The Lantern - Buckeye Bound 2026

MEET THE LANTERN

The Ohio State University’s

independent student voice since 1881

The Lantern is an award-winning student newspaper, with a team of 23 editors and more than 40 reporters. We are editorially independent of the university and the majority of our funding comes from advertisements and endowements, and we recieve a small amount from the university to support our Lantern TV studio production.

We have been on the frontlines of breaking news, delivering factual, thoughtful journalism to sudents, staff and faculty, alumni and parents of the Ohio State. In addition, our coverage includes university athletics, the Columbus area, local art and music.

August 24th

12-3:30 P.M

The RPAC

BUCKEYE BOUND (ISSN 1)

Issue Date: August 01, 2026

Published Annually

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Faith Schneider Managing Design Editor

Dear Buckeyes,

Carter Kohli Managing Digital Editor

MEET THE STAFF

Conner Neeley Web

Editor

Olivia Rinaldi Editor-in-Chief

Dear Buckeyes,

Julia Hart Social Media Editor

Xiyonne McCullough Miller Special Projects

Austin Gano Oller Special Projects

Jack Riley LTV Special Projects

Congratulations! You are about to enter one of the most transformative chapters of your life, and what better place to do it than THE Ohio State University? The lessons you will learn, the people you will meet and the memories you will make are unmatched. If I could go back in time three years and give my 18-year-old self a piece of advice, I wouldn’t. Every day has been a stepping stone in my college journey, and I wouldn’t want my past self to know what was waiting around the corner. The beauty of college is that each day holds something new.

I wish you many things as you take this next step. First, I wish you the courage to say yes. In fact, say yes to almost everything. You never know who, what or where is just one “yes” away. Some of the most meaningful moments of my college experience came from opportunities I almost talked myself out of, and I’m endlessly grateful I didn’t.

Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Embrace change, because it is one of life’s few certainties. A year from now, you may look back and hardly recognize the person you are today. While change can be frightening, it is also one of the greatest gifts of growing up. Stepping into the unknown pulls you out of your comfort zone, keeps you from becoming stagnant and teaches you how to navigate life’s inevitable curveballs. Before you know it, you’ll be making changes without even realizing it–and suddenly, they won’t feel so scary anymore.

Savor each day and give yourself the luxury of living in the moment. College is busy, and there will be days when you wonder how there could possibly be enough hours in the day. But every so often, allow yourself to pause and take a breath. Time won’t slow down for us, but we can slow ourselves down long enough to appreciate where we are.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, stay informed and be an active, thoughtful member of your community. College is about so much more than earning a degree–it’s about learning to engage with the world around you. Read the news. Ask questions. Stay curious. Challenge your perspectives. The more informed you are, the more prepared you’ll be to contribute to the community you’re now a part of. I hope The Lantern becomes one small part of that journey.

I wish you all the best and O-H forever!

Sincerely, Olivia

Rinaldi

ARTS & LIFE

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ARTS & LIFE

MEET STAFF

T HE

Helena Hennessy

Managing Arts & LifeEditor

A letter from the Editor

My dearest Buckeyes,

Welcome to a new year of growth, friendship, adventures and more at the best place in all of the Buckeye state — THE Ohio State University. Whether you are bound to take your first steps on our beloved campus this fall semester or are returning for yet another spirited year, all of us at The Lantern welcome you with open arms and of course, fresh headlines, to a new school year.

It feels like it was just yesterday when I received my first edition of Buckeye Bound in my mailbox ahead of my freshman year. I so vividly remember analyzing the tips and tricks written amongst its freshly printed pages, and idolizing the letters from our former editors. It is so surreal to be writing to you, my Buckeye community, from those same shoes that I always wished to be in.

Becoming an editor for this acclaimed student-run publication has been all I have worked toward since my first day on campus in August of 2024. Going into my third year as my now 20-year-old self, I realize that not only do I have the privilege to work in the newsroom that I have so long aspired to, but I also have a duty to my peers, to keep all of you informed on breaking news and campus updates. It is my utmost goal to inspire you to be curious about our ever-evolving community, and to guide you in exploring the city that we call home.

When you read articles, watch videos and see photos from the Arts & Life desk, it is my greatest hope that you are encouraged to venture outside of our campus bubble and get to know the greater Columbus community. This city has an extensive culinary scene to get a taste of, a vivid arts community to explore, stellar live music to be heard and rich greenery to be immersed in. All of these riveting and one-of-a-kind ventures are right outside your door — you just have to be brave enough to seek them out.

The sacred grounds of our Columbus campus are also endlessly entertaining, and I cannot wait for you to explore all that High Street has to offer and get to know the 24-hour eateries, indie boutiques and vibrant night life that we call our own.

My last, and certainly most important, piece of advice for you is to be brave and chase your dreams. Our campus is full of unprecedented opportunities, diverse communities and remarkable chances for you to take. Make that friend in your class. Go to that club meeting, even if you’re alone. Apply for that position. You never know where you will end up by simply taking a chance.

In writing to you, I am fulfilling my own dream. Now go out, and make yours come true! Stay true to yourselves, Buckeyes.

Sincerely, Helena Hennessy

Siena Kessler Arts & Life Editor

Dominic Ferraro Arts & Life Photo Editor

Mia Ross Arts & Life Senior Writer

Natalie Zurakowski Arts & Life Senior Writer

Mateo DeLeon LTV Arts & Life Producer

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

Time: Directly after Convocation

Location: In and Around the RPAC

MUSIC | GIVEAWAYS | FRIENDS | FOOD

#FRENZY2026 FRENZY.OSU.EDU

VENDORS

Altitude Columbus

American Red Cross

Article Student Living (The View on Pavey Square)

Article Student Living (Uncommon Columbus)

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Blaze Pizza

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Chobani

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Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace

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McDonald’s

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Ohio Army

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Roots Natural Kitchen

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Statehouse Columbus

Student Legal Services

Tech Hub Columbus

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Tim Hortons

Versiti

Vitamin Shoppe

Hidden gems near Ohio State offer new places to sip, shop and socialize

Siena Kessler Arts & Life Editor

As students return to campus, many are trading in crowded chains and fast-fashion retailers for spaces that feel more personal to them.

Around Ohio State’s campus, a handful of coffee shops and boutiques are blending aesthetics, affordability and individuality — offering students new places to socialize.

Read on to discover more unique places to find your place in Columbus.

Bada Bean Bada Booze

Located at 231 E. 1st Ave., Bada Bean Bada Booze offers a twist on the traditional campus coffee shop. The café doubles as a nightlife spot, giving students a space that transitions from daytime studying to evening socializing, according to its website. During the day, the café serves as a casual study destination, while at night it shifts into an energetic bar environment.

Menu standouts include its dulce de leche syrup, which makes its coffee shine, often paired with their banana bread or breakfast burrito for a more filling option. In the evening, the menu expands to include a long list of classic cocktails, a rotating selection of wines and a weekday happy hour with special deals.

“I remember loving coffee shops as a student — they’re a great space to study and meet up with friends,” Caroline Calhoun, guest experience manager, said in a previous interview with The Lantern. “Ohio State is such a central part of Columbus and its identity — we encourage all students to come to our space.”

The shop also offers a 15% student discount on drinks with a BuckID, according to Calhoun.

Clothing Underground

Clothing Underground, located just off campus at 1653 N. High St., has become a staple for Ohio State students seeking vintage, secondhand and

game-day worthy apparel since opening in 2013.

Known for its wide selection of Ohio State gear, the shop offers a mix of retro and modern pieces such as tank tops, sweatshirts, jackets and other Buckeye apparel. The store also carries a variety of accessories, including an extensive sunglasses collection.

Its location is just steps from campus and is constantly rotating inventory making it a frequent stop for those looking for affordable, unique pieces. While it may be one of the more wellknown resale shops in the area, Clothing Underground continues to attract students throughout the year.

Daydreamer Coffee

Daydreamer Coffee offers a quieter alternative to the busy High Street scene. Located in the lobby of the Rambler apartment building at 222 W. Lane Ave. and known for its natural lighting and relaxed atmosphere, the café has become a go-to for students looking for an environment removed from the usual campus rush. Its spacious layout and earthy-toned interior make for a prime study spot, too.

According to the café’s menu, signature drinks include the sugar graham latte made with brown sugar, honey and honey cold foam and the sweet treat latte, a cinnamon bun-flavored latte topped with vanilla cold foam and caramel. The menu also features the Daydreamer matcha, made with oat milk and honey syrup.

Flower Child Vintage

Vintage shopping continues to be a major trend among students looking to build a wardrobe that stands out and Flower Child Vintage at 233 E. 5th Ave. has become a staple. The shop features a wide range of clothing, appealing to those drawn to more eclectic and colorful styles.

According to its website, the store showcases items from the 1930s through the 1980s, along with funky

art, jewelry, furniture, pottery and more.

For new students especially, finding these off-the-radar places can make a large campus feel a lot smaller.

Pochettely

Located at 1589 N. High St., Pochettely has gained popularity as an Italian charm bracelet bar. The shop allows customers to build pieces that lean into personalization and self-expression, with charms coming in all different shapes, sizes and colors, according to its website.

The space shares a storefront with watch retailer 25 Dials, and the two businesses also recent ly introduced P25 Café, a small in-store coffee spot that opened July 13. According to the café’s Instagram, shoppers can sip specialty drinks, including a variety of matchas and coffee options, while designing their jewelry — turning a typical retail visit into a more interactive activity.

The Lox Bagel Shop

Located at 772 N. High St., The Lox Bagel Shop offers bagels that blend New York and Montreal styles, according to its website.

The shop serves a variety of housemade bagels with classic spreads and sandwich options, along with specialty sandwiches and rotating flavors, giving students a range of choices. Menu offerings include combinations with smoked salmon, cream cheese and vegetables.

Residing in the Short North, the eatery is a short distance from Ohio State’s campus. Its smaller, fast-paced setup makes it a popular, more upscale grab-and-go option for students.

CREDIT: MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | FORMER PHOTO EDITOR

Clothing Underground

Flower Child

What’s Up: A Buckeye’s guide to welcome week festivities on campus

Helena Hennessy Managing Arts & Life Editortor

F or incoming first-year students, Ohio State will host a variety of events throughout Welcome Week to celebrate the arrival of thousands of new Buckeyes on campus.

Welcome Week for the 2026-27 academic year will take place from Friday, Aug. 21 through Monday, Aug. 31. Read on to learn more about the experiences and information-based events that are available to attend.

Saturday, Aug. 22:

WestFest (Lincoln Tower Fields & Women’s Field House)

This Welcome Week event will serve as a celebratory commencement of the week’s campus-based festivities. While the event is most accessible for residents of Morrill Tower and Lincoln Tower, it is open to all students from 1-4 p.m.

The festival will offer a variety of vendors, community-based activities and entertainment acts consisting of music, field games, a photo booth, tie-dye station, henna artwork, free Kona Ice and a tug-of-war competition between Morrill and Lincoln Tower residents at 3 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23:

Student Involvement Fair (Main Oval & South Oval)

First-year students are encouraged to attend campus’ annual Involvement Fair to gain information on student organizations. From 4-7 p.m., over 800 student-founded campus organizations, campus departments and local nonprofits will line the South and Main Ovals with individual booths.

Student representatives will engage with first-year students and provide information on ways to get involved across campus. Many clubs also hand out flyers and free goodies at their booths. Some organizations allow students to directly enroll by simply providing their student email address.

The student organizations will be grouped in their respective categories, such as academic, community service, special interests and more. Maps of the fair layout will be provided to students upon entrance.

Wednesday, Aug. 26:

OUABlock Party (South Oval)

This student-focused festival will take place at 6 p.m. on the South Oval and will feature tents and booths from various vendors and sponsors, supplying free merchandise for new Buckeyes. The event will also feature live music and food trucks available throughout the evening.

Morrill and Lincoln Towers

Involvement Fair

Monday, Aug. 24:

Convocation (Schottenstein Center)

This signature event serves as first-year students’ official welcome to the university. Hosted at 10:30 a.m. in the Schottenstein Center, students will hear from renowned university leaders and spokespeople, seasoned faculty, administrators and other special guests. This is where new students will be formally introduced to time-honored Ohio State traditions.

Convocation is a special event, as it marks the only time that the entire class of 2030 can gather together prior to their graduation ceremony.

Buck-i-Frenzy (Recreation and Physical Activity Center)

Held in and around the RPAC from noon to 3:30 p.m., Buck-iFrenzy is a fun-filled event that offers unique opportunities for students to learn more about local and national companies. This lifestyle festival will provide the chance to interact with a variety of vendors — many will be providing free food and drink samples, as well as complimentary merchandise and coupons.

Considering the community nature of this event, there will also be opportunities for students to engage with their peers. Hundreds of Buckeyes will be walking through west campus as they scope out the landscape of the festival.

WIPEOUT! (McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion)

Students will be able to immerse themselves in the spontaneous and adventurous spirit of the Buckeye community through an aquatic obstacle course at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion beside the RPAC from 5-8 p.m. following Bucki-Frenzy.

Attendees can take on challenges inspired by those of the game show Wipeout (2008) with giant inflatables and water challenges in a test of balance and agility at this annual event.

Friday, Aug. 28:

C ommunity BLOC Party (University Square)

This event serves as a meet-and-greet for commuter and off-campus students to immerse themselves in campus life and mingle with their peers. The event offers informational resources and support through the office of Buckeyes Living Off-Campus.

The event will also provide free food and drinks while students, faculty and community members are encouraged to get to know one another.

Convocation

Buck-i-Frenzy

The evolution of game day fashion at Ohio State

Siena Kessler Arts & Life Editor

This story was originally published Oct. 15, 2025 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

At Ohio State, football may dominate Saturdays, but fashion has quickly become an integral part of the tradition. Vintage tops and cowboy boots have turned Buckeye gear into curated, trend-driven looks that set the tone for these spirited days.

Averie Ison, a then fourth-year in strategic communications and Editor-in-Chief of Scarlette Magazine, Ohio State’s student-run fashion publication, said students have been crafting more unique looks in recent years.

“Students don’t just throw on a jersey anymore, they style their looks and add personal touches,” Ison said. “I’ve noticed a lot of students tying bows or ribbons in their hair and on their purses, layering jewelry, customizing their clothes, even cutting them.”

Ellie Michaelis, a then fourth-year in marketing and co-president of Ohio

State’s Fashion Production Association, said being unique has become a big part of dressing for game days.

“Personalization and individuality has become very commonplace,” Michaelis said. “People don’t want to wear exactly what everyone else is wearing.”

Michaelis said students say that social media platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, are shaping how they approach putting together game day outfits. Viral “Get Ready With Me” videos show how students across the Big Ten and even the SEC, are putting together outfits that balance school colors with trendy accessories.

“With social media, we get to see what other schools do and how other people ‘DIY’ their merch,” Michaelis said. “It’s so interesting to see the ways creators make clothes specifically for game days.”

Ison pointed to Pinterest as a particularly influential space.

“Nowadays, everyone gravitates there to get creative with their outfits rather than going to a licensed OSU apparel shop,” Ison said. “TikTok and

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Instagram have also highlighted innovative small designers that filled a gap in the market for women’s game day fashion.”

Though Ohio State is part of the Big Ten, students are drawing style inspiration from southern schools, where game days often look more elevated, Michaelis said.

“I noticed some people have started wearing boots and dresses more that reflect the SEC fashion,” Michaelis said. “I could see OSU moving in a more elevated direction with nicer dresses for girls and polos for guys in the next few years.”

At the heart of it all, though, is Ohio State football, a culture that magnifies everything around it. The passion that fills Ohio Stadium each Saturday in the fall spills into the streets, the tailgates and the way students dress.

“The culture of foot ball definitely influences a large part of student be havior on and off campus,” Mi

chaelis said. “If our football team wasn’t as good, people probably wouldn’t care about what they’re wearing as much.”

With the sport showing no signs of slowing down, neither is the fashion.

“Game day fashion is definitely evolving into more of a fashion statement and creative outlet,” Ison said. “In the future, it’s going to get more self-expressive, students are going to make their outfits more like a costume rather than just something to wear to a game.”

Ohio

A sweater by

State alumna Amanda Sima, who ran fashion brand Alma Mater Wear from 2008 to 2018.

The best late-night bites near Ohio State for every craving

Helena Hennessy and Siena Kessler Managing Arts & Life Editor and Arts & Life Editor

While students balance hours-long study sessions, evening classes and weekend outings on their plates, latenight food options have become a staple for every Buckeye.

Many restaurants and eateries in and around the University District offer a range of dining options students can rely on past midnight. Read on to get to know the best places to grab your late-night bite of choice.

Buckeye Donuts

With a longtime presence near Ohio State’s campus since its founding in 1969, Buckeye Donuts remains a favorite for students seeking a late-night meal or sweet treat. Located at 1998 N. High St. and open 24 hours, seven days a week, the eatery offers everything from classic and fancy donuts to hot breakfast sandwiches and gyros.

“That’s what Buckeye Donuts is at its core,” Jimmy Barouxis, owner of the establishment, said in a previous interview with The Lantern. “It’s in our DNA to be open — to stay open for the public.”

When it comes to their donut selection, they have it covered. Popular items include the apple fritter, the classic powdered donut and the cronut, alongside more substantial dinner options such as the mozzarella sticks. Its central location on campus and around-the-clock hours make it a frequent stop for students.

Cazuela’s Mexican Grill

Known for its two fan-favorite locations close to campus,

located at 2321 N. High St. and 1542 N. High St., Cazuela’s serves up quality Mexican cuisine until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Its menu offers a variety of entrees for dine-in or pickup, such as tacos, burritos and fajitas with steak, chicken and vegetable options, according to the website. The restaurant also offers a diverse salsa menu for every level of heat.

For a specialty weekday deal, Cazuela’s offers $3 tacos every Tuesday, as well as happy hour from 2-6 p.m. every day.

Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace

At 2036 N. High St., Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace offers a sit-down approach to late-night dining. Known for its customizable hot dogs and creative toppings, the restaurant features an extensive menu with something appealing to every guest.

Some of the more wild toppings Dirty Franks offers, according to their website, include crushed potato chips, sriracha cream cheese, as well as sides such as pretzel bites and tater tots, in addition to more

traditional choices. Its relatively affordable prices and unique flair draw students in looking for a quick and easy meal.

Mikey’s

Late Night Slice

Mikey’s, located at 1839 N. Pearl St., operates as both a bar and a pizza spot, making it a common stop for students late into the night. Known for its quick service, 3 a.m. weekend closing time and proximity to campus, the restaurant caters to those looking for a convenient option.

According to the restaurant’s website, the menu features pizza sold by the slice or as whole pies. In addition to pizza, their garlic, cheese or cinnamon breadsticks are an easy addition to any order.

The restaurant offers a rotating “pizza of the week,” according to the website, making for a unique experience every visit. Customers are also able to choose from a fan-favorite recipe, or build their own whole pizza to go.

Sicilia Fine Italian Specialties

Located at 22 E. Frambes Ave., the walk-in friendly nature of Sicilia’s paired with their comforting menu of signature Italian dishes makes for a small-scale restaurant with a family-style presence in the community.

Sicilia’s is open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 3:30 a.m. on weekends, according to its website, and their most popular menu items consist of their by-the-slice pizzas, spaghetti, chicken alfredo, chicken tenders and garlic bread.

Buckeye Donuts.

Is 2026 the new 2016? A look at campus life a decade ago

Natalie Zurakowki Arts & Life Senior Writer

This story was originally published Feb. 4 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

As packs of students roamed the Oval searching for Pokémon, others filmed their best attempts at the Mannequin Challenge or practiced the dance moves to “Juju on That Beat”, by Jay Hilfigerrr, “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey played on a continuous loop and campus energy was still riding high from the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship win.

The year? 2016.

Defined by its rose-tinted filters, maximalist aesthetics and viral moments — including the death of Harambe, the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla — 2016 has taken on a legendary status online. A decade later, social media users are longing for the iconic year, posting throwback photos and videos and reviving the filters that once dominated Instagram feeds.

According to a Jan. 9 BBC article,

searches for “2016” on TikTok surged 452 percent. More than 55 million videos using the app’s “2016” filter were posted in the first week of January.

At Ohio State, campus itself tells a different story than it did 10 years ago.

Since 2016, North Campus housing — including Blackburn, Busch, Houston and Nosker Houses — has been renovated, while various locations across High Street have undergone major transformations. Austin Candea, a 2018 graduate who got a degree in health sciences, attended Ohio State during the peak of the 2016 era. He said on and off-campus construction felt ongoing and dining options felt limited.

“The construction was everywhere I went, not only on High Street, but when you were walking, they were building all those dorms right there on North Campus,” Candea said. “I remember we used to drive 45 minutes to Chickfil-A — now there’s one on campus. It’s obviously a different world than when I lived there, but I’m definitely jealous when I come back and see what it is and what it’s turned into.”

Beyond new buildings and restaurants, Ohio State has undergone institutional shifts since 2016. In 2025, the university closed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion. AI Fluency became a required program starting with the class of 2029, making students “bilingual” in both their major.

2016 continues on page 13

Ohio Union Activities Board

The Ohio Union Activities Board brings educational, entertaining and thought-provoking programs to Ohio State students all FREE with the swipe of your BUCKID. Follow @OUAB or visit ouab.osu.edu to learn about upcoming events and how to apply!

Continued from page 12

AI. Enrollment also has grown, increasing by 1.8 percent since 2016, according to university data.

But back then, in a year full of political divide during the 2016 presidential election and devastation following the Nov. 28, 2025 campus attack that left 11 people injured, students continued to find joy in campus life.

“In 2016 at Ohio State, campus was always awesome,” Candea said. “Obviously, game days still are and always were what separates Ohio State from everybody else, but the general mood and everything was just a positive energy.”

For those who were actually walking the Oval a decade ago, 2016 wasn’t a TikTok trend, it was a lived reality.

Although the current trend originated on TikTok, the social media app wasn’t around in 2016.

Instead, the year belonged to older social media, such as Instagram and Snapchat, and is remembered by the “King Kylie” — a nickname for Kylie Jenner’s notable 2016 aesthetic — era and the Snapchat dog-filter obsession.

Maddie Brahler, an Ohio State alumna who graduated with a degree in zoology in 2020, said social media felt more carefree than it is now. Instead of causing isolation, she said it created community.

“There was social media, and some people might have had an aesthetic they were trying to keep on their social media, but that was the minority,” Brahler said. “It was still pretty unserious, instead of now where it’s very much this unspoken competition of who’s got the best body and the best clothes and lives the best life. It was like, ‘OK, who’s having the most fun?’”

Whether it was sunbathing in the Oval listening to “Lemonade” by Beyoncé, quoting Vine in everyday conversations or binge-watching the first season of “Stranger Things” on the weekends, 2016 felt easy, according to alumni. Looking back, Brahler said the year stands out not just for her, but for many who lived it.

“I think that for some reason, universally, everyone talks about 2016,” Brahler said. “I feel like it was such a fun time. If 2026 is anywhere near as good as 2016, that’d be awesome.”

The Lantern’s 2026 Ins and Outs List

Grayson Newbourn, Antonia Campbell, Helena Hennessy and Julia Hart

Former Managing Arts & Life Editor, Former Arts & Life Editor, Managing Arts & Life Editor, Social Media Editor

This story was originally published Jan. 16 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

J anuary is the time to get settled into the new year, drafting personal expectations and goals for the upcoming months. For years, people have compiled their personal “ins and outs” lists for the year — things they’ll leave behind in the old year, and things they hope to bring into the new.

Using responses from a poll on The Lantern’s Instagram story, as well as personal picks by the Arts & Life desk, read on to learn what’s in — and what’s out — at Ohio State this year.

Ins:

Backpack snacks

School days are long. Even if you don’t have that many classes in a day, you have club meetings, a workout class, or any kind of errand that will leave you out all day. Thinking, learning, walking, remembering, these all use up energy. It’s important we fuel ourselves throughout the day to keep us sharp.

Maybe you could stop at home in between tasks, but how efficient is it really? Any college student must carry a snack on them at all times. Even if you’re not on the go, you never know when hunger may strike when you’re in no position to obtain any food.

Pretzels, crackers, dried fruits, a protein bar — anything spill-free that can withstand the pressure of other things in your backpack is the way to go. Being hungry in class or at a meeting does no good for anyone.

Making friends with your classmates

This isn’t the year to be antisocial in your classes. We know how difficult it can be, especially in the winter months, to come into class in a social mood. However, striking up a conversation with the people around you is simply necessary in the big 2026. It really has no downsides. You

make a class friend, and it makes class not so boring, you’re able to ask them questions about the course, you have someone to relate to if the professor is tough, and who knows, maybe the friendship will eventually extend beyond the walls of the classroom.

If you’re seeing this and you haven’t spoken to a classmate yet, it’s not too late. It’s still early, impressions aren’t set in stone yet, and a simple compliment on an item of clothing or laptop sticker will go a long way. If a classmate doesn’t give you the same energy back, at least you tried.

Two’s Under High

After years of speculation, memories and persistent rumors, Two’s Under High is officially coming back to campus in 2026, exactly where many students hoped it would be.

According to updates shared on the bar’s Instagram, Two’s will be reopening in the basement beneath Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace at the corner of Woodruff Avenue and High Street. The space was previously home to Larry’s Bar and Sloppy Donkey, placing Two’s right back in the heart of campus nightlife and just steps away from Buckeye Donuts.

As part of the iconic “number bars” family, Two’s Under High — originally Too’s Under High — has long held a place in Ohio State bar culture. Its return to High Street feels intentional, leaning into its history rather than trying to rebrand or relocate elsewhere. The owners have emphasized their commitment to reopening in a “glorious basement under High Street,” framing the comeback as both a revival and a statement.

In an era where campus bars are constantly changing hands or moving farther from campus, Two’s return feels like a nod to tradition, and that’s exactly why it’s an in for 2026.

Outs: Slow walkers

This isn’t in reference to people who cannot physically walk fast. This is in

reference to the people who walk in the middle of the sidewalk as slow as humanly possible, typically head down scrolling on their phone.

Sidewalk traffic is its own thing to navigate — walk on the right side and move over to let the faster people pass if they need to. It’s ultimately not a hard thing to do and requires little to no effort.

No one is asking slow walkers to change their habits. Don’t walk fast if you don’t want to. But others have a high sense of urgency, or a tendency to run late, so show some respect and step aside. People have places to be.

This is a deeply personal out, but was also cited by two students in the Instagram poll. Let’s pick up the pace in 2026.

Electric scooters

Some students mentioned electric scooters as an out for 2026 in The Lantern’s Instagram polling.

Scooters are everywhere. They’re a less intensive form of transportation — there’s no pedaling involved in scootering — and, as many scooter users seem to think, the traffic laws don’t apply. Sure, there are responsible drivers who abide by the “no bikes or scooters” signs in the Oval, but there’s also a handful of drivers who weave through people in the crosswalk and blow through stop signs.

For that reason, electric scooters are out for 2026. Honorary ins for 2026 include taking public transit, biking and abiding by traffic laws.

The best of Columbus’ arts scene: Exhibits, premieres and live shows around campus

Helena Hennessy Managing Arts & Life Editor

Columbus is home to a vivid arts community, offering an outing for every taste — from catching a movie premiere at a local theater to attending your favorite artist’s concert or strolling the galleries of a museum downtown.

No matter your budget, both Ohio State’s campus and the city of Columbus offer endless opportunities to be immersed in its vibrant arts scene. Read on to uncover your next go-to creative outlet.

Columbus Museum of Art

The city’s central art museum in the heart of downtown Columbus, founded in 1878, located at 480 E. Broad St., features collections, exhibitions and programs for those of all ages. The museum recently introduced its new free 25 & under program, according to prior Lantern reporting, that allows for free admission to all parts of the museum for those 25 and under.

In addition to the museum’s year-round galleries, it also offers additional activities, such as a live jazz performance from the David Adewumi Quintet on Aug. 20, its 10 Minutes on the Dot series, in which attendees are paired with a CMA educator who spends 10 minutes describing singular works of art, and Open Studio, an arts and crafts session for creatives to experiment with varying materials and themes provided by the museum, according to the museum’s website.

Gateway Film Center

This locally owned movie theater, located just steps away from campus at 1550 N. High St., screens both blockbuster releases and independent films, offering a wide variety for every taste.

The theater often hosts themed film-centered events, series and screenings, such as its From Book to Film series, showing movies originally based on books, including a 4K restoration of Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) on Aug. 22 and Nickel Boys (2024) on Aug. 29, according to the website. Hitchcocktober, another film series, is an annual celebration consisting of rereleased showings of Alfred Hitchcock’s films throughout the month of October.

Discounted movie tickets for Gateway can be purchased through DTix, Ohio State’s discounted student ticket program located in the Ohio Union, for $3.50 a piece.

Gateway Film Center.

Newport Music Hall, KEMBA Live! and A&R Music Bar

These live music venues within the University District, owned by PromoWest Productions, offer a number of concerts and live shows throughout the year, consisting of a variety of genres for every taste. Newport Music Hall (1722 N. High St.), KEMBA Live! (405 Neil Ave.) and A&R Music Bar (391 Neil Ave.) range in their capacities, giving each its own unique atmosphere for live listening.

Upcoming and most anticipated shows at the venues include Columbus-based artist Nick Folwarczny at A&R Music Bar on Sept. 11, country band Ole 60 at KEMBA Live! on Sept. 24 and alternative singer-songwriter Julia Wolf at Newport Music Hall on Oct. 9.

Each of these venues provides endless entertainment for a night out, whether solo or with friends. Ticket information for upcoming events can be found on the venues’ shared website.

All Time Low stopped at KEMBA Live! in Columbus for their “EVERYONE’S TALKING!” tour Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.

CREDIT: FAITH SCHNEIDER | MANAGING DESIGN EDITOR

Ohio Union Board of Activities

Located right on campus, the Ohio Union Board of Activities is a student-run organization that plans and hosts free events for students to attend year-round. Activities such as movie screenings, arts and crafts, karaoke nights, open mic nights and special guest visits often take place in the Ohio Union at 1739 N. High St.

One of the organization’s most popular event series is Flicks for Free, where popular movies, often chosen based on suggestions received through their Instagram page, are screened in the Ohio Union’s U.S. Bank Conference Theater.

The Wexner Center for the Arts

Located directly on campus at 1871 N. High St., The Wexner Center for the Arts offers film and video screenings, including many foreign films, art exhibitions, artist panels, live music performances and more.

Also referred to as the Wex, the center offers a free membership for students which, includes benefits such as free access, with one guest, to events and a 10% discount at the in-house Heirloom Café coffee shop.

Upcoming events include a double screening of The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) and The Birdcage (1996) on Aug. 28, a talk and Q&A with Laurel Humble, a museum educator from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, on Sept. 3 and the annual fall exhibitions opening celebration, including drawings, paintings, sculptures and more, on Sept. 18.

The Wexner Center for the Arts. CREDIT: KATHRYN D STUDIOS

The Ohio Union. CREDIT: DANIEL BUSH | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

How movie theaters are winning back Gen Z

Siena Kessler Arts & Life Editor

This story was originally published March 10 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

F or decades, going to the movies was a college weekend staple, but streaming platforms have changed viewing habits, making the couch a tough competitor.

A local theater manager and a media expert said Gen Z isn’t abandoning moviegoing altogether. Instead, they’re becoming more selective, choosing screenings that feel culturally relevant or communal.

At Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse, assistant manager Tyler Campbell said he has noticed a shift in who has been showing up to screenings in recent years.

“Our clientele has gotten a little younger, it seems,” Campbell said. “I do think there’s some appetite from a younger audience to experience film in a theatrical setting, which is surpris ing to me.”

However, he said that appetite does not necessarily mean younger audi ences are attending more often.

“I think younger people are seeing fewer movies per year, but prioritize the theatrical experience when they are watching them,” Campbell said.

Attendance among col lege-aged audiences is particularly strong during late-night screenings, Campbell said.

“It really is title-specific and whatever resonates most with that demographic,” Campbell said. “Recent screenings, like Charli XCX’s mockumentary ‘The Moment’ and last year’s ‘[A] Minecraft Movie’ drew a lot of college crowds.”

He said theaters like Studio 35 are no longer positioning themselves as direct competitors to streaming platforms.

Instead, he said they’re trying to offer something different.

“I think it’s an evolvement,” Campbell said. “Four or five years ago, I would’ve said absolutely it’s in deep competition, but now it seems that there’s enough real estate for both to exist at once.”

Part of that evolution includes emphasizing elements that cannot be replicated at home, he said.

“We have tried to bring talent to film screenings, whether it’s actors or directors, something you can’t do at home,” Campbell said. “You can’t replicate the physical experience from a quality perspective.”

Scott Campbell, professor and Rinehart Chair in Mediated Communication in Ohio State’s School of Communication, said the decline in theater attendance among Gen Z is tied to lifestyle changes, particularly those shaped during the COVID-19

theatrical experiences demand longer, uninterrupted engagement than scrolling through social media.

While theaters still offer value, Campbell said they are competing with the broader convenience of digital life.

“In terms of people’s time it competes, but in terms of the media experience you get from it, it is not competing — it has different things to offer,” Campbell said.

Cost remains a significant barrier for students deciding whether to see a film in theaters, Tyler Campbell said.

“The overall concern is very real,” Tyler Campbell said. “It is expensive, especially if you’re coming with a family or friends, and those concerns are going to be heightened for students who don’t have disposable income or have student loans.”

Scott Campbell also said attracting younger audiences comes down

to offer and asking people to support them at the community level.”

According to Tyler Campbell, nostalgia has emerged as a draw, particularly for older films that Gen Z may not have originally seen in theaters.

“I was nervous that there wasn’t going to be a big appetite for going to the movies for older titles, but we found that they do want to experience what people deem as classics,” Campbell said.

As streaming continues to dominate everyday viewing habits, Scott Campbell said theaters may need to lean into something beyond convenience.

“They can’t get people to stop streaming but they are going to lean into a more local, community connection,” he said. “I think people are somewhat starved for local community connection.”

Long-term, Campbell said theaters

Domhnall Gleeson channels his inner journalist with the help of Ohio State professors in “The Paper”

Antonia Campbell Former Arts & Life Editor

This story was originally published Sept. 3, 2025 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

“ Funny, heartfelt, chaotic and funny again” are the adjectives Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson offers to describe his new show, “The Paper,” premiering Thursday on the streaming service Peacock.

A spin-off of the critically acclaimed series, “The Office,” “The Paper” follows the same mockumentary style of the original series but focuses on a struggling newspaper rather than a paper company.

Known for his roles in the “Harry Potter” series, “Ex Machina” and “About Time,” Gleeson will star as Ned

“Greg Daniels has done an incredible amount of insanely brilliant work making funny American things, and Michael Koman has also done some incredible stuff like ‘Nathan for You,’” Gleeson said. “So yeah, they sent me the script and asked to have a chat. I thought the script was really funny. I really enjoyed talking to them. I talked to some people who had worked with them before and all those people said, ‘They’re amazing. You have to work with them if you can,’ and that was it.”

In preparation for the role, Gleeson traveled to the Midwest to speak to local journalists as part of his training. Specifically, Gleeson visited Ohio State and spoke with Spencer Hunt, director of student media at The Lantern, and Nicole Kraft, professor of journalism practice and director of the Sports and Society Initiative.

the kind of place he might have gone to college, and they were very helpful. I got to walk around The Lantern and stuff like that.”

Gleeson said to play an American as someone from Ireland, it was important to find commonalities between him and his character on his own, but also create commonalities by exploring where his character is from.

“Oftentimes with the character, you’re looking for the things you have in common, but you also want to have some sort of, almost made up memories,” Gleeson said. “You want to join your history with the character’s history, in some ways. So just traveling around, seeing the size of the different cities, like the size of Cincinnati versus Toledo, for example, all that sort of stuff helps you mix your history with the character’s in some way.”

Domhnall Gleeson (standing) as Ned, the new editor in chief on “The Paper.”

AARON EPSTEIN/PEACOCK VIA TNS

Focusing on commonalities between Gleeson and Ned Sampson, Gleeson said Ned is more optimistic than he is, but they still share similar traits.

“I think what [Ned] and most people have in common is that he wants the world to be a better place,” Gleeson said. “He wants to rally the troops. He wants everyone to work together really well. He wants a happy work environment. And [he is] even romantic. I do think I have aspects of being overly romantic at times in my real life, not necessarily always in my actions, but in my outlook.”

Gleeson said that portraying a journalist gave him a greater appreciation for journalism and also made him more optimistic for the future of the profession.

thing I found out – was that people are still doing it and people still really care about it. I thought that was super cool and super hopeful, despite a lot of the outlook being pessimistic.”

“The Paper” takes place in the same fictional universe as the U.S. version of “The Office,” with the idea being that the same documentary crew that filmed Dunder Mifflin Paper Company came across the Toledo Truth-Teller and decided to document the happenings there.

To any skeptics that feel “The Paper” is unnecessary, Gleeson said he is not here to change anyone’s mind.

“Anybody who has that feeling –that’s absolutely fine,” Gleeson said. “I think that when we worked on the show, we worked really hard to make it its own thing and to make it have similar qualities in some ways, in terms of the feel of the show, but the tone is a little different … If people want more of ‘The Office,’ there are so many episodes of ‘The Office.’ We’re not deleting those off the internet, those are all still there. I’m hopeful that people can focus on our own strengths and weaknesses, but I’m not going to try to convince anybody.”

It was announced Wednesday, Sept 3, that “The Paper” was renewed for a second season by Peacock a day before its release to the public. Daniels already has ideas for season two, according to an article released by Variety Wednesday.

Gleeson said he’s excited and also relieved for the show to be released so audiences can interpret “The Paper” for themselves.

Sampson, the new editor-in-chief the after at sinking Ohio newspaper, the Toledo Truth-Teller.

Gleeson said when the creators of “The Paper” – Greg Daniels, known for creating the U.S. version of “The Office” and Michael Koman – sent him the script, taking on the role was a no-brainer.

“I’d never spent much time in the Midwest, so I just went to Ohio, went to a few cities and talked to a few reporters,” Gleeson said. “The idea is that my character hasn’t been an editor since he was in college — he hasn’t been involved in papers since he was at a school paper. So I talked to a few people at OSU as sort of an example of

“I guess I knew that journalism was in a tough spot, like all over the world and America, but I just hadn’t put a lot of thought into how difficult it is to be a journalist,” Gleeson said. “And what I found really cool is the fact that young people are still getting into it, despite the many harsh realities of the business at the moment. I just found that really inspiring. I think I took that for Ned – that was the big

“I’m just excited for it to be out in the world, and that we can stop sort of explaining what we think it’s about and let people find out for themselves,” Gleeson said. “That’s always a nice thing – sort of letting go of it. We’ve seen it, and in like three days, anybody who wants to see it can see it, and that sort of lifts the pressure in a certain way, because it’s not up to us to explain it anymore. I’m looking forward to that.”

High Street business owners reflect on Ohio State’s history of locally-formed friendships

Helena Hennessy Managing Arts & Life Editor

This story was originally published March 10 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

F or businesses residing on High Street, each establishment faces fierce competition.

Scott Ellsworth and Jimmy Barouxis both took ownership of their University District businesses in 2007. When they met, their relationship was purely transactional. Now, after two decades of working alongside one another, they consider themselves brothers.

Ellsworth owns the series of number bars along High Street — consisting of the soon-to-be revived Two’s Under High, Threes Above High, Fours on High and recently closed Fives Up High. Barouxis owns Buckeye Donuts.

“With [Barouxis] and me, the business came first,” Ellsworth said in an Instagram direct message. “We were two guys figuring it out at the same time. Long nights, big decisions, constant pressure. Somewhere along the way, that turned into real friendship.”

In the two decades of his Buckeye Donuts ownership, Barouxis said Ellsworth has become his closest friend.

“We’re always somehow crossing paths unintentionally,” Barouxis said. “It just kind of happened.”

Ellsworth reflected on the evolution of the business relationships between High Street establishments.

“When I bought Too’s 19 years ago, High Street wasn’t exactly a group hug,” Ellsworth said. “Over time, that changed. And I’m proud of that. I’m close with a lot of the bar owners now. But it’s bigger than that. Buckeye Donuts. Playa Bowls. Dirty Franks. Different parts of the industry, different vibes, but same grind. We’re all part of the same ecosystem. If one of us levels up, the street levels up.”

Barouxis echoed that same admiration for his fellow local businesses.

“I can’t even describe how much High Street has changed,” Barouxis said. “But change is inevitable. I don’t want to say it’s better or worse. Cam-

pus had more flavor 20 years ago, more flavor than it does now, but it’s not bad. There’s still some hope. You got places like Threes. You got Dirty Frank’s up there. You still got some noise.”

Quinn Allen, owner of The Library Bar and The Thirsty Scholar, also reflected on the changes he has seen on High Street over the years.

“It’s inevitable that we’re going to see turnover with our customer basis,” Allen said. “We get this rapid reset all the time, and the only thing that stays consistent for us is our network of bar

“Same era. Same pressure. Same learning curve. We’re wired similarly. We’ll sit there and complain like two old guys about staffing, the city, weather, you name it,” Ellsworth said. “Sounds miserable, but we’re laughing the whole time. Because if you don’t laugh at this business, it’ll chew you up. There’s something powerful about having someone who understands the weight without you having to explain it.”

When it came to the friendship between Buckeye Donuts and Threes,

owners, because we’re the ones seeing all the way through it.”

In witnessing these changes through the same lens, local owners have grown closer and more dependent on one another to stay afloat — both in business practices and keeping each other company.

Ellsworth said Barouxis’s family has been on High Street longer than either of them have been alive, but they both stepped into running their businesses around 2007.

Allen also spoke about the rise of business friendships in the age of social media.

“We’re always sharing each other’s posts whenever somebody has a mishap,” Allen said. “Let’s say something happens at somebody’s bar, and then we’re trying to track somebody down. It’s so quick to act as a network where we all share that post, that person ends up getting found, caught [and] held accountable within minutes. Campus cooperates so well with us because everybody’s looking out for us.”

In November, a customer at Three’s vandalized its bathroom. The bar took to Instagram to share what happened and bars like Library, The Little Bar and Out-r-Inn commented their disbelief and support, per prior Lantern reporting.

Long-term, High Street business owners each said they will continue to support each other.

“A street where owners are at each other’s throats — that’s short-term thinking,” Ellsworth said. “A street where owners communicate, collaborate, and actually want each other to win? That’s sustainable. There’s probably no other campus in the country where every major owner is in the same group chat. If someone needs help, it’s there. If something’s going sideways, we talk about it. If we want to build something bigger than ourselves, we coordinate.”

Allen agreed.

Barouxis said Ellsworth made the first move. The pair began conversing in 2015 during the rise of their social media accounts, on which they would share posts featuring each other’s businesses.

“Business friendships — there’s a level of comfort,” Barouxis said. “You’re more familiar with each other, and you’re more willing to go the extra mile for that person. It’s very important to have good neighbors. In our case, we have some great neighbors.”

“A friendship is someone who’s kind of in your corner all the time, no matter what — a ride or die, and you’re always looking out for the benefit of the people around you,” Allen said. “I think that it’s just incredible when we get to focus on building the relationships with our staff and building the relationships with the community on campus.”

At their cores, High Street business owners work not only for their own businesses, but for one another.

“They know if they need something, they can come in and get it,” Barouxis said. “They can ask for help. Or if they need anything, their employees will stop in. They know us. They know where we are. They know who we are.”

CREDIT: COURTESY OF JIMMY BAROUXIS

The staff of Threes Above High, including owner Scott Ellsworth (bottom center), at Buckeye Donuts in 2018.

University Hall.

CREDIT: DANIEL BUSH | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

CAMPUS

University Hall. CREDIT: DANIEL BUSH | LANTERN FILE PHHOTO

CAMPUS

MEET THE STAFF

A letter from the editor

Dear all incoming and returning Buckeyes,

Welcome to Ohio State! I am so excited for you all to embark on this eye-opening, new and thrilling journey.

While it can seem intimidating to step onto such a large campus, it will offer you so many opportunities that you might not get anywhere else. I encourage you to take as many opportunities as you can.

I want to emphasize the importance of putting yourself out there. If there is one thing I wish I would’ve done differently when I started out at the university, it’s the fact that I didn’t venture out enough. I spent a large amount of time in my dorm my first year and did not meet as many people, try new food spots, or join as many clubs as I wish I did. It took me awhile to fully accept that everyone started off at Ohio State pretty-much in the same way; a new place to live, new friends, and complete independence. Everyone is, or was, in the same boat. There are so many people and resources on campus that want to help you and make you feel a part of the Buckeye family, so do not be afraid to branch out!

Luckily, one thing that I decided to branch out into my first year was The Lantern. I had participated in my high school’s newspaper as a reporter and ed-

itor and declared Journalism as my major, so I figured, what better way to delve into my major than writing for the university’s news organization? I started as a freelancer, writing some articles each semester and continued through my major coursework. Now, after two years of being involved, I am so happy, blessed and honored to be this year’s managing campus editor.

The campus desk of The Lantern will be dedicated to delivering news in a timely manner that is accurate, fair and will be important for YOU to read. We will be covering events and topics regarding student life and Greek life, crime and safety, student government, breaking news, and any issues that would shape or affect the Ohio State community. I believe that it is important for students to know what exactly is going on at our university and the city in which it resides. As your campus editor, I am dedicated to bringing you stories that help you feel connected and informed with our campus.

The Lantern and campus desk are excited for you all to join the Buckeye community. Whether you pick up our weekly printed papers or keep up with us on our website, I encourage you to stay up-to-date and connect with what is happening around campus and Columbus. We are excited to see you all grow and to see where this year takes you.

Good luck, Buckeyes!

Sincerely, Reegan Davis

Audrey Coleman Campus Editor

Jacob Jolliff Campus Senior Writer

Lauren Savitsky Campus Senior Writer

Michael Goulet Campus Photo Editor

Paige Puhalsky LTV Campus Producer

Student Involvement fair will feature new accessibility and break stations and have 925 organizations in attendance

Reegan Davis Managing Campus Editor

Students will have the opportunity to explore the 925 organizations at the university and discover ways to get involved on campus before fall semester classes begin.

The Autumn 2026 student involvement fair will take place on Aug. 23 on the Oval and South Oval from 4-7 p.m., and organizers said they will partner with the Ohio State app and Student Life Disability Services to create break spaces and other accessible needs for the occasion.

“I genuinely think it’s such a big event, but [the involvement fair] really does kick off your sense of ‘this is some place where I am one of many, but I can also find my spot within that many,’” Liz Westrick, the coordinator for student organizations and involvement for student life, said.

Last year, for the first time, Student Organizations and Involvement utilized the Ohio State app to create “access guides” for students as they navigate the fair. This means that a week before the day of the event, students can access a map of the entire fair, showing where each organization is located, along with a description and contact information, according to Westrick.

Students will also be able to use the map on the app to find their way through the fair as well. They can use their phones to generate a route for them to get to a certain table or organization.

“It really is so user-friendly,” Westrick said. “We put in a lot of work to make it as user-friendly and as helpful as we possibly can. So if people want to go through and plan out their journey through the fair, or they just want to see what’s there before they’re in the fair and they’re overwhelmed by all of the sounds and people, they can look ahead and see who’s gonna be there, who they want to visit and they can ‘favorite’ them. It’s amazing.”

In addition to the continuation of

utilizing the university app, this will be the first year that the involvement fair will partner with Student Life Disability Services.

Earplugs for any sensory needs and accessibility guides will be available. Accessibility guides can be found on the Ohio State app closer to when the event is held, and will act as an overlay of the original fair map to show students specific buildings that they can go into for air conditioning, quiet spaces or to find restrooms and cold water during the time of the event, according to Westrick.

These spaces will be called “open access break spaces” and can be found at nearby buildings such as Thompson Library, the Ohio Union and the Wexner Center of the Arts.

“Especially for new students who don’t know what’s open and what’s available for them to go and take a breath and cool down a bit, because we don’t know what the weather is going to be,” Westrick said. “So, we’re super excited about that. It is in the marketing phase right now, so we’re hoping

to have a finished product really soon to start giving that out to anyone that needs it.”

Similarly, there will be tents set up outside of Mendenhall and Hagerty Hall on the Oval with water bottles, ice, first aid, SLDS specialists and restrooms off to the side.

According to the involvement fair’s policies and expectations document, students should prepare to attend in light rain or shine, and cancellation will only occur if severe weather is expected.

On top of these new accessibility changes, the involvement fair is a great way for students to get involved with the university.

“There are so many organizations that they can focus on and say ‘instead of being one of 60,000 at Ohio State, I can be one of 20 in this organization that I have a lot in common with these people, and we have this shared interest and shared goal,’ and that is really important,” Westrick said. “Especially for first-year students or second-year students who are trying to find their

place on campus.”

Westrick said that the fair is expected to be bigger than last year, having 37 more tables. The number of student organizations keeps increasing.

“The community has officially reached 1,500 registered active student organizations,” Westrick said. “The demand is going up, up, up. We have a waitlist of about 100 organizations that I can’t guarantee a spot unless other people drop out or they don’t show up on the day of the fair.”

Westrick said that students should explore what the fair has to offer and that students should sign up for more organizations rather than not putting themselves out there.

“Keep an open mind, and if you do need a break, find an open access break space,” Westrick said. “Find a building that you can just take a minute, recenter yourself and go back. It really is what you put into it.”

Ohio State students will have the opportunity to find community this semester at the Autumn Involvement Fair.

CREDIT: ZACHARY RILLEY | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

A Buckeye’s guide to campus locations for incoming freshmen

Audrey Coleman Campus Editor

When arriving on a new campus, stress can stem from navigating the walk between classes, surviving communal bathrooms and most importantly, where to get the best food from Ohio State Dining.

With over 30 locations across campus, including regional locations, the decision of where to eat first can feel overwhelming. To narrow down some of the options, The Lantern polled current students on some of the best places to go to grab a bite to eat. The polls were collected via Instagram stories, with an average of 415 votes per category.

Starting the day, the campus-favorite coffee can be found at Connecting Grounds, located close to the North Rec Center. Pulling away with 42% of the vote, students can find many customizable coffees, pastries and some grab-and-go options. Terra Byte at 18th Ave Library, Express-OH in the Union and Berry Café at Thompson also are popular.

Connecting Grounds

CREDIT: CASEY CASCALDO |

Best Coffee:

dining: Fan-favorite freshmen to go to

Morrill Tower, where Traditions at Morrill is located.

Most Underrated:

If students are in the market for a quieter spot, or a location that doesn’t have the same hustle and bustle of mainstream restaurants, polling agreed that Oxley’s by the Numbers and 12th Ave Bread Co. fit the category, tying with 34% each. While underrated is more subjective, there are plenty of smaller cafés across campus.

For an underrated meal, Lesa Holford said her pick is in Traditions at Morrill.

“The action station at Morrill, because it’s [a] station that’s extremely customizable and has lots of fresh, bright options,” Holford said. “You can build these big, fresh, bright, beautiful bowls over there, and to me, it’s underrated. I don’t think that students realize what a great option [it] is.”

Best Healthy Eating:

For those searching for lighter, healthy options, there are different ways to approach the search. In terms of ordering from GrubHub, the platform Ohio State uses for campus dining, students voted that Grains and Greens, one of the stations inside Traditions at Scott, is one of the best, taking 31% of the vote.

“It took us years to figure out Grains and Greens,” Holford said, Ohio State’s corporate executive chef. “To make it a spot that students outside of having peanut tree nut or gluten allergies wanted to go to, and I think that two years ago, we really nailed it.”

Students also have the ability to build their own meals, mainly at like buffet-style locations like the Traditions.

“It’s important to be a little creative in your menu planning, which takes some thought, right?” Holford said. “A lot of people don’t necessarily think of simple things like getting the grilled chicken at the grill and then building yourself a grilled chicken Caesar salad from the salad bar.”

What’s for Dinner

Once dinner time rolls around, the possibilities are as endless as ever. For a casual pizza night, students voted Marketplace at Neil to the top, with 43% of the vote. Woody’s, Curl Market, Traditions at Morrill and Donato’s at Oxley’s all have different options too, each varying from the other.

“I think the Morrill pizza is really, really good,” Holford said. “They’re using a fresh crust over there, and they’re putting it into these little special pans that we [have].”

In terms of comfort food, Sloopy’s Diner was the winner, with 44%. While returning students are familiar with the classic pancakes, burgers and sandwiches at the diner, Sloopy’s will undergo a menu change before the semester begins, according to previous Lantern reporting.

“There’s going to be the smoothie concept, the core burgers, fries, chicken tenders and then the Mediterranean bowl concept,” Holford said. “That’s going to be the biggest change that students are going to see when they come back.”

At the Traditions locations, Scott is the largest, and easy crowd favorite, with 84% of the vote. Kennedy comes in second with 13%, and Morrill trailing behind with 3%.

Lastly, with groups in which students each want something different, Scott also prevailed at the location with the most variety at 34%, though Union Market takes a close second at 29%.

In short, Ohio State Dining has hundreds of options for students to choose from. Taking time to explore the different locations can lead to finding new favorites, Holford said.

“It’s important to understand all of the locations that we have, so I would suggest spending time on the dining services website and opening up those locations and looking at the menus, or going to GrubHub and seeing that while there are similarities, there are a lot of differences as well,” Holford said. “You just have to find them.”

CREDIT: HAYLEY BECK | LAN TERN FILE PHOTO

Traditions at Scott

CREDIT: CHRISTIAN HARSA | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

Sloopy’s Diner, located in the Ohio Union.

CREDIT: KYRIE THOMAS | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

USG’s 59th General Assembly

meets for the first time, swears in senators and elects leadership

Jacob Jolliff Senior Campus Writer

This story was originally published April 9 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

The Undergraduate Student Government held the first meeting of the next General Assembly on April 6, in which the newly elected senators were sworn in and elections were held to decide leadership.

Senators voted for a speaker, parliamentarian, secretary and legislative coordinators for each of the issues committees.

The meeting started with Terrell McCann, the speaker of the 58th General Assembly and a then third-year in business, swearing elected senators into the 59th General Assembly.

Before the elections took place, USG President Jessica Asante-Tutu and Vice President Kathrina Noma delivered the executive report. Asante-Tutu, a then fourth-year in psychology, congratulated the newly sworn-in senators and reminded them to remain respectful throughout the election process.

In a past presidential election, USG presidential candidates were found guilty of intimidation, and the election results were then made invalid, per prior Lantern reporting.

“I think our [orga nization] has done a poor job of making sure that people are being respected in these times, and also making sure that people are able to express themselves in a way that is respectful to everybody,” Asante-Tutu said.

McCann agreed, adding that they will follow the rules given in their bylaws.

and we will follow it faithfully,” McCann said. “When we reduce this particular process to noise, to mockery or to anything less than its intended purpose, we do a disservice, not just to the candidates but to every student that we represent.”

Following the swearing-in and executive report, senators moved into elections for leadership positions within the General Assembly.

Sen. Braxton R. Glover, a then firstyear in public affairs and political science, was elected speaker after facing Sen. Dylan Gilbo, a then first-year in political Science and biochemistry. At 18-years-old, Glover is now the youngest speaker in General Assembly history.

Sen. Miriam Tesfay, a then first-year in international business and political science, was elected parliamentarian over Gilbo, and Sen. Alana Andrew, a second-year in psychology, was elected secretary.

Senators also elected legislative coordinators for each issues committee: Sen. Ali Abedrabbo for Academic Affairs, Sen. Anne Sankale for Black Caucus, Sen. Maria Kogan for Justice and Equity, Sen. Lindsay Tayfel for Governmental Relations, Sen. Jack Meyer for Health and Safety and Sen. Rishabh Bhargava for Sustain-

“We will not deviate from the established process. We will follow it fully,

Speaker of the 58th General Assembly Terrell McCann swears in the new senators of the 59th General Assembly during their first meeting.

Provost Ravi Bellamkonda named Ohio State’s next president

Davis Beatty Former Managing Campus Editor

This story was originally published March 12 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Ohio State Provost Ravi Bellamkonda will take over the leadership of the university, replacing former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., effective Thursday.

Less than a week after former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. announced

Carter resigned a little over two years into his five-year contract after the board received an anonymous tip of the former president having an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources. Carter confirmed the relationship and the board accepted his resignation on Sunday.

president website.

Presidents were most commonly recruited or encouraged to apply by a search consultant or agency, followed by members of the Board of Trustees or governing group or the past president of their current campus, according to a 2023 study of American college presidents by the American Council on Education.

was Emory University’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for about two-and-a-half years, where he launched initiatives for student experience, arts and humanistic inquiry and AI in service to humanity, his bio states.

Bellamkonda will join the 28% of presidents who are not white, according to the study.

After a little over a year as provost and executive vice president, Bellam-

his sudden resignation, the Board of Trustees have unusually decided for Bellamkonda to be the university’s 18th president. Bellamkonda has been in the provost role for about one year.

Since joining Ohio State 14 months ago as our provost and chief academic leader, [Bellamkonda] has impressed all of us with his commitment to this university and its people, and with his vision, energy and collegial spirit, he played an integral role in crafting the university’s current strategic plan, and his leadership throughout the early phases of its implementation, excites us about what lies ahead,” John Zeiger, chair of the board, said.

That person is presumably Krisanthe Vlachos, a podcaster for the show “The Callout,” meant to connect veterans and the military to the future of energy and utilities using AI, per prior Lantern reporting. It is still not known what the nature of the relationship was that led to Carter’s resignation.

Choosing a new president is usually a months-long process. Per prior Lantern reporting, universities typically hire consultants to conduct a search for a new president and appoint an interim president until that new leader is named.

The last time Ohio State appointed an interim president was in 2023 when former President Kristina M. Johnson resigned. Johnson left without explanation after just two-and-a-half years on the job.

At Ohio State, there have been five interim presidents, all of which were appointed since 1998, according to the university’s past

konda oversaw Ohio State’s Office of Academic Affairs, 15 colleges, four regional campuses and more than 8,600 faculty, according to his university bio.

In a statement announcing Bellamkonda’s provost position, Carter said it was critical for the university to find someone who exemplifies the university’s “commitment to excellence in academics” and “collaborative leadership.”

Currently, Bellamkonda’s salary is $850,000, according to Ohio State’s salary database. The previous provost, Melissa Gilliam, had a base annual salary of $618,000.

It is not known what Bellamkonda will be paid as the next president.

Before Ohio State, Bellamkonda

Carter will be leaving behind an AI fluency initiative, meant to teach students how to use AI as a tool to innovate and learn, and Buckeye Bridge, which allows students who graduated with an associates degree from Columbus State Community College to earn a bachelors at Ohio State for free.

Carter’s legacy also includes a 10year strategic plan, Education for Citizenship 2035, for Ohio State to focus on academics, research and creative expression, health care, talent and culture, operations and collegiate athletics, according to its website.

A key question is whether Bellamkonda will keep or drop any of Carter’s initiatives.

Prior to Emory, Bellamkonda served as the Vinik Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, his bio said. He also was the Wallace H. Coulter Professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory.

He began his professional career in Ohio as an assistant and associate professor at Case Western Reserve University in 1995 before transitioning to Georgia Tech and Emory in 2003, per prior Lantern reporting.

Bellamkonda earned a bachelors in engineering from Osmania University in 1989. He then came to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D. at Brown University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He will be a part of the 84% of presidents who earned a doctoral degree, compared to Carter, who earned a bachelor’s and is a part of 0.6% of presidents with that degree, according to the college presidents survey.

In addition to numerous awards, Bellamkonda received a National Institutes of Health Director’s Transformative Research Award for his work designing a “tractor beam” to treat pediatric brain tumors, according to his bio.

Former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. (left) and new President Ravi Bellamkonda (right).

CREDIT: CARLY DAMON | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

President Ravi Bellamkonda works to continue university plans, AI fluency and student impact in new role

Audrey Coleman Campus Editor

This story was originally published May 1 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

The ongoing strength of Ohio State’s academics, research, medical expertise and athletics will overcome and outlast any outside criticism and scrutiny of this institution, President Ravi V. Bellamkonda said Friday.

In an interview with The Lantern, Columbus Dispatch and Columbus Business First, Bellamkonda also said he plans to keep many of former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s key initiatives in place while working to make Ohio State’s bureaucracy more responsive and efficient. He also said he was committed to supporting Ohio State athletics and the university’s students. His comments came 50 days after his appointment as the 18th president of Ohio State, following the sudden resignation of Carter and his disclosure of an inappropriate relationship and mis-

use of university resources.

Since then, Bellamkonda said he has spent his time adjusting to the position, appointing Dean Trevor Brown from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs as interim provost and continuing to lead the university to the best of his ability, regardless of the quick turnaround.

Here’s what Bellamkonda had to say:

Ohio State’s reputation

The ongoing Richard Strauss lawsuit, protests surrounding Les Wexner’s involvement at Ohio State and his name on campus buildings, a professor facing charges over tackling a documentarian, free speech concerns and other issues have led to increased scrutiny of the university and national coverage.

Bellamkonda said there’s a need to remind people, longstanding Buckeyes and the general public, how impressive the university is outside of the debates

surrounding it. As a Big Ten university with national accolades, the relevance of the institution lies beyond current news coverage, he said.

“Our job is to remind people about why we are consequential. The reasons we are consequential is because we are a powerhouse in all three of the things we do: academics, athletics and healthcare,” he said. “The work we have ongoing and are planning to do, building on a strong foundation addresses not just these interesting times, but the national conversation about what it means to lead. I’m confident we will do that.”

Bellamkonda said he hopes the broader Ohio State community will feel comfortable trusting the university.

“My hope is as I have a chance to build trust by inviting people to think about Ohio State as ‘us’ and not ‘them,’ and then anchor that conversation [in that it’s] important for us to have an entity, an institution, that’s committed to the pursuit, discovery and the learning mission.”

What Bellamkonda will change

One of the biggest shifts Bellamkonda said he wants to implement is being more mindful of the university processes and efficiency with students.

In order to better involve regional students, admissions and students studying in different colleges, certain processes might shift, Bellamkonda said.

A key

idea, Bellamkonda said, is remembering the scope of the university, and working to make it the best version of itself.

“We are a bureaucratic place, and we need to be more efficient with our processes so we’re better stewards of taxpayer dollars, so it’s more efficient and less paperwork, [which] is important for us to keep our costs down and be more efficient,” Bellamkonda said.

“That’s the other piece we need to do, is to be mindful of efficiencies and productivity, which isn’t exciting, but it’s important for every organization.”

Continuing Carter’s plans

Before his resignation, Carter designed a plan for Education for Citizenship 2035, which included initiatives such as expanding scholarships, launching a fund to attract and retain faculty and furthering the AI Fluency plan, among other goals, according to previous Lantern reporting.

The question has since been whether Bellamkonda will keep moving towards those goals, or shift into his own plans for the university. Even in the short time he has been in the role, he has continued to advance initiatives and funding for faculty, Bellamkonda said.

“[Carter had] powerful ideas and we will not change them,” Bellamkonda said. “There’s a whole set of things we’re working on, which we will continue.”

AI Fluency and its first year “It’s important to curate at the university, especially at the undergradu-

State.” administration and students.

“If the students say something that makes sense and we’re not doing it, we will do that. I have no agenda other than to do the right thing if possible,” Bellamkonda said. “The challenge is, some of these issues are complex, and one student group represents a certaintives too. It is my job as the president of the university [and] our leadershipspectives and factor them in [when]

For students, alumni and Columbus-

rious as to what they can expect from

“I hope that with time, my actions lead them to believe that Ohio State is-

formative player locally in the state and nationally,” Bellamkonda said. “We don’t shy away from hard things; we will take them on, because the gift that’s on the other side of hard things is that we accomplish something worth

Similar to Carter, Bellamkonda saidvision I sports in place and active on campus. As an avid football fan andda said that it’s important to keep the athletic image of the university alive, unless an unforeseen circumstance

“We will try very hard to preserve those and the only consideration that would make me rethink that is if we’re not able to be really good at all the things we do,” Bellamkonda said. “As long as we’re able to compete, take care -

President Bellamkonda responds to an interview question during an interview in May.

CREDIT: MICHAEL GOULET | CAMPUS PHOTO EDITOR

University reaches $100 million settlement with nearly 300 Strauss survivors

Reegan Davis and Audrey Coleman Managing Campus Editor and Campus Editor

This story was originally published June 4 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

The Ohio State University board of trustees voted to settle with the remaining plaintiffs in the ongoing Richard Strauss lawsuit, and will pay $100 million to end the in years-long case.

The resolution was added to the agenda before the meeting on June 3, and is speculated to be the final settlement in the suit, which was originally opened in 2018, according to a university website.

“Ohio State and 279 of the 280 individual remaining Richard Strauss survivors involved in the pending litigation have reached settlements in principle in a total amount of $100 million,” according to a joint statement released by the university and plaintiffs. “The university’s Board of Trustees has now publicly ratified these agreements in principle, and all parties thank the mediators for their assistance. The mediation and its confidentiality are continuing as the parties work to finalize the details of the settlements, and additional information will be shared as appropriate.”

Details of the settlement are confidential and cannot be shared until the settlement agreements are finalized, board chair John Zeiger said during the meeting.

“The members of the public and others will, no doubt, have questions about this substantial development,” Zeiger said. “It is important that we respect the court’s order and comply with the mediator’s directive to keep confidentiality in place for now.”

Ohio State had settled with more than half of the plaintiffs, with a total of $61 million being awarded to 317 survivors since March 2020. The university also settled with an additional dozen survivors in April.

University President Ravi Bellamkonda said at the meeting that the Strauss survivors will always be a part of the Buckeye family and community.

“We continue to be very grateful to

them for their courage in coming forward, and reaching a final resolution is very important to us and is an important step forward,” Bellamkonda said.

Steve Snyder-Hill, a survivor who attended the university from 19912000 and had a lawsuit in the investigation, said that he cannot comment until the process finishes.

Perkins Coie, a law firm hired by the university in 2018 to conduct an independent investigation, determined that Strauss abused at least 177 students, mostly male athletes, during his employment at the university from 1978-98, per prior Lantern reporting. Perkins Coie conducted 520 interviews with former students, athletes, employees and other individuals over the course of its year-long investigation. Strauss died by suicide in 2005.

While the university reached the settlement of $100 million, universities with similar sexual abuse cases have reached larger settlements.

Michigan State paid $500 million to survivors of Larry Nassar, the university’s team doctor for the women’s gymnastics team, in 2018. Similarly, the University of Califor nia had a $1 billion payout to victims of Dr. George Tyndall in 2021. The University of Michigan offered $490 million in settlements to survivors of Robert Anderson in 2022,

per prior Lantern reporting. It is unknown when the settlements will be finalized and details will remain confidential until then.

and Brain

offer their support for Strauss survivers at May press conference.

Steve Stein

Steel

CREDIT: CASSANDRA D’ANGELO | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR

CREDIT: CHRISTIAN HARSA | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

The university board of trustees has voted to settle with 279 of 280 remaining plaintiffs in the ongoing Strauss lawsuit.

Ohio State planning to renovate two north dorms, one set to close

Reegan Davis Managing Campus Editor

This story was originally published March 5 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Ohio State would make major changes to north dorms on campus, even demolishing one, under a proposal before the Ohio State Board of Trustees.

Taylor and Drackett Towers would spend $15 million on extensive interior and exterior renovations and Jones Tower would be demolished, as part of a plan the Master Planning and Facilities Committee reviewed and approved Wednesday. The renovations and changes would occur two years ahead of an original timeline.

The full Board of Trustees is expected to pass the project at its Thursday meeting.

If the project is approved, Drackett and Taylor Tower will be available for students at the start of the 2028 Autumn semester, Dave Isaacs, a university spokesperson, said in an email.

The project was expedited after a major pipe burst in Taylor Tower, he said.

Over 700 students and staff had to find alternative housing two days before spring semester classes began. Residents could remain in dorms or find off-campus housing and receive a full refund for room and board. In addition, students received $75 on their BuckID and a $400 credit to their university account to assist with unexpected expenses, per prior Lantern reporting.

If the project is approved, it will potentially move forward at the end of this spring semester for both buildings, Isaacs said. Initially, the three towers were supposed to go under interior and exterior renovations and reopen by August 2030.

“Through the approved design phase, it has been determined that the estimated costs to effectively renovate Jones Tower will not provide a practical return on investment,” Isaacs said.

In addition, pending the full board’s approval, Ohio State will expand its master lease agreements with apartments near campus. Currently, Ohio State has a master lease with Statehouse Columbus’ Lane and Norwich properties, per prior Lantern reporting.

The construction contract was approved and shared in the committee’s executive session of the meeting, said Chris Kabourek, senior vice president in Ohio State’s Office of Administration and Planning.

Renovations would include fully replacing Taylor and Drackett Tower’s plumbing systems, as well as upgrading the building’s main electrical systems and installing sprinklers to meet current building codes, according to the project data sheet.

The project is asking for $15 million to cover construction costs and contingencies compared to an older $10 million proposal.

The main entries are set to be renovated to provide better Americans with Disabilities Act access. All floors will receive updated finishes to align with the floors in other buildings located in the North Residential District.

CREDIT: RIS TWIGG | LANTERN FILE PHOTO Jones Tower was marked for Demolition in March 2026.

CREDIT: COURTESY OF MEGHAN GOEHRING

spews from the ceiling in Taylor Tower on Jan. 10.

Key details of Carter’s inappropriate relationship

Davis Beatty, Lauren Savitsky, Audrey Coleman

Former Managing Campus Editor, Campus Senior Writer, Campus Editor

This story was originally published April 22 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Former President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s inappropriate relationship with a podcaster led him to involve several top university officials in schemes to help produce podcast episodes, and further her personal business, according to a report the university released Tuesday.

Carter abruptly resigned on March 7, after just two years into the role, citing an inappropriate relationship with a person the report identified as Krisanthe Vlachos, host of “The Callout Podcast,” a military and veterans podcast.

Newly-released details contained in the report of Ohio State’s investigation of Carter’s inappropriate relationship show the lengths to which Carter went to help Vlachos.

They include Carter’s efforts in getting Les Wexner’s funding and assistance for an app Vlachos wanted to develop, the use of Ohio State employees for Vlachos’ gain, the role of one Ohio State administrator in helping Vlachos and potential state ethics law violations. The report also shows university officials often balked at helping Vlachos, and put limits around her access to Carter’s office.

The following is a summary of the key details of the 46-page report.

Misuse of presidential authority

Over Carter’s two years serving as Ohio State’s president, he used his authority to make over-the-top efforts to advance Krisanthe Vlachos’ business interests, the report found.

The investigation said that Carter asked at least 14 separate university employees to assist Vlachos with her personal and professional endeavors. The individuals involved often described these requests as unusual, since he rarely contacted them otherwise.

The reports lists the names of university employees contacted by Car -

ter, including Chris Kabourek, whose recent resignation was revealed in the investigation to be connected to Vlachos’ and Carter’s inappropriate relationship.

Carter’s pursuit for Vlachos’ advancement included possible employment at the university, space for her business on campus, university support for her podcast and assistance for other related business projects.

For example, the report shows Carter asked Elizabeth Parkinson, the senior vice president for marketing and communications, to help produce Vlachos’ podcast. The report states members of Parkinson’s communications team did this on two separate occasions.

The report also states Carter used the authority and influence of his position to secure benefits for Vlachos and her business by leveraging his extensive professional relationships and the university resources at his disposal.

For example, Carter asked Kabourek and Rob Lowden, the vice president and chief information officer to help build and find funding an app Vlachos wanted to build for veterans, details of which are explained later in this report.

After one such meeting, on Aug. 26, 2025, Lowden emailed Kabourek and said “Clearly not a tech angle. I just simply don’t see what an investor will get out of this.”

Who is Vlachos?

Vlachos was listed in the report as the person with whom Carter had an “inappropriate relationship,” leading to his resignation.

“The Callout” podcast she hosted is meant to connect the military and veterans with energy and utility jobs using AI. Per prior Lantern reporting, the podcast had 146 subscribers on YouTube.

The report states Carter and Vlachos first met in Washington D.C. at a veterans and energy forum in March 2023, when Carter was president at the University of Nebraska System.

In the report, witnesses often described Vlachos as “persistent,” “un-

professional” and, above all, “weird.”

She reportedly would contact people unexpectedly, use contacts to her advantage and would copy individuals in emails. Carter was often namedropped and used as a leverage point, according to the report.

Vlachos was also known to come up with presentations and ideas on the fly, with one employee commenting in the report, “I have first-year students who could do a better job of presenting.”

She was reported to be very demanding, make odd requests or outof-pocket comments, such as asking to house-sit for professors, making references to living out of her car. The report also states she did not follow standard professional courtesies.

Outside of witness descriptions, Vlachos used two different names when connecting with Carter and Ohio State, Vlachos and Vlahos.

However, her married name was Karagiannis. Her LinkedIn profile did not indicate relevant experience in entrepreneurial fields. She has also been a defendant in at least 12 court cases, all pertaining to minor issues, according to the report.

Vlachos did not respond to an interview at any point during the investigation. Vlachos did not respond to a request to comment.

Vlachos’ app proposal

A large portion of the investigation’s report focuses on Vlachos’ desire to create an app that would link veterans with training programs needed for employment paid for by available government funding.

The report states Vlachos made an attempt to partner with Paul Hylenski, CEO of Vet Mentor AI — an app that helps veterans with navigating disability claims using AI — hoping this would help develop her broader vision for her own platform.

Vlachos presented this idea at an Oct. 2, 2025 meeting with employees Carter contacted on Vlachos’ behalf to describe the app’s components. After the meeting, the employees agreed that her app should not move forward because of its lack of relevance to the university, multiple technical challenges and no solutions to address those challenges.

Despite Carter’s efforts, university employees never provided Vlachos any technical assistance and Ohio State never funded any project related to her idea, the report stated.

Additionally, Carter connected Vlachos with JobsOhio and Anduril — two key university partners — to talk about the advancement of her podcast and app, but the first meeting date is unclear.

Anduril is a national defense technology company that recently began

Former Ohio State President

sponsoring Ohio State athletics to promote its drone production facility near Columbus. JobsOhio is the state’s economic development agency.

Carter sought Les Wexner’s assistance in Vlachos’ app

The report stated that Vlachos had Carter get in contact with Les Wexner,

Walter “Ted” nal investigation about the relationship in April.

chair of the Wexner Medical Board and founder of L Brands, to ask if Wexner would help purchase technology and build out the app.

The report said Wexner’s attorney was contacted as part of the investigation. The attorney, who is unnamed, said Wexner never discussed or met with anyone, including Carter, about Vlachos or her app.

4, 2025 from 1-2 p.m., according to the report.

There is no mention of Wexner meeting with the three in the report.

Ohio State employees refused to work with Vlachos and provide university resources

access to the WOSU building, in compliance with university guidelines, but her request to receive access to University Square South, or USS, where Carter’s office was, was denied.

Vlachos used her BuckID 1,745 times on 95 separate days between July 8, 2025 and Jan. 13 to enter WOSU.

ing outside entities, but “would welcome a chat to discuss further.”

On June 26, 2025, WOSU signed a $93,000 contract with Vlachos for podcast production services for 50 episodes and the ability to use a desk at WOSU.

In a text message to Hylenski, Vlachos purportedly said that Carter called Vlachos and spoke with Wexner about the app. The text message said Wexner wanted to meet Vlachos and Hylenski in person.

Despite Carter’s connections and efforts, other university employees largely stood firm on boundaries and policies in place, resulting in obstacles to Vlachos obtaining university benefits.

“Wexner plans to move forward.. with money…with us…to fix the VA bullshit & elevate [National Veterans Memorial and Musem],” Vlachos said in a message to Hylenski.

Hylenski, Vlachos and Carter discussed meeting before talking with Wexner. In Carter’s calendar, there was a personal appointment on Nov.

Specifically, Vlachos was never hired as a formal university employee, received university funds and her access to university buildings outside WOSU was limited. Additionally, she was held accountable to pay her balance with WOSU’s contract and individual employees attempted to raise concerns about Vlachos.

Vlachos obtained a BuckID to gain

Carter also attempted to give Vlachos access to his office in USS through the garage. This was stopped after Hannah Bechtold, senior director for administration and operations at the President’s Office, spoke with Carter and pushed Vlachos to enter through the main entrance.

Bechtold also denied Vlachos access to Carter’s office without having explicit permission each time.

After Carter was in an Oct. 23, 2024 podcast episode, he asked Ben Johnson, assistant vice president for media and public relations, to further assist Vlachos on her podcast.

Though the communications team helped film a second podcast episode in Page Hall and did not charge Vlachos for the work, Johnson advised Carter that the team could not keep assisting Vlachos, according to the report.

Additionally, at least 14 university employees received a direct request from Carter to assist Vlachos in various forms.

Though some requests were honored, such as finding a venue for a performance that had been cancelled through the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, employees largely enforced WOSU contract policies and safety measures pertaining to building and resource access.

The role of Chris Kabourek

Kabourek, former senior vice president for administration and planning and senior advisor to Carter, was Vlachos’ primary point of contact at Ohio State, the report said.

Kabourek assisted Vlachos in obtaining the contract with WOSU. In a text message, she asked Kabourek to help with production costs and a work space at WOSU “where [she] could be completely immersed in my process.”

In a separate discussion, Kabourek said that as a public university, Ohio State is heavily restricted on subsidiz-

He met multiple times with Carter, Vlachos and other university employees in an attempt to gain more assistance in developing the app.

Kabourek drafted Vlachos’ app into a project plan, including a $20,000 university contract of university private donations for a pilot of the app.

In addition, Kabourek assisted in working with JobsOhio and OH.io, a startup designed to transform Columbus into a major AI and tech hub, to obtain partnerships with Vlachos for her podcast and app. This included meetings, emails and text messages working with her and the businesses.

Potential Ohio ethics law violations

Once he began his role as university president in 2023, Carter requested ethics training, which he was provided and signed an agreement that acknowledged he received a copy of Ohio Ethics Law and attended two annual ethics law training sessions designed for university trustees. Carter’s potential ethics violations go against the multiple resources provided to him.

When referencing conflicts of interest, Ohio Revised Code 102.03 (D) and (E) state that public officials or employees can authorize the use of authority to add anything of value to someone in respect to that person’s duties, or accept anything that may have a substantial impact on their duties.

The Ohio Ethics Law also prohibits public employees from having excessive interest in the benefits of a public contract within their agency, which can be either personal or financial. Based on university policies and Ohio Ethics Law, Carter may be investigated to determine if his relationship with Vlachos substantially impacted his objectivity, violated the provision that states he cannot be overly invested in a public contract or if his actions implicate any other potential issues under Ohio Ethics Law.

CREDIT: SANDRA FU | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR Carter Jr. resigned over an inappropriate relationship. Ohio State released an interApril.

Scheduling tools behind the scenes—and how students can use them

By Madelayne Lee Lantern reporter

This story was originally published July 9 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Dominic Hamon sat down with his academic advisor during freshman orientation to plan his first semester at Ohio State. During that semester, he learned how to plan his courses on his own to set himself up for success.

As students move from advisor-built schedules to planning semesters on their own, many must learn to navigate registration tools, degree requirements and long-term course planning for the first time. Academic advisors say understanding those resources early can help students avoid mistakes and build a smoother path to graduation.

Buckeye Degree Planner and Schedule Planner are key scheduling tools that most first-year students learn to use in the survey class each department provides to help them succeed at Ohio State.

Buckeye Degree Planner, which went live toward the end of the autumn semester to replace Degree Audit, allows students to design potential schedules for each year until they graduate. Its main functions are to track graduation requirements and plan for the future.

“It’s very helpful for when students ask, ‘What are my next four semesters going to look like,’ because they want to have an idea of what to take,” said Kyle Gilbert, an academic advisor in the University Exploration program.

The resource students use when actually building their upcoming course load is Schedule Planner, which is organized by term and degree type: undergraduate, graduate or professional.

Once a student selects their role, they can enter the courses they plan to take and generate multiple schedule options based on time preferences, desired breaks between classes and instructor availability.

Instead of building a schedule course by course, the tool creates several possible combinations at once.

“Seeing all my options at once made it a lot easier than trying to figure out my schedule on my own,” Hamon said.

Students can compare those options, block off times they are unavailable and choose a schedule that best fits their routine before sending it directly to their shopping cart for enrollment.

By the time Hamon’s spring scheduling window opened, he felt more confident navigating the process on his own.

“We had a full week of just learning how to use Schedule Planner and Buckeye Degree Planner in my survey class,” Hamon said. “We made a full four-year plan—which helped me long term because I had a rough draft for my future.”

With tools like Buckeye Degree Planner and Schedule Planner, students are not just selecting classes, they are learning to take ownership of their future. Learning how to use the tools early can turn what feels like a complicated process into a manageable, and even empowering part of the college experience.

START AT BUCKEYE LINK, AN ONLINE STUDENT WEBSITE

GO

UNDER LEARNING LINKS

FIND SCHEDULE PLANNER OR BUCKEYE DEGREE PLANNER

Classmates use Schedule Planner to select the classes they want to take for the upcoming semester.

Meal swipes to increase to $9 value for the upcoming Autumn semester

Reegan Davis Managing Campus Editor

This story was originally published May 28 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

The university meal swipe value will increase from $8 to $9 beginning this Autumn, a result of advocacy from the Undergraduate Student Government.

USG received extensive feedback from students regarding the rising cost of meal plans and living expenses on campus and that the cost of a meal swipe value did not keep pace with those increases, according to a statement from the USG.

The feedback came from

focus groups held during the previous McAlpine-Robinson administration, posts from social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok and conversations within USG, President Chris Cade said.

“Over the past year, the Undergraduate Student Government has spent countless hours

advocating for increased value and affordability within Ohio State’s dining system,” a statement obtained by The Lantern on Thursday stated.

“Through ongoing meetings, research, conversations with students and direct engagement with Dining Services and university administration, we continuously pushed for changes that would better reflect the financial realities students face and ensure students receive the value they deserve from their meal plans.”

FOOD SWIPES continues on page 39

Meal swipes will be worth a $9 value for the Autumn 2026 semester, as opposed to the previous swipe value of $8.

CREDIT: SANDRA FU | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

Continued from page 38

Dave Isaacs, a university spokesperson, said that students are still able to use those same swipes for allyou-can-eat Traditions locations on campus as well.

“We’re pleased to be able to accommodate this increase in value to make our meal plans even more affordable as we continue to support the student experience,” Isaacs said in an email. “Our dining plans are some of the most flexible in the country. Dining Dollars roll over every year — even after graduation — and can be used at restaurants across the country through a mobile app.”

Cade, who was elected in April, first raised concerns about meal plan costs through legislation in the General Assembly, calling for a comprehensive review of dining affordability, accessibility and nutritional value.

President Cade and Vice President Isaiah Nire have had numerous meetings and conversations with Dr. Melissa Shivers, the Senior Vice President for Student Life, and other university leadership, advocating for solutions that would benefit the student body, according to the statement.

“This change was not the result of one conversation, but rather the product of sustained advocacy and collaboration between USG leadership, senators, student voices across campus, Dining Services, and university administration,” the statement said. “Improving meal swipe value was also a major priority throughout the [former] Asante-Tutu-Noma administration, rooted in the belief that students should not have to pay more while receiving less.”

Inside OSUPD: What most calls on campus look like

Hana Alghamdi Lantern Reporter

This story was originally published June 18 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

“ 911, where is your emergency?”

The phrase repeats multiple times in a 24-hour cycle as calls come into the Ohio State Police Station’s dispatch center at Blankenship Hall.

Rows of bright screens on a video wall light up the room, showing activity across campus, as dispatchers handle both emergency and non-emergency calls across four computer screens in front of them.

Non-emergency calls to the Ohio State University Police Department account for most responses, indicating that campus safety is shaped more by everyday incidents and reflects what students are most likely to encounter.

In 2025, OSUPD responded to 44,763 calls for service. Only 1,157 were 911 calls, and most of them involved suspicious activity, thefts and alcohol-related incidents.

Jon Gray, one of the six communication supervisors at the dispatch center, said the calls come in consistently throughout each shift but vary with the time of year and campus activity.

“Summertime, typically less calls, just less students on campus,” Gray said. “Game days, we’re going to have a higher visitation rate.”

Dispatchers gather information from callers and send it to officers. They work alongside surveillance staff who monitor about 9,000 cameras across campus, which help track movement and assist officers in real time.

This coordination helps officers respond more quickly and with updated information as calls come in, many of which are not emergencies, Gray said.

Gray added that calls come from

anywhere on campus, with about onethird coming from the university’s medical center.

“When it comes to the hospital, you really never know what you’re going to get,” Gray said.

Lt. Bruce Allen said the types of calls officers respond to reflect the campus’s size and activity. They range from reports of stolen items to situations where someone feels unsafe, requiring officers to respond quickly based on the information they receive.

“If that’s someone calling in and saying, ‘Hey, my backpack was stolen,’ or … ‘Someone’s following me, I don’t feel comfortable,’ we track that and dispatch an officer accordingly,” he said.

Allen said officers also make routine checks, including driving around campus and walking through buildings like the Ohio Union, while dispatchers monitor their location at all times.

In March 2026, OSUPD recorded a total of 34 thefts and about 20 crisis-related calls, including well-being checks.

“With 100,000 people on campus, and laptops and phones out, every now and then something’s going to get taken,” Allen said. “Which isn’t that bad when you think about the traffic that we have on campus.”

He said the types of calls officers respond to can vary depending on the time of day.

“On night shift, there’s a lot of alcohol violations … we have disorderly conducts, your drunkenness calls,” he said. “We’re just getting people where they need to be at the end of the night.”

Dan Hedman, director of marketing and communications, said serving a campus like Ohio State involves more than just students.

“Because there’s fans, visitors, folks at the medical center, people that aren’t affiliated with the university at all,” Hedman said.

Allen said many calls come from people noticing something out of place or in need of assistance, even when there is no immediate danger.

“When you see something weird, pick up the phone and give us a call,” Allen said.

Ohio State po lice cars sit behind the Ohio Union South Garage as scooters and bicycles are parked nearby.

CREDIT: HANA ALGHAMDI | LANTERN REPORTER

Welcome to college. Experiment safely.

College is a time for trying new things. But don’t forget the most important rule of scientific exploration: safety comes first. Fortunately, Planned Parenthood has every Buckeye covered for contraception, testing, and care. Before you start experimenting, protect yourself with a telehealth or in-person visit.

Columbus plans improvements for dangerous High Street crosswalks

Lauren Savitsky Campus Senior Writer

This story was originally published April 27 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

High Street’s constantly moving crosswalks have long been a concern for Ohio State students navigating traffic in the university district.

Sunny Fan, a then fourth-year in accounting, said witnessing a close call at a campus-area crosswalk pushed her to advocate for safer streets during her final year at Ohio State.

“They need to do something about it because I’m a senior and in four years none of these crosswalks have improved,” Fan said. “That’s why I’ve finally tried to do something and tell the city.”

Fan attended a Columbus City Council meeting on March 9 to express concerns and provide possible solutions to the issue she said poses danger to off-campus residents in the university district.

Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said the Ohio Department of Public Safety has been working on the pedestrian safety issue and is making steps to renovate areas of concern.

“We looked at the unsignaled crosswalks where we could have additional signage, just letting folks know, ‘Hey, a crosswalk is coming’ or is it a place where we might want to put flashing lights to make the crosswalk more obvious to drivers that are coming along the way,” Barroso de Padilla said.

Barroso de Padilla is the chair of public safety on the council and said they are prioritizing the concerns of the students and efforts to improve some of the noted areas have already begun.

“There’s a resurfacing project where we resurface the pavement and when we do that, what we can also do is brighten up the crosswalk lines,” Barroso de Padilla said.

Fan said her main reason for concern is when drivers struggle to see pedestrians crossing at night.

“People just come out of nowhere and I would say I’m a safe driver myself, but there are so many unsafe driv-

ers especially on High Street,” Fan said.

Barroso de Padilla said she agreed that driver visibility and pedestrian safety is the main goal.

“The other thing that we talked about was just the clearance between where cars can park and where a crosswalk is,” Barroso de Padilla said. “If a van is there or a truck, that is going to obstruct the view of both the driver seeing the person crossing.”

Fan said she suggested installing more flashing pedestrian crossing signs at the streets of most concern while speaking to the council during the meeting.

Barroso de Padilla said the council has been considering this solution, but the process to have these resources installed is lengthy and expensive.

“There’s a design phase of the roadway projects, sometimes we pilot some things and then we start them,” Barroso de Padilla said. “That just takes a little bit of time.”

Fan said she hopes the Ohio State community gets to see safer crosswalks before they graduate, something she will push for up until her last day on campus.

Barroso de Padilla said the council is actively working to improve the safety of all roadway users, one street at a time.

“This area is so unique because of the high level of both vehicles and vulnerable roadway users,” Barroso de Padilla said. “Our infrastructure was built for the city we were — not the city we’re becoming.”

Flashing lights at a crosswalk by Morrill Tower on Cannon Drive.

SPORTS

After a miraculous one-handed catch, receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates as teammates rush over to celebrate the then-sophomore’s second touchdown of the game against the Nittany Lions in 2025

CREDIT: LIAM AHERN | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

SPORTS

MEET THE STAFF

Reilly Cahill

Managing SportsEditor A letter from the Editor

Dear incoming Buckeyes,

On behalf of The Lantern sports desk, I’d like to welcome you to Ohio State!

Whether you’ve grown up an Ohio State sports fan or have never watched a Buckeye game before, Ohio State’s athletics are sure to leave you with some unforgettable memories by the end of your college experience. For many of you, experiencing a football game in Ohio Stadium may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what you’re most excited for with Ohio State’s sports, and for good reason. However, with 36 Division I athletic teams, there are a variety of opportunities to discover new sports and root for different Ohio State teams.

I’m pleased to share that our staff will keep you up to date as best as we can on the latest news across the Buckeyes’ sports teams. Some things that you can expect from our staff are published stories, photographs, social media content and video packages across Ohio State’s sports teams from our editors, reporters, photographers and Lantern TV producers.

Entering my senior year, I’m excited to have earned the position of Managing Sports Editor at The Lantern, an organization that I have been part of all four

years of my college experience.

I started out as a freelance writer as a freshman, then began covering the women’s basketball and softball teams my sophomore year, and as a junior worked on The Lantern’s staff, primarily covering football and men’s basketball. I’m glad that The Lantern has not only given me the opportunity to pursue my passion of sports journalism, but it has given me a sense of community and created longlasting connections.

That leads me to my one piece of advice for you all, which is to try to get involved with as many organizations or clubs on campus as much as you can. For me, getting involved with The Lantern was one of those experiences that made my college experience memorable. I hope that you are able to find an experience like that as well.

I wish you the best of luck at the start of your collegiate career. I look forward to providing you and your fellow freshman students with sports coverage throughout the year!

Cassandra D’Angelo Sports Photo Editor

Dylan Buganski Sports Senior Writer

Best wishes, Reilly Cahill

Ally Wolfe Sports Editor

Bridget Lombardo Sports Senior Writer

Avi Schoenberg LTV Sports Producer

Ava Dublikar LTV Assistant Sports Producer

Ryan Day silences critics as Ohio State beats Michigan 27-9 to snap four-game skid

Reilly Cahill Managing Sports Editor

This story was originally published Nov. 29, 2025 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

When Ohio State fell to Michigan 13-10 on Nov. 30, 2024, chants of “fire Ryan Day” broke out among Buckeye fans as they headed for Ohio Stadium’s exits, who had just witnessed the team’s fourth straight loss to Michigan with Day at the helm.

A year later, as snow swirled around him at Michigan Stadium, Day once again had the home team headed for the exits, crushed with disappointment.

This time, however, they were clad in maize and blue.

Day let out an emotional fist pump as the game clock wound down on a

27-9

Ohio State victory that provided the redemption he was seeking and richly deserved.

After Ohio State’s 2024 loss to Michigan, Day led the Buckeyes to the national championship and has won 16 straight games. But there was still unfinished business, baggage he carried and could not shed until the day the Buckeyes broke a four-game losing streak to their biggest rival.

That day is today.

“It’s one of those moments that you want to just grab on for a while and just enjoy it because just to see the joy on everybody’s face, is really what this thing is all about,” Day said.

At the time of the Buckeyes’ victory boosted Day’s career record to 82-10, which ranks as the highest winning percentage in college football history. Day reflected on the impact of those

previous four losses to Michigan.

“You could see it in my face the last couple of years, you just feel like you’re letting everybody down and that’s just not a good feeling,” Day said. “So you work like hell to get your guys prepared, and that’s all you can do and that’s exactly what happened here.”

Earlier in the week, Day emphasized the importance of not letting what happened in the past impact how they play.

Linebacker Sonny Styles, who had a team-high six tackles, thought the team executed in that phase.

“Before this game we talked about not caring about what happened in the past, saying this team’s different and going out there to play for the love of your brother, not for the hate of the other team and I thought we did that today,” Styles said.

Styles expressed his excitement for

getting the win for Day, who was previously 1-4 against Michigan.

“[I’m] so happy for him, coach Day is an amazing leader, he’s an amazing coach,” Styles said. “I think a lot of people had stuff to say about this game when it comes to him and I think he proved a point today.”

Day broke one drought in Ann Arbor on Saturday, and he will now have the chance to break another in Indianapolis on Dec. 6.

The Buckeyes will return to the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2020 and face Indiana at 8 p.m. for the title.

“This is the No. 1 goal in our program, and so to get this checked it now gives us an opportunity to get to No. 2, and that’s in Indianapolis next week, and we’re already fired up about that in the locker room,” Day said.

Head Coach Ryan Day gathers the offense to reset during a Buckeyes possession in the 3rd quarter of Ohio State’s 27-9 win over Michigan .

Former Ohio State players challenge narrative on athlete academics

Reilly Cahill Managing Sports Editor

This story was originally published March 25 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Former Ohio State wide receiver Mylan Graham made news when he transferred to Notre Dame in January. He gained even more attention a month later when he was asked the difference in his class experiences between his former and current schools.

“You just have to actually go [to class] in person, just stuff like that,” Graham said. “At Notre Dame, obviously, everybody knows how it is with academics.”

Former Buckeye linebacker Steele Chambers and 2023 Ohio State graduate pushed back on X, formerly Twitter.

“I’ve got about $500 worth of parking tickets and lingering carpal tunnel that says otherwise. We had to go to class #Buckeyes,” Chambers posted.

At the center of the debate is a broader question about what it means to be a student-athlete at Ohio State, an experience former Buckeyes said is shaped by personal choices, demanding schedules and institutional support systems.

Chambers, who graduated with a degree in finance, said it was Graham’s decision not to go to in-person classes at Ohio State.

“You can schedule however you want, so you could probably be 100% in person now or do 100% online, it’s kind of your preference,” Chambers said. “If he’s saying that he didn’t have to go to class, that’s because he chose not to go to class. He’s probably doing all online, or he’s just skipping.”

Paris Johnson Jr., who graduated from Ohio State in 2022 with a degree in journalism before becoming a 2023 first-round pick for the Arizona Cardinals, thought taking classes in person enhanced his Ohio State experience. He estimated that 80% of his classes were in person.

“It was probably the best decision I could have made being in person, because otherwise if you’re a football player or any other sport and you’re purely online like a lot of kids nowa-

days are, it’s like you’re missing out on the college experience,” Johnson said. “You’re almost employed to just play football and go home.”

Chambers said that for other players, like former wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., online classes can be beneficial to avoid disruptions.

“At that point [Harrison Jr.] should probably take a few online classes because he’s not going to get anything done whenever half the class is trying to ask for your autograph or something,” Chambers said.

Former players described that during the in-season autumn semester, their schedule consisted of morning classes and afternoon practice.

“Some days we’d have workouts early in the morning, if not we’ve got class scheduled between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., so we could have classes anytime between that period,” Chambers said. “Once it got to 1:30 p.m., we couldn’t have any more classes because we practiced at 2:30 p.m.”

Kourt Williams II, a 2023 communication graduate of Ohio State, said

his in-season daily routine on practice days would have him waking up at 5 a.m. to get to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to eat and do rehab before having classes from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. After lunch he would go back to the team’s facility for practice at 2 p.m. Around 6 p.m. he would have tutoring or head home to do homework.

Williams said he was helped by the Student-Athlete Support Service Office, which is tasked with supporting all student-athletes with their academic engagement, including time management, tutoring and organizational structure.

“The SASSO department pretty much runs our academics, so they’re the ones that keep tabs on everything,” Williams said. “If we miss anything, they’re the ones that are telling coach [Ryan] Day and our position coach, and they’re going to be on us pretty hard. They don’t mess around with that stuff; we’ve got to stay on top of everything.”

Williams said he doesn’t think the SASSO department gets enough credit for the help it provides student-ath-

letes.

“It’s not an easy job,” Williams said. “They spend a lot of hours with us and a lot of late nights helping us, tutoring us.”

While the Buckeyes were committed to on-field success, they were also focused on academic achievement. Chambers, Johnson and Williams all earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors while at Ohio State.

During the 2023-24 academic year, Ohio State had a 1,000 Academic Progress Rate score, which was the highest in Division 1 football for the second straight year. The APR measures student-athletes’ eligibility and retention.

For former Buckeyes, the classroom experience ultimately came down to accountability, not accommodation— no matter how demanding the schedule or how high-profile the athlete.

“When it’s due at midnight, [Carmen] Canvas doesn’t care who you are,” Johnson said.

Ohio State then-sophomore offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (77) gives fans high fives as he walks out of the stadium.

CREDIT: MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

‘Normal Janiya’: Coleman’s routine delivers historic 10.0 for Ohio State

Olivia Rinaldi Editor-in-Chief

This story was originally published March 26 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Before stepping onto the floor at Covelli Center, Ohio State gymnast Janiya Coleman heard a simple message from her coach: be normal.

“All she just said is, ‘I want normal Janiya. That’s all I want.’” Coleman recalled.

After months of recovering from ankle surgery and rebuilding confidence in her routines, Coleman didn’t need to do anything extraordinary. She just needed to do what she had practiced.

“All I have to do is a normal floor routine and I’m gonna get a good score,” Coleman said. “It wasn’t about

doing anything different. I was like, “All I have to do is my normal and [a 10.0] will be my score.”

Ninety seconds later, she delivered a perfect 10, the program’s first in more than two decades.

Coleman’s perfect score, the first for the program since 2003, marked a breakthrough for a gymnast returning from injury and a program trying to establish itself among the top teams in collegiate gymnastics.

“It just proves that no matter what happens, you’re not done yet,” she said. “You can come back and you’re going to be just as good as you were before the injury. Heck, maybe even better.”

Head coach Meredith Paulicivic’s belief in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native’s resilience and sheer athleticism never wavered.

“She has a 32-inch vertical jump, which is insane,” Paulicivic said. “It’s the average jump of an NBA player. I mean, I have been coaching for 30 years. I’m not sure I’ve ever had someone with that kind of power.”

Balancing her power with the mental side of gymnastics was a learning curve for Coleman as she entered her freshman season. Paulicivic said there are certain times in gymnasts’ routines when they are supposed to breathe and say words to themselves before tumbling passes, a concept that Coleman has embraced and that has elevated her scores to 9.9 or higher in all but one meet this season.

“We’re essentially a sport of free throws or field goals or penalty kicks,” Paulicivic said. “You can’t pass the ball to somebody else. You’re up there by

yourself, and that’s all you’ve got is you and what’s going on inside your head.” Coleman’s 10.0 is the second perfect score in floor routine history for Ohio State and the first since Rickee Wirtzberger’s floor routine against Ball State in 2003.

“For our program, it’s kind of like shattering the glass ceiling,” Paulicivic said.

Paulicivic said that in the world of collegiate gymnastics, building a reputation matters for competing with big names. Coleman’s routine has brought more attention to the program, which jumped from No. 20 to No. 17 in the NCAA rankings.

“It means so much to me, because it’s letting everyone know, don’t doubt Ohio State,” Coleman said. “We’re still on the rise.”

JJ Coleman and her teammates react after scoring the first perfect 10.0 on floor by a Buckeye since 2003. CREDIT:

Ohio State Board of Trustees approves Ohio Stadium renovations including new videoboards for upcoming seasons

Ally Wolfe Sports Editor

This story was originally published July 2, and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

When fans return to Ohio Stadium for both the 2026 and 2027 football seasons, the 103-year-old venue will look and sound different.

The newest development is a new south end zone videoboard and an updated stadium audio system which is part of the second phase of a $22.8 million renovation project approved by the Ohio State Board of Trustees June 3— set to be completed before the 2027 season.

Construction and professional services will be funded through auxiliary funds and university debt, according to an Ohio State news release.

Mike Penner, executive associate athletic director for internal operations at Ohio State said the stadium was due for the services, especially as technolo -

gy continues to improve.

“The technology is just dated, right?” Penner said. “We put in the audio system back in 2001. The South video board was installed in 2012, so you know it’s 14 years old, and technology gets better.”

Penner said the athletic department plans to take out the current speakers on the sides of the videoboard and make the screen wider. The new speakers will run along the top.

New ribbon boards on the east and west sides of the stadium were approved in December 2025 as a part of phase one, and will be installed before an AC/DC concert on July 15 held in Ohio Stadium, before the 2026 season begins, with the north videoboard following soon after, Penner said.

“We know that the goal is to get the east and west ribbon boards done before the AC/DC concert,” Penner said.

STADIUM continues on page 49

See your best. Do your best.

As an Ohio State student, you’ve got access to valuable benefits, including great deals on eye exams, frames, sunglasses, and contact lenses at the Optometry Services Clinic.

If eyestrain, headaches, or dry eyes are interfering with your studies or classroom success, we’ve got the answer for that too.

The south zone scoreboards during the Ohio State vs Ohio University game on Sept. 13, 2025 at Ohio Stadium

CREDIT: FAITH SCHNEIDER | MANAGING DESIGN EDITOR

Continued from page 48

“Then the north videoboard will be installed before the season.”

Penner said with how much the stadium is used for outside events like concerts, getting new turf is just another thing they won’t have to worry about in the future.

“Every time you cover the field, you push the fibers [in the turf] down, and the older the field gets, the harder for those fibers to stand back up when you have it covered,” Penner said.

For the 2026 season, Ohio Stadium is also introducing premium, portable seating in the south end.

“[The premium seating] also marks a small key step in the ongoing modernization of Ohio Stadium – ensuring this iconic and wonderful venue continues to evolve while honoring the traditions that make it so special,” Ross Bjork said in the release. “We’re dedicated to making every visit to the ’Shoe unforgettable, and this enhancement is another meaningful stride toward delivering the best possible game day experience.”

The seating renovation will include the construction of nine field-level suites and 400 chair-back seats above them. Fans within the section will also have access to the 1922 Club, a hospitality service with food and beverages, private restrooms and a climate-con-

trolled environment.

“I want to thank our incredible staff across football operations, equipment, and facilities for their tireless efforts in bringing these projects to life,” Bjork said in the release. “Together, these initiatives position Ohio State as the premier brand in college sports for the 2026 season and beyond.”

The Buckeyes will also compete on a new playing surface in the 2026 season, including enhanced branding opportunities. The field will be sponsored by Safelite and will feature Shaw Sports Turf’s Forge Series™, a turf product designed to meet NFL standards, installed by The Motz Group.

Head coach Ryan Day stated in an athletics department release that the new turf is a welcome upgrade to Ohio Stadium and will help to “maintain the safety and performance of our players on gamedays.”

The focus behind the changes in the Horseshoe revolve around creating a better atmosphere for the fans.

“We just want to be able to make sure that we’re providing good experiences for the fans and trying to provide them for those fans who want an elevated experience,” Penner said.

Back in Columbus: Joy Dunne returns home after Olympic gold

Olivia Rinaldi Editor-in-Chief

This story was originally published March 1, and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Joy Dunne did not expect to cry.

When Megan Keller scored the golden goal that lifted Team USA over Canada and secured the Americans the Olympic gold medal in Milan, the Ohio State forward was overcome with emotion she had not planned for.

“Just the overflow of emotion,” Dunne said. “Of how much work we put in, and the joy of winning together was so sweet, and how we did it is even sweeter.”

Less than a week later, Dunne was back in Columbus, rejoining her Ohio State teammates, attending practice and settling into the rhythm of college life—a stark contrast to the global spotlight of the Olympics.

For Dunne, the transition home has been both immediate and surreal. After competing alongside some of the most decorated players in the sport as the youngest player on the roster and starting on the first line in the gold medal game, she returned to a familiar locker room, a playoff push and the routines of being a student-athlete.

“I absolutely loved my Olympic experience, but I was also excited to come back,” Dunne said. “It was bittersweet leaving, but it was just nice to be grateful. I’m grateful that I love to come back here, and I love my teammates here, and I love to get to play here.”

That sense of gratitude defined much of Dunne’s Olympic mindset. Despite elevating to different lines throughout the tournament and the pressure of representing her country, she focused on contributing in whatever way the team needed rather than the magnitude of the moment itself.

“It’s not about you, especially at that level,” Dunne said. “It’s about the team and it’s about your country.”

Dunne’s expanded role during the Olympics, including two goals, three assists and a +7 plus-minus rating, placed her on the ice with some of the most accomplished players in women’s hockey, a moment Ohio State head

coach Nadine Muzerall said highlighted how much Dunne had earned her place—even if it required the Canadian head coach to set aside national loyalties for a moment.

“To play with [Alex] Carpenter and [Hilary] Knight, some of the most decorated women’s hockey players,” Muzerall said. “She earned that. And I was just so proud to see her wearing those colors. Although I’m Canadian, I was proud about the colors, the colors for her.”

Muzerall, who has known Dunne since she was a child through recruiting her older sisters, Jincy and Jessica, described the moment as deeply personal for the program as well.

“You feel like a parent, right?” she said. “You’ve known them since they were 16 years old, 15 years old. You’ve been watching them, [getting] to know them. And for us, it’s truly a family here at Ohio State, and you’re with them every day, sometimes four or five years right?”

Even while competing on the world’s biggest stage, Dunne was still juggling the responsibilities of being a college student, completing schoolwork between practices, games and team obligations overseas. Rather than viewing it as an inconvenience, she saw it as part of the experience.

“Just anything is still a great day,” Dunne said. “Having to do schoolwork while I’m there. What an honor to do that. To have that as an issue.”

Now back in Columbus, Dunne is turning her focus toward the Buckeyes’ postseason run after Ohio State advanced to the WCHA Final Faceoff with a sweep of St. Thomas over the weekend.

She acknowledged that the full significance of winning gold may not fully settle in until much later.

For now, the moment exists somewhere between disbelief and gratitude.

“I was just wanting to soak up everything,” Dunne said. “I was just like a doe eyed little kid on Christmas.”

Ohio State forward Joy Dunne stands with her Olympic gold medal.

Ohio State’s 2026 football season preview

Reilly Cahill Managing Sports Editor

New college football season, same national championship ambitions for Ohio State.

Coming off a disappointing end to the 2025 campaign, the Buckeyes enter the 2026 season pursuing a second national championship title in three seasons.

Last season, after an undefeated regular season for the first time since 2019, Ohio State lost back-to-back games in the postseason. First, the Buckeyes fell to Indiana 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship and then lost to Miami 24-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, ending Ohio State’s hopes of winning back-toback national championships for the first time in program history.

Despite having 11 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and over 30 players opting for the transfer portal, the Buckeyes reloaded with 51 new players during the offseason, including five-star freshman wide reciever Chris Henry Jr. and 2025 second-team All-ACC Florida State transfer safety Earl Little Jr.

ceptions, 341 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns away from surpassing each record, respectively.

Looking at the offensive line, Ohio State returns four of the team’s five starters, in Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman and Phillip Daniels. Offensive line play contributed heavily to the team’s success last season, as shown in the team’s wins and losses. The Buckeyes’ offensive line allowed sacks five times across 12 games, but in the two losses, Sayin

second year in Columbus. During his first year, Patricia led the Buckeyes defense to the fewest yards and points allowed per game in the country.

After hiring Patricia, a former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator for Ohio State’s opening last year, the Buckeyes followed a similar plan by bringing in Arthur Smith, a former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, for its offensive coordinator vacancy.

Yet, the biggest hurdle the Buckeyes

visited Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes thrashed Ohio State 55-24 on Nov. 4, 2017.

Two weeks later, the Buckeyes will face the toughest stretch of their schedule.

Ohio State will travel to play reigning national champion Indiana on Oct. 17, then to California to take on USC, before going home to face last year’s College Football Playoff semifinalist, Oregon.

On the offense, Ohio State returns the duo of Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Julian Sayin and unanimous All-American wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

In Sayin’s first year as the Buckeyes’ signal caller, the redshirt-freshman completed 77% of his passes, ranking first in the country and third in a single-season in FBS history.

In two seasons with the Buckeyes, Smith has put himself in striking distance of breaking the program’s alltime records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Smith is 43 re -

was sacked 10 times.

On defense, the Buckeyes lost eight starters from last year, including linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, who were each selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the Buckeyes return third-team All-Big Ten cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. who tallied the second-most sacks and tackles for loss for the team last season.

Despite the turnover, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is back for his

might face could be their regular season schedule.

Ohio State, which didn’t face a second-half deficit until the Big Ten Championship game last season, will play six teams who finished in the final AP top 25 poll.

The Buckeyes will head to Texas in their second game of the season, in which the Longhorns will look to make up for losses to the Buckeyes in each of the last two seasons. A little less than a month later, Ohio State will play Iowa on the road. The last time the Buckeyes

As always, the Buckeyes’ regular season schedule concludes with The Game, in which Ohio State will face Michigan at home, looking to win a second-straight game against the Wolverines.

With the challenging schedule, stakes are raised going into the season as no team in the College Football Playoff era has made the postseason field with three regular season losses.

Though the schedule and roster turnover may create adversity for the team, with Ryan Day as Ohio State’s head coach, the Buckeyes are 82-12 and have made the College Football Playoff in five of his seven seasons. With Heisman Trophy candidates Sayin and Smith leading the offense, veterans Jackson and Mathews on the defensive side, a mix of new transfers, freshman and NFL coaching experience calling plays on both sides of the ball, the Buckeyes have the talent to return to the top of the sport.

Since Ohio State has had to wait all offseason to bounce back from last year’s abrupt ending, the Buckeyes could have plenty of motivation to end their upcoming season celebrating with the national championship trophy in Allegiant Stadium.

Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day leads the Buckeyes out before the game against Penn State Nov. 1, 2025.

CREDIT: LIAM AHERN | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

2026 Ohio State Football Season Schedule

Why Ohio State students are hardwired to hate Michigan

Reilly Cahill Managing Sports Editor

This story was originally published Nov. 18, 2025 and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

At Ohio State, cheering for the Buckeyes comes with an unspoken expectation: rooting against the Michigan Wolverines.

From crossing out the Ms on campus buildings and signs, to referring to Michigan as “The Team Up North,”

Ohio State’s hatred of the Wolverines runs strong.

The hostility isn’t just a product of tradition, antics or campus culture.

Psychologists say the rivalry taps into something far deeper.

Rivalries like The Game aren’t random, according to Maya Deutch, a then-third-year in psychology, and Arsema Haileyesuse, a then-fourth-year in psychology, who both were researchers in Ohio State’s Mood, Anxiety and

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Treatment Lab.

“It relates a lot to in-group and outgroup bias,” Deutch said. “For a lot of people at Ohio State, this is part of their identity. People derive part of their identity from the group that they belong to, specifically, universities are a very big part.”

As Ohio State becomes part of a student’s identity, that in-group label starts to reinforce personal investment.

“People gain this sense of self, and it plays into your self-esteem, whether your team wins or loses,” Haileyesuse said. “So they’re kind of emotionally invested into the outcome.”

The investment can happen quickly, even for those who didn’t grow up watching The Game.

Ohio State students Luke Spadoni,

a then-second-year in aerospace engineering, and Haley Sparent, a thenfirst-year in criminology, never planned on becoming Buckeye diehards. Both said being on campus reshaped their loyalties.

“I don’t like to hate a lot of people, but I hate seeing the maize and blue,” Spadoni said.

For Sparent, her shift is even more dramatic, as she grew up a Michigan fan and now favors the Buckeyes after being on campus for one semester.

“I guess I’ve always meant to be a [Buckeye],” Sparent said.

Deutch said the collective identity that comes from being a fan strengthens after wins and weakens after losses.

“Winning leads to collective pride and then the losses would create a collective disappointment,” Deutch said.

That group cohesion affects how people process the outcome, often

leading to what psychologists refer to as attribution theory, which can be influenced by self-serving bias.

When applied to The Game, the theory is simple: If Ohio State wins, they were the better team; if they lose, it was because of bad luck, bad officiating or bad weather.

With the Buckeyes and Wolverines facing off on Nov. 29, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Deutch described that the collective reaction on campus wouldn’t have as large an impact as it would for home games.

“It can feel more intense when you’re with the collective Ohio State undergraduate class versus just a few people,” Deutch said.

The rivalry impacts more than just students or die-hard fans. Each year, the game draws in a national audience that in 2024 capped out at 12.3 million viewers, the second-highest viewed regular season game last season.

“Because of the rivalry specifically, there’s so much tradition and media coverage surrounding it,” Deutch said. “There’s such a cultural emphasis on it, it becomes like a ritualized behavior, because there’s such a tradition.”

With the renewal of the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry approaching, the anticipation on campus is building. And so is the angst toward the team that has beaten the Buckeyes in four consecutive matchups.

When asked to describe what he thinks of when he thinks of Michigan, Spadoni summed up that hatred for Ohio State’s rival.

“Cheating, bad sportsmanship and arrogance,” Spadoni said.

Saturday, August 1st, 2026 |

Ohio State then-senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) tries to wrestle for a Michigan flag away from Michigan defensive back Rod Moore (9) following the Wolverines’ attempt to plant it in the ground. No. 2 Ohio State fell to Michigan 13-10 Nov. 30, 2025 at Ohio Stadium.

Bruce Thornton breaks Ohio State scoring record as Buckeyes defeat Indiana 91-78 on Senior Day

Jack Diwik

Former Managing Sports Editor

This story was originally published March 7, and updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

All 18,809 fans inside the Schottenstein Center rose to their feet, ready to explode.

Bruce Thornton dribbled up the floor and drove toward the left baseline in front of the Indiana bench.

With the ball in his left hand, Thornton sized up Indiana’s Connor Enright. One dribble between his legs. A quick step back.

He rose and fired.

The ball hung in the air.

Then it dropped.

All net.

History.

Thornton’s three-pointer with 44 seconds left in the first half pushed him to the top of Ohio State’s all-time scoring list with 2,110 career points, passing Buckeye legend Dennis Hopson.

“It was a great feeling,” Thornton said. “I was so caught up in the game that I really couldn’t take it all in.”

Along with etching his name into the program’s record books, the senior finished with a game-high 25 points and dished out seven assists to lead Ohio State to a 91-78 victory over Indiana, which should solidify the Buckeyes’ NCAA tournament resume.

“We wanted to go out with a bang,” Thornton said.

Here is how Thornton’s historic night unfolded.

Two hours before tip-off

Despite steady rain in Columbus, fans began gathering outside of the Schottenstein Center hours before the game.

Students lined up along the rotunda entrance off Lane Avenue, some arriving more than an hour before doors opened at 4:30 p.m., eager to witness Thornton’s final home game and a piece of Buckeye history.

One hour before tip-off

When the doors opened, fans streamed into the arena. The first 2,000 received custom Bruce Thornton bobbleheads commemorating the senior guard’s career.

1,500 of the collectibles featured Thornton in a scarlet Ohio State uniform, holding a basketball with his No. 2 jersey displayed across the front, while the other 500 had him in a gray jersey.

15 minutes before tip-off

Senior Day festivities began at half court as forward Brandon Noel and center Christoph Tilly were recognized alongside their families.

Moments later, the arena lights dimmed.

All 18,809 fans inside the Schottenstein Center rose to their feet as the once-dark jumbotron flickered to life.

A tribute video played across the screen, showing Thornton’s journey from his freshman season to his senior finale, narrated by his mother, Tiaunna Briggans.

When the video ended, the arena fell silent.

Then the public address announcer’s voice echoed throughout the building.

“Our final senior is the captain, BRUCE THORNTON!”

The crowd erupted.

Thousands of fans raised two fingers into the air as Thornton, alongside his mother and his grandmother Cecilia Briggans, walked onto the court.

As he approached midcourt, Thornton embraced head coach Jake Diebler, the two exchanging words while the crowd continued to roar.

“We knew we were going to honor a few guys here,” Diebler said. “But how you honor them is by doing your job at a high level.”

Halftime

As the halftime buzzer sounded, both teams headed to their locker rooms.

Moments later, Thornton returned

to the court.

Standing beside Diebler and Hopson at half court, Thornton held the game ball from the record-breaking shot as the arena recognized him as Ohio State’s new all-time leading scor er.

The brief ceremony ended with a thunderous ovation.

Thornton jogged toward the student section, high-fiving fans before head ing back to the locker room.

56 seconds remaining

After a dominant second half that saw Ohio State pull away, the Buckeyes led by 15 when Diebler called a time out.

Gabe Cupps stepped to the scorer’s table as Thornton walked toward the sideline.

With 56 seconds left, Thornton exited his home court for the final time as a Buckeye.

The crowd stood again.

Thornton embraced Die bler before hugging his teammates waiting along the bench.

Postgame

As the opening bars of “Carmen Ohio” played one final time this sea son, Thornton stood at midcourt sur rounded by teammates while being in terviewed by CBS analyst and former Buckeye Jim Jackson.

When the song ended, Thornton walked toward the stands to embrace family and friends who had come to witness the milestone.

He lingered on the court long after the final buzzer, posing for photos and signing autographs along the baseline as fans gathered nearby.

Moments later, the familiar CBS March Madness theme echoed throughout Value City Arena, a fitting soundtrack as Ohio State’s win likely secured its place in the NCAA Tour nament for the first time in Thorn ton’s career.

Eventually, Thornton turned toward the tunnel and made his final walk into the locker room at the Schottenstein Center, taking in the scene one last time.

“You only get one life and you only get one decision of playing in college,” Thornton said. “I’m glad I’m a Buckeye

Jake Diebler addresses team’s offseason approach, staff and player additions and building team chemistry for 2026-27 season

Ally Wolfe Sports Editor

This story was originally published June 4 and has been updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

Coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022, Ohio State men’s basketball is looking to take another step from last year.

Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler said that the team’s offseason approach was focused on not being satisfied with last year’s season and raising the basketball program to a higher standard.

“Whether it was putting the roster together, whether it was hiring, that was the lens I was viewing those decisions through was how does it take our program to the next level,” Diebler said.

Despite losing the program’s alltime leading scorer Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes brought in four transfers, four incoming freshmen and retained key players such as guard John Mobley Jr. and forward Amare Bynum.

“As far as the roster goes, I love where our roster is,” Diebler said. “This roster is big. It’s versatile. It’s skilled. It’s smart. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Diebler said a big part of putting the team together was to tailor it to Mobley and Bynum, the only two of the Buckeyes’ top seven scorers from the 202526 season that are rejoining for the upcoming season.

“If [Mobley] or [Bynum] would have been in the transfer portal, they’d be some of the best players in the country, and there were plenty of teams that tried to push them into the transfer portal,” Diebler said. “So them, really right away, saying, ‘Hey, this is where I want to be, and we’re building something and we want to take it to the next level,’ was awesome. As for us as a staff, that allowed us early on to go out and say, ‘Okay, how do we build around these two guys?’”

When looking in the transfer portal, Diebler said he wanted to bring in players who could defend at a high level and be able to play multiple positions on the perimeter.

With this mentality, the program brings in guards Jimmie Williams

from Duquesne, Curtis Givens III from Memphis, Justin Pippen from California and forward Andrija Jelavic from Kentucky.

Incoming freshmen for the program include five-star forward Anthony Thompson, four-star forward Alex Smith, 7-foot-1 center Vuk Lazarevic, and reclassfified guard LJ Smith per prior Lantern reporting.

In addition to eight new players,

ate head coach Joel Justus left earlier this year for a position at Vanderbilt. Diebler said Walker has served as that key voice within the program since arriving in Columbus, which made the promotion an easy decision during the offseason.

Ohio State’s staff also added Ohio native and former NBA assistant coach Mike Wells as an assistant coach, welcomed back Dave Richardson as

the staff as program assistant.

Wells has over 27 years of NBA experience and most recently served as the head coach of the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League.

“[Wells] has really an impressive resume, and one that is going to push me and our program forward in ways that wouldn’t have been able to be accomplished if we had hired a traditional college assistant coach,” Diebler said. “So, when I had an opportunity to add to our staff, I wanted to add, certainly, someone who can help push us on the offensive side of the ball.”

Richardson, who was Ohio State’s strength and conditioning coach from 2005-2018, has spent the past eight years at Arkansas, in which he contributed to five Sweet 16 seasons with the Razorbacks.

“I’ve known [Richardson] for a long time, and [Richardson’s] won everywhere he’s been,” Diebler said. “He’s won championships, he’s won in March and I’m really excited for the impact that he’s going to have on our program as well.”

Though this is Buford’s first coaching job, Diebler said his experience will help him connect with players and allow the entirety of the team to improve.

“[Buford] wasn’t hired because he’s a former player, that was an element of it,” Diebler said. “[I] think he’s going to be really good for us, and we’ve already seen in a short amount of time his hire be valuable, and I can’t wait to see how impactful it is.”

Diebler believes the roster and staffing changes will contribute heavily to the team’s offseason goal of “raising the level” of the program.

Diebler said he is eager to begin when the entirety of the group arrives on campus in the upcoming weeks.

Diebler announced he has finalized his coaching staff for the upcoming season.

Ohio State has promoted assistant coach Jamall Walker to associate head coach to fill the position former associ-

strength and conditioning coach after an eight-year absence with the program and brought former Buckeye standout and fourth-leading scorer in program history, William Buford, onto

“We’re going to go through hard times this year, everybody does in college basketball, so that chemistry is valuable,” Diebler said. “The summer is about building that, while also, us laying a foundation offensively and defensively, and then forming a collective toughness that you got to have to win in this league.”

Head coach Jake Diebler looks on from the sidelines during Ohio State’s 81-77 win over Cornell in the first round of the NIT Tournament in 2025.

CREDIT: CALEB BLAKE | LANTERN FILE PHOTO

The Ohio State baseball team huddles during their series finale on Sunday, Feb. 16, against Arizona State. The Sun Devils defeated the Buckeyes’ 17-10 in Phoenix.

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Ohio State’s baseball program creates momentum through rejuvenated culture

Dylan Buganski Sports Senior Writer

This story was originally published June 4 and has benn updated for the Buckeye Bound edition.

After his first season at the helm of Ohio State baseball in 2025, Justin Haire knew the team needed to change.

The Buckeyes endured their worst season in more than 50 years, posting a 13-37 record, the program’s lowest win total since 1972. Improvement would require an upgrade to culture and talent.

One year later, the result was one of the most significant turnarounds in program history, with 17 more wins.

A renewed emphasis on connectivity and accountability fueled success on the field and helped restore confidence in the program’s direction.

“It starts with making sure the people in the locker room all have like-minded goals and desires,” Haire said. “When you have that group that all want to win championships, compete in everything, and become the best versions of themselves, it becomes a lot easier to mold that group together.”

After bringing in 21 newcomers to the 2026 roster, Haire’s first step was getting his group together in the offseason to build relationships and create a positive culture.

“For us, it was ‘How can we make it a brotherly atmosphere where everyone has love and respect for one another?’” Haire said.

Haire attributed the team’s success on the field to each player shifting their mindset to playing for each other, not themselves.

“We play a lot of good teams and encounter a lot of high-pressure situations,” Haire said. “When you’re more worried about how you can pour into the guy next to you, it frees you up to do what you are capable of doing and makes you successful in those moments.”

Sophomore pitcher Gavin Kuzniewski said he saw the shift in the team’s mindset to playing for one another, when the offseason started.

He also attributed the success of the team to their togetherness, especially through adversity.

“In those tough moments training during the fall and then into the season, being able to lean on one another helped us reach our goals,” Kuzniewski said.

Ohio State’s 2026 roster consisted of 15 returning players, 15 transfers and six freshmen. Of the transfers, all had more than two years of college baseball experience. Despite the roster’s unfamiliarity, Kuzniews ki said the transfers’ experience was vital in creating consistency amongst the group.

“We instantly looked to those guys as leaders,” Kuzniewski said. “Being able to look at these guys with all of their experience and success at this level helps with the day-to-day process.”

The combined effect of a new cul ture and the ability to lean on experi ence paid off most in May, as the team won eight of 10 games and swept rival Michigan on the road for the first time since 1994.

Haire said the team learned from a series loss to Rutgers at the end of April, and he emphasized the need to look ahead rather than dwell on missed opportunities.

“We got to a point where we real ized if we just keep playing, someone is going to have to beat us rather than us beating ourselves,” Haire said.

Ohio State finished its 2026 cam paign with a record of 30-25 (18-12 Big Ten), good for the sixth-best in the Big Ten, but the work is not done. The Buckeyes came up short in the Big Ten Tournament, falling before the quar terfinal round and extended its NCAA Tournament drought to seven years.

Haire said he is pleased with the team’s progress from the first to second year as head coach but knows bigger goals lie ahead for the program.

“You always have to be moving up and we did that this season,” Haire said. “But we are not one of the last 64 teams competing for the College World Series, so there is still disappointment and motivation to be there next year.”

That motivation will shape Ohio

Gavin Kuzniewski (48) pitched his 100th strikeout against Michigan State University. Ohio State won 15-5 in May.

CREDIT: CASSANDRA D’ANGELO | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR

LANTERN TV

Ohio State head football coach

Ryan Day sits down with The Lantern’s former sports editor Jack Diwik

Head Coach Ryan Day sits down to take questions from the media on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

LIAM AHERN

MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Take a look into

Ohio State Spring Sports

Garrett Haas (2). Ohio State lacrosse plays Michigan.

CREDIT: CASSANDRA D’ANGELO | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR.

Managing PhotoEditor

PHOTO DESK

Dear fellow Buckeyes,

This final score, 13-10 is one that Buckeyes fans won’t live past for a while, coming first in 2024 to That Team Up North, then again in 2025 in the Big 10 Championship game against Indiana.

There have been only a select number of times in my life that I’ve felt that letdown, so close to the goal, just for it to blow up, with that ball soaring right over your head in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Nothing is more difficult, yet rewarding, than being “the man in the arena.” The person who tries time after time, falling again, but keeps showing up, even when it feels like the world is against him. It’s the man in the arena that deserves the credit.

Somehow, I found myself in the arena with a camera, which has been one of the coolest, most incredible experiences I’ve had. I implore all of you new, incoming students to chase what matters to you, no matter the obstacle, and know that being the man in the arena is something of which you can be very proud.

See

you in the arena, Liam Ahern

Liam Ahern

LIAM AHERN | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR Lee Corso at College Gameday for Ohio State’s game against Texas on Aug. 30, 2025.

Photo Desk highlights from last year

CREDIT: LIAM AHERN | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR Ohio State’s Liam White celebrates following a play against Notre Dame on March 7.

CREDIT:

DOMINIC FERRARO | ARTS & LIFE PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio State’s Michael Ndiweni helps up a Michigan player.

DOMINIC FERRARO | ARTS & LIFE PHOTO EDITOR Ohio State wrestler prepares to take down competitor during a match.

MICHAEL GOULET | CAMPUS PHOTO EDITOR

Arrow McLaren celebrates Pato O’Ward’s win at the Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Sunday, July 5th.

MICHAEL GOULET | CAMPUS PHOTO EDITOR

Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran fails to defend against Columbus Crew forward Wessam Abou Ali on Sept. 20, 2025.

CASSANDRA D’ANGELO | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR

Amare Bynum (1) dunks the ball against USC. Ohio State won 89-82 on Feb. 11, 2026.

CASSANDRA D’ANGELO | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR

Kaitlin Butts at Buckeye Country Superfest on June 13, 2026.