THE LANTERN
The independent student voice of Ohio State University since 1881.
CAMPUS
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Advice for upcoming career fairs
On page 5
New bagel shop opening in late 2026
Anxiety and Uncertainty: How Taylor Tower residents are navigating unexpected housing issues
Davis Beatty Managing Campus Editor
Panic, anxiety and the inability to focus during their first days of classes are among the reactions of students adjusting to newly-found homes or still searching for a new place to live at Ohio State after a pipe burst and flooded Taylor Tower on Saturday.
Megan Goehring, a first-year in economics and Spanish, said she didn’t think her room would be affected because she lived on the top floor.
“I saw a photo right outside my door where the pipe burst, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I can tell that it’s my door,’” Goehring said.
Grace Fortier, a first-year in operations management, was at a Texas Roadhouse when she learned she would no longer live in Taylor. In addition, her parents were in Florida, which didn’t help with the unexpected situation, she said.
“At first, I just felt like, ‘Okay, what do I do? How can we fix this?’” Fortier said. “I just started panicking, very overwhelmed with everything.”
Ohio State officials declared Taylor could no longer be occupied Saturday after a significant pipe failure caused the flooding. Before the extent of the damage was confirmed, students who hadn’t arrived on campus were asked to delay their move-in. Those who already arrived were sent to nearby dorms.
By 5 p.m. that day, two days before the start of the spring semester, Ohio State sent an email telling students they would have to move out of the tower due to elevator and plumbing system damage.
The university gave students the option to remain on campus in the available dorms — the majority in Morrill and Lincoln Towers and on south campus, the university said in the email — or find their own place to live off campus.
For compensation, each resident received a $400 stipend to their university account and $75 to their BuckID, per prior Lantern reporting. For those moving off campus, an additional $1,000 was given for relocation expenses and the university refunded their spring housing and dining fee, the university said in the email.
Fortier said the $1,000 the university is providing will help cover the extra fees when quickly finding a place.
Goehring said that although it is frustrating, she understands that the university is doing the best it can with
such an unexpected situation.
Ohio State said that students able to commute from home or stay with friends will be credited for the nights they do not stay in campus housing, the email said. If that wasn’t possible, the university provided hotels until Friday and daily shuttles to campus.
The Student Advocacy Center also sent a memo to students to share with instructors to explain the circumstances, the email said.
Students also coordinated with the tower’s facilities team to plan when to gather their stuff from the tower, the email said.
Fortier and Hannah Fox, a first-year in atmospheric sciences, were roommates on the 10th floor in Taylor but had to find different living situations for the remainder of the year.
At first, they said they didn’t think the leak was a big deal.
“I didn’t think much of it, because I feel like pipes leak sometimes. We’ll wait a day. We’ll come back. It’ll be fine,” Fox said.
Fox said their room probably had ankle deep water and ceiling tiles fell
on top of one of their other roommate’s beds. Although they had builtin dressers and didn’t have much stuff on their floor, their rugs were ruined and other items were soaked with dirty water.
Goehring said she was very shocked and confused because she didn’t know what she was going to do despite planning on moving in that day.
TAYLOR TOWER continues on page 3.
Water spews from the ceiling in Taylor Tower on Saturday.
COURTESY OF MEGAN GOEHRING
Campus roundup: Where to find jobs and internships
Ally Wolfe Campus Editor With countless applications, multiple platforms to keep track of and deadlines, the search for internships and post-graduation jobs can feel overwhelming for college students.
To help students navigate the process, Ohio State offers a range of university-wide and college-specific career fairs, advising resources and job-search tools throughout the year, some of which are coming up soon.
Here is a list of upcoming Ohio State events and resources for students.
How to get started:
Most of the information students will need for career support and job seeking can be found through Handshake.
According to the Ohio State Career Center of Excellence within the Office of Academic Affairs, Handshake is “Ohio State’s university-wide position posting system where students have
access to search and apply for parttime jobs, internships, co-ops, and full-time career opportunities.” On Handshake, students can sign in with their Ohio State login: name.# and password for easier access.
Career Fairs
The 2026 Arts and Sciences Ohio State Spring Career Fair
The 2026 Arts and Sciences Spring Career Fair will be held Jan. 20 from 1–5 p.m. at the Ohio Union Grand Ballroom and Performance Hall. The event is open to all current Ohio State students and recent graduates. RSVPing is encouraged but not required and can be completed through Handshake.
The 2026 Engineering Winter Career Fair
The 2026 Engineering Winter Career Fair, sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers, will be held virtually Jan. 26 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Students can find more information and required registration through Handshake.
Professional Sales Career Expo
The Professional Sales Career Expo is being held Jan. 26 from 5-7 p.m. in the Mason Hall 2nd floor rotunda. Students of all class years and majors are welcome to attend and can use
Students adapt to Taylor Tower shutdown
Continued from page 2.
Goehring said that although her room was in front of the pipe burst, her room didn’t have as significant damage as lower floors because water didn’t go through the ceiling. Still, she said her items were ruined if they were on the floor and not in a secure box.
“I was more grateful that I could tell not a ton of my stuff was ruined,” Goehring said. “I couldn’t remember exactly what I left in my dorm, so it was nice knowing I didn’t have much stuff in there to get ruined.”
Goehring said her floors were covered in brown water and cake-like mud.
While trying to figure out where to live, Fox, Fortier and Goehring were beginning their second semester of college but learning wasn’t a priority. Fortier said when she is in class, she wasn’t focused on the lecture, but thinking about where she was going to live.
“Every single class and lecture I’ve been to, I’ve basically been texting my mom, texting our group chat updates on places to live,” Fortier said.
Goehring said she couldn’t focus on classes while figuring out where she was going to stay. Although she lived
Handshake to find registration information.
Career Readiness Fair: So You
Want a Career in Sports
The Career Readiness Fair: So You Want a Career in Sports will be held Feb. 6 from 1-4 p.m at the Huntington Club at Ohio Stadium. Students can register and find more information through Handshake.
On Campus Resources:
Buckeye Careers
Buckeye Careers, found on the Career Center of Excellence website, can help students with career-related resources including advising, employer connections, resource guides, internship advice and overall job search, according to its website.
Arts and Sciences Drop-in Coaching Appointments
Career Studio is a place where students can get help with their resume, cover letter and practice interview skills. In addition, it can assist in an overall job search, how to use Handshake and LinkedIn and provide advice for students’ next steps, according to its website.
The Career Studio is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with no appointment needed.
20 minutes from campus, she would have to pay for parking. She opted to stay in the hotels provided by the university while waiting for where she will live on campus.
In addition to classes, Goehring said preparing for spring rush, which begins this weekend, while moving, adds to the stress.
Although they have decided on their living situations — Fox is going to remain on campus and Fortier is going to live at Statehouse Highline on 9th Avenue with another roommate — they are still waiting to move into their respective housing and staying in
Fox’s sister’s basement.
Fortier decided to live off campus because she didn’t want to live with random students again.
“It’s a brand new chapter, and I finally had gotten comfortable with the people I was with, and getting used to somewhat of a routine,” Fortier said. “When that all got messed up, I wanted to try and keep anything as normal as I could.”
At the time of publication, Fox and Goehring are still waiting to hear back from the university on where they are going to live for the rest of the semester.
Ohio State students will meet with potential employers during the 2026 spring career fair.
COURTESY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES CAREER SUCCESS
ARTS & LIFE
On page 6
page 7
Spring sports to fill the football void Cortez Hankton’s introduction
The Lantern’s 2026 ins and outs list
Grayson Newbourn, Antonia Campbell, Helena Hennessy and Julia Hart
Managing Arts & Life Editor, Arts & Life Editor, Arts & Life Senior Writers
January is the time to get settled into the new year, drafting personal expectations and goals for the upcoming months.
Resolutions aren’t the only lists people are drafting, though. 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:
Making friends with your class mates
This isn’t the year to be antisocial in your classes. We know how diffi cult it can be, especially in the winter months, to come into class in a social mood. However, striking up a conver sation 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 be yond the walls of the classroom.
Eating and shopping locally
This year, we’re saying no to chains and embracing the independent and local businesses that make Columbus a hot spot for creatives and artists alike. The arts scene in the city is so vivid, and it relies on Ohio State students to fuel both its funding and
inspiration.
There is no better way to spend a free day in the University District than simply exploring High Street and all that it has to offer. A multitude of independent shops and restaurants in the area patiently await their turn in the spotlight, and it is our responsibility — in 2026 — to take the same chance on them that they are actively taking on us.
Two’s Under High
After years of speculation, memories and persistent rumors, Two’s Un
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.
Outs:
Electric scooters
Scooters are everywhere. They’re
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.
Taylor Tower Taylor Tower had a rough year, and by “rough,” we mean it flooded.
After significant flooding forced students out of the residence hall, many were left scrambling to find alternate housing for the semester. For a building meant to be a dependable home base, the situation quickly turned into a logistical nightmare involving temporary housing, uncertainty and frustration.
Another National Championship
Another national championship is out for 2026 for Ohio State.
Going into the season, there were high expectations for the Buckeyes, but the team did not make it to the national championship game. While there were strong moments throughout the season, the result did not match what many fans were hoping for.
As 2026 begins, Ohio State will not be celebrating a national title. Although there is always excitement heading into the next season, another national championship is out for now.
Up-and-coming bagel shop Bagels & Co to open under Rambler Columbus late spring
Antonia Campbell Arts & Life Editor
B
agels & Co, a Florida-based cafe that sells Brooklyn-style bagels, is set to move into a storefront under Rambler Columbus at 222 W. Lane Ave. in either May or early June, depending on when construction begins, company CEO Mike Marsh said.
The campus-area restaurant will be Bagel & Co’s first location in Ohio and first location outside of Florida and Pennsylvania. The shop is known for its large, freshly baked bagels and sandwiches, along with its wide variety of cream cheeses, Marsh said.
“We usually have, give or take, 22 to 30 flavors,” Marsh said. “We always say we have the biggest bagels in Florida or the biggest bagels in Philadelphia — our bagel sandwiches are huge. So it’s a really nice portion size for the price.”
While Bagels & Co offers typical bagels flavors — such as plain, asiago and blueberry — it also offers unique bagel flavors including Dorito, french toast, Oreo and cheddar habanero, as well as gluten-free bagels, according to its website.
Similarly, the shop offers the usual cream cheeses — such as plain, blueberry, strawberry and veggie — but also offers unusually flavored spreads including bacon scallion, birthday cake, black truffle and cucumber dill, which Marsh said are made fresh inhouse to have a whipped texture. He also said the shop has vegan cream cheese options.
Marsh said the unique flavors give customers the freedom to get creative with their orders.
“We went viral on TikTok a yearand-a-half ago for a cookie monster cream cheese on an Oreo bagel,” Marsh said. “It’s not for everyone, but people eat some weird creations, and we try to create fun and weird flavors. We have a black truffle cream cheese that’s very popular in the college towns … there’s a lot of creations that people do.”
Marsh said the decision to expand to Columbus — and Ohio State specifically — had been an ongoing goal as Bagels & Co has other university locations, including Florida State University, University of Florida and University of Miami.
“Obviously, it’s a very large football school and sports school with a big student population,” Marsh said. “It’s always been a real target area for us to go because I think there’s just a demand there for it.”
A representative from Rambler Columbus said Rambler came to the decision to add a bagel shop to the complex because of the complex’s goals to offer restaurants to college students.
“Our intent at Rambler Columbus is to offer a curated selection of retail and restaurant partners that are carefully selected to meet the needs and preferences of today’s college student while enhancing the overall experience of living at Rambler and contributing to the surrounding Ohio State community,” a Rambler Columbus representative said in an email.
Rambler chose Bagels & Co in particular because of the cafe’s college student-targeted ambience and the quality of its food.
“Bagels & Co. was a natural fit for Rambler because of their approachable, high-quality concept that resonates with students,” a Rambler Columbus representative said. “We look for partners who not only deliver great food but also add character and connection to the neighborhood.”
Bagels & Co started in 2022 with one location in Philadelphia, Marsh said. Since then, the company has opened multiple locations in Florida and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale.
“It did very well in Philadelphia and
was kind of unique,” Marsh said. “We realized there was nothing really like it in the market, like big, fluffy, Brooklyn-style bagels. The university and college town model is a big need for us, and we do a lot of sports catering. At Florida State, we’ve catered the football team several times, so we’re kind of becoming the brand synonymous with college sports.”
The new location is planning on providing discounts and promotions to students in honor of the grand opening, Marsh said.
“We’ll usually do like, first 100 or 200 bagels free on our grand opening,” Marsh said. “We usually do a soft opening, just because the stores get extremely busy. This will be our third major university, so our staff will be trained for it.”
Marsh said Bagels & Co also offers a lifetime discount to first responders, teachers and active members and veterans of the military.
“We always offer 10% off in-store only for healthcare workers, nurses, doctors, veterans and active military,” Marsh said. “We do 10% off for police, firefighters and teachers too. So, if you’re a teacher at Ohio State and you come in and show your ID, it will always be 10% off in-store. It’s kind of our way of giving back to the community.”
Marsh said Bagels & Co is looking forward to interacting with the Ohio State community, and students can look forward to a new, different place to eat.
“This is a company owned location, so we put a ton of effort into the build outs,” Marsh said. “It’s a unique, fun offering and just a cool place to hang out. It’s an awesome product coming to Columbus, and we’re super excited to get involved with the student body and the surrounding area.”
Bagels & Co, a cafe that sells New York-style bagels, will open their 10th location overall and first in Ohio this coming spring under Rambler Columbus at 222 W. Lane Ave.
ANTONIA CAMPBELL | ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
On page 2
Updates on Taylor Tower
On page 4
Lantern staff in’s and out’s for 2026
After football: Here’s what Buckeye fans should watch next
Liv Rinaldi Sports Editor
With Ohio State football’s
Men’s Basketball have turned carry the spotlight, ride has been
11–5 overall and 3–3 gling to find consistency.
Ohio State’s biggest obstacle has been slow starts. The Buckeyes have trailed at halftime in every game against Power Five opponents, forcing second-half comebacks and big performances from players like guard Bruce Thornton, who scored 28 in Sunday’s loss to Washington.
With the season more than halfway through, the Buckeyes are on the edge of the NCAA Tournament field, narrowly in, and could return to March Madness for the first time since 2022. Big Ten play will continue to test that margin, but Ohio State remains a team worth watching.
Women’s Basketball
If fans are looking for results, women’s basketball has delivered. Ohio State is 15–2 overall, 5–1 in Big Ten play, and climbed to No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll after Sunday’s 89–76 win over then-No. 8 Maryland.
The team is led by sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge, the AP national player of the week, who had 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against Maryland. With a schedule full of high-profile Big Ten matchups, the Buckeyes are solidifying themselves nationally and building postseason momentum.
Wrestling
Ohio State wrestling is 12–0 and ranked No. 2 nationally, setting itself up for a run at the NCAA Championships in March. The Buckeyes have not won a national title since 2015, though they came within one match
of it in 2017, making this season one of the program’s most promising in years.
A dominant showing at the National Duals Invitational helped establish Ohio State as the clear challenger to No. 1 Penn State. Two-time national champion Jesse Mendez led the way with another marquee win over Nebraska’s Brock Hardy, reinforcing his place among the sport’s elite.
With multiple weight classes producing results, the Buckeyes are positioned for their best postseason finish in nearly a decade as winter turns toward March.
Men’s Lacrosse
Men’s lacrosse is riding high after a historic 12–2 season last year, finishing 4–1 in Big Ten play and capturing the program’s first regular-season and tournament titles. Signature wins over Notre Dame, Michigan and Johns Hopkins highlighted the team’s clutch performances, including a come-frombehind 10–8 victory over Michigan to secure the Big Ten crown.
Adding to the excitement, former Johns Hopkins attackman Russell Melendez, a 2023 All-American, recently transferred to Ohio State for his final NCAA season, expected to boost an already potent attack.
Fans now have a program on the rise, championship-level performances to watch and plenty of storylines beyond football.
Then fourth-year Gannon Matthews (24) runs the ball in a 2025 Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse game.
DANIEL BUSH | CAMPUS PHOTO EDITOR
Meet Cortez Hankton, the coach tasked with sustaining Ohio State’s wide receiver standard
Jack Diwik
Managing Sports Editor
Seven five-star prospects signed. Five first-round picks developed.
A national championship.
Brian Hartline spent nine seasons turning Ohio State’s wide receiver room into one of college football’s most reliable producers of elite talent. His promotion to offensive coordinator in 2025 only accelerated what felt inevitable.
That next step came Dec. 3, when Hartline accepted the head coaching job at the University of South Florida, closing one of the most influential position-coach tenures in the sport.
Less than 24 hours after Ohio State’s season ended with a College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl, Hartline’s replacement was found.
Ohio State announced the hiring of Cortez Hankton as wide receivers coach, placing him in charge of a position group that has become central to the program’s identity.
“We’re excited to welcome Cortez and his family to Ohio State,” head coach Ryan Day said in the press release announcing Hankton’s hiring. “His experience recruiting and developing some of the best wide receiver talent in the country speaks for itself. I think he is going to integrate into our program’s culture and values, which are at the core of who we are, very well.”
Here is a look at the Buckeyes’ next wide receivers coach.
Hankton’s background
Hankton played college football at Texas Southern, where he finished his career as the program’s all-time leading receiver. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and spent seven seasons in the league, playing for multiple organizations before later continuing his professional career in the United Football League.
After retiring from professional
football in 2011, Hankton moved into coaching. He began as a wide receivers coach at Dartmouth from 2012 to 2014 before taking the same role at Vanderbilt from 2015 to 2017. He then joined Georgia, where he coached wide receivers from 2018 to 2021 and was part of a national championship staff. Hankton moved to LSU in 2022 and remained with the program
ton recruited out of high school. However, at LSU, Malik Nabers developed into one of the most productive receivers in the country during Hankton’s tenure. Nabers finished his freshman season in 2021 with 28 receptions for 417 yards and four touchdowns. Over the next two seasons under Hankton, his production increased, culminating in a
through the 2025 season.
In his four seasons at LSU, where he coached wide receivers and later served as co-offensive coordinator, the Tigers finished first nationally in passing offense in 2023 and second in the SEC in 2024.
Player development history
Ohio State’s press release announcing Hankton’s hire cited 11 receivers from Vanderbilt, Georgia and LSU who recorded notable seasons under his guidance. Only two of those players, George Pickens and Vanderbilt’s Kalija Lipscomb, were receivers Hank-
2023 season in which he totaled 1,569 receiving yards and earned unanimous All-American honors. Nabers was selected No. 6 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That same season, teammate Brian Thomas Jr. surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and led the nation with 17 touchdown receptions, becoming a first-round selection at No. 23. Nabers and Thomas are the only first-round draft picks Hankton has coached to date.
Hankton also coached multiple receivers at Georgia who later reached the NFL, including Mecole Hardman,
Riley Ridley and Terry Godwin, all of whom were selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Pickens, whom Hankton coached for all three of his seasons in Athens, was selected in the second round in 2022. Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell, both second-round selections in 2024, also played under Hankton during portions of their college careers.
What he inherits
Hankton does not arrive in Columbus to rebuild, but Ohio State’s wide receiver room has seen notable turnover entering the 2026 season.
Jeremiah Smith is expected back after establishing himself as one of the most productive receivers in the country, while Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham transferred to Notre Dame. Ohio State added UTSA transfer Devin McCuin to provide experience. Unlike former receivers coach Brian Hartline, who did not add a transfer wide receiver during his tenure, Hankton brings experience operating in the portal. From 2023 to 2025 at LSU, Hankton signed six transfer receivers. LSU’s leading receivers during the 2025 season, Barion Brown, Zavion Thomas and Aaron Anderson, all arrived via the portal, along with Nic Anderson and C.J. Daniels.
The Buckeyes also will retain Brandon Innis and bring in five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr.
A transition, not a reset Hartline’s departure marked a significant transition for Ohio State, but the expectations surrounding the wide receiver position remain unchanged. Hankton steps into a role shaped by years of production and national visibility.
Personnel may change from year to year, but the standard attached to Ohio State’s wide receiver room remains in place.
The ball bounces off of then-Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cortez Hankton’s hand in the end zone during NFL 2006 preseason.
CURTIS COMPTON | ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION/MCT VIA TNS
Ohio State Urgent Care
When you have an illness or injury that can’t wait, Ohio State offers three close-to-campus options to connect you to the exact care your need.
• Urgent Care for minor to moderate conditions
• Orthopedic Urgent Care for sports- and activity-related injuries
• Advanced Urgent Care for serious, non-life-threatening conditions
