Federal Hocking Local superintendent determined to raise grades, spirits
JACK SOLON | FOR THE POST
Federal Hocking Local School District received two stars for achievement, one for progress, two for gap-closing, two for early literacy and two for graduation. An overall two-star rating is the reality of Federal Hocking Local’s new superintendent Jason Spencer, but he has plans to do something about it.
This year marks Spencer’s 26th in public education. He started in Orlando, Florida, where he spent eight years before coming to Ohio.
He has served as a building administrator at elementary, middle and high school levels for a collective 12 years before becoming a district administrator for the past five. He was hired to Federal Hocking in July, with his four-year contract beginning Aug. 1.
Spencer’s plan to give Federal Hocking a facelift involves a shift in focus to target state guidelines he felt were previously ignored.
“When I came to Federal Hocking, as with other places that are underperforming, I needed to dig and try to find the mindset that explains why we’re underperforming,” Spencer said. “About two superintendents ago, there was this idea that ‘We’re Federal Hocking, we do our way, we don’t need to look at state requirements,’ and over time, you see the results of that.”
Spencer said he takes the state report card’s findings very seriously. His plans include dialing in on state criteria and creating more efficient uses for district resources, such as increasing the number of students per classroom.
Federal Hocking classrooms have an average of 13 students, according to Spencer, a figure he cited as characteristically low. Despite this, the top priority is ensuring teachers teach what will appear on state exams by adjusting to report card findings.
Once he figured out the mindset needed to change both in how the district
prepares students as well as teachers, Spencer said he started better educating the principals on their roles.
“My goal starting off was to help our principals understand their role, and then also to help them learn how they can influence educational outcomes of students in the classrooms,” Spencer said. “I’m a little bit of a data nerd, and if you study research, research will show you time and time again that the number one effect on classroom achievement is the classroom teacher, hands-down.”
Jake Amlin, the principal of Federal Hocking High School, has seen Spencer’s early plan in action. Amlin, like Spencer, prioritizes student, family and community input.
A key reform to student learning at Federal Hocking High School is the inclusion of a senior capstone learning project, the implementation of which was spurred by a community meeting between staff and families.
“The near-adults who are Federal Hocking seniors are going to be expected to be independent very soon, and while a lot of the things they need to know how to do include math and reading, some of it is not what you would consider core content areas,” Amlin said.
Amlin said he sees the value of a capstone learning experience, a year-long project to pitch an issue of their choosing, plan it, budget it, find a mentor and present growth visually.
Students have ways to display growth outside of report cards through this model, according to Amlin. Amlin cited a trade program that incentivizes students to buckle down and get their grades up so they can have the opportunity to do the work they would like to do through school programs.
Amlin said he knows a student who did not thrive in the traditional school system or through core class coursework who is now successfully pursuing alternative programs.
“He’s doing exceptionally well in a welding course through Washington State College of Ohio,” Amlin said. “Every Friday, he goes up there and spends the day in their college-level lab earning industry credentials and welding. He’s brilliant.”
The students in the internship partner program must maintain a certain GPA to participate and are responsible for making up for missed schoolwork during the days they spend out. In doing so, the partnership program has become a way for students to express and improve themselves both in and out of the classroom, according to Amlin.
“The state tells us how students are expected to end the class, but we’ve got to be cognizant too of where they’re coming in from, where they’re entering the class, and then making the decision about growth and achievement,” Amlin said. “Because it’s a sticky wicket, and (we need to) meet a kid where they are and be realistic.”
Ohio has a program called the One Plan, requiring districts to lay out a plan before receiving funding for its execution. One Plan is a shift from the previous structure, in which districts would receive money first and then tell the state how they spent it.
Kerry Sheridan-Boyd, who serves as
president of Federal Hocking’s Board of Education and hired Spencer, said the board stands with his vision.
“He genuinely cares about what’s best for our students,” Sheridan-Boyd said. “They are our product, so making sure that we give them the best that we can. I think that’s Dr. Spencer’s plan as well, ‘Let’s just move up a star,’ you don’t have to move three stars in one year, but just a star, make sure the kids are absorbing what they’re taught.”
Spencer said he knows the mindset change across the district will be a challenge that comes with growing pains but remains optimistic. He said there can be a healthy balance between the Federal Hocking way and state guidelines, but that starts with getting the report card grade up.
“This is an opportunity rather than just something someone’s forcing us to do,” Spencer said. “If we’re never looking at the scorecard, if we’re just happy where we are, then chances are people are going to pass us up, and we’re gonna be left behind, and I can’t accept that for our kids.
“Our kids deserve to be prepared.”
The outside of the Federal Hocking High School in Stewart, Ohio,
HAPCAP gains funding for emergency relief shelter
HAPCAP worked to receive $2 million of funding from the state to transform Athens Sunset Motel into an emergency relief shelter for those experiencing homelessness in Athens
HAPCAP is set to receive a $2 million grant from the state to transform Athens Sunset Motel on 135 Columbus Road into an emergency relief shelter for unhoused individuals.
Jessica Stroh, HAPCAP’s community service director, said HAPCAP began discussing solutions to support unhoused individuals in Athens in January.
“The issue of unhoused individuals and that need in our community really came to the top of priority for a lot of folks in the organization,” Stroh said. “We started looking around for different grant opportunities.”
HAPCAP first heard about the grant opportunity through the Ohio Department of Development in July.
“We had a committee of the coalition work to put together that application, and that’s the basic information,” Stroh said. “It was a time crunch, but it was very fun. It was very collaborative.”
HAPCAP decided to utilize Athen’s Sunset Motel because the grant had specific parameters about eligible property types.
Kelly Hatas, HAPCAP’s executive director, said one of the grant requirements was to utilize an existing space, meaning they couldn’t construct a new shelter. Hatas also said the shelter must be adequate and provide each individual with their own living space.
“It identified that the shelter must be non-congregate, meaning we couldn’t just have folks on cots in a gymnasium,” Hatas said. “Everyone had to have their
own private living spaces, their own private bathroom, a sink separate from the bathroom so that they could prepare food.”
With these requirements, HAPCAP contacted Athens Sunset Motel to see if they would like to provide a space.
“We just called them and told them a little bit about our project and asked them if they would have any interest in selling, and the rest is history,” Hatas said.
Stroh said the organization has two years to open the emergency shelter once the grant is received.
“There will be a significant rehabilita-
tion of the property that goes in order to make it suitable for the shelters,” Stroh said. “We’re looking at hopefully serving our first person in spring of 2026.”
Stroh said HAPCAP is now focused on community engagement and spreading awareness of the project. Additionally, HAPCAP will send surveys to gauge the city’s and citizens’ concerns and questions.
Hatas estimated HAPCAP will rehabilitate 20 units with 38 beds.
“We can kind of be flexible with that number of beds depending on an individual or family’s housing needs,“ Hatas said.
Eva Bloom, HAPCAP’s development director, said the shelter will provide sanctuary to those unhoused individuals; however, it is not a permanent housing destination.
“I think the overall goal is to provide a safe, secure place for individuals who are facing housing insecurity to find their next step,” Bloom said.
Bloom said HAPCAP understands these individuals’ struggle to find affordable housing in Athens, as there is a shortage throughout Athens and the rest of Ohio.
“We understand that the challenges to move from shelter to stable affordable housing are great, but without some foundation under your feet, it can be almost impossible,” Bloom said.
Kerry Pigman, executive director of Athens County Foundation, said the Athens Co-Create Housing Security Coalition includes 40 organizations that have identified issues with housing in Athens.
“Over 40 organizations and many more community members identified a critical gap in our housing ecosystem of not having enough low barrier emergency shelter beds in the county,” Pigman said.
Bloom said Athens should understand that the project is being developed and HAPCAP is open to feedback via survey.
“We would like to work together with anyone who has an interest to make sure that we are creating the best possible version of this project,” Bloom said. “That’s going to be something that the whole community can be proud of.”
@MARYKATEEEE13 MMM336621@OHIO.EDU
Bird Ice Arena’s closure frustrates students, coaches
finishing renovations and reopening in January 2025.
Bird Ice Arena is finishing renovations and is set to reopen in January 2025 after receiving a new roof, insulation, paint, ice plant and chiller.
The arena shut down in March, a month earlier than it normally closes, and was initially supposed to open in October.
Sofie Kendel, assistant coach for the synchronized skating team, said the extended time affected the timeline of the season and caused them to be unable to compete in a recent competition.
“Usually, teams are done with their tryouts and done with choreography by August, so we already are behind some months,” Kendel said. “It just makes us less prepared as opposed to other teams.”
Kendel said the university has not been doing its best to communicate updates regarding the arena.
Ohio University published a press release Oct. 24 disclosing when the arena would be open and said the arena is temporarily closed to house repairs for an unexpected facility equipment issue for maintaining the arena’s ice.
Jackson Balemian, a sophomore studying exercise psychology, is an assistant captain for LUG Sports, an organization that helps arrange recreational sports for the college Hockey Team. He said the school has not communicated well and is worried about the rink opening.
“All I know is that it’s expensive, and
(the university) should just put that money into building a new arena,” Balemian said.
Balemian said OU also closed Bird Ice Arena last year but did not push the season back as much.
“We put a lot of time and effort into putting a team together, picking jerseys and going through that whole process,” Balemian said.
Balemian said he worries about what will happen to each team member’s money if the rink does not reopen. Each team member has to pay $360 for a jersey, ice time and LUG merch.
“I hope we get refunds because that would be $360 down the drain that went to nothing,” Balemian said.
Balemian said he also hopes the school will give his team extra time on the ice once the arena reopens.
“(Hockey is) a great stress reliever for guys to just go and play after a stressful week and everything,” Balemian said. “We had a lot of guys looking forward to this.”
The closure has also impacted the hockey and synchronized skating teams’ practices. The teams have traveled to a rink in South Charleston, West Virginia, and the hockey team has practiced in Columbus. Both locations are about an hour-and-a-half drive from Athens.
Barry Schutte, the head coach of OU’s hockey team, said scheduling practices around class time is difficult. To practice, the team sometimes leaves at 5 a.m. or
returns at 2 a.m.
“It’s three hours of driving for an hour practice, and then a little time in between and after to get dressed,” Schutte said. “It’s a five-hour adventure just to practice.”
Schutte said he wishes the team could practice more, especially since it affects the team’s performances, but he understands it is impossible due to cost and lack of ice rinks in the surrounding area.
Grace Shah, the synchronized skating head coach, said the closure has also affected fundraising.
“We haven’t been able to do our media day because we don’t have the ice,” Shah said. “We can’t take our photos and get our name out there more like we wanted to.”
According to Shah, the difficulties have affected the morale of the synchronized skating team.
“We have to keep begging (the skaters) to keep pushing through and hopeful-
ly telling them that the rink is going to open, even though we don’t know for sure if it’s gonna open,” Shah said.
Once the arena reopens, the hockey team plans to have mainly at-home games for its fans to enjoy, with other college teams already committing. The team plans to resume its regular practice schedule, as well.
The synchronized skating team also plans to resume its typical practice schedule and continue to compete. Shah said the team is hoping to compete at a competition Jan. 3, 2025.
“I’m very impressed with them being able to do this because some of them have never done this before,” Kendel said. “I’m just impressed that they’re able to stay disciplined for something that they’ve never experienced before.”
MARY KATE MCNAMEE | FOR THE POST
DREW HOFFMASTER | FOR THE POST
The Athens Sunset Motel on Columbus Road, Feb. 20, 2024, in Athens.
(MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)
Bird Ice Arena is
Bird Ice Arena in Athens, Oct. 31, 2024. (RACHEL KLANCHER | FOR THE POST)
Bobcats welcome visitors for Dads Weekend
The first weekend of November marked Ohio University’s Dads Weekend 2024, filling Athens with classic dad humor and patterned polo shirts.
Chris Kusmierczyk, a healthcare administrator and physical therapist, visited his son Cameron Kusmierczyk, a freshman studying business. The pair played mini-golf at Alden Library’s hosted event, and Chris Kusmierczyk said it was nice to spend quality time with his son.
“For me, it’s to spend time with Cameron, my son, and watch some football and play a little golf,” Chris Kusmierczyk said.
As an alumnus of OU, Chris Kusmierczyk noted it was interesting to visit his son and see how he is experiencing OU.
“It’s a lot of fun for me,” Chris
Kusmierczyk said. “I went to OU and his mother went to OU, so it’s kind of fun to look back and think about where we were in our similar stage of life and excited for his future for sure.”
While Alden Library hosted its Annual Alden Open, the university supplied many other events and activities for dads and their Bobcats to do.
Joshua Knotts, the assistant director for programming, discussed what the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership was hosting.
“Our event that we’re doing is Donuts with Dad, it’s the second iteration of the event,” Knotts said. “We did it last year with great success and we’re doing it again this year.”
Donuts with Dad was held on the first
floor of Baker Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday. CSEL collaborated with Life is Sweet providing 1,200 donuts for Bobcats and their dads.
Before the event opened up, Nicholas Ray, a sales director in the food service business, waited with his daughter, Giana Ray, a freshman studying political science pre-law.
Nicholas Ray discussed his emotions toward visiting his daughter on her college campus.
“Reassuring that she is confident in moving in the direction that she’s moving, just gives me confidence in her and watching her grow into a beautiful woman,” Nicholas Ray said.
Giana Ray discussed how it was nice to give her dad an Athens and campus tour.
“I like showing him (places) because I showed him where I go to classes, and I showed him all the ways I get to different places,” Giana Ray said.
After working on Dads Weekend events, Knotts believes dads prefer more relaxed events, which is factored into planning events for family weekends like this one.
“In my experience working here, dads prefer events that maybe are a little bit lower stress, lower time consuming,” Knotts said. “So something like our Donuts with Dads works perfectly because it’s the ultimate grab-and-go event.”
Claire Richards, a senior studying biology, discussed what the University Program Council was hosting. UPC is a volunteer board of students that plans
free events on campus for students. Richards mentioned UPC hosting a Casino Royale night Saturday in Baker Theatre from 2-5 p.m.
Richards also shared comparisons between Dads Weekend and Moms Weekend.
“It’s definitely smaller-scale, but it’s a lot more involved, and it’s come and go,” she said. “You don’t sit there for an hour and a half … You can come when you want and leave when you want.”
Todd Flowers, a logistics manager, was visiting his daughter, Ally Flowers, a freshman studying mathematical statistics. Todd Flowers said he and his daughter saw Joe Gatto Friday night and they had no set plans for the weekend.
“We had a good time with the show, but right now we’re just kind of going with the flow from event to event to see what we want to do,” Todd Flowers said.
Knotts said this weekend allows dads to see that their kids are growing, learning and thriving as a Bobcat.
Todd Flowers mentioned it was exciting to see how his daughter was doing at OU.
“(I’m) starting to see she’s becoming her own person, (which) is probably the biggest thing,” Todd Flowers said. “Just seeing that she’s growing, she’s developing, she’s becoming her own person.”
@MARYKATEEEE13 MMM336621@OHIO.EDU
Outdoor Pursuits celebrates Halloween with annual climbing competition
Climbers brought creative costumes and festive energy to the competition.
On Thursday afternoon, a swarm of costumed climbers surrounded the rock wall in Ping Recreation Center, each with notable additions to their Halloween ensembles. A harness-wearing Spiderman, chalk bag-toting Rocky Balboa and carabiner-carrying banana were just a few participants of the 8th annual Outdoor Pursuits Halloween Climbing Competition.
The event began just after 4 p.m. when the two leaders of the competition, Brenna McFarland and Katie Bullock-Gawf, went over the schedule for the evening and the list of rules for climbers to adhere to. Both leaders work for Outdoor Pursuits, the former as the climbing wall supervisor and the latter as the graduate assistant in charge of the climbing wall and rentals.
Registration was $25 for the event.
“I’ve worked every single climbing competition since I’ve been here, initially just as an assistant, working, running around, belaying,” McFarland, a junior studying environmental science, said. “But the past two I’ve actually been able to lead as supervisor, which has been really awesome.”
In addition to leading it, McFarland is also one of the route-setters for the
competition. In the week leading up to the competition, the wall was closed to the public so McFarland and her coworkers could strip down and clean the wall before setting, testing and grading a fresh set of routes for the competition.
“It’s definitely a big planning process,” she said. “We also connect months in advance with sponsors to try to get prizes and such. There’s definitely a lot going on but it’s also always super exciting.”
Part of the excitement comes from the day the competition is held every year. Outdoor Pursuits hosts one competition per semester: one in the spring with a different theme each year and one in the fall, always on Halloween.
“Climbing competition, in general, is exciting, but having the ability to also dress up and have it around this time of year, which is such a big weekend and time of year for Athens in general, it just adds to the stoke,” McFarland said.
Erin Baumann, a junior studying ceramics, competed for the first time this year and also found special enjoyment in the festive atmosphere.
“I really love everyone’s costumes,” she said. “I love Halloween, I love talking
to the people that I know … also my friends came and supported for a little bit which was so nice.”
Baumann started climbing last year at a Womxn’s Climb Night, hosted every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the rock wall. She engaged further in the sport when she took a Fundamentals of Rock Climbing course in the spring, taught by Elliot Remer.
“I also teach the one credit hour outdoor classes, so if you want to go canoeing or caving or climbing or hiking or whatever,” said Remer, a firstyear graduate student studying parks, recreation, hospitality and tourism.
“I don’t know if enough people know about (those classes).”
Remer began climbing indoors approximately 10 years ago, but eventually shifted his interests to the many mediums of rock climbing.
“Climbing outside is what I’m most interested in, it’s a great way to interact with nature in a fun way,” he said.
Remer competed in the Men’s Advanced division, the one with the most unique final podium. First place in Men’s Advanced was a three-way tie between Cade Spencer, Rocco Piaskowski and Blake McDaniel, Josh Bradac
took second place and Remer took third.
Winners of the nine different divisions (beginner, intermediate and advanced for men, women and open registration) were determined by a scoring system rather than by speed. Each climber had to attempt three different routes under the scrutiny of judges watching from the second floor of Ping. Baumann placed second in her division, Women’s Beginner, and found the competition came easier to her than expected.
“I could keep myself calm … and actually follow the routes, sometimes I just don’t follow the route so I’m not really used to it that much,” she said.
According to McFarland, watching other climbers tackle the routes she set is one of the competition’s highlights.
“Seeing all the excitement, seeing some of my best friends and participants, people I see around the wall, be able to showcase their skills, it’s really awesome,” she said.
MARY KATE MCNAMEE | FOR THE POST
Joe Gatto performing on his “Let’s Get Into It” Tour at Templeton-Backburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium Nov. 1, 2024. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)
SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY | HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Police Blotter: No need for speed, midnight mayhem
DREW
HOFFMASTER | FOR THE POST
27 Sun____________________
No need 4 speed
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff's Office went to Brimstone Road after receiving a report of a disorderly person Oct. 27, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A man was yelling at people for driving too fast.
The police advised the man to call the Athens County Sheriff’s Office next time for help and to get off the roadway.
27 Sun______________________
Bother checking its contents?
A purse previously reported stolen from Hocking County was tracked to a Kroger in Trimble Oct. 27, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The owner of the purse managed to track the purse from the air tags inside it.
The deputies responded, recovered the purse and returned it to its owner, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
27 Sun______________________
Midnight mayhem
Ohio University Police Department received a call to Pickering Hall shortly before midnight Oct. 27, according to the OUPD..
Officers arrested a man for underage drinking and having a firearm while intoxicated. In addition, an ambulance responded to the hall.
27 Sun______________________
Crowdfunding gone wrong
OUPD responded to a person receiving telecommunication harassment due to someone attempting to extort money from them on social media Oct. 27, according to OUPD.
A report was taken at Wilson Hall, but no one was arrested, according to OUPD.
29 Tues______________________
Accidental call
Deputies responded to an open-line call at a house on Nurad Road Oct. 29, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A man at the house insisted his Apple Watch was responsible and pocket-dialed 911. Deputies needed no further action.
29 Tues______________________
Anyone home?
Deputies responded to a residence on state Route 278 for a door left open, finding no unwanted visitors Oct. 29, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies secured the residence and returned to patrol, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
29 Tues______________________
Child’s play
According to the Sheriff's Office, the man said he was playing with his children in his yard. Deputies returned to patrol.
29 Tues______________________
Unknown bag contents
After a call about a duffel bag near a dumpster Oct. 29, deputies went to Campell Street in The Plains to investigate, according to the Sheriff’s Office..
According to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found a person’s name on an item and attempted to contact the owner.
The owner turned out to be deceased, and the items had been previously thrown out. No further action was taken.
29 Tues______________________
Pedestrian collision
Officers responded to a traffic crash Oct. 29, according to OUPD. A vehicle failed to yield to a pedestrian crossing the road and hit the pedestrian.
No ambulance was called for the incident at University Terrace and Race Street.
30 Wed______________________
Taxi service
Deputies responded to a dispute reported Wednesday on Vore Ridge Road. They contacted the complainant who was dropped off after being at the intersection of Lemaster and Connett Roads in The Plains location.
The units gave the complainant a ride back to their home in The Plains, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
30 Wed______________________
Deer in roadway
A request was received Wednesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol to locate debris in the middle of U.S. Route 50.
Units found a deceased deer and cleared it off the roundway. No further action was taken.
30 Wed______________________
Surplus of cans
Deputies responded to a call about a theft on Keirns Road where bags of aluminum cans were stolen from a vehicle Wednesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A report was taken, and an investigation is currently pending.
After receiving a call Oct. 29 about a man yelling for help, deputies responded to Kramer Lane and made contact with a man who stated everything was fine, according to the Sheriff’s Office..
KENNEDY LECTURE SERIES PRESENTS
Joe Gatto ‘gets into it’ in Athens
Templeton-Blackburn Alumni
Memorial Auditorium was filled to the brim Friday night, from the front row to the balcony, in anticipation of the legendary comedian and actor Joe Gatto.
BRIANNA TASSIELLO ASST. OPINION EDITOR
Friday night in Athens marked the beginning of Dads Weekend at Ohio University, and one beloved father in particular trickled in among the others. Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium was filled to the brim, from the front row to the balcony, in anticipation of the legendary comedian and actor Joe Gatto.
Currently on his “Let’s Get Into It” tour, Gatto first found fame as a founding member of “Impractical Jokers,” a hidden-camera show he starred in alongside his best friends James Murray, Sal Vulcano and Brian Quinn. Famous for its outrageous pranks and scenarios that kept audiences laughing at the Jokers’ expense, “Impractical Jokers” launched in 2011 and is still releasing episodes, although Gatto left in the middle of Season 9.
Tess Woodyard, a 2022 OU graduate, has been looking forward to the show for a while.
“I’m a big fan, and I’m here with my friends,” she said. “We all grew up watching him, so we’re excited to see him.”
Tickets for the sold-out show ranged from $35-$55, with the performance starting at 8:00 p.m. The night kicked off with a roughly 20-minute set by opener Mark Jigarjian, who guest-starred on Seasons 9 and 10 of “Impractical Jokers.” Jigarjian quickly warmed up the crowd, sharing stories of his experiences in Ohio cities, including a memorable anecdote about Columbus that prompted roars from the
audience.
Clad in an Ohio T-shirt, Gatto took the stage at 8:20 p.m., seamlessly picking up a crowd work bit started by Jigarjian. From there, the theater remained alive and buzzing with nonstop laughter brought forth by Gatto’s quick wit and charm.
With it being Dad’s Weekend, the crowd mostly consisted of students accompanied by their fathers and other family members. Many attendees wore humorous T-shirts, which Gatto was quick to point out during his set.
He also took several opportunities to poke fun at OU’s rival, Miami University, eliciting cheers from the crowd. Amid this college-focused section of the show, Gatto took the time to share some light-hearted advice tailored to the students in attendance.
Faith Norris, a Chillicothe resident and OU alumna, said she enjoyed many parts of the show, but Gatto’s words of wisdom were her favorite.
“(I liked) the advice he gave college kids about life,” she said.
As the performance progressed, Gatto began sharing stories that all blended in and related to one another, with him even making various callbacks to earlier parts of the show.
Gatto is often described as a “family man,” so naturally he incorporated many jokes that touched on family life and comedic moments shared with his two young children. One of those jokes involved the Australian animated television series “Bluey,” prompt-
ing Gatto to dance across the stage to its theme song on multiple occasions.
Another standout moment occurred when an audience member called out “Larry” from the crowd, referencing one of Gatto’s well-known recurring bits on “Impractical Jokers,” where he frequently pretended to search for a friend named Larry, shouting his name repeatedly in public.
Gatto quickly retorted with a deadpan, “Nah, he’s not here,” evoking an eruption of laughter from the audience.
The show wrapped up with Gatto reading a direct message conversation he had with a fan, in which he humorously recounted the exchange. After that, he thanked the
Sorority members criticize Paws For A Cause
In February 2024, an apology notice was sent out to every sorority and fraternity member who was required to come to a discussion on sexual health for a Paws For A Cause program. The discussion was led by an undergraduate peer educator who worked with the Office of Health Promotion.
Paws For A Cause is meant to deepen students’ education and personal development through discussions of discrimination, hazing, mental health, sexual assault awareness and many more topics impacting students in Greek life.
Each council, including the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council, gets a turn to select a topic and speaker, Christianne Medrano Graham, the director of Sorority & Fraternity Life explained. Sorority and fraternity members are required to meet an attendance quota for these monthly programs. If a specific chapter doesn’t meet the attendance quota, the chapter is given a fine which is dispersed among anyone who didn’t attend the program.
For the sexual health program in February 2024, a PC member suggested inviting an Office of Health Promotion peer mentor. This was the first year an undergraduate student was allowed to give a talk for P4C.
“I do not think they handled the topic properly,” Isabelle Ritzie, a senior studying marketing and business analytics major in Delta Gamma, said.
The peer mentor from the February panel was trained to give similar talks, but their ability to speak sensibly to an audience of 850 was overestimated. The speaker graphically described acts like anal sex, Ritzie said.
“Half the room left,” Medrano Graham said.
Medrano Graham sent out an email to all sorority and fraternity members apologizing for the speaker’s handling of the topic because she knew it had offended people.
For the first P4C this semester, Bonny Shade was invited to discuss sexual assault awareness by members of the PC who had heard Shade speak at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values conference. Shade is a professional speaker who aims to end campus-based sexual violence.
In October, for mental health awareness month, the IFC invited the “Without Rhyme Nor Reason” comedy tour to lead
the P4C about mental health awareness after hearing their talks at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values conference. Courtney Bee was the main comedian of the P4C, which took place at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
“IFC saw these speakers and (thought), ‘this would be awesome to have on campus,’ to be able to talk freely and comfortably about a topic that is very sensitive,” Ritzie said.
Ritzie didn’t think it was tasteful for a comedian to be making jokes about mental health when there has been a continuous fight to destigmatize mental health on campus.
“I found that inappropriate because I
crowd and walked back and forth across the stage, taking bows and blowing kisses to the audience.
Chloe Hull, a sophomore studying aviation flight, was familiar with Gatto from “Impractical Jokers” and said seeing him live was much different than watching him on TV.
“He was being told what to do (then),” she said. “And this show is just a free-for-all.”
The laughter and noise lingered as the attendees filed out of the theater, ensuring that Gatto’s performance would leave Athens remembering the night long after the final bow.
BT977520@OHIO.EDU
think that we should hire mental health experts and not make everything a joke, especially when these topics are so heavy,” Ritzie said.
Mae Hu, a senior studying political science and finance in Alpha Omicron Pi, shared her own feelings about the sexual assault awareness presentation in August.
“The actual content that they discussed was so helpful, especially since we need more awareness about sexual assault on this campus,” Hu said.
However, the delivery of the talk didn’t always land well, Hu said.
Not all P4C programs are delivered this way, though. Kathleen Perry, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering in Alpha Omicron Pi, has attended P4C educational presentations that have discussed a range of topics. One was about the inclusion of diverse sexual orientations given by Micah McCarey, and another by the Birdie Light Foundation discussed the dangers of fentanyl.
“I thought the talks themselves were very engaging,” Perry said.
Speakers cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, Medrano Graham said. That’s why SFL uses its resources from the university when it can, because it doesn’t cost anything.
“For me, an ideal educational component of it would be to have constant workshops with little groups of 10 to 20 people in it,” Medrano Graham said.
The next P4C event planned for November will be a presentation on how to use EpiPens given by Chief Michael Suhy, the co-founder of the Allison Rose Foundation.
Joe Gatto performing on his “Let’s Get Into It” Tour at Templeton-Backburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium Nov. 1, 2024. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)
RENAE HEFTY | FOR THE POST
The Alpha Gamma Delta house on University Terrace. Oct. 29, 2024.
(HANNAH KIRKPATRICK | FOR THE POST)
Marcel Walker-Burgess’ journey to Athens
CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS STAFF WRITER
On Saturdays and soon-to-be Wednesdays, spectators can find Ohio defensive end Marcel Walker-Burgess wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. The graduate student will line up all over the line of scrimmage for John Hauser’s defense, excelling in any position he is put in.
Walker-Burgess’ road to becoming the star defensive weapon for Ohio wasn’t linear; the Piscataway, New Jersey, native’s playing career was not in an ideal place coming out of high school.
Walker-Burgess was a standout player at Piscataway High School, helping his team win a state championship in the 2018-19 season. He was a top-50 recruit in New Jersey and was named to New Jersey’s second-team all-defense as a senior. Despite all the accolades in high school, it was the classroom holding Walker-Burgess back.
“I had the potential to go to a big Power 5 school, but being a young athlete, I didn’t really take school seriously,” Walker-Burgess said. “It took a lot of maturing for me … to really realize that I had a future within football.”
It is not uncommon for talented, young football players to be held back from their potential due to things outside of football. Walker-Burgess was one of those players coming out of high school. He eventually landed at Southern Connecticut State, an NCAA Division II school in New Haven, Connecticut.
Landing in New Haven out of high school was not where Walker-Burgess wanted to be, but he said it was all a part of the process for him as a player.
“I had to work harder because of me not taking stuff seriously at the beginning of everything; it’s part of the process,” Walker-Burgess said. “At points and times, I kicked myself because I knew I had the talent to play at some of these
bigger schools.”
He excelled as an Owl, going for 17 tackles, two sacks and an interception in his one season at Southern Connecticut.
“I think the biggest thing was just not taking anything for granted,” Walker-Burgess said. “Being a winning program to coming to Southern Connecticut, we struggled. And there’s a lot of things that I had to learn to adjust to.”
The year Walker-Burgess had on the field at Southern Connecticut led to the defensive end transferring to a bigger school, and Nevada was his choice coming out of the transfer portal. Much like the recruitment process in high school, Walker-Burgess’ time as a recruit in the transfer portal was not as linear or smooth as some might expect.
“It’s as likely of a chance that I’m gonna get out (of the transfer portal) as it is that I’m not, so you always have that in the
back of your mind,” Walker-Burgess said. “It just pushes you to keep going, sometimes just at the end of the day, you gotta put it in God’s hands.”
Walker-Burgess’ time in Reno, Nevada, was very productive, spending two years in the Mountain West Conference and breaking out in his second year with the Wolf Pack as a junior.
Walker-Burgess played in all 12 games and led the team in sacks with four on the season. He also led the team with six and a half tackles for loss. Those numbers were great improvements from his sophomore year, but even with the massive improvement Walker-Burgess was not named as a Mountain West honorable mention. By the end of 2023, Nevada was just 2-10.
It was again time for Walker-Burgess to transfer, and Ohio was the choice for a plethora of reasons.
“The driving force with that was obviously my coaching staff was going and just once again, opportunities to play,” Walker-Burgess said. “I was blessed and honored to have the chance to move back a little bit closer (to home). So that was definitely something that drove me; to get closer back home to be with my family.”
Although all of those factors were important in Walker-Burgess coming to Athens, a connection with the other Mountain-West-turned-Ohio-addition Kurt Mattix helped Walker-Burgess become a Bobcat.
“How that all came across was just a former position coach that I had,” Walker-Burgess said. “Coach Mattix coached him when he was in college. He was able to connect (us) and take it from there.”
His connection with Mattix has paid dividends for the Ohio defense this season, as Walker-Burgess has been a player to watch on a talented Ohio front seven. Walker-Burgess currently has 37 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and an interception in his role this season which sees him roam around the field as a hybrid edge-rusher and linebacker.
“I’m versatile,“ Walker-Burgess said. “I can go a little bit, I can drop back. The defensive coordinator, Coach Hauser, he’s just trying to use my abilities to try to help out the team … If I’m able to do it, I’m going to do it.”
It has been a long road to Athens for Walker-Burgess, but the graduate transfer from New Jersey has found a productive and unique role for an impressive defense in what could be his final season of college football.
“I have the freedom to roam, (do) whatever I need to do just to help out the defense,” Walker-Burgess said. “It’s a good thing. I’m happy to be here to make stuff like that happen.”
@CHARLIEFADEL CF111322@OHIO.EDU
Ohio moves on to MAC Semifinals with shutout victory
After losing three of its last four games to end the 2024 regular season, Ohio (11-4-4, 5-3-3 Mid-American Conference) dropped to third in the MAC, setting itself up with a gauntlet if it wishes to defend its 2023 MAC title. The first game of that gauntlet ended in a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Bowling Green (7-7-4, 4-4-3 MAC), the team’s tenth shutout of the season.
Before its last four games of the regular season, the Bobcats had gone on an eleven-game lossless streak, winning eight and tying three, propelling the team to the top of the conference. Had they stayed in the top spot, they would have received a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the tournament semifinals and potentially finals.
The subsequent matchup against No. 6 Bowling Green played at Ohio’s Chessa Field saw the team from the lossless streak return, although not without some offensive struggles.
Ohio was outshot six to three, as well as three to two in terms of shots on goal. Both teams registered five corner kicks, while Ohio out-fouled its opponent, registering 10 penalties to Bowling Green’s eight.
The Bobcats started with offensive aggression, as by the eighth minute, the team had already registered two corner kicks. The Falcons would return the aggression shortly after; however, they tallied two corner kicks of their own in the ninth and tenth minutes, as well as a shot in the tenth minute from junior Brynn Gardner that was saved by the Bobcats.
In the 14th minute, the only goal of the match would be scored by Ohio junior Ella Deevers, delivering a clean shot into the back of the net off an assist from graduate student Aubrey Rea, taking a 1-0 lead.
Both offenses would stall for the remainder of the first period. The two teams would record five total fouls in the last 25 minutes, and only one shot from Bowling Green graduate student Lexi Czerwien in the 29th minute, saved by junior goalkeeper Celeste Sloma. Sloma, a multi-time MAC Defensive Player of the Week this season, was lights out against Bowling Green. Sloma played all 90 minutes — as she’s done many times this season — saving two of the Falcons’ three shots on goal.
In the 46th minute, Ohio would come out quickly, with Rea getting a shot opportunity that went over the goal. The shot was followed by Sloma’s second save
in the 50th minute, stifling sophomore Emme Butera’s attempt.
Bowling Green would follow the attempt by earning three corner kicks against the Bobcats in the 51st, 56th and 60th minutes, although none would amount to scoring. Falcons sophomore Michelle Hochstadt would find an opening for a shot in the 61st minute, but it would go over the top of the goal.
A yellow card on Ohio junior Eve Berish in the 65th minute would make for the first of two ejections in the game’s second period. Butera would find another shot attempt just a minute later, going out top this time.
In the 67th minute, Ohio had a corner kick and a shot, the shot coming from sophomore Ellie Greenwell. The shot would be followed shortly by another corner kick in the 68th minute, although it would amount to nothing on the scoreboard.
The remainder of the match featured just one more shot, coming from Hochstadt, going out top left, while Ohio recorded one more corner kick in the 89th minute, again, not resulting in a score. Just fifteen seconds prior, Isabelle Gilmore would be issued a foul and a red card, being ejected from the game.
The match would finish 1-0, advancing
Ohio to the MAC Tournament Semifinals, where it will face No. 2 Buffalo Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
Marcel Walker-Burgess (17) stands for a portrait on the field of Peden Stadium, Oct. 23, 2024, Athens. (TALITHA MALOY | FOR THE POST)
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
Jaimason Brooker (7) sprints down the field looking for an opportunity to score against Central Michigan, Oct. 27, 2024. (REECE MERKEL | FOR THE POST)
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Vic Searls’ Ohio ties run deep
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
When Vic Searls entered the transfer portal last spring, one school stuck to the front of his mind, a school which he already had so many ties to before ever stepping foot on campus: Ohio.
Searls, a 6-foot-9 graduate transfer from Hilliard, Ohio, played high school basketball at St. Charles, just over an hour from the university where his dad was a manager on a men’s basketball team featuring current Ohio coach Jeff Boals. “Basketball has always been a big thing (in my family) because of my dad,” Searls said. “He was a manager here at OU when coach Boals was on the team, so he brought me and my brother up … around basketball, watching basketball, playing basketball.”
Growing up about 20 minutes from Columbus, where Boals was an assistant coach for Thad Matta’s Ohio State team from 2009-2016, that relationship stayed strong. Along with the Boals family, including the son of Jeff Boals and walk-on at Ohio, Chase Boals, Searls also had a friendship with Ohio’s All-MAC forward AJ Clayton dating back to high school.
Coming out of Ashland, it wasn’t initially Jeff Boals who found Searls, but the connection certainly helped cement his eventual commitment, which was announced March 24.
“Coach (Kyle) Barlow is actually the one that saw me in the portal … but then once Coach Boals and my dad started talking, there was obviously a connection there,” Searls said. “AJ Clayton was here with me on my visit … (and) Chase was from Columbus. Already knowing so many people here just made it a good environment for me.”
Searls' four years at Ashland were more than enough to earn him a spot on an NCAA Division I roster. In his junior and senior seasons with Ashland, an NCAA Division II program, Searls earned All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference
second team. In his senior season, Searls averaged 15.4 points on 68.0% from the field, along with 7.5 rebounds per game.
Although not nearly the same stage as Division I, Searls’ time and patience at Ashland paid dividends.
“My recruitment out of high school was kind of weird,” Searls said. “It was mostly Division III’s but Ashland was the only Division II that offered me a scholarship so I decided to go there. My first years, I didn’t really play much, but I developed with the help of the coaches there.”
That development was key for Searls, whose playstyle has also changed, much
like his path through the world of college basketball. Searls is now a reliable backto-the-basket scorer, who sets hard screens and does the dirty work on the boards, but it wasn’t always that way.
“When I was little, I was a guard, because everyone’s a guard that loves basketball when they’re little,” Searls said. “Especially since high school, I’ve really been working on developing as a post player … they know their stuff about post-play at my high school and that really got me off on the right track.”
In an alternate universe, this development was done at Ohio. Searls considered walking on to the team straight out of high school, which is a familiar path with players who have ties to Jeff Boals. Chase Boals is an obvious example; he walked on with aspirations to join his father’s coaching staff. Former walk-on redshirt sophomore Ben Estis is the son of Chad Estis, who played on the same Ohio team as Jeff Boals, which was coincidentally the same team Searls’ father helped manage.
Regardless of when Searls arrived on campus, he will now look to play a key role on the Mid-American Conference’s projected top seed; an Ohio team that already has the footprints of a family legacy etched into its home-court floorboards.
@LOGANPADAMS LA486821@OHIO.EDU
Deborah James finds family away from home
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
Just outside of London, England, is a small town called Hertfordshire, where Ohio freshman Deborah James grew up. The town is 3,835 miles from where James now resides in Athens, where she recently finished her first season of collegiate field hockey.
The sport, as James puts it, is “engraved in (her) veins,” with familial ties few can compare to. Her mother, Olive James, was an accomplished field hockey player in her own right, playing and captaining the Ugandan national team.
“Having (my mother) play at that high of a level has been the best and worst thing that could possibly happen,” James said. “She will be my biggest supporter but then tell me exactly what I’ve done wrong … but also because she’s played at that high of a level, I’ve been able to get really good knowledge.”
James’ mother has always been the biggest influence on her passion and pursuit of field hockey. From lonely nights on the field with her mother back in England to over-the-phone coaching across time zones, her mom is very present in her athletic career in the U.S.
“She just loves the fact that I’m also playing the sport that she plays,” James said. "When we were younger, we used to just go to the pitch and hit about. I remember during COVID … we would always be able to go down to the pitch because no one was there and we would just hit and pass.”
Now, despite the mother and daughter
being separated by thousands of miles and a four-hour time difference, James’ mother continues to help her daughter in any way possible. James sends her mother clips after games, even if she has to wait hours for her mother to wake up. However, a point of solace for James is that her situation is not too different than her teamates. Of the 23 women on Ohio’s roster, eight are from overseas countries, ranging from South Africa to Germany to England.
“I think it's nice that you have people who are international, people who are out of state and people who are in-state as well,” James said. “You get a really broad number of personalities and different playing styles, which all mesh together … I’ve only known them for three months, which is crazy, and we’re already really close.”
Along with James, Ohio has three other European freshmen: Marie de Grande from Belgium, Sophie Van Der Wal
from Holland and Ash Stephenson from England. Alongside her fellow freshman teammates, James has acclimated to Athens quite well.
“Some of us go to the movies … for my birthday, we went axe throwing, which was really wild,” James said. “Going to dinner and going to lunch is also a really good way of bonding.”
The difference between the Midwest and England still sticks out for James, from the heat in the middle of fall to rampant small talk.
“I’m not saying that us English people aren’t friendly, but everyone seems very happy … maybe it's because of my accent, so everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, your accent!’ and we get a conversation going,” James said. “I’ve been able to talk to a bunch of random people (easier) than back at home.”
Despite how quickly she’s found her footing in Ohio, just three months into her time in Athens, James knows she still has a lot of opportunity for growth. Now that she has her place, she’s looking forward to growing in her role with the team that has been so quick to bring her into the family.
“I definitely think freshman year is for learning where you fit,” James said. “Everyone who’s not a freshman has at least been playing with each other for a year … so (I’m) looking forward to next year and being more settled and just being able to be myself.”
Provided by Ohio Atheltics
Back, Deborah James playing defense during the Bobcats game against Central Michigan, Nov. 1, 2024. The Bobcats beat Central Michigan 3-2 on Pruitt Field.
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THE POST Mackenzie McRee has mastered the mental game of golf
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ALYSSA CRUZ | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Golf is a sport that requires accuracy, precision and, above all, focus. Some say the game is 90% mental. Mackenzie McRee, a junior studying engineering, is no stranger to the mental toughness the sport requires.
McRee began playing golf when she was five, growing up in Tucson, Arizona.
She said it was her dad who encouraged her to play, starting on plastic clubs and then moving up to play tournaments at 10 years old. Despite her dad only playing recreationally, McRee said his motivation was quality family time.
“He wanted it to be a thing our whole family could do,” she said.
Once high school rolled around, McRee said she knew she wanted to take golf seriously and aim to play the sport at a collegiate level. She was an individual state champion in her freshman and senior years and was nominated as the team’s MVP.
McRee said it was her coaches who recognized her talents and encouraged her to start thinking about golf at the next level. Additionally, her desire to explore other places propelled her to apply to schools.
“I realized too (that) I wanted to get out of Arizona, and this (was) a way that I can get my school paid for and go somewhere else,” she said. “That kind of pushed me.”
McRee said her journey to Ohio University was unique in the sense her dad is an alumnus and is originally from Cleveland. A lot of her family still resides in Cleve-
land and Cincinnati, which helped make the move from Arizona to Ohio a little easier.
McRee admitted the move was hard at first, but the team’s friendliness and vivacity helped to make her feel at home quickly.
“It’s like a group of people that I can always fall back on,” she said. “I talk to any one of them about anything. It just makes it so much better.”
McRee said the team members also help build one another up when they’re out on the green, encouraging each other to stay focused – one of the hardest parts about the game.
“A lot of people think that it’s just not that hard, but then once they’re actually out there and trying to swing, trying to make contact with the ball, they realize it’s a lot harder than you think,” McRee said.
She said nobody is immune to occasionally making mistakes and it’s merely a part of the game.
“We play every day … and we still have shots that we shank it up into the trees every once in a while,” she said.
McRee needs to be focused for a long time, with most of her tournaments being multiple-day events. She said the team usually does 36 holes on the first day and 18 holes on the second day.
“Each round takes five to six hours,” she said. “The 36-hole days, we’re out there for 12 hours. It’s so draining.”
McRee said she has her own habits that help her play better as well as stay focused. One of her main ones is to play
fast because, according to her, if she slows down, there is more room for overthinking.
“I kind of just walk up and hit it and don’t think,” she said. “It works for me.”
McRee might be on to something as this fall has been her best season. She was named Mid-American Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week Oct. 4 after walking away from the Rocket Classic Invitational as the individual champion. McRee beat out 58 other golfers with two birdies in the first round, followed by three in both the second and third rounds.
The team would place second at the Bronco Fall Classic Oct. 7-8. McRee finished the three rounds with scores of 77, 75 and 84. Additionally, McRee led the Bobcats with a tie for fourth place at the Dayton Flyer Invitational Oct. 21-22.
Looking forward, McRee said she is excited to see what the future holds and credits her success to her team and its connection. Her advice to any athlete is to view the brain as an asset, not a hindrance.
“The mental part too is a huge part of it,” McRee said. “A lot of people say the six inches between your ears is really the hardest part of the game because whatever you think mentally is what’s just going to happen and how you’re going to play.”
@ALYSSADANCCRUZ
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College students respond to social media app changes
after spending years in hot water with U.S. officials.
Social media apps are changing constantly, and users are divided on the downsides and benefits. As one of the biggest user groups of social media, college students have a variety of thoughts about the changes being made to their favorite applications.
Quincy Thomas, a sophomore studying animation, frequently uses Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. She has noticed a series of changes in the apps she uses the most.
“I'm not shocked at the changes,” Thomas said. “I'm not too surprised. I feel like it was kind of inevitable that changes would happen. It seemed inevitable with everything happening. It's not welcome, I don't like it, but I'm not shocked.”
One change Thomas mentioned was the introduction of paid-for premium features in already free apps, such as X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
“Now having to pay for it, now having more ads, it's just very unwelcome and bugs me a little bit,” Thomas said.
Elon Musk bought out Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, following a long legal battle with the previous owners. Since the acquisition, Musk has made numerous controversial modifications to the app, most notably changing the name from Twitter to X.
Another change included the creation of X Premium, an opt-in, paid subscription service offering a variety of features, some previously free. Yet, X is not the only social media app undergoing changes.
Kiley Mack, a junior studying sports management, frequents TikTok, a popular social media app allowing users to create, interact and share short-form videos.
“I'm on (TikTok) 24/7,” Mack said. “Anytime I'm not having a good day, Tiktok is always the app to cheer me up, or right after work, as soon as you're done with your homework, it’s relaxing.”
However, TikTok is facing a potential ban in the U.S.
The U.S. government has plans to ban TikTok because of national security concerns posed by potential user data leaks, according to TechTarget. Around 33% of U.S. adults use the app, with new data being collected everyday. Officials are concerned about possible breaches of U.S. citizen data by foreign countries.
President Joe Biden signed the TikTok-ban bill in April. The Chinese company “ByteDance," which owns TikTok, has until Jan. 24, 2025 to take action. If the company refuses to change ownership, TikTok will be banned from U.S. app stores and websites.
“I'd be sad if Tik Tok got banned,” Mack said, expressing the concern felt by thousands of other college students.
Although, there are plenty of other apps college students utilize daily, including Instagram, which seems to be a pick of choice for students.
Gillian Lintner, an undecided freshman, recently downloaded her first social media app, Instagram, after coming to college.
“(Instagram) was most popular, and my mom had been using it too for many years,” Lintner said. Linter also said she had only been using the app for a week.
In 2021, 71% of adults aged 18 to 29 reported using Instagram, according to Pew Research Center. However, the photo-sharing site is not safe from the myriad social media changes. Although these may be mostly aesthetic or interface related for adults, users under 17 years old are now considered “Teen Accounts.”
This new system will place a series of restrictions on the accounts of anyone aged 13 to 17 (as Instagram is 13+). These include functions such as daily limits, a sleep mode and filters for offensive or inappropriate message requests. These settings can be overridden, but only with parent permission.
The social media world is constantly changing for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s to fit customer demands, or completely alter an app, it is unknown how users will react.
Why didn’t Frank Ocean appear on ‘Chromakopia?’
“Flower Boy.”
Tyler Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, The Creator, released his highly anticipated album “CHROMAKOPIA” Oct. 28 after teasing it for weeks on his Instagram. Many fans were expecting a feature from Frank Ocean, a friend and frequent Okonma collaborator, who has been missing from the public eye for years. Ocean, an American singer-songwriter, is known as a pioneer of the alternative R&B genre. Ocean’s music amassed a cult following; his 2012 album “channel ORANGE” and 2016 album “Blonde” were critically acclaimed and praised for its lyrical genius and stunning melodies, making both instant classics.
Okonma first teased the album by posting a clip of the lead track “St. Chroma” Oct. 16. Fans were quick to notice familiar backing vocals on the track, which was eerily reminiscent of Ocean.
On Oct. 21, these rumors intensified when Okonma posted the music video for “Noid” which pictured a white Ferrari. Many fans thought this was a hint to a surprise collaboration with Ocean, referencing his hit song “White Ferrari.” On top of that, the album’s release date happened to coincide with Ocean’s 37th birthday.
Because of these rumors and theories, Okonma responded to fans in a comment on one of his posts, teasing that there would be “no features.” Instead, the features were hidden, and fans listened intently, deciphering each uncredited feature.
Many fans anxiously awaited a feature from Ocean but were left disappointed. The mysterious voice from “St. Chroma” belonged to Daniel Caesar, not Ocean as fans had hoped. The rest of the album featured artists such as GloRilla, Sexxy Red, Lil Wayne, Doechii, Teezo Touchdown, Childish Gambino, Lola Young, ScHoolboy Q and Santigold, but there was no sign of Ocean.
Although many fans were disappointed, others were more concerned about Ocean’s whereabouts. Ocean has not been seen publicly since his Coachella headline performance in 2023, his first live performance in nearly six years. Before this performance, Ocean has been in and out of the public eye, especially after the death of his 18-year-old brother, Ryan Breaux, in 2020. While dealing with his grief, Ocean took time away from the spotlight
but had already agreed to his Coachella performance.
The singer came out over an hour late and was hidden behind a giant screen, barely visible to the audience. Ocean only performed a few of his hits and a couple of covers before abruptly ending his set early due to the festival’s curfew.
Many fans were disappointed and annoyed, some even booing from the audience and yelling that they wanted their money back. Shortly after, Ocean dropped out of the festival for the second weekend, supposedly due to an ankle injury.
Although some fans were frustrated, others were excited after Ocean hinted at new music during his performance. However, Ocean has yet to announce anything. The last additions to his discography were two singles from 2020, “Dear April” and “Cayendo.”
In 2023, Ocean was photographed in London at the recording studio, giving fans some hope a new project would drop in 2024. However, Ocean has yet to announce any music.
His Instagram feed remains empty and his whereabouts are virtually unknown. There were reports that the singer was living in Amsterdam as of June 2023, but nothing was confirmed.
Despite his disappearance, Ocean’s music catalog continues to be streamed by fans, and he still receives 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Whether he’s working on a new project or has retired from the industry completely, his fans remain loyal, patiently hoping the singer will drop another album.
CAMI SEYMORE | FOR THE POST (NICOLE REESE
The Lo-Down: The NBA is better than ever
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
The theme of last year’s NBA season was that there was little question regarding who would walk away with the title. The 64-18 Boston Celtics ran the gauntlet, besting the Heat, Cavaliers, Pacers and Mavericks, losing just three of their 19 Playoff games.
The 2024-25 season looks to be much different, and aside from what team falls where in the standings, there are a bevy of fun players to watch and storylines to follow that will look to keep fans entertained through all 82 games this season.
The biggest storyline of the season, viewed through the rose-colored glasses of a Cavaliers fan, is Cleveland’s incredible start. The Cavaliers look like a new team under their new head coach Kenny Atkinson, ranking second in the league in offensive rating when they had ranked 16th in the category last season under current Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
The Cavaliers All-Star guard duo, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, are clicking at a new level, while fourth-year big man Evan Mobley has started to break out on the offensive end. Despite the majority of games being finished dominantly, one of the best moments of the season came with Mitchell’s last-second game-winner against Milwaukee Saturday.
The next best team is the Western Conference-topping Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC has dominated on the defensive end as the only team with a defensive rating under 100.0, a category where low ratings are better than high ratings. If it keeps that number where it is, it will be the first time a team has finished with a defensive rating under triple-digits since the 2015-16 Spurs.
The Thunder also boast a loveable roster, full of young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren who seem to love playing with each other. Their electric post-game interviews, in which the whole team gathers around, are often marked by barking and celebrating each other.
Although Mobley and Holmgren have begun to break out for the league’s top teams, there’s a plethora of other young players making head-
lines for their performances.
The seventh and thirteenth picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, Bilal Coulibaly and Gradey Dick, have upped their numbers tremendously in their sophomore campaigns.
Coulibaly, a French wing who played his pre-draft season alongside the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year
Victor Wembanyama, ranks second in scoring on an enjoyable Wizards squad behind sixth-year guard Jordan Poole, who leads the league in steals alongside a career-high in points per game. Coulibaly’s also been tremendous on the defensive end.
Dick, who was drafted as one of the best shooters in his class, has begun to live up to his potential, turning into a dominant scorer through adversity. He, alongside sixth-year forward RJ Barrett, has combined for some exciting basketball up in Canada. Barrett, despite missing the first three games for Toronto, is having a career year, with highs in points, rebounds and assists per game.
Even toward the bottom of the conferences, there are interesting storylines to follow. The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers have struggled out of the gates, prompting questions about the future of the franchise. Giannis Antetokounmpo, now in his 12th season, could begin looking for an out if the Bucks don’t start stringing wins together.
The 76ers, on the other hand, made major off-season additions, adding nine-time All-Star Paul George to try and make the most out of Joel Embiid’s dominance. Both stars were unable to play through the team’s first handful of games and will need to get healthy and stay healthy to right the ship.
Overall, the start of the 2024-25 NBA season has shown tremendous promise. Breakout sophomores, elite and loveable contenders and highlight moments have given way to what could be the most fun season in recent memory.
Logan Adams is a junior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Logan know by tweeting him @LoganPAdams.
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Lately with Layne: Harris is the lesser of two evils
LAYNE REY | FOR THE POST
The 2024 election is yet again a battle in voters’ minds to choose the lesser of two evils. Much like the past two presidential elections, many individuals are far from fully aligning with every stance of either candidate. However, endorsements for Vice President Kamala Harris from both sides of the political spectrum prove that she is the lesser of two evils.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) pledged his support for Harris, despite their disagreements surrounding the war in Gaza. Sanders explained that although Harris is unjustly supporting Israel, she is still advocating for humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and former President Donald Trump is not.
This war, and foreign policy at large, is top-of-mind for many voters. Sanders’ recent video showcased his clear passion and anger toward the war while still endorsing Harris, filling a gap for many voters more progressive than Harris.
Many voters can feel unethical or simply wrong voting for a candidate that is not working to directly stop this war, but Sanders encapsulated the notion perfectly; Harris’ stance on the war in Gaza is bad, but Trump’s is still worse.
Based on maintaining a democratic society, several Republicans have endorsed Harris, citing Trump as a
threat to democracy as a whole. Most notably, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) has not only endorsed Harris but is also campaigning with her. In a powerful, holistic statement, Liz Cheney said, “As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. And because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”
With that, former Vice President Dick Cheney cited Trump as a threat to democracy as well. “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Dick Cheney said in a statement. He joined his daughter in support of putting the Constitution and the country over partisanship, adding that Trump should never be trusted with power again. The Cheneys’ endorsements perfectly represent the fact that conservative values don’t align with Trump’s threat to democracy.
Both presidential candidates have been criticized for their character and overall rhetoric, which is especially important in such a divisive election and polarizing political landscape. However, Republicans have supported Harris because she is an overall better person than Trump.
Former attorney general Alberto Gonzales wrote in a Politico op-ed, “Power is intoxicating and based on Trump’s rhetoric and conduct it appears unlikely that
he would respect the power of the presidency in all instances; rather, he would abuse it for personal and political gain, and not on behalf of the American people.” It is respectable and refreshing to see that Republicans are aware of Trump’s pitfalls as it relates to character and values.
Despite endorsements across the aisle, the economy is Trump’s top buzzword that keeps his campaign alive. Mark Cuban, who supported Trump during the campaign for his first term, endorsed Harris’ economic plans. The billionaire, who in theory should support Trump for his wealth-forgiving tax policies, is well-versed in economics and its effects on businesses. This endorsement directly targets upper-class Trump supporters who have fallen for Trump’s “concept of a plan” economy.
Endorsements for Harris from individuals who either disagree with her currently, don’t align with the Democratic party or supported Trump in the past showcase her higher moral position over Trump. On a wide range of issues – from the war in Gaza to the state of democracy to the economy – she has proven to be at least better than Trump to those who typically disagree with her.
Layne Rey is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post.
Clara’s Commentary: Pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion
CLARA LEDER | FOR THE POST
The longstanding pro-choice movement has gained traction in recent years with the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The presidential election is fast approaching and once again reproductive rights are on the table. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris support widely different viewpoints on abortion rights, with Harris taking a pro-choice stance and Trump being pro-life. But what does it mean to be pro-choice?
Being pro-choice is often misunderstood as a stance for being pro-abortion. The movement, however, is rooted in a much deeper cause. It is a longstanding movement which seeks to provide women with jurisdiction over their bodily autonomy.
The American Civil Liberties Union was the first organization to push for a woman’s “right to choose” in 1958, but the term pro-choice wasn’t coined until the 1970s. The ACLU was also involved in the two court cases that established a woman’s right to choose an abortion, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. These two court cases changed both the pro-choice and pro-life movement greatly, pushing them into what they are today.
Since its creation, the pro-choice movement has continued to push toward women having the right to choose what healthcare decisions they partake in, without outside forces. The decision to have an abortion is a difficult one, both physically and mentally. That decision should ultimately be up
to the woman, as it is her body, soul, heart and brain affected, something which should be respected. Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts discusses respect by saying, “We’re fighting to ensure that everyone can get the care they need, that they have chosen, and that their decisions will be respected and uplifted.”
Whether or not a woman chooses to have an abortion, for whatever reason that may be, it is her right to make that decision. The opinions of government entities should not determine what choice a woman makes.
There is no one-size-fits-all law that can make every decision in terms of reproductive care. It is up to the mother with the help of her support system to make that decision, and the pro-choice movement supports this. There is more that lies in the movement than just the right to abortion, though.
The pro-choice movement serves to promote the right for a woman to choose in any aspect of her life. Whether that choice is to have a lifesaving abortion, put a child up for foster care or give birth, the right over what happens to a woman’s body is her decision to make. Allowing women to choose what happens with their bodies values them as individuals by empowering them to make the choice on their own. However, the choice is polarizing in politics and everyday life.
It may seem like both sides disagree heavily and very rarely find common ground. In reality, there is a lot of commonality. Forbes reports in detail, writing, “85% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in at least certain circumstances.” There is far more agreement on whether abortion should be legal than people realize. Therefore, there should not be laws
against the right to choose, especially with most Americans disagreeing.
Planned Parenthood discusses the issue, saying, “There are plenty of people in that majority who feel abortion wouldn’t be the right decision for them personally, but do not want to stop others from making a different decision.” Everyone should be able to make their own decision that aligns with their religious, moral, financial or general well-being needs. Picture this: your daughter comes to you saying that she is pregnant. You don’t know the circumstances, but she says she has thought about it and wants to get an abortion. She has made the decision. Do you drive her to the clinic? No matter what you are feeling or what you tell her to calm her or convince her, she does not change her mind. Your personal beliefs aside, do you think she gets to make that choice? The pro-choice movement serves to put the individual beliefs of women at the center. Decisions and choices that a woman makes are strictly hers and those decisions should not be impacted by outside parties. Everyone, if it came down to it, would make a different choice about their own lives and they deserve to figure out that choice on their own. So does every woman in America. This election day, remember that this right is on the table.
Clara Leder is a junior studying education and journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Clara know by emailing her at cl125221@ohio.edu.
Sassy Cassie: Sports leagues should expand to Pittsburgh
CASSIE DYE |FOR THE POST
Pittsburgh is one of the best cities for sports teams to thrive in. The five biggest sports in North America are football, baseball, basketball, soccer and ice hockey. Pittsburgh has teams in four out of the five professional sports. All four of these teams are loved within the city and thrive there, making Pittsburgh a city with one of the best sports markets in the U.S.
The teams in the city have a long and successful history, and even when teams are struggling fans still go to games for the teams. Even if the teams are playing away games, fans of the city’s teams can be spotted. In the NFL, Steelers fans are known to invade home team stands. The team also has one of the biggest international fan bases.
Although the Pirates are currently the least successful team in Pittsburgh, fans are still dedicated to rooting for the team’s success. In the 2024 season, MLB rookie Paul Skenes made his debut for the team, drawing a crowd of 34,924. For context, PNC Park has a capacity of 38,362,
and the average attendance for a Pirates game is 17,800. On top of this success, fans bond over their hatred for the owner Bob Nutting and hope for the organization’s future.
The Riverhounds are lesser known; however, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a fan base. The team plays in the United Soccer League, which is the second-tier league to the MLS. Soccer is growing in Pittsburgh to the point where the city is gaining a women’s team called the Riveters.
The Penguins’ fan base was ranked first for the “Best Fans 2019” by Forbes. The team also had a 14-year sellout streak totalling 633 games. It was announced Oct. 29 that the PWHL is planning to expand with two more teams as soon as the 2025-26 season. In a press conference, the senior vice president of hockey operations said “finding the best market, the best fan base and the best partner” is the league’s focus. Pittsburgh is the perfect place for the league.
The PWHL is the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The league had its first season in 2024 with six
franchises and played 24 games. The 2024-25 season is set to start Nov. 30 with the same six teams the league started with.
In its inaugural season, the league hosted a neutral site game at PPG Paints arena in the city. The game drew a crowd of 8,850 fans, which is the largest crowd a women’s hockey game has drawn in Pittsburgh. A new PWHL team would have the backing of some of the most influential NHL players like Sidney Crosby. The team would also have the backing of the Penguins ownership, Fenway Sports Group.
No matter who is playing or what the team’s record is, Pittsburgh sports fans support their team. The only major league the city is missing is an NBA team, and if the NBA was looking to expand, Pittsburgh should be first on the list.
Cassie is a junior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.
CROSSWORD
6 best Disney Channel theme songs
ELIZABETH TALAGA | SLOT
EDITOR “LIV AND MADDIE”
Disney Channel has a legacy of some incredibly catchy theme songs to welcome viewers to its shows. From the early 2000s classics to new tunes, these Disney theme songs have stood the test of time and should be placed in a theme song hall of fame.
“PHINEAS AND FERB”
“Today is Gonna be a Great Day” by Bowling for Soup set the tone for “Phineas and Ferb,” a Disney Channel cartoon that premiered in 2007. The show featured several inescapably catchy songs such as “S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in My Pants),” but the theme song perfectly encapsulates both Phineas and Ferb’s shenanigans and Candace’s gripes.
“GOOD LUCK CHARLIE”
Before co-founding Northwood Space, scientist extraordinaire Bridgit Mendler starred on “Good Luck Charlie,” one of Disney Channel’s most successful shows in viewership. Mendler sang the theme song for the show, “Hang In There Baby.”
The feel-good song has lyrics about how, despite the hectic nature of life, “everything turns out alright.” This feels like a regular track you would listen to rather than a theme song for a TV show, making it stand out among other theme songs.
“AUSTIN & ALLY”
SUDOKU
The “Austin & Ally” theme song, “Can’t Do It Without You,” sung by Austin Moon (Ross Lynch) is another standout theme song from Disney Channel. The song describes the relationship between singer Moon and his songwriter friend Ally Dawson. The memorable tune and fun lyrics garnered over 14 million streams on Spotify,
“Better in Stereo” described the unbreakable bond of identical twins Liv and Maddie in their titular hit show.
Rachel Grant, a sophomore studying broadcast meteorology, said the “Liv and Maddie” theme song is her favorite Disney Channel theme song.
“I loved Dove Cameron at the time,” Grant said. “I loved when she played both Liv and Maddie. I thought that was really cool”
In addition to playing the roles of both Liv and Maddie, Cameron sang the theme song. The lighthearted melody and echoing lyrics showcase early musical talent from Cameron, and the song has over 50 million streams on Spotify.
“JESSIE”
Another one of Grant’s favorite theme songs is “Hey Jessie,” from “Jessie.”
The song, sung by Debbie Ryan who played Jessie Prescott, tells the tale of Jessie’s crazy life as a nanny in New York. The playful lyrics such as “It feels like a party every day,” set the tone for each episode.
“Hey Jessie” is the perfect opening to the series and one of the strongest Disney Channel theme songs.
“HANNAH MONTANA”
“Best of Both Worlds” from “Hannah Montana” is a perfect pop song for a show about a pop star’s double life. Many theme songs are made for the sole purpose of being an introduction to a television show, but the “Hannah Montana” theme feels like much more than that. On Spotify, the song has over 100 million streams, and it arguably launched Miley Cyrus’ singing career.
ET029322@OHIO.EDU
JACKSON PENNINGTON FOR THE POST
BedPost: Mind games should be taken more seriously
Today’s dating scene is plagued by meaningless sex, superficiality and romantic connections which lack commitment or labels –commonly referred to as “situationships.” Having a “roster” of readily available hookups is the norm and takes precedence over building real relationships with others.
This lifestyle often plays out in an “every man for himself” mentality, where to protect your own heart, you must put others on the line. Mind games have become survival instincts, but it should not be that way — it certainly should not be the standard. We rarely pause to consider just how damaging these tactics can be for the victims of them.
“Breadcrumbing” is one of the most common examples of these mind games; someone gives just enough attention or affection, such as sporadic texts or flirtatious comments, to keep the receiver interested. However, the breadcrumbs will never become a loaf. The person dropping them has no intention of building a real relationship and instead strings the other person along, keeping them around only when it suits them.
Other examples of mind games include “ghosting,” when someone abruptly cuts off all communication, and “love-bombing,” when intense, overwhelming affection is given for a short period only to be suddenly withdrawn. These tactics leave the
people on the receiving end of them in a constant state of uncertainty and self-doubt. They are far from harmless side effects of the current dating scene; they are forms of psychological control which prey on someone’s vulnerability and leave deep, long-lasting scars.
Such games are more than just frustrating, they are emotionally abusive. Especially in a “situationship,” when the mind games are fickle yet recurring, they create a pattern of emotional highs and lows consistent with the early warning signs of emotional abuse in a relationship. The constant cycle of anticipation and disappointment causes
CAMPUS EVENTS
a reliance on the perpetrator’s approval, and over time, this rollercoaster can be deeply damaging. Each moment of attention serves as a dopamine hit, leaving the recipient craving more, thus creating an unequal system of dependency and emotional attachment.
Much like more widely recognized forms of emotional abuse, mind games can distort a person’s perception of what a healthy relationship should look like. In chasing these give-andtake dynamics, people in these situations may start to believe that love should feel uncertain, or that peaceful, uneventful relationships lack passion and chemistry. They become conditioned to associate romance with pain and confusion. The line between love and manipulation is blurred, and victims may also become more susceptible to future abuse.
People seem to increasingly value quantity over quality, which is a disturbing mindset to have when it comes to relationships; people are seriously hurting one another because of it. Not only that, but they are also depriving themselves of the opportunity to experience real connections. It is necessary to reject the normalization of mind games as a trait of dating culture and instead recognize them for what they are: calculated forms of emotional abuse.
BedPost is a sex and relationship column that does not reflect the views of The Post.
November 5th - December 5th
Social Engagement & Student Org Events
Tuesday, November 5
Election Results WATCH PARTY a non-partisan event hosted by CSEL & TNP
8:00 - 11:00 pm Baker Theatre Lounge FREE FOOD
Thursday, November 7
Pancakes to Rations
hosted by: Student Veterans of America
8:00 am - 2:00 pm Baker 3rd floor Atrium
Regular Discussion
hosted by Bridge USA OU Chapter
6:00 -7:00 pm Alden 322
Friday, November 8
Friday’s LIVE Season 53 E04 hosted by Ben Christiansen
8:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515)
* To
Friday, November 8 (cont’)
Humans vs. Zombies NERF Tag hosted by: Bobcat Blasters 8:00 pm - 11:45pm Walter Hall
Saturday, November 9
All Day Gaming Event hosted by: Bobcat Tabletop 10:00 am-10:00 pm Living Learning Center
Sunday, November 10
Sip & Draw hosted by Caribbean Scholars Association 4:00 - 7:00 pm Baker Center
*RSVP on bobcat connect limited spots available
Tuesday, November 12
Sorority & Fraternity Life PAWS for a Cause 7:00 - 8:00 pm Baker Ballroom
Wednesday, November 13
OHIO Greeks New Member Workshop 2:30 - 4:30 pm Baker 237
Tuesday, November 19
Mindful Eating Event hosted by OU Mindful Based Living 6:00 -7:00 pm Morton Hall
Tuesday, November 21
Rock Painting hosted by OU Recovery Community 10:00 am -2:00 pm Baker Center FREE GOODY BAGS
Friday, November 22
Friday’s LIVE Season 53 E05 hosted by Olivia Freeland & Bre Reidl 8:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515)
Thursday, December 5
Regular Discussion hosted by Bridge USA OU Chapter 6:00 -7:00 pm Gordy 302
Weekly Gathering of CRU 7:30 - 8:30 pm Morton 201 SCAN for more events
Bobcat Hockey
October 25 Adrian @ OHIO 7:00 PM
November 1 & 2 Delaware @ OHIO 7:00 PM
November 15 & 16 Grand Valley State @ OHIO 7:00 PM
November 22 & 23
Oregon @ OHIO 7:00 PM
December 6 & 7
Maryville @ OHIO 7:00 PM (follow on X for streaming link)
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