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backdrop magazine
FALL 2010
It’s all about the
JACKET get out, WORK OUT StudentFilm
D1SPORTS
The Baker
Mistake
It’s All About Location & Lifestyle
at American Collegiate Communities www.accathens.com
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Riverpark Towers RIver’s Edge Athens Apartments
www.accathens.com
Office Located on South Green at: 36 N. McKinley Ave. Suite 106 740-593-7783 Hours: M-F 9 am to 5 pm Sat and Sun 11 am to 4 pm
Floor plans, photos, and more info at
www.diversifiedproperties.net 28 North College St. 15 person occupancy. Incredible central uptown Athens location. Perfect for Greek organization, parking included.
19 Herrold Avenue
21 Herrold Avenue 3 Bedrooms, 2½ Baths, garage plus 2 more parking spots, 2 decks, virtually new, quiet convenient location, close to bike path
2 Bedroom Suites with 2½ baths, on-site parking with garage, deck, spacious open floor plan, close to bike path
2 Milliron St. 2 Five bedroom & 3 Three bedroom apts., air conditioned, parking on site, convenient location, well maintained, June-June lease
375 Richland Avenue Apts. A & B 3 Bedrooms, Air conditioned, parking on site, open kitchen-dining-living June–June lease
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providing quality residential rental properties to the Athens Community for over 25 years!
80 Mill Street Apts. 1, 2 & 3, Four Bedrooms, Air conditioning, on-site parking included, private patio, close to everything June–June lease
Contact Alecia Moquin 740.592.5262 or 740.591.6498 alecia@diversifiedproperties.net
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backdrop magazine
FROM THE EDITOR Notice something different? Yup, we’ve rebranded. We have a new nameplate, new fonts, new colors and even a new website. It was a big plunge to take, but we thought we owed it to you, our readers, and admittedly ourselves. Since our inception nearly four years ago, change has been an integral component to Backdrop and quite possibly the foremost reason we have continued to draw in new readers and contributors alike. As a student publication, it is not only our job to project the needs of our readers into the magazine, but also to project the magazine into the needs of our own education. For much of our staff, Backdrop is an outlet for innovation and leadership—qualities you’ll rarely find on a grading rubric. Most notably, Backdrop provides students with the opportunity to leave their own mark on Ohio University and, more than often, vice versa. Each year brings in a new wave of members as well as a new dynamic. This year, our entire staff— save Alec, our managing editor, who has an abnormal attachment to our former nameplate—was really enticed by the idea of a new, fresh design. For this issue, we got to dig in and get our hands dirty. Marrying the old and the new was a difficult and delicate process, but, oh hell, I’ll say it: I think we did a pretty good job. In classic Backdrop style, this issue contains our old-faithfuls: Cribs, Hot for Teacher, Exhibit A and Ruthless Rant & Rage. Last issue, we added in a quiz, which has now claimed a permanent spot among our redesigned pages. Along with new colors and fonts, we’ve also included a new web icon that is used to indicate stories that have related information on our site. In addition to running expanded articles online, Backdrop will feature regular web-exclusive content, including blogs, photography and video. Be sure to check in with us. We’ve got a whole lot of new coming your way.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Elizabeth Sheffield MANAGING EDITOR
Alec Bojalad
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
Douglas Bair
ASSOCIATE EDITOR » DEPTS
Kim Amedro
ASSOCIATE EDITOR » FEATURES
Alexander Menrisky ASSISTANT EDITORS
Ryan Joseph & Tasha Webber CONTRIBUTORS Hannah Croft, Lauren McGrath, Molly Schneider, Annie Beecham, Shannon Miranda, Stephanie Stark
COPY EDITOR
Megan Helgeson ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR
Sandie Young
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Wendy Goldfarb DESIGN DIRECTOR
Brittany Thomas
All the best,
ASSISTANT DESIGN DIRECTOR
Rohan Kusre
Elizabeth Sheffield
P.S. No, Alec, I will not write a 15-page eulogy for Karabine. However, at your request and in honor of all Backdrop alumni, I’d like to dedicate this “b” to all the hard work it has come to represent. May you rest in peace Karabine.
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DESIGN TEAM Cassandra Sharpe, Danielle McGary, Doug Bair, Matthew Ware, Katherine Smidansky, Stephanie Rumph ILLUSTRATORS Alexander Martinez, Kaitlin Orr
PHOTO EDITOR
Conor Lamb ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Loren Cellentani
PHOTO TEAM Brittany Raff, Caitlin McConnell, Dan Krauss, Daniel Reese, Drew Lisy, Kate Ramsey, Katie McCue, Susannah Kay
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backdrop » fall 2010
FALL 2010 » VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS All About FEATURES » 25 It’s the Jacket It’s not a frat. It’s not a cult. But you’d better believe the Marching 110 keeps its secrets and traditions close. With a story in every stitch, the age-old uniform is a testament to the university’s biggest family.
30 Baker or Bust
Four years after the grand opening of the new Baker Center, the multimillion dollar investment continues to strain the school’s budget. At the expense of research and development, a glitzy and glamorous building is beginning to look like a poor choice.
33 West by Midwest
The Californian lifestyle of beaches, surf and opportunity has attracted ambitious Americans since our intial pioneer. Whether they’re just passing through or there to stay, these OU alumni have adjusted well to life out West.
ON THE » 12 COVER
From Script to Screen
An OU student director takes you behind the scenes of The Bees
20
For Love of the Game
40
Trim Without the Gym
Athletes share why they don’t regret their surprising D1 decisions. A toned body without monotony backdropmag.com
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS 8
H4T » Southern Comfort
Two crush-worthy profs from the South
10
Cribs » Tenured Tree Houses
42
Exhibit A
44
Quiz
45
RR&R » No Homo, No Mo’
Abodes au naturel
Backdrop’s very own art gallery Pencil pushers
14
The Beat Goes On
An Athens hip-hop legend passes the torch
LIFE » 17
When Kegs Fly
Two OU grads go into the business of saving
18
Cool Courses
22
Structural Struggle
24
Fatuous phrases
Classes you need to take
PUBLISHER
Annie Beecham
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
Keith Sluss
Interior architecture students design spaces, lose sleep
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Gauley Fest
ADVERTISING ASSISTANT
Partying among the whitewaters of West Virginia
SEX & HEALTH » 38
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backdrop magazine
ENTERTAINMENT »
College Cradle Robbing
The pride and perils of dating high school students
Katie Mefferd
Molly Schneider
MARKETING & ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Danielle Morris
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Lauren McGrath EVENTS DIRECTOR
Hannah Croft
PR/SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Bethany Cook
MARKETING ASSISTANT
Brenda Evans
MARKETING TEAM Alexandra Caruso, Angela Ignasky, Elyse Runkel, Emily Pifer, Hallie Rybka, Kelsi Bowes, Megan Helgeson, Melissa Wells, Molly Schneider, Sara Sloat, Shannon Miranda
WEB EDITOR
Lauren Byrwa ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR
Shannon Miranda
MEMBERSHIP & DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR
Kyrstin Ratliff DOT
Visit us online!
Check out our new and improved website at www.backdropmag.com
6
backdrop » fall 2010
FALL 2010 » VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
37 N Court St Athens, OH 45701 (740) 592-9890
Weekly Specials Primetime: 1/2 off everything, everyday from 8 to 9 p.m weekdays & weekends Monday: Happy Hour all night, 75 cents of everything Tuesday: 50 cent draft night Wednesday: $1.25 domestic bottles Thursday: $1.25 domestic light bottles and “Ladies Night� $1.50 Well Drinks
FOR
TEACHER
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
From the true South to southeastern Ohio, here are two of Ohio University’s finest. BY LAUREN MCGRATH
PHOTOS BY CONOR LAMB
Salley Hyatt
Professor of mathematics and native of Greenville, S. C., Salley Hyatt can’t live without the original ChapStick and coffee. Procrastinating may be her worst habit, but her students agree she gets the job done. Do you do your own taxes?
Yes I do. I actually love doing taxes and my children tease about that.
Stairs or elevator?
I prefer the elevator, but I feel guilty so I usually take the stairs.
What are some of your guilty pleasures?
My Kindle. We had a campout in the backyard this summer … but I insisted I bring my Kindle out there and my feather comforter.
Do you like coffee?
I can’t teach without it in my hand, so I have this all morning long while I teach. … I don’t think you can do math without coffee.
What was your favorite part of being in college?
Just the camaraderie and living in the dorm. I loved the dorm life. I loved having all my friends there on the same floor. … I loved that you just went to the dining hall and they just had food for you. You didn’t have to think about it or prep it or clean it up, you just go and eat it.
What do you feel most comfortable in?
Strangely, dresses. I’m the sundress queen all summer. I have a dress that my daughter calls my “uniform.” Maybe it’s being from the South.
What’s the best part of being a mom?
Just watching them when they don’t know you’re around. I love to watch boys play. Yesterday they had shields they had made out of some stuff from the recycling bin and my son had made this Roman helmet out of a milk carton and they were out there just so seriously sword fighting with this ridiculous stuff on.
What does your husband think of this article?
He thought it was funny. He said, “Oh, I’m not surprised,”— all the things you have to say when you’re a husband.
838
backdrop » fall 2010
The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters.
What is the best part of directing the 110?
The energy that the band exudes. It’s fun to be associated with that energy. It kind of keeps me young, and of course I have to keep up with the latest hits because that’s what the band plays mostly. It’s just fun to be around a group that has so much liveliness.
What will you be for Halloween?
Unfortunately, this year I will be in town. For the past 14 Halloweens [that I’ve lived in Athens], I’ve been out of town visiting friends. … I will have a game that day, so I’ll probably come home and watch college football and then go to bed.
What do you like shopping for?
I kind of think I hate shopping for clothes. I like shopping for furniture—that’s fun—or some type of improvement to my house.
Stop by today for new Bobcat Gear!
Despite living in Athens for 15 years, Richard Suk still reminisces about the warm weather, seafood and barbecue from his hometown of Mobile, Ala. Suk, director of the Marching 110, played saxophone “many, many years ago” but still lives and breathes music today.
We’re also your source for the largest selection of general reading books in Athens.
Richard Suk
How do you like your eggs? Over medium.
Conservative, silly and dedicated because I’m dedicated to the band and my profession.
Where do you want to be in five years? Right here.
If your life was a musical, what musical would it be?
It’s hard to think of one because I think a lot of musicals are based on some fantastic story, and I don’t think I have a fantastic story to tell or that I’ve lived.
What does this recognition mean to you?
I guess it means you’re popular with your students. It’s fun to feel liked by your students because there [are] plenty that dislike you too. … I remember teachers I liked and those were usually the ones that were actually good teachers.
CONTACT THEM suk@ohio.edu salleyh@ohio.edu
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
www.oubobcats.com 63 South Court Street • Ph: 740.593.5547
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
39
Tenured TREE HOUSES BY RYAN JOSEPH
PHOTOS BY KATIE MCCUE
For this issue, Backdrop gets a tour of Journalism Professor Ellen Gerl and Associate Professor Emeritus of Geography Hugh Bloemer’s humble abodes. Gerl and her husband, Jim Schulz, are avid outdoor enthusiasts and have a property fit for anyone with an affinity for the wilderness. Bloemer is a world-traveling mountain climber and trained artistic metalworker whose home is a dedication to his influences, biography and imagination. Take a peek at where these professors rest their heads at night.
1.
Bloemer’s Gazebo
2. Perched 50 feet in the air, Bloemer’s gazebo/bar could claim the title of most unique watering hole in Athens County. The bar and the floor’s large compass are a combination of hickory, black walnut, cherry and sycamore, while the gazebo’s floor is strictly hickory. Bloemer uses his gazebo, which he designed himself, to entertain small groups of friends and family whenever thirst must be quenched.
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backdrop » fall 2010
Gerl’s Tree House
Built into the side of a hill, Gerl and Schulz’s house has been practicing green techniques since before “going green” was a trend. Constructed in 1978, the house uses a passive energy design, meaning it employs the ground that surrounds it to conserve energy and create insulation (as opposed to mechanical or electrical devices). The 11 acres the house sits on also include mountain biking and hiking trails with plenty of trees to provide the necessary shade during Athens’ steamy summers.
“Hang On Sloopy” is the official state rock song for Ohio.
3. Bloemer’s Glass Solarium
Bloemer’s glass solarium engulfs anyone lounging in it with picturesque views of the surrounding Appalachian wilderness. This spacious area was not originally part of the house’s original 1978 floor plan, but was added in 1992 and includes plenty of seating to enjoy a relaxed morning cup of coffee or tea.
4.
Gerl’s Garage
5.
Gerl’s garage is home to a workbench, tools, scattered parts and even a full-on shower area (built specifically to clean their pooches) and, most impressively, her husband’s bike shop. Bicycles, one of Schulz’s favorite pastimes and hobbies, line the walls from the front to the back of the shop. The only letter not appearing on the periodic table is the letter “J.”
Gerl’s Bathroom
The second story bathroom might have one of the coolest views in the house: a skylight that perfectly frames the Big Dipper during certain times of the year. Leftover cedar siding from the original building of the house surrounds the skylight, while soothing hues of blue and brown create a relaxingly tranquil ambiance. Whether the stars are out or not, it’s one of the best places in the house to take a load off and relax.
backdropmag.com
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b » ENTERTAINMENT
FROM
SCRIPTTO SCREEN
BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY PHOTO BY DANIEL REESE
A focus on the production, persistance and passion of an OU student filmmaker
S
ean Talbott leads his group of six into the welcomed green shade of nine-foot-high corn stalks. The mid90 degree blistering heat of August does nothing to deter the filmmaker when he knows exactly what he wants to shoot. Sean, a second-year Master of Fine Arts student in the school of film, has spent the past year planning, budgeting, writing and shooting his film, The Bees. Today, however, it’s just the director himself, Eric, his sound man, two actors, Stefan and Emily, and his girlfriend-turnedproduction assistant Gina. Eric starts by strapping a harness around his waist and prepping the microphone on the boom as Sean pulls his camera, the formidable Canon EOS 5D Mark II, out of a huge black case (scorching hot in the heat, of course). Stefan and Emily review the script. The scene is short: about a minute in length, with one line of dialogue and a lot of running. Gina writes the necessary info on the slate, or clapperboard, as Sean climbs up a ladder with his camera, prepping for his first shot with an aerial flair. “Mark it,” Sean yells. “Scene 3, Shot 1, Take 1,” Gina responds, just before clacking shut the slate.
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backdrop » fall 2010
“Action!” Sean shouts, loud enough so Stefan and Emily can hear him from across the field. Emily comes into view, chased by Stefan. Just before he reaches her, he darts to the side. She turns, confused, searching the corn. He sneaks behind her. “Think it’ll always be this easy?” Stefan, now in character as Scott, whispers. Emily, now Kailey, dashes away. End scene. Except it’s not over. There’s more. For every scene, there are dozens of shots, varying widely in length and lens type, used to frame each moment in the most cinematographic, aesthetic and emotional way possible. Sean has planned 12 shots of this scene, and each shot requires several takes. That’s why an average student film shoot, according to Sean, lasts for roughly eight hours. Sean changes positions. He films the same one-minute scene, first from on top of the ladder, then from behind a row of corn. And every time, Stefan repeats that same line. “Think it’ll always be this easy?” It starts with the inception of a story: a conversation overheard, or perhaps a story a friend tells you—a small little anecdote that plants itself like a seed in the filmmaker’s mind and grows of its own volition.
“It’s like a tree,” Sean explains. “You get more detail, you get more branches, whether it be through a treatment or a step outline. … I tend to think that film is about small moments in life. It’s how someone turns their head and flashes a smile and the reaction that that sort of brings about.” That idea falls to paper soon enough. For Sean, his story began in class with the assignment to produce a short film. And Sean, a man who cherishes the carefree days of adolescence, had the origin of his story in an idea of young love and uninhibited life. “It’s a simple movie about the disparity between what you think and what really is important for survival: making choices and finding out who your real friends are,” Sean explains. “It’s as much about geography as it is about sex, desire and risk. “This is all sort of pre-production,” Sean says, “which is actually, in my opinion,
People who drink coffee are less likely to commit suicide than people who don’t.
“
I tend to think that film is about the small moments in life.” Sean Talbott, Filmmaker
the most important phase of any sort of filmmaking venture because the more you plan a film going into it the less likely you are to run into problems going into it.” Planning is everything with film, especially given that student filmmakers, in addition to professionals, work on a tight budget. Funding can be gained through scholarship or fundraising, but many student filmmakers, such as Sean, pay outof-pocket. Sean worked two summers at a moving company in Columbus to build the necessary funds that are needed for all kinds of expenses, such as equipment and lodging for the cast and crew. Emily Williams, a junior in the school of
theater, and her boyfriend, Stefan Kumor, a senior graduating this fall, were both cast to act opposite each other. Emily plays Kailey, a malcontent teenager who leaves home to explore life in the big city. Stefan portrays Scott, the man whose life she is tied to. Several other student actors participated as well. “Sean’s a cool director in the fact that he lets you sort of do your own thing,” Stefan says. “Before we started filming I came up to him and we started talking about the character and what … was good for the character and how he would act and interact with Kailey, that’s Emily, and so he was very open and let me do whatever
The collecting of beer coasters is called tegestology.
I wanted unless it was completely wrong.” The crew is chosen based on a system of traded labor. Most film students know how to handle lighting and sound in addition to the actual filming. Filmmakers help their friends out and are helped in return. Sean himself counts 12 sets, other than his own, that he’s worked on. He’s currently working on assembling a reel of his personal specialty, cinematography, in order to sell himself in L.A. in the coming years. Once pre-production is finished, the shooting begins. “Think it’ll always be this easy?” Post-production is a nightmare for the average filmmaker. On a professional set, directors have editors. Students aren’t always so lucky. “I got hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of clips that you have to go through and watch and label,” Sean says, “whether it be Scene 28, Shot 6, Take 3 or medium shot of Emily leaving the room.” Sean estimated roughly 500 clips that he had to watch and label before moving on to actual editing. Currently, he is working on choosing which shots to use in each scene and putting them all together—a job which he mentions is made significantly easier with the advent of digital video. “It’s just a lot of hard work,” Emily says. “This made me realize how many different shots there are. It’s crazy how much time goes into it, how much thought. It’s crazy.” Hard work is definitely a common theme when it comes to filmmaking, and when asked when he expected his film to be done, Sean responded that for him, a film is never done. If it weren’t for deadlines, there would always be something to work on. His film is indicative of many student projects: the talent is there, the resources are there. All it takes is the work ethic and energy to make a film happen. “Think it’ll always be this easy?” “I think a lot of people seem to believe [filmmaking] is sort of more of a hobby than a career path or a job,” Sean says. “I just get the general sense that a lot of people believe it’s as easy as just setting up a camera and just pointing and shooting and asking your friends to come over and you’ll give them a case of beer. But it’s really a lot more complicated than that. … It takes a lot of skill to create an elegant, poignant film that is remembered through the ages.”
backdropmag.com
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b » ENTERTAINMENT
THE BEAT GOES ON Passing the mic and fame within Athens’ hip-hop scene BY ALEC BOJALAD & SHANNON MIRANDA PHOTOS BY CAITLIN MCCONNELL
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Jesty Beatz 14
backdrop » fall 2010
t’s another night at The Union, but it’s not another band. The regular lineup of folk singers, acoustics and instruments has temporarily been replaced by a little more swagger. The rapper commands the stage with a confidence that’s unmistakable. However, it isn’t Jesty Beatz behind the mic. The game has been changed. Jéan Pierre Johnson, also known as “Jéan P,” braces the beats. A new face in Athens is emerging in the hip-hop scene. Like former Ohio University student and hip-hop artist Jesty Beatz, Jéan wants to make the hip-hop culture of Athens come alive. By doing shows at The Union, called “Hip-Hop Shop,” Jéan hopes to follow in Jesty’s footsteps... sort of. “When you say Jesty Beatz, I want you to say Jéan P,” he states. “When it comes to emcees, everyone thinks of Jesty Beatz, but he’s not here anymore.” Jesty Beatz is, in fact, not here anymore. The artist, formerly known as Darrel Greene, splits his time between his Los Angeles home and the road—touring with acts such as Sean Paul, E-40 and Mike Jones. But wherever Jesty is at any given moment, he leaves a shadow behind in Athens large enough to envelop all potentially similar artists. Few would suspect that a university deep in the mountains of Appalachia could produce one famous hip-hop artist, let alone two. Just four years after Athens’ reigning hip-hop maestro Jesty Beatz left school, Jéan P stepped up to fill the void. Both Jesty and Jéan P began their respective careers at one of Athens’ oldest venues: The Union. “When I first got to Athens, the scene was small,” Jesty says. “There weren’t many venues booking live hip-hop acts. If you wanted to perform uptown you were either at The Union or at Casa.” Most elephants weigh less than the tongue of the blue whale.
“
Anyone can get better at anything if I can get better from my first performance.” Jesty Beatz, Hip-Hop Artist
Jesty’s first gig was a little less than perfect. “I was so nervous that I was literally shaking,” he says. “The bass was so high that the whole bar was getting this awful feedback. Anyone can get better at anything if I can get better from my first performance.” Several years later, Jéan would make his debut at the hallowed hip-hop grounds as well. His first performance went surprisingly smooth, and according to him, with not a single mistake. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t f looded with nerves. After being pressured by the older members of Hip-Hop Congress to perform at one of the Hip-Hop Shops, Jéan slammed down a few Red Bulls. “I was the last act and I had to mentally tell myself that this could be a great opportunity,” he recalls. After spitting a rhyme to an OutKast instrumental called “Real Lyricist,” Jéan could feel the positive energy that filled The Union in its entirety. “Everybody at The Union shook my hand and asked me when I was dropping an album, and a few girls wanted to ‘hang out,’” Jéan remembers. “It was a great experience because it was the first time I exposed myself to Athens.” After proving himself to a live audience, Jéan quickly got to work in the studio. With a previous album titled A Rhyme and a Dream, Jéan is allowing fans into his life story while spreading true hip-hop culture around campus. The introduction to the album, also called “A Rhyme and a Dream,” sums up where Jéan has been in his past and where he plans to go in the future in just three verses. From verse one talking about his birth and moving into verse two about how he coped with a tragic death, listeners can feel the personal connection that Jéan sends out through every word of every line. After sharing what motivates him, he proceeds to share that same message with his fans. “That is what I like my music to do. You can vibe with it and listen to it, but it can also motivate,” he says. This honesty through music is once again a trait Jéan shares with his rapping forefather Jesty. Over the years, Jesty has paid homage to his northeast Ohio upbringing in his song “Straight Outta Nordonia.” He has also used song as a means to connect to people he wouldn’t normally be In San Francisco, Calif., it is illegal to wipe one’s car with used underwear.
Jéan P backdropmag.com
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“
That is what I like my music to do. You can vibe with it and listen to it, but it can also motivate.” Jéan P, Hip-Hop Artist
Authentic
Italian Cuisine Parties & Weddings
able to in standard conversation, even going so far as to encode a message to “the girl of his dreams.” “I get a lot of crushes,” he says. With powerful lyrics and a desire to further the hip-hop identity around campus, Jéan is becoming the new face of Athens’ hip-hop and music culture. However, that doesn’t mean he’s like every other rapper that you might hear on the radio. “People think that since I am a rapper, I’ve got girls trailing behind me,” he mentions. “That’s not the case.” According to Jéan, the media is what creates the image of rappers having girls and drinks by their sides at all times, and Jéan’s not into that. “You don’t have to put up with that,” he states. “I just rap.” Meanwhile, if Jesty, the celebrated veteran, is expected to ride off mournfully into the sunset and cede the Athens’ rap game to Jéan P, then clearly no one has told him. After he concluded a recording session last spring, he and Brian C.R. of Spooktober went to the Cool Spot off of Route 50 to grab dinner. Jesty finished the last of his coleslaw and walked up front to pay. He settled the bill by credit card and the hostess passed his receipt across the counter for him to sign. He signed it, handed it back, and the hostess grinned. “Sweet, now I have Jesty Beatz’s signature,” she said. Jesty turned and laughed. “See?” he said. “Famous.”
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abriosbrickoven.com
The Barbie doll was the most popular Christmas toy in 1959.
WHEN KEGS FLY
b » LIFE
BY ANNIE BEECHAM
Two OU grads bring savings to their former school Maxx Blank and Zac Sebo have been inseparable for the last three months. They are roommates, AEPi frat brothers, good friends and fledgling business partners in a new venture, www. kegfly.com. The pair of 22-year-olds has fallen into a routine of waking early, working frenetically on the new business all day long, going to bed late and repeating the next day. After giving countless presentations to business owners and Ohio University student organizations, the two are so comfortable talking about Kegfly that they frequently finish each other’s sentences. “We feed off of each other,” Maxx says. “I can actually read his mind right now,” Zac says. “He knows what I’m thinking.” The banter between the business partners comes in rapid succession. Kegfly is a new website targeted at college students seeking deals on products and services they use regularly. The company is using Athens, Ohio, as its launch site and plans on expanding to hundreds of college towns nationally and internationally. This is how it works: First you register with Kegfly. Each day, a new voucher appears on the website. The voucher always offers a deal that is at least 50% off of what the item or service would cost normally ($5 for $10 at The Pita Pit; $10 for $20 of food at Restaurant Salaam). If the deal gets the Kegfly user excited, he or she clicks on “Buy Me.” Each voucher has a minimum that must be purchased before the deal will take effect. If not enough vouchers are bought within the allotted time frame, then the user’s credit card will not be charged, and no one gets the deal. If the limit is met, the deal “is on” and the user can choose to print the voucher or have it sent to his or her cell phone via text message. The concept is reminiscent of Groupon, which launched in 2008 and targets large cities globally with big discounts on a daily coupon. However, the co-founders of Kegfly claim their company is different than Groupon and the more than 200 clones that have spun off the original. “None have tapped into the college market,” Zac says. “We are the first ones to do that.” Kegfly is also unlike other daily deal websites in that the company wants students to be involved in every aspect of the Men get hiccups more often than women.
day-to-day management. “Our idea is to be the go-to college spot,” Maxx says. “Basically we’re a student-run promotion company. We want to do events, not just deals, but concerts. We want to do everything college. The deal of the day is just the start.” In an effort to engage students in the behind-the-scenes, Zac and Maxx created a new student organization called Ohio Entrepreneurs. The organization encourages students to become involved in various aspects of the operation of Kegfly and/or to dream up a new student-run endeavor. While Zac and Maxx are in charge of all Kegfly operations at OU, the two College students love are part of a group of four founding to hang out around members. The team holds daily busicampus. ness meetings via Skype since Zac and Maxx are the only two who are located in the same ZIP code. The others— CEO Natanel Barookhian, an MIT graduate living in New York City, and Ryan Kominsky, who is living in Jerusalem and is the company’s web develProblem is most oper—are both still in their 20s and college students don’t had never stepped foot in Athens until have much money. a visit at the beginning of October. Natanel is the oldest at 29 and arguably the wisest. For an unrelated project, Natanel recently won the prestigious MIT Entrepreneurship Competition, collecting a $100,000 reward. It’s because of this expertise that he was sought out as an adviser for the comEnter Kegfly, where pany after Ryan came up with the idea we run daily deals only for Kegfly while studying in Israel. for college students. Though the growth of Kegfly is seemingly on a smooth trajectory toward success, it hasn’t been without sacrifice on the part of the founding members. Zac, a 2010 OU graduate, passed up an offer to work for a Major League Soccer team, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, and Maxx dropped a second major so that he could graduate at the end of fall quarter and focus on Kegfly. “There are times where we go through a stressful point and we’re just like, you know what… ” Zac says, and Maxx picks up where he left off. “What do we have to lose?” Zac continues without missing a beat. “And then all of a sudden we find out all these great things that come at us. People are hearing about us. It’s all starting to fall into place.”
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COOL COURSES
b » LIFE
BY MEGAN HELGESON
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDER MARTINEZ
THE
W
hether you’re a senior halfheartedly fighting off senioritis or a freshman suffering from mindnumbing 100 level courses, having a fun class can be both a relief and a must for every college student. So what classes to choose? Read on to discover classes that are fun, easy or innately interesting to solve those registering woes.
UNION
Serving individuals since 1924
Aesthetics of Architecture
(HCIA 185)
The buildings are speaking to you. At least, that’s what Professor Tommy Crane says: Architecture in buildings creates a moment of decisionmaking. Aesthetics of Architecture teaches students the vocabulary to learn this “language” of architecture. With the use of a digital camera, students photograph examples of architecture around campus, giving them an understanding of the built environment. “We spend 90% of our time in Western civilization or American civilization indoors,” Crane says. “Should we not then have a better understanding of what we are spending our time within?” Prerequisite: Not HCIA 180 Credit Hours: 4 Offered: Fall and spring quarters
General Education Tier: Tier II Fine Arts (2FA)
18 W Union St Athens, OH 4570 (740) 593-5060
There is enough iron in a human being to make one small nail.
Introduction to Coaching
(PESS 212)
Think you can coach? There’s more to coaching than meets the eye, Professor Sheri Huckleberry says. “A lot of people think just because they’ve played a sport they can coach a sport,” she says. “They don’t realize the little nuances that go into success and defining success.” However, through the development of a coaching notebook, an interview with a coach and online group discussions, you will better define your coaching philosophy… if you make the cut. Prerequisite: Sophomore, junior or senior Credit Hours: 3 Offered: Fall quarter
General Education Tier: None Prerequisite for: Practicum in Athletics (PESS 215) and Human Dynamics of Sport (PESS 325)
DREAM ON: CLASSES STUDENTS WISH EXISTED How to Drive a Stick Shift
Because you’re sick of riding shotgun in your boyfriend’s Jeep.
Dining Etiquette
Physical Activity For those of you who miss recess and high school athletics, here’s a list of classes that are sure to please. Plus, there’s no way you could fall asleep during these exercise-related courses. Softball (PED 102) Ultimate Frisbee (PED 105) Dance, Country (PED 113) Aerobic, Conditioning (PED 120) Bowling (PED 129)
Aqua Aerobics (PED 140) Broomball (PED 160) Skating (PED 162) Horseback West (PED 174) Badminton (PED 193)
History of Rock Music (MUS 124) Imagine a class with the textbook The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll. Well, in History of Rock Music, students delve into just that to look at the historical and sociological perspectives of rock ‘n’ roll. The class focuses on specific individuals and groups that were influential during the early rock roots. If that’s not interesting enough, Professor André Gribou says that in this class, “It’s all about listening to the music.” Prerequisite: None Credit Hours: 3 Offered: Fall and winter quarters General Education Tier: Tier II Fine Arts (2FA)
Prerequisite for: History of Rock Music II (MUS 224) Study Abroad: MUS 124 and MUS 224 will be taught spring quarter in London, England
Recreation
Cake Decorating
You may not need to know astrophysics.
Gun and Shooting Education
Don’t even pretend like you don’t want to shoot things.
Self-Defense
For all those late nights walking back from Alden.
French Slang
What use is “Where is the bathroom?” in a French bar brawl?
Brewing
This seems like a no-brainer for a town with 24 bars.
Wine Tasting
The syllabus? Plenty of white Zinfandel and repeat viewings of the movie Sideways.
Dating Advice
If you always secretly wanted to be an outdoorsman or woman, but never took the initiative, enroll in one of these classes for some adventure. Wilderness Living Skills is a prerequisite for most other classes. Wilderness Living Skills (REC 100) Climbing and Rappelling (REC 108) Fundamentals of Canoeing (REC 113) Fundamentals of Kayaking (REC 114)
Keep your elbows off the table…get an A. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Sailing (REC 118) Mountain Biking (REC 120) Scuba Diver (REC 122) Whitewater Kayaking (REC 208)
A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
There has to be a sciencetific answer to boy problems, right?
Naptime
Between late-night partying and late-night studying, college kids could really use a 101 in sleeping.
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b » LIFE
for love of the
GAME BY HANNAH CROFT
PHOTO BY KATE RAMSEY
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High school athletes: they’re a dime a dozen, but some rise above the rest. Some get the opportunity of a lifetime to play at prestigious universities, which—for a very select few— could allow them to go pro. So why would someone who might be considered a true athlete who lives and breathes his or her sport turn down such a celebrated experience? Well, Ohio University students, Alexander Elkins, Stuart Gair and Robin Reynolds did just that.
A
lexander Elkins, an Ohio University senior studying video production, began swimming competitively his freshman year of high school. Pursuing a college sport was not really on his radar until he received a phone call from Ohio University’s swimming and diving assistant coach, Bryan Peresie. Soon enough Alex entered his freshman year excited to be competing at a Division 1 collegiate level. Little did he know that the men’s swimming and diving program would be cut at the end of his freshman year. Shocking as the removal was, Alex said, “It was an experience. Even that one year was just life changing.” Alex toyed with the idea of transferring out to continue to pursue swimming, but decided to stay at OU instead. At first, he looked at schools such as Cleveland State and Ashland University. “It just came down to the fact that I didn’t want to leave everyone [at OU],” Alex says. “I just thought I have all these people here, I don’t want to go anywhere.” As a result, he became the co-founder of Ohio University’s first club swim team. “Club’s great. It’s a very small time commitment, low stress,” Alex says. “You basically just come and go as you please, and work out to your own desired level. It’s really laid back.” Alex didn’t quite choose his situation, but for Stuart Gair, an OU senior studying history, opting out of a Division 1 opportunity was a conscious decision. He was recruited by big names such as Ohio State and Michigan State for soccer. “[Ohio State] was too big, and it wasn’t really my thing. I couldn’t stay committed,” Stuart says. He couldn’t stay away, though, and began playing club soccer his junior year at OU. Stuart
Toothpicks are the objects most choked on by Americans.
was introduced to club soccer in the ultra-competitive world of intramural indoor soccer played during spring quarter at Ping Center. “I really missed it. ... I met some guys on the club team and they kind of recruited me,” Stuart says. He had his sights set on a smaller school and wanted to stay in the midwest. “I’m glad I came here, I really like club,” Stuart says. “It’s competitive but chill at the same time.” Robin Reynolds, an OU senior studying dietetics, is on the same page. Robin transferred from Tennessee Tech University after her freshman year. She played varsity soccer there for one year, but the stresses on her body and her life became too much. The team was practicing up to four times a day during preseason. “The overuse on my knees killed me pretty much, and I was hurt for the rest of the season yet I still played the entire season like the whole time,” Robin says. Robin decided to quit and transfer to OU where she took some time off and then joined the club soccer team. “I like club so much more because it’s more relaxed,” Robin says. “It’s like having your cake and eating it too.” Many other student athletes may have killed for the opportunities presented to Robin, Stuart and Alex, but for these three OU students, participating in club sports was the way to go. A small time commitment that still lets them do what they love, club sports allows them to maintain a high level of competition while still enjoying the college experience. To sum it up best, Robin says, “You can still do what you love, but actually be a student and have a life.”
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STRUCTURAL
b » LIFE
STRUGGLE Interior architecture students give a whole new meaning to “studio apartment”
BY DOUGLAS BAIR
PHOTO BY ARNOLD GUNDERSON
I
t was 3 a.m., and Tracy Risaliti had passed out on the floor. Only her iMac’s dim glowing screen shined onto her torso. Sprawled-out, half under her cluttered desk of crumpled sketchpad papers and an assortment of watercolors, she cuddled a blanket for warmth, which the cold tile floor lacked. Her small studio had become her home. The group laughs as Jeff shows the picture of Tracy’s late night via his iPhone. They’ve witnessed this scene plenty of times, considering they have just started their senior year as interior architecture majors. “I’ve slept in the materials closet how many times?” Tracy jokingly asks her cohorts Darek Wilson and Jeff Cleary. Tracy’s new residence can be attributed to the quarterly, massive design projects that focus on Jeff Cleary, creating spaces like a retail Interior Architecture Major store, hotel, home or pretty much any structure with four walls and a roof. Tracy, Darek and Jeff all have their own approach to tackling these sleep-depriving class projects, but all of them think it’s worth it. They truly dig design. The guys have also crashed on the tile studio floor, just like
Tracy. They too have their own cluttered desks that make for poor sleeping surfaces. Darek’s desk is stacked with future residential beach homes; Jeff’s has crumbled papers from numerous sketches; Tracy’s houses a collection of watercolors. After taking a year of prerequisites, those interested in pursuing an interior architecture major—a combo of decorative arts and architecture—must submit a portfolio compiled from creative prerequisites. Of those who apply, only about 18 or 19 are selected for the program. By senior year, a few more have dropped out, leaving their class size around 15. Those who can put sleep on the back burner and don’t get too attached to sketches earn a diploma, a badge of courage of sorts, and land jobs in hot markets across the country, designing any kind of space you can think of from beach homes to malls. It’s more than drapery and lace pillows for interior architecture majors—it’s all about designing the perfect space. Much like the studio in Grover Center where they work, eat and sleep, these creative minds can transform the coldest tile floor into a comfy sleeping abode.
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Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952.
“
We are together in studio 24/7, which makes our designs a lot better because you can only get so far on your own.”
backdrop » fall 2010
“I like that my design can help someone find that perfect space they wanted for a room,” Darek says. Darek has always known design would play a huge role in his career and clearly has chosen the right major. He doesn’t “dread” homework projects, but rather looks forward to tackling design projects. Beyond the photoshopping and sketching, it’s about people and building relationships, whether with a client or classmate. “We are together in studio 24/7, which makes our designs a lot better because you can only get so far on your own,” Jeff emphasizes. The vastness of the studio, with a maze of table desks, enables conversations, discussions and critiques well after the 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. block of classes they have two days a week (not to mention a two-hour seminar each Friday). As this self-proclaimed “big family” enters its senior year, with each student’s experience culminating in a finalized portfolio of his or her designs, the opportunities are endless. Tracy took her watercolors three time zones west this summer to Oakland, Calif., when she interned with West Office, which specializes in museum exhibits. She only poured herself coffee because she was too busy working on a project for a space/ solar exhibit in Israel. “I was able to participate in brainstorming sessions, which was pretty fortunate.” Tracy nods her head in realization that not all interns have a seat in these meetings. Once she cleans her desk space in the studio come spring, she hopes to work for a firm that respects her creativity as she focuses on retail and restaurant venues. Jeff also worked under the West Coast sun this summer, but focused his efforts on a documentary film in L.A. and was able to pick up another gig as a casting associate in charge of organizing product placement. Sleepless nights quarter after quarter have been the perfect training for the long hour days of the film industry. Darek gave his sketchbook a summer break at a firm in downtown Columbus where its pages saw designs from charity houses to a Columbus Blue Jackets player’s bachelor pad loft downtown. Additionally, two family homes have come to life from his sketchpad via his internship and are now nestled in the Upper Arlington neighborhood where those families are enjoying movie nights in the living room and packing school lunches in the kitchen. He’s sticking to residential projects after graduation with hopes to eventually open his
own firm in some tropical location designing posh beach houses. But graduation is still three projects away, so the Grover studio has plenty more overnighters to come. After grabbing a much-needed coffee, the group cuts through Baker University Center toward the escalators. “You heading to studio?” “Yeah... ”
GALLERY:
PIECES FROM THREE INTERIOR ARCHITECTS’ PORTFOLIOS
The
Center for
Student
Legal
Services
is your best friend on campus!
ILLUSTRATION BY TRACY RISALITI
For only $8.00 per quarter (included as an option on your tuition bill) you can have access to a licensed attorney!
We can help with: • • ILLUSTRATION BY JEFF CLEARY
• •
ILLUSTRATION BY DAREK WILSON
Landlord/tenant issues Consumer problems (car issues, fraud, contracts, etc.) Legal problems in Athens County Legal advice and education
(see our website for limitations on our services) 50 South Court St. Suite D (above College Bookstore)
Most car horns honk in the key of ‘F’.
(740) 594-8093 www.studentlegalrights.org
b » LIFE
GAULEY FEST Cabrewing for Big Kids BY MOLLY SCHNEIDER
ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE RUMPH the attraction is big water, lots “W ell, of fun, aggressive paddlers and
aggressive women,” says Eric Johnson, a raft repairman and a river guide for River Expeditions, a local rafting company. Thousands of boaters flock to the Gauley River in West Virginia between the months of September and October. Summerville, where the fest is held, is a short 2 1/2 hours from Athens and was a prime weekend getaway from the stresses of my fall quarter. The Upper Gauley runs class III and V+ rapids—a rating on a system determined by the International Scale of River Difficulty ranging from class I to class VI—making it one of the top 10 whitewater destinations in the world. Pre- and post-Gauley Season however, these rapids are nothing more than creeks barely suitable for paddling. It all starts with the release of the Summersville Dam. Water is gradually released throughout the two-month boating season, making it a prime spot for whitewater. The months of September and October, known widely as Gauley Season, surround Gauley Fest, which has become one of the largest river festivals in the world since its debut in 1983. Nine years ago I became a fest-goer with my dad, making it my birthday tradition. It was the carnage of paddling the river and the possible flip of the raft that first got me hooked. No matter my paddling level, I was always sure to participate in the festivities. However, on the return home from a trip, if the raft didn’t flip, then it was a major disappointment for me. “It’s the paddling that makes [Gauley Fest] work,” says Mark Singleton, executive director of American Whitewater. AW is the national organization which runs Gauley Fest as part of their mission “to
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backdrop » fall 2010
conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.” Gauley Fest was conceived by a group known as Citizens for the Gauley River before being handed over to AW. The fest was launched as a celebration to beat back the proposal of a hydro-electric project that would have created a diversion in the flow of the river, taking away two major points of carnage—a disappointment for onlookers and river riders alike. “[Rafting the Upper Gauley] is a high adventure sport,” Johnson says. “It’s not for the weak at heart.” He says prior paddling experience is necessary when rafting the Upper Gauley. “If you come to the put-in in the morning and you’re afraid to get your Nikes wet, well then you should have probably stayed on the couch and ate your potato chips,” Johnson says. However, first-timers looking for some action have no need to fret. Johnson says, “Lower Gauley is a first-time, user-friendly thing. First time it’s a great … pop-yourcherry deal.” Lower Gauley offers rapids class II to class V. The main off-river event is the festival itself. The fest has a laid-back vibe making for a good time with friends. But even with friends around, caution should be taken. When Eric Jackson—a world-renowned kayaker and creator of Jackson Kayaks— stands on the roof of his RV and starts
Car·nage (n.) \kär-nij\: 1. Big rocks, fast water, yelling, all men overboard. 2. All- around intense, brutal awesomeness. 3. Gauley Season. throwing out free, numbered hats the crowds go crazy. It’s every man for himself. People can be seen diving over each other for one of his hats (when I was 15, a woman much older, crazier and stronger than myself took me down for one of them). Tents are pitched on every side of the festival. Some attendants have even taken to sleeping on the ground, campers, truck beds and the occasional rooftop (I, myself, am a truckbed-er). Don’t think this means the night ends early though. The band and fest-goers can still be heard going strong around 2a.m.. There is a BYOB alcohol policy in effect at the fest, true to Ohio University style. From mud wrestling in the pouring rain and stripper poles with nearly nude men beyond their prime to live music and silent auctions, there is something for everyone on these grounds. This year’s fest-goers and I were even lucky enough to see a yeti running around. Well, not a real yeti, but a costume authentic enough to be mistaken for the missing link. This is an “untapped” fest which OU students have yet to break into the market. Similar to the street festivals thrown by students in the spring, this river festival promises humorous carnage—as whitewater boaters would call it— to those students brave enough to rough it out on the bone crushing Gauley River.
Children grow more in the spring.
b » FEATURES
It’s all about the
JACKET You have to toughen up to button up BY KIM AMEDRO
PHOTOS BY CONOR LAMB
I
t’s all about the jacket. The training camp, the practices from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Ohio’s grueling August heat waves, repetitious field drills that reduce your thighs to rubber, all endured to button up the varsity letters: OUMB. Even when making the team, a spot on the field isn’t guaranteed. There are reserves, alternates and pre-game picks. Not to mention the challenges. Freshmen know their place. Even sophomores don’t speak; they are “Zeroes.” However, it isn’t sweat poured into football pads or soccer cleats that will earn you that whitestriped, green felt rite of passage. To wear the state of Ohio patch proudly knit over the left breast, you have to march with swagger. From an added calf extension with pointed toes to the traditional chair step, their style puts a 45-degree separation between the Marching 110 and the rest of the collegiate marching world. Grinding, hip thrusting and riding fellow bandmates like horses make the now 220 members “The Most Exciting Band in the Land.” “I’ve heard they line up all the freshman in these brand new $150-$200 jackets in parade formation,” explains a band member’s friend who preferred to remain anonymous—for the sake of revealing one of the 110’s long-held secrets. “Then they march them into the Hocking.” Others claim that mud wrestling, stoning and stomping are all methods implored to dirty the jackets. Some suspect that it’s the freshman’s job to frantically learn how to clean it the day before their first big game. But if you directly ask a band member, you will be met with a smile and a laugh. Nothing more. »
RULE # 1
Respect the jacket. Earn it with sweat, blood and tears. Nothing less.
Peanuts are an ingredient in dynamite.
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“
When it comes down to it, it’s band first, everyone else second.” Darryl Baker 110 Tuba Player
“We don’t march in the water,” junior trumpet Megan Wall chuckles. “I can tell you that much.” She simply says that “bigs” pass down the secret tradition to their “littles.” Even alumni will come back with their jackets and still be able to shake off dirt from Athens soil. It only takes a little pat on the back to witness, or smell, the plume of dust. “All I will say is that it’s the upperclassman’s job as a big to make sure you don’t look like a freshman… ever,” she says with a mischievous grin. Keeping dirt on their shoulders is the first of many jacket injunctions. All established members of the Marching 110 are never to wear the jacket until the freshman have all ordered and received theirs. No member is allowed to be partially
dressed in costume gear. One Marching 110 member is not to be dressed in full uniform unless the whole band is in uniform. But first and foremost, you must make the cut, which isn’t exactly a “this one time at band camp” kind of deal. “I remember blacking out a couple times, but I refused to go on the sidelines,” says senior tuba and dance commander Darryl Baker as he thinks back on his freshman daze from training week. “I’d feel the tunnel vision coming on and start teetering.” Conversely, one of his most memorable moments occurred on that same practice field: A poor choice in wardrobe had him caught with his pants down. “We were all on the field marching and the shorts I had on
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A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
backdrop » fall 2010
RULE # 2
Keep it clean, keep it safe. The contents of the Hocking River doesn’t wash out easily.
that day were too big, but I didn’t have time to change them, so I just tied them really tight. … The shorts still didn’t fit. We were marching, and we came to halt and my shorts just dropped to my ankles. But we weren’t allowed to move, so I just stood there… at attention… with my shorts around my ankle and Dr. Suk just walks up and whispers in my ear, ‘You can go ahead and pull your shorts up,’ and I just pulled them up real fast. That’s my standing memory of freshman camp.” Megan also recalls the intimidation factor. Once she arrived, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Luckily, her high school, Johnstown High, was a minitraining camp for Ohio University. They use the same marching style, dance breaks included. A good amount of Johnstown grads become Bobcats. All of those It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
who choose OU come back sporting that weathered jacket. “I knew of the jacket because of the alumni who would come back,” she says. “They always had it on and I just knew I wanted to be a part of that, to wear that.” The muscle aches from carrying the average 60- to-70-pound tuba are worth playing “Salvation is Created.” Just saying the name caused Chris “Security” Nierstheimer to literally get goose bumps as he recounted tearing up the first time he played it in uniform. Mind you, he is nicknamed “Security” due to his 6-foot-4-inch stature and 300-some pound frame. It only helps that Chris just so happens to wear D.C. shirts like Big from MTV’s Rob and Big. But it isn’t the warm-up that earned the 110 that ambitious backdropmag.com
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introduction as “The Most Exciting Band in the Land.” Ever since 1967, under the direction of Gene Thrailkill, OUMB has traded in the Star Wars anthems and John Williams compositions for Billboard hits and Soul Train moves, while militaristic uniforms were replaced by feathered caps and batons. “Our style is soulful OSU,” Darryl says as he laughs. The OU march extends the calves out a little more and dips the left shoulder every time they turn, creating the swagger Bobcats have come to know and love. However, it isn’t just Darryl and his fellow commanders putting together the dance steps. The whole band is encouraged to come out to the Convocation Center for Monday’s Open Dance Committee and throw down their best moves. “People just break up into squads, usually of four, and start coming up with random stuff,” Darryl says. “They present it to the dance commanders and if we like it, we will put it in.” This season actually presented a few obstacles in the dance commander’s ideal plan. They didn’t receive the charts with the songs and drum line break until the Tuesday evening before opening weekend, leaving barely any time for prep. “I actually called my little sister who goes to Toledo and asked ‘Jasmine, what are the new hot dances out?’ which is how we came up with the first two sets,” Darryl says. “I guess the ‘Daddy Stroke’ is a hot new dance. … Two hands come down on either side of your leg as you move your hip. I always thought of it as taking a sheet of glass and bringing it down like you’re going to break it with your hip,” he says as he adds a little of the showtime grunt. Anything is fair game when it comes down to the wire, which would explain how the Jersey Shore fist pump found its way into the 12 steps. After hours of YouTube and Facebook research—every dance command-
er posted “NEED HELP WITH DANCE” as their status—Darryl discovered a fist pump would close out a butt-bump count perfectly. As a girl in the band, mellophone player Amanda Forni has no problem getting gritty with the boys. You would never know by her quiet demeanor. “You are in a uniform so you don’t feel singled out… except in the practices but then everybody is doing it and we all look ridiculous,” she says. It’s not uncommon for the girls to alter their personas when they finally get in uniform. In fact, there’s a saying that “there are no girls in band.” Even “Security” feels the need to adapt a deeper voice when he chants, “My first kiss went a little like this.” Everybody mans up. This is what it takes to earn that jacket: hours upon hours of “Daddy Strokes” and music checks, sweating in the heat and limitless dedication. It’s an insult for the jacket to be worn by anyone who hasn’t experienced the late night Convo practices. “It symbolizes everything we have done to get it,” Megan says. “No one [outside the band] can quite grasp what we go through to get to that point.” Every jacket tells a different story, but only those in them will ever know. Each button of the jacket has a different symbol etched into it. Again it’s a cryptic 110 code. Megan and Chris compare markings: “This one is for my big … and this one,” Megan trails off, half mumbling about the rest of the mystery buttons. “Let’s just say everyone has a chance to show where they came from,” Darryl cuts in. Then Megan, Darryl and Chris trade battle stories of their jackets. A cigarette burn is in the middle of Megan’s patch, the “h” is missing from “marching” in Darryl’s jacket and Chris reveals the inside lining of his jacket is completely torn. “You got to use superglue,” Chris recommends. When he slips his hands into the pockets, his face lights up. Whether playing around off the field or playing on the field, the Marching 110 # exudes some evident and Either everyone has a jacket or nobody entertaining wears a jacket. It’s as simple as that. family dy-
RULE 3
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backdrop » fall 2010
namics. According to Darryl, the break down is as follows: The trumpets are pretty much the screamers and egomaniacs—but not really; it’s in light. The tubas are the laid-back, anything-goes section. The trombones are an interesting bunch; you can’t really pin down any one particular type of trombone. They are simply the well-liked people; everyone likes somebody who is a trombone. The “mellos,” as Darryl puts it, “are kind of like the forgotten brass instruments that have really wicked parts, but you never really hear them because they are overplayed by the trumpets.” Sadly the clarinets are… well, they are definitely there for light up and that’s their own purpose. No matter the section, there is always friendly banter going back and forth. And as for the flags, well, they don’t really play an instrument. But, all the banter is in good fun because the bottom line is that each member protects the uniform no matter who wears it. “When it comes down to it, it’s band first, every one else second,” Darryl says. Tubas are an especially tight-knit pack. They have weekly “buffeTs” (the “t” is clearly enunciated) where girlfriends or “tuba spouses” and family are invited to catch up over lunch. Chris has proudly carried the title of Pasta Bowl Champ for the past two years at their annual eating Olive Garden Competition—his current record is four bowls. It’s that little funk that keeps alumni coming back every homecoming game. None of those interviewed could pick a favorite moment out of the “buffeTs” or the primetime memories of being in the Rose Parade. That jacket earns them local and national respect. It’s a ticket to half-off haircuts, barbershop discounts, pizza deals, but most of all a lifetime with an extended, dysfunctional, tightknit family. “It may sound nerdy of me, but I was so excited when I finally got that jacket,” Megan says. “Just when I tried it on, I was relieved to know that I had made it because I had been trying to do it for so long.” Unfortunately it all comes down to that elusive old-school letterman’s jacket. Either you have it or you don’t.
The dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
“
It may sound nerdy of me, but I was so excited when I finally got that jacket.� Megan Wall 110 Trumpet Player
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b » FEATURES
BA K
BY
PH O STEP TO HAN BY D RE I E ST W L ARK I SY
ERO R
BU ST
Four years after Baker Center opened, many professors and students are beginning to wonder if the multimillion dollar investment was just a huge mistake.
W
ith a snip from the celebratory scissors, the big red ribbon was cut. President Roderick McDavis, surrounded by architects, builders, administrators and students gave a golf clap, oohing and ahhing at the unveiling of Ohio University’s newest ornament at the end of South Court Street: the new Baker University Center. Simultaneously, the citizens of southeast Ohio saw the first escalators in the area. But gliding stairways and shining pillars aside, the new Baker Center hid something beneath its gloss and glamour: a stairway to monstrous debt. Students are increasingly paying more in tuition, room and board and fees to cope with OU’s growing $13.5 million deficit while simultaneously dealing with less available resources. Students, faculty and administration have been dissecting each dollar paid and spent at the university, from Intercollegiate Athletics to the Buddhism program (or lack thereof ). While the parties involved continue to eye one another in spending habit
suspicion, there is a failure to acknowledge the recent $65 million investment that increasingly engulfs student pocketbooks whilst decreasingly accommodating the student body. Four years after OU’s student center spending spree, the university’s governing bodies are forced into lesser-of-two-evils debates that reach to every corner of the university, yet fail to recognize the colossal rift they walk every day. Finished in 2007, the new Baker Center remains the archetype in the world of divisive spending that curiously surrounds the McDavis administration. Baker Center’s budget has been shaved by 10 to 30% each year, decreasing from over $2 million in its first year of operation to just over $500,000 in fiscal year 20102011. Each OU student is forking over $60 a quarter for Baker Center to have been built, and will continue to do so until 2034, a decision that was voted for and approved by Student Senate in 2001, a class that didn’t reap the benefits or repercussions.
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Most hamsters blink only one eye at a time.
backdrop » fall 2010
Old Baker
The original Baker Student Center was built. It cost students $5/quarter.
OU was given a stipend. A panel came together to decide what to do with the money. They proposed to open a new student center.
2004
1997 1995 New Baker
1954
2007
In 1995, a panel of professors and upper and lower level administrators under President Glidden was formed to discuss what to do with the roughly $21 million yearly allotted to the university through the state. They met in the old Baker Center, which was built in 1954 to accommodate only 5,200 students on campus that paid $5 a quarter, for one quarter, to support it. As professors and administrators alike dreamed of new science laboratories or research centers, 15,000 students and four decades later, the need to maintain a new and attractive student center became a priority. But whether it was because the panel held their meetings in the dilapidated old Baker Center or that modern architecture was a new trend among college campuses, the need for a new student center became the resulting decision of the committee meetings, and the majority of the source of money shifted from the state to the students. “[The university’s spending habits] are not rational business decisions, but rather some combination of political and image and assumption,” says Steve Hays, a professor in classics and world religions. Largely supported by upper-level administrators who claimed statistical facts of a higher application rate as a result of a modern and attractive new student center, the idea of the new Baker Center was born. A recurring theme, there was much ado about whether or not OU should invest in venues that stray from strict academia. Staunchly opposed was Hays, who was chosen as a temporary member of the board given the responsibility to decide what to do with the money. “I broke out in a laugh and said that’s absurd because … we were sitting right there in the old and neglected student center and applications were up, our competitiveness was up and we were the competitive university with the bad student center because we were focusing on academics,” he says. “There was a general feeling that our finances were not that robust and it was a dangerous thing to do to borrow huge sums of money to maintain that facility,” Vedder says. Porcupines float in water.
Baker University Center proposal was finalized.
The building process began.
Grand Opening! Costin $2 million to operate.
Hays’ time and impact on the temporary panel expired around 1997 and the new building began its first stages of planning with an aim to woo students with beauty rather than to envelop them with brain. Quantitatively, attracting more students through an aesthetically appealing student hub would seem a good move. Qualitatively, Hays wonders, a “shopping mall student center” does not necessarily improve this institution. He argues that the panel lacked a careful evaluation of what kind of students would be attracted to a glitzy student center rather than research centers or science laboratories, and which type of student OU should want. “What else could we have done with that money per student?” Hays questions. “Might that also have attracted good students to OU and might they even have been better students?” Regardless, the plans for the new student center were given the green light. The new student center was to add hundreds of opportunities for student employment and to provide spaces for students to “hang out” and to study. It was to be an immaculate student hub—its slogan: “the place to be seen.” Designed to be a heavenly monstrosity of a building solely for student use, the new Baker Center boasted a capacity of 200 positions for student employment and was open for students to use until 3 a.m. on weekends. But in a short four years since the new student center was built, tens of millions of dollars have been cut from its annual budget—resulting in cuts in student employment and student usage hours, the purposes it was designed to serve. Since 2007, over $20 million that previously funded student employment, building hours, energy costs and more were cut from Baker Center’s annual budget, resulting in 45 available positions for student employment and doors locking at midnight on weekends. Baker is currently funded by a variety of means, many of which, in recent years, have been reallocated within Baker’s own budget. The reorganization of services
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S
was given a stipend. A panel e together to decide what to with the money. They proposed pen a new student center.
2004
7
“ Baker University Center proposal was finalized.
2007
The building process began.
2034
2010
Grand Opening! Costing $2 million to operate.
OU reached a $13.5 million deficit. Baker’s operating funds reduced to $500,000. Weekly hours were cut from 7 a.m. - 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
The last year that students will have to pay $60 a quarter to pay off the building of Baker.
I think people ought to be put in jail for this … You should be able to look up your university [online] and see exactly where your money is going.” Richard Vedder , Economics Professor
and resources that make up Baker Center’s budget complicates tracking where money funding Baker Center is coming from and where it’s going, an issue that Vedder is especially uncomfortable with. “I think people ought to be put in jail for this … You should be able to look up your university [online] and see exactly where your money is going,” Vedder says. Since Baker’s costly construction, the university has incessantly pressured its departments to utilize the center and has dominated its competition in hopes of making up for Baker’s gargantuan pressure on the budget despite its claims to stay loyal to the community and local businesses. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs in 2004 Richard Carpinelli said in an article in The Athens Messenger, “We didn’t want to compete with the uptown environment. What we wanted to try to do is provide those things not already being provided by the Athens community. We didn’t want to duplicate.” OU bought The Oasis, the café on campus at the corner of Morton Hill and Park Place, shortly after Baker was built and swiftly faded it out in one year in order to reduce competition with the new investment. In another attempt to force business in Baker, the university told its departments that all catered events must be operated through university catering. Previously, professors would frequent the restaurants uptown with visitors but are now allowed only to use Baker Center. In spite of these attempts, there have been continuing losses in food service. Businesses in Baker, including West 82, Latitude 39, Bobcat Essentials and the Front Room pay rent for use of the space—which Vedder says is an unfortunately untapped asset of Baker Center.
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Vedder proposes the solution of a bid on those spaces: inviting chains like Chipotle, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Starbucks or rapidly growing burger joint Five Guys, headed by an OU grad, to take over the food services operations in Baker and allowing them to compete for the space. He suggests having a committee of students reviewing proposals from restaurants or coffee shops like Caribou Coffee and Starbucks and allowing the students to decide what they would utilize in Baker Center. He urges that this would ultimately help the students ease up their debt to Baker Center by making it more affordable to the university. To this, the university stated very simply in its budget responses released in March of 2010: “The kitchen facilities at Baker do not allow for multiple vendors.” “It’s amazing the stores [uptown] seem to be doing well, but [Baker has] the largest concentration of students in there but they aren’t making any money,” Vedder says. “That means there are opportunities to rent that out. The university is good at educating, but they’re not a lodging company, they’re not a renting company, they’re not a food company.” The university continues to recuperate from its gigantic spending spree by having students foot the bill and aggressively promoting Baker’s use. This realization that, as the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20 is not unfamiliar to the administration and is especially noticeable and vulnerable to criticism in dire times surrounding the budget cuts of 2010. Students and faculty are stirring—they are becoming more demanding of transparency and notice as to where each dollar is going… and if it’s worth it. “There’s a movement afoot,” Vedder says.
Lion roars can be heard from 5 miles away.
b » FEATURES
WEST by
Midwest
A glimpse at California living— the Bobcat alumni way—via the lens of photographer Dan Krauss. »
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« RACHEL CICCARELLO’09 LOS ANGELES “I have always wanted to live on the West Coast, and after college just seemed like perfect timing. I majored in video production, and obviously L.A. is the place to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. I have been out here for a year now, and love every minute of it.”
KELLY BROWN ’09 » SANTA CRUZ “I think there is so much value and knowledge gained from traveling and exposing yourself to different places and people. California just happened to be first on my list of places to explore.”
ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE
AMBER MILLER’08 HUNTINGTON BEACH
“Waking up every day with the sun shining makes a complete difference in your day. Moving west was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Coming out here alone has allowed me to find myself and to begin to grow up and become the person I was meant to be.”
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backdrop » fall 2010
JOHN VELETA’09 LOS ANGELES “The biggest difference between the Midwest and the West is the general attitude of people. You really don’t see that down to earth-ness and generosity that makes the Midwest such an appealing place to live. A lot of people out here seem to have a big sense of entitlement and that can be a real turn-off. “
»
ASHLEY LUTHER ’08 LOS ANGELES
“I always knew I was going to move to California, it was just a matter of when. I moved to Venice because it has a neighborhood feel without being too WASP-y. And it’s where art meets crime.” Editor’s note: Ashley was Backdrop’s first editor-in-chief.
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backdrop » fall 2010
TIM TADDER ’02 » SOLANA BEACH “[California] is paradise. Go to where you want to be, then do what you want to do. I wanted to be in an eternal summer. My lifestyle enjoys and needs warmth and sunshine.”
« RICHARD CARNEY ’09 LOS ANGELES “Living in a completely new city with an entirely different culture has made a positive impact on my life. Los Angeles operates on a workhard-or-go-home type of mentality and this cutthroat type of reality has made me into a stronger person.”
b » SEX & HEALTH
COLLEGE
Cradle Robbing BY KYRSTIN RATLIFF, PHOTO BY KATIE MCCUE
You’ve moved into your dorm. You’ve brought your favorite pillow, all your clothes and a bunch of generic decorations. You seem to have everything you need, right? Except… oh, yeah. That boyfriend. You know, the one that’s still in high school. Forget about that after you meet a few guys down the hall? Yeah. You’re not alone. College students are often plagued with the “whether to go the distance” question. To give a little insight, Backdrop asked a few veterans about their experiences. If that doesn’t help, try a round of MASH. Name: Aaron Snyder, 20 Major: Video Production Girlfriend: Sarah, 19 Duration of Relationship: Two years What He Says: “When she would come here and visit [while she was still in high school], my roommate hated her. Well, he didn’t hate her, but it was just like she was an annoying little girl. I kind of had to babysit her. She didn’t know where anything was; I had to be with her all the time. That’s why this year is a lot nicer just because we can do our own thing, but then be back together.” Result of Relationship: Still dating
Name: Ricky Johnson, 21 Major: Sports Management Girlfriend: Stephanie, 20 Duration of Relationship: Five years What He Says: “I knew everybody in [our] high school. I heard everything about everything because I’m friends with people still in that high school. The biggest challenge was, I guess, me not calling on the weekends when I went out and her like freaking out, like ‘What are you doing? Why aren’t you talking to me? Why are you ignoring my texts?’ and all that stuff.” Result of Relationship: No longer dating
Name: Heather Bartman, 19 Major: Public Relations Boyfriend: Spencer, 17 Duration of Relationship: Two years What She Says: “I’ve never dated someone younger than me in my whole life. Guys want girls for different reasons than girls want guys and because we were both younger when we started dating, we were kind of on the same page with what we wanted out of a relationship. So I think that was really beneficial.” Result of Relationship: Still Dating
Name: Ashley Waddington, 20 Major: Exercise Physiology Boyfriend: Nick, 18 Duration of Relationship: One year What She Says: “I know people that can do it and I think it depends on the person. Like if you can really trust your other person then I would say definitely go for it. It definitely involves both people. It has to be at 100% on both ends and it wasn’t for me. That’s why it didn’t work out.” Result of Relationship: No longer dating
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backdrop » fall 2010
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4. Count through your lists and the MASH with your magic number, eliminating the ones you land on until there is one option in each category.
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trim without
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W
hether you’re sick of the Ping Center or have yet to explore the wild side of Athens (not Court Street) this is the place and now is the time to start. As Interim Director of Outdoor Pursuits Dan Vorisek says, “You owe it to yourself to get to know the area a bit.” The terrain is challenging yet conquerable—ideal for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Plus, with roughly eight months of temperatures above 30 degrees Fahrenheit—yes, people actually work out in those conditions— the opportunities to get out there are aplenty. Start by selecting a type of workout and... go.
DOT
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For another Ping alternative, check out this article online at www.backdropmag.com
backdrop » fall 2010
» Speed
b » SEX & HEALTH
HILL DRILLS
Time to hit the bricks. To start, go find a hill that is intimidating, but within your reach. There are Jefferson and Morton Hills, State Street and Mill Street to name a few. Pick one, then run up it as fast as you can while maintaining good running form. Assistant Cross Country Coach Craig Leon describes good, uphill-running form as putting your weight into your toes with a slight lean forward. This will engage your “sprint muscles,” which will eventually increase your speed on flats. You should also feel the drive coming from you butt and keep your knees high. After sprinting up the hill, walk down it and repeat. Stop when you start to lose your form: This is a good rule of thumb for hill drills and most exercises, Leon says. But this doesn’t mean you should poop out before you get tired. With each repetition, you’re forcing your heart rate to climb and fall, providing a rigorous cardiovascular workout. Furthermore, by sprinting uphill, your body is able to hit a higher heart rate and achieve higher energy output than if you were running on flat ground.
If you are right-handed, you tend to chew your food on the right side.
The Ridges is home to more than abandoned insane asylums and folklore. If you go just past the main buildings, you’ll find nearly 700 acres, all of which belong to Ohio University. Four trails weave through meadows, wooded areas and, to reinforce the folklore, even a few cemeteries. The trails vary in length and terrain, allowing runners and hikers of varied expertise to feel a sense of completion at the end of their workout. According to Vorisek, grassy, dirt trails—as opposed to a treadmill or track—aide in enhancing your balance and provide additional cushioning. Plus, these trails also provide a diverse and changing landscape, which beats staring at an empty golf course for three miles any day. Coach Leon notes that, much like hill drills, the rolling terrain, even if only slightly, demands more exertion from the runner. Between the scenery and the enhanced workout, you’ll definitely get more for your mile. Also, be sure to run the Radar Hill path for a bird’s-eye view of Athens.
GETTING BENCHED
In this case, “getting benched” midrun is anything but taking a breather. For this one, all you need to do is hit the bike path, preferably with a stop watch. Choose a mileage at about half of what you can comfortably run (if 5Ks are a breeze, try 1 1/2 miles). Here’s the basic idea: Run at a brisk pace for either two minutes or until you see a park bench. Stop. If you’re at a park bench, use it to do exercises such as tricep dips, stepups and inclined push-ups (upward incline for easy, downward for hard). If you’re in the middle of the path, find a patch of grass and do some abdominal work, air squats and lunges. Do enough of each exercise that you feel a burn, without feeling fatigued or strained (no more than 20 repetions for each is a good rule of thumb). Repeat this process until your mileage or your endurance is up. Much like hill drills, your heart rate will rise and fall with each set. However, while getting benched, your heart rate won’t drop quite as low and your muscles won’t get a true break. It’s a killer combo of aerobic and anaerobic activity. This should quickly wear you out.
A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time that is one one-hundredth of a second.
» Recreational
» Cross Training
» Endurance
INTO THE WILD
BE THE ROWING MACHINE
For those of you who want a little more adventure and variety, try rowing… real rowing. Dow Lake, Lake Hope and Lake Snowden offer canoe and kayak rentals, and are all within a 30-minute drive of campus. Vorisek says that rowing can provide a good core, shoulders and arms workout. The speed and strength at which you row will dictate how much of a workout you receive. In addition to a new workout, you might pick up a new hobby that lends itself to relaxing escapes from campus. For those who don’t own a car or have never been rowing, OU’s Outdoor Pursuits program offers both organized trips and instruction:
GO
& DO
Kayaking Clinics FREE Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m. Meet at the Aquatic Center Recreational Canoeing $5 Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Meet at the Rental Center
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EXHIBIT
Showcasing the most creative minds on Campus DOT
I’ve Got a Golden Ticket
Drifting BY M. PHILIP SAM
»
»
BY AIMEE GABBARD
Want to be featured in our next issue? Submit your art, photographs, and poems to backdropmag@gmail.com
»
BY LOUIE ROSEN
there are still bicycles flying past my face, grazing my eyelashes, freckling my skin with bar fight scars. beauty knows no forgiveness as you list your grievous complaints, like you never meant to drown me in the bathtub, it just happened and now there are ghosts getting stuck in your hair gel
Yahi Ratzon
my tongue used to write love notes on the roof of your mouth. you got shot with novocain and couldn’t feel a single statement i was sweeping across your skin on the day i pulled down your lower lip with my thumb and let our taste buds acquaint, allowed our tonsils to reach towards each other the way you’d imagine someone falling off a cliff would reach for whoever they’d left behind
be well be gone be easy because the easiest way to ache for the best in each other is to bring out the worst so this once, let us miss what we will learn to live without
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backdrop » fall 2010
Babies are born without kneecaps.
»
Motorbike Guy BY TOM LYNCH
The Campaign fashion with a conscience™ Help educate orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda
store.empowercampaign.org
WEEKLY JEWELRY & CRAFT FUNDRAISERS
WEDNESDAYS from 11:00–3:00 in Baker Center NEW INVENTORY Cash
BY DANIEL MAUK
FOR THE HOLIDAYS wallets, scarves, baskets, chandelier earrings, and more!
»
ALL JEWELRY
$3 to $25
Fun fact goesEngineers here Fun fact developed goes here the Fun zipper factingoes 22 years. here
QUIZ
CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1
2 3 5
All answers to the clues can be found in this issue’s stories. ACROSS 1. Sean Talbott has spent the past year planning, writing, budgeting and shooting his film named what? 3. How many dollars per quarter did the old Baker cost students in 1954? 6. Who is the featured professor from Greenville, S.C.? 7. What has become one of the largest river festivals in the world since it’s debut in 1983? 8. A new website that will save you money 10. Who is the director of the Marching 110? 12. The one idiom that Patrick Doyle really can’t stand. 13. What is Jesty Beatz’s real name? DOWN 2. The construction of this professor’s house uses a passive enerygy design (2 words) 4. What class is PESS 212? 5. “Big rocks, fast water, loud yelling, all men overboard” is a definition for what? 9. No member of the Marching 110 may wear this until the freshmen have received theirs 11. When doing hill drills, it’s a good rule of thumb to call it quits when you start to lose this 14. MUS 124 studies the history of this genre of music
DOT
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Find the answer to our quiz at www.backdropmag.com
backdrop » fall 2010
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RANT RAGE
RUTHLESS
” o m o H ! o $ “*N# @ ... No Mo’ BY PATRICK DOYLE
ILLUSTRATION BY KAITLIN ORR
C
all me unhip, but I simply cannot fathom some of the things that are coming out of the mouths of our generation. It truly amazes me how we pass off the bulk of this idiotic jibberjabber as normal or acceptable dialogue. Now, I don’t normally let a lot of the stupid things that people say faze me. I mean, we’re college students. We say dumb shit all the time. However, there’s one idiom that I’ve been hearing quite frequently that just needs to be put to rest. I can actually feel myself growing dumber when I hear it. And the worst part is that it doesn’t make any sense the vast majority of the time. My friends, the idiom that I’m talking about is “no homo.” I’ve heard this particular expression used relatively frequently for the last year or two, but it wasn’t until recently at one of the uptown establishments that I realized its true stupidity. While I was waiting for my drink, I unwillingly tuned into a conversation that two m a l e students were having next to me. They were discussing rock climbing. As their conversation grew deeper, I overheard one say, “Then I totally got my finger lodged inside the karabiner. No homo.”
As I was walking away from the bar, that conversation really got me thinking: Why the hell did that guy just say “no homo?” “How could getting your finger stuck in a karabiner remind one of gay sex?” I thought to myself. Maybe the student was saying that he secretly wanted to finger bang the other’s karabiner? Or get the other to finger bang his? Now the whole situation had me thinking about dudes and finger banging. Of course the whole point of this popular phrase is to let others know that you were not referring to gay sex. However, in reality, all this does is cause listeners to MacGyver sexually neutral sentences into homosexual innuendoes. For example, a friend of mine was in town this past weekend, and while we were discussing the possibility of getting a grill for my house he added, “Yeah, then we could make some bratwurst! No homo.” Bratwurst, huh? Cause they’re shaped like dicks? I see. So talking about certain things that are dick-shaped will obviously make listeners question your sexual orientation. Thank god there’s a phrase out there that lets someone know that while I may like certain things that resemble penises, I do not want to have sex with dudes. Let’s face it folks: It’s just dumb. And I mean, isn’t homophobia directly related to homosexuality anyway? By saying “no homo” you’re actually exaggerating the very quality in yourself that you are so desperately trying to repudiate. And that’s fine. Being gay, that is. Hell, if you’re talking about gay stuff all the time, you probably are gay. I’m not judging. I don’t know if you know this, but the gays are awesome. You should just embrace it. You see, our generation is turning into a bunch of babbling dummies. People are so worried about little children overhearing curse words, but no one cares at all about the constant exposure to inanity that surrounds these kids. We can do so much for humanity by simply eliminating the expression “no homo” from our speech. So unless your purpose is to offend and announce your insecurites, there is no reason to be thrusting (cue!) the phrase “no homo” into your everyday dialogue. C’mon Athens, you’re better than that.
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