Feb. 17, 2022 — Grad and Career Edition

GRAD AND CAREER EDITION

Page 2

Thursday, February 17, 2022

CAMPUS

Career experts weigh in on how to disclose disability status to future employers ON PAGE 3

Finding a job after graduation: Ohio State provides career coaching, networking opportunities

MACKENIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio State currently has 110 graduate and 90 doctoral programs in subjects ranging from engineering to music.

CAROLINE FOWLES Lantern reporter fowles.6@osu.edu The transition from college to the workforce is a pivotal moment for many students, and Ohio State offers a variety of support options to ease the transition.

It takes students around six months on average to get their first job after graduation, Karin Jordan, assistant dean of Graduate Development and Engagement at the Graduate School, said.

To aid in the process, the Office of Student Life offers a range of programs, including Alumnifire, Handshake, career fairs, Buckeye Careers and other major-specific programs.

“The message from administration and faculty is clear: to help students get a great education that makes them career ready and employable,” Jordan said.

Jordan said the university has

108 operational startups that commercialize research and create opportunities for students. The extensive network of Ohio State alumni also provides networking opportunities students can utilize to further their careers.

Many students advance their careers by receiving a graduate degree, Jordan said.

Ohio State offers 110 graduate and 90 doctoral programs ranging from engineering to music, according to the Ohio State Graduate School website.

Keith Lofton, an admissions counselor for the Office of Student Academic Success, said a graduate degree helps in the job search and with continued learning both in and out of the classroom.

“The higher you go with your degree, the greater opportunities you have for advancement,” Lofton said. “It’s always an encouragement to never stop at a bachelor’s degree but to go on for

advanced degrees.”

Jordan said a graduate degree can also help students move past entry-level positions many students take up after graduation, specializing their skills and increasing their earning potential.

For students who want to get career experience but do not require a graduate degree, the university offers Buckeye Careers — a universitywide initiative designed to support students throughout their professional development.

Through this program, students can schedule a session with a career coach, explore career options through Handshake and reach out to potential employers through career fairs and on-campus interviews.

Marilyn Rice, director for the Bill and Susan Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management, said prospects for finding employment after graduation depend on a student’s target industry and

education requirements.

“Networking is a very, very important part of finding both an internship and a job, so meeting with an adviser, taking advantage of all the resources, attending the career fairs,” Rice said.

Lofton said the university also offers major-specific career programs, such as the Fisher College of Business’s specialized career paths in investment banking and consulting and Ohio State’s University Exploration page, which recommends possible jobs for each major.

“We’re seeing a lot of students take advantage of [programs] like education abroad and the internships or co-ops that a lot of their majors are providing,” Lofton said. “So those seem to be the opportunities and experiential learning that is opening the door for students once they graduate.”

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | The Lantern | 3

How to disclose disabilities to a potential employer MARIYAM MUHAMMAD Lantern reporter muhammad.129@osu.edu Previously ran Feb. 17, 2021.

Interviewing for jobs and internships is already an anxiety-ridden process, but there can be an added level of stress when worrying about how and when to disclose a disability to a potential employer.

Experts say it’s essential for students to understand how, why, when and when not to tell employers about a disability.

Kari Grafton is a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency and has worked with students at Ohio State since 2019 at Student Life Disability Services. Grafton shared a video from the Office of Career Management at Ohio State that detailed three steps for individuals considering disclosing a disability.

Do I need to disclose a disability?

The first step is to determine the individual’s need for disclosure — they may not need to disclose if they can navigate the hiring process and perform duties without accommodations. However, telling an employer about a disability may be helpful in the event accommodations are unable to be made to meet equal employment access standards.

When should I disclose a disability?

The second step is choosing when to disclose it. Depending on the individual’s needs, they may feel comfortable confiding before or during an interview or when receiving an offer.

Ohio State students with disabilities are adjusting to new accommodations for virtual learning.

Disclosing is a personal choice, so an individual should weigh the pros and cons to decide what is comfortable for them.

How should I disclose a disability?

The third and final step is how the individual will share the disability with the employer. Typically, it would be disclosed to those involved in the interview or application process. A disclosure script is recommended and should include a brief description of the individual’s disability, emphasis on job-related skills, any limitations that would interfere with job performance and suggestions for accommodations.

Grafton said in general, a good rule of thumb is if an individual needs accommodations for the position, it’s essential to ask at the end of the interview about the culture regarding people with

Learn more about insects Become an entomologist ENTOMOLOGY.OSU.EDU

disabilities and if the employer can accommodate them. If an individual doesn’t need an accommodation for their disability and their performance won’t be negatively impacted, then it doesn’t have to be disclosed, Grafton said.

“You should request an accommodation when you know there’s a workplace barrier preventing you, due to your disability, from competing for a job, gaining equal access to the benefit of employment,” Grafton said. “It’s better to request one before your job performance suffers.”

Barbara Harvey, a career coach at the Center of Professional Success at Ohio State, said it is important for those who do not have disabilities to be conscious of this process as well.

“Whether someone has a disability or not, it’s important to be aware of the things

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

people don’t say out loud, and it’s important to be sensitive to that,” Harvey said. “As opposed to assuming that everyone is ‘normal’ and can do everything in the same capacity because people don’t disclose.”

Harvey said the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency helps people with physical, intellectual, mental health and sensory disabilities to get a job or keep the job they have now. The agency can help someone with a disability access what type of work is right for them, what is less stressful and can be managed carefully, and jobs that will allow them to work despite their disabilities.

More information on disability disclosure to a potential employer can be found on Ohio State’s Student Life Disability Services website.

4 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 17, 2022

thelantern.com

Ohio State’s graduate and professional schools by the numbers PAIGE CIRTWILL Senior Lantern reporter cirtwill.1@osu.edu DARIA NOKINOV Lantern reporter nokinov.10@osu.edu Previously ran Sept. 22, 2021, and updated for the Graduate/Career edition.

AMAL SAEED | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

Students walk into the 2019 commencement ceremony at Ohio Stadium.

Economic recovery from the pandemic has begun, and graduate students have more employment prospects than they may have had a year ago.

While people with graduate degrees earn more on average than those with lowerlevel degrees, according to Social Security, end salary depends on the industry, among other factors, Scott Kustis, director of Industry Connections in the Center for Career and Professional Success, said in an email.

“Meet with a career coach; get a mentor; explore as many professional development opportunities as possible while in school;

@TheLantern

develop a professional network; join student chapters of professional industry groups,” Kustis said.

The graduate programs at Ohio State with the highest enrollment are arts and sciences, engineering, nursing, education and human ecology, and social work, according to Ohio State’s analysis and reporting website.

Arts and sciences

Ranked No. 1 in graduate student enrollment, arts and sciences graduate programs include master’s and Ph.D. programs in areas of study such as psychology, chemistry and political science. As of the autumn 2021 semester, there are around 2,300 graduate students enrolled in arts and sciences programs, only a handful fewer than the autumn 2020 semester, according to Ohio State’s latest enrollment report.

While there are many fields within the college, overall, they did not suffer the same drops in enrollment as bachelor’s and community college programs GRADUATE CONTINUES ON 5

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | The Lantern | 5

GRADUATE FROM 5

did due to the pandemic, Brad Hershbein, deputy director of research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, said.

“People who are going into graduate programs generally are a little bit further ahead in life,” Hershbein said. “They tend to be a little bit higher income and otherwise somewhat protected against a lot of the forces that were reducing enrollment.”

Graduates with a master’s in psychology typically earn about $57,000 annually five years after graduation, while graduates with a master’s in physical sciences make about $59,000 and graduates with a master’s degree in communication, journalism or a related field average about $68,000 per year.

When compared to the average annual earnings of graduates with only a bachelor’s degree in these fields, graduates with a master’s degree earn, on average, $15,000 more per year.

Engineering

With the second-highest enrollment, Ohio State’s graduate program currently

has 1,700 engineering graduate students.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, while engineering students with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn around $75,000 five years after graduation, graduates with a master’s in engineering earn almost $88,000 per year.

According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the architecture and engineering sector will grow by around 6 percent by 2030 — a pace standard for other industries — and add 146,000 new jobs each year.

Hershbein said degrees that were in demand before the pandemic will probably still be sought after going forward, so engineering students will likely find it relatively easy to get a job.

Nursing

Enrolling 1,067 students, the thirdlargest graduate program this year is nursing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, health professionals with a graduate degree make, on average, almost $20,000 more per year than those with only a bachelor’s.

Graduate students in health care fields have another advantage, as the demand for people trained in health care fields is high, Hershbein said.

According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, five of the 20 fastest-growing industries from 2019 to 2029 will be in the health care and social assistance sectors.

Education and human ecology

The education and human ecology graduate program enrolled 1,024 students this semester, and on average, graduates with a master’s in education make around $10,000 more than their peers with only a bachelor’s degree, according to the analysis and reporting website.

The education market is expected to grow at a rate of almost 4 percent annually until 2025, according to a report from Research and Markets. Demand for skilled labor in education is increasing as well, particularly in K-12 education.

Social work

The fifth-most popular graduate program

at Ohio State is social work, with 1,013 students enrolled. Enrollment in social work also had one of the highest growth rates between the autumn 2020 and 2021 semesters at around 14 percent, according to the analysis and reporting website.

While the earnings gap between a bachelor’s and a master’s in social service professions is smaller than the others at around $8,500, Hershbein said these professions were in high demand before the pandemic.

“A lot of those jobs got lost during the pandemic because a lot of it takes place in person,” Hershbein said. “There’s just not a lot of funds that were distributed because of a lot of cutbacks.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work industry is estimated to grow about 10 percent in the next decade, adding 78,300 new jobs each year.

The demand for these professions should bounce back once funding is reestablished, Hershbein said.

Page 6

Thursday, February 17, 2022

ARTS&LIFE

Ohio State students balance custom fashion design with classes ON PAGE 7

Donna’s Delicious Dozen: Black-owned bakery specializes in just one sweet treat Traci Lukemire is the founder and owner of Donna’s Delicious Dozen, located at 5322 N. Hamilton Road in Columbus.

TYRIK HUTCHINSON-JUNIOR Lantern reporter hutchinson-junior.1@osu.edu The business of many stores and restaurants came to a halt during the height of the pandemic, but a Columbus donut shop saw growth during that time.

Donna’s Delicious Dozen, rated the No. 1 donut shop in Ohio by USA Today and located at 5322 N. Hamilton Road, is a Black-owned bakery specializing in donuts.

Traci Lukemire, owner of the bakery, said her business had been prepared to operate during the pandemic because its online ordering system allowed it to remain open when many other businesses had to close.

“We were one of the lucky ones who grew during the pandemic,” Lukemire said. “With the big push to support Blackowned businesses, especially after the George Floyd murder, people shared our business a lot more.”

Lukemire said she founded Donna’s Delicious Dozen, which opened in June 2019, as a way to get away from her

corporate job. The bakery is named after her grandmother, who turned 93 in December 2021, she said.

“I did a bucket list race in California that made me realize I could do anything,” Lukemire said. “Baking was a concept that I always knew I could do, so opening Donna’s was a way for me to do my own thing.”

The bakery offers classic donut flavors such as original glazed and powdered, with icing options such as maple, chocolate and cream cheese, according to the website. However, the menu also features more whimsical options, such as Feelin’ Fruitylicious — a Fruity Pebbles donut — Honey Blue — a blueberry glaze donut with streusel and honey topping — and strawberry cheesecake.

Although the only food items Donna’s sells are donuts, Lukemire said the bakery offers other items and services, including coffee and catering. She said Donna’s also offers limited-time specials, such as pumpkin-pie-flavored donuts and a special themed Black History Month Box.

Alaina Marcum, store manager for the bakery, said she handles the special decorating for events and enjoys the customizable element of working with customers to bring an idea to life.

“There will be a theme of a birthday party, and we come up with the ideas ourselves,” Marcum said. “Some of my favorites were an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and a Minion theme.”

Marcum said working at Donna’s has helped her build a unique appreciation for donuts and the services the bakery provides.

“Before I worked here, I really didn’t care much about donuts,” Marcum said.

“People should definitely give us a shot.”

All donuts are freshly fried and topped with a large variety of icings, drizzles and toppings, according to the website, and Marcum said this includes the option to order gluten-free donuts. She said unique donuts are often posted to the business’s Instagram.

Lukemire said running a small business can often be difficult due to scheduling,

COURTESY OF TRACY LUKEMIRE

ordering supplies and finding ways to expand the business. She said she gives a lot of credit to Marcum for helping her run the bakery.

“Alaina is literally my right hand; she is everything when it comes to this store,” Lukemire said. “She takes great care of this place.”

Growth for Donna’s Delicious Dozen is Lukemire’s biggest goal moving forward, and she said this includes being even more innovative with their donuts and potentially opening a location outside of Ohio.

“We want to do things that nobody else is doing while staying true to who we are,” Lukemire said.

Lukemire said all donuts are made to order and take 15 minutes to prepare.

Donuts can be ordered in-store or on the bakery’s website. The bakery also has a food truck, which will open in the spring.

Donna’s Delicious Dozen is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | The Lantern | 7

Hand-painted apparel businesses serve as creative outlets for fashion-forward students KAYLA BUSH Lantern reporter bush.530@osu.edu Customs by Kya and EMRLD are individual student-run businesses, but both share a passion for fashion and painting.

EMRLD, a custom, hand-painted denim apparel business, was started in September 2021 by Ally Hornstein, a fourth-year in finance. Hornstein said the idea to start a denim-upcycling business was inspired by upcycling clothing trends, and she enlisted the help of Sam Samuelian, a second-year in marketing, to co-own EMRLD alongside her.

The two students take custom orders for all denim items, fielding customer input before sending the item off to be completed by one of three painters on their team.

BUSINESS CONTINUES ON 8

COURTESY OF CUSTOMS BY KYA AND EMRLD

Customs by Kya and EMRLD are separate student-run businesses, but both share a passion for fashion.

Professional growth, outstanding opportunities

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS BW’s graduate degrees and professional programs emphasize practical application, ethical reasoning and data-driven problem solving. Dedicated faculty and industry partnerships build pathways to career success.

BUSINESS (flexible formats) Master of Business Administration* One-year MBA (for recent grads)* Master of Accountancy* Graduate certificates*

EDUCATION

Leadership in Higher Education* Master of Arts in Education (online)* License + Master’s* Graduate certificates and credentials (online)*

HEALTHCARE

Physician Assistant Speech-Language Pathology Public Health* Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing* *Available for Fall 2022

Visit bw.edu/graduate or call 440-826-8012 for more information.

Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio 44017

8 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 17, 2022

thelantern.com

BUSINESS FROM 7

“Everyone’s been nothing but supportive,” Hornstein said. “All my friends immediately followed the account, always want to promote it, help, whatever.

So as much as you’re scared that there’s people who are going to think what you’re doing is weird or no one’s going to like it, there’s always going to be someone who likes it in this community.”

Kya Kopans, a first-year in art education, said she began her custom, hand-painted shoe and apparel business, Customs by Kya, during the pandemic lockdown in early 2020. Driven by her love of art, Kopans said she painted several pairs of shoes and posted them to her social media, eventually beginning to take custom orders.

In addition to shoes, Kopans said she has expanded her business to include handpainted tote bags, jean jackets and other secondhand items.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve loved fashion especially, and then as I got older, I had a deeper appreciation for art,” Kopans said.

“Towards the beginning of quarantine, the place where I worked closed and I had a lot of free time with school online, so I

decided to start my own business.”

Unlike Kopans, Hornstein said her interest in fashion developed gradually as she became more attuned to her creative side.

Samuelian said EMRLD became a way for her to express herself and get in touch with her creative side without having to pick up a pencil or paintbrush.

“I was always super creative, but I never was good at art,” she said. “I never knew how to channel that until I became older, especially with this, because I’m really bad at drawing, painting, all that stuff. For me, it’s like I’m able to put what’s in my brain onto a garment without having to do it on my own.”

Even with a love of fashion, running a business while in school can be difficult, and Kopans said managing a full class schedule, custom orders and a business is sometimes strenuous.

“It is really hard to do while I’m at school because I live in a dorm,” she said.

“Having all my paints and stuff is not the easiest, so everything is back home, and I’m not able to take as many orders as I’d

like to be doing.”

Despite having to strike a balance between work and classes, Samuelian said there are benefits to starting a small business as a student. She said events such as an Ohio State-initiated pop-up shop the duo recently attended are a valuable element of owning a business because they offer the chance for student business owners to meet and learn from one another.

Kopans said being a student business owner also provides a way for students to receive life experience outside of school.

“It’s definitely been a good learning experience,” Kopans said. “I feel like it’s a good conversation starter, if anything, because it interests people, and painting shoes was actually what made me decide to be an art education major because I realized how much I loved doing art in my everyday life.”

For those who are interested in starting their own businesses but are unsure about how well their ideas will be received, Hornstein said to just go for it.

“Why not give it a try and see what happens?” Hornstein said. “I think that’s

@TheLantern

kind of the best thing. Something that I’ve just noticed in life is just put yourself out there. What’s the worst that can happen?

Someone doesn’t like it? Someone says no?”

STAY CONNECTED WITH

THE LANTERN @thelanternosu @TheLantern @LanternSports @thelanternosu @thelanternosu

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

www.thelantern.com/email

What can you do with an MA in Social Justice?

Ask Alexander Clemetson

Director of Strategic Development, SEA Change Founder and Executive Director, Together We Compost

With his 2021 MA in Social Justice from MTSO, Alexander has founded a composting service and overseen the creation of a Fresh Market, offering fresh, free, healthy produce as a resource in partnership with Columbus’ Linden community. Now he’s guiding SEA Change through strategic implementation of long-term goals and projects helping social entrepreneurs solidify their impact.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio

“The MA in Social Justice motivated me to ask the hard questions and then figure out how the answers apply to my life. There’s a lot of hands-on engagement – not just talking through justice but applying your passion in practical ways that make a real difference. It has equipped me with the educational resources to combat injustice, and it’s connected me with other people and organizations who are doing the work.”

Attend on campus Theological education and leadership in pursuit or fully online of a just, sustainable Methodist and generative world. Theological School in Ohio www.mtso.edu/socialjustice

Master of Divinity MA in Counseling Ministries MA in Practical Theology MA in Social Justice Master of Theologial Studies

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | The Lantern | 9

Make an

impact from day one.

LEARN MORE bu.edu/sph MARCUS HORTON | WEB & INFOGRAPHICS EDITOR

10 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 17, 2022

thelantern.com

Men’s Tennis: No. 1 Buckeyes claim top spot as title bid draws near CASEY SMITH | ASSISTANT SPORTS LTV PRODUCER

Ohio State senior James Trotter forehands a return in his match against Tennessee senior Martim Prata at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center Feb. 5. Ohio State won 4-0.

GABE WARE Lantern Reporter ware.421@osu.edu For the first time since 2019, Ohio State men’s tennis sits at the top of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

The Buckeyes (9-0) came in at No. 1 in the Feb. 9 edition of the Division I Men’s Top 25 Coaches poll, receiving 10 of 12 first place votes. The success comes at the perfect time, as the team will soon head to Seattle for national indoors.

The change in ranking followed backto-back top 10 wins, including consecutive sweeps against then-No. 1 Tennessee and then-No. 6 Virginia.

Junior Cannon Kingsley said the team’s intensity in preparation has been vital to its success as of late.

“I think we’ve been prepared with our practice and how intense we’re working every single day and the amount of pressure our coaches are putting on us for perfection,” Kingsley said.

Despite regaining the top spot, junior Robert Cash said things were business as usual for the Buckeyes as head coach Ty Tucker ingrained humility into the program.

“Coach Tucker doesn’t like to let us think we’re too good for our own stuff,”

@TheLantern

Cash said. “He’s always hard on us, telling us the team we play next is going to be the best team we’ll play. He doesn’t let our heads get too big.”

Ohio State received high praise in the singles and doubles polls as well, becoming the only team to receive four top 40 singles placements, as well as holding the top two spots in the doubles poll.

The highest risers for the Buckeyes were No. 36 senior James Trotter, ascending from No. 42, and No. 16 Kingsley, moving up from No. 21 on the back of two top 13 upsets. No. 11 sophomore JJ Tracy and No. 6 graduate Matej Vocel round out the ranked quartet.

Maintaining their top doubles spots were the teams of No. 1 Vocel and Cash, as well as No. 2 Trotter and junior Justin Boulais. Ohio State has not lost a doubles point this season.

Kingsley said doubles success has been impactful for the Buckeyes this season, as they can set the tone early.

“There’s momentum from doubles; you go up 1-0, go out on the singles court and your opponents are a little bit deflated sometimes,” Kingsley said. “I think we’ve been doing a great job getting a hot start.”

Going into the tournament, the Buckeyes now hold four consecutive top 10 victories, capped off by an impressive 7-0 showing against No. 6 Wake Forest Sunday. The team has not dropped a point since Jan. 19 when Xavier’s No. 64 graduate Diego Nava upset Kingsley in singles action.

Cash said facing a collection of top 10 teams will aid them in their bid for a national title as many teams in the tournament are the same ones they have faced in recent weeks.

“It helps us know in our heads that we can play with anyone in the country and beat anyone in the country,” Cash said. “We’ve had a great last two weeks, and hopefully we’re going to ride that momentum into Seattle.”

Cash said it will be a tougher task to beat those teams this time around, as the Buckeyes no longer have the home crowd behind them.

“A lot of guys on the bench and on the court try to pump each other up to make it feel more like that home atmosphere,” Cash said. “It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be a good challenge.”

The championship tournament kicks off Friday, spanning four days as 16 teams vie for a national title. Ohio State begins its run at 6:30 p.m. facing the tournament’s host, Washington. The entire tournament will be streamed through the ITA website.

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

DIVING FROM 12

egarding an alleged phone call with the diver. The webpage was down at the time of publication.

Appleman was placed on administrative leave and temporarily suspended by USA Diving in July 2018 after the first lawsuit was filed, a month after he was announced as the next head coach of the University of Arizona diving team. The University of Arizona rescinded its offer.

USA Diving lifted Appleman’s suspension in August 2018. He could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit claimed Appleman and Thompson reported Bohonyi after the diving team returned from the Nationals meet in early August. The university opened an internal investigation Aug. 11, 2014, into what was described at the time as a “consensual/sexual relationship” between the underage diver and Bohonyi, according to a copy of the investigative report obtained by The Lantern.

The lawsuit claimed that after the investigation began, Bohonyi intimidated the diver into concealing the extent of the abuse. She said in an interview with investigators at the time that the relationship was consensual, according to

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | The Lantern | 11

the investigation report.

She also gave her phone, which had about 700 messages between Bohonyi and the diver, over to University Police. It was at this time the university came into possession of explicit photos and videos of the diver and her abuse, the lawsuit claimed. Sexually explicit images of any person under 18, consensual or not, are considered images of child sexual abuse.

As a result of the investigation, Ohio State could not conclude whether specific sex acts had occurred between Bohonyi and the diver, but determined that they had a “consensual romantic relationship” that was “sexualized in nature,” according to the investigative report. The university fired Bohonyi in August 2014, but he privately coached several divers on the team. As he was still in close contact with the team following his termination, the lawsuit stated he continued to abuse the diver until March 2015.

“Ohio State had notice of the sexual abuse in 2014, yet allowed Bohonyi to continue to spend time around OSU and its divers until he was arrested in 2018,” attorney Michael Fradin said. “This is another sad example of how Ohio State does not take the safety of its athletes seriously.”

Johnson said Bohonyi was banned from

campus and reported the results of the investigation to USA Diving “immediately upon conclusion of the investigation.”

Bohonyi was permanently banned from USA Diving in February 2015.

Although he was banned from USA Diving, the lawsuit stated Bohonyi frequented diving meets at which the diver competed — deeply affecting her diving career. She gave up her scholarship to Ohio State and could not compete for her school due to Bohonyi attending diving events where she was competing. According to the lawsuit, the diver was granted a protective order against Bohonyi in November 2015.

Bohonyi was indicted on three counts of sexual battery and one count of sexual pandering to a minor in late 2018 after the criminal case was reopened at the diver’s request. In May 2019, he pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to four years in prison, but in August 2020 a judge reduced his sentence to six months in a community correctional facility for nonviolent offenders.

After applying for and being granted probation in March 2021, according to court records, Bohonyi faced possible probation revocation in October for violating the terms of his probation, including interacting with minors and

reaching out to the victim as recently as May 2021.

A judge reinstated Bohonyi’s probation in November 2021, pending his “strict compliance” with its terms.

The Lantern does not publish the names of sexual violence victims without their permission.

STAY CONNECTED WITH

THE LANTERN @thelanternosu @TheLantern @LanternSports @thelanternosu @thelanternosu thelantern.com

Page 12

Thursday, February 17, 2022

SPORTS

Riding a recent No. 1 ranking, the Ohio State men’s tennis team heads to Seattle for the ITA Indoor National Team Championship ON PAGE 10

Former diving club member abused by coach sues Ohio State MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

A former diver with the now-defunct Ohio State Diving Club has sued the university for failing to properly address and prevent her sexual abuse by former assistant club diving coach Will Bohonyi.

SARAH SZILAGY Patricia B. Miller Special Projects Reporter szilagy.3@osu.edu JACK EMERSON Sports Editor emerson.131@osu.edu A former diver with the now-defunct Ohio State Diving Club has sued the university for failing to properly address and prevent her sexual abuse by former assistant coach Will Bohonyi — including multiple rapes she said occured after she submitted photos and videos of the abuse to the university.

The suit, filed in the Southern District federal court in Ohio Jan. 18, claimed Ohio State failed to adequately investigate complaints against Bohonyi and did not turn evidence over to law enforcement, including sexually explicit videos and photos that Bohonyi both took and forced the diver to take while she was a minor. A class-action suit against Ohio State, USA

Diving and Bohonyi was initially filed in Indiana in July 2018, but Ohio State did not consent to the venue, causing the former diving club member to open one in Ohio.

“Bohonyi psychologically coerced [the diver] into believing that she was required to perform sexual services in exchange for her continued involvement in diving,” the lawsuit stated. “He preyed on her age, vulnerability, and dreams of becoming an Olympian, and used the power structure and imbalance of power (coach/athlete) to make her believe she was required to sexually submit to him in exchange for her chance to represent Team USA.” In an emailed statement, university spokesperson Ben Johnson said the university reported the abuse to Franklin County Children Services and that “all relevant information and evidence was shared with the appropriate law enforcement agencies.”

“When Ohio State first received a report regarding a former assistant dive club coach, the university responded immediately and appropriately to remove

the coach from campus and protect the safety of our community,” Johnson said.

The statement did not specifically address the allegation that the university possessed and failed to report images of child sexual abuse.

Before it was discontinued, the Ohio State Diving Club provided lessons and hosted a year-round competitive junior diving team for divers up to high school age. It was a Department of Recreational Sports program in the Office of Student Life. The Buckeye Aquatic Academy, which housed both the Ohio State Diving Club and the Ohio State Swim Club, announced in January 2021 that both clubs would be disbanded, citing the pandemic.

Bohonyi did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit and other court records, Bohonyi began abusing the diver in July 2014, when she was 16 years old.

He coerced her into sending sexually explicit photos of herself and performing sex acts on him, including in his car in the Neil Avenue parking garage on campus.

The lawsuit stated that later that month at a diving competition in Bethesda, Maryland, Bohonyi raped the diver for the first time. A former diving partner of the victim saw sexually explicit messages from Bohonyi on the victim’s phone.

At the Junior National championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, in August 2014, several of the diver’s teammates learned of the abuse and reported it to head coach John Appleman, according to the lawsuit.

The diver was sent home early from the competition as Assistant Director of Recreational Sports aquatics operations Christine Thompson said she was “not representing the club very well,” according to the lawsuit.

Thompson did not respond to a request for comment. She currently serves as the assistant director of aquatics and director of aquatic events at the university.

Thompson’s profile page on the Ohio State Recreational Sports website was live as of Feb. 6, but it was down the day after The Lantern reached out to Thompson DIVING CONTINUES ON 11