Charlie Adkins, Jon Rose vie for Athens County Commissioner
ELIZABETH TALAGA | SLOT EDITOR
Charlie Adkins and Jon Rose are on the ballot for Athens County Commissioner for the November 2024 election.
Adkins, a lifelong Athens County resident, has been commissioner for 12 years and is running for reelection as the Democratic candidate. Rose has lived in Athens for 20 years and is running as the Independent candidate.
Adkins worked as a volunteer fireman, assistant fire chief and for the union at OU bargaining for wages and benefits for 30 years before running for commissioner.
“This gives me the opportunity to help people and to do things when I get that call,” Adkins said.
While Adkins has been in office, the state received money from the American Rescue Plan, or ARP. Athens County received $12 million from the ARP, which Adkins shared
with other villages and townships.
For example, Adkins put $1 million into an industrial park in Albany to extend the sewer out to the park or build new buildings.
“It’s right at the end of the OU airport,” Adkins said. “Hopefully, that will help businesses coming in.”
Adkins is also working with an individual with property on Route 50 East to put in a sewer plant.
“I’ve been working closely with that individual to make that happen,” Adkins said. “It’s great for him, and it’s great for the county because it’s going to bring jobs.”
Aquaria Albano, a freshman studying business entrepreneurship from Albany, said she looks for a commissioner she can trust.
“I feel like (I look for) one that is just for the people,” Albano said. “Someone that the people can trust, that will make a difference.”
Rose has been a paramedic since 2015 and decided to run for commissioner after experiencing the
working conditions at
Athens County EMS.
Rose said the county was so understaffed that there was a rotating list of people who would be required to work an additional two hours the next day. Rose also felt he was underpaid, making $15.50 an hour as a full-time paramedic with extra credentials. Athens County EMS tried to form a union, but it was very difficult.
“What brought me running for commissioner is my experience with Athens County EMS,” Rose said. “The people who work there, they’re all great, but their hands were tied because of the commissioners.”
Throughout the past 12 years as commissioner, Adkins has worked on several big projects for Athens. Most recently, Adkins worked on getting the bridge over the Hocking River from the bike path to
Chauncey built, so people on bikes do not have to go down the state highway.
“Commissioners got a number of things that they do that were required under law,” Adkins said.
“Then you’ve got things you can do as commissioner that’s your passion, that’s something that you want to do.”
Adkins is also working on a new 911 center, a $12 million project, and sewer projects in New Marshfield and the Guysville and Stewart area. If reelected as commissioner in November, Adkins plans to work on a new communication system for the fire departments.
“I think one of my most important jobs is the safety of the county residents,” Adkins said.
Rose is focusing on supporting the EMS system, growing small businesses in Athens, getting better-paying jobs with in-house training in Athens and expanding transportation services.
“If the EMS system collapses, then the whole county is going to suffer,” Rose said. “We also need to get higher paying jobs, support local entrepreneurs and get them hooked up with the buildings that the land bank owns, the infrastructure that we already have in place.”
On his website, Jon Rose for Change, Rose provides in-depth messages about his priorities. Rose said he will work to find the root causes of why the cost of living in Athens is so high and wants to make Athens a center for innovation and growth.
“We’re struggling, and we need some help,” Rose said. “We need some fresh ideas.”
Election Day is Nov. 5, and early voting begins Oct. 8.
(MIA PISHOTTI | ART DIRECTOR)
Meet Ohio’s U.S. Senate candidates Sherrod Brown, Bernie Moreno
OLIVIA GILLIAND | NEWS STAFF WRITER
The United States federal election is in just 36 days. While many are focused on the top of the ticket, namely the presidential race, others are preparing for a close race between incumbent Ohio senator Sherrod Brown and Bernie Moreno. The two are campaigning for one of two Ohio U.S. Senate seats that play a crucial role in Ohio’s swing state reputation.
SHERROD
BROWN
Senator Sherrod Brown is Ohio’s incumbent Democratic U.S. senator. He has served as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in the U.S. Senate and served as Ohio’s 13th congressional district representative. A lifelong Ohioan from Mansfield, Brown has spent his political career fighting for the idea that hard work should pay off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live or what kind of work you do, according to his website. As a result, he has spent time with the Finance Committee, the Agriculture Committee and is the longest-serving Ohioan on the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Ohio listening to constituent concerns. Brown’s policy platform includes raising the federal minimum wage to ensure a livable income, supporting unionization and workers’ rights, expanding access to affordable healthcare, promoting equitable funding for public education and support for teachers and advocating for stronger protections for voting rights and accessibility to the electoral process.
Brown also supports renewable energy initiatives, such as clean air and water protections and opposes discrimination by promoting equal rights and opportunities.
BERNIE MORENO
According to Brown, the best ideas don’t come out of Washington D.C., but out of conversations with Ohioans. He has held nearly 500 roundtables across
Bernie Moreno is the Republican candidate for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. He was born in Bogota, Colombia, before moving to the U.S. at the age of five. He purchased his first car dealership,Mercedes-Nenz, in North Olmstead in 2005. Through his work ethic and entrepre-
neurial spirit, he turned it into one of the largest dealership groups in the country.
More recently, in 2018, he co-founded ChampTitles, eliminating the need for states to issue paper titles. The company has grown with Moreno serving as Chairman of the Board; however, he recently sold his stake in the company and is no longer board chair.
After a long career, Moreno sold most
women who move Ohio forward, American workers, have been left behind by career politicians like Sherrod Brown and Joe Biden,” Moreno said in a video titled “Why I’m Running.” “All elected officials should strive to create a growing middle class where the American Dream is accessible to anyone, regardless of their background.”
of his business to begin focusing on his passion: protecting the American dream for another generation. According to Moreno, solving the country’s problems requires common sense.
In Washington, Moreno said he will fight to shrink government, protect freedoms, stop the Chinese communist party from taking American data and land and put America first.
“I am running for the United States Senate because, for too long, the men and
Moreno’s policy platform includes reducing government spending and inflation, supporting Israel and fighting anti-semitism, supporting a ban on lateterm abortions, securing America’s borders, enacting term limits for Congress, ending socialism in the U.S. and defending the Second Amendment.
VOTING Although Election Day isn’t until Nov. 5, Ohioans can voice their opinions at the polls beginning Oct. 8 via mail-in ballots or in-person early voting.
According to the Secretary of State’s website, absentee voters must turn in their ballots by 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, while mail-ins must be postmarked before November 4 to be included in the electoral count.
For more information about candidates or voter registrations and regulations, visit VoteOhio.gov.
@OLIVIAGGILLIAND OG953622@OHIO.EDU
Students express concern after weapon arrest
DREW HOFFMASTER | FOR THE POST
A recent incident involving a former student’s arrest for weapon possession has sparked concerns about campus safety at Ohio University.
On Sept. 3, a 27-year-old former OU student named Michael Rinthalukay was arrested for possessing an AR15 on campus and is accused of using social media to make threats to several groups of OU students.
Rinthalukay was banned from all OU campuses and was charged with having a weapon while under a disability, a felony of the third degree, making terroristic threat, a felony of the third degree and Inducing Panic, a felony of the fifth degree Sept. 9 by Athens County Grand Jury.
Currently, Rinthalukay is being held in Franklin County Jail and is awaiting a Rule 4 hearing.
Ohio University Police Department
Captain Tim Ryan wrote in an email that processes within OUPD patrols and operations have not changed since the incident because they have been proven to work effectively.
“Our patrols have not changed since this incident,” Ryan wrote. “From our perspective, everything went very smoothly and confirmed that our processes are working well.”
Ryan said OU, along with most colleges and universities in the nation, fundamentally changed after the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007.
Since the Columbine High School, Virginia Tech University and Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, training to deal with active shooters has changed to focus on facilitating a more direct response and how to watch for “leakage.”
“Leakage is a term used to describe when an individual intends to do harm and intentionally or unintentionally communicates that idea in some way before carrying it out,” Ryan wrote. “The goal in more proactive threat assessment is to be actively attempting to identify those warning signs and intervene.”
In addition to the extra training, an emergency text and email system and better equipped gear have been introduced to the police force.
Leading up to the incident, Rinthalukay was using Snapchat to message other freshmen. Emma Clement, a freshman pre-nursing student, first reached out to Rinthalukay after seeing a story he posted on the OU 2028 Snapchat story.
Clement said the conversation escalated from exchanging greetings to Rinthalukay responding to her stories and exhibiting strange behavior.
“I wasn’t scared until he got arrested because I thought it was just some random crazy guy doing empty threats until I found out that he actually had weapons on campus,” Clement said. “But that was when he was already in custody, so I wasn’t really worried about it when it was happening.”
Since the incident, concerns around campus have grown about the possibility of assaults. Rinthalukay also contacted Emma Hesson, a freshman studying psychology.
“Somebody literally could just have a gun, and it would not be a public spectacle,” Hesson said. “It would probably go unnoticed, and that’s not a fun thought to
think about, especially whenever school shootings and everything is really common these days.”
After blocking Rinthalukay, Hesson started avoiding certain parts of campus where people were spotting him. She said she had mild worries and was trying not to start anything else with him.
“Whenever you see other people getting it way worse, you’re kind of cautious about it,” Hesson said.
Hesson said she is glad to know nothing had happened from Rinthalukay but worries about what could happen in the future.
Ryan said this year, only three assault reports have been taken, and only one of those occurred in the current semester, meaning assault cases are not increasing. If you have encountered safety concerns while on campus, contact OUPD at 740-593-1911 or Athens Police Department at 740-592-3313. If it is an immediate concern, call 911.
Official headshot of current Ohio senator Sherrod Brown. Photo courtesy of Sherrod Brown for Ohio.
Bernie Moreno speaks before an audience in Batavia, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Bernie for U.S. Senate.
Police Blotter:
Sheriff’s Office makes domestic violence arrests, assists with traffic accidents
TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST
26 Thurs____________________
Trash dumping on Stewart roadway
Deputies responded to Stewart in reference to trash being dumped along the roadway Thursday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival at Beebe Road and Jewell Hollow Road, deputies located the trash bags in the river and discovered garbage inside, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A report was taken and an investigation is pending, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
26 Thurs____________________
Traffic accident on U.S. 50
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a traffic accident involving injuries on U.S. 50 Thursday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office assisted the Ohio State Highway Patrol on the scene near United Lane in Athens, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The traffic accident is being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
25 Wed____________________
Traffic accident on U.S. 33
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a traffic accident Wednesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office assisted the Ohio State Highway Patrol on U.S. 33
near The Plains exit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
24 Tue____________________
Ghostboxing in Glouster
Deputies responded to Glouster on report of an allegedly intoxicated man attempting to fight imaginary people Tuesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival at Madison Street, deputies made contact with the man, who appeared coherent and not intoxicated, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies warned the man for disorderly conduct. The man returned to his residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
24 Tue____________________
Man arrested on active warrants in The Plains
Deputies responded to The Plains to assist with an arrest Tuesday, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Athens Police Department requested assistance at Oak Street locating a man with active warrants, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office and APD located and arrested the man on active warrants, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
22 Sun____________________
Man arrested for disorderly conduct at local library in The Plains
Deputies arrested a man at The Plains Public Library for disorderly conduct Sept. 22, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, deputies contacted an individual behaving erratically, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The man was cited for disorderly conduct by intoxication and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail for holding, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
22 Sun____________________ Man arrested for domestic violence in Jacksonville
Deputies arrested a man for domestic violence Sept. 22, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to Jacksonville for a domestic dispute. Upon arrival and contact, injuries were observed on an individual, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The man was arrested and transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail for domestic violence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
21 Sat___________________ Stowaway wildlife
Deputies responded to Glouster on a report of wildlife in an attic Sept. 21, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, deputies were unable to locate the wildlife. Deputies provided the individual with wildlife removal contact information, accord-
ing to the Sheriff’s Office.
21 Sat____________________
Man arrested for domestic violence in Albany
Deputies arrested a man for domestic violence in Albany Sept. 21, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to state Route 681 for a domestic violence complaint. Deputies were advised the suspect had left the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were able to locate the suspect and arrest him for domestic violence. He was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
20 Fri____________________
Man arrested for violated protection order in Glouster
Deputies arrested a man for a protection order violation Sept. 20, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to Republic Avenue, Glouster, for a reported domestic dispute. Upon contact with the individuals, deputies found a protection order in place, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The man was arrested and transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail for violating the protection order, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
CAMPUS EVENTS October 1st - October
25th
Social Engagement & Student Org
Tuesday, October 1
Professor Panel hosted by OU oSTEM
5:00 -6:00 pm 29 Park Place
Wednesday, October 2
Flannels & Firepits
5:00-7:00 pm Live Music-Pumpkin Painting, Pumpkin Spice Lattes- Petting Zoo & S’Mores College Green
Thursday, October 3
Movie Night: Tantura hosted by Young Dem. Socialists of America
6:00 -7:30 pm Bentley 120
Discover SCUBA hosted by OU SCUBA club 7:00 - 9:00 PM Aquatic Center
Friday, October 4
Scales & Tails Live Reptile Viewing Event 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Scripps Ampitheater
Escape Rooms 7:00 - 9:00 pm 3 Unique Rooms +Free Pizza Living Learning Ctr
Friday’s LIVE Season 53 E012 hosted by Jalen Tolbert
8:00 pm
Studio C (RTV 515)
Saturday, October 5 The Gathering hosted by OU Magic the Gathering
10:00 am -8:00 pm Ellis 103 & 106 all are welcome
Wolf Facts vs Myths
Live Wolf viewing & Lecture time TBD
Schoonover 145
Events
Sunday, October 6
Mindful Hike hosted by OU Mindfulness-Based Linving 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Strouds Run/Dow Lake Parking lot near beach carpool meet in Morton lot at 12:45 - all are welcome
Monday, October 7 Fall 2 Intramural Sports Registration Opens!! Black Girl Day Off hosted by MCC, Women’s Center, & health promotion
600-8:00 pm Living Learning Ctr
Tuesday, October 8
Midnight Mysteries: Scary Stories in the Darkroom hosted by OU Camera Club 9:00 pm - 11:45 pm Seigfred Hall Darkroom
Thursday, October 10
Regular Discussion hosted by Bridge USA OU Chapter 6:00 -7:00 pm Gordy 302
Sunday, October 13
OU Quad Rugby: Battle the Blitz 10:00 am -5:00 pm Ping Recreation Center
Friday, October 18
Concert-Transient Canvas 8:00 -10:00 pm Glidden Recital Hall
Friday’s LIVE Season 53 E03 hosted by Mimi Calhoun 8:00 pm
Studio C (RTV 515)
October 4 & 5
OHIO @ Maryville 8:15 PM & 5:15 PM St. Louis, MO
October 25 Adrian @ OHIO 7:00 PM (follow on X for streaming link)
Brenen’s provides food to community members
PAIGE FISHER | FOR THE POST
Brenen’s Cafe, located at 38 S. Court St., provides free pre-prepared food for members of the Athens community struggling with food insecurities.
The program started in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people were having to live paycheck to paycheck, co-owner of Brenen’s Cafe Josh Thomas said.
The initiative was started after a friend of Thomas’s, who owned an insurance company that was still doing well financially, suggested he buy 20 to 30 boxes of food for Brenen’s to give away to people who need it.
“It was kind of a win-win for us,” Thomas said. “We were the facilitator of the program, but yet, at the same time, he was helping support our business to keep us going too. That just snowballed like crazy.”
During peak times, like the pandemic, Brenen’s was making and serving around 35 to 40 sandwiches a day. That number has significantly decreased to nine premade sandwiches daily, which are first come first served.
Although there are not as many people coming into Brenen’s to receive free meals, there are still people that need to be fed in the Athens area. Athens County Food Pantry President Karin Bright said many members of the Athens Community still face food insecurity which she said is the fear that one will not have food in the foreseeable future.
“The idea of food insecurity is that it goes beyond hunger,” Bright said. “It’s
actually the idea, the concept that people are concerned that they will not have enough good, nutritious food to live a healthy lifestyle. You may have food insecurity, not be hungry today, but still have food insecurity.”
Athens County typically has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, having around one in five people, or 20%, experiencing food insecurity, Bright said.
“The work that we do in terms of supplying food for people each month is just trying to help people alleviate some of that concern and some of that worry,” Bright said.
The food pantry is only able to provide so much food per household. A bag of food is provided for a household of one
to two people, and a box for three to four people.
“As the household size increases, we mix (boxes and bags) together to come up with that total,” Bright said. “It is a combination of canned goods and non-perishables. Then, we supplement that when we have availability, which is normally almost all the time.”
Bright said the main cause of food insecurity is based on income and economic status, and with the university being the largest employer in Athens, it is likely someone is working in retail or service industry if not for the university.
“There’s a lot of service work that’s done here, a lot of retail and service work, which are traditionally not particularly high-paying positions,” Bright said. “They
also a lot of times do not have benefits, so people are frequently living paycheck to paycheck.”
Bright agrees that businesses giving food to members of the community who are struggling is one way to combat food insecurity.
Thomas said he would recommend providing free food to other businesses, but it comes with some challenges.
“It’s generally been very positive,” Thomas said. “Obviously the unhoused community is very appreciative of it … It has its ups and downs. We have had some issues with people coming in that were obviously under the influence of either alcohol or drugs or whatever and wanting food.”
Josie Nauman, a fourth-year student in the MBA program, said she had seen these challenges in the year and a half she has worked at Brenen’s Cafe.
Brenen’s did not always have premade sandwiches, but switched after to accommodate more people during lunch rushes, Nauman said.
“It got to be a little bit much for us to do,” Thomas said. “Unfortunately, it’s not that we didn’t want to do that, but when it’s our lunch hour and we’re trying to serve you, and we’ve got everybody lined up for free sandwiches, that got to be a little bit of an issue”
Thomas said he is just happy to be able to give to those in need and help alleviate someone’s hunger. It may help them get through their day and other problems they may be having as well.
@PAIGEMAFISHERPF585820@OHIO.EDU
Athens Fire Department experiences understaffing
AVERY ST. GEORGE | FOR THE POST
The Athens Fire Department is getting a new headquarters, but the department is still dealing with internal issues like understaffing and lack of funds from the university.
Student Senate fire fee was supposed to help combat these issues, but a range of issues has kept the policy from going into effect.
Chief of AFD Bob Rymer said the idea was brought up for alternative funding via university students who do not pay property tax or whose taxes do not go into the fire department’s funding.
Senate President Dan Gordillo was interested in the idea and was able to use his resources to get it into motion.
One of the concerns Rymer brought to Gordillo was the current number of firefighters on duty, which is less than the recommended number. A study by the Ohio Fire Chiefs suggested they should have 13 firefighters on duty per day, and currently, the department has four.
Rymer said AFD relies on property taxes; however, 50.6% of the city’s commercial property, including the university, is tax-exempt.
Additionally, Rymer said most students do not earn enough money in a year to pay income taxes to the city, meaning they don’t receive funding from Athens’s largest population.
Rymer said the department averaged around 40% of calls to university-owned buildings in the last five years, not including off-campus housing.
Rymer said the number of calls the department gets yearly has been increasing,
but the number of firefighters has not.
“The last two years have been record years,” Rymer said. “When I started, there were about 350-360 calls a year. We will break 1,300 (calls) this year.”
Gordillo said Rymer contacted him in Spring 2023 about the fire department’s underfunding. At the time, Gordillo was the Senate’s Governmental Affairs Commissioner.
Gordillo surveyed students in April 2023 and concluded that 75% would support an optional fee to support the Athens Fire Department, and 90% of those who felt they couldn’t pay the fee would support having the choice available to students who could.
Another important aspect of the fire fee is that money wouldn’t just go to staff but also to educate the public on fire safety.
Gordillo’s study also found that 50% of students did not receive formalized fire education before college. With the money from the fee, Rymer believes the department could have more firefighters teaching students fire education.
“I’d be able to provide fire education to at least all the freshman students that come in,” Rymer said. “Two to four hours of education on how to get out of the building, how to use a fire extinguisher, how to put out cooking fires and prevent them.”
The Senate fire fee passed on April 26, 2023, but Gordillo said he ran into issues with the end of the year and could not work on it further.
The following school year, Gordillo went back and tried to open discussions about his plan with the university and the
state representative for Athens.
Gordillo said the university felt the fee would interfere with its affordability statistic and goal to be the most affordable in the state, even if the fees were optional.
“It would appear to me, through being an Ohioan and an OU student, that if you can opt out of a fee, it should not affect an affordability statistic,” Gordillo said.
Rymer said the university cannot implement the fee due to state legislation prohibiting an increase in tuition unless it meets specific parameters.
The university still maintains a strong alliance with the fire department, which is mutually beneficial to one another.
“The university and the Athens Fire Department have a good working relation-
ship,” Jill Harris, director of emergency management, said in an email. Harris also said in an email that the university and fire department have collaborated on providing fire safety tips for students, and the university provided training locations for the department on many occasions.
Gordillo is still working to bring the issue to Columbus to work on legislation surrounding it and plans to continue spreading awareness about it by fighting for its funding.
@AVERYSLIFE365 AS781522@OHIO.EDU
New fire department headquarters located on East Stimson Avenue in Athens, Sept. 10, 2024. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
The outside of Brenen’s Cafe on Court Street in Athens, Sept. 20, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST
ELIZABETH TALAGA SLOT EDITOR
From street to street, house to house, stray animals roam Athens County in droves. There are an estimated 70 million stray animals worldwide, and Athens has no shortage of them.
According to Berkeley Franz, board member and volunteer for Friends of the Shelter Dogs, the Athens County Dog Shelter is legally required to take in any stray animals.
“By law we legally have to allow dogs to come in if they are strays,” Franz said. “It’s a real struggle just to make sure that there’s space for that.”
Friends of the Shelter Dogs works to support the dogs of the Athens County Dog Shelter by providing resources such as medical care, enrichment and social needs, according to Franz.
“We have pretty much consistent need to take in animals that are strays,” Franz said.
In 2023, the Athens County Humane Society took in approximately 250 animals, despite not having a shelter.
Stray animals overcrowd Athens
Angela Marx, executive director at Athens County Humane Society, said cat overpopulation in Athens is a huge issue.
“So many areas of our county are inundated with stray cats,” Marx said in an email. “A significant factor is the extreme poverty in our region.”
According to Marx, a factor of this extreme poverty is individuals feeding stray cats without having the financial means to provide vet care.
“It’s a hard truth to get across to people, but the moment you start feeding a cat, it becomes yours, and you take some responsibility for its care and welfare,” Marx said in an email.
According to Marx, spaying and neutering are big ways people can help lessen the stray animal problem in Athens. When someone takes in their pet or a stray to get spayed or neutered, it takes away that animal’s ability to reproduce and thus ensures that there are no unwanted offspring.
“Just being aware that spay and neutering is top priority in addressing this problem and to take responsibility for cats you are feeding or that are on your property,” Marx said in an email.
Jess Mitchell, a senior studying biological sciences, is the president of Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs and All 9 Lives at Ohio University.
“Our group (Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs) works directly with the Athens County Dog Shelter,” Mitchell said. “We do a lot of volunteering and taking care of those animals, so
that’s very eye-opening about the importance of spay-neuter to prevent these problems.”
Mitchell said microchipping pets is very important to easily locate a lost pet.
For OU students looking to help stray animals, Athens County Dog Shelter and Athens County Humane Society is always accepting support.
“Students should support the shelter,” Mitchell said. “They should adopt, especially when you’re in Athens County because of the overpopulation (of strays).”
Franz further stressed this overpopulation.
“We have a large amount of dogs coming into the shelter every week that are strays,” Franz said.
Franz urges students and Athens County residents to volunteer through Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs or Friends of the Shelter Dogs, as well.
“We have tons of opportunities to help,” Franz said. “We have a really great community of people who step up to help, especially when we’re struggling with space in the shelter.”
Marx said students are helpful to the Athens County Humane Society.
“Many of our cats go to great forever homes with OU students,” Marx said in an email. “Many of our foster caretakers are also students.”
Peanut, a dog up for adoption at Athens County Dog Shelter, Sept. 17, 2024. (ANDREW UHRIG | FOR THE POST)
A stray cat takes a nap at The Ridges Feb. 12 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
A stray cat walks down the stairs of The Ridges in Athens, Feb. 12 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
Hadiya Ray explores growth in debut album, ‘The Journey’
DISHA HOQUE
ASST. HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR
Hadiya Ray, a senior studying marketing and data analytics, celebrates the release of her first music album, “The Journey,” written solely by her. The album and behind-the-scenes documentary were released Sept. 5 with a watch and listening party at the Athena Cinema.
Ray, from Dayton, Ohio, has been singing and writing music since age five with her first song titled “Tweety Bird.”
“Music has always, not only impacted my life and changed my life but been a part of how I express myself,” Ray said.
The album and documentary was created by Ray as part of her senior thesis for the Honors Tutorial College, or HTC, program.
“My fear is to leave Ohio University not doing what I love to do,” Ray said when discussing recording an album for her thesis with faculty in September 2023.
Although she took a different thesis route compared to typical business students in the college, Ray said she was met with support from advisors.
Ray recruited Paul Benedict, the director of the Center of Entrepreneurship, and Liz Pahl, the assistant director of the Center of Entrepreneurship, as advisors for the project and began recording the
album with money from the Bobcat Seed Fund and HTC student funding.
Along with help from faculty and university resources, such as Sean Parsons, an associate professor of instruction for the OU Contemporary Music and Digital Instruments Program, or CMDI, Ray also gathered students to curate the album.
Jireh Burton, a senior studying music production and CMDI, and Raymond Parker, a senior studying CMDI, were part of Ray’s production team and created all the beats on the album.
“I want to help musicians and artists put their music into my music and help them make their dream,” Parker said. “I felt like this was a chance I could do that and not just help an artist out, but also help a friend out.”
Burton and Parker, who have been friends since their first day on campus, worked together to produce Ray’s songs. The three held recording sessions at least twice a week, sometimes lasting longer than four hours, according to Burton.
“One of the main things that really stood out to me was how confident (Ray) was in her vision, and I could just tell she saw so much for this project,” Burton said. “Whenever she would talk about (the album), she just had this certain passion and enthusiasm about it.”
“The Journey” was the first large music project for the three musicians and mutual passion was a driving factor for its completion, according to Ray.
“I’ve never worked with people (who) were not only fun to work with, (but) were so hard working and passionate about something I’m passionate about,” Ray said. “Truthfully, (Jireh and Raymond) believed in me before I even believed in myself.”
According to Burton, the entire production experience pushed him and Parker out of their comfort zones, a valuable milestone in their careers.
When describing the conception of the album, Ray reflects on her journey to recording the album and overcoming self doubt.
“I was waiting for somebody to tell me, ‘No, you can't,’ yet everybody said, ‘You can,’” Ray said. “I didn’t expect that because I was killing my own dream before people could try to kill it for me.”
This shift in mindset can be seen in the album’s focus on self-love and acceptance, an attempt to make others feel seen in their struggles, Ray said.
“I made a promise to God,” Ray said. “I said, ‘God, if you get me through this, I promise I will create something that will help other people get through it.’”
Along with the eight-track album, available on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, Ray also created a documentary of her production process with student videographers Lokeder Natiom and Jayla Neal. The album and documentary premiered Sept. 5 at the Athena Cinema. Ray, Burton and Parker all mention
being amazed by the public impact of the album.
“It’s still so surreal that we worked on this project, there’s tons of people that love the project, there’s tons of people that are talking about it,” Parker said.
After the release of “The Journey,” Ray and her team hope to continue building off this milestone and produce more music in the future.
@DISHAHOQUE05 DH390522@OHIO.EDU
Feline Frenzy leaves Athens meowing for more
SOPHIA ROOKSBERY
HUMAN
INTEREST STAFF WRITER
In January, a group of coworkers came together to help one of them with a class assignment. Approximately eight months later, that class assignment has become Feline Frenzy, the five-person rock fusion owning the stage at The Union, located at 18 W. Union St., and on the rise in the Athens band scene.
Nathan Napoli, a fifth-year student studying music production and recording industry, or MPRI, Gretchen Sahr, a junior studying sociology and philosophy, and Jordan Tabasky, a junior studying music therapy, all met working together at Latitude 39 and bonded over mutual musicianship.
One day, Napoli asked his two coworkers if they would help him with a music production assignment featuring Sahr
on bass, Tabasky on guitar and another friend, Austin Lim, filling in on the drums.
“We ended up getting talking, Austin and I, and we were like, ‘We could start a band, we just need to find a legitimate drummer’ and then somebody put us in contact with Mr. O’Korn,” Napoli, the current singer, said.
Dominic O’Korn, a sixth-year student studying music education, joined the group on drums and Lim, a senior studying MPRI, transitioned to his current role as rhythm guitarist. With those additions, Feline Frenzy had entered its final iteration and the group began discovering its style.
“I’m still figuring out my style for sure, because I haven’t been playing that long,” Tabasky said.
The band members, who doubled as coworkers, found themselves subconsciously creating their first setlists by listening to music together on shift. The three were able to discover sounds they all enjoyed and found their individual, yet complementary styles.
“You guys (Tabasky and O’Korn) use a very ‘70s (sound) and you (Napoli)
have a more hard rock (sound), and it meshes together in the perfect way,” Sahr said.
Napoli cites nu-metal and punk rock legends like Linkin Park and Green Day as his primary influences, while Tabasky finds herself inspired by Nancy Wilson of Heart, one of many female-fronted groups she hopes to emulate.
“I’m as at home in jazz as I am playing this stuff, my record collection is just all over the place,” O’Korn said. “But as for this project, Dave Grohl from … his Nirvana days and Jeff Porcaro from Toto … are a huge influence.”
As a cover band, Feline Frenzy has a special relationship with its influences, getting to add its own spin directly to the work of its inspirations. Performing covers also creates a special energy between the group and its audience.
“Being a cover band you can tie in people from all over … it’s awesome because they are there with us, we … share it (the music) with them more than show them,” Sahr said.
The band first noticed this special relationship with the audience during their first gig: Palmer Place Fest.
“When we had a whole crowd chanting, ‘One more song,’ I’ve never performed in front of a crowd like that,” O’Korn said. “I was in the 110, I’ve gotten to perform in Peden Stadium, but (there’s an) intensity of a crowd right in your face.”
Aside from the group’s appearance at Palmer Place Fest, Feline Frenzy has only performed one other time, at The Union Sept. 19. Despite it only being its second
show, the group felt the same support it felt at its first gig, in large part due to its friends.
“Our friends were working the same jobs we were, not making a … lot of money and they were like, ‘Yeah, I’ll pay $10 to go see you’ … and having them there helped draw the other crowd,” Napoli said.
Along with their many favorite aspects of playing together, the group faces difficulties in balancing the schedules of five members, as well as finding the right balance in their setlist with the presence of such varying musical tastes. Additionally, Sahr finds the promotional aspect of running social media accounts to be a challenge.
“There is something to be said as somebody who wants to be a professional musician and this duality of wanting to put stuff out there in the world but also having to live every moment of your life under a microscope on social media,” O’Korn said.
The future of Feline Frenzy includes a few tentative returns to The Union but is largely still in the works. The musicians have found a home in the collaboration between themselves and their audience, a combination that will allow them to continue internalizing the inspiration of their influences and their fans in their own work.
Photo taken by Prince Amoa-Mensa
The Union on West Union Street Sept. 9, 2024. (EMMA SCHROER | FOR THE POST)
Caitlin Kraus transposes music with mental health
ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST
Due to the nature of students coming in and out of Athens every year, bands typically do not last more than a few years in the local music scene. Because of this, new music artists have difficulty establishing themselves for more than a relatively short period of time.
This is not the case for Caitlin Kraus. Originally from Columbus, she began playing piano around first grade and transitioned to guitar in sixth. Kraus planted her musical roots in Athens early on in the late 2000s while getting her bachelor's degree in music therapy. During that time, she began performing at open mic nights at Donkey Coffee, 17 1/2 W. Washington St.
Pulling inspiration from bands such as The Beatles, Neil Young and Nick Cave, Kraus transcends genres from folk to rock. According to Kraus, it is hard to pin down exactly what kind of music she creates.
“I generally say it's sort of alternative folk, alternative rock,” Kraus said. “More of a rock edge when it's with the full band, and less of a rock edge more of a folk singer-songwriter when it's just me.”
To date, Kraus has released two fulllength albums, “What Rises” in 2020 and “Gone Beyond” in 2023. However, she released her first two singles, “Dead Man” and “Waiting for the World” in 2016. The singles were recorded in Austin, Texas, where she lived at the time.
The entirety of “Gone Beyond” and the majority of her debut album were recorded at Peachfork Studios in Pomeroy, Ohio. Bernie Nau, Peachfork owner and producer, said he has enjoyed both times
working with Kraus.
“I think her songwriting is timeless,” Nau wrote in an email. “Her lyrics create vivid images, her melodies combine with the words beautifully. And it is all underpinned by interesting chord progressions.”
John Borchard, Kraus’ guitarist and pedal steel player, said initially working with her was a new process for him as he had mostly only done covers in his musical career.
“When I first started recording with her, she wasn't using any of us except for Mark Hellenberg, and so it took a while,” Borchard said. “I had to go back and relearn all the parts once she wanted to use the whole band, and now we've played enough that I'm pretty (good) with the stuff we've done.”
Kraus said her process for writing music is not forced, but she also does not wait for inspiration to hit.
“Keep creating,” she said. “And by that, I don't mean that you have to necessarily have a consistent output, that every single day you have to be making something.”
Kraus emphasizes practicing the process of songwriting contributing to her growth.
“Even if it is just writing for the sake of writing or playing for the sake of playing, sometimes it's not about the product,“ Kraus said. "It's just about the process of it.”
Aside from her work in performing and recording music, Kraus has worked with Counseling and Psychological Services as a counselor since September 2022. Before that she had worked in various music therapy positions. She said she thinks
music connects people on a more interpersonal level than just talking.
“Most people have some connection to music,” Kraus said. “I think music can be a way that we connect to our feelings,
to our emotions (and) to each other, that doesn't always require the same type of processing that conventional talk therapy does.”
EH481422@OHIO.EDU
Wednesday, October 9th 6:30pm
Caitlin Kraus performs at Nelsonville Music Festival at Snow Fork Event Center in Nelsonville, Ohio, July 27, 2024. (Photographed for Keynote Music Collective | ETHAN HERX)
Cierra Boyd, Designer and Founder, Friskmegood (B.S. ’17) Toyia Montgomery, CEO of Good Vibes, LLC. (B.S.J, ‘02) Amanda Epp, CEO Scriptdrop (B.S.’07)
Cierra Boyd, Designer and Founder, Friskmegood (B.S. ’17)
Toyia Montgomery, CEO of Good Vibes, LLC. (B.S.J, ‘02)
Amanda Epp, CEO Scriptdrop (B.S.’07)
Cierra Boyd, Designer and Founder, Friskmegood (B.S. ’17) Toyia Montgomery, CEO of Good Vibes, LLC. (B.S.J, ‘02) Amanda Epp, CEO Scriptdrop (B.S.’07)
A how-to guide for OU student voters
SUZANNE PIPER| FOR THE POST
The date to register to vote is crawling closer for OU students to exercise their democratic rights.
The Athens County Board of Elections, located on 15 S. Court St., will be open to registering voters until Oct. 7 when the office closes at 4 p.m.
If you are at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election, a citizen of the U.S., a citizen of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election and registered to vote at least 30 days before the election, you are eligible to vote in Athens.
To register to vote, you can go to the Board of Elections (BOE), the Secretary of State’s office, branch registration offices or locations established by a Board of Elections, any public high school or vocational school, the office of any Bureau of Motor Vehicles, offices of designated agencies that provide public assistance or disability programs, public libraries, county treasurer’s office or online, according to the BOE’s website.
If you are registered to vote but have moved within the state or county or changed names, you must report the change to the Board of Elections by completing a voter registration in an eligible location or by mail, according to the BOE.
When it comes time to vote, early voting is from Oct. 8 to Nov. 3, and in-person voting will be Nov. 5 at your prescribed precinct.
Students living in Bromley or Voigt Hall will vote at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 2 N. Court St. Students living in all other residence halls will vote at Baker University Center rooms 240 and 242.
Students living off campus can find their voting precinct at lookup.boe.ohio.gov. For out-of-state students, polling locations and voter registration can be found at nonprofitvote.org.
Mail-in voting begins 45 days before election day
and can be requested by your local Board of Elections. Early voting starts the day after the registration deadline closes, according to the ACLU Ohio.
Students will need a valid form of photo identification such as an unexpired driver’s license, passport, state ID card or military ID.
Generation Z, composed of people born between 1997 and 2012, voted at a higher rate in 2022 than previous generations in their first midterm elections,
according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE. 41 million members of Generation Z will be eligible to vote in the upcoming general election, according to CIRCLE.
Students raise petition for in-training service dogs in dorms
JARED CHRISTOPHER | FOR THE POST
Students are discussing the topic of having dogs and service animals in training on campus, arguing they should be allowed in Ohio University residence halls.
The current policy states animal pets are generally not permitted within OU buildings or vehicles, with some exceptions. An exception is made for service or assistance animals, and although service animals in training are listed, student organizations are petitioning for more.
4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit organization at OU that aims to train and take care of service dogs in Athens.
On Wednesday, 4 Paws and Student Senate tabled outside of Baker, encouraging people to sign a petition to allow these service dogs to be used by students in residence halls.
“By providing your digital signature, you support for the allowance of service dogs in training of the 4 Paws for Ability organization to be allowed into the Ohio University Athens campus residence halls,” the petition reads.
The petition aims to make OU compliant with Ohio Revised Code 955.43, which addresses dogs with blind, deaf or mobility-impaired people.
Brock Evans, a senior studying nursing, and Aidan Burns, a senior studying psychology, are Resident Advisers in Adams Hall. According to Evans and Burns, if it is not a registered animal, students cannot have them in the dorms.
| DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
“You would have to have a therapist’s document to determine if you have that disability, to prove that you have it,” Burns said. “A service animal is different from an emotional animal or ESA.”
Burns said service animals do have duties to perform and can accompany students to class or anywhere around campus; however, emotional support animals can only stay in the dorms or go outside to use the bathroom.
Sophia Dawson, a sophomore studying English literature, is an RA in Johnson Hall and described the process of getting an animal registered for residential use.
“You have to go through an accommodation process with
accessibility services,” Dawson said. “You can find them in the Alden Library.”
Dogs and cats are the typical animals students may see walking around with and are animals that can be with them in dorms, but a question persists with what types of animals should be allowed.
“An assistance animal is very personal, especially in this context … I can’t really say how useful something like a rat would be to someone’s experience,” Dawson said. “I think they should be able to live comfortably in the space provided, like within the dimensions of a dorm room.”
Luke Searfoss, a sophomore studying environmental science and sustainability, lives in Bromley and says he sees students walking around the dorm with service animals often but knows the process can take a while.
“I see a lot of dogs for people with diabetes, and I think that can do more than some of the technology used to save people’s lives,” Searfoss said. “I think that’s really important.”
Giah Harper, a senior studying anthropology, has a dog on campus who is registered as an ESA dog on campus and with the government.
“They aren’t just random dogs on campus, they are usually registered ESA animals,” Harper said. “Any animal should be able to give you emotional support … but I do think that there are clear guidelines that accommodations give students, and they are pretty fair guidelines.”
Harper said her own dog lives happily in her dorm.
“I think that him being in my room is where I feel most comfortable, and he feels most comfortable,” Harper said. “When he goes out to the bathroom, he can interact with other people if he chooses, and if he doesn’t, he will keep walking.”
A woman holds a voting sign while walking down Court St. during the 2024 Homecoming Parade in Athens, Sept. 28, 2024. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)
Callie, a service dog in training for Paws For Ability at the involvement fair. (ALAINA DACKERMANN
TikTok Sister Cindy shares her ‘Ho No Mo’ message
MAGGIE ALLWEIN| FOR THE POST
Cindy Smock, known on social media as Sister Cindy, arrived on campus Monday afternoon to share her beliefs with Ohio University students.
Smock is an evangelical Christian campus preacher from Indiana who has gained over 400,000 followers on TikTok since her rise to virality with her famous “Ho No Mo” slogan. She has traveled to college campuses across the country to preach her core religious beliefs, now adding OU to the list.
“This is part of my tour,” Smock said. “I got a lot of invitations here, and I’m here to share the gospel of Jesus.”
Smock attended the University of Florida and studied journalism, but has been preaching on campuses for over 40 years. She and her husband, George Edward Smock, known as Brother Jed, started the Campus Ministry USA to spread their messages.
The TikTok preacher attracted a large crowd at the front of College Green. Students and passersby circled and stopped to listen to Smock, who sat in a folding chair and shared her thoughts through a microphone.
“My main message is ‘Ho No Mo’ revolution; repent of your sins and follow the Lord Jesus Christ,” Smock said.
Smock brought students to the middle of the circle, asking them personal questions about their sexual history. She also offered buttons for Republican presiden-
tial nominee Donald Trump’s campaign as a reward.
The audience had mixed reactions to Smock’s beliefs. Some took in the scene, while others participated in her presentation by calling out answers to her questions and cheering on her proclamations. Some students questioned the genuineness of her persona.
Wylie Lytle, a junior studying political science, was a part of Smock’s display. After asking the audience what word the Bible uses in reference to “hoes” and “sluts,” Lytle shouted the word “whore,” and Smock called her to the middle.
Nervous that she was going to have to go through a quiz like three boys before she did, Smock only asked for her name and gave her a signed “Ho No Mo” button.
“I don’t take it very seriously at all,” Lytle said. “I can’t honestly tell if she’s satire or not, but if she’s not satire, it’s pretty impressive that she’s been going
this long getting this kind of reaction because everybody here clearly thinks she’s a joke. But she’s pretty resilient in her belief. She holds pretty true to them.”
Lytle attended for entertainment purposes, recognizing Smock from TikTok. “I obviously am not a very religious person at all, so I’m just kind of here for the gag of it and because I wanted a button because I’ve seen her on TikTok,” Lytle said.
Others had no expectations when walking through College Green today, but were instead met with Smock and the massive crowd she gathered.
“I’m confused,” Brayden Cleighton, a freshman studying sports management, said. “My roommate texted me to come. He didn’t tell me anything, he just said to come to College Green, and I came, and I’m very glad I did.”
Cleighten said he felt weirded out during Smock’s presentation of “Sister Cindy’s Slut-Shaming Show.”
“If she’s faking it, she’s a great actor, but I think it might be real,” Cleighton said. “She’s been doing
this for 45 years. You don’t fake something that much, I don’t think you do.”
Although the majority of the crowd was only egging Smock on in their positive responses to her questions, some attendees valued her presence on OU’s campus. Adrienne Barnes, the mom of an OU student, is visiting her daughter with her husband. While walking with their daughter to class, the family stopped to listen in on Smock’s event.
“The Ten Commandments aren’t new to me, we’re faithful Christians,” Barnes said. “Nothing here is surprising to me, but I hope the number of people raising their hands that believe aren’t all being facetious.”
While some students had dissenting beliefs, Smock was happy with the turnout of her stop in Athens.
“It was a great session, a lot of truth went for it, and they were good listeners,” Smock said.
Internet phenomenon, Sister Cindy, talks to students on College Green. Sept. 30,2024
(AUDI REED | FOR THE POST)
Internet phenomenon, Sister Cindy, talks to students on College Green. Sept. 30,2024 (AUDI REED | FOR THE POST)
FIGHTING WORKING OHIOANS
Bird Arena facing maintenance issues, causing schedule changes
While many ACHA teams are weeks into their 2024-25 seasons, both ACHA Division I and Division II Ohio hockey teams are just getting started. The reason? There is no available ice to play on.
Named in honor of former football coach Ossian Clinton Bird, the arena was once a fieldhouse for indoor football, baseball and track practices. With his wife’s love of ice sports in mind, Ohio University President John Baker turned the facility into the Bird Arena in 1957.
Bird Arena has been the home of Ohio’s hockey teams since 1957. The historic building has seen generations of both ACHA and NCAA teams, but with all that history comes age and wear.
A 67-year-old facility is going to need maintenance to keep up with the required safety standards and overall modernity of other campus arenas. Maintenance on Bird was scheduled for this past summer, including new lighting, rubber flooring, painting work and updated locker rooms.
While working on all of these improvements, new issues arose in regard to the ice. A lot goes into keeping a sheet of ice, inside a building all year round, frozen. Below the ice is a thick layer of concrete and under-
neath that are pipes that help keep the ice frozen. These pipes are filled with refrigerant, but when there’s a leak it can be difficult to detect and fix.
“We did a lot of renovation this summer,” Bird Arena Assistant Director Ryank Finkle said. “This was something that was not in the scope of the renovation from the university.”
Finkle doesn’t have to go too far to get some help repairing his rink. To assist in the repairs of the leaking pipes, Finkle is working alongside Russ College of Engineering and Technology.
“Luckily, we’ve been working in partnership with the engineering school to make sure we have all the information that we need,” Finkle said. “They have some thermal imaging, they have some radar and sonic detection that allows us to be more precise versus just walking around trying to find it with no clue.”
These issues have already had an impact on both the Ohio hockey teams. The Division I team was forced to cancel their two-game series with Purdue Northwest last weekend. They later announced that this past weekend’s series with Kent State would take place at Kent State Ice Arena.
The D2 squad, on the other hand,
has their season in full swing, regardless of the mechanical problems at Bird Arena. The team won its first five games, all on the road.
The Bobcats are staying ready, despite this hiccup and limited access to ice times. Both teams have made trips to Charleston, West Virginia, and Columbus, Ohio, to get access to rinks for practice. They have also been utilizing other Ohio Athletic facilities to stay ready, practicing at Walter Field House and Ping Recreation Center.
Originally, Finkle believed Bird would be ready for play by Oct. 11 for
the team’s two-game series at home against Utah. However, on the team’s X (formerly Twitter) account Monday afternoon, it was announced that all home games will be cancelled until mid-November, paving the way for a return for Ohio’s two-game series against Grand Valley State on Nov. 15 and 16, or against Oregon on Nov. 22 and 23.
“Once we get the ice back in here, it should be nice, loud and rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights,” Finkle said.
@TYSONBERNATH TB530021@OHIO.EDU
Ohio looks for successful season with talented roster, strong offense
With the weather dropping in Athens and the fall sports season in full swing, the timing is perfect for the return of an Ohio University favorite, Division II hockey.
The DII team has already made waves this season after finishing the 2023-24 season 18-5. The team currently stands with an impressive 5-0 record and has been stellar in scoring across the board.
Returning players for the team include center Salvatore Poggiali and forwards Nikalas Jozefiak and Peyton Botich, who have contributed to 13 of Ohio’s goals so far. Also returning for the Bobcats are winger Nic Capuzzi and forward Nick Ventura, who have had outstanding performances so far this season and contributed to several of the team’s wins the last two seasons.
While the team is full of upperclassmen, the underclassmen have already proven to be essential to the team, including freshman Quintin Filizetti. The defenseman has put up three goals this season for Ohio, previously playing for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights, where he scored seven goals in the 2023-24 season.
Ohio opened the season against Denison Sept. 13 with goals from Jozefiak, Peyton Botich, Xander Danner, Ethan Tamborski and Filizetti, shutting out the
Big Red Buzzards 7-0.
In the team’s second game, the Bobcats headed to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers. The game opened with goals from Owen Toole, Josh Folmer and Nolan Herubin. The Bobcats went up again in the second period after Poggiali and Nick Ventura put two more points on the board. Capuzzi and Filizetti rounded out the game, scoring two more times each for the win 8-4 over the Mountaineers.
In the third game, Ohio traveled to Indiana for a two-game series. Things were off to a slow start before Jozefiak was able to put one away with an assist from Filizetti in the first period, Jozefiak finishing with a hat trick. Poggiali and Jozefiak helped each other out in the second, each scoring a goal, with Poggiali assisting Jozefiak on his. The Bobcats put the game away in the third 7-3 with goals from Luke Frost, Jozefiak, Scanlon and Nick Coward.
The second game of the series opened with Trent Johnson and Poggiali scoring to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead, which they held onto during the second period, where the Mountaineers managed to put 1 point on the board. In the third period, Poggiali scored, taking the Bobcats up 3-2 before the Mountaineers put one more in to tie the game and take
it to overtime. Scanlon wrapped it up for the team, allowing the Bobcats to take their fourth win of the season.
The team’s fifth straight win of the season was against Dayton, where Poggiali scored the first goal of the game, his fifth of the season. The Bobcats were 1-0 heading into the second period and scored again at the start of the third. Peyton Botich and Poggiali rounded out the 5-1 win with three more goals against the Flyers.
The Bobcats were set to start their home play Friday; however, the game was postponed due to maintenance work on the Bird Ice Arena facility. The team’s next game is scheduled for Oct. 3 and will be played in Bird Arena, permitting the completion
of the maintenance work. Ohio will take on Denison in the team’s second meeting of the season.
Looking forward, the team’s 202425 season schedule is full of exciting matchups, including series against Michigan Oct. 18 and 19 and Penn State Nov. 15 and 16. The team will end their regular season play against Miami Feb. 6 and 7 with another two-series game.
As the excitement continues to grow for Ohio’s return to Bird Arena, the team is ready to use its momentum from the start of the season to set itself up in a good spot for the ACHA Division II playoffs.
@DACKPHOTOGRAPHY AD381620@OHIO.EDU
ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
TYSON BERNATH | FOR THE POST
Bird Arena, located on the Ohio University campus, Athens, Oct. 19, 2023.
(TALITHA MALOY | FOR THE POST)
Week 6 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
TOP FIVE
Texas
Alabama
Ohio State
Georgia
Tennessee
DROPPED: MEMPHIS, OKLAHOMA STATE, UTAH, ARKANSAS
A lot changed in the top 25 this week after several wins from unranked teams over ranked opponents and ranked opponents losing for the first time.
Oklahoma State was the most obvious of the four teams after it lost back-to-back games and looked lost on offense in both.
Utah is the most questionable of these decisions, but I stand by it. The Utes only have one loss on the season, but they just don't have the big win that many other top 25 teams have. Since Cam Rising’s injury, Utah has been a different team — a team that isn’t good enough to contend with the top 25.
ADDED: PITT, BYU, TEXAS A&M, KANSAS STATE
Some of these additions are a bit overdue. BYU and Kansas State have been playing great football all season, but now each has a ranked win that establishes them as contenders in college football.
Pitt has a Heisman contender, quarterback Eli Holstein, and he has played great football all year.
Texas A&M finally crawls back into the top 25 after a Week One loss against Notre Dame. A ranked win against Arkansas this past weekend was proof enough that the Aggies are all the way back.
LOGAN ADAMS TOP FIVE
Alabama
Texas
Ohio State
Georgia
Tennessee
DROPPED:
TEXAS A&M, MEMPHIS, OKLAHOMA STATE
Last week, Texas A&M was nothing more than a formality, while Memphis keeping its spot after a loss to Navy can be chalked up to a mistake on my end. Both teams got wins this weekend but didn’t look as certifiably top 25 as the team’s coming in this week.
Oklahoma State has now suffered back-to-back losses. Last week’s against Utah seemed much more reasonable, keeping them in my top 25, however, with both teams from last week’s matchup finding themselves on the wrong end of a beatdown. Oklahoma State losing 42-20 to Kansas State and Utah lost 23-10 to Arizona — I couldn’t reason Oklahoma State in the top 25 any longer.
ADDED: BYU, KENTUCKY, UNLV
BYU has been on an absolute tear through the Big 12, picking up two wins against Kansas State and Baylor in back-to-back weeks. In what was the biggest loss of the season for any team so far, Kentucky knocked off Ole Miss, a former top five team. The Wildcats’ defense has been incredible, with future NFL players lining their front seven.
UNLV, which made headlines this past week not through its play, but through its controversies, has been quietly seeing success on the field. Down their starting quarterback, the Rebels continue to dominate with a 59-14 win over Fresno State.
CHARLIE FADEL
TOP FIVE
Alabama
Texas
Ohio State
Tennessee
Miami (FL)
DROPPED: UTAH, OKLAHOMA STATE
Two Big 12 contenders fell this past weekend, both to good teams. Oklahoma State lost big against Kansas State, who jumped up significantly in my rankings. Sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson has the Wildcats offense purring through six weeks of the season.
Utah lost at home to a very good Arizona team this weekend. The Utes are missing their longtime starting quarterback in Cam Rising and it showed this weekend. Freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson had a rough game, throwing for two interceptions en route to defeat.
Added: UNLV, Boise State
A couple of groups of five playoff contenders are finding their way into the rankings this week with Boise State and UNLV joining the pack. The Rebels had to deal with some NIL drama this week as quarterback Matthew Sluka left the team after not being paid the $100,000 in NIL money that UNLV reportedly promised. That didn’t affect new starter Hajj-Malik Williams however, as he stepped in and picked 301 total yards and four total touchdowns in a blowout over Fresno State.
Boise State is the best group of five teams in the country right now, and running back Ashton Jeanty is maybe the best player in the entire country. He and the Broncos could very well find themselves in the new expanded college football playoff by the end of the regular season.
Ohio’s defense paves the way for big win over Akron
Quarterback Parker Navarro laughed. Wide receiver Coleman Owen smiled and shook his head in disbelief. These were the only appropriate reactions upon hearing the total rushing yards that the Ohio defense gave up to Akron Saturday.
Negative 23 ended up being the final number and one of many outrageous statistics from yet another standout performance from the Bobcats’ defensive unit. It was the first time since 2006 that Ohio held a team to negative rushing yards for the game.
“Our defense played outstanding," Ohio coach Tim Albin said. “I think they were (0-11) on third down, basically zero yards rushing and one dimensional."
Akron was extremely one-dimensional, and it came into the game like that as well. The opening drive saw Akron kick a field goal after not calling a single designed run play. The Zips’ running backs finished the day with just eight combined carries while their quarterback, Ben Finley, threw the ball 38 times.
Even when throwing the ball, Akron found trouble getting first downs and moving the ball down the field, as Ohio’s secondary stepped up and made big plays. Two of those players were safeties DJ Walker and Austin Brawley, both of whom snagged in-
terceptions from Finley.
The safety duo is clearly building some impressive and dynamic chemistry on the field together.
“Me and DJ manifested this together before the game,” Brawley said.
“That's why you can see us jumping up in front of each other so excited. It just keeps building confidence.”
Walker was quick to add to Brawley’s statement.
“Right after I got mine, I told him,
I said, It's your turn. ‘It's your turn to get work’,” Walker said.
“And he went and did that, and I was just so happy for him.”
The safeties and secondary didn’t do it alone, however, as multiple players on the defensive line came through in huge spots. Arguably none bigger than when Finley was sacked in his own end zone by Marcel Walker-Burgess for a game-changing safety.
It takes a team effort to put up defensive numbers like 0-11 on third down and - 23 yards rushing, something that Walker-Burgess is well aware of. “The biggest thing is, we can't do that without (the secondary) doing their job. It goes hand in hand,” Walker-Burgess said. “We won't be able to go, get back there, get a third down stop, force a punt without them doing their job … just as much as we get a pat on the back, they get the pat too.”
The entire defense will certainly be getting the pat from the coaching staff after its dominant performance. All three levels showed up and showed out in an incredible effort holding Akron to just 10 total points and no points in the second half.
The defense was the catalyst to a big win for Ohio, starting Mid-American Conference play 1-0 with Saturday’s win over Akron.
“1-0 every week, that’s one, but we have plenty more to go,” Walker said.
Although the focus remains on the rest of the season, Albin and his team are happy to get a big win at home to start the MAC season.
“We certainly defended Frank Solich field, and our guys are happy,” Albin said.
Ohio rides defense to another 0-0 draw
In the early stages of Mid-American Conference play, Ohio (6-1-4, 1-0-3 MAC), the defending MAC champion, has recorded its third tie in its first four conference matchups.
Ohio battled to a 0-0 draw Sunday afternoon against Kent State, keeping Ohio in fourth place in the MAC with seven regular season matches remaining. With the draw, Ohio holds a streak of no losses in eight straight matches.
Much of the credit for the streak and the team’s performance has fallen on the performance of junior goalkeeper Celeste Sloma and the rest of the Ohio defense. When asked about the team’s start in the MAC, Ohio coach Aaron Rodgers had high praise
for his defense and the ability of the unit to keep the team in games.
“It means we’re defending really well,” Rodgers said. “We have only conceded one goal, and that was to Western (Michigan), who is at the top of the table, defending regular season champions. I am very proud of how we’re defending.”
Although Ohio is in the midst of an impressive no-loss streak, the team will need to find an answer on offense if it wants to defend its MAC title. The team has allowed just one goal through conference play but has scored only four. Prior to MAC play, the offense was humming, beating its last three opponents by a combined 11-1.
“At the end of the day, we just got unlucky and we’re going to keep going,” junior forward Scout Murray said.
Against Kent State, Ohio saw one shot go into the back of the net — a would-be game-winning shot that saw the team surge the field in celebration. However, the shot was called off-side, halting the victory.
“We finished one at the end, and I think it was just a half a leg off-side,” Rodgers said. “One of the assistants looked at it and said it was at worst half a leg.”
Although luck hasn’t been on Ohio’s side offensively, the team seemingly hasn’t needed it defensively, leaning on its talent and athleticism en route to seven shutouts in 11 games.
Following the tie against Kent State, Rodgers noted the athleticism of any combination of players Ohio can put on its backline in front of MAC Defensive Player of the Week Celeste Sloma. This has allowed the Bobcats to play more aggressively, getting the ball back to their offense more often than not. All seven of Ohio’s shutouts have come with Sloma in the net, tying her season-high from 2023.
@CHARLIEFADEL CF111322@OHIO.EDU
Ohio has been relatively proficient on offense and essentially impenetrable on defense. Each unit ranks top 5 in the MAC in terms of goals and goals allowed since the start of conference play. The Bobcats just haven’t been able to put it together to close out games.
The Bobcats will have a prime opportunity to climb up the MAC rankings from its current fourthplace designation in the coming weeks. Ohio still has games against two teams placed above them in the rankings in Buffalo and Central Michigan. Ohio will also have prime opportunities against struggling teams like Akron and Northern Illinois. If Ohio can find a way to pair timely scoring with one of the best goalkeepers in the MAC, Sloma, it will be a hard team to beat come tournament time. In last season’s MAC championship run, from the lowest seed in the tournament, Ohio was able to put together two goals in each of its three games. The Bobcats will look to rekindle that offensive magic moving forward.
BEN WILK | FOR THE POST
CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS STAFF WRITER
Wide Receiver Eian Pugh (12), charges down the field against Akron, Sept. 28, 2024. The Bobcats Beat Akron 30-10 in Peden Stadium, Athens. (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
Both Ohio University's and Kent State Univeristy's teams walking to center field with the referees to have the starters announced, Sept. 29, 2024. (ANTONIO RAHMAT | FOR THE POST)
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ENTERTAINMENT
ATHENS BAR REVIEW:
C.I., Crystal are staples on Court Street
There are many different bars in Athens that Ohio University students and locals over the age of 21 can enjoy. The C.I. and The Crystal are two popular bars that add to students’ night life of the student body on Court Street.
The College Inn, more commonly referred to as C.I., is a popular stop for students looking to have a few cheap drinks and to play some rounds of pool. According to the Southeast Ohio History Center, the C.I. is the longest running bar on Court Street. It was originally founded by Steve G. Tatalos in 1917, with the bar celebrating being open for 107 years in 2024.
From a previous report by The Post, Tatalos opened his restaurant-bar one year after he moved from Türkiye to Athens when he was 16 years old. Tatalos owned the College Inn for 50 years and died in 1969, only two years after he retired. The name was shortened to what we know today in the 1960s during a darker time in Athens’s history.
Today, the C.I. still resides at 32 N. Court St. and remains a favorite to the student body of OU. The bar provides many different specials during the week while also hosting Happy Hours. Some of the best specials during the week are the $12 mimosa pitchers on Sundays, $4 Ultra pitchers on Mondays and $5 mojitos on Mondays. Students, locals and visitors can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the C.I. by watching a football game on the televisions, interacting with the friendly staff and listening to music on an updated jukebox. It has lots of seating inside and looks like a bar with the colorful neon lighting. The inside wooden walls showcase pieces of history with photos and memorabilia highlighting how long the C.I. has been around and how many different generations have passed through. According to Shop Athens Ohio, the bar is considered to be the home of the Ohio hockey team.
The only downside to the bar is it is cash only. Despite this, the bar prides itself on being known to have some of the cheapest drinks in town and, according to Shop Athens Ohio, offering free popcorn to fit every college student’s bar budget.
Another worthwhile stop on Court Street is The Crystal. Shop Athens Ohio calls Crystal “a Court Street staple,” and it really is with the distinctive bright blue and maroon outline to make it stand out among the bars on the strip. Customers can pull open the heavy wooden doors to take a stop into another historical spot in Athens.
Located at 34 N. Court St., the inside of Crystal contains barstool seating, wooden booths, fresh popcorn
and pool tables for customers to enjoy. According to Crystal's TikTok page, the bar has exactly 99 mirrors inside. It is also known for its affordable drinks for students and locals to enjoy.
Crystal also has lots of televisions for customers to watch their favorite sporting action while offering different drink specials throughout the week. Some of the bar’s specials include $12 mimosa pitchers, two for $5 Vegas bombs and $3 Bloody Marys on Sundays that run all day long. Some other specials offered are $6 Alaskan Amber pitchers, two for $5 nerd shots and the signature Crystal Ball for $4 on Fridays.
Although the bar offers a friendly atmosphere with cheap drinks, it is also a cash only bar. It stands out from other bars on Court Street because it has enough space for a big group of people to hang out in. The bartenders are also attentive to the customers, adding to the atmosphere to make the bar enjoyable. You can make that second stop to an ATM and check out one of Athen’s staple bars before it gets crowded on the weekends.
Both the C.I. and Crystal add to the uniqueness of bars on Court Street, making both bars a fun stop for a night out during the week or on the weekends. Both bars have welcoming atmospheres and have something fun and distinct about them. The only downside you will ever find about these bars is they are cardless, but it is worth the extra trip to the ATM for a great night out with friends.
ASHLEY POMPLAS | FOR THE POST
Outside of The Crystal, located on Court Street in Athens. (CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)
Simple Science: Earth welcome’s a second, tinier moon
ALEXANDRA HOPKINS | FOR THE POST
Earth’s orbit has temporarily welcomed a second moon. Discovered by NASA scientists in early August, the mini-moon, 2024 PT5, arrived in Earth’s orbit early yesterday morning.
Astronomers from the Complutense University of Madrid first observed asteroid 2024 PT5 in early August. Using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System or ATLAS in Sutherland, South Africa, they were able to identify, monitor and predict the asteroid’s path towards Earth.
Declared a “mini-moon,” the asteroid arrived in Earth’s orbit Sunday. It will linger around Earth until Nov. 25, making its exit just before the holiday season. Although the space rock will not stick around for long, platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X have been anticipating the space rock’s arrival.
Astrologists on Instagram are considering the implications a second moon will have on astrological signs, and there are hundreds of thousands of likes on posts about celebrating the mini-moon’s visit. However, people should not expect to see the mini-moon with the naked eye. At about 37 feet wide — roughly the
size of a school bus — 2024 PT5 will be smaller than the moon’s width of 2,159.2 miles. Amateur stargazers will struggle to see the mini-moon through their telescopes and binoculars. However, professional astronomers and scientists will be able to monitor the asteroid as it makes its trip around the world.
Asteroids are “Small Solar System Bodies,” according to the International Astronomical Union. These objects typically orbit around the sun but can be shifted by the gravitational pulls of other celestial objects.
In the case of 2024 PT5, the Earth’s gravitational pull will capture the minimoon for about two months. While in orbit, it will travel around the Earth at 2,200 mph before slingshotting back into the Arjuna asteroid belt, a group of near-Earth objects, or NEOs, orbiting the sun at an average distance “of about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers),” according to space.com.
This astronomical event is not as rare as it seems and happens quite frequently. Earth has had many “mini-moons” visit during it’s 4.5 billion year history, including ones in 2022 and 2020. Some scientists even speculate there is always an NEO in orbit.
2024 PT5’s visit to the Earth’s orbit
presents valuable research opportunities for scientists to test detection techniques, learn more about NEOs and how to predict when they’ll come close to the planet.
ATLAS, the system that spotted 2024 PT5, is one of four asteroid impact early warning systems scattered worldwide. Each night, these systems scan the night sky in search of moving objects that may present danger to the Earth. Depending on the size of an object, ATLAS can detect a threat up to several weeks away.
fiction, these stories fuel the public’s interest about space programs, scientific discovery and cosmic events.
As the public engages with 2024 PT5’s arrival, it is worth reflecting on how pop culture may influence perceptions of space events.
Recent films such as “Don’t Look Up” (2021) and “Moonfall” (2022) dramatize cosmic threats, while classics like “Armageddon” (1998) capture our collective imagination regarding the prevention of asteroid impacts. Though steeped in
Celebration of the mini-moon’s visit is representative of a collective fear often reflected in entertainment media. Yet, the mini-moon’s mystique also reminds us of the wonders of space, as well as the discovery awaiting in the unknown. Though this celestial visitor will only stick around for two months, it will act as a reminder and a source of imagination for those who look up at the sky.
AH875121@OHIO.EDU
Tracking Trends: TikTok Shop dominates the For You Page
JEN FOSNAUGHT | FOR THE POST
After TikTok Shop’s launch almost exactly one year ago, Sept. 12, the platform skyrocketed to become a staple TikTok feature. Many videos on the For You Page are centered around the shopping site. There are tabs next to the FYP tab dedicated to browsing products, and even a button specifically for “your orders” on your profile. What began as a hesitant new feature taking many users by surprise now has over 47 million posts under the hashtag TikTokShop and 1.1 million followers on the official TikTok Shop account.
Six months after the store’s release in March
2024, TikTok shop garnered 55 million shoppers, which is 37% of the app’s total users. The sum of wealth it produced was just as large, raking in just over $11 billion.
Bloomberg expects the trajectory to continue even higher, with an estimated $17 billion of gross revenue by the end of 2024. To put this number into perspective, Temu made roughly $34.72 billion in 2023.
With such a rapid increase in growth, the videos centered around TikTok Shop have multiplied on the platform. Videos paired with a small “sponsored” label at the bottom have become more frequent, with ads, sponsors and commission content becoming as recurring as every five videos.
Savannah Swanson, a sophomore studying communication studies, finds the increase of advertising on TikTok overwhelming.
“Sometimes I just want to enjoy the creative content,” Swanson said. “I'm not looking to buy something, so I end up scrolling through my Tiktok page
trying to find videos that aren't ads.”
The advertisements often end up being repeats of the same items, which for Swanson, adds to the frustration.
“Sometimes it can become so overwhelming because every video that's from the Tiktok Shop is the same product, and so it's just video after video talking about the same exact product,” Swanson said.
Other TikTok users share the sentiment.
Katie Bailey, a freshman studying journalism, deals with ads by “scroll(ing) right past.”
A pair of biker shorts Bailey had purchased were shown many times on her FYP before she bought them.
“I probably saw 10 videos for it,” Bailey said.
Often, however, it’s this overwhelming repetition of ads and repeat content that ends up convincing users to buy a product. Of three students interviewed on their experience shopping, all three stated they trust a product more — and are more convinced to buy it — the more content they see about it.
Jordyn Wilson, a sophomore studying child and family studies, said the repetition makes the items seem like less of a scam, even if it can be annoying.
“If I see maybe four to five (videos) from people I follow, I can kind of trust this will be a good product,” Wilson said.
When taking into account the items themselves, TikTok Shop is littered with both pros and cons. The top categories on TikTok Shop are beauty and personal care, accounting for 22.5% of the total products being sold on the app, followed by womenswear at 12.5%. Overall, the market is largely dominated by female-targeted categories.
Quality ranges, with some experiences, like Wilson’s, being inconsistent.
“The cup I (bought I) still use to this day, (it’s) definitely quality,” Wilson said. “One of the bags I bought, one of the straps broke.”
Good finds do come about, however. Swanson discussed one of her better experiences.
“Honestly, (the jumpsuit) is pretty good quality,” Swanson said. “It's more like a polyester synthetic fabric material, but it looks really good.”
When put into comparison against other popular shopping sites, such as Amazon or Temu, TikTok Shop is not performing as well, but does share a large portion of shoppers with these other platforms. According to EarnestAnalytics, SHEIN shares 28% of its customers with TikTok Shop while Amazon shares 12%.
Overall, sites such as Amazon are viewed as more reliable than TikTok Shop. Wilson views Amazon as a better choice for a multitude of reasons.
“(With) Amazon I know things are gonna come faster, I don’t pay for shipping,” Wilson said. “Everything will come in a day or two.”
TikTok shop is also notable for its high shipping costs which other platforms don’t have as much.
“(The shipping is) too high,” Wilson said. “The tax and the shipping is more than the product is worth if the product is five and the shipping is 10.”
Others, like Bailey, have put in place restrictions on what they’re willing to spend.
“I will not pay more than $8 (on shipping),” Bailey said.
(NICOLE REESE Asst. ART DIRECTOR)
Bands rock out at The Union for Homecoming weekend
TYLER CALLAHAN | FOR THE POST
To celebrate Homecoming weekend, The Union, located at 18 W. Union St., hosted four nights of jaw dropping performances and events. From an electrifying rave to psychedelic stoner rock, each night brought in crowds of people who lined Union Street hoping for their chance to get in.
WEDNESDAY - PUNK AND BLUES
Wednesday night brought in three bands who drew the older crowd, attracting parents and alumni alike. Gamma Ray and The Sueves opened for the legendary Jon Spencer.
Gamma Ray, a self proclaimed “snot rock” band out of Columbus, has been making its way onto the Ohio music scene these last few years. With an EP and multiple singles released, the band is quickly gaining popularity. After the remarkable show Wednesday night, fans can only hope to see them back in Athens soon.
The Sueves, an underground punk band out of Chicago that formed in 2011, has been tearing up venues since their inception. With three albums and an EP, The Sueves’ hardcore tones and sharp edgy vocals are reminiscent of bands like The Clash, Misfits and Minor Threat, giving the middle finger to the world at every show.
Spencer is a legendary name with an even more legendary sound. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion has been putting out unique punky blues since the ‘90s and even had its top song “Bellbottoms” featured in the opening scene of the 2017 film “Baby Driver.” So, it was no surprise when Spencer proved he owned Athens Wednesday night. His energy shook the
venue and branded his name into the minds of every soul in the crowd.
THURSDAY - RAVE, RAVE, RAVE?
BrickLife Entertainment was back for round two with another Union Rave, bringing more energy and even more electric EDM music featuring many people’s favorite BrickLife DJs. With a Snag sponsorship and other giveaways, this event had the OU community lined up down Union Street and all the way down Court Street. The excitement left everyone anticipating part three of a rave.
FRIDAY - SKATE ROCK AND SHOEGAZE
Friday night was proof that no one steps up more than the local Athens bands. When The Laughing Chimes opener Bomb Bunny didn’t show, local band Learner stepped in, controlling the situation and further proving Athens bands do it best.
Learner, a mellow skate rock band from Athens that released its first album “Toss (demos)” in August, set the vibe for Friday. The band showed The Union why it deserves a spot in the Athens music scene. The band’s mellow calming tones resonate and stick to listeners, and any Athens resident must experience seeing the group live.
Brothers Evan and Quinn Seurkamp, Avery Bookman and Ella Franks of The Laughing Chimes released their first album titled “In This Town” in 2021. Since then, they have released several EPs under Slumberland Records, a recording label based out of San Francisco, California. The band has developed a unique sound that resonates with Brit pop indie bands such as The Smiths, The Stone Roses and My Bloody Valentine. Friday night showed
Athens that The Laughing Chimes mark has been made.
SATURDAY - STONER METAL
Saturday night brought in three recognizable bands: Athens's very own Cranberry Casket, Bonginator and Telekinetic Yeti.
Cranberry Casket, an indie band that opened the show, has made a mark in the Athens music scene and made it clear the band has a unique quality. Evan Seurkamp of The Laughing Chimes made a comment about the band back in January for Athens News.
“They're one of those bands that not very many people have heard yet,” Seurkamp said. “I think they'll be one of the biggest bands in Athens.”
Cranberry Casket is a band that gets better and better with every show, with nothing stopping them.
No band is quite like Bonginator, a stoner death metal group out of New England. The band ripped The Union to shreds with mosh pits, screaming, anger and the hint of weed in every song. The music is a testimony to rage and marijuana, and the sound is indescribable so people should listen with caution.
Telekinetic Yeti is a psychedelic stoner metal band that originated in Iowa. This duo left everyone in shock by controlling the minds of patrons Saturday. With two highly reviewed albums, the two-man group has been on the rise and will take over the metal scene.
With eight bands and a rave, The Union never skimps when it comes to quality, showing this town who is boss. Anticipated fans can look forward to more shows and events coming soon.
TC258922@OHIO.EDU
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The Sueves bring punk rock to the stage as an opener Wednesday night. (TYLER CALLAHAN | FOR THE POST)
Lately with
Layne:
LAYNE REY | FOR THE POST
In November, Ohio voters have the chance to determine the fate of the U.S. Senate’s upcoming term. Seven competitive races are likely to decide what party will end up holding the majority, according to the New York Times. The Ohio race between Republican Bernie Moreno and incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is one of two races considered a true toss-up.
According to Voice of America, “For years, the U.S. state of Ohio was a solid indicator of American political opinion, choosing the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1964 to 2016.” However, now Ohio is reliably conservative – posing a concern for the presidential election and control of the Senate.
As Ohio begins to establish its place on the right amid a crucial Senate election, voters must beware of Moreno. His rhetoric surrounding top issues and the false narrative of his background proves his inability to serve Ohio. Moreno’s baseless and hurtful language brings speech similar to former President Donald Trump’s to the state. Specifically on abortion– a driving issue in all elections this November – Moreno has not taken an elegant approach.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that just before he launched his Senate campaign, Moreno said, “Could you imagine if we could go back into the DeLorean, we popped into the DeLorean out there and you went back and met
Bernie Moreno is not for Ohio
Madison and Hamilton and Washington and said, ‘Hey, are you in favor of abortion?’ They would murder you.”
Considering he also has inserted comments about pregnancy not happening in the checkout line of Kroger, Moreno has not been approaching a vulnerable issue with grace.
Recently, Moreno has received backlash from both parties for saying, “It’s a little crazy, by the way — especially for women that are like past 50. I’m thinking to myself: I don’t think that’s an issue for you.”
Completely undermining every woman’s individual experience, Moreno has been insensitive and hurtful to many Ohioans. Abortion access and the right to reproductive healthcare are not humorous topics for him to throw in what he thinks are witty and clever comments.
Along with his offensiveness, Moreno’s top campaign strategy seems to be his self-made success in achieving the American dream. He presents his story as an immigrant who believed in a struggling business and transformed himself into a millionaire.
According to the New York Times, “We came here with absolutely nothing — we came here legally — but we came here, nine of us in a two-bedroom apartment,” Moreno said in 2023, in what became his signature pitch to voters. His father “had to leave everything behind,” he said, remembering what he called his family’s “lower-middle-class status.”
His story establishes a false narrative well, making it difficult to see beyond the exaggerations.
Moreno was born in Botogá, Colombia where he had generational wealth waiting for him. His family is full of successful individuals — especially his parents who attended college in the U.S. The wealthy son of South American elites is not relatable to many Ohioans.
Instead, he chooses to push his self-made story of purchasing an unsuccessful Mercedes-Benz dealership with his life savings, which is probably an out-of-reach amount for many. Now, he has assets valued up to $105.7 million and a yearly income of close to $6 million, according to the New York Times.
“Colombian millionaires don’t leave Colombia to live the American dream or to prevent their children from growing up with privileges,” Federico Gómez Lara, editor-in-chief of Cambio Colombia, wrote for the New York Times . “They leave Colombia because they have enough money to throw away. Colombia seems like a village to them, and they want their children to be educated and mingle with the real rich.”
This fabricated story of being a poor immigrant is not his reality.
All too often, voters fill out their ballot strictly along party lines. Ohioans – Democrats and Republicans alike – must remember that Moreno’s hurtful language surrounding abortion and false narrative about his wealth make him the wrong candidate to represent women and the working class.
Absolutely Abby: Include Puerto Ricans this Hispanic Heritage Month
ABBY WAECHTER ASST. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
When people think of Hispanic Heritage Month, the American flag may not come to mind, but it’s essential to recognize the 3.2 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico, who possess a rich Spanish heritage.
Understanding Puerto Rico’s status is crucial. The island has deep Hispanic roots; originally inhabited by the Taíno people, it was claimed by Spain in 1493 when Christopher Columbus arrived, according to the Smithsonian.
Spain established a colonial government, making Spanish the dominant language, a legacy still true today. Since 1898, after the Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico has been a non-incorporated territory of the U.S. This means that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens with U.S. documents, but they lack certain rights, such as voting for senators or the president. They enjoy some American rights, but many essential freedoms are denied.
Now, after 126 years as a non-incorporated territory, many residents actively seek to end this “colonial” relationship through various means, including statehood or independence.
Jordon Lebron, the president of El 787, a club that celebrates Puerto Rican culture and advocates for Latinos on Ohio University’s campus, said there is a deep desire for change in the Puerto Rican community, revealing a broader
struggle for recognition and empowerment in the face of systemic challenges.
“Puerto Ricans, we exist in the world, and especially in our government,” Lebron said. “The vast majority of the population there wants some sort of change, whether it be just a change of government to escape from a lot of the bad stuff that’s happening.”
Hispanic Heritage Month, running from mid-September to mid-October, celebrates key dates like the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua Sept. 15, followed by Mexico and Chile Sept. 16 and 18. Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, also occurs during this time, highlighting the complex history of colonization and cultural exchange.
This year’s theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” may resonate deeply with Puerto Ricans as they grapple with the country’s political status. The contributions of Puerto Ricans extend beyond their island, influencing various aspects of American culture, from music and cuisine to politics and art.
George Laws García, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council and the former adviser for two Puerto Rican Governors, said it is often difficult for people on the island to feel a sense of belonging during Hispanic Heritage Month due to a variety of factors including little representation in the media and feelings of injustice.
García also emphasized the political structure creates
a sense of powerlessness, where “one party holds all the power and the other party is deprived of the power,” leading individuals to internalize feelings of inadequacy and blame themselves for their circumstances.
Although there remain feelings of frustration and anger among people in Puerto Rico, García is dedicated to using the tools of democracy to spread awareness of the political injustices faced by his fellow citizens so that one day they may contribute equally to society.
García said he is further motivated by America’s history of marginalized groups fighting for equality and representation, charting the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage Movement and LGBTQIA+ marriage equality as some that make the idea of Puerto Rican statehood appear attainable.
“Groups that were formerly marginalized, formerly excluded, formerly deprived of full participation in society, have gained access to the tools and opportunities that our American system can afford them,” García said. “They’ve contributed, and America’s benefited from it, and we’ve become a better nation, a more perfect union, and I believe that we can continue moving that forward.”
As you honor Hispanic Heritage this month, think of the American flag and the contributions of Puerto Rico. By doing so, we can help ensure that all Hispanic communities receive the recognition they deserve. Together, we can celebrate a future where every voice is valued, and every culture is honored.
Table Talk: JD Vance is the wrong running mate
TAYLOR ORCUTT | FOR THE POST
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced July 15 he had chosen Sen. JD Vance (D-OH) as his running mate and vice president candidate. Vance accepted the nomination three days later. Since his nomination, Vance has made one thing clear: he is the wrong running mate for Trump.
The Sept. 10 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump was broadcast to 67.1 million viewers. The debate was highlighted by a statement from Trump that caused extreme, racialized violence to break out in Springfield, Ohio.
After the debate, ABC News interviewed Vance. The hosts asked about Trump’s non-answer to a national abortion ban question, to which Vance said he had not discussed this issue with Trump. According to ABC News’s transcript of the debate, Trump also said they had not discussed the matter at the time, revealing a lack of communication.
The issue of abortion access has been increasingly politicized since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. In the 2023 Ohio general election, voters passed Issue 1
to support amending the Ohio Constitution to enshrine abortion access. Abortion laws are in the minds of voters in the upcoming election. The dissonance between Trump and Vance may seem like carelessness — or, at the very least, unpreparedness — in the eyes of voters.
Vance is no stranger to offending his constituency, which worsens his disconnect to Trump. His most infamous controversy involves his widely successful and controversial memoir “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and Culture in Crisis,” wherein critics say he stereotypes and generalizes Appalachians. The impact of the novel was so widespread, editors Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll published an anthological response, “Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy.”
The controversial nature of the novel is, in large part, due to self-projection. Vance’s experiences as a Yale Law School graduate and senator are distinctive. Critics denounce the “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” ideology he promotes in his novel and the implied laziness of Appalachians, who are often stuck in systemic economic disadvantages. It was bold of Vance — a unique case in Appalachia — to not only stereotype and generalize the lives and experiences
of Appalachians but also appoint himself as their memoir’s writer.
The controversy surrounding Vance harms Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump’s target voter base is in rural agricultural communities in the Midwest and Appalachia, according to a 2020 presidential election map. His voter base is also overwhelmingly white, older than 50 and without a college degree, according to AP. Vance’s misrepresentation of this population exacerbates Trump’s controversies surrounding military service members and veterans, who are another portion of his voter base.
Vance and Trump lack the synergy and consistent platform observed in their opponents, Harris and Minnesota governor and running-mate Tim Walz. As a highly polarizing and controversial candidate, Trump should have picked a less polarizing running mate or one with varying views from him. Variety in presidential and vice presidential candidates can expand and broaden voter support, which is especially important in the competitive 2024 election. Instead, Trump did the opposite in choosing Vance, likely leaving gashes in their voter base.
SOLUTIONS 9/17
Editorial: Generalizations are dangerous forms of political rhetoric
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
In a time when the American political climate is characterized by sweeping generalizations and dangerous rhetoric, the truth often gets buried amid the rubble of misinformation.
Former President Donald Trump said during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris Sept. 10 that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating the pets of the city’s citizens. The claim fueled widespread fear and xenophobia among his supporters. Yet Trump’s statement was unfounded, as there have been “no credible reports” of cats and dogs being eaten in Springfield, according to BBC.
Shortly after the debate, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced he would be sending state troopers to protect Springfield schools — not from immigrants, but rather from repeated threats of violence made by people who believed Trump’s false claims.
The former president’s statement was so shocking that it went viral on social media, becoming an internet meme and diluting the potential for real discussions about the debate. Sensationalism and fear-mongering took precedence over the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about immigration policy and public safety. This is perhaps one of the greatest threats to democracy today: putting the truth on the back burner for a shred of virality.
Trump’s continuous anti-immigrant generalizations have been at the forefront of his campaign from the start and have had detrimental effects on immigrant communities in the U.S. Haitians in Springfield have been subjected to extreme harassment and have become the latest target of hate groups such as the Proud Boys. Trump’s previous claims that immigrants are responsible for drug trafficking and violent crime have planted seeds for hatred and discrimination toward people who come to the U.S. in search of safety and opportunity.
This pattern is not limited to one side of the political spectrum, however. Democrats have long labeled all
Republicans as racist and ignorant, failing to acknowledge that just as the left has diverse views, the right does as well. Approximately 61% of Democrats describe Republicans as “racist,” “bigoted” and “sexist.” By viewing Republicans through a monolithic lens, Democrats risk perpetuating the divisiveness between parties they so often criticize.
As a nominee in 2020, President Joe Biden said, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black.”
As of 2022, over 47 million people in the U.S. are Black. That is 47 million different identities and experiences. To reduce Black people, or any group, to a singular political category is to strip them of their individuality and reinforce the idea that they are all the same. Approximately 8% of Black Americans voted for Trump in the 2020 election, and they are not “less” Black for doing so.
Generalizations are never true, and they are always harmful. If politicians continue to spew such dangerous rhetoric, there will never be common ground between the parties. Political figures have a responsibility to provide accurate, reliable information so voters can make informed decisions.
Not all immigrants are criminals, not all Republicans are bad people and not all Black people are Democrats. Those are just three of the generalizations that have soured the tongue of political discourse, but they are far from the only ones, and the aftertaste is vitriolic.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Alyssa Cruz, Managing Editor Madalyn Blair and Equity Director McKenna Christy. Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage. The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com.
JACKSON PENNINGTON | FOR THE POST
