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MUSIC AND INCELS AND EROTICA, OH MY!

FALL 2026 | VOLUME 20 ISSUE #1

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G THIN LT P R SHA ED ADU IS A D T (FIN TRUS OUT TH A T AND ELP CU HAPE!) H TO UNKY S F

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LILIA SANTERAMO MANAGING EDITOR NORA BARNARD COPY CHIEF ISABELLA ARDETTO SECTION EDITORS MAGGIE BONFIGLIO, MADELEINE COLBERT, ELEANOR CRUZ, GRANT SIBLEY WRITERS NORA BARNARD, LUCIANA AVILA, MATTHIAS AGGANIS, MAGGIE BONFIGLIO, MADELEINE COLBERT, ELEANOR CRUZ, LILIA SANTERAMO MARKETING DIRECTOR DREW HOFFMASTER MARKETING PHOTOGRAPHER KELLY PRIM CREATIVE DIRECTOR MATTHIAS AGGANIS ART DIRECTOR LILLY COCHRAN

DESIGNERS MATTHIAS AGGANIS, LILLY COCHRAN, CASSANDRA DAGGETT, ANNABELLE THOMAS, KAM THOMPSON, GABRIEL VANIA, DREW HOFFMASTER PHOTO DIRECTOR SKYLAR SEAVEY ASSISTANT PHOTO DIRECTOR NORA DAHLBERG PHOTOGRAPHERS KELLY PRIM, SKYLAR SEAVEY, NORA DAHLBERG, MATTHIAS AGGANIS, MAGGIE BONFIGLIO SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR HADLEY LYNCH DIGITAL DIRECTOR TOBY SUTHERLAND VIDEO DIRECTOR SHELBY GIBSON COVER PHOTO CARLEY HINTON. JULIA PARENTE MASCOT B.D. Quackdrop

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Table of CONTENTS THE DROP IN PLAIN VIEW 6 How Local advocates are working to preserve the history of The Adena people. COMMUNITY KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 8 Everything you need to know about the red zone and personal safety before a night out in Athens.

ONE OF THE GREATS BY: LAUREN CHASE - @c.l.chase.0.2

INFOGRAPHIC VOTING 101 10 Backdrop’s guide to midterms you can't fail. FEATURE GOING ON TOUR 12

What delivery from the messenger I cannot unshoot, The secret of Death or the seeds of a primordial fruit— Which will make me holier than thou with the least exertion? If at all possible, I’d also like an audience and a sizable commission. Excluding the regurgitation of words I stole from others, What do I actually believe? My sense of self shudders. I can only look in one eye at a time, my grip on you is slackening, To point it out would reveal to you that I was never really listening. I am Plato at the mouth of a cave screaming answers To questions no one even fucking asked. I am Socrates, an inquisitive toddler asking: Why? Why? Why? Answer: Go to bed or go to hell— Anywhere—so long as you finally shut up.

Eleanor Cruz spends a weekend exploring Athens’ DIY house show scene. LIBERATED TERRITORY 18 As the plaque on College Green states, “students have long used the space to make their voices heard and shape Ohio University." ARTDROP SKETCH OF A STILL FROM DAYS OF HEAVEN 22 PHOTO ESSAY COURT STREET CATWALK 22 As students strut to class the bricks become their personal runway. VOICES MATTHIAS MANSPLAINS IT ALL! 24 Scarrie Chadshaw’s man-swers to gluing the glass ceiling back together without any help! SEX & HEALTH MY KINK IS CATHARTIC 26 The truth behind erotica’s mainstream takeover.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR It’s that time of year. Students old and new are literally and figuratively lost as they walk around campus, the squirrels are blissed out on Court Street goodies overflowing from trash cans and professors are the only people anyone can rely on to not wear pajamas to class. Despite its reputation for whimsy, Athens isn’t immune from the pedestrian, nor is it an entirely unpredictable town. One thing has changed. Backdrop has been a staple of campus culture for almost 20 years, but as you may have noticed, this issue looks (and feels) a little different from previous editions. We have a significant milestone to celebrate. The magazine is older than this year’s batch of freshmen! Though we clearly have a model suitable for longevity, we don’t want to stagnate.

Lilia Santeramo | Editor-in-Chief backdropmag@gmail.com

Backdrop was founded in 2007 to give creative and intelligent students a place to cover issues that are important to them with all the style and verve they want. In keeping with that spirit, we are embracing fresh ideas and reaffirming our position as a two-way line of communication. This magazine is by students, for students. Simply put, we’re doing this for you, and we want your feedback and participation (write me a letter at backdropmag@gmail.com, for instance). In these pages, you’ll find informative pieces such as Luciana Avila’s exploration of the under-discussed Adena Mounds in The Plains and Madeleine Colbert’s guide for new voters. Elsewhere, Eleanor Cruz explores the grungy basements and littered backyards of house show venues, and Matthias Agganis lays down the laws of manhood. You will also encounter art by Amelia Adkins, a poem by Lauren Chase and other wonderful works of writing. Happy Reading, Lilia Santeramo

Backdrop | FALL 2026

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How Local advocates are working to preserve the history of The Adena people. BY LUCIANA AVILA | DESIGN BY DREW HOFFMASTER

efore Ohio University was founded in 1804 and before Athens was settled in 1797, the Adena people called the Ohio River Valley home. The Adena people inhabited the area from 500 BC to 100 AD, leaving behind earthworks, tools and other artifacts. A town just 10 minutes away from Athens, The Plains, is home to the third largest Adena mound. Despite having all this history and culture in our own backyard, it remains something that isn't commonly known or talked about. In the Southeast Ohio region, there are two distinct periods of Native American history. The first was the pre-history period. Hunter-gatherer cultures inhabited the area for more than 15,000 years. The next period is characterized by being one of a more stationary culture. Mound building began during this era. The mound builders were divided into three categories: Early Woodland or Adena; Middle Woodland or Hopewell; Late Woodland or Fort Ancient cultures. The different types of earthworks built by these groups is what made them distinct from one another. The Adena were not one tribe, but rather multiple interconnected communities. They were mobile people and were hunters and gatherers. Their burial practices, building extensive mounds, would become the thing they’re most known for today.

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Archeologists discovered the Adena people through the excavation of the mounds. The name Adena comes from the “Adena” estate, which is the site at which the first artifacts and mounds were found. The mounds gave archeologists an insight into just how advanced the Adena people were. “There were more than 10,000 mounds and more than 100 complex geometric earthworks in Ohio. It would have required the movement of more than 100,000,000 cubic feet of earth by hand,” says Tom O'Grady, director of outreach and director emeritus of the Southeast Ohio History Center. Preserving these mounds has proven to be a challenge. There are mounds all around the state, even some by The Ridges in Athens. Throughout time, railroads, homes, canals, highways, golf courses, homes and other buildings have been built on mound sites. Many mounds are found on private property, contributing to the difficulty. Obtaining funding to preserve the mounds has also been challenging. Efforts to preserve the remaining sites include maintenance, recognizing them as World Heritage Sites, and spreading awareness. “When we look back at preservation efforts, we never regret anything we have preserved, but we frequently mourn what we have destroyed,” says O’Grady. Local groups and organizations have been

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Map of Mounds in the Ohio River VALLEY working consistently to preserve what they can. Lawrence Greene is a co-founder of Rising Appalachia, a non-profit that educates about and works to preserve the region’s natural and cultural history. Rising Appalachia offers mound tours and sets up educational events. “I’ve developed a lot of the different tours, and we’ve worked with some of the non-recognized Ohio groups, like the Mingo tribal group, in doing interpretive signs that were in the ancient Mingo language, and just trying to do as much as we can to bring information out,” says Greene. One of the annual events held in the area is The Plains Indian Mound Festival, organized by the Plains Lions Club and held every October at The Plains Community Park. The festival includes activities for kids, booths with artifacts from The Plains mounds, music from a drum group, pony rides, ice cream and bouncy castles. “We try to keep this festival free so that anybody can come. We do a lot of different activities for kids, so they can come in and have a weekend of activities that are also educating them about the mounds,” says Greene. Preservation can also look like keeping sites neat. A local organization has a cleaning system in place. “The Archaeological Conservancy, preserve[s] sites, relying on local custodians to take care of them,” says senior archeologist at the World Heritage Program, Dr. Brad Lepper.

When European settlers arrived, land was taken from the Native Americans. “Native Americans were considered savages,a category of existence below humans but above the animal kingdom,” says O’Grady. Many Indigenous people were forcibly relocated to reservations in places like Kansas and Oklahoma. Some were able to maintain somewhat of a presence in Ohio. Ohio remains a place where Native American history is all around us. Especially in the names of Ohio’s towns and geographical features. Rivers like the Cuyahoga and the Hocking, and counties like Geauga County and Delaware County, are a few examples of names that come from Native Americans. Native American history in Athens is often not talked about enough, despite being a prominent presence in our own backyard. “I wish every student had [an] opportunity to learn about the mounds. It should be something that everybody [. . .] should hear about at least once before they get done with school,” says Greene. As for present times, the Native American tribes in Ohio remain here today,despite the numerous attempts made throughout history to remove Natives from their land. The efforts to preserve their important sites and history will continue into the future. d

community

BY NORA BARNARD | DESIGN BY KAM THOMPSON

Everything you need to know about the red zone and personal safety before a night out in Athens.

he first few weeks of college are full of new experiences. New friends, late nights, parties, packed weekends on Court Street and a party on every corner. For many students, especially first-years, the beginning of the fall semester is a time to figure out how to navigate a new environment. But with the excitement of a new semester comes the responsibility of knowing how to stay safe and look out for the people around you. On college campuses across the country, the first six to ten weeks of the semester are commonly referred to as the “red zone.” During this time period, students, especially first-years, experience an increased risk of sexual violence. According to a study conducted by Alyse Campbell, associate director of student well-being and gender-based violence prevention, at Johns Hopkins University, more than 50 percent of assaults that happen on a college campus happen during this time period, citing data from national campus sexual assault research. The combination of new social environments, parties, alcohol and unfamiliar surroundings can create situations in which students may be more vulnerable. At Ohio University, campus organizations and students are working to make sure safety remains part of the conversation as the semester gets underway. The Ohio University Police Department, or OUPD, and the Survivor Advocacy Center have once again organized “Coffee with a Cop” at The Front Room. The event, held at the beginning of the fall semester, is free to students and gives members of the Ohio University community an opportunity to meet with local officers, ask questions, and discuss campus safety. OUPD also offers Rape Aggression Defense, or RAD, a self-defense program held each semester. The 12-hour course is divided into four sessions and teaches participants techniques for responding to potentially threatening situations.

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The program is led by Evan Wilkof, OUPD’s community relations officer. Campus safety isn't only about knowing how to defend yourself. According to Wilkof, it is also about recognizing situations that could escalate and knowing when to ask for help. “When alcohol is involved, we find that there's certainly a greater likelihood that violence could occur,” Wilkof says. “While random acts of violence are quite rare on campus, we see that if there is a pre-existing disagreement or dispute, as they consume alcohol and the night goes on, it can certainly exacerbate the likelihood of a confrontation.” Wilkof reiterated that students should not hesitate to contact OUPD if something seems unusual, even if they are unsure whether what they are seeing qualifies as an emergency. “Being a strong bystander is incredibly important, and no bit of information is too small to report to the police department,” Wilkof says. Students, he explained, are often the ones who notice red flags first. “A lot of the time we rely on our community, our students, our faculty and staff to be the eyes and ears where we always can't be,” Wilkof says. “They could very well have the last piece of the puzzle.” Although OUPD does not respond to calls from Court Street bars, the department still encourages students to think about safety when they leave campus. For students who regularly spend their weekends on Court Street, that can mean making a plan before heading out, staying connected with friends and knowing how everyone will get home. Juniors Anya Nelson and Adriana Stockard have both learned to make safety part of their routine when going out. Stockard says one of her biggest priorities is being surrounded by people she trusts. “I always make sure that I'm with people who can get me

community home safely.” Stockard says, “I make sure that my phone is always charged. That way, I can easily get in touch with somebody.” For Nelson, feeling safe when going out also means knowing which spaces allow her to be herself. Nelson says she doesn’t necessarily feel safe at frat parties on campus. “I feel like most of the frats are not very welcoming,” she explains, “At any frat, I’m not public about being with my girlfriend or things like that.” As for bars on campus, Nelson says there aren’t any she would feel unsafe in, but there are certain areas her friends avoid due to backlash. “I know it's not so much of an issue for girls,” she explains, “but some of my guy friends who are openly gay, or you could say it's obvious from how they dress or act, have told me, or I've witnessed, they won't really be able to get into certain bars, like North End [Kitchen + Bar] or [The] C.I. They get denied all the time.” On the topic of safe bars for LGBTQ groups, Nelson suggests The Union Bar and Stephen’s On Court. “I would say, like, obviously The Union is really safe,” Nelson says. “And this might be controversial, but Stephen’s [is safe]. I feel like there's a very wide range of people at [Stephen’s], and I always meet some really cool people at [Stephen’s] that are most of the time, gay, and no one seems to really have an issue there.” Stockard, on the other hand, has a positive view on fraternity parties and typically only avoids “townie” bars off campus. “[From my experience]—and this isn't me trying to be politically correct just because I'm in Greek life— I honestly haven't experienced anything or seen anything where I've wanted to avoid a specific fraternity and its parties,” she says. “I know that's not everyone's situation, but I haven't seen anything like that.” Stockard's main bar to avoid is the Smiling Skull Saloon on West Union Street due to catcalling. “I've been in situations where I've walked past those townie bars, and like, older guys will be standing outside and just kind of looking at me weirdly or will like, say something to get my attention and like, ooh that's creepy. So I just keep it moving,” Stockard explains. While Nelson and Stockard have different experiences with fraternity parties, bars and the people they encounter downtown,

both agree that staying aware and knowing your surroundings are important parts of going out safely. For students experiencing Court Street for the first time, their advice comes down to knowing your limits, staying with people you trust and being aware of your surroundings. Stockard encourages incoming students to keep their surroundings in mind while enjoying their time uptown. “Just be smart. Be aware of your surroundings. Try not to get into any trouble out at the bars or even on Court Street,” Stockard says. For Nelson, staying safe is also about finding people and spaces where you feel comfortable. She encourages freshmen to stay with a group while still being open to meeting new people. “I would say make sure you stay with a group for sure. And just get to know people. But also, be aware that there are some people at OU that can be really rude and judgmental,” Nelson says. “But most people, as long as you approach the situation with an open mind and don't go into it with, like, 'Oh, this bar is judgmental, whatever,' you can meet some really cool people.” The start of college is about figuring things out, finding your people, discovering your favorite places and learning how to navigate a new environment. For students heading out on Court Street or attending their first parties of the semester, safety doesn't have to mean missing out on those experiences. Whether it means staying with a group, keeping a phone charged, knowing which spaces feel comfortable, or simply trusting your instincts when something feels off, a little preparation can go a long way. As the semester gets busier and the nights get longer, looking out for yourself also means looking out for the people around you. At Ohio University, the best nights don't have to come at the expense of feeling safe. d

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Voting 101

Backdrop’s guide to midterms you can't fail BY MADELEINE COLBERT | DESIGN BY GABRIEL VANIA

lection season dominates the media every two years with campaign ads and political rallies, yet many first-time voters find themselves lost on election day. For college students, navigating the voting process can raise a number of questions. As the midterm elections swiftly approach (Nov. 3) , there’s no better time to clarify them. How do I even register to vote?

Can I vote in Athens even if it’s not my home county?

In Ohio, registering to vote can be done online, in person at your county board of elections or by mail as long as you provide proper identification. Shantelle Mclaughlin, deputy director at the Athens County Board of Elections, explains how to register online through the Ohio Secretary of State website (ohiosos.gov/ elections/register-to-vote). “[Students] can go online to register to vote, but when they do it, they need their Ohio driver's license number and the last four digits of their [Social Security].” she says. This must be done at least 30 days before the election you plan on voting in. All states have slightly different requirements to register to vote, so make sure to check the requirements if you’re planning on voting in a different state!

Yes, as long as you register with your college address as your permanent place and address of residency. You cannot be registered to vote with multiple addresses, though, as that is illegal. Many students still maintain permanent residency in their home state, meaning they need to vote in that state. Mail-in ballots or voting early in person are their best options.

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How do I even vote early or by mail? Early voting and mailin ballots are referred to as absentee voting, or absentee ballots. These ballots must be requested 90 days before an election. Requesting ballots is an easy process. “Students can come to our office and get an absentee request, and then they can fill it out, and we can send it to their other county, or they can call their county and get one mailed to them,”

Mclaughlin explains. No reason needs to be given to request an absentee ballot in Ohio. Once filled out, these must be delivered in their correct return envelope to be either mailed or dropped off in a designated absentee ballot box found at your county board of elections. Voting can be done in person up to about four weeks before Election Day. Many students vote early during their fall break, so they don’t have to worry about absentee ballots. There are also provisional ballots that allow people to record their vote when there are issues or questions of voter eligibility. This can happen for many reasons, such as showing up at the wrong polling location or forgetting a valid ID. If your address is outdated or you miss the deadline to register to vote, you can still request to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots allow people to record their vote while their eligibility is being verified. I’m voting in Athens, but I don’t know my polling location. Where do I vote? Polling locations in Athens have changed for this upcoming voting

infographic season. If you’re an Athens resident, you can check your voter registration on the Athens County Board of Elections website to see the correct polling place for you. I registered to vote during the 2024 presidential election, but now I have a different address. What should I do? In Ohio, you can use the same online voter registration system to update your voter registration that you initially used to register. You should verify that all of your voter information is up to date before voting to ensure you are eligible when Election Day arrives. I think I registered to vote before, but I’m not sure? Checking if you’re registered to vote is easy! Voter registration can be checked through your state's Secretary of State website. In Ohio, all you need to do is enter your first name, last name, and the county where you're registered to vote. “[Each county] should have their own site where they can check voter registration information. It says how to register, the registration deadlines, polling location, name, address, precinct, and polling location,” McLaughlin says. My name changed. Do I have to re-register? You do not have to completely re-register to vote. In Ohio, there is a voting registration update form which must be printed out and turned in either in person at your county

board of elections or by mail before the voter registration deadline. If you happen to miss the registration deadline after a legal name change, there’s still a chance to vote a regular ballot: complete a Notice of Name Change (Form 10-L) at your polling place and provide proof of the legal name change, along with a legal identification showing both the new and old name. In Athens, only a court document is needed to update voter registration. A marriage certificate is also allowed. Ohio does not require voters to declare gender on their ballots, and an individual cannot be denied on that premise. What if I have questions on Election Day? Poll workers are there to help you, so do not be afraid to ask for help. Poll workers choose to work Election Day because they want to make sure people have the ability and access to vote. They will be glad to answer any questions you may have. In Ohio, you’ll also commonly see volunteers from Ohio Election Protection, who will be around to assist with questions and issues of voting rights.

students should fight to uphold. Ohio is also positioned to make large political swings as the 2026 midterms become increasingly competitive with both a senate seat and governor up for grabs. Multiple important, yet contentious issues, are being thrown into the court of public opinion during this midterm season. Sample ballots can be found on your state's secretary of state website, which showcases ballots by county so you are able to see exactly who and what is on the upcoming ballot. Every vote is one small step toward change, and no one can make a difference alone. Stay informed, read about the issues and candidates, stand up for your beliefs at rallies or political protests and make sure to cast your ballot in the upcoming election. Make your voice heard! d Backdrop Mascot?

What's the point of voting?

BACKY DROP

It can be easy to feel hopeless or think your vote is too small to make a difference. But as cliché as it may sound, every vote counts, especially in midterm and state elections. Athens is home to a politically active community with a long and storied history of demanding change, a legacy

MATTHIAS B.D. QUACKDROP YOUR VOICE MATTHIAS in BLUE

VOTE in the Midterms

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GOING ON TOUR ELEANOR CRUZ SPENDS A WEEKEND EXPLORING ATHENS' DIY HOUSE SCENE BY ELEANOR CRUZ | DESIGN BY BY ANNABELLE THOMAS | PHOTOS BY: CAYDEN ANTHONY, MEGAN YOUNG

y experience with house shows is limited. This becomes clear as my chaperone (my editor) Lilia, and I navigate Mound street, where many of Athens’ most popular venues are. House shows are not my typical scene and neither is journalism, so on friday, she drags me out to get interviews. I have never been to Mound, so the trek uphill is surprising because it is steep, and the street is far from where I had envisioned it. When I ask, “Do you know the address?” Lilia says, “No, but I imagine we’ll hear it.” This makes sense, as house shows have a tendency to announce themselves before arrival, like royalty preceded by fanfare. We hear the music and turn the corner to see a small house on the top of a hill

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with smokers hanging out on the porch and other attendees scattered in the backyard. At house shows, the music is loud and it’s hard to hear the vocals over the guitar and drums. Though I like to watch the mosh pit and the musicians if I can see them, my domain is toward the back of the crowd. It’s still loud in the back, but here it’s a little easier to talk, and there are less people intentionally bumping into you. This is where socializing happens. I bounce around Top of the Mound, and I run into my high school best friend, whose makeup looks cakey in the dim lighting. I hug one of my old classmates, tell her we need to catch up and introduce her to said high school best friend, but I say her full name instead of the name she goes by, revealing how little we truly know each other. I sit on a tree branch and talk to a girl about my nose ring. I suspect that she is flirting with me, but I suspect that most people are flirting with me. Then, I am introduced to a guitarist, writer and vocalist named Finn Shannon. He plays in three bands at the moment, and his new band, Blithe, has just performed for the first time. “I think house shows are very intimate,” Shannon says. “I think a lot of people know each other, and it's somewhat prominent in the music scene in terms of knowing people's houses. Everyone knows “Blithe” sings with guitarist Felix Tanner house show venue Top of the Mound

feature each other, and you walk around [and] you're talking to everybody.” This is true. Everybody does know everybody. The last house show I went to was in April, and it was a show held in an old frat house, where I drank too many beers and ended up lying on the grass, unable to respond to friends as they gathered around me. Before I was on the ground, I ran into an elementary school friend who turned out much more alternative and decidedly cooler looking than I did. I also ended up approaching two old classmates and a guy whose name I didn’t know but had seen regularly at Tuesday night trivia. Most college students have been to a house show or a house party. We know the sweaty bodies, the litter, the inability to hear people. We know the atmosphere. We might know the feeling of being high and sensing everyone’s desperation for human connection. But what becomes a point of curiosity are the bones of these shows, the houses themselves and the hosts who are coordinating the whole thing. In July, I texted Cayden Anthony on Instagram as I lingered outside and stared at a bed of fresh dirt and bright flowers. I figured the landscaping must be the work of a neighbor and definitely not a young man tending to the “curb appeal” of his college rental. He opened the door. I was greeted by a tall guy with long, wavy blond hair wearing a black t-shirt with a metal band’s name across the chest. I followed him outside August 28 at

to stand beside him and stare at his backyard, a concrete slab. The space was slightly littered, and he clarified that everything would be cleared out to make room for house shows during the fall semester. Presumably, hundreds of people would trample through this space in the upcoming year. I reached out because I wanted to know the ins and outs of living inside a house show venue. Anthony let me inside, and I followed him through a narrow hallway that opened up to a kitchen with a large blue drumset in the center. To the right was an alcove with a large couch and television crammed into it. Along the walls were flags and beer boxes and signs. We both sat down on the worn couch, and throughout the interview, I stared at an Airheads wrapper that was sitting by my left foot. Anthony told me about the founding of The Slab, which was established in the spring of 2026. “The Slab opened because I wanted to make a band, " Anthony says. “How many people say they wish they would have been in a band in college? So, we [Anthony and his roommates, Joshua Beltz and Darrien Blackmon] start getting the band stuff going, and nobody wants to let us play. And then I’m like, honestly, it’ll probably be easier to make a house show venue.” The Slab’s situation is unique, particularly because they’re tasked with playing as well as hosting. Anthony describes the day of a show as chaotic.

feature “It's great. Like, I wouldn't do this if I didn't love it,” Anthony says. “It's just that sometimes I'm drinking a beer while showering, while eating a burrito, and I've got to be on stage in 30 minutes. And it's like, ‘dude, come on!’ And then after the show's done, my buddies are like, ‘All right, let's go to the bars’, and I'm like, ‘I'm going to bed. I can't.’” Despite the effort required to prepare for hosting a show, Anthony expresses clear joy at hosting house shows throughout the interview. “The Slab is just a part of me that I'm bringing out. And all my friends are nurturing that alongside me, and it's just genuinely beautiful. Like, The Slab is awesome, man.” On Sunday, I interviewed Top of the Mound Host Megan Young, who compared to Anthony, describes a more hand-off approach to hosting. “[The bands] reach out and kind of put [the show] together themselves," Young says. "We just [provide] the house, basically, and there is little stress with setting up the equipment.” “In my interviews, all of those who participate in house shows cite community as the reason they began hosting or have continued to host. For Anthony, hosting is about creating a space for his friends and making sure it’s welcoming to all. For Top of the Mound, hosting provides an opportunity to enjoy the shared love of music and fundraise. On Friday they used a cover charge to collect money for a local cause called Rural Action. “We just love music. Honestly, we love supporting local bands and helping them out by giving them publicity and bringing a community together of people that also love music. It was really fun doing a fundraiser for this past show because we ended up raising a lot of money, which was awesome,” Young says.

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While house shows do a lot of good for their broader communities, there is the concern that they’re disruptive to their neighbors or that a show may result in property damage, especially if the hosts are renting their house. If someone is concerned about throwing a house party, the general rule of thumb is notifying and speaking with neighbors. This can look like Top of the Mound notifying neighbors and trying to play within quiet hours or The Slab’s willingness “to pay out neighbors to avoid them calling the cops.” As for the renting problem, I know of landlords that have had a hard time showing up for renters when their ceilings were falling down, they had mice or their windows were shattered. Landlords are antithetical to building the community that house shows aim to foster. Really, landlords are sometimes not even residents of Athens, let alone participants in student culture, so they likely won’t know about the house shows unless someone reports them or there is property damage. Young corroborates: “To be honest, our landlords are terrible, so they really don't check in with us at all," she says. "I don't think that they would ever even find out [about the shows], and if they did, they probably wouldn't care too much.” Even if hosts are facing repercussions, they may decide that community is worth the price of damages. “Fuck the landlords,” Anthony says. “Yeah. Easy. I’ve accepted that my security deposit’s gone. I don’t care. I’m gonna have a lot of fun doing it.” Although house shows can be disruptive events, hosts still give a lot of consideration to how their shows can serve people. For example, when asked what makes a good venue, Anthony mentions being purposeful about accommodating guests. “Our society is very limited

The band Montclaire rock out August 28 at house show venue Top of the Mound for the venue’s semester-opening performance.

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on places where you can meet and interact with someone outside of work and school, so I would like to think a venue really should be a third space,” he says. Not only are house shows social centers for established communities, but they also serve as spaces for creatives to actualize their visions and build new communities. There is no shortage of people who want third spaces or bands that want to perform. Booking at a regular venue might be difficult and venues like The Slab or Top of the Mound highlight the appeal of house shows. Not only can anyone attend, but arguably, anyone can host one as well. “House shows are very good [because] any band can play there. And if a band can't get a gig at The Union, which is extremely difficult, you can throw a house show and it's super easy and DIY. All you need is a couple amps and extension cords, and you're good,” Shannon says. Because hosts consider genre when pairing bands together, there are particular niches that may have an easier time playing house shows, like indie rock. However, metal bands like Anthony’s may need to carve out a space for themselves in the music scene in Athens. I remember a friend, Spencer, exclaiming, “Athens needs a better EDM scene!” Spencer went on to host his own electronic music show in the outset of the year. On Saturday, my friend Mya and I trek up a steep hill to a plot of land behind a new Mexican restaurant named Frida’s. We are greeted with green strobe lights, a small but energetic crowd and a 30-something DJ in a rocking chair in the corner. He’s sitting with a sound board stretched across his lap. Along the small plot of land are concrete walls covered in works of graffiti that read “who would Jesus bomb?” and the like.

What strikes me is the difference in energy at this show. Although there are only about twenty to thirty people, about half of them end up joining a conga line. Others are dancing energetically. Mya and I laugh as two frat boys walk up, stare at the scene and then turn around, looking confused. This is the most enjoyable crowd of the weekend. I am reminded of something Shannon said about house show venues yesterday. “It's where the community is, you know, and I think that is very important and vital in a music scene. It's less pretentious. Yeah, it's just people having fun.” d

Garrett Reade of the band Montclaire plays August 28 at house show venue Top of the Mound for the venue’s semester-opening performance.

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BY MAGGIE BONFIGILO DESIGN BY GABRIEL VANIA

As the plaque on College Green states, "students have long used the space to make their voices heard and shape Ohio University"

hroughout my freshman year, I spent a lot of time between classes relaxing on College Green. I enjoyed the quiet peoplewatching, students rushing across brick paths to their next class and the squirrels skittering through the fallen leaves. In early October, that routine was interrupted by Heralds for the King. Those Westboro Baptist Church wannabes, with the garish "Hell Awaits" signs. But they didn’t have the Green to themselves for long. At least a hundred students came to counter-protest, donning pride flags, even hauling up a DJ booth. What was an attempt to shame Ohio University students became an outpouring of love and acceptance for not only the LGBTQ+ community but

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also for gay music and expression. I grew up in a small town where MAGA signs were as common as welcome mats and where Patriot Front once marched through the square. Standing on College Green and watching students turn hatred into something celebratory felt revolutionary. Ohio University is a uniquely politically active campus and an epicenter of left-leaning voices surrounded by a sea of red. There is a spirit of political engagement here unseen in the suburbs between Athens and Columbus and the miles of rolling hills leading down to Morgantown. We are the campus that chased Kaitlin Bennett out and counterprotested Myron Gaines. Ohio University students are rarely satisfied with an unjust status quo, and that has been the case since its inception. As retired film professor Tom Hayes put it, “... the question of activism at OU. That goes back. Way back.” If anyone would know Ohio University activism, it would be Hayes. An OU alumnus and professor, he has spent decades working on social-issue documentaries and advocating for Palestinian human rights. His activism has taken him from getting arrested at a Vietnam protest and being shelled in Cambodia to two flotilla missions attempting to break the blockade of Gaza. OU’s history of activism stretches beyond any single time period or political movement. From the fight against slavery and segregation to prohibition to protests against war and apartheid, students have repeatedly used the university as a place to challenge the world around them. “OU was the very first university in the United States to admit an ex-slave,” Hayes says. When asked about his experience as a student, Hayes remembers a similar view of

feature College Green as today, even if student activism was much more confrontational. “There used to be box edges along the whole front of the green. The police wouldn’t even drive by because people would pull rocks out of the paths and knock out their windows,” says Hayes. Hayes wasn’t the only alum to remember a politically charged College Green. Thom Fisher recalls that during the Vietnam war, lingering tear gas from the previous night’s riots often made College Green impossible to cross in the morning. According to Fisher, clashes between students and the police were common and could often turn violent. “To be stereotypical, the local born-and-bred Athens cops, many of whom could be described in a hillbilly nature, thought, ‘Hey, it's our chance to shoot some rubber bullets and knee knockers,’” Fisher says. College Green was an independent space where students felt free to challenge authority. “It was liberated territory,” Hayes says. “There was just a spirit of the place that was like coming to Amsterdam in a lot of ways. I mean, it was just a very free space for human beings, and I think it had a profound effect on education.” Evidently, College Green has witnessed more history than the fun facts your tour guide told you about Lyndon B. Johnson. Hayes remembers watching the fall of Saigon and seeing students celebrate on campus. “When Saigon fell in ’75, there was celebration on campus. There was a beautiful sort of victory painting that was put in the middle of the Green,” Hayes recalls. At OU, that tradition of protest continued into the next generation. When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, Hayes says the backlash from students and faculty was enormous. “When the war on Iraq started that day at the corner, that intersection of Court and Union, just spontaneously filled with faculty and students. More OU people were arrested the day that the Iraq War started than on any campus in the world,” he says. According to The Athens Messenger, 39 students and locals were arrested that day. Student activism today may look a little different from what alumni remember. Riots and arrests are less common today, even as students organize political groups, protest university decisions, campaign for causes and try to make sense of a rapidly changing political landscape. For Tess Warren, secretary of the Ohio Student

Association, student activism starts with making politics feel accessible. “One of the things I deeply care about is voter participation and participation in local politics,” Warren says. “Change always starts at the local level, and then it builds up.” The Ohio Student Association officially became an organization at OU last September. You may recognize them from their iconic red shirts, immaculately designed flyers and Instagram. Warren says the group was created because students needed a place to organize after Senate Bill 1. “We knew that we had to bring OSA to OU because students were mad and they were confused and they didn’t really know what was happening,” Warren says. For Warren, student activism doesn't have to be intimidating or pretentious. “There’s something wonderful about being a student organization that is geared toward people who are young in politics,” Warren says. “That means we get to post memes, we get to post silly stuff, we get to post parodies, and these [posts] are the ones that make politics feel less scary to engage in.” But behind the memes is a more serious goal: collective power. “Because if I go knocking on the president’s door as a singular student, I’m not going to do

feature much,” Warren says. “But if I have a crowd of a bunch of students behind me, it’s going to do a lot more.” Warren notes that collective power is especially important at a time when students are watching the foundations of higher education crumble after repeated targeting from lawmakers. “If you notice that the pride and multicultural centers got taken away, that all of a sudden syllabi were a lot more restricted on what they could say, faculty lost the right to strike, and scholarships were removed, majors were removed, that was S.B. 1,” Warren says. The changes have affected more than student organizations and university policies. Warren has noticed a growing hesitation among students and faculty to discuss certain issues in the classroom. “If we’re in a classroom setting, [professors] get tight-lipped, and it’s frustrating because all you want to do is talk to these professors and have an engaging conversation, but they feel like they can’t anymore,” Warren says. With students and professors alike holding their tongues, afraid of becoming the next target of Libs of TikTok or being removed from their course, the absence of the centers that once occupied Baker Center and now stand as hollow offices is even more evident. “Baker Center is dead,” Warren says. “Nobody goes where their centers used to be. Nobody has that community where those centers used to be.” Warren experienced the limits of student activism firsthand during a demonstration surrounding a Board of Trustees meeting. OSA, Students for Justice in Palestine, and about 100 other protestors occupied Walter Hall to protest the university’s lack of response to the possible presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on campus. Two students were arrested by OUPD for “unlawfully gathering.” “Our goal was not to get arrested,” Warren

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says. “Our goal was to engage civilly and try to get a meeting. And the way that [President Gonzalez] responded was really disappointing, and the way that the campus police chose to respond was disappointing.” Warren was responsible for OSA members inside the meeting and worried that the situation could escalate. “I was in charge of 30 students in a Board of Trustees meeting, and if anything happened in there, I knew that there would be more arrests,” She says. “My goal was not to have 30 other students arrested.” This confrontation reflects a tension that has followed student activism at OU for decades. Students can organize, protest and make demands, but ultimately, the people they are demanding change from have the power to decide whether they’ll listen. Still, Warren says organizing has produced tangible results. “They did make a website about what to do if ICE approaches on campus,” She says. “They did include that in one newsletter all the way down at the bottom, so I don’t think that very many students know about it.” Backlash at OSA hasn’t stopped at just the administration; a Republican newsletter from the statehouse called them “indoctrinated young minds of mush.” “It's the fact that we are your constituents, and we are nonpartisan. We are fighting for student rights, and you decide to call us names in your email newsletter,” Warren says. Despite insurmountable opposition, for Warren, even small victories demonstrate why organizing matters. Change may not always come immediately, but without students demanding it, it will never happen. The OSA is far from the only organization trying to provide politically engaged students a place to protest. Students for Justice in Palestine has become another passionate and prominent part of that sphere. If you're a freshman, you may recognize them from the involvement fair where they hung the Palestinian flag and keffiyeh off the balcony of the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. According to Eden Truax, a member of the organization, “SJP is looking to push forward the movement for Palestinian national liberation on our campus.” Palestine has been a particularly prominent

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issue at OU. In 2014, then-Student Senate President Megan Marzec sparked controversy after posting a video in which she poured fake blood over her head to symbolize the genocide in Gaza and called on the university to divest from Israel. The protest prompted a heated backlash, and days later, four students were arrested during a Student Senate meeting while protesting Marzec and calling for her resignation. More than a decade later, students are once again attempting to end Ohio University’s stake in Israel. In March 2026, the Student Senate passed a bill calling for the university to publicly disclose its investments and end investments in Israeli bonds. In 1977, Student Senate pushed the university to divest from companies doing business in apartheid South Africa, making OU the second public American institution to do so. For students behind the 2026 referendum, that history offered a precedent. A previous generation of Bobcats had used student government to pressure the university to reconsider where it invested its money. Yet instead of honoring that legacy, the university refused to budge, revealing that even when students overwhelmingly show up to demand change, the university can still turn a blind eye. “86% of students who voted on [divestment] voted yes. That is the vast majority of students who voted on this,” Warren says. The university claimed in a statement that it wasn’t legally required to respond to the demands of the Student Senate. “It’s not about what you’re legally required to do; it’s about what you can do that helps better the lives of students and helps them feel secure on campus,” Warren says. College Green has changed since Hayes was a student at OU. The hedge-lined “liberated territory” he remembers is gone. The smell of tear gas has long since dissipated and the Vietnamera riots have faded into university history. But students still gather there. Sometimes they come to relax between classes and watch people walk by. Sometimes they lie out on blankets, soaking up the sun and catching up with their friends. Sometimes they turn a snow day into a snowball fight. Some come carrying signs or passing out pamphlets. Sometimes they even bring a DJ booth. The causes have changed. The methods have changed. The students have changed.

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The instinct to challenge the status quo has not. For Hayes, activism has always been connected to the possibility that seemingly permanent injustices can eventually change. “When I was nine years old, my mother read me a book called ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’ about apartheid in South Africa, and that only got worse and worse and worse over the years,” He recalls. “But when I was 39, Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa.” Ohio University was a part of that history when it divested. Just another chapter in an ongoing legacy of attempting to end oppression and calling out injustice. Hayes has spent decades watching activism succeed, fail and continue. “I’ve been chanting in parks and in marches for 40-some years, and the situation has only spiraled into darker and darker realms,” Hayes says. “But I think any form of activism is better than apathy.” And for a university with a long history of students trying to shape the world around them, Hayes believes each generation eventually has to decide: “Are you really going to be a Bobcat? Are you going to step up on critical issues of your time?” d

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BY MATTHICULAR DESIGN BY MATTHIAS AGGANIS PHOTOS BY: KELLY PRIM Scarrie Chadshaw’s man-swers to gluing the glass ceiling back together without any help!

he worst part about being a man is the fact that everyone else has it figured out but you. If you’re a man, it’s probably your everyday wake-up alarm. This is the curse of being born with a penis: everyone and everything you see on the street turns and runs when they see a glimpse of the “beast,” undermining your masculine responsibility. This is actually normal and good for you despite what my mom tells me. Consider the following manswers a handy FAQ, as I couldn't help but wonder a lot of these questions myself, and I’m the most handsomest and strongest young man I know! How Do I Reclaim My Innate Social Dominance? Everybody who knows what’s what knows that there’s nothing cooler than Batman and Bugattis. I’d imagine my dad, if he cared, would always say “the louder the car, the quieter the voice telling you that you are being too much is” and that fake quote really stuck with me. The key to social interactions is not to blend in with conversations and pick up on social cues to insert yourself into, but to wait until someone brings up something you did. And before some “Greg Heffley” starts spitting his bullshit, bring up how easy it was for you to do a harder version of the thing they did a couple summers ago. This immediately draws attention toward you and makes everyone think you are on the same social level as whichever performative chud faces your path.

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By hijacking every conversation and continuing to tell people how much harder you have it than them, you are codifying your social worth and intimidating prowess as THE man who can’t take shit from anyone and won’t hear about it either. This is the most “peaceful” path a man can take to groom his aura into being an unreckonable force that nobody wants to question or engage with. And just like that! You are free to live within the prison of your own badass design! #ManCave How Come No One Like Family Guy Anymore? After spending weekend after weekend reciting my iFunny page at open mics I shouldn’t have been banned from in the first place, I have discovered that Athens hates jokes. According to a Family Guy Hood Irony apology video I watched, we men now feel as though we have to hide our jokes and what we like to do now. Because then you’re suddenly “banned” from

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Donkey Coffee, which means no polyamoruzz (polyamorous huzz). Even though making Kiss or Slap videos IS legal in Athens. And for the record, Logan Paul did his really funny “getting into random people’s cars” vine pranks back when he lived in Tiffin in ’14, and now he lives in the White House I think. Making jokes and acting the way honey badger pleases will quickly weed out the snowflakes that pray you don't inject yourself with the freedom to live your authentic self. Even if you as a man change, you are always yourself and that’s something beautiful to be at peace with, no matter who you truly are inside. I am fucking crazy, but I am free. How Do I Deal with my Emotions Like a Man? When was the last time you saw your dad cry? Probably never or maybe like one time that you never want to talk about again and that’s exactly the point. Scientifically, crying is your brain cooling down from an emotional attack on your senses, it flushes out stress hormones and acts as a “reset button” on your brain. This is a trap and should be avoided at all costs because if you let your guard down like that, imagine all the repressed things that you worked hard to not think about again, coming up again! Every day, I wake up and take count of all the things I don’t want to be and try as hard as possible to specifically not be those things, as a man who keeps his grievances close is a man with a tight chest. If I don't keep it tight, then the aura I've built my whole life around was only out of potential fear and overcompensation, and that literally can't be the case. Sure, making that revelation in the long run may help you feel like you aren’t the performative cuck you make sure you aren’t every day, and yeah it may even allow you to build new relationships that CAN support the kind of person that you want to be. Buuuuut it’s faster to just translate your “bitchy” outbursts into how you walk with society (yell at family, blow dudes off, dump your drink on someone, punch a thing a loved one likes, etc.).

It’s like my personal role model, Macklemore says “put your emotions so high like the ceiling can’t hold it.” What About my Ex? What about them, dumb fuck? What about a nice walk through Emeriti Park? What about Destroyer Night at Steve’s? What about the sexy fish from Shark Tale? What about pre-ing ferda at touse? You could fill the Hocking River with “whatabout” bullshit, but focusing your grind on avenging your memories will just keep you in the business of being the fucking sorry-ass loser that my ex couldn’t handle. Remember, a lady already has a pussy, the last thing she needs is another one! How Do I Navigate My Career? Part of the hustle is adapting to the industry. Key industry insiders KNOW that when profits are down, you ALWAYS jump ship. That way, you never have to think about the consequences of your actions. The temptation to form a bond with your peers is the mightiest restraint you will face; some would even say more so than when fine shit has to hold her period. Biologically speaking, that is why it is paramount to pack the fuck out of any situation that could lead to you confronting consequences. If you wanna throw up YVLs and Slatts in the club like Macklemore, then you gotta decide how every situation is supposed to go before you get into situations, because why bother with a reality you can’t control? It’s like a movie; if you can get to the part where you figure everybody out without having to talk to them, then you get to play the role you always deserved, the hero. d

Cathartic MY KINK IS

The truth behind erotica’s mainstream takeover BY LILIA SANTERAMO DESIGN BY CASSANDRA DAGGETT

emember when your mother was too busy surreptitiously reading Fifty Shades of Grey on the park bench to notice how close you were to breaking your neck in a tumble from the monkey bars? Me either, but such negligence could be listed among the alleged dangers of the consumption of erotic fiction. Tellingly, warnings of these dangers are almost exclusively found online, where talk of erotica is front and center. While there has always been a market for erotica, its boom in popularity and media coverage in the past few years can largely be attributed to young adults and a smattering of teenagers raving about their favorite “spicy” novels on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Series like A Court of Thorns and Roses and authors like Colleen Hoover have enjoyed tremendous yet divisive popularity as a result of online word of mouth. This fanfare has even spread to in-person fan events. For its part, the publishing industry has responded to the wave of interest in erotic literature by flooding the market, which is easy to do because readers of this genre generally don’t mind formulaic plots and seemingly never tire of the same few tropes popularized in fanfiction. Walk into any bookstore and you'll see them by the dozens: the Canvaesque covers, the floral motifs, the cute displays! Ask anyone on campus, they or someone they know has read more than a few books pulled from such extravagant shelving. Ohio University, it so happens, is a central locus for not just recreational but scholarly study of erotica, or as sociology professor Thomas Vander Ven calls it in the research he’s conducting, “smut.” Vander Ven specializes in crime and deviance and has a background in issues of addiction and recovery in young people. In two separate lectures about cultural ideas surrounding pornography,

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deviance and addiction, Vander Ven explained that there isn’t a lot known about women’s relationship with visual pornography. In both instances, students approached him after class to suggest looking into women’s relationships with smut. Both students, Carly Andrews and Zainah Al Maita, are now working alongside Vander Ven on research about that very subject. They started with a survey. “We decided to do a more strategic focused recruitment,” Vander Ven says. “A lot of this is word of mouth. The two young women on the team are smut consumers and a lot of their friends are [too], so they got the word out.” The 32-question survey became a tool to understand how people who are already smut users, not the general population, think about smut and the role that it plays in their lives. Its findings, which are still preliminary, indicate a few main themes among smut consumers. A substantial percentage of respondents reported using smut for entertainment (66 percent), for sexual objectives (25 percent) and to experiment more in their sex lives (42 percent). Notably, it is the latter themes that inspire detractors of erotic literature, who are quick to accuse enthusiastic readers of having a porn addiction. Vander Ven notes that so far, only a few people expressed feeling like they consumed too much or could not stop consuming erotica despite trying. Meanwhile, there were respondents who said that reading smut allows them to feel safe while “in a way, experiencing a sexual encounter,” and expressed how “reading about a respectful male with deep, loyal and unwavering feelings is refreshing.” Vander Ven also mentions that, like visual pornography, smut can be used as part of a couple’s sex life in a functional and healthy way. Other criticism may come from classically misogynistic ideas about women and purity. Vander Ven found that so far, 82 percent of survey respondents agreed that it’s more acceptable for men to consume visual pornography than women. More and more women are open about the way they engage with sexually explicit material, but there’s still a stigma around women

openly expressing their desires. Despite that stigma, Vander Ven says that readers of smut exhibit a great deal of socially healthy, community-oriented behaviors surrounding the activity like enthusiastic recommendations, book clubs and themed events. He stresses that people who are trepidatious about trends in erotica’s popularity shouldn’t worry. Unlike trends in consumption habits around visual porn observed in young men, young women don’t seem to be engaging with the genre in shame and isolation, nor are they acting out antisocial dynamics that normalize sexual coercion. “It's a social thing. They're meeting each other, and it's part of their friendships. It may actually help to improve their relationships,” Vander Ven says. If people aren’t prudishly wringing their hands about erotica in general, they might fret about the genre as it relates to a general decline of critical thinking and literacy. Erotica isn’t literature, which is apparently the only acceptable thing to read in a time when people are reading less and less. But an argument can be made that aside from offering entertainment, erotica allows for exploration of important themes. Mallory Boring, a third-year doctoral student, is researching 18th- and 19th-century literature and contemporary literature set in the Regency period. She is interested in exploring the different ways writers have thought about courtship. Boring is in the process of reading early novels that navigate ideas about morality and obstacles in relationships and comparing them to contemporary novels that are more interested in the process of romance and the intricacies that come with representing a broader range of lived experiences. “I think when it comes to romance novels in particular, they say a lot about love, but also who is worth loving, who is an object of desire for people,” Boring says. So, I think [love in novels] holds serious weight when it comes to the matter of who's being represented. I think it also helps us build a societal understanding of what love looks like and should look like.” While Boring’s work deals with romance novels, her observations about relationships wrestle with and help us understand love and desire as they manifest in our cultural moments, suggesting the works have a seriousness that isn’t exclusive to romance, even if that seriousness manifests differently. “There are conventions and everything, but I think romance gets

the crap that it gets because women tend to like it more; it's happy and positive, and people consider that less serious,” Boring says. “But I don't know what would be more serious than love and human relationships in that same vein.” Surely this sentiment can be extended to erotica. Grace Anne Gasperson, who recently graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in classics and religious studies, isn’t an avid reader of erotica, but she has several friends online who enjoy the genre and discuss it with her. The conversations are often humorous and contain “filthy screenshots,” but Gasperson notices that the works express common themes that transcend the acts they snicker about. “I think the biggest fantasy in those books is not actually the sex,” Gasperson says. “I think it's being able to step back.” What she means is that the novels, especially the fantasy-oriented ones, often have hardworking, competent women who reach a point where they’ve done enough and need someone to recognize their work and step in. “I think especially [for] women, [romantasy is] a space where they can be the focus of care in a way that I think women don't expect to be in their lives or even their relationships,” Gasperson says. So, young women are encouraging one another to explore their fantasies with humor, without shame and without apology. They’re expressing themselves and thinking about different ways of negotiating the complexities of desire, sex and relationships. Maybe the writing isn’t all that great, but it’s nothing to turn one’s nose up at. d

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