Spring 2011 (Vol. 4 Issue 3)

Spring 2011

season and Because it’s fest : oholEdu seriously nobody takes Alc

ge t how t o no t

Caught

Saving

it until “I do”

street treats

A practical legal guide to drinking

modern day treasure hunting

$86 Million Medical Discovery

Floor plans, photos, and more info at

www.diversifiedproperties.net 28 North College Street 15 person occupancy.

Incredible central uptown Athens location. Perfect for Greek organization, parking included.

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19 & 21 Herrold Avenue 22 & 30 Blick Avenue 2 & 3 Bedroom, 2½ bath Townhouses featuring open & bright floor plan, on-site parking with garage, deck & much more! Close to everything… bike path, O.U., O’Bleness Hospital.

Easy access to all major highways.

4 Bedrooms, 1½ baths, central air, plenty of offstreet parking. Located at the end of a quiet south side street. September – September lease.

67 Stewart Street Apts. A, B & C. 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, central air, offstreet parking for all tenants.

Very nice townhouse style apartments. June–June lease.

375 Richland Avenue Apts. A & B . 3 Bedrooms, central air, parking on-site, open kitchen-dining-living.

June – June lease

77 North Congress Front porch, on-site parking, 5 person occupancy, central air, great location, 4 bedrooms, 1½ baths, washer/dryer.

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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, central air, washer/dryer, on-site parking included, private patio, close to everything.

Contact Alecia Moquin 740.592.5262 or 740.591.6498 alecia@diversifiedproperties.net

DISCLAIMER: Absolutely NO FISHIES were killed and/or mangled during the photographing of our cover and the correlating story “How to Not Get Caught.”

None. With that being said, one might be wondering why would anyone put fish on the cover? To this I say, why not? I personally find fish somewhat endearing and under appreciated. To this our creative director says, “Gross.”

CLAIMER: We’re seniors! Not just me and other members of the staff, but Backdrop itself. In the larger world of publications, four years may not seem like a long time. For our staff and our little glossy, it is kind of a milestone. At Ohio University, lasting four years is quite a feat for anything, really: a relationship, a consistent major, a respectable GPA, your liver, etc. Well we’ve done it and we’ve done puh-ritty good. What’s more amazing is that I’m not the only person who thinks so. We recently submitted Backdrop to the Society of Professional Journalist’s Mark of Excellence Award and placed third regionally for “Best Student Magazine.”

Like all other overbearing soccer moms, I was a little disappointed our brain child didn’t place higher. After noting that our competitors were significantly older and better funded, however, I realized just how remarkable our accomplishment is. Go us. As always, thank you to our advertisers, readers and supporters. We sincerely could not do this without you.

POSTCLAIMER: I absolutely detest writing letters from the editor. I’ve done my best to provide relevant commentary throughout my tenure as editor-in-chief. However, I feel that most letters from the editor—including my own—fall within three categories: the self-serving personal bullshit letter, the publication’s PR letter (see above and the last two issues) and the unicorn-rare humorous social commentary letter. Although the last one is most desirable, it still functions under the personal bullshit category due to the fact that they’re often in first person and branded by the author’s humor and biases. Either way, I feel like most are tainted with I’megotistical-and-want-everyone-to-imbibe-my-opinion-isms. The cherry on top is the senior yearbook picture. See this? I did not want to do that. Not at all. Anyway, thank you for reading this one. I tried my best not to waste a $125 page worth of text. I’ve otherwise thoroughly enjoyed working for this magazine for the past four years and will miss my staff and OU. So, in the words of Backdrop’s first adviser Jack Brady: “Onward,”

b

backdrop magazine

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-chief

Elizabeth Sheffield Managing Editor

Alec Bojalad

Assistant Managing Editor

Doug Bair

Associate Editor

Alex Menrisky Assistant Editors

Kim Amedro, Ryan Joseph & Tasha Webber Contributers Alec Bojalad, Alexander Lubetkin, Angela Ignasky, Gina Edwards, Hannah Croft, Lauren Byrwa, Megan Helgeson, Ryan Joseph, Shannon Miranda, Sandie Young, Stephanie Stark

Copy Editor

Megan Helgeson Assistant Copy Editor

Sandie Young

Creative director

Wendy Goldfarb Design Director

Brittany Thomas Assistant Design Director

Rohan Kusre

Design Team Alexander Martinez, Cassandra Sharpe, Emilee Kraus, Skye Gould, Spencer Hoffman, Staci Resler, Stephanie Rumph

Photo Editor

Conor Lamb Assistant Photo Editor

Elizabeth Sheffield

4

backdrop » Spring 2011

Loren Cellentani

contributers Boner Maf, Cayce Clifford, Kate Alexander, Kevin Briggs, Mark Dawson, Scott Marx, Steve Ross, Virginia Emmerich

spring 2011 » Volume 4 issue 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS Beginning of FEATURES » 20 The Something Big Professor John Kopchick’s research with growth hormones in the ’80s led to a drug that has saved lives and brought him and the university tens of millions of dollars. Now it might be the beginning of a scientific renaissance at OU.

to Not 25 How Get Caught From before you even purchase your booze to the moment the officer points to the Natty Light in your hand and asks to see your ID, we take you through every possible step of how to not get busted during fest season.

ON THE » COVER

14

Endangered Buggies

34

Worth the Wait

36

Junkyard Dogs

Once an Athens staple, food buggies are slowly going the way of the dinosaur. Loyal customers keep the eats in the streets.

Several OU students vow virginity until they walk down the aisle and say “I do.”

Photo essay of a unique and tasty hotdog heaven. We dare you not to salivate over the delicousness.

backdropmag.com

5

Teas, smoothies, waffles and more!

19 South Court Street Open 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

to the editor Love or hate something in this issue? Send us your feedback via Facebook or Twitter or email us at backdropmag@gmail.com

In regards to the “Ink Botch” story: Melody McGuigan-kisor via Facebook: “We at Decorative Injections Tattooing & Piercing have you sign a consent form for every tattoo or piercing you receive and copy your ID on the back and keep the form on file for 2 years. We will NOT tattoo or pierce anyone that is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you sign the consent form & you have been using drugs or alcohol and we can not tell that you have been, you are responsible for any decisions you make regarding your tattoo or piercing.”

b From Green Meet some of the select Ohio University athletes who are transcending the collegiate level & heading toward the big games.

Jill Pancake via Facebook: THE “The tattoo artists [at Decorative Injections Tattooing & Piercing] would not tattoo anyone who Serving T individuals since 1924 was clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And the work there is great, please check it BEFORE… AND AFTER. out for yourself, there are online portfolios on the DI facebook page.

The artists can be very helpful with designing a tattoo for you, but they can’t tell YOU what YOU will be happy with in the future so if you aren’t sure what YOU want, don’t just get something on a whim, that’s YOUR decision YOU have to make and live with, you cannot blame the artists for that! Also we do have every client fill out a consent form which an ID is photocopied to and keep it on file for 2 years. We follow all health department regulations. If you have any questions or concerns please.” call or stop by. b » SEX & HEALTH

INK

BOTCH

BY MEGAN HELGESON

he artist was almost finished shading in the last letter, “S.” Andrea couldn’t see the design, but she knew what she had asked for—black script lettering. She was excited to see how everything had turned out.

Finally, the artist took a picture of Andrea’s lower back and showed her the completed tattoo. Andrea read the phrase slowly, taking in the last word one letter at a time, “You can’t kill H… E… R… O… S.” Heros. That doesn’t look right, she thought…

The art of tattooing has been practiced for centuries, and for centuries some people have regretted inking their skin. A person may dislike his or her tattoo for various reasons: it’s permanent, it’s a constant reminder of your ex, or a kindergartener has better craftsmanship.

As tattoos have shifted from a nega-

tive social practice to an accepted form of individual expression, college-aged students have been increasingly getting them. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in February 2010 found that 38% of people ages 18-29 currently have a tattoo, a larger percentage than any other age group.

That doesn’t mean, however, that all

Tour the tattoo parlor. Ask to see the room and the sterilization process.

Research the artist’s work. Each artist has a different style, so look through his or her portfolio.

36

backdrop » winter 2011

of that 38% love their tattoos—of the people who have a tattoo in a Harris Poll taken in February 2008, 16% say yes, they do regret their tattoos.

The two tattoo parlors in Athens, Decorative Injections and Art Apocalypse, often have people come in asking for tattoo removals or cover-ups.

“Maybe 30% of people get cover-ups

Develop a design. Your tattoo should have meaning for you.

Clear your head. A tattoo is permanent, so avoid drugs or alcohol when deciding to get one.

When Cranberries are ripe they bounce like a rubber ball.

Sour Patch Kids were called Mars Men until 1985.

of just old tattoos,” Randy Stebelton says, the owner of Art Apocalypse. While neither tattoo parlor does tattoo removals, cover-ups are an option at both.

Ohio University junior Lauren Elliott is one such person planning to get her tattoo covered up. On a whim, she went with her roommate to get a tattoo their freshman year. She had an idea for a tattoo that she’d been wanting since she turned 18. That day, Lauren walked out of Decorative Injections with a tattoo on her left back hip, but it wasn’t the one she had wanted for so long.

She forgot the paper of the tattoo she did want: a heartagram, or morphed heart and star—the symbol for the band HIM. She had pictures of other tattoos she liked with her, though, and with the encouragement of a tattoo artist, she picked a blue heart with a pot leaf inside it.

Lauren says the tattoo doesn’t bother her as much as it did, but she was upset after she got it because she felt the tattoo artist didn’t take the time or make an effort to make the tattoo decent.

“It’s really deep, there’s nothing to it, it’s just a solid tattoo,” she says, referring to how the artist only used green for the pot leaf, when Lauren would have preferred some white ink to make it “pop.”

Junior Vanessa Italiano, on the other hand, dislikes her three tattoos enough to get them removed, and she says she will never get another one.

“After meeting me and hearing my experiences a lot of my friends and especially my boyfriend have really thought long and hard if they wanted a tat and pretty much all of them aren’t getting one because of my experience,” Vanessa says.

Her first tattoo was the symbol for infinity, the second a quote on her right leg, which reads, “Sorry looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up,” and the third, which she got in Athens at Decorative Injections, is the word “Bella,” which her grandpa called her.

Ask your tattoo artist which ointment he or she recommends.

“I’m getting them removed because I was just dumb with the placement,” Vanessa says.

“I really don’t like the infinity and ‘Bella’ at all, and I completely regret it, but the quote I wish I would have put it somewhere else.”

Vanessa has received laser treatment on her first two tattoos eight times, which have faded, but are still visible. The pain she says “hurts like shit even with the numbing cream.” Laser removal pain varies depending on a person’s threshold level, and has been said to hurt to the same degree as getting a tattoo to 10 times more.

To prevent people from having to go through this painful process, the two tattoo parlors deter individuals from getting a boyfriend or girlfriend’s name, the most common regrettable tattoo. “You may not be with that person a week from that time period,” James Kisor says, the owner of Decorative Injections. “You may not be with that person even two years, but either way you have that permanent date.”

One strategy they use to stop people from making dumb decisions is not to tattoo anyone who is impaired by drugs or alcohol, which both owners claim they do. But sometimes someone slips by. “The occasional drunk person will make it back in here,” Kisor says. “They can kind of hold it together better than some.”

Vanessa must have held it together then, because she got her “Bella” tattoo when she was drunk her freshman year, and she doesn’t remember a thing. “Whoever said tattoo artists don’t give tats when you’re drunk was dead wrong,” she says.

That’s why Art Apocalypse requires a customer consent form before the tattooing process—so they have people’s signature promising they aren’t wasted out of their minds.

Stebelton says that “heads are going to roll” if he ever finds out someone getting a tattoo is drunk. “There’s no way in hell they’d be touched,” he says.

Wash with an antibacterial soap using just your finger tips. Repeat 3-5 times a day until fully healed.

Donald Duck’s middle name is Fauntleroy

UNION

18 W Union St

Athens, OH 4570 (740) 593-5060

backdrop magazine

b

Publisher

Annie Beecham

Business Director

Keith Sluss

Advertising Director

Katie Mefferd

Advertising Assistant

Molly Schneider

Advertising Team Adrienne Krueger, Daniella Limoli

Marketing Director

Lauren McGrath Events Director

Hannah Croft

Entertainment »

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Gotta Cache ’Em All

Scavenger hunts aren’t just for little kids anymore. We take you inside a GPS and Internet era treasure hunt that has already gained popularity worldwide and is about to turn Athens into a haven for grown-up scavengers.

Sex & health »

8

H4T » Fine Arts

10

Cribs » Upscale Abodes

42

The Last Hurrah

Big Kid Grilled Cheese

Moving out on your own is never easy or fun. The worst part might be suddenly having to fend for yourself in the kitchen. So here is a grown-up grilled cheese recipe to remind you of the good old days while maintaining some dignity for your taste buds.

We’ve been proud to bring you the faculty’s hottest over the years. And these two literaturelovers keep the the proud tradition going strong.

These two upscale abodes will add a dose of class and sophistication to your reading experience. Be sure to read by candlelight and with a glass of pinot noir in hand.

The Athens experience doesn’t last forever. We present to you a bucket list so you can embrace it to its fullest extent.

PR/Social Media Director

DOT

44

Exhibit A

Marketing Assistant

Check us out online at backdropmag.com

45

RR&R » Cool Story, Brah

Bethany Cook Brenda Evans

Marketing Team Alex Lubetkin, Angela Ignasky, Carli Pappas, Kelsi Bowes, Megan Helgeson, Molly Schneider, Shannon Miranda

Backdrop’s very own art gallery

The story of one man’s terrifying realization. He has become that which we all mock and sometimes loathe: the bro.

Web Editor

Ryan Joseph Assistant Web Editors

Shannon Miranda

web consultant

Lauren Byrwa

Membership & Distribution Director

Krystin Ratliff

Interested in working with us?

Stop by one of our weekly meetings, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in Scripps Hall 111

spring 2011 » Volume 4 issue 3

backdropmag.com

7

Fine arts

FOR

TEACHER

Whether poet or playwright, these literary lecturers know how to turn a phras­e­— and a few heads.

BY ANGELA IGNASKY PHOTOS BY STEPHEN ROSS

Rebecca Abaffy

Assistant Teacher FAR 150: Viewing Performance

What is your favorite type of cafeteria food?

If I went back to grade school, I guess my favorite thing was when they had pizza.

What kind of shampoo do you use?

Organics. I don’t know if you know that brand or not. It comes in the red bottle at CVS Pharmacy.

Do you have a guilty pleasure TV show?

I haven’t watched TV in so long. I used to. My favorite all-time TV show that I could watch over and over again is The Sopranos. It’s just so awesome.

What is one goal you have set for yourself to achieve in the next five years?

Getting an M.F.A. in playwriting. Right now I’m in an M.A. program, which is one year, and if I do well this year, they’ll ask me back for an additional two years. It’s a better degree.

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably sushi, but the kind that’s the raw fish.

What is your favorite perfume?

I like Chanel No. 5.

What’s your favorite uptown bar?

I’ll say the Smiling Skull because I think it just has a lot of character.

88

backdrop backdrop » Spring » Spring 2011 2011

Fifty-four miles of Life Savers are produced each day on average.

If you could bring one historical figure back from the dead, who would it be and why?

Probably Shakespeare, so he could assure us he wrote those plays.

Do you have a favorite cologne?

Vetiver. It’s grassy.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I don’t have any pet peeves. I’m an optimistic person.

What is your strangest talent?

I can make my voice sound like a demon from a horror movie. I used it in college and then I stopped.

Stop by today for new Bobcat Gear!

Associate English Professor

We’re also your source for the largest selection of general reading books in Athens.

Andrew Escobedo

(Note: He did demonstrate, and it is in fact extremely scary. An alternative career may be in the voice-over business for movies.)

How do you know when spring has finally arrived?

What television show and part would you star in if you could?

Gilligan’s Island. The professor.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar? I’m not fond of them. Not much.

One thing that should never have been invented is…

Probably dynamite, even though we got the Nobel Peace Prize because of it. It’s the silver lining.

Contact them!

escobedo@ohio.edu abaffy@ohio.edu

Starburst candies contain 50% of the daily value of vitamin C.

www.oubobcats.com 63 South Court Street • Ph: 740.593.5547

Cherry blossoms.

Abodes

Student

BY Lauren byrwa , PHOTOS BY scott marx

For this issue, Backdrop has gone off the beaten path a little to find some houses that fully capture the completely unique character of Athens.

1

PERFECT PORCHES

Virginia Emmerich and her roommates have the quintessential Athens front porch, complete with swing, hanging flowers and string of flags hanging from the ceiling. It’s the perfect place to relax after a long week of classes, sip on a beer and listen to the shenanigans happening on Mill Street. But in addition to her picturesque front porch, the most unique aspect of the house is the sun room/porch built into the back of the kitchen—the perfect place to sit for dinner as a cool breeze blows through the screen.

3

THE BRICK HOUSE The path to the 15 1/2 Morris Ave. reveals a unique abode. Pushed back off the street behind its neighbors, the long house’s bottom is made entirely of the Athens blocks so many students aim to steal before graduation. The most unique features of the two-person apartment are the slanted windows and wavy lines the bricks form.

“My dad always says it looks like a fun house,” Becky says.

10

backdrop » Spring 2011

Gummy bears were originally called “Dancing Bears.”

2

COOL INTERIORS

The inside of senior Becky Meiser’s bricked-up bungalow shares a similar construction to its topsy-turvy exterior, with the bricks coating the interior first floor, even sprouting into a builtin desk. The brick becomes an asset in the warm weather, keeping the house cool without needing air conditioning.

5

4

THE GETAWAY When they want to get away from the bars and the crowds and take a night off, Virginia and her roommates spend time relaxing on their couch.

Their large sectional harmonizes perfectly with the eclectic dĂŠcor of their temporary home. The spacious living room is open enough for the women of 17 Kurtz St. to entertain their friends and have just as much fun during a night in as a night out.

THE BAR ROOM

Virginia has an entire room in her house designated for one purpose: drinking. The bar room is essential for spring parties, and where most houses would have a formal dining room, this upscale college house has a bar that dominates about a third of the room, a perfect addition considering the open layout of the house.

Life Savers were originally sold as solid discs with no holes.

backdropmag.com

11

b » life

BRANCHINGOUT

by Megan Helgeson, PHOTOS PROVIDED BY OHIO UNIVERSITY

About one-third of Ohio University’s student body doesn’t go to the Athens campus. These students go to five regional campuses spread across the state that mimic Athens in curriculum and appearance. But while these campuses attempt to make the students feel connected to the one in Athens, students in Athens often forget about the regional campuses or know nothing about them. Backdrop would like to introduce you to the other Ohio Universities.

Chillicothe The first regional campus in the state of Ohio, OU– Chillicothe was founded in 1946 in response to the G.I. Bill for soldiers returning after World War II. “We like to say, ‘We were a leader then, and we’re a leader now,’” says Donna Burgraff, dean of the Chillicothe campus. The campus offers classes to over 2000 students in the main classroom building, Bennett Hall. Daniel Partee, a senior studying psychology in Athens, went to Chillicothe two separate times between taking classes in Athens, and says switching from a regional campus to Athens is much easier than the reverse.

FUN FACT: Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, used former Chillicothe head librarian, Stan Planton, as his “number one source of information on countless topics” when writing Angels and Demons.

EASTERN Over 900 students attend OU–Eastern, located in St. Clairsville off of the National Road. The campus began offering classes in 1967 in their primary academic building, Shannon Hall, named after the first Ohio governor born in the state. Volunteers at Eastern regularly host grade school children at a restored one-room schoolhouse on the campus called the Great Western School. Since the campus is not much bigger than a high school, it felt like an intermediary between high school and OU for Elizabeth Bowman, a sophomore going into family studies, who came to Athens this year from Eastern. “Most of the students still knew each other because they’re all from the area,” she says.

FUN FACT: The women’s basketball team recently captured an Ohio Regional Campus Conference championship by beating OU–Lancaster 81–80.

REGIONAL CAMPUS FACTS » » » » »

Degrees are Ohio University degrees—not Ohio University–Chillicothe degrees, for example.

All of the buildings are built in the same brick style as in Athens.

The most popular majors are nursing, early and middle childhood education, exercise physiology, communication studies, business management technology and health services administration.

The cost of tuition is approximately half of Athens’ tuition.

There are no residence halls; all of the students commute.

12

backdrop » Spring 2011

It takes six minutes to make a marshmallow Peeps.

ZANESVILLE

LANCASTER

College Gate has a twin at OU–Zanesville—the front gates to the campus look very similar to the ones we are familiar with on College Green. Only about 1600 students pass through these gates on their way to class. Elson Hall is one of the main buildings on the Zanesville campus, being the only two-story building. The campus was also founded in 1946, and is shared with Zanesville State College. Fests also find their way to this campus in the form of spring and fall festivals on the campus grounds, during which students enjoy volleyball courts, grills, stereos and tents. “We don’t have a Halloween party, but we’re thinking of starting one,” Dean Jim Fonseca says.

FUN FACT: A local Zanesville doctor and astronomer, Dr. H. J. Lewis, donated an observatory to the Zanesville campus.

SOUTHERN

Located in Ironton, OU–Southern houses many students OU–Lancaster has over 2000 students, rivaling fellow from West Virginia and Kentucky. The campus has a branch Chillicothe, but there are only two academic reciprocity agreement with several counties in Northern buildings, named Brasee and Herrold halls. “If something Kentucky for in-state was happening at the rate support. Founded in Lancaster campus you Pickerington and 1985, the newest of the pretty much would know Proctorville Centers campuses still competes about it when you walked with the others in in,” says John Gordon, a The Lancaster and Southern campuses each have numbers with over 2000 student who transferred secondary sites that offer more classes to students students attending. Janna from Lancaster and is now in the surrounding area. The Pickerington Center, Steinhauer, a 40-year-old studying information and affiliated with the Lancaster campus, opened in 2000, student who has taken t e l e c o m mu n i c a t i o n s . after Lancaster had already been offering classes classes at Southern, Lancaster does have at Pickerington High School Central for several Chillicothe and Athens, events for students years. An outgrowth of Southern’s campus is the says that the atmosphere outside of the school, like Proctorville Center, right across from Huntington, W. in classes at the regional bowling nights once a Va. This center also offered classes through rented campuses is more relaxed quarter. Classes were first than in Athens, but she offered in the Lancaster space before opening its new facility in 2007. “If you has mainly taken classes area in 1956, but the consider us a branch campus, [Proctorville] would be related to her major, current campus opened in the twig,” says William Willan, the dean of OU–S. social work, in Athens.

September 1968.

FUN FACT: The Lancaster campus is one venue for the Lancaster Festival, a 10-day event in July of music and family fun. Last year, nearly 10,000 people heard performances by a Beatles tribute band, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and Kenny Rogers.

April 21 is National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day.

FUN FACT: Whitney Arrowood, a member of the Western Equestrian Team, placed second in the regional show and went on to participate in the semi-finals at West Texas A&M on March 25-27 in Canyon, Texas. backdropmag.com

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b » entertainment

Endangered

Buggies

BY Alexander Lubetkin

PHOTOS BY CaycE Clifford

These street vendors might be a dying breed, but their service will never die

14

backdrop » Spring 2011

operating a cart somewhat difficult.

Ali Baba’s is one of the last remaining buggies in Athens—its presence a staple on East Union Street since it first opened in 1989. The ’90s saw a renaissance of sorts in the art of street vending, Jibrail Shaikh says, manager of the buggy and son of its original owners. “There used to be a lot more

concession stands on Union,” he says.

Shaikh’s parents opened the buggy in 1989. They built it with their bare hands. A 2008 OU graduate, Shaikh has been working at the buggy since he was 6. He’s seen a lot.

“There used to be around 10 buggies operating on Union at the same time,” Shaikh says. “But people have biases

»

I

just… I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I’m holding this in my hands right now,” an Ohio University student says, gyro in hand, a look on his face that resembles the look a father has when holding his newborn baby for the first time. To say he’s excited to eat this gyro from Ali Baba’s buggy would be an understatement. “Yeah, dude, that looks pretty good. I’m glad I didn’t take my talents to Burrito Buggy,” his friend says, drunkenly mimicking LeBron James’ now infamous “decision.”

“You two have a good night, now,” says Tito, a 30-year-old OU alumnus from Canton. This is only his second week working at the buggy. It’s about 1 a.m. Saturday morning and an exodus of the bars has started as partygoers trickle home. For many people, that means a stop at one of Court Street’s numerous restaurants for some drunk food.

What was once a relatively profitable business model—the food buggy— has seen its foothold in the Athens community loosen over the past decade.

A struggling economy, health concerns and affordability all make owning and “

Candy corn is made from the bottom up—yellow, orange and then white.

against street food… they’d rather go to Wendy’s or Jimmy John’s—to where they’re familiar with—than eat local food.”

Shaikh notes that supporting local businesses makes the community financially stronger than simply going to a national chain. “On average, out of every one hundred dollars that a local business person earns… that person takes seventy of those dollars and puts it back in the community,” Shaikh says. “We buy our produce from Athens, we repair our equipment in Athens. If you go to a national chain, they’re going to spend about $20 to $30 in the community.”

As with any type of restaurant, buggies need constant support within the community to find success. But business is slow tonight, and for good reason: it’s zero degrees out. Most people would rather wait in line inside Wendy’s or Jimmy John’s or Big Mamma’s to satisfy their late-night hunger, anything to get out of the cold.

Still, loyal patrons come to support their favorite locally owned gyro buggy. One girl stands at the counter trying to score free baklava from Tito.

“Don’t you have any extra?” she says in a flirtatious voice.

“You mean, like, to buy?” he responds.

“No, like, for friendship,” she says in a half-cute, half-desperate manner.

She flashes him an innocent grin; it probably looks a bit goofier than she intended. Her eyes are glazed over in a way that only a night of heavy drinking can cause.

Tito maintains a good sense of humor, informing her that the baklava is only a dollar. It’s never clear whether or not she has a dollar on her; after a few more attempts to win over Tito, it seems like she’s doing it for the sport.

Tito holds his ground until one of her friends drunkenly pushes her away, apologizing a couple dozen times in the process.

Everybody laughs. It’s just another night at the buggy.

More people show up as the night

Ali Baba’s menu changes from timeto-time; they used to serve hamburgers and hot dogs.

drags on. A group of younger-looking male students walks up, one of them wearing a Cleveland Browns hat.

Tito notices.

“Hey, that’s a nice hat, kid,” he says.

The student laughs, smiles and attempts to lead his friends in a frenzied Browns chant.

Tito’s banter is sincere, but it’s also something that management encourages. Ali Baba’s places a lot of emphasis on customer service.

According to Shaikh, employees are constantly encouraged to talk to customers. It produces some interesting conversation.

This emphasis on communicating with the customers creates an environment where buggy patrons easily open up. “Talking to students tells you a lot. Serving somebody that’s extremely drunk… some people are elated and extremely happy, some people are sad, some people start talking about what’s bothering them, or how great their night’s been,” Shaikh explains.

Ali Babas

FILO WRAP

Don’t steal the tip jar. Seriously. Just don’t do it.

Ali Baba’s was handmade; everything, including the generator, was customized.

Illustration by Cassandra Sharpe

The “M” on M&M’s used to be black, not white like it is today.

backdropmag.com

15

GO

& DO

Visit Ali Baba’s

If you’re feeling in the mood for Mediterranean, try out some of the items on the menu.

Ali Baba’s Gyros

»

Econ Gyro $ 2.50 Regular Gyro $ 4.50 Supreme Gyro $ 5.00

» »

Ali Baba’s Specials

»

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“If you wanted to ever do a survey on culture and norms of the student population at that time, serving latenight food might be the best way to do it,” Shaikh says. “You get everything.

You get to see the fashion, you get to see what the students like to eat, how they act towards each other… see what the pop culture’s like. It’s very interesting working late at night.”

“Anybody that’s worked late-night food for a long time starts to notice changes. You’re working with a static age of students: 18 to 22-yearolds. Over time, that age group does different things. You bring a crowd back from the ’90s, they’ll be listening to different music, dressing differently, acting differently towards each other than students in 2010,” Shaikh says. “Back in the early 2000s when Chappelle’s Show was so big, I remember how often I’d hear people yelling out Chappelle quotes. Things like that.”

Shaikh says that nine times out of 10, students act respectfully. There

are a couple of exceptions, of course; the tip jar has been stolen a couple of times. It’s usually brought back, though, after the student wakes up and realizes the theft committed.

After the jubilant Browns chant dies down a bit, the student wearing the Browns hat asks him if he can buy anything for $5.

“Actually, you can get a supreme gyro for $5, if you’d like,” Tito responds.

“I… I can have a supreme?” The kid asks, tears welling in his eyes.

“Sure. You want beef or chicken?”

“Uhhh… I’ll take lamb,” the kid says.

“Holy crap, $5 for a supreme? Really?” one of his friends enthusiastically asks. He queues into the line and files through his wallet, collecting single dollar bills and change in an attempt to come up with $5.

Whether his decision to eat local was intentional or just a drunken impulse, his support is perpetuating a mode of business that needs all of the help it can get.

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b » entertainment

gotta Cache ’em all

The scavenger hunt phenomenon takes off in Athens

BY GINA EDWARDS

PHOTOS BY KEVIN BRIGS

I

n the olden days of Crayola coloring and glue eating, such treasure hunts evoked frenzied excitement, often during a birthday party or extended recess. They also enriched holiday memories—especially of the sibling brawls that ensued over the last chocolate-filled Easter egg tucked under the porch.

Fortunately for those of us still clinging to childhood, a hidden “treasure” can still come from traipsing around outside—and not just from discovering that nearlyskunked Corona buried in the fridge.

Geocaching, a GPS-enabled outdoor hobby, offers the thrill of solving puzzles, trekking distances and finding treasure that we once enjoyed

18

backdrop » Spring 2011

Ranging in size and value, geocaches are often stored in a small vessel or container to protect the treasure from the elements.

as children—and we can do it right here in Athens.

The official site, www.geocaching.com, explains the intricacies of this somewhat secretive hobby. Geocachers hide caches—from miniscule film canisters to large Tupperware containers—in various locations. Each contains a logbook and tiny treasures, from bouncy balls to disposable cameras.

They list their coordinates along with hints about how to find the caches online. Seekers load this information into their GPS and set out on the hunt.

Once they find the cache, they can take one treasure and leave another.

After the discovery, they return to the website to log it. Around the globe, about 1.4 million geocaches exist,

with about 5 million active geocachers seeking them.

Though Athens already boasts an impressive crop of caches, some geocachers want an increase in geocaching traffic in the area. Lenie Holbrook, an associate professor of management systems, channeled his passion for geocaching into developing “geotrails,” or a series of caches placed at various points of interest in the Athens area. With the help of his creativity classes, he worked with the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau to make them a reality.

“Athens is just a perfect place for caching,” Holbrook says, rattling off Strouds Run, Sells Park and the HockHocking Adena Bikeway as just a

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Authentic

Italian Cuisine Many geocachers use a smart phone for maps or directions.

few of the many scenic places with caches in the area.

Due to launch in early June, the two geotrails will include one completely wheelchair-accessible route. Holbrook hopes that they will draw more visitors to the area. Additionally, Athens caches will also serve as part of a giant geotrail in the making, called “Travel the World without Leaving Ohio,” which will include Ohio cities named after famous international destinations, including Athens, Lima and Paris.

Geocaching decorum dictates that a fellow geocacher should not reveal the location, description or contents of a geocache to a seeker who hasn’t found it yet. But Holbrook let slip a few of the well-traveled campus spots with caches, including nearby

Upon finding a treasure, the discoverer must write in the log book, indicating time and date.

Chubb Hall, Bentley Annex and the bottom of Baker University Center, although these hidden treasures might not stay there long.

“The university’s not very friendly to caching,” he says. “Some caches on campus have been confiscated, which is understandable as a measure of public safety.”

College students interested in picking up the hobby need not wait for the trails to launch; in the 25-mile radius surrounding Athens, 487 active caches exist. And most smart phones now have GPS capabilities accurate enough for geocaching, precluding the need for the purchase of any equipment.

Even though the childhood days of lunch boxes and cubby holes are long gone, we can still cling to treasure hunts, adventures and unrestrained enthusiasm.

And, yes. “There’s an app for that.”

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b » features

The beginning of something

big

W

BY alec bojalad, PHOTOS by loren cellentani

hen John Kopchick discovered his drug, Pegvisomant, he discovered a way to battle acromegaly, a condition that engorges those who suffer from it. But after two major transactions involving the drug and netting him and the university millions of dollars, it’s clear he may have found something else: a way to put OU on the map. »

20

backdrop » Spring 2011

White chocolate contains no caffeine.

J

ohn Kopchick’s office is the center of the earth.

A reporter from a local newspaper is due to interview Kopchick in 15 minutes. His iPhone emits a small disembodied chime every few minutes or so to indicate the arrival of more e-mails, and he’s got a wireless Bluetooth device tucked into his ear… just in case.

I ask if he feels like a science celebrity.

The phone starts to buzz and then begins to play a slow, somber tune that sounds like it came from the American Beauty soundtrack.

“Excuse me for a moment,” he says.

“Hello, John! Dispatch? Did they say $27 million? It’s really $77 million.

Tell him. That’s just the latest payment, that’s not all the previous payments. It already happened. Why are you going there? And you have your golf clubs? You have a good time. I’ve gotta go. Bye-bye.”

He swings back around in his chair and smiles.

“Just calling to congratulate,” he says. “I’m not a celebrity… today just happens to be a special day.”

Kopchick is the Goll-Ohio Eminent

22

backdrop » Spring 2011

Scholar and professor of molecular biology in the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Edison Biotechnology Institute at the Ridges and this is, indeed, a significant snow-filled January day. The university has just announced the sale of partial royalty rights of a drug Kopchick and former graduate student Wen Chen developed to a private equity firm managed by DRI Capital Inc. The transaction brings the total earnings of Kopchick, Chen and the Ohio University to $73.5 million with the potential to reach $86 million, and puts OU in fourth place for royalty payments to laboratories in the United States. Kopchick and Chen earn one-third of the royalties. Another third goes to the College of Arts and Sciences and the final third goes to research.

Dr. Rathindra Bose has been with the university since June 2008 as the dean of graduate studies and vice president of research and helped broker the deal.

“I’ve been working behind the scenes to get this deal done for a year now,” he says. “I submitted a plan for reinvestment to President McDavis before we

even signed the agreement.”

The money will go towards hiring new faculty, creating new fellowships for graduate students and maintaining facilities.

Kopchick and Chen discovered their drug, Pegvisomant, in 1987. Pegvisomant is a growth hormone receptor antagonist that has been effective in the treatment of the condition known as acromegaly. This is a syndrome that results from an overproduction of growth hormone, which causes tissue swelling that often makes parts of the body abnormally large. Abraham Lincoln and Andre the Giant were thought to have this form of gigantism. Many cases of acromegaly can be treated through surgery, but for 25% the condition is inoperable and can even be fatal. Pegvisomant, now sold

by Pfizer under the name “Somavert,” can help these people.

It all begins with the growth hormone itself.

“I just found it interesting,” Kopchick says of his microscopic fascination. “It has many activities. It decreases fat, it increases lean muscle, and it makes bones bigger. It’s a molecule that does many things physiologically.”

Inspired by the increased interest in molecular biology in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Kopchick got to work studying applications of growth hormone in the Edison Biotechnology Institute of OU as the head of the growth and diabetes section.

In Japan, there are soy sauce and pickled plum flavored Kit Kat bars.

“

People are talking all over the world about what Dr. Kopchick has done, and now many faculty members have potential to become Dr. Kopchick.”

Rathindra Bose Vice President of Research, Ohio University

Chen, now a professor researching cancer at Clemson University, joined the lab in 1987, partially to work closely with Kopchick.

“John is very different from a lot of professors,” he says. “His background is in industry so he has a unique way of teaching and encouraging creative meetings. He gives you a lot of space while challenging your thinking.”

Kopchick and his colleagues exposed mice to varying levels of growth hormone and different diets. One of the earliest discoveries was that the mice exposed to lower levels of growth hormone fared a lot better than their relatively massive brethren. One of the mice even won the Methuselah Foundation’s Mprize as the longestlived mouse on record (and yes, that’s a thing). The theory was that if excessive growth hormone creates a potentially fatal ailment, decreased levels of growth hormone would lead to a longer lifespan.

Still, the results were very controversial within the scientific community.

Dr. Edward List is currently a scientist on Kopchick’s team and has been involved with the mouse research since he was a graduate student in 1992.

“There are a lot of unethical sources promoting it as an anti-aging drug,” he says. “Some people want to take growth hormone in their old age when all our research says it’s age-accelerating.”

Several scientific publications even rejected Kopchick’s findings because it flew in the face of all previous scientific

knowledge.

“It was so counterintuitive it was hard for people to accept the dogma of how things work,” Kopchick says. “They should know better but they just thought this couldn’t be possible. They were not willing to interpret it.”

Despite the initial skepticism, the discovery brought both Kopchick and the university considerable attention. Kopchick and Chen’s discovery is well known in the scientific community, appearing in everything from research papers to textbooks.

“In the early days, I definitely felt like a celebrity,” Chen says.

Perhaps most importantly, however, the success has afforded them the opportunity to continue studying growth hormones.

There is no true end to research. It doesn’t end when the drug is passed off for clinical testing, when Pfizer buys it, when the first patient’s life is saved or the first royalty check comes in.

And make no mistake, the Kopchick lab wants to be involved every step of the way.

“What we really want to be known for is translational research,” Bose says. “We want to know how we can treat these diseases based on the dis-

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cove r ie s we’ve already made.”

Kopchick has another name for it.

“It’s from the laboratory to the clinic, or from ‘bench to bedside,’ and this discovery is a classic example,” he says.

Kopchick and company had discovered that growth hormone and longevity were related but further studies have revealed that growth, aging, obesity

backdropmag.com

23

From Bench to Bedside: The Life Cycle of a Drug

1987 Kopchick and Chen discover the growthhormone receptor antagonist, later named Pegvisomant.

2003 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve Pegvisomant, now branded Somavert by Pfizer, for us.

2011 winter Pegvisomant’s partial royalty rights are sold to an equity firm that can earn the inventors up to $52 million.

spring

The university announces plans to build a $21 million diabetes center for further growth hormone research.

and even diabetes are all interrelated.

“The mice that we generated a long time ago live longer but are also very insulin sensitive,” List says. “They’re very resistant to diabetes because they don’t need much insulin at all to mobilize their glucose. That’s one of our theories: We think that the longevity is a consequence of the insulin sensitivity in these mice.”

So right now, deep in the catacombs of OU’s Konneker Research Laboratories, there are rooms and rooms full of mice. Some of these mice have had growth hormone receptors removed from their liver cells, others from their muscle cells and others from their fat cells. If insulin sensitivity is contributing to the longevity of these mice, the researchers want to know the exact contributions of each type of cell. The lab that’s already brought the university tens of millions of dollars might soon bring even more.

“People are talking all over the world about what Dr. Kopchick has done, and now many faculty members have potential to become Dr. Kopchick,” Bose says.

The lab is focusing its attention and resources on diabetes and cancer research, two of Appalachia’s most pressing health concerns. They hope to become national leaders by continuing to tackle the diseases from the growth hormone perspective.

“If we can have four to five drugs on the market treating cancer and other endocrine diseases, what do you think we’ll be?” Bose says, before answering: “A world famous institution.”

24

backdrop » Spring 2011

Cotton candy was originally called ”Fairy Floss.”

NOT ho w to

GE T

CAUGH T

BY RYAN JOSEPH, PHOTOS BY conor lamb

T

he best way to avoid getting caught is to not do anything illegal. In a college setting, that can be difficult. However, if one decides to drink like a fish on the weekend, then this guide can boost safety and ensure smarter decision-making.

Large amounts of licorice were found in the tomb of King Tut.

backdropmag.com

25

Words of Precaution

T

here is the obvious AlcoholEdu guideline to safe drinking—limit your intake over a particular period of time—but “safe drinking” doesn’t necessarily equal a clean judicial record. Athens Police Department (APD) Chief of Police Tom Pyle outlines the red flags police look for in disorderly partiers. “We focus on actions,” Pyle says. “We just don’t focus on ‘that person’s drunk, let’s go arrest them.’”

For Pyle, arrests and police stops only happen when a student or person is exhibiting belligerent behavior. His department’s ethos counters the popular student assumption that police officers arbitrarily intervene when they see fit. Pyle is only concerned with people who demonstrate actions that could be hurtful to themselves, others and/ or property.

“Somebody could be plowed out of their minds, standing at the bar and we would never talk to that person if all they’re doing is standing there minding his or her own business,” Pyle says. “It’s only when that person turns around, trips coming out of the bar, has blood dripping down their face, is staggering all across the sidewalk [or] yells at girls as they go by. That’s the person we’re interested in arresting.”

Pyle mentions that the greatest chance of not drawing attention to oneself comes in numbers. “Just like you need a designated driver to [drive]

26

backdrop » Spring 2011

a car, you also sometimes need a designated walker when you go out to the bars or to a party—safety and strength in numbers.” Although some battletested partiers can individually navigate their way home, leaving the party or bar without a competent spotter can leave one vulnerable to incrimination.

Managing attorney for the Center for Student Legal Services Patrick McGee offers his own precautionary advice.

McGee’s suggestions, however, don’t concern the actual act of drinking, but rather advise against precarious procurement situations. McGee says that beer runs—a misconceived, situational gray area—should be avoided for those under the age of 21. “It’s surprising how many people will include under-

“

Just like you need a designated driver to [drive] a car, you also sometimes need a designated walker when you go out to the bars or to a party— safety and strength in numbers.”

Tom Pyle

Athens Police Department Chief of Police age people in the car when they go to pick up alcohol,” McGee says. “A car full of students, and one or two people

will go buy the booze. What these students don’t realize is that undercover agents are actually observing them and they’ll often be followed.”

In situations such as these, undercover agents can detain both the driver/ supplier of alcohol for furnishing and the underage occupants for possession. The danger for both parties in this event is not just the evidence itself, but also the frequent inability to refrain from giving confessions. “You don’t catch a fish if it doesn’t open its mouth,” McGee says—a simple motto of his that he shares with everyone. “The first thing they’re going to do is stop them and separate them and get someone to give a confession.

Like, ‘Yes, I bought the booze for this

person who is underage and gave me money.’ And vice-versa. If they keep their mouths shut, they can win all of those cases.”

But it’s Julie Hinds’ advice that should resonate the loudest with students who currently live in houses or apartments. Hinds is the public information officer of the Ohio Investigative Unit—the liquor agency responsible for undercover officers. Hinds says that much of legal confusion relates to undercover officers walking onto private property. Although many students think that printer paper taped to a door ensures their legal safety, Hinds recommends them to reconsider.

“Sure, students can put a sign up that says, ‘No undercovers allowed,’” Hinds

says. “But if we observe unlawful conduct we have a duty to investigate.”

Leaving open unattended kegs, bottles and cans are some of the most common missteps that attract attention from undercovers. Especially during busy weekends, these “open” parties lose their right to privacy when house occupants casually let anyone drink on their property. Instead, Hinds recommends enforcing age restrictions and checking for identification.

Still it would be optimistic to think that houses on party streets such as Palmer would restrict each visitor. It’s the only precaution one can take that gives any legal value to plastic orange fencing and computer paper signs.

IF YOU’RE

C ON F RONTED

U

nfortunately, there’s nothing that can automatically get one out of arrest or citation. The best path—as advised by McGee, Pyle and Hinds—is to act calm and be respectful to the officer. Every situation is unique in how the officer handles the situation.

Certain situations, however, can signal to the apprehended person what he or she possesses in terms of individual rights—assuming, of course, that the student is coherent enough to remember those rights.

This ability to resist giving a full confession—courtesy of the Fifth

backdropmag.com

27

Amendment—can be a student’s saving grace.

In these cases, students can prevent incriminating themselves if they answer minimally: give a name, a place of address and mention that he or she will not answer any more questions until a lawyer is present. It might not protect against the initial arrest, but it could guarantee a win in court.

In situations involving underage drinking, the three major categories—possession, consumption and public intoxication—can be navigable. Although possession charges are hard to fight considering the obvious evidence of alcohol, McGee alludes to his fish analogy that can serve as caution in the latter two categories.

“The key for a student to win a consumption case is that the police have to prove that the student drank the alcohol in Athens County. So they’re going to ask the student, ‘Where was the party and where did you drink?’

28

backdrop » Spring 2011

Close down the questioning, don’t answer the crucial questions and you may very well win the case if you would do just that.”

His advice on situations concerning public intoxication is similar: “[Even if the police] do not know where you drank the alcohol, they can arrest you but they cannot convict you even if they know that you’ve been drinking.” No matter if a student is the passenger in a pulled-over car or drinking in a dorm room, stating general information (name, address) is not only fully within one’s right but also a crucial tip toward preventing a potential conviction.

McGee’s advice is useful, but Pyle is quick to clarify when those rights are permissible. “If the officer is investigating you, it’s true that you don’t have to give information if the officer only has reasonable suspicion,” Pyle says. “However, if the officer is talking to you and they have probable cause that you’ve committed a crime—like if you have a beer in your

hand—it is rare that we will Mirandize people. Usually, we have all of that information that we need to make an arrest beforehand.”

For the student in these situations, it’s important to make the distinction between what Pyle references as “reasonable suspicion” and “probable cause.”

Reasonable suspicion—that the officer believes drinking has occurred, but no concrete evidence is present—is typically accompanied by “May I see your ID?” or “Can I see your ID?” In these cases, the student has every right to deny answering questions without an attorney present; however, a citation might still be issued.

If asked, “I need to see an ID,” however, probable cause is in play, and an individual does need to comply. A drunken student’s physical characteristics like slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and incoherence, are considered evidence enough.

But whether the person is in handcuffs, the back of a cruiser or in a holding cell, it is all the more important to remain polite and responsive.

“If [the officers] get the ID and talk to the person and the person is respectful, they might get off with a warning,” Pyle says. “But if they instantly say, ‘No, you’re not getting my ID. You don’t have probable cause,’ and they start arguing with the officer, they’re probably going to get arrested. It has nothing to do with the fact that they didn’t show their ID. It has everything to do with the fact that they’re belligerent and argumentative.”

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PERSPECTIVES to ta k e away

T

he horror stories of students’ supposed confrontations with police officers have become as notorious around campus as the university’s party school reputation. In reality, any incidents involving police injustices against students are atypical police behavior. Both local police departments—the APD and the Ohio University Police Department—patrol Athens doing what they aim to do: ensure the safety of students and Athens’ residents alike.

Pyle estimates that in a town where the large majority of officer stops are alcohol-related, three-fourths of those stops only involve warnings. Although

the one-fourth chance of citation or detainment is still high, any situation that results in either consequence shouldn’t be regarded hopelessly.

That gut-punch feeling of being approached by an undercover cop at a party or fest can still deflate even the most hardened partier on campus. The badge flash and accompanying “I need an ID” prompt cold sweats, cottonmouth and Rain Man-like stuttering.

Although the situation seems—and probably is—helpless, McGee agrees that proper behavior in certain circumstances can help in avoiding potential convictions.

“There is nothing I can tell a student that will prevent him or her from being arrested,” McGee says. “But don’t resist, be polite and assume if they’re arresting you it will be an unpleasant experience.”

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www.studentlegalrights.org backdropmag.com

b » SEX & HEALTH

BY STEPHANIE STARK

PHOTOS BY KATE ALEXANDER

30

backdrop » Spring 2011

Gifted J

ackson shuffles around campus with his head down, lost in thought. He addresses his professors by first name like old pals as he sails out of the classroom 20 minutes after the final exams are distributed.

He is also 12 years old.

Jackson—a “profoundly gifted” child—enrolled as a student at Ohio University three years ago, at age 9.

Over a decade ahead of his seventhgrade peers, Jackson is interested in math, physics and Greek, and is contemplating a career in either theoretical mathematics or theoretical physics. For him, these aren’t lofty goals.

“When the teacher spends a whole half an hour on the subject, I understand it in five minutes… I pull out a notebook and start doodling,” Jackson says.

Jealous? Not so fast.

According to OU’s admissions regulations, Jackson is not allowed to attend OU full time until he can provide a high school transcript, which he can only obtain at age 16. So while Jackson is acing his tests and doodling his way through Physics 202, he will have to wait at least four more years before he can enroll full time at OU.

adj. \’gif-ted\

His mother Brenda wonders what he will do until then. By the time Jackson is allowed to enroll full time, four years from now, he will probably be overqualified for an undergraduate degree, considering he has been passing undergraduate courses before he hit double digits.

“We need bread and water to live.

Gifted kids need bread, water and knowledge. They need to feed their brains,” Brenda says. “People will say ‘What are you worried about? You’ve got a smart kid.’ But there are a lot of problems. A smart kid doesn’t fit in school, and he’s too young to go to college. They think it’s an elitist kind of thing, but it really is a struggle to keep that brain fed.”

After witnessing Jackson’s exceptionalities in kindergarten and consequently testing him with variations of the IQ test, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) and the SAT, Jackson was determined to be “profoundly gifted”—a ranking three tiers above most undergraduates. But because he was not determined gifted in writing, Jackson was not allowed to accelerate past second grade. “‘Acceleration’ wasn’t in my vocabulary at the time; I didn’t know what to do,” Brenda says. “Your average teacher has no clue. He’s doing college level work—pulling out puzzles once a week is not satisfying.”

Without intellectual challenges, Jackson became depressed, then consequently ill, and missed a significant amount of school. Eventually, Brenda says, he did not want to learn anything anymore. When he did go to school, he holed himself in a corner and read books to pass the time.

“Second grade was downhill,” Brenda says. “I don’t ever want to see him like that.”

Fearing for his mental stability and angry at Jackson’s second-grade teacher and principal, Brenda pulled all of her money out of her 401(k), quit her job and homeschooled Jackson for third grade.

When Jackson and his mother begin to talk about “third grade,” as they call it, even though it was a series of second level college lectures, they look at each other endearingly and smile.

“I brought him back to life,” Brenda says.

Both Jackson and his mother say that the year of their home schooling was the best year of their lives, when they discovered his interests and were able to embrace his exceptionalities.

The college-level curriculum did not feature any English or writing classes, however, his main obstacle. He studied Greek mythology and other science related classes. Even now, he still hates writing for his current classes.

Ultimately, Brenda was unable to continue home schooling him without a job. The single mom had to transition Jackson back to public school after one year. Jackson was put into fourth grade at Warren Elementary School in Marietta for a week. He swiftly accelerated through grade levels from fourth through eighth grade, but was always deterred by his writing scores. Jackson and his mother then decided it was time for him to pursue a college education at age 9.

Brenda chose to move to Athens because she found a job at the Ohio

“

“I have found that it really takes the right administrators who are willing to make these choices for the best of the student.”

Michelle Brown Mother of gifted children

University Credit Union. “We had to fight to get in,” she says. “If he could do anything he wanted, he’d start full time college tomorrow. But there are obstacles in our way. We keep meeting with OU and hoping that we’ll find a way.”

Natalie Kruse, assistant professor in the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, was accelerated through middle school and high school and graduated from OU at 16 with help from her father, who is also a professor.

“I know I had to have a lot of people vouch for me and my ability to succeed,” Kruse says. “There is no front door to assess who can come in. OU’s policy is, ‘Start at 18, finish at 22’— that’s their core business.”

In Jackson’s first year at Athens High School and third year of college, Jackson lacks a completed transcript and is unable to obtain the equivalent until he is 16, as required by Ohio state law. Children determined to be “gifted” in the state of Ohio are expected to be accelerated to high school level, and consequently eligible for PostSecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) programs.

Candace Boeninger, interim director of admissions, says that OU’s restrictive policy aims to protect the importance of on-campus life.

“All gifted kids are referred back to [PSEO],

backdropmag.com

31

because we assume that these kids are so aptly gifted they would be progressed through high school level,” Boeninger says.

Now, Jackson is taking classes at Athens High School in order to obtain the high school transcript, as well as one class per quarter through the PSEO program at OU. “Half the time it’s boring and half the time it’s not exactly as boring,” Jackson says about his high school classes. “It’s like watching Dora the Explorer.”

Unsatisfied with the level of challenge in his high school courses, he watches videos from The Teaching Company of college professors’ lectures to fulfill his idle mind.

Brenda’s difficult experience trying to find an appropriate, affordable and applicable education for Jackson’s tirelessly hungry mind has only discouraged her faith in the current educational system, which Brenda calls a “joke.” The gifted program is disregarded because it applies to such a small minority—a

32

backdrop » Spring 2011

mandate condemning for exceptionally gifted children. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development, an institution in Reno, Nev., that acts as guide for many families with exceptionally gifted children nationwide, ranked Ohio’s policy as moderate, or partially funded by the state.

Carey McDonald, the senior budget and policy associate at the Ohio Department of Education says that because gifted children are such a minority, it is unfortunate that their education is not the highest priority, and attributes policy to Ohio’s respective districts.

“Ohio is a locally controlled state, the policy varies by district,” McDonald says. “It’s sad because there’s never a critical mass… if you live in an area that can’t give you a fancy scholarship, that’s too bad.”

Boeninger asserts that OU works to complement the high school curriculum and abides by the rules set by neighboring school systems, specifi-

cally, Athens City Schools.

But Sharon Berry, an Athens High School guidance counselor says they abide by OU’s policy, when it comes to exceptionally gifted children.

According to a dozen parents of Davidson Young Scholars, this is an issue not unique to our institution, nor to our state.

“It is an insult to gifted children, truly,” says Stacia Taylor, mother of three Davidson Young Scholars in Texas.

“They have marginalized their best and brightest. It is a sad statement on the state’s priorities.”

Davidson Young Scholars­­­—many of which are enrolled in cyber and home schools—attend a promotional yearly camp at OU in which Brenda hopes will showcase the atmosphere in which Jackson has been accepted and enabled. With the right administration, all Davidson Young Scholars may find fulfillment.

To this, Jackson says, “Build it and they will come.”

BIGKID eese h C Grilled

b » sex & health

BY SHANNON MIRANDA

PHOTOS BY Elizabeth SHEFFIELD

For those who are cooking impaired, grilled cheese might be your go-to homemade meal. This gets pretty boring pretty fast. Plus, we’re technically adults now.

It’s time for an upgrade. To enhance your cooking skills and your diet, try the “big kid” grilled cheese.

This grilled cheese isn’t your ordinary melted morsel.

This sandwich is more Panini-like and fits the college student’s taxing health agenda. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s cheap. And, best of all, it may fool your friends into thinking your kitchen competent.

INGREDIENTS Olive Oil/Butter Bread (whole grian for healthier version) Mozzarella or cheese of choice Pepperonis (optional) Tomato Slices

In New England, spruce sap was used to make America’s first gum.

PROCESS

1

Like grilling a regular cheese, turn the heat on low and melt a pad of butter to begin. Choose olive oil for a lighter, healthier sandwich.

2

Place one piece of bread in the pan and place the cheese on top. Mozzarella is usually a good choice, but any cheese you find in the fridge will work. As the cheese melts, check the bread to make sure it doesn’t burn.

3

Once the first slice of bread is golden on the bottom, remove it from pan. Add a second sliver of butter and the second piece of bread.

4

When the second piece of bread is lightly browned, remove it from the pan. Open the sandwich and add sliced tomatoes and/or pepperonis to add some flavor. Pesto can be another tasty addition.

5

Just like your mom used to, cut the sandwich into triangles and serve with marinara sauce on the side.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully upgraded your grilled cheese and cooking skills.

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b » sex & health

Wthe rt h Wait

BY SANDIE YOUNG

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH SHEFFIELD

Pledging not to “Do It” Until They Say “I Do”

T

he bars begin to close as students stumble from stools into the night air. In the wee hours of the morning, Court Street is crowded with young adults, some deciding between their own abodes or a sensual overnight stay. Hands interlocked and bodies intertwined, the walk home persuades many to bear the notorious “walk of shame” when the sun comes up.

Provocative lyrics blare descriptions of sexual encounters and reality television stars enjoy the opportunity for a one-night fling. Magazines give tips on how to do it better, and advertisements don’t shy away from erotic posing. Our generation is seemingly submerged in a hypersexualized culture. According to a sample done in The Journal of Sex Research in the article “No Strings Attached: The Nature of Casual Sex in College Students,” 70% of students who enrolled in college have had casual sex. But there are college students who purposefully choose a life without sex.

Some students at Ohio University defy the influence, and drastically reject ultramodern ideas about physical interaction. They maintain traditional relationships reminiscent of an earlier era. Two OU seniors waited until their engagement to share a first kiss. Another recent OU graduate, Allyson Beam, is a virgin and plans to keep it that way until her wedding day. With a serious

34

backdrop » Spring 2011

boyfriend of three years, Allyson says “No” to sex.

“I want my white dress in my wedding to mean something,“ Allyson says.

At age 14, Allyson went to a religious event about abstinence called, “Silver Ring Thing.” It emphasized the risks of having sex before you’re ready.

The message influenced an idea that changed her life.

She made a firm commitment to keep her virginity, and bought a ring as a symbol. A biblical verse is embossed across the silver background in thin black letters. She put the ring on and never looked back.

But religion is not the main reason why she chooses a celibate lifestyle.

“We have enough to worry about with school and money issues and whatever, you know,” she says, “having to always think, ‘Am I pregnant?’ or ‘Do I have an STD?’—it’s just extra worries that we don’t have to put on ourselves.”

The ring has permanently left its mark as an indent on her finger. She plans to forge the ring with her wedding band someday.

When she left adolescence and entered the bar scene, there was a time when Allyson thought she might rethink her decision. She started dating a guy who had already lost his virginity and couldn’t understand her unusual views on sex. She debated giving up

on her societal resilience. “But then I realized that if someone was trying to make me change my morals, that wasn’t the person I was supposed to be with,” she says.

Her current boyfriend loves that she has saved herself for that special one.

When, and if, they get married they will be each other’s only sexual partners for life. Allyson takes “pride” in her traditional ideas about sex.

“It’s different,” she says. “It sets me apart from people.”

Conservative views are somewhat unrecognizable after a stroll through the bars on a Friday night. However, there are many, like Allyson, who turn away from temptation for personal reasons. These young adults don’t wear aprons, watch I Love Lucy everyday or wear close-toed Mary Janes to The Pub, but they do say “No” to sexual relationships. At a top “party school,” it’s not always easy to maintain the virginal lifestyle.

OU clinched the No. 2 spot for top party schools this past year in The Princeton Review. For some, drinking and sex are like a drawstring bag, you pull one side and the other eagerly follows. According to a sample in “No Strings Attached: The Nature of Casual Sex in College Students,” 65% consumed alcohol or drugs, either previously or throughout their casual sex

Salt water is surprisingly not an ingredient in salt water taffy.

Zac’s religious beliefs shape his values experience. College students embrace having a variety of different relationnew ideas about sex, lust and love, so it about premarital sex. He thinks that ship experiences is important to figurthe casualness of sex steals the intimacy might be hard for some to believe that ing out what he might want later in life. not everyone follows the majority with it can bring to a special relationship.

“I’m only 22 and I don’t really know “It’s something that should only be what I want,” Sam says. “I need to get a blind acceptance. shared with one person,” Zac says.

In the promiscuous atmosphere of lot of different experiences before I can Zac lives off campus with Jordan. a college campus, waiting until mardetermine what is good for me, what riage is not an option for some. Many The two men surround themselves works for me.” with people who enjoy their particuare waiting until later in life to choose He says that when he does find that a lifelong partner, and might not feel lar lifestyle. It’s easier to enforce their perfect match, he wouldn’t have as beliefs and values with roommates and like prolonging the wait for sex. many “questions” to answer. He befriends who feel the same way.

Seniors Niki Bair and Jordan Shirklieves that his experiences will help Allyson says that she was ridiculed man defy the average. They created him to know when it is right. their own relationship Upon close inspecstyle to complement tion, there are young their religious beliefs. adults who make their Both OU students en- We have enough to worry about with own sexual rules based tered college ready for school and money issues and whatever, on personal experia quality party. Feeling ence. They might be unfulfilled, both decided you know, having to always thing, ‘Am I holding hands at Donto join the largest orgakey Coffee, kneeling nization at OU, Cam- pregant?’ or Do I have an STD?” in prayer at church or pus Crusade for Christ. they might be dancing Alyson Beam, Ohio University Graduate Student The two met at a retreat at The Pigskin right and began dating during next to you. in the past for not having sex. She says the fall of 2009. A year later, they are On Friday, April 8, Allyson’s boythat it “got kind of frustrating” after friend became her fiancé. He reengaged and will officially say ‘I do’ a while. on June 17. moved the silver ring from her left But without sex, Allyson says that her Jordan proposed to Niki while walkfinger to replace it with a diamond ing on a Florida beach following an current partnership has become “the ring and a lifelong promise. most intellectually stimulating relaelaborate scavenger hunt. He sank to “To have the ring off and have an tionship that I’ve ever had just because one knee, offered a sparkling ring next engagement ring on is just kind of a to a single rose, and wrote “Marry me?” it’s not based on anything physical.” humbling experience,” she says.

No one lifestyle can be the right in the sand. She accepted the proposal Allyson says that she feels even choice for everyone. Some college stuand the couple shared a first kiss. After better now about her decision to spending a year getting to know each dents enjoy the benefits of casual sex. wait. Some choices lead to hopeful OU senior Sam Edmunds says that beginnings and happy endings. other, they both decided to wait to embark upon a physical relationship.

They base their relationship around their religious beliefs. The two have designed their very own college lifestyle, separate from the bar scene. They put a physical relationship on hold “to honor God because he designed sex,” Niki says. “He created a perfect context for that… and that’s marriage.”

Many factors can influence an outlook. It might be a terrible experience, a friend who loves to give the dirty details, or maybe a positive sexual experience, but underneath every personality are day-to-day decisions.

Jordan believes that it’s never too late to decide you want to wait with a partner. Next year, the married couple plans to travel to Sylvania with Campus Crusade.

Junior Zac Martin will be the president of Campus Crusade next year.

“

Blue M&M’s were introduced in 1995.

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35

b Âť photo essay

36

Junkyard

DogsÂť

Photographer Mark Dawson provides an inside look at the Hot Dogs. entirely unique and uniquely yummy Hillbilly

D

uring the spring of 2010 I was working on an assignment along the Ohio River, photographing a man and the sternwheeler boat he was building from scratch. When I was done, I asked my subject to recommend a good local place to eat.

I like to do this when I travel—if the person I ask doesn’t have any ideas, I can always swing by a chain and get the same burger and fries I’d get anywhere else in the Wendy’s empire—but usually there is an immediate and enthusiastic response. This time was no different: “You’ve got to try Hillbilly Hot Dogs,” which is over in Lesage, W. Va. I didn’t make it across the river until about 7:15 p.m. Hillbilly Hot Dogs closes at 7 p.m.

As I was looking around at the amazing location, feeling about 50% disappointment and

50% fascination, a guy came around the corner of the building and asked me if I wanted some food. I mumbled something to the effect of “Don’t open back up just for me.” I’ve run a restaurant, and I know what it feels like to dirty up a kitchen you just cleaned and closed for the night. By the time I was done mumbling Sonny Knight, the owner of Hillbilly Hot Dogs with his wife, had unlocked the door, ushered me inside the kitchen, and had two hot dogs in the microwave heating up.

While Knight was dressing my dogs with sauce, cheese and onions I had a quick look around and made a few photographs. As I left, brown paper bag and a can of Coke in hand, I promised both Knight and myself I’d come back to do it properly—and eat more dogs, fries and blackberry cobbler. Maybe then he’d even let me pay.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP A Hillbilly Hot Dogs cook gets to work preparing the day’s first Homewrecker.

The creation starts with a one pound all-beef hot dog on a bun baked locally to Hillbilly’s specifications. The chili, coleslaw, tomatoes, and other toppings add another couple of pounds to the total.

Jason Pruitt drove 4 1/2 hours from Boone, N.C., to try his luck at eating the 3 1/2 pound “Homewrecker” hot dog within the 12 minutes required to earn a free T-shirt. He didn’t quite make it.

Multiple layers of graffiti cover nearly every square inch of everything, including the roofs of the school buses that function as dining rooms. Don’t stand still for too long or you may get tagged yourself.

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40

backdrop » Spring 2011

Hillbilly Hot Dogs serves massive hamburgers: the “Single Wide” clocks in at 5 pounds of beef.

Sharie Knight co-founded Hillbilly Hot Dogs together with her husband Sonny.

FUN

WEST STATE STREET

BY HANNAH CROFT, ILLUSTRATION BRITTANY THOMAS

There are plenty of Athens bucket lists floating around out there– but here are a few suggestions that you might not have heard of.

TR MIS

ET TA’S

s Athen

Ohio

AVENUE

THE

RICHLAND

last HURRAH

NELSONVILLE

Mistretta’s Italian Market This little known eatery on North Shafer Street right past University Commons has some of the best Paninis around. They also deliver this and some choice alcoholic beverages until midnight.

PURPLE CHOPSTIX

Write your own

International Street Festival This festival features some of the greatest international cuisine and artistic talents around. It takes place on Court Street this year on May 21.

Write your own

42

backdrop » Spring 2011

Write your own

This gem is located right by The Summit at Coates Run on Richland Avenue. It’s “local, fresh, original and traditional cuisine. It’s not Chinese.”

NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL May 13-15 in Nelsonville, Ohio. This year the headliner is the Flaming Lips. Branch out from yet another Mill Fest, and try out something with a little more regional flavor.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have about 105 calories each.

THE UNION

EAST STATE STREET

STIMSON STREET

CARPENTER STREET

Nelsonville Music Festival Purple Chopstix Conkle’s Hollow hiking trail Mistretta’s Italian Market

MILL STREET

Athens Farmers Market

COURT STREET

International Street Festival

HOCKING HILLS

Conkle’s Hollow hiking trail

Write your own

Serving individuals since 1924

Located in Hocking Hills right off of State Route 374 on Big Pine Road, this hiking path takes you around a rugged, rocky gorge considered one of the deepest in Ohio. At some points on the trail you can be surrounded by 200 feet high cliffs.

Write your own

Athens Farmers Market Named the best farmers market in Ohio, this market for locals is located in a parking lot at 1000 E. State St. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday.

The Milky Way bar’s name was taken from a malted milkshake, not the Earth’s galaxy.

18 W Union St Athens, OH 45701 (740) 593-5060

DOT

Want to be featured in our next issue? Submit your art, photographs and poems to backdropmag@gmail.com.

BY brien vincent

»

Untitled

BY PRADEEP EDUSSURIYA

»

BY Jessica Walsh

Papa’s Suspenders

»

CG performing at the Newport Music Hall

EXHIBIT

Showcasing the most creative minds on campus

Escape

»

BY Devin NOLAN

44

backdrop » Spring 2011

In the 1982 movie E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Reese’s Pieces were E.T.’s favorite candy.

RUTHLESS

COOL STORY,

RANT RAGE

BY ALEXander Lubetkin illustration by skye gould

BRAH

As I examined myself in my bathroom mirror before leaving for the bars Saturday night, a chilling reality swept through my mind: Jesus Christ, I’m a “bro.” When the hell did this happen? Physically speaking, I met pretty much every standard of this dreaded archetype.

Backward New Era baseball cap?

Check.

Bright Ralph Lauren Polo

shirt? Check.

Shoes that absolutely scream “Hey! Hey, look at me?” Check.

I stared at my bottle of Abercrombie & Fitch cologne, wearily contemplating whether or not a couple of squirts would seal my fate as the poster boy of the fraternity-joining, Lil Wayne-loving, party-going group that my generation has come to loathe and mock.

This revelation was pretty difficult to digest. Me? I couldn’t be a bro. I’m way too smart for that, I thought to myself. I’m an English major for Christ’s sake. That has to count for something. At the very least it pushes me toward the “hipster” side of the bro-hipster spectrum, away from one dreaded stereotype and toward another. Yeah… I’m no bro, I tried telling myself as I left the apartment.

Being the neurotic person that I am, I took the liberty of asking a few of my friends how they viewed my style. Every single one of them called me a bro. And not just any bro, a particularly bro-y bro. A bro’s bro, fo sho.’ One of them told me that I should be featured in a Natural Light commercial.

Fine, I thought. Whatever. I get it. I’m a bro.

And that was that. The rest of my night was fine. My IQ didn’t plummet, I didn’t spontaneously decide that roofieing a girl at a bar would be a good idea, and I didn’t develop a taste for Dave Matthews. I woke up the following day as I had the previous three years of my college life: tired and

craving a cup of coffee.

So here I am, writing this as a self-professed bro, pondering over a style that everybody at OU is aware of but few want to be associated with. When did “bro” become such a derogatory term? And, furthermore, is anything really wrong with it? Besides a hearty appreciation for shitty beer, have we bros ever really done anything to deserve whatever animosity may come our way?

Bros are as real as stoners who love Phish and the Grateful Dead are real or band geeks who used to go to your high school are real. Sure, they do exist, but there’s more to them (us?) than the caricatures that get tossed around. If you think that the guy at the bar decked out in “bro” clothes is just another dude subscribing to a style and subsequently isn’t worth your time, fine. If you stand completely still, maybe he won’t be able to see you. God forbid he actually struck up a conversation with you. It’d probably be about lacrosse or beer pong or something.

Remember Chalky Studebaker from Doug? The untouchable athletic specimen who went to Doug’s elementary school and accomplished more by the time he was, like, 13 than Doug ever would in his entire life? He was Nickelodeon’s version of the jock stereotype, idealized to a ridiculous extent. Has anybody ever really met somebody that successful yet one-dimensional? Any athlete I’ve ever met is more than just a pair of basketball shoes or baseball cleats; they are real people with different personalities. In that same light, any “bro” that I’ve ever met is more than what his appearance would indicate.

That’s not to say that I’m going to stop laughing at other people doing particularly bro-y things, or that I won’t get somewhat annoyed when somebody calls me out for what I wear. But I guess I’ve come to terms with it. It’s a style that I willingly choose to follow. And honestly, if being a “bro” means that I’ll never have to wear skinny jeans or cardigans, then that’s probably for the best. Nobody on campus should have to see that.

The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word “xocolatl,” which means “bitter water.”

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