Is Athens losing its charm?
Many Athens residents are noticing the disappearance of their favorite small businesses, and some are questioning whether it will affect the character of Athens.
Athens business owners discuss the loss of local shops
FINN SMITH | FOR THE POST downtown and went shopping,” Stout said. “Over the years, more and more and more have gone out.”
Sara Quoia Bryant, owner of Cool Digs Rock Shop, hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday in the Athens Community Center to discuss the loss of local businesses in town.
Bryant owns two locations of Cool Digs Rock Shop, one at 13 W. Union St. and one at 596 E. State St.
The town hall began with Bryant giving a personal story, discussing her struggles maintaining business in her shop on West Union. Bryant pointed her struggles to the ongoing construction located outside of the Lostro building, which has effectively blocked off the main parts of the sidewalk close to her shop entry.
Bryant voiced her frustration with the city and said its poor management has led to inaccessible businesses.
“I know I’m not the only business owner in this community that has had trouble getting help from our administration, who has had a lot of solid construction projects, and I’m just going to call it what it is,” Bryant said. “It’s bad city planning, and it affects real lives.”
The meeting was then opened to the audience, offering the attendees to speak about their personal experiences with local business management in Athens.
James Wanke, a member of the family who owns and operates Silver Serpent, asked the attendees in the forum to shout out all of the local businesses that have shut down in the past year.
Those in attendance mentioned names such as China Fortune, Athena Grand, GrubN-Go, Ambassador Launders, Sol Island Bar and Grill, Import House and Jack Neal Floral.
Wanke connected the closures to failures on the city’s part and said the city had no purpose in closing the sidewalk down on West Union Street.
“I really can’t think of any example of where the city has ever helped us or made any sort of real accommodation to assist us in opening and operating a local business,” Wanke said.
Barbara Stout, the owner of Athens Underground, spoke about how Athens has changed since her childhood in the city.
“When I was growing up, Court Street was a vibrant business district with all kinds of funky little shops and places you went
Business owners, employees dispute Import House space
GINA NAPOLI | HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
The first Import House opened in 1986 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and a second location arrived at 68 N. Court St. in 1995. In the fall of 2024, the Athens location closed, leaving half of the space vacant and Athens locals in anticipation of the unknown business which will take its place.
Import House was known for its spunky designs, vibrant clothes, beautiful jewelry, tobacco and hookah pipes. Many regulars were sad to see the business go. However, those who enjoy venturing down Court Street for a night out with friends may have just won the lottery. The popular evening destination Stephen’s on
Court, located at 66 N. Court St., bought half of the Import House space and has been doing renovations.
Despite people’s excitement, some local business owners believe seeing a new business utilize the Import House space would be a more productive decision, instead of another 21-plus location.
Maxwell Levitsky, an employee of Athens Underground, said the other half of Import House should be taken by an organization that contributes to the neighborhood’s growth.
“I’d love to see any kind of local business come and take that space, preferably not a
bar or another smoke shop … I think there are way too many of those in town,” Levitsky said.
Levitsky said the addition of a diverse business would bring “more traffic” to the area, as most students do not travel past West State Street unless they are looking for an alcoholic drink.
Shaylee Tucker, owner of Big Run Kava Bar, said she supports the Athens bar atmosphere, but welcoming a fresh perspective may be more important in the long run.
“Anybody in Athens would prefer to see something maybe more local … I think that is what Athens kind of thrives off of,” Tucker said.
Celeste Polsenelli, co-owner of Little Professor Book Center, cited issues with not just the city but with Ohio University as well.
“The university, over the last several years, has become incredibly more insular and is not doing very much to promote having students (and) faculty come in and enjoy the town (and) shop at our centers,” Polsenelli said.
Mayor Steve Patterson was in attendance and came up to speak, starting by thanking all of those present for their commitment to Athens.
Patterson then proposed solutions to this issue, first pointing out succession planning, which would allow businesses to have new people come in and take over the shop if the current owners cannot continue operation. Patterson also proposed creating a small business committee or council as well as a city business liaison. The proposed additions would allow for more collaboration between the city and local businesses. Patterson said in the past year and a half, nine food and beverage establishments, five retail stores, four service providers and three healthcare industry establishments have opened in Athens.
Bryant proposed two major solutions, beginning with pushing for a community benefits plan.
“It outlines how the project will impact the community, both good and bad, and then outlines how the company will improve the community with their project and how they will mitigate harm,” Bryant said.
Bryant then discussed a proposed bill called the Athens Administrative Accountability Act for 2025.
“This (act) would just be a simple document that we could pass by citizens initiative that basically says that we expect our elected to follow our city code and to take action when it’s not being followed,” Bryant said. After the meeting, Bryant reflected on the outcome of the town hall.
“I was encouraged that we had a lot of people show up. I thought that was really great,” Bryant said. “I feel encouraged that so many of them were business owners, and I know that we as a community, we’re going to stick together.”
(MEGAN VANVLACK | PHOTO EDITOR)
(ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Fracking explosion in Guernsey County causes fire, raises safety concerns
A fracking well pad exploded and caught fire Jan. 2 in Antrim, Guernsey County. The fire reportedly started at around 5:30 p.m. and burned for 18 hours, stemming from a storage tank on site.
The Guernsey County Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 5:34 p.m. Upon arrival at the scene, Antrim Volunteer Fire Chief Donald Warnock’s team assessed the incident and made decisions about the best course of action.
“First thing is we get eyes on it to see what’s happened,” Warnock said. “And then the decisions made, they go in order of life safety. So the first question that we have to ask is, has anyone been hurt?”
Warnock’s team noticed a house located northeast of the well pad. The team assessed the residents, who had no injuries, and then asked them to evacuate the premises.
The fire department shut down U.S. Route 22, the highway located next to the explosion, and declared an evacuation for the half-mile radius surrounding the well pad at the request of Gulfport Energy, the fracking pads operating company.
The fire department decided the safest environmental decision was to allow the fire to burn out naturally, concluding there was no way to put the fire out without increasing the risk of environmental release.
The fracking pad, located 5.7 miles away from Salt Fork State Park, was built in 2012 and is owned and operated by Gulfport Energy, an Oklahoma City-based oil and gas company that operates mainly across Eastern Ohio.
Gulfport has had extensive legal issues in the past due to its handling of fracking well pads. According to a settlement with the EPA in 2020, Gulfport was found to violate the Clean Air Act within some of its fracking locations in Ohio.
“Gulfport will pay a $1.7 million penalty and invest approximately $2 million in improvements at 17 well pads in eastern Ohio to help reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by approximately 313 tons per year,” a press release from the EPA reads.
Among those 17 well pads was the Groh well pad in Guernsey County, the site of the recent explosion.
House Bill 507 was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in January 2023. The
law requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to allow the sale of public lands for fracking.
Already, fracking bids was approved for lands located in Zepernick and Valley Run wildfire areas, as well as parts of land in Salt Fork State Park.
Save Ohio Parks, a volunteer organization which fights to keep fracking off public lands in Ohio, has raised numerous safety concerns with fracking near state parks.
Steering Committee Member of Save Ohio Parks Jenny Morgan claimed the fracking industry is inherently accident prone, and every well has countless possibilities of incidents.
“It cannot be regulated into safety,”
Morgan said. “And so to have it 1,000 feet from these public natural spaces where our children are recreating is so irresponsible.”
Save Ohio Parks fights to inform citizens of the dangers that fracking poses to the local environment. Founding Member of Save Ohio Parks Roxanne Groff cited methane, radium 226 and 228, propane, butane, hydrogen sulfide emissions and isotopes all to be within the contents of common fracking tanks.
The group also raised concerns with ODNR, claiming it lacks inspectors as well as an effective response to fracking incidents.
“These well pads and injection well sites get maybe every six months an inspector (to show) up,” Groff said. “There’s supposed to be an inspector on site while a drilling operation is happening.”
In addition to the Antrim Volunteer Fire Dept., Gulfport officials, an ODNR official and Guernsey County Emergency Management Agency were on site following the explosion. The individuals concluded no one was hurt, and there was no environmental release caused by the explosion and subsequent fire.
Spokesperson for ODNR Karina Cheung said the Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management has spearheaded the investigation into the cause of the fire, which is still unknown.
“The Division has regulatory authority over the site and will work alongside other agencies to determine the cause of the fire,” Cheung wrote in an email. “The well pad remains shut down and inactive.”
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Bird Ice Arena reopens but more construction looms
Bird Ice Arena reopened after being closed for repairs for 10 months and is possibly facing more repairs.
The arena originally closed to add a new ice plant compressor, update the mezzanine lounge, repair the interior and external roof, repaint the locker rooms and rafters, update the signage and banners and repair the Olympia Ice Resurfacer.
However, while replacing the ice compressor, it was discovered the piping that created the ice was not functional anymore, which delayed the reopening from October to Jan. 2. A temporary solution was put in place to reopen the arena.
“We’re excited about it because the alternative is we’re probably not going to have ice in Athens, Ohio,” Barry Schutte, the DI hockey coach, said. “What’s going on right now is a temporary solution, not a long-term plan.”
The university will have to replace the floor to permanently fix the solution. Plans were drafted and a $3.15 million budget was approved at the Jan. 17 Board of Trustees meeting. The floor replacement will begin as soon as the arena closes for the summer and has the goal of being finished by the 2025 Fall semester.
Schutte said he believes this time the construction will most likely be done in time. He said the delay last time was due to unforeseen circumstances no one could have predicted.
“Let’s say the beginning of April, and go through September and Labor Day, hopefully that would be enough time,” Schutte said. “That would be perfect if it’s going to get done this summer, but we’ll have to
look at our schedule for the fall and maybe plan on just being on the safe side and start on the road and not have any home games those first couple weeks.”
Owen Dowler, a sophomore studying electrical engineering and a player for a LUG Sports hockey team at Ohio University, said he hopes the arena will be open for the fall.
“Obviously, it sucks for our league, but I know it’s a lot harder for the D1 and D2 guys because they have to make the drive to Columbus and West Virginia early in the morning or late at night, and it sucks not having fans for the games,” Dowler said.
Grace Shah, the synchronized skating head coach, said she is afraid of the arena closing again, especially with next year being her senior year at OU.
“I want it to be our best possible Synchro year and to go out with a bang,” Shah said. “But, if it takes that long to reopen again, then I’m really nervous that might not happen.”
The last time the floor was replaced was in the early 1990s. A floor was placed over the original floor that was installed when the arena was built in the 1950s. The new floor will tear out these old ones and build a new one in their place. The last two floors lasted for about 30 years, so the university is predicting to get 30 years out of this one.
In addition, there was discussion of possibly adding another 10 feet to the arena with the floor replacement. A standard National Hockey League rink is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide; the current rink is 10 feet less.
“For competition, the rinks are a lot bigger, and we’re used to skating on a smaller rink,” Shah said. “Once we get (to the competition), we have to adjust our scale and make it bigger, which is sometimes a hard adjustment to make in such a quick period of time. I would be really excited to see what we could do with more ice.”
Dowler said he thinks it would make the rink feel more spread out and give players more time to make decisions.
“Everything feels more compacted,” Dowler said. “You have to make decisions a lot faster. You don’t have as much room behind the nets, in between the blue line and the tops of the circles.”
Even though more construction is
coming in the future, the hockey team, LUG Sports players, synchronized skaters and competition attendees are glad to be able to get back onto the ice, especially since Bird Arena is the only ice arena in Southeastern Ohio.
“I’m most excited to see the people in it,” Schutte said. “I could see the void that was in their life, and they were missing it, especially on the little kids’ faces that are standing there when our guys come on and off the ice. Then fast forward to last weekend, when the students were here on top of it and we had two sellout crowds, you could just see the joy in everyone’s life.”
DREW HOFFMASTER | NEWS STAFF WRITER
The sign at the entrance of Ohio Department of Natural Resources District 4 headquarters at 360 East State Street in Athens, Nov. 13, 2024 (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Ohio’s Noah Holt (9) dives towards the puck in the match against Stony Brook at Bird Ice Arena. The Bobcats defeated the Seawolves 6-3. Jan. 25, 2025. (BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST)
Athens provides accessible reproductive healthcare amid rising concern
Reproductive healthcare topics, such as abortion and birth control, have been under fire recently. Nevertheless, Athens maintains several outlets for women to get birth control and emergency contraceptives
Southeast Ohio offers various reproductive health resources, many of which are free, despite growing concerns about reproductive health access.
Reproductive health, specifically abortions and birth control, has become a controversial topic in recent years. Many are unsure of what the future holds with President Donald Trump in office.
However, Athens and surrounding areas offer care ranging from STD testing to birth control and pregnancy resources in addition to care for struggling mothers through diaper banks and clothing drives.
Since President Trump’s inauguration, several policies were enacted which affect access to reproductive care. Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, prohibiting tax-payers from funding health organizations around the world that provide abortion care and information.
The State Department also announced a renewed membership in the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which aims to “protect life at all stages” by getting rid of worldwide abortions and putting a deeper focus on traditional family values.
The National Criminal Justice Association also reported the Department of Justice cut back on enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Under this declaration, FACE can only be used to prosecute in “‘extraordinary circumstances’ or in cases involving ‘significant aggravating factors’ such as ‘death, serious bodily harm or serious property damage.’”
Several cases involving FACE were already dropped, including one in Ohio, according to the NCJA.
Many businesses and clinics in Athens have made a point to provide accessible reproductive care.
The Abortion Fund of Ohio works with
local Athens businesses including Little Fish Brewing Company, Athens Uncorked, Casa Nueva and Village Bakery to provide free emergency contraception to anyone who is in need.
The Heritage Health Center and Equitas Health partnered to provide free STD and HIV testing as well as contraceptives and pregnancy tests.
The Ohio University Office of Health Promotion offers sexual health education and free contraceptives, including condoms and dental dams, while the Women’s Center provides Plan B.
“Our half of stuff like (working with the Women’s Center) would be keeping people aware and educated on their own rights and what is actively going on in politics that is limiting women and specifically reproductive rights today,” Slatzer said.
Planned Parenthood - Athens Health Center, located at 416 W. Union St., offers many services surrounding contraception and pregnancy, as well as STD testing and checkups for reproductive and sexual health concerns. Many of these services come at a low cost, especially with health insurance.
The Pregnancy Resource Center, located at 77 E. State St., also offers free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, a diaper bank and free maternity and infant supplies. The center does not offer abortions, birth control or contraceptives.
There is currently no clinic in Athens that can provide an abortion procedure.
Marisa Vihtelic, a freshman studying biology, said although there are several reproductive health resources in the region, she thinks there could always be more with a wider range of services.
Sean Slatzer, a junior studying political science and president of the OU College Democrats, emphasized how important the continuation of these programs is.
“For people our age, (getting affordable contraception) is a big deal,” Slatzer said.
“People who find themselves under those circumstances need help with those things, so I think it’s really important that we actually do have places around campus that offer that stuff for free.”
Slatzer also highlighted what OUCD is doing to keep students educated on reproductive rights.
Vihtelic also said she recommends getting an intrauterine device, or IUD, as a form of long-lasting contraception to women who are concerned about how their reproductive rights might change.
Slatzer reminded people there are still ways to fight for reproductive rights.
“It’s not a done deal,” Slatzer said. “I know that it’s difficult, but we just have to keep focused on what’s going to happen and also staying aware of what’s going on.”
ZW211923@OHIO.EDU
ZOE
Planned Parenthood on Union Street in Athens, Jan. 24, 2025. (JORI HUSTED | FOR THE POST)
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Police Blotter: Window woes, silly sheep
20 Mon__________________________
Window woes
Officers from the Ohio University Police Department dispatched to Treudley Hall Jan. 20 in response to a damaged window.
A report was taken for damage to property, according to OUPD.
U-Haul? You stole…
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a stolen U-Haul vehicle Jan. 20.
The vehicle is approximately two months over the date it was supposed to be returned, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Baby it’s cold outside
Officers from OUPD responded to Carr Hall where they located an individual outside in extreme weather Jan. 20.
The individual was transported to OMH, according to OUPD.
Missing mail
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office took a phone report in response to a theft of a package Jan. 20.
The package was taken from a porch on Salem Road in Athens with no witnesses or leads according to the Sheriff’s Office.
21 Tue__________________________
Can you give me the time?
OUPD took a report for a stolen watch Jan. 21.
The watch was taken from Ping Recreation Center, according to OUPD.
Silly sheep
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office dispatched to state Route 356 in New Marshfield in response to sheep in the road Jan. 21.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the sheep’s owner who removed them from the road, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
22 Wed_________________________
Medical service assist
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were called to Barbour Street in Glouster to help Athens County Emergency Medical Services with a man who was struck by a baseball bat Wednesday.
On route, ACEMS canceled the request for deputy aid. It was found the man was assaulted in Perry County, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Who let the dogs out?
Athens County Sheriff’s Deputies received a complaint of loose dogs on Republic Avenue in Glouster Wednesday.
The dogs were picked up by their owner before deputies arrived, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Disorderly Conduct
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an active dispute on Beech Road in The Plains on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, deputies concluded an altercation did take place and both parties were separated and cited for disorderly conduct by fighting, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
23 Thur__________________________ Wanted
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and the Nelsonville Police Department responded to a residence on Bessemer Road in Buchtel in an attempt to locate two individuals with arrest warrants out of Athens County on Thursday.
Both individuals were arrested and taken to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
ATHENS GOES BANANAS!
This past weekend combined Bobcats, bananas and a lot of booze. After making its debut in November 2023, the Banana Bar Crawl finally made its way to Athens and brought a memorable evening to participating students and bars.
GINA NAPOLI | HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Night fell in Athens and several students were headed out to the bars, ready to socialize and leave their stresses and worries at home. However, this night is particularly out of the ordinary, as locals and students appeared to have gone totally bananas.
The Banana Bar Crawl took over Court Street for an unforgettable night of socializing and bar hopping Friday from 7 p.m. onward.
The Banana Bar Crawl is North America’s largest banana bar crawl, visiting over 30 college towns in Canada and the U.S. With appearances at the University of Florida, the University of Tennessee and eventually a pit stop at Ohio University, thousands of bananas have roamed the streets of their beloved college towns, making several memories along the way.
The first crawl took place in November 2023 at the University of Canada, and tickets sold out almost immediately. Aiden Tighe, the Banana Bar Crawl co-founder, was born and raised in Toronto and said a TikTok inspired the crawl.
“We had seen a video on TikTok of a few friends who went out to a bar and they were all dressed up in banana costumes,” Tighe said. “We thought the concept of that was really funny and our next idea was how can we kind of scale this up.”
Tighe said after the crawl’s initial sellouts, he and the other founders decided to travel to additional cities and they never expected it
would be such a hit.
Fashioning a hilarious costume for the night can seem daunting to some, but a plethora of Bobcats thrive when encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and express creativity.
Riley Brown, a junior studying environmental science and sustainability and communication studies, said the crawl was the perfect event for those who enjoy spontaneity.
“I love it,” Brown said. “I want the questions, I want the pictures.”
Brown said she was looking forward to participating in what she believed to be OU’s first bar crawl and hoped the event motivated other local businesses to continue the idea.
“I think the number of people that have dressed in a banana suit and traveled around for a bar crawl is 3,000 … I feel like we have a lot of people that go out on the weekends (and) we can potentially beat that,” Brown said.
Tickets cost $22 with the inclusion of a banana costume, access to the participating bars, possible drink deals and fun challenges to complete.
According to Nik Robinson, a junior studying communication studies, some of the tasks included forming a conga line and doing the worm. Although he is normally reserved, Robinson said connecting with other students was comforting.
“It is funny to see the bananas walking around … it was a strong sense of banana unity,” Robinson said.
Joining the crawl were some of Athens’ popular Court Street destinations, including Lucky’s Sports Tavern,
Broney’s Bar and Grill, North End Kitchen and Bar, The J Bar, Stephen’s on Court, The OverHang, Cat’s Corner, Courtside, Pawpurr’s Bar and The Red Brick Tavern.
Tighe said he encouraged the bars to create fun flavored drinks and deals. However, some did not agree to this.
“We do not own the bars or really deeply work with them … we have tried in the past to make them offer a drink deal but some people do not want to,”
Tighe said. “We just urge all of the bars to offer, we say, ‘A banana-inspired drink deal,’ so they can kind of do with that what they wish.”
Lucky’s advertised a banana shot the night of the event. However, Robinson said he was unaware of other deals.
“I would love it if some more of the Athens bars offered … drinks special for the occasion, I think that would make
it more enticing,” Robinson said. “I also know some people who were kind of a little ‘too cool’ for the banana bar crawl … (and) I think regret that decision.”
As bananas flooded the streets and drinks were poured, Bobcats made everlasting memories, forming stories that will be told for years to come. Robinson said he hopes the crawl will return to Athens, as it catered to a variety of students.
“It did not encourage anyone to take a drink at every stop,” Robinson said. “So if you are not a fan of heavy drinking, this was a great bar crawl to be a part of.”
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE:
Participants of the Banana Bar Crawl at The J Bar at 41 N Court St. in Athens, Jan. 24, 2025. (BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST)
(BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST)
Wake brings life to Athens punk scene
GINA NAPOLI
HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Anewly banded bunch of Athens locals are waking up the town with rapid drum breaks and a quick tempo, as a fresh and electric punk rock band recently hit the neighborhood.
Wake formed in August 2024 and debuted at Benefest in November, hosted at The Union at 18 W. Union St.
Punk rock is an aggressive and flashy genre that took flight in the 1970s and ‘80s. Punk rock was and continues to be viewed as a “celebration of urbanism,” with its energetic lyrics and belligerent
facial expressions. For most, it symbolizes an age of rebellion, allowing both the artist and listener to let go and release their emotions.
Students interested in the genre may have just hit the jackpot, as Wake is a punk group composed of three passionate musicians who share a long history with music and songwriting. Jeff Shaffer, a graduate student studying education, is the band’s drummer and said some of his earliest memories with music were shared with family.
“My dad was a drummer when he was in high school and college and (as) a young adult,” Shaffer said. “My older
brother picked up the guitar … and then (I) just started playing gigs in middle school with some friends.”
Paul Nern, a graduate student studying business, is the lead guitarist and singer. Nern said the thought of playing guitar was unimaginable until he saw the punk rock band Green Day in concert.
“Billie Joe Armstrong, their frontman, brought a kid up on stage who played guitar with them and I was like, ‘F--- that should have happened to me,’” Nern said. “I was like, ‘next time if I go to a Green Day concert and that happens to me, I'll be able to play guitar’ … now I'm on year eight.”
Nern said he started a band with his twin brother called Rent Free during his sophomore year in undergrad, but after his brother moved away, Wake slowly fell into place.
Wake was originally a two-man show with Nern and Shaffer, both from Zanesville. However, shortly after its debut, the band welcomed its newest member and Cleveland native, Emmett Mascha, or "Kermit” as his bandmates call him.
As an Athens native, Mascha is not just the band’s bassist, but an Ohio University alumnus and co-founder of Athens' Skate Jam event. Mascha said he is grateful Shaffer and Nern offered him a spot, as his previous experiences in larger bands were fun, yet chaotic.
“This is cool because it is a little bit more polished,” Mascha said. “I did play in a power trio for six or seven years in Athens and it is nice because it is all you need, nothing more nothing less. You are all pulling equal weight … it is kind of like a team sport.”
Wake’s practices, otherwise known
as “jam sessions,” are nothing short of inspiring, as each member has their own way of creating lyrics and beats that not only resonate with them but their audience.
“The key part for me is to record on our phones … and then … as a group, we are like, ‘Oh that’s bada--, let’s go back and listen to that and kind of pluck that out,’” Shaffer said.
Some of the band’s favorite songs include “Vulture” and “Nebulizer,” one of which has been performed and the other still a work in progress. Nern said “Vulture” is special to him, as he originally came up with the riff but never completed it until Shaffer stepped into the picture.
“I am a big ‘Vulture’ guy,” Nern said. “(It) set us on the path … of the style of music we wanted to write … the first time I played music with Jeff he kept the signature phrase with this big crash on his drums and that kind of told me where to take it (the riff).”
If a local or Bobcat listens to punk rock regularly or plans to explore the exciting genre, Wake’s upcoming performance is Feb. 6 at The Union. Shaffer said the past few months have been life-changing, and every show with Wake is bound to be unforgettable.
“I will be playing a song or two and then I will just look over at Emmett or Paul … (and) have this grounding moment of like, ‘Wow, I am here (and) we are doing it together,’” Shaffer said. “This is what it is about, just playing music with your friends.”
GN875322@OHIO.EDU GINA_NAPOLI_
Students, instructors share thoughts on class
ETHAN HERX | FOR
THE POST
Between tuition, rent, food and other expenses, college life comes at a hefty cost. Managing school, work and social life all while trying to stay within budget can be hard for many students.
According to a study from the Education Data Initiative, the average college student spends around $174 on new textbooks per class every school year and an average of $285 on all class materials per year. Due to this high price tag, around 65% of students skipped purchasing textbooks and other materials.
Although cheaper than physical books, digital versions of textbooks can still be around half the cost of their paper counterparts. At Ohio University, this total adds onto tuition and other university fees, which averages $14,158 per semester for in-state students and $24,838 for outof-state students before scholarships. Art majors have to spend a significant amount on class supplies, especially on items such as paintbrushes, pencils, paper and any other project supplies they may need. Grace Brierley, a junior studying painting and drawing, said she spent hundreds during her first few semesters at OU.
“When I was in my freshman and sophomore years, I would be taking two studios and it would be like $200-$300 depending on the class,” she said. “Depending on what kind of class it is, you could be spending $175 on materials.”
Many art classes do provide bundled materials at a reduced cost to students, but those can still come with a large price tag. Megan Smith, a freshman studying studio art, said although most of the bundles she had to get were affordable, some had a much larger cost.
“I've spent about $40 outside of the bundles on each class, but the bundle prices definitely vary between classes,” she said. “One for my tutorial this semester is going to be about $180 and so it's the most expensive one. But the other foundation classes have been $40 for the bundles.”
Although these classes provide bundled supplies, Smith thinks some items should be a fixture in the classes.
“I would prefer if the class had a bunch of materials that it feels like they should have,” she said. “They should have hot glue, but they don't. I wish it would have materials that only stayed in the classroom.”
Heavily computer-focused classes may require students to purchase multiple pricey items, such as headphones and hard drives. In an email, David Oyuke, a second-year MFA candidate and instructor of recording at Scripps College, said the required items for his Podcast Production Essentials class are an investment for students.
“All the purchases made for production classes are ultimately investments into a future in production,” Oyuke wrote.
“When a student leaves the class or even graduates, they will already have the tools
and requisite expertise.
Oyuke said although prices can vary, students can find ways to save money on certain items.
“Students can always purchase already used items from sites such as eBay or back market,” he said. “If a student already has any of these resources, it is advisable to not buy new ones, but to
expenses
simply use what they already have."
Smith said her professors have also helped find ways to save money.
“The advice from teachers, I value very highly,” she said. “Because they're like, “This is where you should go get stuff.”’
@ETHANHERX EH481422@OHIO.EDU
The Band Called Wake poses for a photo. (GINA NAPOLI | FOR THE POST)
Delta Gamma strengthens bonds at Anchor Academy
MARY KATE MCNAMEE | FOR THE POST
Since 1993, the Delta Gamma sorority has been chartered at Ohio University, striving to bring sisterhood to Athens by bolstering the leadership skills of members through Anchor Academy.
Mallory Borino, director of marketing and communications for Delta Gamma, wrote in an email about Delta Gamma’s history of sisterhood.
“Delta Gamma was founded to create a safe and empowering community for women on college campuses,” Borino wrote.
From Feb. 14-16, the executive members of OU’s Delta Gamma are traveling to Columbus to partake in Anchor Academy.
“The purpose of Delta Gamma’s Anchor Academy is to provide attendees with the opportunity to develop their leadership capacity and hone other professional skills critical to effective leadership,” Borino wrote.
Katy Ternova, a sophomore studying journalism, is vice president of member education for Delta Gamma and will attend Anchor Academy for the first time.
For the past few years the event has been held online, however, this year members will be able to attend in person and meet other Delta Gamma sisters from different universities. Delta Gamma pays for the hotel the executive members stay at and will host a total of nearly 700 Delta Gamma leaders in their three Anchor Academy sessions.
“This is our first time attending Anchor Academy in person in a few years,” Ternova said. “It’s been online because of COVID.”
Although it has previously gone under a different name, Anchor Academy has
been held every other year since 2013, with a short break in 2021 due to the COVID-19.
The current executive members of Delta Gamma were just recently sworn into their roles in January. This trip allows those executive members to gain a better grasp on their roles and responsibilities.
“We all go and we get to learn more about our positions and what that entails,” Teronva said. “We get to meet other vice presidents from other Delta Gamma chapters, it’s kind of like a networking trip in DG.”
Anchor Academy allows executive members from other DG chapters to collectively come together, to learn from each other and to grow.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to travel to a city to meet a bunch of girls that are all doing the same thing as me,” Ternova said. “I’m really looking forward to meeting other vice presidents, member educators and other chapters.”
This year at Anchor Academy, advisors will also be able to attend for the first time. Heather Ingris, OU’s Delta Gamma advisory team chairman, was a part of the Delta Gamma chapter at Kent State University from 2013-15. As an advisor, Ingris ensures the chapter is following all the rules and procedures.
“Helping them along their experience within the chapter, making sure that they grow as women, that they do the right thing,” Ingris said.
Ingris said Anchor Academy helps the new executive members get a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
“It’s a good way for our newest officers,
who just came in in January to see that being a leader in our chapter isn’t just what’s written on paper when you take the position,” Ingris said.
Anchor Academy gives the opportunity for advisors and executive members to discuss different avenues of leadership to better the sisterhood of Delta Gamma.
According to Borino, attendees of Anchor Academy express positive feedback for the event. The attendees enjoy meeting other Delta Gamma members from different schools and strengthening their leadership skills. Attendees also like coming up with fresh ideas to come back to their chapter with.
As vice president member educator, Ternova is excited to discover different ways to engage new class members.
“I hope to learn more strategies and tips to get our new member more fully indulged in what it means to be a Delta Gamma,” Ternova said. “I just hope to learn more about how to be successful in this position.”
Anchor Academy presents executive members with an immersive learning experience, allowing these members to expand their leadership abilities.
“Genuinely, I think every single girl in this chapter is very genuine and always has each other’s best interest at heart,” Ternova said. “I think that makes us really special because we all just really care about each other.”
@MARYKATEEEE13 MM336621@OHIO.EDU
CAMPUS EVENTS January 28th - February 15th
Social Engagement & Student Org Events
Tuesday, January 28
Crafty Commuters
hosted by: Housing & Res Life
2:30 - 5:20 pm Jefferson 160
Student Alumni Board
Open House
5:00 - 7:00 pm Konneker Alumni Center
The Drag Club FIRST MEETING
6:00 - 7:00 pm Gordy 109
Wednesday, January 29
Rank the Vote OU First General Meeting
6:00 - 7:00 pm Bentley 120
Midweek Bible Study hosted by: Encompass Campus Min.
7:00 - 9:00 pm Baker 503
Friday, January 31
CSEL Movie Series: Groundhog Day 8:00-9:30 pm BYOS (bring your own snacks) Baker Theatre
Famous Couples Party hosted by Alpha Psi Lambda & Mu Sigma Upsilon 9:00 - 11:00 pm The Union
Sunday, February 2
Trombone Day 9:00am - 8:00 pm Glidden Hall *open to the public includes master classes $5 to participate.
Wednesday, February 5
Morgan’s Message Meeting 7:00am - 8:00 pm Phillips Auditorium - Convo
Friday, February 7
RISE Collegiate Recovery Community Meeting
3:00 - 4:00 pm Baker 313
Wednesday, February 12
Midweek Bible Study hosted by: Encompass Campus Min. 7:00 - 9:00 pm Baker 503
Friday, February 14
RISE Collegiate Recovery Community Meeting
3:00 - 4:00 pm Baker 313
Friday’s LIVE Season 54 E01 hosted by Jeanie Stanton 8:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515)
GREEK LIFE
Wednesday, January 29
Sophomore Housing Exemption Meeting 2:00 PM Baker 231
Tuesday, February 4
Sophomore Housing Exemption Meeting 7:00 PM Walter 135
Wednesday, February 5
Sophomore Housing Exemption Meeting 5:30 PM Morton 201
NICOLE REESE | ASST. ART DIRECTOR
Cincinnati Reds Caravan comes to Athens
The Cincinnati Reds Caravan made a trip to Athens over the weekend for an event that allowed Athens residents to interact with players and personnel from the Cincinnati Reds.
ANDERSEN BECK | FOR THE POST
The Cincinnati Reds Caravan arrived Friday in Athens for a fan event that included some of the Red’s best prospects and personnel members. The players had a chance to interact with locals inside the Athens Community Center.
According to the MLB website, the Reds Caravan is an annual event where various players, coaching staff, broadcasters and mascots travel across “Reds Country,” including parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
The Reds players in attendance were veteran pitcher Emilio Pagán, third baseman Cam Collier and pitcher Chase Burns. Other personnel included Reds General Manager and Senior Vice President Brad Meador, broadcaster and former player Jeff Brantley, broadcaster Tommy Thrall and Reds mascot Rosie Red.
The event began with a Q&A panel, where dozens of fans of all ages eagerly asked questions ranging from injured player statuses, bringing on legendary manager Terry Francona, player workout regimen and more.
Cam Collier shared one of his most important experiences from before the major leagues he’s taken to the Reds.
“There was a situation where I had got hurt for the first time in my career and I wasn’t able to play,” Collier said. “I had to sit down and watch other people play, and it really made me understand that the game could be taken away from me. It just gave me a newfound love for the game, and it really changed the way I thought about baseball.”
Pagán also weighed in, sharing one of his most important realizations from his time in college baseball.
“For a lot of us, going to college is the first time you’re away from your family, and you’re trying to learn what it means to take care of yourself, be a man and provide for yourself,” Pagán said. “There’s no secret we travel a lot in the big leagues. I’m married, and I have two little girls. Sometimes, they’re not allowed to be with me when my daughters are in school.”
After the conclusion of the Q&A panel, attendees were given the opportunity to get autographs and talk personally with the speakers. A large assortment of food was also provided.
Brad Meador shared what he thinks the team’s biggest strengths are going into the 2025 season.
“I feel really good about our athleticism, we’ve worked a lot, we’ve talked a lot in the draft and player acquisition about just being more athletic and building our team up the middle and we’ve been able to do that,” Meador said. “ I’m also excited about our starting rotation. We’re deeper than we’ve ever been, we have a lot of young players, a lot of young pitchers who should be more experienced now, and I’m hoping and I feel like we’re ready to take that next step.”
The Reds crew started to pack it in following the hour-long event and loaded up the bus to travel to the next stop along the caravan’s trail. The team is looking forward to putting new talent to the test and making fans proud this season.
AB773723@OHIO.EDU
A fan takes a picture with Cincinnati Reds mascot “Rosie Red” at the Reds Caravan event at the Athens Community Center in Athens, Jan. 24, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Chase Burns and Third Baseman Cam Collier answer questions from fans at the Reds Caravan event at the Athens Community Center in Athens, Jan. 24, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Players and staff from the Cincinnati answer fan questions at the Reds Caravan event at the Athens Community Center in Athens, Jan. 24, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Ohio triumphs over Stony Brook, celebrates mental health
JACKSON MCCOY | COPY CHIEF
Ohio’s Saturday afternoon matchup against Stony Brook was tight, but the home team never gave up its lead. The perseverance and ability to bounce back from slumps the Bobcats displayed perfectly represent the causes they supported in their battle against the Seawolves: Morgan’s Message and The Green Bandana Project.
Morgan’s Message and TGBP are national nonprofit initiatives spanning college campuses nationwide. Morgan’s Message focuses on destigmatizing mental health struggles for student-athletes, while TGBP seeks to improve student awareness of mental health support and suicide prevention resources.
In Bird Arena, tables were set up for both nonprofits, featuring information about what they do and resources for those who feel they need them. Ohio’s social media platforms collaborated with Morgan’s Message and TGBP, sharing ways for people to get involved and support mental health awareness to a combined 14,000 followers.
“What’s great about our program … is the role it can play in all of those types of organizations on this campus, and obviously that’s a very important one,” Ohio coach Barry Schutte said. “I think our guys take an approach that they’re proud to be a part of it and play a role in that, and help spread the word, spread the message.”
Heading into the second period, it looked like Ohio was losing steam. The match started slow, with Stony Brook frequently staying 1 point away from overtaking Ohio’s lead. Between the second and third periods, Schutte’s message of motivation to the team hit extra hard; the Bobcats quickly jumped into the driver’s seat for the last minutes on the ice.
“It’s a 60-minute game, right? And not all 60 minutes are going to go our way,” Schutte said. “There’s going to be a play here, a play there, a bounce there. You have to have short-term memory, but you also need guys to go out there and have a shift, and at that point, I think you really just need to simplify the game and don’t complicate it.”
For Schutte, prioritizing his player’s physical and cognitive health is a regular part of the job, and he takes it seriously. Whether it is a pep talk to get out of a slump in gameplay or a helping hand on the bench, Schutte wants to make sure his players know they have a safety net in Athens.
“We talk about it every day. We try and surround our guys with the proper support, mentally, physically, emotionally, as being a student, you all know there’s lots and lots of challenges,” Schutte said. “It’s difficult, so there’s people around that can help.”
@_JACKSON_MCCOY_ JM049122@OHIO.EDU
Men’s Basketball: Depleted Ohio finds a way to win
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
Ohio (11-8, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) knew it would have to step up. With AJ Clayton and Aidan Hadaway out, the team is missing two of its primary contributors. Although there’s no defined pecking order on the offensive end, every player who came in for Ohio coach Jeff Boals contributed to one of the team’s best defensive outings, beating Kent State (12-7, 3-4 MAC) 61-59.
“Without two starters, everybody stepped up and made a winning play and that’s why we came out on top,” Ohio junior AJ Brown said. “We were the grittier team and we did all the little things at the end of the game to put us in the best position (to win).”
The Golden Flashes are fresh off a trip to the MAC Tournament Championship Game in 2024, playing the Zips for a chance at the MAC Title. A little less than a year later, Kent State coach Rob Senderoff’s team boasts one of the best defenses in the country, holding opponents to less than 65 points per game. Ohio’s offense has revved hot for most of the season, ranking third in the MAC in points per game. Ohio didn’t score as much as usual, but the team did just enough to outperform the impressive Kent State defense.
“We knew coming in, defensively, the rebounding battle was going to be huge,” Ohio coach Jeff Boals said. “We didn’t do a very good job there … but I think the key is they only scored 14 points off 22 offensive rebounds … they’ll go and get it, and when we needed to, we made the stops.”
Ohio ultimately lost the rebounding battle 46-28, allowing Kent State to nearly equal its total rebounds solely on the offensive end. However, despite the Bobcats struggling to secure possessions, their second and third efforts to get a stop were fantastic.
The first half ended 29-28, a far cry from some of Ohio’s recent high-scoring halves. In fact, the game’s 57 combined points in the first half were just 2 points more than the 55-point second half Ohio produced against Muskingum and only six more points than the 51-point second half it produced against Akron. However, Ohio buckled in on defense and put together one of its most disruptive games.
“Our guys bent, they didn’t break and found a way to win,” Boals said. “(There were) 48 deflections, nine kills — it was just a phenomenal defensive effort.”
Brown, who was tied for the gamehigh in scoring with teammate Jackson Paveletzke contributed four of the Bobcats’ 12 steals, to go with several deflections. Although he was causing havoc in the passing lanes, freshman Elijah Elliott, in his first career start, effectively slowed down Kent State’s best player, VonCameron Davis.
Elliott took the primary assignment of Davis, who is a MAC Player of the Year candidate as the Golden Flashes’ leading scorer. Davis finished the game with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, but it didn’t come easy, as Elliott helped him rack up five turnovers and three personal fouls on the way.
“I think (Elliott) definitely came up big
for us,” Brown said. “That’s what we asked of him: go in there and give it your all. He showed us that he could play with the big boys and he’s ready for this.”
However, Elliott wasn’t the only guard who handled a notable size mismatch with poise. Junior Ajay Sheldon, who stands at 6-foot-1, was repeatedly switched onto Kent State’s most physically imposing player, 6-foot-9 senior Cli’Ron Hornbeak.
Hornbeak finished with a double-double, but it wasn’t without Sheldon causing frustration. In the first half, Sheldon forced a Kent State turnover with his
effort to deny an entry pass to Hornbeak. In the second, he gave Hornbeak an offensive foul on another post-up attempt. Sheldon’s biggest play, however, came with 4 minutes 58 seconds left to go, when he came from behind to swat a Hornbeak layup attempt off the glass to maintain a 3-point lead for Ohio.
Overall, Ohio held Kent State to its lowest scoring total in MAC play, as its opponent shot 35% from the field and 15.6% from three. Ohio will need to continue building its defensive identity to compete in a strong MAC.
Guard, Ajay Sheldon (0) during the Bobcats game against Kent State, Jan. 24, 2025. The Bobcats beat Kent State 61-59, in The Convo.. (JOHN FOUSS| FOR THE POST)
Players from both teams lunge forward on the ice in Bird Arena, Jan. 25, 2025. (JACKSON MCCOY| COPY CHIEF)
Senior Colin Felton glides across the Bird Arena ice, keeping the puck in possession of the Bobcats, Jan. 25, 2025 (JACKSON MCCOY| COPY CHIEF)
Basketball: A recent history of The Battle of the Bricks
LOGAN ADAMS | SPORTS EDITOR
In both Athens and Oxford, The Battle of the Bricks is like a reoccurring holiday for Ohio and Miami’s constantly clashing teams. For basketball, fans are treated to four matchups, two each for the men’s and women’s teams.
Although neither team has the sheer amount of history that their football counterpart has, which peaked with the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship in December, the heat of the rivalry is still palpable. The first of this season’s pair of matchups will take place Saturday for both teams, with women’s playing at 1 p.m. while the men’s team checks in at a scheduled 3:30 p.m.
In the last 10 matchups for each team, Ohio holds a dominant combined record of 16-4, dating back to 2019. Here is a brief history of those matchups:
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Although both teams have dominated, the men’s team has particularly oppressed its rival. The last 10 matchups started with a seven-game winning streak, and after a rare loss in February 2023, Ohio continued to win its previous two.
In the most recent matchup, March 8, 2023, Ohio came back after a losing first half to outscore Miami 46-32 in the second, winning 72-59. Current graduate student and junior Shereef Mitchell and Aidan Hadaway led the way with 20 apiece. The matchup prior was more consistent for Ohio, with the scoring spread more evenly.
Joining Mitchell in double-figures was current senior AJ Clayton and Ohio graduates Jaylin Hunter and Miles Brown.
The RedHawks got their only win of the last 10 matchups on Feb. 25, 2023. Miami’s Mekhi Lairy and Morgan Stafford combined for 50 of the team’s 85 points, while Ohio could only manage 68 on 41% shooting.
The seven-game winning streak that followed featured some standout performances. Ben Vander Plas scored 53 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists on 18-of-25 shooting in a pair of 2021-22 matchups, while Jason Preston’s 15-point triple-double led the team to a 31-point victory in February 2020.
Ohio’s Saturday matchup will feature two current MAC titans, Miami and Ohio, who rank second and third in the MAC, respectively. For Ohio, the team is coming off a defensive grudge match against Kent State in The Convo, while Miami fell by 27 points to Akron on the road.
WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Although it’s been a handful of consecutive down seasons for Ohio’s women’s basketball team, the matchup against Miami is one that recently favors Athens. Over the last 10 matchups, Ohio has gone 7-3, splitting the previous three pairs of in-season matchups.
In 2023-24, Ohio won the first of two, starting a run for the MAC Tournament after a slow start to the season. Then-freshman Bailey Tabeling led the way with 18 points on a near-perfect shooting night before Ohio lost the second of the pair on the wrong end of a 14-point and 11-rebound double-double from Amber Tretter.
The four matchups between January 2022 and March 2023 were the era of Yaya Felder and Cece Hooks — two of Ohio’s most impressive statistical performers of the last decade. In the most recent two games of the four, Felder put together 60 points and 11 assists, while in the latter two, Hooks put together 55 points and 15 rebounds.
In the current season, Ohio’s next game in Oxford would be an incredible win. Despite the Bobcats coming off a victory, it’s been a lackluster season for last year’s seventh-place finishers in the MAC. However, Miami’s most recent loss to Kent State, coming at a score of 77-63, pointed to some potential weaknesses for Ohio to exploit.
Ohio University guard, Shereef Mitchell (4), fakes a layup and passes the ball around a Miami University player at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio, Feb. 3, 2024. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
Ohio University’s Yaya Felder (2) drives for a layup against Miami University at the Convocation Center on March 1, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
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Tracking Trends: Bobcats discuss movie adaptations of favorite childhood books
ALEXANDRA HOPKINS FOR THE POST
As a child, there is no greater feeling than finding a new series on your elementary classroom bookshelf. The second best feeling was watching those stories come to fruition on the big screen.
Book adaptations have been around since 1899. “Cinderella,” based on the Brothers Grimm story, was the first ever book-to-screen film. Since then, hundreds of beloved books and their characters have been adapted onto the screen for our viewing pleasure. Some recent adaptations include “Uglies” (2024), “Percy Jackson” (2023) and “Turtles All the Way Down” (2024).
However, it is never guaranteed that these movies will live up to the enjoyment of a book. Mollie Navigato, a freshman studying nursing, enjoyed the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney as a kid. However, she has mixed opinions on the quality of its movie adaptations.
“Specifically the newer ones weren't as good as the original ones,” Navigato said. “But I liked the first couple of the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ movies. Those were good.”
Instead, Navigato preferred how JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” book series was adapted and praised its influence on audiences.
“The ‘Harry Potter’ ones are defi-
nitely more influential (than ‘The Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies’),” Navigato said. “They have a lot of meaningful messages and stuff in them, I believe. I think they're kind of inspirational in a way. I think when you read them as a kid, it allows you to gain perspectives and let you learn different things.”
Lily Adams, a junior studying media arts production, was a fan of the “Uglies” book series by Scott Westerfeld. However, she said she is not as fond of the movie adaptation which came out last year.
“They just came out with the first (‘Uglies’) movie with (Joey King),” Adams said. “It was terrible. Absolutely hated it. Every moment was so bad, it just did not do well at all.”
Conversely, Adams praised the “The Hunger Games” series for its reliance on the books.
“I love the ‘Hunger Games’ movies,” Adams said. “I re-watch them all the time. I think they did really well with the books. It's just a really good movie quality in general.”
The love for “The Hunger Games” book and movie series is shared by Taren Fiala, a freshman studying human biology.
“Growing up, I was almost always in the school library, in the local library,” Fiala said. “I leaned the most towards ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Hunger Games.’”
The first “Hunger Games” movie aired in 2012 and was based on the
book series by Suzanne Collins.
“In the past few years they've been releasing more 'Hunger Games' content and I think that's really good to see as an adult, kind of reminiscing on when I really enjoyed those books,” Fiala said. “It's kind of good to see those, I guess you could say fandoms, coming back and getting a new, upgraded version of some of the stories.”
Collins published “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in 2020 as a prequel to the original trilogy. In 2023, the book received a movie adaptation starring Rachel Zeiger and Tom Blyth.
This year, Collins will release “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” which is already planned to receive its own movie adaptation in 2026. Fans are eagerly awaiting more news about the cast.
With all the new “Hunger Games” content being released, Fiala is glad younger generations can enjoy the series in the same way she did.
“We as readers, when we put together these creative worlds in our head, we have a very specific way we want it to look,” Fiala said. “And there's such a good relieving feeling when you walk into a movie theater and it actually matches what you're thinking about.”
TikTok ban reveals influencers’ secrets
CATALINA LITTS | FOR THE POST
On Jan. 19, TikTok was supposed to be banned from the U.S.. Since the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, refused to sell TikTok to a U.S.-based company, the Supreme Court ruled to ban the app.
On Jan. 18, at approximately 10:35 p.m. ET, the ban went into effect. However, after just 14 hours without TikTok, the ban on the app was lifted.
Amid the chaos, a controversial trend began among influencers. While under the impression TikTok was nearing its end, influencers began revealing they were faking their online persona as a “last hurrah” on the app.
To partake in the trend, influencers used a clip from the TV show “Family Guy.” They would mouth the words, “I did not care for the Godfather,” then reveal their secret.
Several influencers debunked or revealed past controversies, routines or acts that viewers were under the impression were true. However, since TikTok is working again, those who participated in the trend are now facing an awkward reality.
From planted Squishmallows to madeup workout routines, the lies are endless. With a new understanding of how influencers keep up with their platforms, it has become apparent that viewers should not be so trusting.
The first influencer confession that shook many fans was Lexi Hidalgo, who exposed during her famous “coffee talks,” she never drank a coffee she made. At the start of her career, Hidalgo was known for making coffee while giving advice.
After participating in the trend, viewers were taken aback. Many people believed she had wasted several coffees, but she later clarified by sharing that the coffees would go to her friends or mother.
However, Hidalgo also confessed to not partaking in the workouts she would
post as she claimed she thought of it as “giving inspo.” She later apologized to her fans and explained she was naive when posting the workouts and felt as though people misconstrued her confession.
Carter Kench, otherwise known as @ cringecarter on Tiktok, was another influencer who faced backlash after participating in the trend. Kench started his career on TikTok by finding rare Squishmallows in stores near his area.
His followers believed his rare Squishmallow collection was completely organic. However, Kench revealed he was lying after partaking in the trend.
but instead used an anxiety pen. Fans were left speculating after the rumor spread.
However, D’Amelio’s participation in the trend solidified that she was using a vape in her past videos. With this new information, many fans felt satisfied to know their suspicion was finally confirmed.
Haley Kalil, otherwise known as @haleyybaylee, was another influencer to fall victim to the trend by providing clarification on a past controversy.
Kalil faced backlash at the 2024 Met Gala for posting a TikTok to the sound “let them eat cake,” a quote from the film “Marie Antoinette,” while posing in front of the public.
At the time viewers were enraged with how out of touch with reality the influencer seemed considering the state of the economy and the luxury life she lives.
Fans found it amusing when Kalil admitted she had no clue where the sound was from or the context of the quote. TikTok recommended the sound because it was trending at the time and she used it because she thought it was from a “chick flick.”
Finally, in the wake of the trend, the Duolingo account felt it was time to unveil who was under their iconic mascot. After years of creating quirky content, TikTok users grew to adore the Duolingo owl.
According to his TikTok, he would order the Squishmallows online and pretend to find them in stores. Fans were left feeling betrayed after hearing the truth, but Kench assured his fans he still enjoyed hunting for the Squishmallows even if it was fake.
On a more nostalgic note, Charli D’Amelio also wanted to get something off her chest before the ban. D’Amelio posted a TikTok of herself on her spam account telling her fans she was not using an “anxiety pen” in videos from her past.
In 2020, internet personality Larray spread the rumor D’Amelio did not vape
The world was taken by surprise when it learned Mark Pavic, a marketing manager for Duolingo, was wearing the costume. Unsure of who exactly Pavic was, viewers took to irony and sarcasm to celebrate Duo’s reveal.
With TikTok still available in the U.S., several influencers who participated in this trend prematurely exposed themselves. Based on these confessions, audiences now must re-evaluate who they follow online.
CL358222@OHIO.EDU
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‘Wolf Man’ is decent, despite what critics say
JUDE HANNAHS | FOR THE POST
Leigh Whannell was once mainly known for his involvement alongside his friend James Wan in creating the horror franchise, “Saw.” In 2015, Whannell became a director with his debut film “Insidious: Chapter 3.”
In 2020, five years after his directorial debut, Universal Pictures released Whannell’s own reimagining of a classic movie monster in the form of “The Invisible Man.” It’s been another five years, and Universal Pictures released Whannell’s retelling of “Wolf Man.”
While the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score does not reflect the expectations of his other films like “Upgrade” (2018), the film is just fine with how it plays out with its story and characters.
“Wolf Man” tells the story of Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott), his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) as they journey from New York City to the wilderness of Oregon to clean out Blake’s father’s house after he passes away.
Unbeknownst to the Lovell family, the Oregon woods at night are a live hunting ground for a wolfman creature. However, they soon realize they are going to have to find ways to survive while Blake slowly becomes less like his human self.
“Wolf Man” greatly exceeds in its atmosphere and tone. The beginning prologue
shows a young Blake and his father, Grady Lovell (Sam Jaeger), hunting in the woods until they come across the beast. They retreat into a nearby deer tower and only hear noises such as the wolfman’s howls and grunts and it running through the leaves and bushes.
The scene automatically sets up a brilliant antagonist without fully showing the monster except for a few quick shots from far away. Whannell later uses this same technique when Blake and his family arrive at Grady’s now abandoned house at the midpoint of the film.
An element that may make many people watching the film turned off and lead to its negative reviews is Blake’s transformation into becoming a wolfman. There have been a lot of memorable transformations in the history of lycanthropes on the big screen. However, it is treated more as a disease rather than an instant change from human to wolf in “Wolf Man.”
The audience gets to see Blake lose who he is, and his wife and daughter become more and more terrified of what he has become. Blake does not fold immediately into being evil. Instead, he holds onto his humanity long enough so his loved ones are not harmed.
The characters are brought to life very well by all of the actors. Abbott plays a convincing father figure who only wants to protect Charlotte and Ginger, and the latter two do a good job conveying how
their feelings change about Blake as he slowly loses his humanity.
There are some moments where Firth’s acting is not all that great, but she almost soon recovers by the next scene. There is a spousal drama between Blake and Charlotte, and it is set up at the beginning of the film quite well.
However, it could have been fleshed out just a bit more to further emphasize how they never got to resolve their issues when Blake turned to the dark side. The second best aspect this film focuses on is Blake’s descent into illness and madness.
Whannell makes a clever move by showing Blake’s perspective as he becomes the wolfman. His sense of hearing becomes heightened so much that the steps of a spider on a wall sound like thunder strikes, and how he sees the environment around him is all in night vision.
tension will still keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Blake’s final form as the wolfman resembles more of the iconic design that is in the original “The Wolf Man” (1941), just with less fur compared to other contemporary werewolves.
The film does a decent job with its pacing in the first and third acts; however, it does feel like it drags on long in some parts in the middle when Blake and his family are at Grady’s home. Luckily, the
“Wolf Man” does not deserve all the bad reviews it is getting. It is not perfect by any means, but it does offer a fresh take on the wolfman story many have experienced over and over again in cinematic history.
Rating: 3/5
@JUDETHEDUDEHANNAHS JH825821@OHIO.EDU
Here is where to watch the films nominated for Best Picture
ELIZABETH TALAGA
| SLOT EDITOR
The 97th Academy Awards are March 2, 2025. There are 10 films nominated for Best Picture, each with a cast and crew hoping to take home the title. The Athena Cinema, located at 20 S. Court St., is showing “A Complete Unknown” for at least the next week. Tickets are $6.50 and $4 on Tuesdays and can be purchased at the theater or online. According to the theater’s website, “The Brutalist” begins playing Jan. 31. Movies 10 & Fun Barn, located at 14333 U.S. Highway 33, Nelsonville, Ohio, is currently showing “Wicked” for at least the next week. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in-person and online.
“A Complete Unknown”
Up for a total of eight Oscars, “A Complete Unknown” is a biopic about legendary musician Bob Dylan. Directed by James Mangold and starring the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning, “A Complete Unknown” explores the life of Dylan when he arrived in New York in 1961 at 19 years old.
“A Complete Unknown” is currently available to watch in theaters.
“Anora”
“Anora,” Sean Baker’s modern take on “Cinderella,” tells the story of young sex worker Ani (Mikey Madison) and her life after marrying Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian billionaire. However, things take a turn for the couple when Vanya’s parents find out about the marriage and send henchmen to annul the marriage, leaving Ani and Vanya to run through the streets of New York. In addition to Best Picture, “Anora” is also nominated for five other Oscars including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
The movie is available to rent or own
online and is still showing in select theaters.
“Conclave”
Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” adapted from Rober Harris’ 2016 novel of the same name, explores what happens when a pope dies. The suspicious death is complicated, and cardinals arrive at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to select a new pope.
“Conclave” is nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.
“Conclave” is available to stream on Peacock.
“Dune: Part Two”
In “Dune: Part Two,” Denis Villeneuve takes viewers on a journey through love, life and fate as Paul Arteides (Chalamet) joins Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen as he seeks revenge on those who destroyed his family in “Dune” (2021).
“Dune” (2021) won six Oscar awards in 2022, and “Dune: Part Two” is nominated for five awards this year.
“Dune: Part Two” is available to stream on Netflix or Max and is available to rent or own on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
“Emilia Pérez”
Netflix original “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, takes viewers on a journey through Mexico as Emilia (Karla Sofia Gascón), a cartel leader, seeks the help of lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) to fake her own death and get gender-affirming procedures.
Although the film has received criticism for its representation of Mexican culture and transgender people as well as its use of AI, “Emilia Pérez” has received 13 Oscar nominations.
“Emilia Pérez” is available to stream on Netflix.
“I’m Still Here”
Based on a true story, director Walter Salles tells the devastating story of a wife's relentless search for the truth about her husband’s disappearance in “I’m Still Here.”
The film is adapted from Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir. Former politician Rubens Pavia was outspoken in his criticism of Brazil's military dictatorship and was taken by government officials from his home in Rio De Janeiro. In addition to Best Picture, “I’m Still Here” is nominated for two other Oscars: Best International Feature and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres.
“I’m Still Here” will be available to watch in theaters nationwide Feb. 14.
“Nickel Boys”
“Nickel Boys,” directed by RaMell Ross and based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book of the same name, follows the close friendship of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson) as they do everything they can to survive the abusive conditions of Nickel Academy.
Curtis is sent to Nickel Academy, based on The Dozier School for Boys, after falsely being accused of a crime in the 1960s, crushing his dreams of attending college.
The film is also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
“Nickel Boys” is available to watch in theaters.
“The Brutalist”
With a runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, “The Brutalist” is a beast of a film. Directed by Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist” follows Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody) as he and his wife emigrate to the U.S. to start a new life after surviving the Holocaust.
“The Brutalist” is nominated for a total
of 10 awards, including Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Adrien Brody and Best Original Screenplay.
“The Brutalist” is currently only available to watch in theaters.
“The Substance” Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” critiques women’s beauty standards in modern day society. The film follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a famous aerobics instructor with her own television show who gets fired on her 50th birthday.
Plagued by her age and the feeling as though her time has passed, Sparkle begins to use a black-market drug which promises to turn her into a younger, more beautiful version of herself so long as she lives as her normal 50-year-old self every seven days.
The horror film has a grand total of five Oscar nominations.
“The Substance” is available to stream on Mubi, and is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV.
“Wicked”
Originally a Broadway musical, “Wicked” was adapted to film and released in theaters Nov. 22, 2024. “Wicked” is directed by Jon M. Chu and follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a young witch determined to discover her power and use it for good, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), the popular girl at Shiz University yearning for power and praise. Together, they navigate an unlikely friendship and a journey to the mythical land of Oz.
The film is nominated for a total of 10 awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cynthia Erivo and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ariana Grande.
“Wicked” is currently available to rent or buy online.
(RENAE HEFTY | FOR THE POST)
Metal Mondays: Auditory, visual history helps define Motörhead’s legacy
JACKSON MCCOY COPY CHIEF
Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister is somewhat of a saint in the world of hard and heavy music. His distinct look paired with his truly one-of-a-kind voice and quick bass guitar skills made him one of the ‘70s most recognizable lead singers when Motörhead took the Roundhouse stage in England on July 20, 1975 for its first ever show. Only audio recordings exist of the group’s foundational live performance, but photos, videos and off-camera recordings play a huge role in remembering Kilmister’s glory and impact on music history.
Since then, it has been abundantly clear Kilmister’s influence on the often overlapping genres of punk, metal and rock, was and still is, immense. If not for Kilmister’s tough, whiskey-gargling rasp and distorted bass playing, the genres Motörhead’s fans associate the band with would not spill into each other.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, metalheads and punks were two very separate groups. This is still relatively true today; punk fashion and metalhead fashion are distinguishable, and some punk fans refuse to call themselves metal fans and vice versa. This division was especially true in the fledgeling stages of both genres. Looking through vintage photos of punk shows reveal very few stereo-
typical metalheads, while the difficulty in finding old metal photos highlights the difference in the fanbases’ respective cultures.
This all changed forever when Lemmy Kilmister’s Motörhead exploded with visceral passion onto the scene. After getting fired from his original group Hawkwind (which would eventually fade into obscurity for the most part), Kilmister created a trio of players with himself at the center. The immediate response to the group’s first four albums, all released between 1977-80, propelled Motörhead to festival headliner status.
Motörhead concert photos, both the most recent from the band’s last two shows Dec. 9 and 11, 2015, and the oldest from the mid-to-late 1970s, are usually of Kilmister. The crowd photos that do exist show a chaotic union of punks and metalheads in the same dimly-lit venues.
The collage of styles and signs was a testament to Kilmister’s ability to cross genres, something known both at his peak of popularity and in his later years. This ethos of genre-crossing is only bolstered by the eclectic friendships he made throughout his career.
Kilmister has been photographed with punk legends such as Debbie Harry, and Motörhead performed a cover of country darling Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” with Wendy O. Williams, one
of the mothers of punk and the Plasmatics frontwoman. On the other end of his genre-blending, he was a frequent collaborator and friend of Ozzy Osbourne, and has performed on stage with Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden.
Fans recurrently participate in a debate about Motörhead’s true home genre.
Many claim the punk thesis central to the band’s existence and Kilmister’s antics are the reality of the situation, while metalheads cite the ever-growing list of bands who claim Motörhead as a central influence. Indeed, without Motörhead metal listeners wouldn’t have thrash or speed metal; however, those are the most punk-esque genres of metal.
Discourse around Motörhead’s genre will likely rage on for as long as people are listening to the band’s music. But Kilmister repetitively told people the truth of his band’s genre. In interviews, on stage and in songs, Kilmister insisted Motörhead was a rock ‘n’ roll band at its core. He frequently emphasized Little
Richard was his primary influence and avoided associating his music with anything other than rock.
Kilmister’s insistence on rock ‘n’ roll is apparent in photos as well; he took the stage in his signature hats and scraggly hair, clad in denim or a black button-up. He performed with the gusto of rock stars past and was putting everything he had into his live shows up until his death Dec. 28, 2015. There is no better way than to remember Kilmister as a rock god who was paramount in influence. To do so, turn to the pictures of him on stage with Motörhead, and imagine looking at the crowd of two competing groups united in front of one stage.
Jackson McCoy is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Jackson know by emailing him at jm049122@ohio.edu.
Clara’s Commentary: Stay informed during Trump’s second term
CLARA LEDER | FOR THE POST
Since 2025 began, a multitude of changes have taken place in the U.S. Most notably, President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the signing of many executive orders are leaving Americans frustrated and scared. In these trying times the best weapon of all is an educated compassionate voice.
AP news reports a lengthy list of actions signed by Trump since his inauguration day. The executive actions range from a promise of a mass deportation program, a review of tariff programs, withdrawal from the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the elimination of DEI programs across America.
As a college student, it can be daunting to read the list of actions passed that will inevitably impact the good of American neighbors and friends. It’s scary, it’s paralyzing and it can be difficult to find what to do or how to cope with it.
As orders are being passed, the best way to combat the feeling of doom is spreading across the country is to continue to educate yourself.
Two key issues that impacted Trump’s presidential win were the economy and immigration. The Pew Research Center in Washington D.C. reported 93% of Trump supporters said the economy was the most important issue to their vote and 82% said immigration.
Part of the reason these issues are vital to Trump supporters is due to the harmful rhetoric Trump orchestrates in his speeches and campaign trail. Specifically, his verbiage around immigration is often that immigrants are criminals and cause harm to America, which is in line with his plan for mass deportation. In reality, immigrants both undocumented and documented have committed less crime than native-born Americans, dating back to 1870.
Trump claimed former President Joe Biden’s Administration ruined the economy. In reality, the average GDP under the Biden Administration, which measures the amount of goods and services produced, was 10% compared to Trump’s 9%.
The unemployment rate also rose during Trump’s previous term from 4.76.4% upon leaving office. Compared to Biden’s 6.4% at the start of his presidency after Trump’s term to 4.1% in September 2024. Although COVID-19 impacted both presidencies, Trump’s unemployment rate rose during his last term and Biden’s lowered.
Both of these issues are just the tip of the iceberg of harmful claims that are perpetuated through Trump’s political ideals and plans. It is vital that as America braces for his second presidential term, citizens continue to educate themselves on what is going on.
This means taking time to do research, looking at multiple sources and finding the facts. The best thing you can do is stay informed on what is going on and use your voice to continue the conversation of truth.
In a 2003 speech to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mandela stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Continuing to educate themselves is the way Americans are going to make it through these four years of Trump’s presidential term. It is crucial college students do their research, continue conversations of factual information and work to stop the spread of harmful rhetoric and plans that target the American people.
Remember that while Trump’s executive actions and plans may not directly impact you, they impact your neighbors, your friends, your teachers, your bosses, your future and your day-to-day life. This is your country too.
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.
Editorial: Trump threatens nation, citizens
POST EDITORIAL BOARD
On Jan. 21, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde stood in front of a crowd at the Washington National Cathedral to give a sermon at an inaugural prayer service. The Episcopal bishop of Washington addressed President Donald Trump, who was sitting in the front row, and asked him to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” referring to groups of people Trump has publicly targeted such as immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Budde implied that threatening and harming people who make the U.S. a more diverse and welcoming nation is dangerous. In fact, a diverse country made up of people with a seemingly unlimited amount of experiences and backgrounds should be welcomed and celebrated. It is a simple and wellknown consequence, but one that needs to be repeated during Trump’s second administration: if a small group of people with the same background and perspectives dominate a country and reap all privileges, then the benefits of diversity and equality are lost.
During Trump’s first few days in office, he rescinded executive orders that “dismantle decades of Federal Anti-Discrimination Policy,” according to the ACLU. Specifically on Wednesday, Trump signed an order to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, the Associated Press reported. Trump also rolled back protections for transgender people by enforcing the federal government to recognize “only two immutable sexes: male and female,” according to the AP. As a result, the AP also reported, “federal prisons and shelters for migrants and rape victims are to be segregated by sex.”
The White House published a fact sheet online following the signing of Trump’s executive orders, celebrating the decision and declaring that it “protects the civil rights of all Americans” and “merit-based opportunity.” It is difficult to understand how removing programs aimed at promoting inclusion and equality can be done in the name of protecting civil rights. DEI efforts and programs are meant to provide support for those who were historically excluded in many sectors of life. Intolerance and hatred against marginalized groups persist in the modern day and therefore barriers to
DEI
accessing opportunities still exist.
The White House’s fact sheet states, “reversing the progress made in the decades since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 toward a colorblind and competence-based workplace, radical DEI has dangerously tainted many of our critical businesses and influential institutions, including the federal government.” The rhetoric of DEI being a symbol of national regression is an excuse to limit opportunities, protections and resources that are meant to aid marginalized and vulnerable groups of people.
As Trump undoubtedly continues to attack and reverse legislation and programs aimed at promoting DEI, people must advocate for those who are most affected and be aware of the harmful language attempting to frame diversity as a problem in the U.S.
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. The Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage. The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com.
Absolutely Abby: Trump is damaging climate progress
Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement again undermines global climate progress.
ABBY WAECHTER | ASST. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
President Donald Trump made another landmark move Jan. 20, one that will likely define his second term in office: he officially withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time.
Hours after his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement again, reiterating his long-held belief that the pact is a “rip-off” for American industries. At a rally in Washington, D.C., he voiced his frustration, arguing the U.S. should not make sacrifices that other nations, particularly China, are not equally required to make.
“Climate policies don’t work unless all countries participate equally,” Trump said. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
In Trump’s eyes, the Paris Climate Agreement is less about global cooperation and more about an economic disadvantage for the U.S. However, this perspective ignores the central truth that climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. The Paris Climate Agreement, though nonbinding, was designed to create a framework for all countries to contribute to the fight against climate change according to their capacities.
No single country was expected to solve the crisis on its own. The agreement was about setting the groundwork for a fairer, more sustainable future — one where nations, regardless of size or wealth, would contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning toward cleaner energy.
The U.S. has long struggled with consistency in its approach to climate agreements, according to CBS News. Before Trump’s first withdrawal in 2017, former President George W. Bush withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, a treaty negotiated by former President Bill Clinton to limit greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations. Bush’s reasons for pulling out of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol were strikingly similar to those offered by Trump in 2017 and 2025.
Bush said The Kyoto Protocol was “fatally flawed in many ways” and would “have a negative economic impact.” Bush also argued the U.S. did “not know how much our climate could or will change in the future,” or “how fast change will occur, or even how some of our actions could impact it.”
In both cases, these decisions were rooted in a belief that the economic costs of participating in international climate agreements outweighed the potential benefits. But these arguments are increasingly difficult to defend in light of the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change and the economic opportunities offered by the clean energy transition.
By pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time, Trump is turning America’s back on the global community and signaling the U.S. will continue to fluctuate between commitment and withdrawal, leaving uncertainty in its wake.
This kind of inconsistency is not advantageous when it comes to solidifying a more sustainable future. The rest of the world is increasingly unified in its resolve to address climate change, and the U.S. risks falling behind as a leader in the critical effort to mitigate global warming.
That said, climate action is something every individual can take part in, regardless of political affiliation. From reducing waste to supporting renewable energy initiatives, every action counts. If we care about the planet, we must recognize the Paris Climate Agreement is not the only path to sustainability. Individuals, communities and businesses all have a role to play, regardless of the policies in Washington.
Though shifting policies can feel like whiplash at times, they highlight a crucial reality: Americans can no longer afford to wait for leadership to trickle down from the top. The urgency is clear, Americans must take action now, in their homes and communities, to build the future they want to see.
Whether or not the U.S. is part of the Paris Agreement, the need for cooperation and action remains clearer than ever. The fight against climate change isn’t just political — it’s human, and everyone has a role to play.
Abby Waechter is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email her at aw087421@ohio.edu.
Sassy Cassie: The Oscars had major snubs this year
“Emilia Pérez” earned a total of 13 oscar nominations while films that dominated the box office such as “Dune: Part Two” did not get much recognition.
CASSIE DYE | FOR THE POST
The Oscars awards ceremony will take place March 2, and the nominations came out Thursday. Although not every film that comes out in a year can be nominated, some of this year’s films deserved more recognition.
“Emilia Pérez” leads the Oscar nomination count with a total of 13 nominations. Directors and people in the film industry love it, seeing that along with its Oscar nominations, it earned four Golden Globes. There is room in the film world for directors to make movies about stories that aren’t their own; however, “Emilia Pérez” was made with little thought for the communities it tries to represent.
Although the film is based in Mexico, it was not filmed there at all. The film is directed by a Frenchman who did not study Mexican culture for the film. One major criticism of the film is it “glamorizes the violence that has long plagued the nation.” Along with the film portraying a borderline offensive Mexican story, it was criticized for its transgender representation.
GLAAD called the film a “profoundly retrograde portrayal of a trans woman” and “a step backward for trans representation.” Karla Sofia Gascón, however, will be making history as the first openly transgender woman to receive an Oscar nomination in an acting category.
Despite “Emilia Pérez” seeing both controversy and success, other LGBTQIA+ films have not had much success this award season. Notably, the films “I Saw the TV Glow” and “Queer” were left out of nominations. Both of these films are bold portrayals of queer storytelling and have been widely praised for the stories. Daniel Craig in “Queer” was predicted to get a Best Actor nomination for his role but was left without one despite his beautiful performance.
It isn’t surprising “I Saw the TV Glow” went without nominations, see-
ing that the academy has a history of hating horror films. Only seven horror movies have ever been nominated for Best Picture. The film also went without any major nominations from other award ceremonies this award season. Another film was expected to get more nominations than it did was “Sing Sing.” Set in a prison, the film follows Divine G, played by Coleman Domingo, a man incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. Divine “finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.” While the film did snag three Academy Award nominations, it was notably left out of Best Picture, and Clarence Maclin did not get a nomination for best supporting actor.
The biggest snub of them all is debatably the fact that the “Challengers” score did not get nominated for Best Original Score. This snub comes as a shock seeing it won the Golden Globe for best original score, beating out some of the nominees at the Oscars. Every award season there are many well deserving films and actors get snubbed by the academy. Some more people who deserved to be nominated include Margaret Qualley for Best Supporting Actress in “The Substance” and Denis Villeneuve for Best Director with “Dune: Part Two.” These actors and directors did not get the recognition they deserve for their work in amazing movies this past year, but yet “Emilia Pérez” which has been highly criticized earned the second most nominations of all time.
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.
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