Micaylah deserves so much credit for all the little details throughout the event,” Jason Preston said. “I could go on and on.”

The pair decided to have an intimate destination wedding at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a location that holds a special place in Jason’s heart.

“With (the wedding) being in Jamaica, where my mother is from, and her side of the family being there, it was everything,” Jason Preston said. “It brought back a lot of memories, being able to experience the food as well as the culture.”

Instead of creating a traditional

wedding registry, the pair chose to ask for donations to the American Lung Association in honor of Jason’s mother, Judith Sewell, who passed away from lung cancer when Jason was 16 years old. As an ambassador for the association, Jason felt this gesture served as a way for the couple to make a lasting impact.

After a year and a half of thoughtful planning, the Preston’s finally had the opportunity to enjoy their big day. They welcomed their guests with gift bags filled with chapstick, “Jamaica” bracelets, hangover kits and a custom bug spray that read, “be smitten, not bitten.”

The Prestons’ wedding weekend kicked off on Thursday, July 18 with a welcome party. The theme was Prestons in Paradise. The rehearsal dinner took place on Friday with a timeless elegance theme. The wedding was Saturday followed by a cocktail hour and a reception.

The weekend of events served as a celebration of the couple’s love story and allowed them to spend meaningful time with family and friends.

“We live in Salt Lake City and our friends are just spread across the country, so having everyone in one place was something that we've never experienced before,” Micaylah said. “It was cool having that for three days.”

Among their guests was Jeff Boals, the head men’s basketball coach at OU and Jason’s former coach.

Although the wedding was in July, the height of recruiting season for Boals, he did not hesitate to attend. According to Boals, the connections and bonds he forms with students

he has coached are one of the most meaningful parts of his job.

“When you get into coaching, this is part of the reason why you do it,” Boals said.

Boals said he has known Micaylah since she was just 7 years old, as he is a long-time friend of her parents. Because of these lasting connections, he has seen the couple evolve, blossoming into the people they are today.

“Micaylah is very, very smart,” Boals said. “She'll be an unbelievable career woman, whatever path she chooses. And obviously, Jason is a phenomenal basketball player. They really kind of sacrificed and tied into being a couple.”

Boals said the wedding was beautiful, serving as a celebration of the couple and their future together.

“Micaylah has been very supportive of Jason's career, and Jason has been very supportive of Micaylah’s career,” Boals said. “I'm excited to see where it ends up.”

Boals was not the only OU connection at the Prestons’ wedding weekend.

“We had our first date at OU on College Green, and that was actually where he ended up asking me to be his girlfriend,” Micaylah said. “That was another reason why we chose to have our ceremony on a lawn.”

The theme of the Prestons’ guest book was “From OU to I do,” serving as a tribute to their journey as Bobcats and a nod to their Athens connections.

As Boals explained, Athens is special because you never know who you are going to run into.

“You can meet anybody at any time, right,” Boals said. “It could be the love of your life and someone you get married to.”

After their wedding weekend, the Preston’s headed straight to Europe for their two-week honeymoon in Monte Carlo, South of France, Greece and Tuscany, Italy. Now, they are settling into married life.

“It's a great feeling to walk around with a ring on my hand,” Jason said. “As far as our love goes, I wouldn't say anything necessarily changed, but it's definitely a great feeling of new beginnings.”

AB532721@OHIO.EDU @ABBYBLOSEE

Ohio University's Jason Preston (0) takes the ball to the basket during the home game against Western Michigan University on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in Athens, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | FOR THE POST)

(Micaylah and Jason Preston celebrate after saying "I do", photo provided by Micaylah Preston.)

Ohio is home for Bradley Weaver

Saturdays on Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium, number 94 will be the center of attention when the Ohio defense is on the field. Bradley Weaver is the man in the jersey, and this season, he will be the guy to watch in Ohio’s defense.

The redshirt junior had an outstanding 2023 season, leading Ohio in sacks with six and tackles for loss with 13. He had a breakout year and was a lead contributor on one of the nation's top defenses.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Ohio saw almost everyone on defense leave the team. Some players went to play professionally, and others, like Rayyan Buell and Keye Thompson, left through the transfer portal.

Weaver was one of many Bobcats who announced that he had entered the portal, making for some devastating news for a defense that had already seen its fair share of players decide to look elsewhere.

Many things fueled his decision, but the departure of defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky was a big reason for his entry into the portal.

“My decision to enter the portal was based off of the old defensive coordinator,” Weaver said. “He had left, and I had thought about going to his school.”

Thankfully for Ohio, Weaver ultimately decided to stay home and

withdraw from the portal without transferring to Nowinsky’s new school, Memphis.

Much like his recruitment out of high school, family and love from coaches at Ohio played a big part in his recruitment out of the portal.

“At the end of the day, I had to look back at the main roots, and I had to look at my family; that's why I came here to OU,” Weaver said. “I have Coach Albin, Coach Hauser, who I've had past relationships with. And you know, being able to talk to them and have them invite me to come back, you know, (it) was very, very awesome to have that.”

It was the same love and support from coaches that brought him to Ohio when Weaver was a player in highschool.

Weaver wasn’t a standout player or recruit coming out of high school. Ohio was his only Division I FBS offer out of Hilliard Darby High School.

“That was one of my first offers and one of my very few, only offers out of high school,” Weaver said. “(Ohio) showed me a lot of attention and a lot of love. I came down on my visit, and I just absolutely loved it here.”

Family was another big part of Weaver’s commitment, choosing to stay near his hometown by choosing Ohio. Athens is only a 90-minute drive from Hillard, where Weaver was raised.

“Another big standout for OU is that it's really close to home,” Weaver said. “I'm very family-oriented; that's very important to me. Knowing that it’s very close to home, my family can still come support me, it's still in state. I think that was a very big part of my decision.”

The unheralded recruit would play four games his freshman year before redshirting, ending his freshman year. In his redshirt freshman year, he received more playing time, appearing in six games and recording 14 tackles.

The 2023 season was the real breakout year for Weaver. In his redshirt sophomore season, Weaver became a key contributor off the edge for Ohio. He led the team in sacks and tackles for loss during the regular season and showed up big in Ohio’s bowl game against Georgia Southern, going for two sacks and a forced fumble en route to a Myrtle Beach Bowl victory.

Weaver’s work to improve every year caught the eye of not only the crowds at Peden but also the Ohio coaching staff. New defensive ends coach Kurt Mattix noticed Weaver as a star on the defense as soon as he came into his new role.

“He’s a professional in everything he does,” Mattix said. “He works extremely hard, he’s very dedicated. There’s not many people that work harder than him.”

Weaver’s return to Ohio was mas-

sive for the team, and his teammates have recognized that. He was voted to be one of Ohio’s six captains for the 2024 season, an honor that means a lot for the veteran defensive end.

“Being named captain is an honor … I give that all to my teammates,” Weaver said. “I really try to embrace the brotherhood that we have here and make sure that we're all one, but I really have to give that honor to my teammates because they're the ones who chose me.”

Although individual success will undoubtedly come to Weaver, the main mission for him and the team comes in the win column, particularly a win in Detroit for the Mid-American Conference title.

“The ultimate team goal is to go back to Detroit, and we're not coming back in second place this time,” Weaver said.

A MAC title win would be the crown jewel for Weaver’s career at Ohio. The star edge rusher has already tasted the MAC Championship game in Detroit, but Ohio fell to Toledo in the 2022 MAC Title Game.

Being a captain on the team that brings Ohio its first MAC championship since 1968 would be a fitting high point for the Ohio native who chose to come back to Ohio and help the team chase the title.

CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS STAFF WRITER

Bradley Weaver (94) lines up for the next snap during Ohio University’s game against Southern Alabama at Peden Stadium in Athens, Sept. 7, 2024.

(JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Week 3 Student Media Poll picks from The Post

ROBERT KEEGAN III | SPORTS EDITOR

LOGAN

ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR

CHARLIE

FADEL | SPORTS 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 FIVE

Ohio State

Georgia

Texas

Alabama

Ole Miss

It was a crazy week in college football, and we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. My top five had some shakeups, but they remain relatively similar, with Oregon excluded and Ole Miss added. Oregon is still 2-0 but has had some trouble putting away lower levels of competition early in the season.

Additionally, Texas moves up into the third spot after an incredible game against former top 10 opponent, Michigan. Texas could easily slide up into the No. 1 spot later in the season.

WHO I DROPPED: NC STATE, KANSAS

No surprises here. Two low-ranked teams that suffered losses in Week Two.

For NC State, the team lost as an underdog to top-10 ranked Tennessee; however, it was by a wide margin

of 41 points, so it was hard to rank a team after that.

Kansas lost to an evenly matched team, Illinois, by a narrow margin of 6 points.

WHO I ADDED: INDIANA, SYRACUSE

I somewhat unpopularly ranked both Indiana and Syracuse solely due to each team's offensive success early in the season.

Syracuse had no problem in Week Two against AP Ranked Opponent Georgia Tech. This big win comes after a dominant offensive performance of over 400 yards against Ohio in Week One.

As for Indiana, despite facing an FCS school, they had one of the most completely dominant games of the week. A 77-3 win against any opponent seems worthy of national attention.

LOGAN ADAMS, SPORTS EDITOR TOP FIVE

Texas

Georgia

Ohio State

Alabama Ole Miss

Texas doesn’t bring a perfect team to the table, nor do I think Michigan is a remarkably good team. However, through two weeks the Longhorns have looked like the best team in the country, and have played better competition than Ohio State while looking just as dynamic.

Penn State dropped out of my top five, falling to No. 11 on my top 25 after a game against Bowling Green

where it was behind for vast portions of the event. Other preseason top-five picks, Michigan and Oregon, continue to flounder and thus continue to drop. Michigan now sits at No. 16 and Oregon sits at No. 9.

WHO I DROPPED: KANSAS, TEXAS A&M, IOWA, GEORGIA TECH

Much like every major outlet, the bottom end of my top 25 saw a lot of overhaul. Kansas, Iowa and Georgia Tech all fell to teams who were added to this week’s top 25, or in consideration to be added, while Texas A&M is suffering from multiple teams just looking better.

WHO I ADDED: SYRACUSE, NEBRASKA, IOWA STATE, INDIANA

Some familiar faces to Ohio fans found their way onto my top 25 following week two. Syracuse, Ohio’s week one vanquisher, found its way to 21 after two weeks of explosive offensive play. Former Bobcat quarterback Kurtis Rourke has led a consistent Hoosiers offense that has been tough to stop so far. Iowa State picked up a big win against its instate rival Iowa and Nebraska overpowered a talented Colorado squad.

CHARLIE FADEL, STAFF WRITER TOP FIVE

Georgia

Ohio State Texas Alabama

Ole Miss

Although it was an eventful week of college football across the country, there wasn’t much change in my top five. Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama took care of business, blowing out

inferior teams. Texas picked up a big win against a Michigan team that looked completely inept on offense. Penn State drops a spot after barely surviving against Bowling Green this week, which means the Rebels of Ole Miss will move into my top rankings after stomping Middle Tennessee.

WHO I DROPPED: GEORGIA TECH, KENTUCKY, NC STATE

The Yellow Jackets had their fun in the top 25 after beating a Florida State team ranked in the top 10 in Week Zero. They lost to Syracuse this week and will most likely go back to being below-average in the ACC. Kentucky looked to be completely overmatched while getting routed 31-6 against South Carolina, and NC State is the latest team to be demolished by Tennessee. The Volunteers offense looks unstoppable with Nico Iamaleava at quarterback.

WHO I ADDED: SYRACUSE, NEBRASKA, INDIANA, IOWA STATE

It was a big week for the Midwestern region of college football with Nebraska and Indiana representing the Big Ten well after the Cornhuskers manhandled rival Colorado, and Indiana set school records in points scored and yards gained in a game this weekend.

Iowa State was another team that got a huge win in a rivalry game after taking down Iowa with a 54-yard game-winning field goal. Syracuse is the last team to join the top 25 after two very solid performances from Kyle McCord and the Orange’s offense against Ohio in week one and a ranked Georgia Tech team on Saturday.

Fans helped propel Ohio to its 600th total win

ROBERT KEEGAN III | SPORTS EDITOR

With quarterback Parker Navarro in victory formation, a raucous Ohio crowd cheered in celebration as the clock read double zeroes, signifying a 27-20 Ohio win. The Bobcats not only got their first win of the season in their first game at home but also picked up win No. 600 in the program's storied history.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Ohio coach Tim Albin said about reaching 600 wins. “There’s a lot of former Bobcats and administrators that have a lot to do with that.”

Albin, who has been with the program for 20 years, has played a large role in the program's 600 wins, a good portion of which came at Peden Stadium — now Peden Stadium at Frank Solich Field.

Ever since Albin took over as head coach, a primary goal for the team

has been to “defend The Frank.” Named after Hall-of-Fame coach Frank Solich, a role model for Albin, the team doesn’t accept any losses on The Frank.

“We’ve talked about it ever since I got here in January, we don’t lose on The Frank,” Ohio linebacker Blake Leake said. “That’s been carried out for the past couple years … My first game here tonight, I was going to make sure we didn’t lose on The Frank. That full stadium really helped us.”

Named after two of the greatest Ohio coaches of all time, Don Peden and Frank Solich, winning at home means something to the entire program and the university. Since the stadium added Solich’s name, the Bobcats have played to a home record of 12-1.

Something about the history and reputation of the stadium helps Ohio win week in and week out. Of course, that is in no small part due to the fans that fill it.

“I can’t express how excited we are to be at home,” Albin said ahead of the game. “Bobcat Nation has the best (fans) in our league.”

Late in the fourth quarter of Ohio’s win against South Alabama, the defense needed a stop. The Jaguars had a chance to run down the field and tie the game, giving them the possibility of winning in overtime. However, on a third down play, one of the biggest of the game, the Ohio crowd came to their feet and made noise, forcing a penalty that would later lead to a punt. From that point, Ohio rode the crowd to victory in the final minutes.

“It’s loud down there, (the fans) are pumping energy into our guys,” Albin said. “It’s energy, and our guys feed off of that.”

Albin and the whole team were thrilled to return to their home turf. Any time the team takes the field in Athens, there is an expectation for success, an expectation that Albin usually meets.

“I saw a lot of shirts with painted chests and painted faces; they were pretty rowdy,” Albin said. “It was loud there in the second half.”

Ohio will play five more games on The Frank this season, five games in which the team will see the advantage that the field and the community bring.

Tracking Trends: Reality TV is a phenomenon

NYLA GILBERT | FOR THE POST

MTV’s “The Real World,” created in 1992, started the rise of a new genre of televised content. The show was a huge success and solidified reality television as a distinct genre. Watching people live together, conduct themselves in dramatized situations or compete in challenges with the chance of a prize has kept audiences captivated with reality TV for over 30 years.

Some reality TV shows sparked a wave of education among viewers, such as “Teen Mom” and “16 & Pregnant.” These shows showcased the tumultuous reality of teen parenthood, resulting in lower teen pregnancy rates during the time of its original airing, despite criticism that they popularized it. Other shows, like the sixth season of “Love Island,” sparked a new wave of online popularity among fans with its iconic lines, drama and viral moments.

Sophie Downing, a Ph.D. candidate in communication studies, expressed love for “trashy reality TV.”

“I love a good, trashy reality TV show, especially Love Island Bachelor type ones,” Downing said. “I think they're just kind of fun. It is very interesting from an academic standpoint, too. If we think about different influences (like) why people go on these shows, and the kind of culture around them, I think (it) is fascinat-

ing.”

Gabrielle Gilliland, a sophomore studying forensic chemistry, expressed a similar sentiment to Downing. She said she is fascinated by the quick connections and crazy challenges on shows like “Love Island” and “Big Brother.”

“I just find them funny more than anything and a little cringe, but it’s an escape from my world,” Gilliland said.

“You’re just watching these random people do weird things that you would never do and you’re like ‘Oh, that’s funny and interesting.’”

Gilliland added she feels engaged in reacting to fun reality TV moments.

“I watch ‘Love Island’ and I'm like, ‘Oh my God, why are you kissing this random man five minutes after you met him?’” Gilliland said.

The curiosity audiences have toward reality TV cannot be underestimated. Viewers anticipate the next episode in these reality TV shows through their dramatic storylines, contestants’ attempts at finding love, messy fights and underdog stories.

Downing said these elements draw audiences into the reality TV realm.

“There’s the romantic side that we like to think people can find love, and it's interesting to watch people do that, especially people who probably wouldn't have met otherwise,” Downing said. “I also think it's the dramatic moments that usually sell, and that's what gets people to watch.”

Downing said the TV genre also presents a strange hook that pulls viewers in, as well as a sense of community among viewers.

“We also have a kind of perverse fascination with things going wrong and seeing people in hard situations, which is something we as a society should maybe investigate a bit more,” Downing said. “It's also a social event too. I would watch ‘The Bachelor’ with my friends in college, or I watched ‘Love Island’ with one of my friends.”

Despite the communal effect of reality TV, it is not taken seriously by the general public or critics. In an article from Columbia Magazine, writer Julia Joy interviewed Danielle J. Lindemann, a sociology professor at Lehigh University. Lindemann said she thinks the genre shows should be taken more seriously.

“I see reality TV as a kind of funhouse mirror, because it can show us ourselves in caricatured or amplified form,” Lindemann said in the story. “The genre reveals some of the worst things about society — sexism, racism, classism, materialism — and dials them up to eleven. But it also shows us the best of ourselves in its creativity. Historically, reality TV has been more diverse than other forms of media in its representation of peo-

ple of color and queer people, even if those representations haven’t always been positive.”

Megan Micata, a sophomore studying middle school education, said she liked the visibility of underprivileged communities in competition shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“I like it for the queer representation that's in it, and it's also hilarious,” Micata said.

In a world post-pandemic, reality TV worked as a mirror into the worlds of others dealing with similar circumstances. It has been a source of representation and escape for those who support the genre.

@SIIMPLY_NYNY

NG972522@OHIO.EDU

‘The Book of Bill’ reignites ‘Gravity Falls’ fandom

CAMI SEYMORE | FOR THE POST

Eight years ago, Disney’s animated series “Gravity Falls” ended after a two-season run. The show follows twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel (Kristen Schaal) Pines, who are sent to the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, to stay with their Great-Uncle “Grunkle” Stan (Alex Hirsch) at his tourist trap known as the Mystery Shack. While there, Dipper soon finds a journal proving the town’s infamous legends might be real after all.

The series was released on Disney Channel June 15, 2012. During the show’s first season, Dipper and Mabel try to identify the author of the cryptic journal while learning more about the town’s bizarre history. Along the way, they fight mythical creatures such as evil gnomes, ghosts, zombie-like creatures called “The Undead,” cursed wax figures and even a unicorn.

By the end of Season One, the twins soon find out Grunkle Stan knows more than he leads on. They learn about Stan’s long-lost twin brother Stanford “Ford” Pines (J. K. Simmons), who accidentally created a portal while trying to unravel the town’s mysteries. After an altercation with Stan, Ford got sucked into the abyss and was imprisoned

there alongside nightmarish demons including Bill Cipher, a yellow, oneeyed, triangular demon and the main antagonist of the series.

“Gravity Falls” was a passion project for Hirsch, who also voiced other characters such as Soos and Bill Cipher. Hirsch felt inspired by his relationship with his twin sister and their summer vacations in Oregon.

The show amassed a huge fan base due to its technical excellence, writing, creative themes and a rich storyline. The series scored a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and won two Emmy Awards, collecting various other nominations and honors.

After two short seasons, the series finale of “Gravity Falls,” titled "Weirdmageddon 4: Somewhere in the Woods,” aired on Disney Channel in 2016. The finale made for a conclusive end to the series, in which Mabel and Dipper save Gravity Falls, send Bill back to his Nightmare Realm and leave for the summer to return home to California.

Fans were left with some hope that “Gravity Falls” was not over yet. At the end of the finale, Mabel and Dipper say goodbye to their friends and family as they pack up and leave, and Dipper opens a letter from Mystery Shack employee Wendy, who promises to see them next summer.

Hirsch, however, dispelled these rumors and explained that he “wanted to tell a concise and complete story that would appeal to viewers without losing its charm,” and had no plans to continue the series.

That is until Hirsch released “The Book of Bill,” published July 24, which reignited the “Gravity Falls” obsession of the 2010s.

“The Book of Bill” follows Bill’s perspective about how he left the second dimension and terrorized Gravity Falls along with some puzzles and riddles for readers to crack, including missing pages from the infamous journal from the original series.

In an interview with Polygon, Hirsch talked about the legacy of “Gravity Falls” and what it was like returning to the series through the psyche of Bill Cypher.

“Bill is a little bastard, and little bastards are fun to write,” Hirsch said. “When me and my pals published this cursed anti-Bible from the perspective of a literal chaos demon, I genuinely couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.”

After the book’s release, there was some discussion surrounding it and its mature content. Unlike the original series, the book is marketed toward adults and contains dark and violent themes and profanity.

“The Book of Bill” is currently No. 1

on the Amazon best-sellers list, and the book’s release brought attention back to the show, reigniting its popularity. Many fans are discussing the show’s theories on TikTok, hoping Hirsch will bring back the show for another season.

Whether Hirsch creates the highly anticipated third season of “Gravity Falls” or leaves the show as it is, “The Book of Bill” helped the series reach a new audience, and reignited the show’s fandom after its finale eight years ago.

@CAMISEYMORE CH525822@OHIO.EDU

NICOLE REESE ASST. ART DIRECTOR

(MIA PISHOTTI| ART DIRECTOR)

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Simple Science: The science behind homesickness

ALEXANDRA HOPKINS | FOR THE POST

College life is a special and stressful experience for anyone. Whether it is your first time on campus or your fourth time back in class, most students miss home. Studies have shown that 70% of firstyear college students experience homesickness, and 30% of all students will feel its symptoms throughout the year.

WHAT IS HOMESICKNESS?

Preoccupied by thoughts of home, students who experience homesickness can struggle to adjust to a new environment. The loneliness, sadness and confusion caused by this uncertainty may plague the first weeks on campus. If unresolved, it can even result in anxiety and depression.

Though these thoughts may feel inescapable, there are reasons why this phenomenon occurs and ways to combat the unwanted feeling.

The feeling itself originates from deep in the brain, specifically in the amygdala. The amygdala controls emotional responses, such as fear, anxiety and anger. When you feel homesick, the amygdala sends abnormal distress signals to the rest of your body. From there, adrenaline releases and triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response.

Usually, the body would regulate this feeling. But in new scenarios, such as moving to college, efforts are focused elsewhere. Unregulated fight-or-flight responses are then constantly triggering, causing a person to feel emotions similar to grief.

Society commonly views being homesick as a trait of childhood or poor adjustment in adults. However, this was not always the case.

Once thought of as a deadly disease, American perceptions around homesickness shifted in the mid-18th century when society began to praise individual freedoms.

During World War I, psychologist Viktor Tausk named it one of the major causes of desertion. From then on, it was quickly brushed off as a sign of immaturity.

Two centuries later, homesickness has become less of a taboo in American culture and is widely studied and talked about by professionals. Some scientists believe homesickness is a relic leftover from early human evolution.

Humans are, for lack of a better term, pack animals. We thrive in highly sociable and connected societies. At one point, the homesick feeling prevented humans from wandering off and getting eaten. Now, it remains a ghostly, uncomfortable feeling caused by leaving home or another familiar place or people.

TIPS FOR COMBATING HOMESICKNESS

There are many ways to combat the feeling of homesickness. You can connect to the people around you, especially those in similar situations. College students, especially freshmen, are all looking to connect.

Another method is making a schedule and sticking to it. If you have a routine, it can help with uncertainty. You can also distract your mind from the symptoms of homesickness by staying busy and interacting with others.

You can try to stay off of social media and become acquainted with new surroundings instead. By becoming immersed in new areas, you can relieve confusion and promote exploration, which typically helps you create new relationships.

You can also take time to understand where the feelings are coming from. You can find ways to eat food from home or continue to speak with your loved ones, if you determine it stems from missing parts of your home life. However, you can reach out to professionals in search of help if homesickness seems to be inescapable for you.

Students should not feel alone or ashamed in facing homesickness. College is about many things, but importantly, it is about building community. Take note of those around you, and reach out if you see someone struggling with homesickness. All they may need is a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on.

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The dark side of gym culture

ALICIA SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

Content warning: the following article contains content about eating disorders and body image.

The gym is a fantastic place for people to get in shape and enjoy some healthy exercise. With the rise of “wellness culture,” the amount of people going to the gym has nearly doubled since before the pandemic. However, in the pursuit of fitness, the line between gym-goers being healthy and unhealthy can blur.

The picture painted on social media by influencers is one of lean yet muscular individuals. That being said, the image is just that: an image. While many of these fitness influencers are quick to admit that they do not look like they do in their videos 24/7, many also do not. Many also do not admit to how much time they spend in the gym daily. Many post their “what I eat in a day” videos, revealing green juices and expensive supplements. The truth is that many of these influencers can afford more than the average person, thus being able to afford more time in the gym. Ultimately, influencers’ videos can lead to extremely skewed expectations for a gym routine. Many people leave the gym feeling dejected after just a few workouts, simply because they are not seeing results. In fact, within the first half of the year, over 50% of new gym members cancel their membership. While there are a variety of reasons for someone to quit a gym, it is safe to assume people not seeing results could affect their decision to continue going to the gym. If someone is doing five workouts per week, then he or she would typically see results within two to three months.

achieves desired results, even if it is not physically possible to achieve. It can also lead to overexercising, which can cause problems such as extreme soreness and underperformance.

One user on Tiktok expressed concern for people, particularly men, who do this. The majority of the comments either disagreed or ignored her concern, instead, the comments alluded to wanting to look like popular fitness influencers rather than pursue health and wellness.

Another dark facet of gym culture is the excessive control over food consumption. While it is relatively normal to cut down a bit to lose a few pounds or to add a couple more

way to gain muscle and lean out can quickly lead to an obsession with food and control. One TikTok creator named Natalia Loren even brought a scale to a restaurant to weigh out her food to ensure she was getting her macronutrients without consuming too many calories.

While many of the comments appropriately recognized Loren’s behavior as one that borders on disordered eating, many others defended it, with the consensus being that weighing food was just an average part of gym life for many.

calorie-dense foods to a diet to bulk up, the calorie counting and tracking in the gym community can often become borderline obsessive.

When looking at the influencers on a screen, comparison is imminent. Comparison can drive many to obsessively work out until he or she

Cycles of bulking and cutting are relatively normal for people who lift weights. Bulking and cutting is when people go through cycles lasting from a few weeks to a few months where they eat more calories than they burn to put on weight to turn into muscle. Then, these people eat fewer calories to lose the fat they gained during the bulk. All the while, the person undergoing cutting or bulking continues with his or her normal workout routine.

However, what begins as a simple

However, the disordered eating habits of gym-goers go much deeper than just cycles of bulking and cutting and a constant pursuit of “enough” protein. Many fitness influencers will bring up that they are in recovery from an eating disorder. While the gym is a great way to rebuild a healthy relationship with your body, it can be a slippery slope into another form of calorie and portion control. Ultimately, many swap out their previous disorders for orthorexia, which is an unhealthy focus on healthy eating. It is not just speculation. A study from 2015 found that 22% of male and 59% of female fitness instructors can be classified as having eating disorders. The constant desire to be in “peak condition” can push people into a mental health spiral, preventing them from getting the proper nutrients needed to sustain themselves.

The gym is a fantastic place to get in shape and stay healthy. However, it can also be full of negativity: full of skewed expectations, questionable-at-best habits and a mental health crisis.

(NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR)

Metal Mondays: Heavy metal history celebrates gender performance

JACKSON MCCOY | COPY CHIEF

Walking down California’s infamous Sunset Strip in the late ‘70s and ‘80s would permanently impact all people sober enough to remember their time at the hard-partying epicenter of glam rock. The 1.7 mile stretch of West Hollywood was the nexus of rock’s transgressive subgenre that defined the decade, shaping popular culture and defying traditional gender roles at a time in America when social conservatism was on the rise.

American glam rock icons like Poison and Mötley Crüe were defined by both their music — a highly polished form of the rock music popularized by bands like AC/DC — and their on-stage personas. Their music often centered lyrical content that can only be described as heterosexual (“Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Paradise City,” etc.), but the loud makeup and feminine clothing glam rockers donned were more experimental.

During the 1980s, the sensation of glam rockers putting on pounds of glaring makeup, wearing lingerie and tight leather pants, all while singing about their debaucherous behavior, can only be described as transgressive. The vast majority of bands at the time were not trying to make a statement about gender roles, but instead were shooting for attention, radio play and the central theme of doing whatever they wanted to do whenever they wanted to do it.

However, there was an inherent political statement made when big-name performers like Nikki Sixx, Robert Plant and Dee Snider threw on their

seminal looks. Despite flouting the usual expectations of straight men, those performers still were seen as sex symbols while also maintaining a largely male audience, something that often felt very contradictory.

In many ways, gender was simply another performance alongside those bands’ stage shows. The idea of gender being a performance is not a new one; feminist theorist and philosopher Judith Butler coined the term “gender performance” in their 1988 essay “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution.” According to Butler, gender is simply a stylized series of acts, a carefully constructed identity that can be “constituted differently” depending on the circumstances. Basically, Butler says that gender is not real and is instead the sum of all the ways someone acts, that gender is something you do instead of something you are.

Butler’s theory of gender performance is not incredibly popular; indeed, many people do feel they identify with their own gender identity and see it as a tangible thing rather than an illusion. However, there is a clear connection between Butler’s theory that gender is a performance and the actual performances that glam rockers put on.

Think of the live shows and photoshoots of glam bands. People usually associate the loud, effeminately-influenced costumes with their performances, but also consider the physical movements. The way lead singers like Plant and Vince Neil move about on stage is more stereotypically femi-

nine, and many bands would pucker their faces for professional photos to accentuate the lip stick they were wearing.

There are also several overtly queer influences on the aesthetics of glam rock. Judas Priest, one of the major influences on the subgenre — as well as heavy music as a whole — is fronted by Rob Halford, who is gay. The band’s fashion and music both contain nods to the leather and S&M subculture within the gay community of the ‘70s and ‘80s. No one knew Halford was gay, and his audience readily adopted his style to meet an aesthetic that was often seen as manly, but what they were wearing was directly influenced by queer life.

Glam rock — like metal — is a genre founded on pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable. With a legacy of hedonism and sensationalism, this should be no surprise to people. However, there is still a deeper meaning to glam rock than just sex and drugs and rock and roll, a meaning that can be seen in the tossing out of gendered expectations and its queer history.

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 jm049122@ohio.edu.

The Lo-Down: Tim Walz works

LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR

Relatability always tests well when it comes time to elect a government official. Sadly, however, it’s often feigned due to the kind of people who have the means to become the nation’s leaders. Democratic Vice President candidate Tim Walz is a breath of fresh air from that, and it’s what makes his candidacy’s primary tactic work.

Former President Barack Obama was initially seen as a different look from this brand of politician. He practically won both terms based on being a likable, conversational, charismatic and relatively unknown candidate above all else. Since then, the sitting presidents, their running mates and opponents have lacked this intangible sense of being real and likable individuals, as evidenced by approval ratings.

Former President Donald Trump, someone who has largely benefitted from the wealth he was born into and made his career as a businessperson, lacked this personability. He arguably made up for it with a unique and controversial brand of charisma that galvanized his Republican base and divided the two main American parties to absurd degrees. That division was compacted in the proceedings of the 2020 election, which saw sitting President Joe Biden take over in a term that would see him visibly and audibly decline mentally. Biden, a career politician, once again lacked that touch with the average American voter that allowed him to appear relatable, forcing some genuinely wild narratives to be published to keep Biden afloat. Now, as the running mate to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, Walz is a true example of

someone the American people can grasp onto. A former high school football defensive coordinator and school teacher, Walz’s run as Governor in Minnesota was characterized by legislation for the people of Minnesota and managed to get a lot done in a short time.

Walz is someone who comes off as genuinely relatable, like he could be a family member, or a well-liked older coworker or teacher. He jokes about making “white guy tacos,” simultaneously bringing out laughs from his base and breaking the reactionary brains of his conservative adversaries.

Most importantly, though, when Walz campaigns for LGBTQIA+ rights, free lunch for students and the banning of book bans he comes off as a normal guy, in a direct juxtaposition to the “weird” strategy he and Harris have launched against their opponents.

“Weird” has worked exceptionally well to get under the skin of Republicans and force the moderate to reconsider some of the legislation they may or may not have been indifferent to, additionally stripping power from the opposing base, as previous tactics have.

Wednesday, speaking in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump commented on the “weird” claims, insisting that he and his running mate JD Vance are anything but. The claim was almost immediately followed by a rant about how the Democrats want to execute babies post-birth, among other things, which is both easily disproved and generally weird.

Vance himself has seemingly inadvertently done his best to encapsulate the derogatory adjective,

with countless moments of weirdness best shown in his vast unfavorability.

Walz and his political tactics have worked to great effect to this point, and it all stems from the fact that he, on the surface, appears to be a normal person with normal world views and no culturally-centered ideology to push or divide with.

As it currently stands, Harris is heading into a debate with Trump with a 48%-43% advantage, in no small part to the simple and relatable messaging and candidates the Democratic party has brought forth.

Logan Adams 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 Logan know by tweeting him @ LoganPAdams.

Lately with Layne: Desensitization to tragedy is dangerous

LAYNE REY | FOR THE POST

Today, breaking news is rarely good news.

As society becomes overwhelmingly familiar with tragic headlines and stories, it begins to practice desensitization as a comfortable emotional response. News ranging from wars to school shootings to even climate disasters are, oftentimes, no longer read with a sense of uneasiness. It’s read similar to celebrity news or a TikTok trend – without much care or empathy. Desensitization is a dangerous phenomenon, but there are ways to recognize, understand and combat it – leading to more compassion and action.

Recognizing that desensitization is happening is a crucial part of changing the way tragedies are approached. Putting a name to this occurrence is the first step in actively acknowledging how we’re subconsciously operating. Consider the emotional response, how quickly the story is scrolled past and disregarded and any action – or lack thereof –taken. Being mindful of the immediate response is the first step in making sense of desensitization. Desensitization feels instinctive in nature, yet contradictory to our role as empathetic beings. Compassion fatigue and psychic numbing can partly explain this reaction to tragedy.

According to Time magazine, Vietnam War veteran Charles Figley coined the term “compassion fatigue” to describe the emotional and physical response that can occur while consuming oth-

ers’ traumatic stories. This response has been long-recognized in professions where consuming trauma is part of the work, but, now, anyone that hears about current events is at risk of eliciting the same response.

Compassion fatigue suggests that society is far too overwhelmed when they stumble upon troubling stories. As a result, people ignore them and push them to a back-of-mind thought.

Compassion fatigue can be compared to adding one thing to an already hefty to-do list. It’s easily ignored and doesn’t cause any additional emotional stress because of pre-existing overwhelm.

The psychological phenomenon known as “psychic numbing” suggests that the more people that die in a tragedy, the less society cares.

BBC explained that a study conducted on psychic numbing showed individuals are more likely to respond to people in need on a small scale, but tragedies like genocide are too out of reach for humans to fully grasp – making us insensitive to them.

This study, conducted by Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon and Daniel Västfjäll of Linköping University, found that focusing on a smaller story within a larger tragedy can have more of an impact on people than pure statistics and numbers.

The articles with the facts that serve to keep society informed are going to be the most mainstream. Seek out the ones that tell stories and

Table Talk:

make it personal for the reader. Find the ones that elicit emotions.

Although desensitization allows for separation from negative emotions, it has become too permanent of a separation – causing inaction. There is a crucial difference between taking time to emotionally rest and recharge and blatantly ignoring tragedies that are affecting real people.

Acknowledging subconscious desensitization, understanding its occurrence and effects and actively working against it will encourage society to take action against the roots of tragedies like wars, school shootings and climate disasters.

There is a dire need for compassion and empathy while consuming tragedy.

There’s a human behind every story. A fleeting headline for someone may be the worst day of somebody else’s life.

Layne Rey 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 Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.

Absentee ballots improve elections, reinforce democracy

TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST

Absentee ballots rose to popularity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although absentee voting has its controversies, it ultimately makes voting more accessible. This accessibility encourages people to engage in one of the most sacred privileges of democracy.

The 2020 presidential election occurred during a historic pandemic. According to a study in the European Journal of Political Economy, pandemic precautions led to poll closures and reassignment, creating structural barriers to voting.

According to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, structural barriers to civic participation especially impact voters in rural and underserved communities. With these obstacles, absentee voting shined for its simplicity and accessibility. State governments altered absentee practices to improve voting accessibility. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, states revised absentee voting excuse requirements, included prepaid mailers for ballots and expanded absentee voting windows. Ohio utilized absentee voting to reduce wait times created by limited polling locations, according to the Ohio State Bar Association.

State governments began to backtrack on their pandemic-related changes to absentee voting following the pandemic. In 2023, Ohio passed House Bill 458, which created stricter voter identification requirements, reduced ballot drop boxes and shortened the window for absentee voting. The bill limited the accessibility of absentee voting for the sake of increasing security.

Opponents of absentee voting argue mail-in bal-

lots lack security, leading to increased voter fraud. However, there is little evidence to support those claims. According to Fact Check, a project from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, voter fraud is more likely to occur through mail-in voting but is still extremely rare. Between 2000 and 2012, there were only 491 cases of voter fraud by absentee ballot out of billions of votes cast during that period, according to Fact Check.

States also have procedures in place to mitigate the risks of voter fraud via absentee voting. States can track stolen or lost ballots, can require authorization signatures on the ballot envelope and require valid voter identification to receive absentee ballots, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

According to a 2020 study from the Pew Research Center, one in four Americans thought voter fraud was “a major problem” from mail-in voting, but this is in large part from exaggerated disinformation spread through political rhetoric. However, absentee voting is at the heart of our nation’s founding. The first occurrence of absentee voting was in December 1775, during the American Revolutionary War. When a group of soldiers appealed to their towns for absentee votes, the town allowed the soldiers to vote “as if the men were present themselves,” according to the Constitutional Accountability Center.

Absentee voting also has a longstanding legal precedent, dating back to state laws during the War of 1812, which allowed soldiers to vote absen-

tee, according to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

The importance of voting is so profound that politicians fight to get on states’ ballots – and off. In the 2024 presidential race, former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fought to get on North Carolina’s ballots, including absentee ballots. After he dropped out of the race and endorsed the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, he sued to have his name removed, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Absentee ballots are vital to America’s most sacred democratic tradition: voting. Occurring as early as 1775, absentee voting provides voters the means of participating in elections when they cannot access polling locations. Absentee voting promotes civil participation, which is vital to the health of communities and democracy. Absentee voting provides voters an option to safely and conveniently vote when in-person voting is inaccessible.

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.

Editorial: The press must navigate sensitive situations carefully

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Content warning: the following column contains content about suicide.

Covering sensitive topics is one of the most difficult yet most important parts of being a journalist. When publications, especially those specific to a campus or community, do not report on certain events because they are difficult to cover, it is doing a disservice to its readers. Misinformation spreads, false narratives take hold and oftentimes the situation is made much worse — and even more traumatic — when journalists stay silent.

However, with the responsibility of covering difficult topics innately comes the responsibility of doing it the right way. To properly report on a tragedy, it is important journalists have those personally affected by a situation in mind throughout the entire reporting process and provide resources for those affected by such issues. Journalists must also find balance in the details they choose to include, and in the context of crimes, should not include information that may glamorize the perpetrator.

We have done our best as a publication to cover the breaking news of an OU student found unresponsive last Wednesday night and early Thursday morning delicately while also keeping the campus informed. The university

is going through a mourning process. This includes our newsroom; we are students as well as journalists and are navigating the situation in both contexts.

The past week has been difficult for the entire campus, including The Post’s staff. We have done our best as a publication to cover what happened delicately while also keeping the campus informed and negating the spread of misinformation.

Reporting on mass casualty events and other crimes is complicated as well. A journalist must provide enough context, and again, balance empathy with toughness. It is important to understand who committed the crime and why, but the focus should be on the survivors and their testimonies. When the focus of the story shifts too heavily to the perpetrator instead of the survivors, the publication runs the risk of glorifying the perpetrator instead of showing the resiliency of the survivors and raising awareness about what someone goes through when surviving a mass casualty event or other crime.

When reporting on topics such as domestic violence or sexual assault, it is pertinent a publication includes resources for those who may be actively in these situations. Reporting on interpersonal violence is important in empowering those who have survived acts of

The Athens County Humane Society and The Friends of The Shelter Dogs would like to thank the sponsors, community agencies, volunteers, vendors, and friends who came together to make the second annual Pet Palooza a success. Together we raised essential funds for the welfare and wellbeing of animals in our community, providing essential and emergency services, and finding them forever homes. Thank you for your support today, and everyday.

assault to come forward. It requires sensitivity as well as toughness, a balance between empathy and facts, and the ability to understand that some questions will be too much for a survivor to answer.

One of the greatest truths of life is that it has an endless capacity for tragedy and heaviness. Everyone’s lives are touched by this and we are interconnected as a species. Any life taken is a great loss and should be treated as such. In these situations, the goal of the press should always be to uphold testimonies of the resiliency of the human race and spread awareness of the human condition.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health concerns, call or text 988 for support or contact the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). Find OU’s mental health resources through Counseling and Psychological Services.