The Lantern — Sept. 2, 2021

Minnesota preview, shower singers and student safety

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Thursday, September 2, 2021

CAMPUS

Following a recent increase in safety notices, police revealed plans to combat crime.

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Parents express concern over student safety JESSICA OROZCO Assistant Campus Editor orozco.55@osu.edu Dark spots on streets, helplessness from armed suspects and an unsatisfactory response from the university on crime are just some of the safety concerns a group of parents have for their kids at Ohio State.

In a group interview with The Lantern Monday, a group of Ohio State parents shared their concerns for their children’s safety — which were heightened after the death of Chase Meola, a fifth-year in marketing who was shot and killed outside the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity in October 2020. After months of reaching out to university administration, the parents are unsatisfied with the results.

In a universitywide email Friday, University President Kristina M. Johnson announced the addition of light towers and cameras along sidewalks near campus.

Police presence and crime patrols will also be increased in the campus area.

Allyson Reid, a parent of a second-year student and founder of the Buckeyes for a Safe Ohio State Facebook group, said the group has biweekly calls with university administration — sharing numerous safety ideas such as more lighting, providing offcampus students motion sensor lights and temporary private security.

“We’ve talked about lighting that [offcampus] area up — it should be lit up like Times Square,” Reid said. “It should look like noon when it’s midnight — it’s way too dark and way too opportunistic for criminals.”

University Police Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt said at a Wednesday press conference increased patrol and lighting are just some of the many elements that go into addressing crime, and that collaboration among the city, residents and students is key.

“We’re taking a holistic approach. We’re trying to solve this problem to keep all our

CHRISTIAN HARSA | SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR

A group of 59 parents expressed their concerns about student safety in an interview with The Lantern Monday.

guys safe — on and off campus,” SpearsMcNatt said.

Several parents said although they feel the university’s recent safety measures are beneficial, they may not be enough to protect their kids.

Jon Antkowiak, a parent from Connecticut, said the newly introduced safety measures are a good start, but he feels more can be done to protect students.

“Our students are easy targets,” Antkowiak said. “ None of them are armed.

A lot of them are, you know, first time away from home. A lot of them don’t know the area very well.”

Despite weekly meetings with Buckeyes for a Safe Ohio State, some parents feel the

university’s response has been slow and rather uncommunicative.

Lori Pezzullo, a parent of a secondyear student from Rhode Island, said Johnson should have responded quicker to the numerous safety notices since the beginning of fall semester.

“It’s a little concerning for me because I’m not there and my daughter is on her own, and I want to be as proactive as I can be to help get this message across so this campus does something,” Pezzullo said.

There have been six neighborhood safety notices in August, compared to one in August 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety’s website.

Brad Krider, a parent of a second-year

from Columbus, said he and many other parents have received “canned responses” to their emails to administration.

“I just think that there’s a lack of trust from our standpoint,” Krider said. “That our kids are being looked after and that crime and safety is a top priority.”

Lisa Kessler, a parent of a first-year student, said she would feel comforted about her daughter’s safety if she heard actionable steps from the university.

“Instead of just hearing the words, I want to see action. I want to know what [Johnson’s] plan of action is because right now, a lot of it is just empty words,” Kessler said.

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Lantern HELP WANTED CHILD CARE

King Avenue UMC is hiring childcare providers for our nursery ministry that serves children ages 0-4 years old. Activities include play, music, reading, age-appropriate crafts, and other general childcare duties for babies, toddlers and young children.

We are a reconciling congregation and celebrate inclusivity, diversity and that everyone is welcome in our church. We expect our values to be upheld and supported by our staff members, as well.

SARAH SZILAGY | PATRICIA B. MILLER REPORTER

Leaders of Columbus and University Police gathered Wednesday to discuss the increase in several safety measures in the off-campus neighborhood.

Police address off-campus crime SARAH SZILAGY Patricia B. Miller Reporter szilagy.3@osu.edu Standing in the shade of Indianola Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon, leaders of both Columbus Police and University Police said they are working to slow the increase in violent crime in the off-campus area — crime that is also rising throughout other Columbus neighborhoods.

More security cameras, lighting and patrol by Columbus Police, University Police and unsworn security officers are some of several steps the university and Columbus Police said are being implemented in the University District following a series of neighborhood safety notices related to armed robberies and other crimes near campus.

University Police Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt said a “holistic” and “collaborative” approach is required to lower crime rates.

“I recognize that police cannot be the only solution, and that safety means different things for everyone,” Spears-McNatt said.

“However, in order for us to be successful, we must all work together with the university, the city, property owners, residents and visitors.”

Columbus Police Deputy Chief Jennifer Knight said in the University District, reports of aggravated assault, robbery and burglary in the past six months have increased 51 percent from the same period in 2019. In July and August alone, crime rates were double the 2019 rate.

August brought six neighborhood safety notices, compared to one sent in August 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety website.

The increase in violent crime near campus mirrors that of other areas of the city, Knight said, including Linden, the West Side, Near East Side and Interstate 71 corridor. She said similar measures, including increasing uniformed and plainclothes officer patrol, are being implemented in those areas as well.

“This area is no different than some of the other areas that we are experiencing that kind of behavior,” Knight said. “What

we need to do is focus, and we need to make sure that we’re operating in collaboration with the residents, city government, the police department and any resource that can help us.”

Unique to the University District, however, is the increase in both Columbus and University police officers working overtime as part of the university’s crime interdiction unit, Knight said, which is funded by the university.

University spokesperson Dan Hedman said the crime interdiction unit operates similarly to other joint-patrol efforts in that Columbus and University police officers patrol the off-campus area together.

The university received nearly $370,000 as part of a $5 million grant to enhance security efforts at 27 colleges and universities in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced in a press release Tuesday. Ohio State received the second-most amount of money of any university, behind the University of Akron and University of Cincinnati with $430,000 each.

Spears-McNatt said the

majority of the grant will be used to purchase and install security cameras off campus.

Spears-McNatt acknowledged that for many students, particularly students of color, the increase in police presence goes against last year’s requests from students and student leaders to do the opposite.

She said police deployment is not the only action the university has taken to address safety, and the university continues to explore alternatives.

“When these notices go out, those are just not numbers,” Spears-McNatt said. “Those are students who have been impacted.

Those are family members who have been impacted. These are students’ college experiences.

And as university leadership, and across the board of the university, we do take these seriously, and we do want the students to have a good college experience. For our students who may have a different perspective about law enforcement, we have not dismissed their concerns.”

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COVID-19 vaccine exemption requests due Sept. 17 MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

Students, faculty and staff can request a COVID-19 vaccine exemption beginning Wednesday and it must be submitted by Sept. 17.

MARY KIDWELL Campus Editor kidwell.118@osu.edu Students, faculty and staff can request a COVID-19 vaccination exemption beginning Wednesday.

All exemption requests must be submitted by Sept. 17, according to the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website. Ohio State will require the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for all students, faculty and staff by Oct. 15 and the second dose by Nov. 15.

Students can report their vaccination status or request an exemption through My BuckMD. Faculty and staff can use the Employee Health Record form to submit their COVID-19 vaccine information and exemption requests, a universitywide email stated.

If an exemption request is approved, the individual must: •

Complete an eLearning module on reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission as an unvaccinated individual within 14 days of exemption approval.

•

Complete weekly COVID-19 tests

•

Wear a face mask at all times indoors

According to the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website, “an exemption based on an individual’s religious beliefs or practices or based on personal reasons can be requested.” All religious and personal exemptions must be notarized by Student Health Services or Employee and Labor Relations.

Vaccines for Ohio State faculty, staff and students are available at the Jesse Owens North Recreation Center. Others can make an appointment at a Wexner Medical Center location. The Department of Health also provides locations of vaccination sites.

More information on COVID-19 FAQs, requesting exemptions or lost vaccination cards can be found on the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website.

A note from the editor:

Hello Buckeyes, With the semester underway, I am excited to share that The Lantern will resume weekly print editions. Due to the pandemic, we did not print the newspaper with the same regularity last year. This year, expect to find The Lantern on paper stands across campus every Thursday morning. We will also continue to publish online daily. We’re excited to continue bringing you the news!

Sincerely, Bella Czajkowski Editor-in-Chief

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Thursday, September 2, 2021

ARTS&LIFE

An artistic Ohio State alumna talks about what her paintings mean to her ON PAGE 6

Shower singers welcome at Bad Singers Karaoke Club

LINDSEY AMORE | LANTERN REPORTER

First meeting of the Bad Singers Karaoke Club Aug. 26.

LINDSEY AMORE Lantern reporter amore.32@osu.edu Despite Ohio State being home to a plethora of musical student organizations, mediocre singers may have found themselves hesitant to break into song with any of them — that is, until now.

Bad Singers Karaoke Club is a new student organization, created after its founders realized there were no groups that catered to those whose vocals sound best in the shower. Ellie Stoller, a third-year in animal science, and Bella Gianakopoulous, a third-year in speech and hearing sciences, created the no-commitment group where students of any major and year can come for some nonjudgmental karaoke fun.

“A karaoke club was something I came up with when I was at the Involvement Fair during my freshman year. I was walking

down the Acapella section and they were all asking me, ‘Do you like to sing?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I love to sing, but I’m terrible at it,’ Stoller said.“I came up with this idea of a karaoke club where bad singers can come together and sing and it’s just like a stress-free, fun environment in the middle of the week.”

Even though this is the Bad Singers Karaoke Club’s first year, Stoller and Gianakopoulous said more than 600 people signed up to be part of the group at the fall Student Involvement Fair.

“We’re sitting at the involvement fair, tons of people are coming up and talking to us, and it’s crazy,” Gianakopoulous said.

“We’re running out of signup sheets, I looked at my watch and it’s like 4:08, and I’m like, ‘What are we going to do? There are so many people talking to us.’”

Hannah Nordin, a first-year in math, participated at the club’s first meeting of

the semester Aug. 26 at Independence Hall and said she felt like it was the place to be.

Nordin and her friend Sara Frankel, a first-year in economics, decided to make “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift their inaugural song with the organization, which Nordin said is her go-to karaoke song.

Frankel said not only does the club serve as a judgement-free place for her to sing, but it also allows for some emotional release.

“I have too much attitude for my own good,” she said. “This is a good place to let it out.”

More than 50 people showed up to the club’s first meeting outside of Independence Hall. Despite being locked out of the building, it didn’t stop the fun, and the group decided to sing outside.

“This night started out not great because we’re locked out of the building, and

everybody stuck around,” Gianakopoulous said at the meeting. “Everybody’s still here, having a great time. So yeah, just come try it out. Have a good time. Have some fun.”

Gianakopoulous said the group plans to have theme nights, sing-along movie nights and free food at future meetings.

“We also are thinking about having theme nights, like, sing ‘90s songs; sing Disney songs, country songs, love songs,” she said.

Gianakopoulous said anyone interested in joining the Bad Singers Karaoke Club is welcome to come to any meetings, which will alternate between Hitchcock Hall and Independence Hall every other Thursday at 8:30 p.m. She said there are $8 dues for a semester or $14 for the year which will go towards food, karaoke equipment and software. More information about the group can be found on their Instagram page.

6 | The Lantern | Thursday, September 2, 2021

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Local artist and Ohio State alumna captures life through art

A painting, called “One Shot,” of LaValley’s husband taking a photo.

MORGAN GIBBS

COURTESY OF KAREN LAVALLEY

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Ohio State faces first true road test since 2019 JACK EMERSON

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio State then-junior wide reciever Chris Olave (2) is lifted up by then-sophomore offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere (78) after scoring a touchdown during the Ohio State-Rutgers game on Nov. 7, 2020. Ohio State won 49-27.

“It’s a great atmosphere. College football is probably one of the greatest atmospheres in all of sports.”

Nicholas Petit-Frere Ohio State left tackle

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Thursday, September 2, 2021

SPORTS

Ohio State faces hostile 2019.

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Buckeyes open season in Minnesota JACOB BENGE

Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) prepares to throw a pass during the Ohio State spring game on April 17.

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | PHOTO EDITOR

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