April 15, 2021

Athens conducts racial equity review of city code...PG 5 Spin e-scooters are back in Athens...PG 10 Jason Preston’s path to Ohio basketball...PG 16 THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

Consumed with true crime A generation’s fascination with the genre

Gov. Mike DeWine visited OU on Monday PG 5

Athena Cinema Sustainability Series to be held virtually PG 15

Five must-try items from Souvlaki’s Mediterranean Garden PG 21

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

So long, ‘The Post’

MOLLY SCHRAMM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cue the sad music because this is my last From the Editor’s Desk column. I remember back to my freshman year reading Liz Backo’s — the then-editor-in-chief — last editor’s desk column. She wrote how The Post is more than just an independent, student-run media outlet. If there’s anything I’ve learned over my last four years here, it’s that sentiment is exorbitantly true.

To say The Post has shaped my college experience would be an understatement. When I walked onto Ohio University’s campus in fall 2017, I didn’t know where my place was. I tried other student media publications, but the draw for The Post wasn’t its awards, reputation or legacy, but the people. My first interaction was with Alex Darus, the then-blogs editor. She invited me in. We sat and talked, and then she let me pitch my first album review.

From there my relationship with her, my future editor, Georgia Davis, and the other friends I worked alongside at The Post shaped me into the journalist and person I am today.

They are the reason I was confident enough to go for this editor-in-chief position to begin with.

But outside of the daily workload of The Post, the friendships I’ve formed will keep me tied to The Post for years to come. Some of my closest friends are in my life because I joined The Post. I remember nights where I’ve stayed up way too late simply having conversations in the newsroom or I’ve curled up on the couches with popcorn and watched movies. Before COVID-19, the newsroom was the hub for all Posties, and I hope for future staff members that can happen again.

While The Post has taught me so much about myself as a journalist, it has also shown me so much about OU, Athens, Southeast Ohio and our wonderful audience and readers.

Southeast Ohio is a special place, and the people here are even more special.

I could go on and on with thank yous to tons of people who have helped me in the last year as well as my entire college career. From our

readers to the OU staff who have advised us to the dedicated community members who we’ve featured and everyone in between, thank you.

From the bottom of my heart.

As I look to the future, I can’t wait to see what future Editor-in-Chief Abby Miller and the rest of the staff do. There’s so much talent in The Post newsroom — as well as all over OU’s campus — and I can’t wait to look back on my time here and think that in some way I helped shape these staff members and this publication I love so much.

So, so long The Post. You’ll forever hold a piece of my journalism heart.

Molly Schramm is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Molly at ms660416@ohio.edu or tweet her @_molly_731.

COVER DESIGN BY OLIVIA JUENGER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Molly Schramm MANAGING EDITOR Baylee DeMuth DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Geiger EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Abby Miller, Nolan Simmons ASST. NEWS EDITOR Emma Skidmore LONG-FORM EDITOR Jillian Craig SPORTS EDITORS Jack Gleckler, J.L. Kirven CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Lily Roby OPINION EDITOR Noah Wright ASST. OPINION EDITOR Mikayla Rochelle THE BEAT EDITOR Madyson Lewellyn ASST. THE BEAT EDITOR Emma Dollenmayer COPY CHIEF Bre Offenberger SLOT EDITORS Eli Feazell, Anna Garnai, Katey Kruback, Molly Powers ART ART DIRECTOR Mary Berger ASST. ART DIRECTOR Olivia Juenger DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Kelsey Boeing PHOTO EDITOR Nate Swanson DIGITAL WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brianna Lender SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Taylor Burnette DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA Ethan Sands BUSINESS STUDENT MEDIA SALES INTERNSHIP MANAGER Andrea Lewis MEDIA SALES Grace Vannan

2 / APRIL 15, 2021

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OU students on regional campuses encouraged to find vaccines locally CLAIRE SCHIOPOTA FOR THE POST

media,” Dean Nicole Pennington said in an email. “We are grateful for the partnerships that we have to ensure that all of Ohio University’s regional campuses our students can get vaccinated as soon do not currently have university-run vac- as possible.” cination clinics, but students are encourThe Chillicothe campus has a mass aged to find local clinics or come to main vaccination site through the Ross County campus to get vaccinated.

Health District, which is offering the PfizOn April 1, Gov. Mike DeWine an- er vaccine, Regional Campus Coordinator nounced that college students will be B. Kreig Prior said. Previous to the pause eligible for vaccination. Following this, of Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribuvaccines became available starting April 7 tion, OU students were able to receive at Heritage Hall, 191 W. Union St. Through the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through a the month of April, appointments are clinic partnership with Adena. available for all OU students.

Anthony Mirisola, a sophomore study“Our public health operations team is ing communication studies on the Chillcurrently working with OHIO’s regional icothe campus, already received the campuses to promote local opportunities vaccine before any information from the for vaccine,” Gillian Ice, special assistant university came out. to the president for public health opera“I put myself on a no-waste list … They tions, said in an email. “In most cases, the contacted me because this was during health departments have sufficient doses the period where it was only available to to accommodate (vaccination).” older people,” Mirisola said. “I got my first In order to encourage students to get shot in late March, and then I just got my the vaccine, the Southern campus has second shot last week.”

Scan to Give Early been communicating information over Mirisola was able to access the noseveral platforms. waste list through the Ross County Health “We are promoting all opportunities Department facility on the Chillicothe reto our students through email and social gional campus. Although he’s seen posts

on social media about the coronavirus vaccines being available through OU, Mirisola doesn’t know anyone who’s gotten the vaccine that way.

“I expected the university to come out with something, but since they have to deal with so many students, I didn’t really know when,” Mirisola said. “Since (the health department) called me to ask me if I wanted it, I just kind of said, ‘Yeah.’ I wasn’t really waiting for the university to give it out.”

Similar to Mirisola, Brookelyn Martin, a junior studying middle childhood education on the Zanesville campus, also received her vaccine before OU started offering appointments. She got hers last week from a Zanesville hospital.

“I probably wouldn’t want to drive down to Athens. It’s a pretty good drive from here,” Martin said. “I don’t know anyone that is considering going to Athens. I know some people already have appointments.”

Anna Justice, a junior studying communication studies on the Chillicothe campus, has not received the vaccine yet but was unaware OU was offering it to all students.

“Next week, I’m planning on going to get it … I’m probably going to go to call

our local pharmacy and see if we have any open appointments there,” Justice said.

“They’ve sent us a lot of emails, but now I had no idea it was on the Athens campus at all … I read the newsletters every week, but no, I didn’t hear about that.”

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NEWS BRIEFS

Usage of Johson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine paused; City Council discusses possible addition to Athens’ unlawful discriminatory practices ABBY MILLER NEWS EDITOR Ohio, OU pause usage of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a tweet Tuesday he and other Ohio Department of Health officials advised all Ohio vaccine providers to temporarily pause the usage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to the “rare blood-clotting events” of six individuals in the U.S. The decision led Ohio University, which recently started vaccinating students with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Heritage Hall, to announce that same day it will provide any students who schedule or have already scheduled a vaccination appointment with the two-dose Pfizer vaccine instead.

University officials stressed in a news release that students must be in Athens 21 days after they receive the first Pfizer dose, which is when the second dose is typically given. Vaccination clinics for the Pfizer vaccine will be held Friday, April 19, and April 23 at Heritage Hall, 191 W. Union Street. A vaccination clinic using the Pfizer vaccine was also held Wednesday.

Six individuals ages 18 to 48 received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and had blood clots between six and 13 days after vaccination, according to a joint statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. All of the individuals were women.

Administrator of the Athens City-County Health Department Jack Pepper said the department’s initial allocation of the Pfizer vaccine to OU was 2,300 doses. The pausing of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not set back the health department and OU’s vaccination efforts, Pepper said. It will only impact the type of vaccine being offered.

In the university release, OU officials reassured those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that only six individuals out of 6 million people have experienced blood clots. Neither the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines have shown rare side effects, according to the release.

mittee meetings.

Councilwoman Arian Smedley, D-1st Ward, proposed adding source of income to the Unlawful Discriminatory Practices ordinance, which already prevents discrimination based on race, religion, marital status and sexual orientation, among other things.

Peggy Lee, senior staff attorney at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, said to Council the additional language would be a step in the right direction for those who badly need affordable housing.

Adding source of income to the ordinance could also help families in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Through that program, public housing agencies pay landlords a subsidy for the family’s housing, and the family pays the difference, according to the HUD website. The program is for the private rental market, and in some cases, vouchers can be used to purchase modest homes.

City Council: Prevention of discrimination based on income discussed

@ABBLAWRENCE AM16637@OHIO.EDU

An Athens City Council member proposed amending Athens City Code to prevent discrimination based on source of income Monday during Council’s com-

POLICE BLOTTER

Man swings sticks at deputies; man throws rocks at cars ANNA MILLAR FOR THE POST SWING A BIG STICK

The Athens County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a trespassing complaint at Scatter Ridge. W hen deputies arrived, they searched the area and located a man matching the suspect description walking in Strouds Run Park.

The man was carrying two large sticks, which he began to swing when he saw the deputy. He also began shouting threats at the deputy.

The deputy gave multiple verbal commands, which the man refused to follow, resulting in him being tased and arrested. The man was then taken to Southeast Ohio Regional Jail and charged with one count of criminal damaging and one count of persistent disorderly conduct.

4 / APRIL 15, 2021

THROWING ROCKS

Deputies responded to State Route 682 in The Plains in regards to a report of a man throwing rocks at passing cars, according to the Athens County Sheriff ’s Office. Upon arrival deputies spoke with the man, who said he was upset about having recently been evicted from his home.

Deputies were able to help calm the man and took him to a friend’s house.

JUST CHATTING

The Athens County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a man reportedly screaming at Connett Road in The Plains. W hen deputies arrived, the man told them he had only been talking loudly to a passing friend.

Deputies returned to patrol.

door at Hartman Road in The Plains.

W hen deputies arrived, they did not find the individual but did find a bird’s nest with eggs in it on the caller’s porch.

JUST MUSHROOM HUNTING

Deputies responded to a suspicious persons report on State Route 278 in Nelsonville, according to the Athens County Sheriff ’s Office. The caller told deputies a man was wandering around the woods behind his business, repeatedly removing and replacing his shirt.

W hen deputies arrived, they spoke with the man, who said he was out hunting for mushrooms. The man did not display any signs of mental illness or criminal activity, so no further action was taken, and deputies returned to patrol.

BIRD’S NEST

The Athens County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a complaint of an individual banging on the caller’s

@ANNAMILLAR16 AM157219@OHIO.EDU

Gov. Mike DeWine tours Heritage Hall, promotes coronavirus vaccination efforts MAYA MORITA STAFF WRITER Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited Ohio University’s Heritage Hall on Monday to witness students receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and to tour the hall’s facilities.

Simar Kalkat, a sophomore studying finance, business analytics and economics; Graham Garee, a junior studying accounting; and Prestin Minter, a senior studying strategic communication, all received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine during the event.

DeWine spoke with the students while the vaccines were prepped. Kalkat told DeWine she was not nervous because she trusts OU and trusts the vaccine.

On Tuesday, a day after the event, OU announced it will be administering the Pfizer vaccine to students following a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. They released a joint statement saying a “rare and severe” side effect of blood clotting had been found in six individuals who had received that vaccine.

OU’s announcement came after DeWine tweeted that every vaccine provider in the state should halt using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the time being.

OU President Duane Nellis said DeWine has been working to get the vaccine available to college students across the state of Ohio.

“We’re so pleased to have our governor of our great state of Ohio here, Gov. DeWine, and the first lady, Fran DeWine,” Nellis said. “We appreciate so much the commitment of the governor to provide this vaccine to our students.”

As of right now, about 32% of Athens County has been vaccinated, Jack Pepper, Athens City-County Health Department administrator, said. With that increase in vaccinations, DeWine said he plans to have all COVID-19 executive orders lifted in Ohio by July 4.

“Our way of getting back to normal is through the vaccine,” DeWine said.

“It’s our only way to get back, and with a third of Ohioans — actually 35% — vaccinated, we are certainly on our way.”

DeWine said the July 4 date is still realistic despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases throughout Ohio.

“I’m an optimist, and I think we can do this,” DeWine said. “Ohioans have done well. Ohioans have continued to wear masks. Ohioans are getting vaccinated

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talks about wearing masks with Prestin Minter at a public relations event hosted at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio, on Monday, April 12, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

... but we just have to keep doing it.”

DeWine said despite COVID-19 cases declining in older populations, such as those in nursing homes, there has been an increase in younger populations due to the lack of younger people getting vaccinated.

As of Monday, about 35% of Ohioians have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and about 22% have received both doses.

Nellis said he will be pushing students to receive the vaccine and testing during the Fall Semester when more classes will be in-person.

“We are strongly encouraging students to be vaccinated and actually having some incentives for students to be vaccinated by fall when they will then be required to do regular testing,” Nellis said. “And those students that are not vaccinated will be put through a more

rigorous testing regime.”

However, special assistant to the president for public health operations Gillian Ice said there have been many students interested in the vaccine.

“Our clinics have been well attended, not full, and we think some of that’s because students have already got the vaccine,” Ice said. “But we certainly still have people signing up and still doing whatever we can to get them here.”

Pepper said the health department is continuing to receive about 840 doses of the vaccine a week, but DeWine said he has seen a recent decrease in demand for the vaccine.

“What’s happened in the last week is that we’re now seeing a slowing of the demand caused by the fact that already a third of the state has been vaccinated,” DeWine said. “So, a lot of people have already been vaccinated.”

Although many have already been vaccinated, DeWine acknowledged the reluctance some people have toward getting the vaccine.

“I think the biggest challenge that Ohio faces in regards to vaccination is really convincing people that this is their ticket out,” DeWine said. “This is the ticket out of the pandemic, and this is their ticket to freedom.”

Ashley Beach contributed to this report.

@MAYACATEMORITA MM294318@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

OU Housing Master Plan continues with Weld House demolition Weld House will be demolished this summer using reserves from housing revenues BEKAH BOSTICK FOR THE POST Demolition of the Weld House is planned for this summer as a part of the Ohio University Housing Master Plan, which will open the area up to recreational green space and hardscapes, such as sidewalks and pathways, focused on student engagement.

Weld House was selected for demolition because of the building’s deferred maintenance costs as well as its remote location in comparison to other residence halls, Adam Dannaher, director for Housing Capital and Facilities Planning, Department of Housing and Residence Life, said. Named after OU’s first female faculty member, Cynthia Weld, Weld House stopped housing students in 2019.

Dannaher said the plans for the green space and hardscapes have not yet been started, but student focus groups will be engaged to generate ideas for student engagement.

This project will also demolish the catwalk that connects the building to Nelson Court. Steve Wood, chief facilities officer, said at the recent Board of Trustees meeting that housing revenues will be used to fund this $2.5 million project.

The Housing Master Plan allowed for the building of new residence halls on South Green, including Luchs, Tanaka, Carr and Sowle. Older South Green dorms were to be phased out during the 2019-2020 school year. However, some buildings were used for quarantine housing, according to a previous Post report.

Lizzy Roth, an OU alumna, lived in Martzolff House during her sophomore year, which was demolished in 2017 as part of the master plan. Roth spoke highly of the mod-style dorms in Martzolff House, which allow students to share a central living area with separate halls of students.

“I have mixed feelings about back south being demolished,” Lizzy Roth said in an email. “I had a great experi6 / APRIL 15, 2021

Weld House on Ohio University’s South Green has plans to be torn down along with the catwalk leading to Nelson Dining Hall.

(NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

ence in the mod-style res hall, however I know those buildings were built in the 1970s, with the plan to only leave them up for 10 years. The walls were not stable, at all! I wish they would have rebuilt (at least some of) them in the same style, rather than adding to the suitestyle dorms.”

This style of dorm helps students break out of their comfort zones and meet new people, Lizzy Roth said.

Becca Roth, a senior studying sports management, never lived in a Back South dorm like her sister Lizzy Roth did but agreed that the mod-style rooms offered different benefits than

the suite style dorms. Becca Roth said she did not have a lot of interaction with other people in her building while living in a suite-style dorm.

“Going into my second year, I was actually considering getting a single in Hoover,” Becca Roth said. “I like the atmosphere around it, and there’s also a lot of history that goes into over there, which I think is pretty cool.”

Becca Roth thinks that in the time of the COVID-19, having mod-style housing is not ideal for minimizing interactions between students. However, she said she would like to see it brought back in the coming years.

“There is a lot of history behind them, but I think there’s just a lot of structural issues,” Becca Roth said. “It probably is a good idea to tear them down and use it for green space. A lot of OU alum have awesome memories of over there, and I think that it’ll be kind of a bittersweet moment.”

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MOLLY WILSON FOR THE POST From cases of theft such as This Is A Robbery to infamous murder cases such as Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer and American Murder: The Family Next Door to unsolved crimes like The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, it seems Netflix has it all for the true crime obsessed. However, Netflix is not the only means by which many get their true crime fix.

The popularity of the true crime genre is further supported by the increasing number of documentaries, podcasts, TV shows, books and news articles covering uniquely fascinating cases.

True crime is particularly popular among college students, each of whom have their personal favorite true crime case or entertainment form.

Caleigh Russell, a sophomore studying psychology, is an avid true crime fan who consumes multiple forms of true crime daily. While Russell prefers to listen to podcasts or watch true crime YouTube videos, she has recently been interested in documentaries covering well-known cases, she said.

Olivia Gemarro, a senior studying English and sociology, prefers to watch true crime TV shows — specifically, Forensic Files — as she is interested in the scientific analysis of crime scenes.

“I feel through that, that I can learn something as a student of criminology, and I’m not just passing the time off of somebody else’s pain,” Gemarro said. “I think it will help me to know all these different perspectives and experiences and to just kind of keep that in the back of my mind, for my career, since I do want to practice criminal law.”

The growing popularity of the true crime genre makes some question the reasons behind people’s fascination, interest or obsession with these stories and cases.

Sandra Hoyt, a psychology professor, believes the reason many are interested in true crime has a connection to the popularity of horror films.

“I think there are some psychologists who would say that we like to be thrilled, and one of the ways we might be thrilled is by reading about or watching a program where somebody has committed this crime,” Hoyt said. “It’s kind of a different mode of the horror film … We just like to be scared sometimes, which is weird.”

Similarly, Amanda Cox, a sociology professor, proposes another possibility for why many are interested in the genre.

“True crime, whatever form it takes, is a way for people to safely experience 8 / APRIL 15, 2021

Obsession or Enjoyment Cautiously enjoying true crime: the line between true crime glorification and enjoyment

ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLIVIA JUENGER

something that they will probably never experience and hopefully never experience,” Cox said. “It kind of gives them that voyeuristic experience, where they can see what’s happening, but it’s not actually a danger to them.”

While there are many reasons for why people are interested in true crime, those who enjoy this genre run the risk of developing an obsession with cases and potentially failing to recognize the damaging effects the genre presents.

Holly Ningard, a professor in the department of sociology and anthropology, believes people may be drawn to true crime cases because they are unsolved, but if the desire to solve a case goes too far, people attempting to be armchair detectives may negatively affect victims’ families.

True crime-obsessed fans run the risk of invading the lives of victims of the crimes they are interested in or their friends and family. Additionally, if a case is open, many run the risk of invading a criminal investigation, Ningard said.

“You run the risk of bothering them, for lack of (a) better word, not understanding what it is that they go through because I think we almost mythologize some cases,” Ningard said.

Not only can true crime entertainment potentially impact victims and their families, but it may affect people’s perception of the justice system. When people become enthralled in one case, they run the risk of misinterpreting what the average case in the justice system looks like, Ningard said.

In agreement with Ningard, Cox believes true crime entertainment does not accurately portray the reality of crime.

“It creates other misconceptions around the types of things that are most dangerous to people and the types of situations that are most dangerous to people,” Cox said.

According to the FBI uniform crime report from 2019, the estimated number of property crimes, which includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson, that took place in 2019 was 6,925,677.

This is a stark contrast to the estimated 1,203,808 of violent crimes, which includes murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, that took place in 2019. In fact, murder accounted for only 1.4% of all violent crimes in 2019, according to the report.

“The reality of who is in jail and the reality of who is affected by our systems of mass incarceration does not match what’s shown on TV; it doesn’t match what’s talked about in podcasts,” Ningard said. “The average crime of ‘somebody came up and stole my packages off my

porch while I was away’ — that’s not going to make for a gripping podcast.”

True crime entertainment also leads to the sensationalizing of crime to an extent in which people may forget the truth behind these stories and may even glorify criminals.

Cox said the criminal justice system and true crime entertainment generally focus on the perpetrator of a crime, rather than the victims. Cox believes Ted Bundy is an example of a case in which many glorified the killer.

“I think ... because of this idea that he allegedly looked so normal and was so good looking … it just really puts the focus on him as opposed to the people who suffered at his hands,” Cox said. “I think there is definitely this consequence where we focus on the perpetrator, especially in these very serious crimes.”

Gemarro believes those who are creating true crime shows or podcasts may capitalize on certain perpetrators for monetary gain.

“There’s a fine line between studying them and being fascinated by them and then just outright popularizing them, glorifying them for the sake of making money,” Gemarro said.

Glorification of criminals is not the only potential consequence of sensationalizing crime. In fact, some believe it may even lead to the glorification of violent crime.

In one of her criminology courses, Gemarro and her classmates discussed the ramifications of the ‘My Favorite Murder’ podcast.

“I realized that it’s kind of awkward that we call it ‘My Favorite Murder,’” Gemarro said. “Even if it makes for an entertaining story, we also tend to forget that this is an actual event that happened, and it effectively ruined somebody’s life … and then impacted the families and friends of those people.”

Despite the potential ramifications, true crime entertainment does reap its benefits.

Ningard believes while there are negatives to the portrayal of crime in particular entertainment forms, in some cases, it can educate those who watch critically about the realities of crime, she said.

Russell tends to listen to true crime podcasts for educational purposes, thinking critically about the stories that are being told.

“I like to use it more as education just because it’s kind of what not to do, red flags, what to look out for when it comes to certain things,” Russell said. “It’s really informative trying to listen to how their lives have been affected.”

While diving deep into a case may disturb a family, there have been certain instances in which it has benefited cases. As an example, Gemarro mentioned the Netflix documentary Don’t

F*ck With Cats, which follows a group of websleuths in their efforts to uncover a killer.

“That’s a prime example of when a case goes cold or when people are so invested in something that they’ll work tirelessly to reach an end and to get somewhere with what they have,” Gemarro said. “That was a really good case of it going well.”

Additionally, Ningard feels that if done respectfully, true crime is a great way to tell people’s stories and potentially highlight injustices that have happened in cases, she said.

While there are certainly potential benefits to enjoying true crime, viewers must balance their interests in these

stories with the potential ramifications that this genre presents.

“It’s not to say that people can’t enjoy it,” Ningard said. “I think always keeping in mind that it is dramatized, that it isn’t necessarily correct and that the documentary filmmakers or the podcasters have an angle, too … As long as you’re doing that and keeping in mind that it is created to be entertainment, that’s OK.”

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On the third floor of Putnam Hall lives performing arts students’ secret weapon for success: the Clinic for Science and Health in Artistic Performance, more lovingly referred to as the SHAPe Clinic.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the SHAPe Clinic is the mecca for all things performing arts medicine. The clinic provides, start to finish, comprehensive health care for all Ohio University performing arts students, including dance, music, theater performance, theater production, film and marching band.

Russell’s passion for this project came from previous experiences at universities, where he helped out performing arts students on the side. Ballet dancers began knocking on the doors of the athletic training facilities, asking for help with injuries or for other physical therapy-related assistance.

“I could not reconcile in my heart that these young people were being injured, and they had nowhere to go,” Russell said. “All the athletes, they had a place to go. And they were going there. But these dancers, they had nowhere to go until they came and found out that I’d take care of them. I’m an athletic trainer. I know about sports medicine. I know nothing about ballet. But I can listen, and I can have compassion, and I can have a chat with them and figure out their injury, and then I can work with them.”

He became invested in helping performing arts students as well as raising awareness to how much physical activity is involved in the performing arts, be it the Marching 110 members supporting their heavy instruments or an actor moving around on stage.

But Russell doesn’t pretend he could do this without the immense support he’s received. Namely, his partnerships with the College of Health Sciences and the College of Fine Arts have been the clinic’s saving grace in terms of keeping operations going — especially during the pandemic.

The partnership with the College of Fine Arts was locked in before Matthew Shaftel, dean of the College of Fine Arts, arrived at OU. But he’s been working with the rest of the college’s staff to expand it, as this kind of collaboration between colleges is what attracted him to OU in the first place.

“Here we went into COVID-19, and there are all these concerns about safety and the arts, and thank goodness that we have a SHAPe Clinic thinking about health and safety and helping us to devise good safety plans,” Shaftel said. “It’s really incredible.”

Not only does he have the support from the College of Health Sciences and the College of Fine Arts, but he also has a trained

staff of master’s student clinicians working in the clinic every day.

“I knew I wanted to go into performing arts medicine as an athletic training student, and looking across the country, this is one of the only clinics of its kind that serves all of the performing arts at the university … and the athletic trainers are solely dedicated to performing artists,” Ariana Senn, a second year in the post-professional Master of Science in athletic training program, said.

Senn is the lead athletic trainer and works with Emily Eckman and Rebecca Marszalek, both first years in the same program, at the clinic. All three receive a stipend each month, and their tuition fees are waived through the program.

The three clinicians are proud to watch their work pay off through the improvements of the patients. They want people to understand that, especially with the pandemic, it’s easy to see how important of a role the arts play in the entertainment of the general public. They understand their roles as trainers are key to making sure performers stay safe and healthy.

“I think it’s really cool, too, because we record the outcomes of our patients, and we see that pain is decreasing, and they’re feeling better, but something I wasn’t expecting was for them to tell us how their art form is improved,” Eckman said. “It’s not only important for their general well-being but also so they can become the best artists that they can be.”

All of the hard work the various health care professionals and colleges have put into the SHAPe Clinic paid off when they were featured in the NATA News, the newsmagazine of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

“We’re really excited about that because that’s a big national publication for athletic trainers, and so it was an opportunity for them to see what we’ve been doing,” Russell said. “It told not just our story and what we do, but it gave the support from the artistic side as well.”

Russell put a large emphasis on making sure NATA News talked to Shaftel because he’s been such a big support to the clinic, and it wouldn’t be operating without him.

“Nobody else does anything like it,” Shaftel said. “But also, when our grad students graduate, they get jobs right away because they’re uniquely prepared for this work in the arts.

Every major professional theater in America should have athletic trainers.”

The recognition came during the pandemic, when the clinic staff got to discuss their efforts to adapt. Along with the regular mask mandate, the clinic can only house three patients at a time, and they take temperatures of everyone who walks in due to COVID-19 restrictions.

But the pandemic isn’t the only way the

the SHAPe Clinic will partner with Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS, to provide a mental health clinician at SHAPe. Russell recognizes the arts have a lot of mental health concerns along with the physical health concerns, and he’s thrilled to be able to provide this service through his passion project.

“This gives us an official way to have access to somebody that understands mental health,” Russell said. “We can do certain things, but we have no license to practice as mental health professionals, and so this will give us a way to be able to have that kind of care. It’s pretty exciting.”

Students who seek treatment at the clinic have relied on it heavily for injuries, illnesses and general health inquiries.

“The clinic allows fine art students to have access to medical care that they previously would not have had,” Martina Costanza, a senior studying dance, said in a message. “With this aid we are able to prolong our careers in the future and perform at our best here at OU.” The clinicians and the patients encourage any person in performing arts to check out what the clinic has to offer.

“As a dancer, my body is my most important instrument,” Zoe Meadows, a senior studying dance performance and choreography, said in a message. “I need it to be functioning as well as it can be! The SHAPe Clinic keeps me safe from injury, and trains me to keep myself from re-injuring problem areas.

Not only are they helping me now, but also future Zoe, as they teach me to use my body sustainably. Also, SHAPe is so helpful for my peace of mind! I have experts I can turn to to tell me exactly what’s happening with my body/injuries and how it can be fixed – no panicked Google searching!”

Everyone from Russell and Shaftel to the clinicians and the students know this clinic is a shining star at OU, and they encourage anyone who is involved in the performing arts to contact the clinic if they’re in need of physical or mental health treatments.

“My preference would be that every single student who has a relationship to the arts … that they should go to the SHAPe Clinic and use those services any time they’re feeling any kind of concerns about their physical and mental health,” said Shaftel. “I think that it’s a great, great first resource. I want to say to every parent who wants to send their child for an arts education: they should be asking, ‘What kind of support do you offer for young artists in terms of their physical and mental health?’ And the answer will be not enough, unless you come here.’”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

Athens Bicycle Club gives back to the community with trail work days MARY JANE SANESE FOR THE POST The Athens Bicycle Club has played an active role in the Athens area since 1971 and has been heavily involved in trail work days for about the last 15 years.

The trail work days focus on Baileys Trail System, Strouds Run State Park, Athens City Trails and Lake Hope State Park, which currently make up approximately 75 miles of trails.

The trail work is done by a core group of volunteers who are not only bicycle club members but also hikers and trail runners. With so many miles of trails and only about 50 people who are currently actively participating, there is always work available.

The Athens Bicycle Club participates in Friends of Strouds Run State Park as well as Friends of Lake Hope State Park. The members work very closely with the management of the parks as well as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or ODNR, the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, and the International Mountain Bike Association, or IMBA. About 12 club members have been certified in Sawyer and Bucking training through the USDA’s Forest Service Department. Sawyer training allows for certification in proper use of chainsaws while Bucking training teaches participants how to properly cut trees into sections so they can remove them from impeding the trails. These club members have also been certified in first-aid and CPR training. Club members have also received training from the IMBA on the ins and outs of trail work such as how to drain and cut trails.

The certifications allow for an efficient trail work day, where the certified club members break off into groups with non-certified or inexperienced volunteers, so they can be instructed on how to help as well as be supervised when doing trail work. This creates a safer work environment as well as the ability for volunteers to cover more ground.

Bob West, president of Athens Bicycle Club, said he has spent the last six Saturdays working on the trails and a couple times during the week, too.

“If you don’t use your volunteerism, you’re gonna lose your trails,” West said.

“There’s not going to be anybody else

that does it for us. Mountain bikers need to take care of mountain bike trails. Anything humans do in a park system can be detrimental to the environment, and you’ve got to make sure that what you’re doing isn’t damaging. Public lands are for everybody to enjoy, but they’re not really there for anybody to just love it and leave it.”

West has been a cyclist for most of his life. He believes mountain biking is a lifelong sport that many people are able to continue enjoying even into their older years due to the lack of damage it might cause the body like other high intensity or contact sports. It also is environmentally friendly, as far as commuting goes.

“I would like to let other groups know that they’re welcome to come and help,” West said, “Whether they’re a hiker or a trail runner or a mountain biker. It doesn’t really matter.”

West said due to budget cuts in the last 10 years at the state parks, the maintenance crews are struggling just to keep up with cleaning campsites, mowing grass and keeping roadways open. There is no time for upkeep of trails, which is where the bike club involvement comes in.

Rob Delach, communications officer for the Athens Bicycle Club, has also taken on the role as volunteer coordinator for trail work days.

“Ultimately with the Baileys trails, if there weren’t local people to maintain the trails, they wouldn’t have been built,” Delach said. “The National Forest has 250,000 miles of trails that don’t meet standard now. That’s an unbelievable number. That’s just the ones they can’t maintain properly. The Forest Service can’t keep up with our trail maintenance.

At the national level, there is even discussion about why the Baileys is being built if we can’t maintain what we already have.

The answer was: we have local volunteers who are going to do that work.”

Delach said the trail work initiative could not be done alone. It is truly about the partnerships of the bicycle club with the parks or the friend groups at the parks. He said coordinating with these groups and the staff of the parks, the city and the organizations who own and manage the parks is the key to making this work.

Kelly Shaw, an Athens Bicycle Club member since 2005, has been involved in trail work for over 15 years. She has been certified through the National Forest

Richard Arques, a member of the Athens Bicycle Club, leans on his bike after taking a quick break from riding in the Baileys Trail System on April 9, 2021. (TRE SPENCER | FOR THE POST)

Service and was a volunteer with its organization for a summer, where she received additional training on trail building and upkeep.

“I think trail work teaches you to be really observant when you’re in the woods recreating,” Shaw said. “So, if you want to have a slightly different experience, whichever way you use trails, you could start just looking at things from a perspective of maintenance and stewardship. It gives you a different perspective that is interesting and gives you a whole other lens to your activities. It is a pretty compelling way to interact with something.”

Shaw said there are general practices to using trails systems responsibly and sustainably. She said even if people are unable to get out and help on a trail work day, they can make sure they are being observant and educate themselves in responsible use of trails. For example, when coming across a muddy patch, one should walk straight through rather than around because walking around widens the trail and makes the patch a bigger problem.

“Not a lot of people do trail work solo,”

Shaw said. “So, there is an organizational component that allows folks with experience to help people who are new learn some of the techniques and tricks. So, there’s teaching and learning involved.

There’s a lot of immediate gratification of fixing problems in real time with tools and a little bit of know how.”

Shaw said any time spent in the woods makes for a good day. Trailwork is a never-ending task, so new and interested folks are always helpful, Shaw said.

Shaw, West, and Delach encourage anyone who wants to get involved with trail work days to find more information on the bicycle club’s website or Facebook.

Anyone is welcome, and no experience is required. Information on how to interact with trails sustainably is available through IMBA.

@MARYJANESANESE MS943920@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

Taking the National Stage MAYA MORITA STAFF WRITER Athens Mayor Steve Patterson was appointed to serve on the Race, Equity and Leadership Council, or REAL, of the National League of Cities, or NLC, for 2021. Patterson was appointed by NLC President Kathy Maness to serve a one-year term, according to a release from the city of Athens.

This council consists of government-elected officials throughout the country. Patterson has been a NLC member since 2015, and as a member on the REAL Council, he said he will be discussing both state and federal policies regarding racial equity.

“Often, there are things that we have to get in front of our congressmen and senators in D.C. when it comes to racial equity and overcoming 450 years of systemic racism,” Patterson said.

Leon Andrews, director of NLC’s Race, Equity and Leadership Council, said Patterson will greatly fulfill his role on the council.

“Mayor Patterson will be a voice for cities of similar sizes across Ohio and the country of local leaders committed

to advancing racial equity in their cities,” Andrews said in an email.

Maness said NLC serves as a voice for communities to inspire change nationwide.

“I am proud to have Mayor Steve Patterson join NLC’s REAL committee on behalf of his residents,” Maness said in the release. “Together with a team of local leaders from around the country, we will work to solve the most pressing challenges facing our communities.”

Patterson said his previous experiences will allow him to succeed in his new position.

“I think that my life experiences and in the places that I’ve lived and had seen inequity, in one case, caused me to seek employment, which ultimately became Athens, Ohio … because of the overt racism and segregation that I was noticing,” Patterson said. “And (I) just couldn’t tolerate the fact that was the place in which I lived.”

Since filling this role, Patterson said he is working with Andrews to discuss racial equity within Athens. He said he took the role due to the impact it could have on the Athens community.

“Knowing what the Race, Equity and Leadership team has

to offer for communities, (it) was a simple decision to make to reach out directly to REAL and ask if they would put together a list of services that they could provide for the city of Athens, to do what we need to do when it comes to racial equity,” Patterson said.

REAL will consist of two co-chairs who oversee the committee during the 2021 term. Victoria Woodards, mayor of Tacoma, Washington, and Jake Spano, mayor of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, will be the co-chairs, according to the release.

“I hope to continue to bring the best practices here to Athens as well as to the state of Ohio and to continue to fight for racial equity and active allyship as I move forward,” Patterson said. “It’s quite the honor to serve in this capacity through the National League of Cities on the Race, Equity and Leadership Council.”

@MAYACATEMORITA MM294318@OHIO.EDU

Ric Wasserman (left) talks to Steve Patterson (right) at The Pigskin Bar and Grille on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Patterson won reelection as the Athens mayor during the 2019 elections. (ANTHONY WARNER | FOR THE POST)

12 / APRIL 15, 2021

Q&A

Joe Stamm talks Smiling Skull Saloon performance amid national tour JULIANA COLANT FOR THE POST The Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St., has been a part of the Athens community since 1993. On April 25, the Joe Stamm Band will be performing at the local bar while on its national tour.

Joe Stamm Band consists of singer/ songwriter Joe Stamm, guitarist Dave Glover and bassist Bruce Moser. Glover and Moser have been with Stamm for over four-and-a-half years. The drummer is currently transitioning.

The concert will be an acoustic duo show with Stamm and Glover performing. The show starts at 6 p.m. at Smiling Skull Saloon. Tickets are not required for the event, and it is a free show.

The Post chatted with Stamm via email to talk about the national tour, the band’s COVID-19 adaptations and more.

THE POST: How would you describe

your music style?

S: We call it Black Dirt Country Rock, which is really a nod to the Red Dirt music scene, which has had a big influence on our music, as well as our Midwestern roots. But really, our style can be varied from song to song.

I’d consider it a melting pot of 90’s country, Southern Rock, Red Dirt and Americana influences.

TP: How will touring this year be differ-

playing an acoustic show. We really just want to hang out with people and drink a few beers. So it will be casual.

We’ll play a lot of our own songs, and we always mix in some of our favorite covers - stuff from 90’s country guys like Travis Tritt and some stuff from Red Dirt circles, like Turnpike Troubadors and whatnot.

TP: Where can interested attendees purchase tickets for the concert? Is there a limited number of tickets available?

S: As far as I know, it’s a free show...no tickets required. Just show up with a good attitude and you’re in :)

ent from years past due to COVID-19?

S: Hopefully not as different as it was last year! Ha. It’s starting to (look) like more normalcy is around the corner, with many fairs and festivals re-booking for 2021. It’ll be nice to get back on those circuits. We’ll see. But regardless, we’ll be getting out there and finding spots to play.

TP: What made you choose the Smiling

Skull Saloon in Athens, OH as a touring location?

S: Honestly, it’s a routing thing - we’re

always trying to connect dots. You book one spot, look at a map, and try to find some other spots that’ll make the run work. We had some options for April 25th, but my agent sent me the Smiling Skull and it looked to be our kind of people. So that’s where we’re heading.

TP: What are you most looking forward to about going on tour?

S: We’re just out there trying to make friends, honestly. And that’s the main thing we look for anytime we load up the van and head out - folks with a welcoming spirit and an ear for our kind of music.

@COLANT_JULIANA JC079419@OHIO.EDU

TP: What can audiences expect from the Joe Stamm Band acoustic performance at the Smiling Skull Saloon?

S: Something really down to earth. This is especially true when it’s me and Dave

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Race for a Reason event sheds light on local nonprofit LAUREN SERGE FOR THE POST The Ohio University Sports Administration Graduate Program and the OU Valor Military Ministry are hosting the 10th Race for a Reason event, which will occur Saturday, April 17, through Monday, April 26.

The event will raise money for various charities and nonprofit organizations through registrations for the six available races, as $10 from each participant’s registration fee will go toward the charity of their choice.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the races will take place individually. Participants will sign up for their desired race and select the destination of their donation. The participants will individually log their times into the operating system provided by Race for a Reason.

Hailey Hice, a master’s student studying sports administration and the executive director of Race for a Reason, 14 / APRIL 15, 2021

is thrilled to still adapt and have this event in spite of the pandemic.

“So, what makes this unique with our program is having so many alumni in different states across the globe,” Hice said. “They don’t necessarily do it as a competitive standpoint. They do it from more of a community service standpoint. So, it’s a unique way this year for them to continue to be active and give back to different nonprofits in the area.”

The theme for this race is titled “What’s Your Reason?” and Hice said the theme has a lot of significance to the community.

“The reason part comes in where we don’t raise money for one specific cause as an event; we try to raise money for as many causes as we can,” Hice said. “So, reasons are synonymous with nonprofits that we serve. At the very end of everything, what will happen is, through all those registration fees, we will make a large donation based off of what people put their funds towards: each of those nonprofits.”

Elizabeth Sayrs, executive vice president and provost of OU, participated in Race for a Reason for the first time in 2019. Sayrs recognized the meaningful nature of the event. “(The event’s purpose) is to really draw attention to things that we care about and to really fundraise for those things,” Sayrs said. “It’s a way for the community to come together, and it is one of my favorite events of the year.”

One of the possible foundations accepting donations is Lilly’s Sunshine, a local organization raising money for cystic fibrosis research. Kathy Straley is the mother of Lilly Straley, who is the center of Lilly’s Sunshine. Lilly was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a young child, and Lilly’s Sunshine has been a part of the Race for Reason event since 2013.

Kathy Straley said the continued participation by OU students, Athens residents and various other supporters offers her and her daughter hope for thorough research into cystic fibrosis.

“We’ve really been honored to be connected to this event since 2013,” Kathy Straley said. “It really gives us a lot of hope to see people involved in changing people’s lives that are impacted by cystic fibrosis. We really enjoy the students that get involved and the community members that get involved.

And it just really gives us hope that this disease will be cured.”

Sayrs will be running in support of Lilly’s Sunshine. Sayrs said the event, despite its individual nature this year, is still a collective project.

“I think we’ve learned a lot over the last year that we can come together virtually and in person,” Sayrs said. “And one of the reasons I want to run on the bike path is because I live a couple miles outside of Athens, and I wanted to try to recapture some of that being together with people as part of it. I think it’s one of the ways we can come together virtually around a similar cause, even if we can’t all be together in person at the same time.”

For Hice, it is these acts of kindness and the illumination of these specific organizations that make the Race for a Reason event worthwhile.

“It’s huge for these different groups that would never have this type of visibility and provides them that platform to really share their message,” Hice said.

“If we can give a shelter dog a new bowl or allow kids to go to summer camp or help the battered moms that we also serve through one of our nonprofits, that makes it all worth it to me.”

@LAURENSERGE LS351117@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Race for a Reason WHEN: Saturday, April 17, through Monday, April 26 WHERE: Varies ADMISSION: $25

advantages and disadvantages of the new format.

“Going from live in person events to virtual is a lot of work; on all of our parts,” Wochna said in an email. “We (Loraine, Alex/Athena) do all the same things, but instead of gathering some folks after the film, we moved to Zoom panels; which has its pro/con.”

One of the biggest disadvantages for the Athena was having to shut its doors in general as well as finding different ways to serve the community.

“The Athena opened in 1915. It’s been kind of the heart of the Uptown Athens area as a community for so long that closing our doors is really something that we never wanted to do, but also the safety of

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER

Annual Sustainability Film Series held virtually COLLEEN MCLAFFERTY FOR THE POST The eighth annual Sustainability Film Series, sponsored by the Athena Cinema, Ohio University’s Environmental Studies Program and University Libraries, will be held virtually. The free films present different cultures and world events while discussing sustainability efforts.

“Environmental Studies has been a driver of the film series since its inception,” Loraine McCosker, environmental studies instructor, said in an email. “The films have been screened through the Athena Cinema and they have been a wonderful colleague to work with, as well as the Alden library.”

McCosker said many of the films focus on racial and environmental injustice — topics that she feels resonate with many students. She added that, though the series aims to show a diverse set of films, it searches for films that are also appealing to students.

After the films, a panel for discussion is provided. Lorraine Wochna, librarian at Alden library, describes the panels as jumping-off points, places to spark conversation and share knowledge between participants.

“We like our panels to have some breadth and depth, so we invite a student, faculty, community member (or 2), we are aiming to raise awareness of social justice issues and Diversity and Inclusion,” Wochna said in an email. “The voices in these communities are very

different; and it’s fascinating to hear responses to our questions.”

Alexandra Kamody, director of Athena Cinema, agrees the panels are a space to create conversations and to reflect on the experience.

“I think that’s really cool, too, because we have audience members that have come from all different types of backgrounds, from different places, from different socioeconomic backgrounds, from different cultural backgrounds,” Kamody said. “So, everybody brings their own unique views and reflection to experience, really.”

Kamody said even with the transition to a virtual setting, the conversations have still been vibrant and engaging. Sometimes, not everyone on the panel would speak up, but Kamody still noted others involved who would not normally engage.

“One of the bigger challenges that continues to be problematic through the virtual is that a lot of people in this area really don’t have broadband or they don’t have internet access,” Kamody said. “So, we haven’t seen the large amount of community participation that we normally see, but this series has been a challenge to get those community members to be able to take part in something relying on internet technology. So, those are challenges we’re still kind of working on, and I think it’s gonna be really interesting to see how things over the next year, like what sticks around that worked really well.”

Wochna agreed there are plenty of

our community is our top priority,” Kamody said. “So, we understood that was something we had to reckon with.”

Kamody said she believes these films have a large importance to Athens as well as the university.

“I would say that my role has specifically been just really believing that this series was important to our university and our larger community and that the series really embraced everything that the Athena’s mission was really striving to do,” Kamody said.

“

@COLLEENBEALEM CM832719@OHIO.EDU

The Athena opened in 1915. It’s been kind of the heart of the Uptown Athens area as a community for so long that closing our doors is really something that we never wanted to do, but also the safety of our community is our top priority. So, we understood that was something we had to reckon with,” -Lorraine Wochna, librarian at Alden library

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

SOFTBALL

Ohio drops three games in weekend series to Toledo

Ohio’s infielder Annalia Paoli (3) throws the ball to first base during the home game against Northern Illinois University on Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats won 6-5. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

JACK GLECKER SPORTS EDITOR Despite leading off the weekend while hot on offense, Ohio couldn’t find the rhythm to take its weekend series against Toledo. The Bobcats pulled ahead in game two Friday but were unable to match that energy Saturday, resulting in their third lost series of the season.

Ohio (12-13, 8-8 Mid-American Conference) had the chance to get a leg up on a team with a near-even record in the MAC but stumbled and now has a record below .500 for the first time since mid-March.

GAME 1: 10-8 TOLEDO

For all the offense Ohio can muster, it has a hard time coming back from deficits. Down 10-5 in the seventh inning, Katie Yun kicked off a last-chance rally with a homer to left center field.

Yun was there to slug Friday, and the seventh-inning rocket was her second 16 / APRIL 15, 2021

home run of the day.

In fact, all of the Bobcats were swinging for the fences. All of Ohio’s runs came as a result of its six home runs. Soon after Yun’s blast, Mikenzie Vaughn homered to left center as well.

The home run led in both Vaughn and freshman Annalia Paoli and brought Ohio that much closer to sending the game into extra innings.

Sadly, the rally ended there. The Bobcats had run out of juice and went down quietly to end game one with a loss.

GAME 2: 10-7 OHIO

Game two was Ohio’s turn to crack double digits. The Bobcats were warmed up from game one of the Friday doubleheader and were ready to hit back. A five-run fifth inning squared the game up at 7-7, and an offensive surge spearheaded by three RBI from Emily Walker capped off a strong late-game performance from the Bobcats.

Senior Madi McCrady pitched her

seventh complete game this season, striking out seven and only walking two.

McCrady is near the top of Ohio’s pitching rotation, and her experience as the oldest starter has proven effective in the circle.

GAME 3: 5-4 TOLEDO

Friday gave Ohio hope that it might be able to win or at least split the series with Toledo. Saturday killed that hope.

A three-run rally in the seventh inning had tied the game 4-4 for the Bobcats, and a quiet eighth kept them on edge. McCrady had been pitching well enough, striking out and walking three through the entire game. All Ohio needed was one little spark to secure its second win against Toledo.

In the bottom of the ninth, the spark fizzled out. A walk-off home run by Toledo’s Leah Munson killed Ohio’s hope of snatching the win late .

GAME 4: 9-1 TOLEDO

There’s no worse way to end a series than with the mercy rule. Ohio realized that Saturday. Its bats went cold after the extra innings loss, and Toledo ran rampant over it.

The Bobcats only managed two hits in game four, a pair of singles from Paoli and Allie Englant in the first inning. Englant scored the Bobcats’ only run of the day after Walker hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Toledo had full control for the rest of the game. Ohio pitcher Mackensie Kohl allowed nine runs and two home runs in four innings pitched, including a sixrun fourth inning that spurred the refs to call the game after the fifth inning.

After two weekends away, the Bobcats will finally return to Ohio Softball Field for a four-game weekend series against Bowling Green. Game one is scheduled for April 16 at 3 p.m.

@THEJACKGLECKLER JG011517@OHIO.EDU

SOCCER

Despite a disappointing season, things are looking up for the Bobcats WILL CUNNINGHAM FOR THE POST By all accounts, this was a weird season for the Bobcats.

Instead of a normal season schedule where it plays 20 matches from August to November, Ohio was limited to a shortened 10-match spring campaign.

The spring season featured two matches against each team in the Mid-American Conference East instead of one match against every MAC opponent.

The format of the postseason was also dramatically altered to accommodate the shortened regular season. The normal eight-game MAC Tournament was replaced with a single championship game, and only the top team in each division was selected.

Spring 2021 was a strange transition for the Bobcats, who have been tournament regulars over the previous few seasons, but now, they were without the seasonal goal of competing in the MAC Tournament.

Losing two of its most important players from 2019 didn’t help Ohio’s case much. Midfielder Alivia Milesky and forward Sydney Leckie combined to score one-third of the team’s goals in 2019 but were lost to graduation. The Bobcats also lost a leader in Milesky. Without Milesky’s command on the field, the Bobcats came up short in a number of close games this year.

Ohio finished the year 3-7, well out of contention for the MAC Championship game, but its season could have ended much differently. Five of its seven losses came by just one goal, and two games were dropped in overtime. As the Bobcats get older, the ability to close out tight matches will come more naturally, and they should expect to be back in the MAC Tournament next season.

Ohio coach Aaron Rodgers’ ability to bring in talented players to the program showed once again this season.

Ohio received major contributions from freshmen Izzi Boyd, Shae Robertson and Carsyn Prigge. With another strong freshman class coming in next year and the current underclassmen becoming used to Ohio’s system, there are plenty

Izzi Boyd (#25) battles for possession of the ball during the Ohio University home game at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, on March 4, 2021. The Bobcats lost to the Redhawks 0-1. (MACKENZIE TYSON | FOR THE POST)

of reasons for the Bobcats to be optimistic.

Even players who weren’t expected to contribute as much this season were key to some of Ohio’s wins. Junior defender Olivia Sensky led a defense that conceded just 13 goals in 10 matches and was instrumental in the Bobcats’ three wins.

Junior forward Abby Townsend was Ohio’s best player this season, and despite the team’s finishing struggles, Townsend looked every bit like the player she was last season. As the team falls into place around her next year, she should be able to recreate the type of season she had in 2019, when she recorded five goals and 12 assists.

Senior goalkeeper Sydney Malham also looked good for the Bobcats until

she went down near the end of the season with a broken finger, earning MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors after a shutout against Miami. After Malham’s injury, junior Sam Wexell and sophomore Reese Dorsey shared time goaltending and both put up strong performances.

With Malham leaving the program, Ohio’s biggest question for next season will be who starts in goal. Wexell and Dorsey both gave strong performances this season, and any players new to the program will be competing for minutes alongside them. Rodgers believes there will be a healthy competition for the starting spot, and that will be good for Ohio.

The Bobcats face a short offseason, as they will return to play for a normal

fall season in just four months. Despite a disappointing record this season, Ohio has a strong case to return to its place as consistent tournament attendees next season. Rodgers has shown he can bring in the talent necessary to keep Ohio competitive, and there is no reason to believe that next year will be any different.

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM WC425318@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

SOFTBALL

How the Bobcats came away from quarantine with a sense of appreciation ELI FEAZELL SLOT EDITOR When the Bobcats step on the field this season, there’s an air of appreciation surrounding them.

At least that’s what Ohio coach Kenzie Roark notices when her players show up to practices and games in 2021 after the last season came to a shocking and abrupt halt.

It wasn’t until Feb. 22 that Ohio played its first game, 349 days after the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This season wasn’t going to be normal, and the team understood that. The schedule was subject to change thanks to COVID-19 still running amuck, and the players have to undergo protocol they never even imagined being necessary just over a year ago.

Knowing the alternative, the protocol is all worth it.

“It’s a greater appreciation for being able to do what they love,” Roark said. “There’s enthusiasm that comes with that.”

The day of the initial cancelation was a confusing time for the entire team. The Bobcats were in Tampa, Florida, during spring break for a series of games when they received a call telling them their upcoming events were canceled, and they needed to return to Athens.

“At that point, we did not know really anything about coronavirus and any of that stuff,” Roark said. “Nobody in our generation has gone through a global pandemic.”

The players had to return to their hometowns as soon as they arrived back in Athens. Ohio had players on its roster who lived as far away as in California, and they weren’t aware of how long they were going to be away from Athens while the world underwent an unprecedented event.

One of the players who had to travel all

the way to the West Coast was Allie Englant, who spent the last weeks of her junior year in Long Beach, California. She still remembers the Bobcats’ heartbreak over the season being canceled.

“We were definitely all crying,” Englant said. “I remember looking back and thinking about how our team was and how I genuinely was excited to just keep playing with them. I was very sad that it had to end because I knew we would have had a good run.”

The quarantine didn’t help morale. It wasn’t easy, but Englant didn’t allow herself to get rusty during the downtime. She spent much of her summer and winter breaks practicing hitting with her dad, and she put in plenty of extra work on defense.

Regardless of how the time was being spent, no one on the team wanted to go so long without seeing each other.

“I missed my roommates, Katie (Yun) and Brooke (Rice),” Englant said. “I missed hanging out with everybody every day.”

To fix that problem, the Bobcats spent almost every day on HouseParty and Zoom chatting with each other, joking around and reminiscing about fond memories.

Roark lost track of the number of FaceTime calls she received during quarantine.

However, she also decided Ohio’s Zoom calls needed something to bring her players’ spirits back up.

One day, when the players were in a Zoom call together, a woman showed up with a farm of llamas on her camera and began introducing them to the players. Everyone was initially confused at first, and some even texted Roark to ask if she had any idea what was happening. Their coach knew exactly what the intrusion was about.

Prior to the call, Roark saw an online advertisement for a therapy animal service that offered to crash Zoom calls to lighten

Senior outfielder Allie Englant (No. 4) catches a pop-up during the home game against Northern Illinois University on Saturday, March 20, 2021 in Athens, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

the mood, and she tried the idea out. It was the perfect idea to put smiles on the players’ faces.

“It was just to break up the monotony a little bit,” Roark said. “At that point, it was just like, ‘What are we doing?’”

The Bobcats made the most out of what could have been much more difficult times, but they were still eager to get back onto the field. As soon as the players were back in Athens in the spring and practicing again, they took nothing for granted.

“We’re leaving everything on the field,” Englant said. “We don’t know if we’re going to have a next weekend.”

Englant feels a boost of confidence in herself and the rest of the team this season.

She wants to have as much fun as possible playing the game, which is why she and her teammates push each other and are excited to show up at every practice.

“I feel way more confident than I ever

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have,” Englant said. “For the team, this year, we’re dogs. We compete all of the time.”

Not everything is normal, but that’s OK. It doesn’t matter to the Bobcats if they are masked up during practice and games, and the need to social distance in the dugout doesn’t get to them. The most important thing to the Bobcats is just being able to play ball.

@ELIFEAZ EF195418@OHIO.EDU

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SO LISTEN

The Johnson & Johnson situation MIKAYLA ROCHELLE is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University Monday was a big day for Ohio University. Gov. Mike DeWine visited OU for a press conference to promote vaccination efforts.

During the press conference, he promoted the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which three students received during the event.

He spoke on the safety of the vaccine and discussed how vaccinations are the best way to get back to normal.

“This is the ticket out of the pandemic, and this is their ticket to freedom,” DeWine said.

Due to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DeWine ordered a statewide pause of the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

According to the CDC, the Johnson & Johnson vaccination has caused blood clots for six people. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been administered to 6.8 million Americans. Given these statistics, the odds of the J&J vaccine causing the issue of blood clots is about one in a million.

The J&J vaccine is what has been administered to most college students and has been

pushed to younger people because it’s the “one and done” vaccine. While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines take two doses, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only takes one.

This is seems like it should be somewhat of a concern for those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, given that they are no longer administering it, but when you consider the odds, most people aren’t very worried.

“It’s concerning, but I think there’s not that many people getting the blood clot, so I’m not going to worry about it just yet. I’m hoping the side effects are the only problem I have with the vaccine,” Gabrielle Walsh, a freshman studying sociology who was vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, said.

Considering that the FDA has approved several drugs and medications where blood clots are much more common — like birth control, where the odds of a blood clot are one in 1,000 — it’s no wonder that people are not super concerned.

Prestin Minter, one of the students who was vaccinated at DeWine’s press conference, was very shocked to learn the day after DeWine spoke so highly of the vaccine that he decided to pull it.

“Just the fact that it’s six out of 6 million and that is the number that has been re-

peated, I think is absolutely insane,” Minter, a senior studying strategic communication, said. “I think the narrative that DeWine gave yesterday is that he wanted to get as many college students vaccinated as possible, and that was kind of the whole point of getting vaccinated.”

Pulling this vaccine, one that has been pushed for college students to get, is making a lot of OU students feel more bleak for the future that just days ago felt a bit more hopeful.

“I understand that there is concern, and I think that we should acknowledge that concern. It should be talked about, but I think it’s really ridiculous and hypocritical for less than 24 hours after (Gov. DeWine) discussed how safe this vaccine is and how even though people have reservations about it, he wants more and more college students to be vaccinated.

Now, (the vaccine) is being pulled, and it feels like we’re back to square one,” Minter said.

One of the other students who was vaccinated at the conference, Simar Kalkat, said she still has faith in the vaccine.

“When Governor DeWine asked me if I had any hesitations regarding the vaccine, I told him I had faith in it and what it can do for the near future,” Kalkat, a sophomore studying finance, business analytics and econom-

ics, said. “I am confident that this news isn’t as thought-altering as it may seem like. The vaccine is a medical miracle, and I’m privileged to have been given the opportunity to get the jab.”

Considering the odds of dying from COVID-19 versus the odds of a complication with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the vaccine is much safer than not being vaccinated.

“Personally, I am not concerned about it.

Only six people had those blood clots. That’s roughly 0.00008% of the people who took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. With only one death, that makes the mortality rate 0.00001%. Knowing that the mortality rate of covid is roughly 1.8%, I feel safer knowing that I have the vaccine,” Joey Dixon, a freshman studying business who was vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, said.

This vaccine is not dangerous enough to have been pulled. The odds are in favor of this vaccine. Pulling it will only set America back and will make the timeline of returning to normal even longer.

Mikayla Rochelle is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Mikayla by tweeting her at @mikayla_roch.

CAT’S CRADLE

How Westerns changed with the times BENJAMIN ERVIN is a senior studying English literature and writing at Ohio University The trailer for the film Those Who Wish Me Dead depicts Angelina Jolie, a former wildfire relief operator who tragically miscalculates a fire resulting in the loss of lives. Stationed at a fire watchtower, she encounters a boy who is being hunted by mercenaries. Pitched as an action film, with shady pasts and an abstract sense of violence, Those Who Wish Me Dead is an example of a neo Western.

Westerns have been a part of cinema from the earliest films, such as Ned Kelly and Great Train Robbery. Characterized by white outlaws and gunmen, cowboy films have a staple of cinema buffs’ watchlists. This is in large part to director John Ford, who made several westerns that defined the genre, such as Stagecoach and The Searchers.

The Searchers follows John Wayne, a former soldier of the American Civil War

who comes home. John Wayne’s Ethan is an outlaw, on the run and in search of his abducted niece. Following Ethan across deserts and snowy mountains, he attempts to find his missing family in the lawless frontier.

The Western film is characterized by the dichotomy between the law and lawless, civilized society and the frontier.

This is seen in the film Once Upon a time in the West with the introduction of the train changing a small town while the main narrative theme of Red Dead Redemption II is a gang of outlaws on the run from an ever-civilizing world.

While Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven subverts the initial Ford concept by having the lawless frontier being absorbed into civilization, violence continues beyond the settlement of the frontier, ref lecting a commentary on the inner self being the source of the outward lawless nature.

A further subversion of the form is Jim Jarmusch’s film Dead Man. William (Johnny Depp) is an accountant who travels west for work, where he is shot and

chased into the frontier by a gunslinger in black. Accompanied by nobody, William is taken on an emotional and psychological journey into the apocalyptic frontier of America. Scored by Neil Young, the soundtrack echoes a certain modern lens on a classic Western.

Westerns are often about the “first men,” the people who tame the frontier and are rejected by civilization. This can be found throughout Western films, as heroes triumph and become ostracized again by civilization. However, the constant challenging and changing of the Western genre gave way to the post-modern neo Western.

Cormac McCarthy’s novel No Country for Old Men is the perfect neo Western.

Set in the twilight years after Vietnam, Llewellyn Moss finds case money. From there, he is chased across Texas and Mexico by the man in black, Anton Chigurh.

Characteristically bleak, violent and Texan, the novel defines tropes of popular Westerns, then subverts them.

Neo Westerns are characterized by classic Western tropes, set in a modern

or urban setting. From No Country for Old Men, we have films co-created by Taylor Sheridan like Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River. Meanwhile Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, Logan and the comic Pulp are ruminations on the tropes of Westerns.

In the neo Western, crime and thriller blend with the west. The west becomes a concept of human violence, an untamed and uncontrollable aspect to reinforce and perpetuate law through physical actions. Westerns become an arena to challenge injustice with bloody revenge.

Through abstraction of violence and strong characters, neo Westerns challenge classic Westerns, like The Searchers, through a post-modern lens.

Benjamin Ervin is a senior studying English literature and writing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Benjamin know by emailing him be425014@ohio.edu.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

3 ways to make coffee without a machine JORDAN ELLIS FOR THE POST Chemexes, Mokka Pods, Keurigs and Nespresso machines: all coffee equipment filling different coffee needs.

However, you don’t need any of them to make a decent cup of coffee.

Sure, they’re helpful, and you need them if you’re after certain flavors, but they’re not a necessity — especially if you just want a simple cup of black coffee. Getting a good cup of coffee at home only requires the tools you have in your kitchen. Here are three coffee methods you don’t need expensive equipment for:

COWBOY/TURKISH COFFEE

Cowboy and Turkish coffee is essentially the same thing: coffee grounds boiled directly in open water. The only difference is the quality. Cowboy coffee has the stereotype of being a thick, black mush shared around the campfire, where you’re spitting out the grounds from between your teeth into a sizzling, black mass bubbling over inside the fire.

Turkish coffee is a deliciously sweet, sometimes spiced nectar brewed in a small golden pot, served to you inside a cozy cafe. Yet, despite the difference in quality, they share the same equipment, which is a small pot and stirring utensil.

The only difference is technique.

COWBOY COFFEE RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of coarse ground coffee (per 8-ounce cup) 8 ounces of clean cold water (per tablespoon of coffee) S u g a r, c r e a m a n d o t h e r a c c o u terments

Instructions:

In a small saucepan, put the desired amount of coffee at the bottom of the pan. Tilt the grounds so they all pile up on the edge of the pan. Pour water on the section of the pan without water.

This is so the water does not disturb the grounds, resulting in them floating freely in the water. If you skip this step, you’ll be spitting out a lot of coffee grounds. Remember, this coffee is unfiltered, meaning there will always be some residue in your drink.

Once everything is set, place the pot on a stove, and turn it on to a medium heat, bringing it up to a simmer. The longer you let the mixture simmer, the stronger the coffee you’ll have. If you want to add sugar, add it now, as it will mix better while the mixture is simmering. Once finished, take the pot off the heat, and let the boiling stop. There will be some grounds at the top of the pan.

To settle them, sprinkle fresh cold water at the top.

Pour the liquid slowly into your cup.

The grounds should clump at the bottom, leaving a cup of coffee with rel-

atively few grounds. There’s always going to be a few grounds but, if done correctly, it will be on the scale of an espresso shot.

TURKISH COFFEE RECIPE: Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of finely ground coffee (per 8-ounce cup) 8 ounces of clean cold water ( p e r t a b l e s p o o n) Preferred sugar/spices (normally has sugar and spices added in during brewing) Recommended spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, anise, cayenne pepper (decent with cream and sugar)

Instructions:

Turkish coffee is brewed the same way as Cowboy, except for a few additions. First, the coffee should be ground extremely fine, resulting in a more flavorful cup. Some coffee brands make grounds designed for Turkish coffee.

If you can’t find these, get an espresso grinder. Second, spices and sugar are added and mixed into the grounds before brewing.

When heating, bring the coffee up to a simmer. Then, take it off before putting it back on and bringing it back to a simmer. Repeat this process seven to eight times. This creates a light yet thoroughly f lavorful cup of coffee.

Pour the same way as described in Cowboy coffee.

STEEPED COFFEE

Steeped coffee is brewed the same way you might brew a cup of tea. Wrap the coffee in a permeable cloth or piece of paper, and dunk it in a hot pot of water.

This method is popular in Nordic countries such as Finland. In flavor, the coffee is weak, but the caffeine will get through.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of coarse ground coffee (per 8-ounce cup) 8 ounces of clean cold water (per tablespoon of coffee) Cheesecloth or coffee filter Butcher twine

Instructions:

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY BERGER 20 / APRIL 15, 2021

Place coffee grounds within cloth or coffee filters. Wrap the cloth around the coffee, and twist the top of the cloth.

It should look like a ball with a tail behind it. Take butcher twine and make a square knot on the tail to keep it in place.

Put the ball in a cold pot of water, and then place it on the stove on a high heat. Bring up to a simmer, then take the pot off. Once simmering stops, place it back on the stove, and repeat the process seven or eight times. The method is similar to Turkish coffee Since this method is filtered, you don’t need to worry about grounds. The coffee will taste extremely weak with little-tono bitterness, but the caffeine content will be there. It will taste similar to black tea. Drink it with sugar or black. Adding cream will destroy the flavor.

EGG COFFEE

Here’s an odd one. In this method, coffee grounds are mixed with a raw egg before boiling. This keeps the grounds and the oils within the egg while the caffeine gets drawn out. Essentially, the egg acts as a filter. This is popular with Lutheran churches in the upper Midwest, brought over from Nordic countries.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of coarse ground coffee (per 8-ounce cup) 8 ounces of clean cold water 1 egg Sugar, cream and other accouterments

Instructions:

Mix grounds with egg yolk, and beat into a slurry. Add slurry into an already simmering pot of water. If put into a cold water, the mixture will separate.

Simmer until desired blackness/extraction is reached.

@JORDANE42800656 JE563817@OHIO.EDU

However, it still was crunchy and delicious. The falafel was also a little overcooked, which overall made the pita a little dry by itself. I definitely recommend adding tzatziki sauce (known as gyro sauce on its menu) or even some ranch to this item to enhance the flavor.

4.) HOT CHEESE BITES

Noted as one of the most popular items, the hot cheese balls were excellent. They were fried perfectly, and the filling inside was warm and savory. The filling was even a little spicy, which I greatly appreciated.

I also recommend dipping these bites in ranch sauce, but the bites were amazing on their own. It’s a perfect snack to add onto a dish.

3.) WINGS

This was introduced to me as the most underrated item by the staff, and it’s also one of my favorites. I worked in an authentic Chinese restaurant for almost two years, so I’m used to spicy seasonings on foods. These wings really reminded me of home.

Smothered in Cajun seasoning, the chicken wings were tender, well-seasoned and especially crunchy. For people who prefer saucy wings or might not like super hot foods, adding ranch still keeps their flavor but takes off the heat. The meal also comes with fries, which were so crispy and flavorful they could rival any fast food chain.

2.) LAMB GYRO

Souvlaki’s Mediterranean Gardens keeps a light on inside, signaling its open doors to the public after a year of keeping shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, April 11, 2021. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

Top 5 items at

Souvlaki’s Mediterranean,

ranked

After one year of being closed due to COVID-19, Souvlaki’s Mediterranean Garden on West State Street has finally reopened for the public.

As an avid Mediterranean food lover, I have been searching for a descent gyro since I arrived in Athens last fall. The menu features a variety of items, including many different types of gyros and pitas, authentic dishes like spanakopita and grape leaves and even American foods like burgers and fries.

While I prefer the more authentic items, it was nice to see the wide assortment the menu had to offer customers.

Whether your tastes are basic or bold, here are the top five items at Souvlaki’s to try, ranked:

5.) FALAFEL PITA

One featured item on the menu is the falafel pita. While I have never tried a falafel before going to Souvlaki’s, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The pita only had lettuce, cucumber and falafel, so the pita itself was a little basic.

HANNAH CAMPBELL FOR THE POST

I was on the hunt for a decent gyro, and I ended up finding a great one. I ordered a double lamb gyro with lettuce, tomato, onions and tzatziki sauce. The gyro was loaded, as a double order has extra meat and bread compared to a single order. It was a really good portion for the price of $7.95.

The meat was sliced a little thicker than other gyros I’ve seen, but that didn’t affect the perfectly seasoned taste at all.

It also came with a lot of tzatziki sauce on top, which I was ecstatic about because many places short on the sauce and charge for more. However, if you’re not a fan of having too much sauce, I would ask for it on the side.

1.) MAC AND CHEESE BITES

Heading to a Mediterranean restaurant, I definitely was not expecting this item to be my ultimate favorite. Nevertheless, the best dish to come out of Souvlaki’s was the mac and cheese bites. Paired with ranch sauce, the bites were bursting with flavor.

They were so crispy and creamy. They were the perfect way to top the meal off and they were honestly so good I would not have been upset eating those as a meal on their own.

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the weekender Rural Action’s Citizen Science Saturday features Wildflower Walk KAYLA BENNETT STAFF WRITER

Spring is in bloom, and wildflowers are making an appearance around Athens. To make sure the wildflowers are recognized and admired, Rural Action is hosting a Citizen Science Saturday on Saturday from noon to 3:30 p.m.

This Citizen Science Saturday will be a Wildflower Walk through Tom Jenkins Dam, 23500 Jenkins Dam Road, on Burr Oak Lake in Glouster. Guiding participants through nature, Rural Action’s environmental educators will teach participants more about the wildflowers.

“It’ll just be a great time to hike through Burr Oak, which is an absolutely beautiful, natural resource that we have in this region,” Madison Donohue, an AmeriCorps member serving Rural Action and a member of the Environmental Education team, said. “It’ll be really nice to hike with us, the naturalists, because we do have a pretty good understanding of our natural environment, and it’s really what our passion is.”

This event provides an opportunity for participants to visit places that are lesser known to the Athens area. Mia Miller, an AmeriCorps member serving Rural Action and a member of the Environmental Education team, noted every month from now through August, Rural Action’s Environmental Education team will have a Saturday dedicated to citizen science. For each of those Saturdays, they will collaborate and pick a location and a theme for the event.

“The whole point of these Citizen Science Saturdays is to get the community members involved in participating in citizen science,” Miller said. “So, we’re going to be out there identifying wild flowers, using field guides and learning about the flowers that are native to the area and growing in the spring.”

Those interested have the option to participate in one of two time frames: 22 / APRIL 15, 2021

noon to 1:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. To join Rural Action on this refreshing nature walk, participants can email Miller at mia@ruralaction.org and let her know the preferred time slot and how many participants will be joining.

“We’re really excited to share that passion with others and point out the flowers and talk about ID factors of them, and it’s also just really nice to kind of be able to be in a socially distant group of people,” Donohue said. “We’ll all be masked and be able to stay distant outside, but we’ll all have that common ground of being excited about wildflowers.”

Miller and Donohue encourage people to bring their family members, friends and anyone who’s willing to participate — for there is no age restriction when it comes to learning about nature.

“I’ve never heard someone say, ‘Oh man, I wish I would have stayed in bed’ or ‘I wish I would have stayed home for this event,’” Joe Brehm, Rural Action’s Environmental Education director, said.

“People are always saying how they were enjoying being comfortable in the living room drinking some coffee in the morning, but they are glad that they came out.

Nonetheless, the wildflower eruption is truly one of the miracles of our region. I can’t think of very many things I’d rather be doing than searching for what’s blooming with people who are also passionate about plants and being outside.”

Rural Action plans on hosting more events as spring continues. For example, coming up May 8 and May 9, there will be a Birds in the Hill event featuring activities that all surrounding birds within the region.

Rural Action hopes to bring members of the Athens area and surrounding together to grow their appreciation for nature while nature grows all around them.

“We’re trying to get people out and exploring lesser known areas that are amazing places that are just less explored and more off the beaten trail so

to speak,” Miller said. “That’s another fun aspect.” @KKAYYBEN KB084519@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Rural Action’s Citizen Science Saturday: Wildflower Walk WHERE: Tom Jenkins Dam, 23500 Jenkins Dam Road, Glouster WHEN: Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free

The Wildflower Walk is taking place at Tom Jenkins Dam in Glouster, Ohio. (KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

WHAT’S GOING ON? Attend Shabbat Services in person; view OU’s Spring 2021 Senior Dance Concert ISABEL NISSLEY FOR THE POST

FRIDAY, APRIL 16 Diversity & Inclusion Drop-In Career Corner at 10 a.m., hosted virtually by Ohio University’s Career and Leadership Development Center and Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Get help with career-related needs from career coach Tamika Williams. Sessions are often used to discuss resume feedback or to answer general questions about career development.

Admission: Free Coping Clinic: Feel Good Fridays at 11 a.m., hosted virtually by OU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS. Join CPS for an online, drop-in workshop that offers students creative ways to explore their thoughts and feelings. Resources to practice healthy behaviors will also be presented. Students do not have to be a client with CPS or currently located

in the state of Ohio to engage in Coping Clinic workshops.

Admission: Free In-person Shabbat at 6 p.m., hosted by Hillel at Ohio University, Emeriti Park. Join OU Hillel for in-person Shabbat Services. Shabbat To-Go will still be happening as well. Meals can be picked up at Hillel between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. If participants plan on attending services, OU Hillel will bring their meal to Emeriti Park.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 “For the Love of Athens” Photo Contest Gallery Exhibit at 8 a.m., hosted by ARTS/West and the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St. View “For the Love of Athens,” a photo contest and exhibition celebrating the people and places of Athens County. The show has been on display over the past few months at

ARTS/West, and now, it is being hosted at the Athens Community Center for an encore viewing. Questions can be directed to Emily Beveridge at 740-592-4315 or ebeveridge@ci.athens.oh.us.

Admission: Free Athens Farmers Market at 9 a.m., hosted by Athens Farmers Market, 1002 E. State St. Shop for locally grown and locally made foods and goods at the farmers market. The market accepts SNAP, credit cards and wholesome wave. Masks are recommended, and social distancing protocols are in place.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 School of Theater presents: Macbeth at 8 p.m., hosted virtually by OU’s School of Theater. See Macbeth, a play about a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself — and that’s when the guilt and paranoia set in. Tickets can be reserved online.

Admission: Free

Admission: Free Virtual celebration of the 50th anniversary of ACRN at 6 p.m., hosted virtually by ACRN. Join ACRN as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

All alumni are invited to return virtually to celebrate this milestone. At the event, the winner of the ACRN Charles Voge Scholarship will be announced. Participants can register through engage.ohio.edu and contact Karl Gussow at ksgussow@ gmail.com with any questions.

@ISABELNISSLEY IN566119@OHIO.EDU

Admission: Free School of Dance presents: The Spring Senior Portfolio Works Walk-Through Concert at 7 p.m., hosted by OU’s School of Dance, McCracken Field. View the Spring 2021 Senior Dance Concert, a site-responsive, walk-through concert with each choreographer showcasing a group or solo work in one of seven different locations on OU’s campus. A curated audience pod of six to eight members will migrate from one performance location to the next.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear. Tickets can be purchased online.

Admission: $10 general admission, free for students Tantrum Theater presents: Spring Awakening at 8 p.m., hosted virtually by Tantrum Theater. Watch Spring Awakening, an angsty rock musical adaptation of the seminal play about the trials and tribulations of growing up. The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock ‘n’ roll.

Admission: $10 general admission, $5 students THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

NOW RENTING 2021-2022 CLOSE TO CAMPUS with MANY EXTRAS * Rent is listed as per person/per month

107 N. Congress St. 3 or 4 Bedroom . $425*

12 Court Street

2 Bedroom Unit . $750*

85 West State Street 2 or 3 Bedroom . $499*

99

$

199

$

Security Deposit per person

Security Deposit per person

Apt. A er person/month n o r i l l i M 2 . $450 p m

3-5 Bedroo

44 Mound Street

2 or 3 Bedroom . $475*

30 West Carpenter St. 1 or 2 Bedroom. $600*

OUrentals.com

740.594.9098

Call TODAY to schedule a viewing

Need Flexibility?

9•10•12 MONTH LEASES