September 10, 2020

Activism continues despite COVID-19 PG 9

Performing arts students adapt to online classes PG 12

Resources for Suicide Awareness month PG 21

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Performing

Alone, Together

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Running a journalism publication during COVID-19 isn’t easy, so bear with us please

MOLLY SCHRAMM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Everyone at The Post prides themselves on being able to serve Southeast Ohio and the Athens community. As Ohio University students, we bask in the chance to write about the place, people and things that have so greatly affected our time in college. Nonetheless, I speak for everyone at The Post when I say running a publication and publishing a weekly paper during a global pandemic isn’t easy.

To give a little insight into our world, The Post revolves around our staff working together and, specifically, working together within our beloved newsroom. Obviously due to COVID-19 and the necessary precautions and regulations OU has implemented, most of The Post’s staff isn’t able to feasibly live in Athens this fall. Alas, the show must go on.

Adapting where need be and really giving the term “experiential learning” a run for its money, The Post has been trying to run as normally as possible, despite everything being far from normal. Including us moving our daily budget meetings to Zoom, having writers report from their

hometowns and adjusting our print distribution plans, The Post has been rolling with the punches, and ultimately, I think it’s gone well, but, please, bear with us.

Our reporters are gathering information remotely, covering some of the biggest stories Athens has ever seen and reporting on public affairs from different time zones. Covering a City Council meeting in a city hundreds of miles away — from your childhood bedroom — is no easy feat, but we are doing exactly that. This is all on top of dealing with the nightmare that is an all-online semester.

To be clear, when I ask you all to bear with us, I’m not looking and calling for any sympathy from any of our readers. In fact, I think The Post’s staff is all quite proud of the real-world content we’ve been producing so far this year as well as the stories and projects we have in the works.

When I ask you to bear with us, I’m really just asking you all to remember the state of the world right now and to realize that we are striving to do the best with the limitations we’ve been presented with this

Fall Semester. The pandemic has given us a trial-and-error mentality. Between how we display stories on our social media to how we distribute our weekly print tabloid, The Post has been and will continue to try and switch things up this year.

It would be ridiculous to think we’re the only publication going through it right now.

I know we aren’t. Student and professional newsrooms across the country have been affected by COVID-19, but despite this, these newsrooms have also been churning out some of the most important news local communities need right now. The Post is striving to do the same for Athens.

So, I ask again, bear with us as we continue to adapt to COVID-19’s world, and we’ll promise to continue to do our jobs of providing you the latest news in Athens and Southeast Ohio.

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 ILLUSTRATION 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 Ian McKenzie LONG-FORM EDITOR Shelby Campbell SPORTS EDITORS Jack Gleckler, J.L. Kirven CULTURE EDITOR Riley Runnells ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Keri Johnson 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 Emily Cassidy, Ali Gifford, Kyle McCort

2 / SEPT. 10, 2020

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NEWS BRIEFS

Additional relief grants available to Athens residents; thousands of OU students to return to campus in late September ABBY MILLER NEWS EDITOR

and mortgage payment assistance to Athens residents.

UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL City Council approved a grant program Tuesday that will give Athens residents financial support for their utility bills during the coronavirus pandemic.

A grant worth $75,000 will be given to the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, or HAPCAP. Those seeking utility aid can apply through HAPCAP and receive up to $1,000 per household.

The grant was made possible through federal funds distributed by the CARES Act. Mayor Steve Patterson said it was important to pass the program into effect as swiftly as possible because so many Athens residents are currently in need of assistance. Over 470 households in Athens are currently behind on utility payments, he said.

The program is similar to another relief grant program passed by the Council in August. Also through HAPCAP, the grant was approved to provide up to $25,000 in rent

OVER 7,200 STUDENTS TO RETURN TO OU FOR PHASE 2 OF RETURN PLAN Ohio University announced Tuesday that it invited about 7,200 students to return to campus as part of its phased reopening plan.

Phase 2 includes about 31% of all undergraduate students and all graduate and medical students. The second phase will begin Sept. 28, and those eligible to return were notified Tuesday.

Phase 2 was able to include so many students because Athens campus has not yet seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs said in an email to faculty members.

Students were prioritized for Phase 2 if they are in cohorts and programs that require in-person learning for part of the semester for accreditation, licensure or other external requirements, Sayrs said. Examples of those programs include music education and nursing.

Students were also eligible if they are in a program that requires specialized labs or equipment, such as biology and engineering majors.

Students in programs with experiential learning

experiences, such as social work and dance, were also prioritized.

Students in Phase 2 will have some face-toface learning. A majority of courses will stay online throughout the Fall Semester.

Students will not be tested for COVID-19 when returning to campus. All Phase 2 students, however, are expected to complete a 14-day quarantine at their permanent residence before returning to campus.

Once on campus, students will need to complete daily symptom checks and COVID-19 assessments, President Duane Nellis said in a university-wide email. All students must also complete a COVID-19 module before returning to campus.

The university is working to implement a testing strategy for students who aren’t experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and to launch a COVID-19 dashboard. If students are invited to participate in surveillance or exposure-based testing, they are expected to attend.

GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE MEETS FOR FIRST TIME IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR Graduate Student Senate met Tuesday through Teams to appoint new members

and acclimate them to the procedures of the body.

Joseph Shields, dean of the Graduate College and vice president for Research and Creative Activity, began the meeting with a presentation. He emphasized the importance of GSS and how it upholds the university’s ideas of “shared governance.” GSS helps give a different input that factors into decision-making for the university.

Amal Shimir, GSS vice president and a second-year master’s student studying development and conflict, then explained the body’s rules and procedures. The meeting ended with a mock debate, where new members could participate or observe to understand how future meetings will proceed.

The body will continue to meet on Teams until Spring Semester due to the coronavirus pandemic.

@ABBLAWRENCE AM166317@OHIO.EDU

POLICE BLOTTER

Police arrest at Baker for intoxication; police sent for a stolen Amazon package GRANT RITCHEY FOR THE POST IMMEDIATE ATTENTION The Athens Police Department received a call of a dog bite at the parking lot outside of Holzer Clinic. A report was taken for the animal at large.

The occupants believed the alarm went off due to burnt food, according to the 911 call. Before they arrived, the alarm was reset

by Luis Medina, who said he was authorized to do so. Medina had not looked to see what activated the alarm. The AFD report said there was no burnt food smell but a strong odor of “smoking.”

THAT DOESN’T SMELL LIKE BURNED FOOD The Athens Fire Department received a report of an alarm going off at a person’s residence on Mill Street.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED While on patrol, APD discovered a theft in progress.

Carlos Duwayne Lowry Jr., 55, was arrested for petty theft charges of a stolen

Amazon package. The package was returned to the owner.

BUZZED AT BAKER The Ohio University Police Department received a call Wednesday, Sept. 2, at about 1:40 p.m. about a disoriented man around Baker Center. The man was arrested for intoxication after officers noticed his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Officers determined he had been drinking for approximately two hours.

Officers determined he was unable to care for himself and was taken to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, according to the police report.

BE CAREFUL WHILE MOWING Over the weekend, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a fight near the Family Dollar in New Marshfield.

The victim said he was mowing the lawn near the store when two men approached and started hitting him. They fled in a small, black car, but the deputies were unable to find the men, according to the police report.

@RITCHEY_GRANT GR619615@OHIO.EDU

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numbers

300 295

280 260 240 220 200

Number of people

Cases by the

COVID-19 cases by the numbers

180 160 140 120 100 80

IAN MCKENZIE ASST. NEWS EDITOR

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Source: The Ohio Department of Health • Numbers collected Sept. 9, but does not include data from Sept. 8-9

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On Sept. 1, there were 396 COVID-19 cases in Athens County. On Sept. 9, there were 447 confirmed cases, according to the Athens City-County Health Department.

There were 10 new cases reported Wednesday.

Athens County has 447 COVID-19 cases — 53 of which are still active — as of Sept. 9. There are 392 people who have recovered in the county and two deaths. Both were men in their 60s.

During the week of Aug. 30, there were 44 cases reported, making it the highest weekly increase since July 11, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.

Data from Sept. 8-9 have not yet been entered into the downloadable file.

Athens County sits in the middle for case numbers when compared to the rest of the state, at 45 out of the 88 counties.

The county has the 66th highest number of hospitalizations at 23. It is tied with seven other counties at two deaths. There are only seven counties that have reported one or no deaths.

Women make up 244 of the cases in Athens County, while men make up 203. Men, however, have more hospitalizations, with a total of 12, compared to women at 11.

People under 30 make up 75% of the cases in the county. State-wide, that number is about 32%.

Ohio University announced Tuesday that a caregiver to preschoolers at the Child Development Center tested positive for COVID-19.

All activities were suspended until Sept. 18, and the center plans to reopen Sept. 21.

Families and parents were notified immediately, and both preschool classrooms were immediately closed.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and appreciate our families’ patience and understanding as we navigate this unusual time,” Lisa Frasure, Child Development Center director, said in a university news release.

42

20

40

40

Week Cases

Hospitalizations

Death Count

Source: The Ohio Department of Health • Data Collected Sept. 9, but does not include Sept. 8-9

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

Composting Continues City of Athens keeps composting through city-wide program

The composting facility at the Athens-Hocking Recycling Facility in Athens, Ohio.

(KELSEY BOEING | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

TAYLOR BURNETTE SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR The city of Athens’ city-wide curbside composting program has provided an easier, more efficient way to compost for those who have remained in the program.

The city’s program began July 1 and currently has 1,500 households in Athens participating. The service costs residents who do not opt out $6.33 per month.

Households that did not opt-out of the program — which automatically enrolls residents — received a bucket and instructional pamphlet, according to a previous Post report.

Items like food scraps, tea and coffee grounds, paper towels and other organic items can be put into the composting bucket and are taken to the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center’s industrial composting complex.

6 / SEPT. 10, 2020

Overall, the program is self-supporting, Athens City Auditor Kathy Hect said. It takes no taxpayer dollars to fund.

The program has 1,132 residential addresses, 1,344 rental addresses and 866 apartment complex units that have opted out of the program so far, Andrew Chiki, deputy service-safety director, said.

“One of the most common responses we receive from individuals when they provide a reason for their request to opt out is that they are already composting on their own in one form or another and using the organic material for their home gardens and flower beds,” Chiki said in an email.

For many Athens residents, like Lisa Heinz, who has lived in Athens since 1992, the program has provided an easier way of doing something that they have already been doing on their own for years.

“I’ve been composting on my own for

years,” Heinz said. “This keeps the varmints out of the backyard.”

Heinz is currently happy with the price and will continue using the service for now.

The program has been going well so far, Bruce Underwood, executive director of the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center, said. Although there have been many questions from residents, feedback from those using the program has been very positive.

“It took a while for people to get their bucket and kind of get into gear using it,” Underwood said. “We’ve got some further educational efforts that we want to do upcoming, depending on when the students come back for off-campus purposes.”

To further spread information about the program, the city and Athens-Hocking Recycling Center have used the city’s invoicing services for utility billing. They

have also utilized both the city’s and Athens-Hocking Recycling Center’s social media as well as the pamphlets that were sent out with each bin.

Underwood hopes to utilize the same resources in the future as more students return to Athens off-campus.

One of the largest impacts of the program is the reduction in landfill trash going out and the types being kept out, Underwood said.

“We’ve been able to divert … 200 or 300 tons of food waste per year,” Underwood said. “It sounds (like) a lot, but it’s not a lot compared to what we throw in the landfill to begin with, but I think the distinction here is … that those types of organic material that were gaining material going to landfill has a much greater effect, carbon footprint wise and sustainability wise.”

Mary Ann Welsh, an Athens resident for over 25 years, said she initially joined the program during the pilot phase but opted out for a period of time when the price rose to $20 a month.

Welsh, however, wanted to see the service get off the ground and decided to opt back in. She said she is much happier with the price now.

“It’s a process — a natural process — of taking organic materials and putting it back into soil,” Welsh said. “With the compost project, we’re following nature, and I believe strongly that that really is the best thing that we can do at this point.”

Although Welsh has called with questions, she is very happy with the service overall. The program has even offered her more composting opportunities than she had previously by accepting meat products.

“A lot of things that you wouldn’t do in home compost because of the process, you can put in the bucket,” Welsh said.

In the future, the Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers hopes to expand the composting program and share more information about it, especially with Ohio University students.

“We just hope to add more and educate people about the importance of it and how to do it,” Underwood said. “With a high student population, people come and go, so we’re going to try to stay on top of that to make sure people were aware of the program to begin with.”

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Faculty face COVID-19 Faculty Senate seeks support from OU administration during COVID-19 pandemic JILLIAN CRAIG SENIOR WRITER Ohio University Faculty Senate is trying to support both professors and students through its work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to support and protect professors, Faculty Senate passed a resolution in July that allows professors to require facial coverings in class, according to a previous Post report.

“The mask resolution was really more of a technical detail in that we should have gone through the faculty handbook and discovered that we had put in language — probably in the late ’60s early ’70s — basically saying professors can’t tell students what they can wear in the class unless it’s for safety reasons,” Doug Clowe, Finance and Facilities Committee chair, said. “And we just updated it so we could also include things like masks.”

The resolution clarifies a section of

the faculty handbook that allows professors to request students dress a certain way for class activities, according to that same Post report. It also makes additions to a new section of the handbook that states dress requirements for public safety and personal health are to only be in effect when they are on OU property or at university-sponsored events.

Other than working on developing COVID-19 classroom procedures, such as wearing face coverings and wiping down desks, there are currently no specific plans to pass resolutions related to supporting the community during COVID-19, Robin Muhammad, chair of Faculty Senate, said.

Professors are, however, still receiving support for technological help and budget-related concerns.

“We also have other concerns that we’re raising that aren’t directly touching on COVID-19, although they are somewhat related, so we continue to have questions about the budget concerns about possi-

ble budget cuts in the future,” Muhammad said. “So again, all the things that we were concerned about.”

With all of its concerns, Faculty Senate is seeking support from OU administrators in the form of better communication.

“The biggest complaints that we’ve had with the administration sort of over the past six months has just been that they just don’t communicate very timely. And I think students have been complaining about this as well, that communications aren’t made until decisions are made, and they don’t ever talk about the stuff that they’re thinking about,” Clowe said. “And so we would love for them to start communicating more about ‘here’s something that we need to start thinking about as a community,’ and ‘come up with solutions rather than hear solutions that we’ve come up with that you may disagree with.’”

Faculty Senators are hoping for collaboration with OU administration in future problem solving and decision-making.

“We would like them to work with us, so that maybe we can both … come up with better solutions,” Clowe said. “But even if we can’t come up with better solutions, we can at least have the faculty informed ahead of time that these things need to be done and why they need to be done, rather than just having a solution that we don’t understand why it’s being dumped on us.”

The concerns Faculty Senate has are those that have persisted since the spring.

“All of the concerns that we had in the spring, are essentially still there,” Muhammad said. “The conditions have changed somewhat, but I think that the concerns about health, health and safety and academic excellence are still present.”

Executive Vice President Chaden Djalali answers questions from the Faculty Senate on Monday, April 8, 2019, in Walter Hall. (ALEC SYRVALIN | FOR THE POST)

8 / SEPT. 10, 2020

@JILLIANCRAIG18 JC986517@OHIO.EDU

Activists in Athens press on despite challenges of COVID-19 and remote learning BEKAH BOSTICK FOR THE POST Activists in Athens have continued to organize and support both national and local causes despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many Athens residents took to the streets this summer to protest Ohio University’s decision to layoff hundreds of employees, and later in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The protests have continued into the Fall Semester, even as students manage remote learning and the difficulty of gathering during a pandemic.

Protestors are often encouraged by organizers to wear masks and socially distance. Others, including students unable to return to campus this semester, remain active online in support of the movements that bring people to the streets.

“Seeing an increase in BLM protests has been amazing. It makes me, a black woman, feel more included at OU,” Destiny Hunter, a junior studying adolescent young adult education, said in an email. She said she saw masks being handed out to protestors at a recent BLM protest in Athens.

Hunter said she heard about the BLM protests she’s attended from her friends, two of whom organized a protest.

Others attended after seeing protests advertised and circulated on social media, often through student’s Instagram accounts and Facebook pages.

While local protests in support of the national BLM movement are still ongoing, protests against university budget decisions that led to faculty and classified employee layoffs have slowed down, Olivia Gemarro, a senior studying English and sociology criminology and founder of Save OUr Profs, said.

“As much as I’d love to have in-person rallies and protests, I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable organizing that for this cause. Whereas I feel like

Black Lives Matter is more of a pressing cause for action where people’s lives are literally at stake,” Gemarro said.

She said she has seen more in-person engagement with the BLM movement compared to Save OUr Profs because there have been more opportunities.

Save OUr Profs was most active during its starting months because it went viral in local social media circles.

The movement’s momentum has slowed down, though, partially due to the pandemic and

partially because the BLM movement is more immediate, Gemarro said.

Gemarro first started the Save OUr Prof movement because she wanted to be a voice for the professors who could not speak out. The professors without tenure are the most at risk of being cut, and they are the ones who cannot speak out without the fear of losing their jobs, she said.

Gemarro wants to continue to speak for the professors who are at risk of losing

their jobs because there is nothing more powerful than influential educators, she said.

“Honestly, it’s just a matter of when OU screws up the next big decision. I hate to be so morbid about it, but it’s a matter of when they do something controversial that we’ll be able to pick up steam again,” Gemarro said.

Currently, Save OUr Profs is being run out of Autumn Murphy, a senior at OU studying history and co-founder of the movement, and Gemarro’s apartment.

Gemarro and Murphy are not planning on posting on social media as often currently because they do not want to undermine the BLM movement. The budget crisis is an issue but focusing on ending racial injustice is what is more important right now, Gemarro said.

“We’re trying to be as active as we can online, but we know it’s not going to have the same impact, so we’re just kind of seeing where it goes, taking it day by day until we can have the opportunity to be safely in-person,” Gemarro said.

Save OUr Profs helped to organize a rally in May where around 100 participants, including unionized workers and college students, spoke out against the university’s decision to lay off hundreds of classified employees. The protest included an in-car rally, a safer option for people who still wanted to show support.

Save OUr Profs does not have any in-person events planned this Fall Semester. They do not want to put anyone who wants to support the movement at risk of the virus.

“Everything that we’re going to do this fall is definitely going to be online.

Then, hopefully in the spring we’ll have the opportunity to follow that up with some really impactful stuff in person,” Murphy said.

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER

@BEKAHBOSTICK RB442218@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Fairfield County Infirmary ghost hunts provide a paranormal experience RILEY RUNNELLS CULTURE EDITOR Athens is home to many ghost stories and spooky attractions, but just about an hour drive northwest is one of the scariest buildings in Southeast Ohio: the Fairfield County Infirmary.

The Fairfield County Infirmary had patients for over 170 years — and some of those patients still linger.

From a ghost named Willy, who haunts the second and third floors, to a little girl named Susie, who is lonely and looking for a playmate in the terrifying morgue, the Fairfield County Infirmary has plenty of spooky attractions to explore. It was this that inspired the staff to begin hosting ghost hunts in the old brick building.

Adam Kimmell, owner of the infirmary, took over in February 2020 after filming a ghost hunting video there for his YouTube series in 2018 and garnering interest for the location. Kimmell and his

team have one other location in Madison — Madison Seminary — but were immediately interested in Fairfield Infirmary.

“I dropped out of college and started to begin pursuing filmmaking and documenting the paranormal,” Kimmell said. “I started back in 2010 doing that, and now 10 years later, I fell in love with all of this.”

Ady Gaddis, manager of the building, said the buildings were acquired not as a total renovation, but as more of a time capsule of what the building once was.

There are some small renovations but mostly just purchasing furniture that go with the infirmary’s look.

After Gaddis and Kimmel acquired the building and renovated it, they partnered with third party company Ghost Hunts USA to hold paranormal investigations for groups of people at the infirmary. This was their second partnership with Ghost Hunts USA, after conducting some investigations at the Madison Seminary.

“You have so many different areas, and

the history is there, too,” Pam Crisci, a paranormal investigator and psychic medium for Ghost Hunts USA, said about the infirmary. “So we show you how to use the different equipment, and we show you how to investigate so you’re not going in blind.”

For the first half of the investigation, people break into small groups, and then the investigators take each group to an area of the building and teach them about the equipment. People use different equipment in each area. The investigation could take someone up to the attic to use a spirit box or down to the morgue to use “trigger objects,” such as REM pods, which detect disturbances and changes in the area, or electromagnetic field, or EMF, detectors.

Once the groups learn how to use the equipment, they’re able to explore the building on their own and take the equipment throughout to see what spirits or paranormal activity they can find.

Gaddis and Kimmell are grateful for Ghost Hunts USA because they’re helping the new infirmary owners get through the first year, especially during the pandemic, when Gaddis and Kimmell have worked hard to implement safety precautions like cutting the size of the groups allowed, requiring masks, setting up sanitizing stations and deep cleaning the bathrooms and main areas in between tours.

The infirmary staff also hosts their own paranormal investigations, so when their partnership with Ghost Hunts USA finishes, they will continue. Ghost Hunts USA is hosting investigations at the infirmary through November for $129 per person, from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The entire hunt includes group vigils, lone vigils, exclusive access to the most haunted areas, use of their equipment, free time to explore throughout the location and unlimited refreshments, including coffee, bottled water and soda.

For those who are still unconvinced, Gaddis tells them of her own experiences at the infirmary while working to restore it. She’s seen a little girl with a blue dress and long blond hair in the middle of the day as well as more ominous figures.

However, when she hears people walking around the infirmary, she just hopes that no one has broken in.

“I’m always afraid that it’s a living person and someone had broken in, so as I’m going up the stairs, I’m whispering to myself, ‘Please be dead,’” Gaddis said.

“I’m more scared of the living than I am of the dead.”

More than anything, Gaddis encourages people to come and experience the rich history of the building and learn about the people who lived there.

“We have newspaper articles and stuff that you can read that tells actual names of people that were here,” Gaddis said.

“When you come in, you’re trying to communicate with them. You can learn their story. Like a lot of these people and places like this county home and stuff, a lot of the people were forgotten. They were just dropped off, and now they won’t be forgotten in death, and now their story can continue on.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU A hospital bed and wheelchair left in an abandoned room in the Fairfield County Infirmary. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

10 / SEPT. 10, 2020

Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen offers authentic Thai cuisine LILY ROBY STAFF WRITER Local eatery Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen was a pioneer of mask-wearing in Athens, and the restaurant still upholds that strong standard of safety and care.

Serving authentic Thai cuisine based on local food, the store has been open for about three years and recently updated its delivery system to include a no-contact delivery option.

No-contact delivery provides an even safer option for Dr. May’s loyal Thai food fans, such as Sarah Mitchell, the curriculum, instruction and assessment manager at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.

“I’ve been a regular customer of Dr. May for a while now, and was excited when I found out that I could get delicious Thai food delivered to my door,” Mitchell explained in an email. “I appreciate the no-contact delivery that Dr. May offers. I also find her website incredibly user-friendly.”

The store originally opened at ACENet, the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, and has since expanded to two locations, one in the Athens Mall on East State Street and one in a food truck. The

truck is usually parked and open at either Court Street or at the Athens Farmers Markets on Saturdays.

Dr. May Rath, the chef and founder of Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen, easily came up with the idea of a Thai kitchen because she had an undeniable love of cooking.

“I’m from Thailand, so I basically cooked my whole life … I grew up watching my grandma and my dad cook all the time,” Dr. Rath said as she stood outside of her food truck after a long morning of work at the Athens Farmers’ Market. “(My dad) would always go to the farmers’ market every day, every morning, and we were always telling him not to do that and to save your money … but he did it. In Thailand the farmers’ market starts very early, like at 5 or 6 in the morning, and he liked to do that, so that’s how I grew up.”

Dr. Rath taught at a university in Thailand for 12 years, cooking for friends and colleagues until she came to the U.S. to earn her Ph.D. Her cooking skills were quickly noticed, neighbors and friends requesting to order her food. Dr. Rath kept cooking and eventually opened her restaurant, especially because there was no other Thai food available in the Athens area.

“We changed some things, but we were

pretty much on the safety side of everything,” Dr. Rath said, addressing the safety precautions she has had to take amid the coronavirus pandemic. “We were the first business that was serious about (wearing masks), or else you can’t get our food and you can’t show up at our truck … When it comes to the mask mandate, I kind of have to compromise because I know that it’s not part of this culture yet, and people have to adapt. So if you don’t have a mask, you have to order online because when you’re not wearing masks, by the time you figure out what to order and this and that, it becomes like 10 minutes, and it’s not safe for us to do that.”

Dr. Rath wore masks and required all employees to wear masks prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as mask-wearing is commonly practiced in Thailand to encourage cleanliness and safety. However, even as mask-wearing has become more custom in the U.S., Dr. Rath still runs into issues when businesses she brings her food truck to don’t enforce the mask mandate.

“They try to say, ‘Hey, can we not do that because our customers are not comfortable with that?’ and I’m like ‘No, we can’t do that.’” Dr. Rath said. “That is your business; you do what you want, but this is my business. So when your customers walk to my truck, they have to do what I ask them to do. If not, they can’t get the food. I have so many people walk up to me with their mask under their nose or not wearing it or

in their pocket, all kinds of things. I feel that it somehow pulls me back to being a teacher, like, where is your mask?”

Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen aims to expand their business, especially because a number of customers request the restaurant be updated to include a dine-in option. However, Dr. Rath said the restaurant isn’t at that point yet and that they still need time to grow, especially because all businesses are struggling at the moment because of the pandemic. Dr. Rath won’t even have employees in her food truck or at the in-store location because it is difficult to genuinely control safety measures if she allows more factors that could risk the virus slipping in.

Long-term, Dr. Rath would like to have permanent workers so that she can keep both the in-store and truck restaurants open at the same time. However, for the foreseeable future, Dr. Rath is just grateful to have her loyal customers that support her business and keep it going.

“I think Dr. May’s Kitchen is one of the most underrated restaurants in Athens,” Catie Bugos, a senior studying music industry studies, said. “They sell authentic and tasty food while also taking amazing safety precautions, even before COVID. They deserve a lot more recognition.”

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Performing arts students persevere through online classes RILEY RUNNELLS CULTURE EDITOR Matthew Harrison wasn’t prepared for this to happen. When the junior music performance major received the July 31 announcement that Ohio University students would be online for the majority of the Fall Semester, he immediately wondered what that would mean for him and the rest of his peers in his major.

Not to mention how this would implicate every other major in OU’s College of Fine Arts.

Harrison and the rest of the OU student body were forced to adapt to virtual classes, but it’s proven to be extra challenging for students whose majors depend on their performances. Harrison and other students feel OU’s general disorganization is the current roadblock.

“It’s a lot because the university is kind of making last-minute decisions, and they let everybody know the same info at the same time, professors included, which means they don’t really have time to pre-

12 / SEPT. 10, 2020

pare and make thought-out decisions, and they have to make quick decisions that might not necessarily be the most efficient option,” Harrison said. “If they would have had time to think about it, they might have been able to create a more accommodating system to the times.”

Despite the disorganization, performing arts students are trying to keep a positive mindset.

Distancing the Dance The School of Dance faculty and staff immediately started working to adapt their students to an online setting. Their technique classes are continuing synchronously, and they have created ways for musicians to play live for some of the classes.

At the beginning of September, the School of Dance hosted a live feed of the 2020 Fall Dance Concert: A COVID Experiment, which featured OU School of Dance alumnae from the class of 2020 and visiting artists Lexi Bell, Kassie Keil, Brittany “Bert” Hawthorne and Maya Holcomb as well as work from Cierra Hill and Riley Murray.

Christi Camper Moore, an assistant professor of dance and head of the arts administration, has observed students’ progress not hindered by virtual classes but, instead, ref lected upon through discussion.

“These conversations are focused on staying present, showing up with our whole selves, and being honest about what feels challenging,” Camper Moore said in an email. “Progress is not solely defined along a forward, linear path.

Progress currently might feel circular, or varying rhythms of momentum, or just a commitment to not allowing things to feel stuck. All of this is progress, and all of this is valuable information for continued learning.”

Jordan Jackson, a sophomore studying dance performance and choreography, has felt frustrated with the transition due to the small space to perform at home and the lack of energy she receives from being in a classroom.

She works from her basement and her backyard in Cleveland, where she takes videos of her dancing and edits them together. Though she repeats the process over and over, she never gets used to it.

“I think the dance program has been handling it very well, considering we’re a major that is more in need of an actual

space,” Jackson said. “To have it online has probably been very hard for the faculty, and all of them to figure that out as well as for the students because it’s so different.”

Masking the Music Paige Strasel, a junior studying vocal performance, sees this difference within music performance majors as well. The students have been singing over Zoom and have had to edit and accompany themselves somewhat to get the right sound.

Though she feels it’s not ideal, she is proud of all the vocal faculty and students for their work with adapting. It doesn’t stop her from feeling uncomfortable when she has to practice opera in her Athens apartment.

“We did this a little bit last semester, which was rough,” Strasel said. “I think it’s definitely better this time around. But singing loudly in my apartment, I don’t want my neighbors to complain.”

Andrew Ryker, director of opera and assistant professor of voice, is hoping that with Phase Two of the return plan, more outdoor spaces will become available for rehearsal. The plan right now is to do the fall vocal concert either at Scripps Amphitheater or through an online format, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.

“Online is hard; students have to focus more,” Ryker said in an email. “They have to listen harder and think harder. That’s taxing. Beyond that, it’s extremely difficult and almost impossible to collaborate with other performers virtually. There are programs where you can create your own part and submit it, but that’s not the same as making music together. Something is lost this semester and in my opinion, it’s that.”

Though Ryker is feeling that sense of loss, he feels students are doing their best. Christopher Fisher, director of the School of Music, agrees with Ryker and is impressed with how hard students and faculty are working to find silver linings in the current situation.

“Musicians are by nature creative, resilient and determined, and I am so pleased with the extraordinary ways our faculty and students are demonstrating flexibility and persistence in the face of this difficult season,” Fisher said.

One of Fisher’s students is Harrison, who plays the trombone. Harrison spends all day surrounding himself with music and would do so whether or not classes were in-person. He believes virtual classes aren’t really a setback for students as long as they’re dedicated to their craft.

“Personally, in my work field, it’s not really a setback,” Harrison said. “It’s a setback in the sense that I do not have access to certain facilities that make my career studies easier … but it’s kind of just on you to

put in the work outside of classes and rehearsals so that I am performing at a top ability.”

Lights, Camera … Poor Connection In terms of theater, students and faculty are still hosting rehearsals for shows through a virtual setting.

Natalie Burkett, a junior studying stage management, is taking a seminar class with her adviser and other upperclassmen stage managers as well as working on several shows and having rehearsals through Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

“We’ve had to adapt and start sending out daily rehearsal notices, so those come out the day or night before a rehearsal, which is a little bit more frustrating both on the actor side and the stage manager side because we do have to send it out every single day,” Burkett said. “But it’s just been what we have to do to make sure we get all of the work done that we want to.”

Daniel Denhart, a professor of production design and technology, has been trying to present as many hands-on learning methods as possible during this virtual period. There will not be live performances in front of audiences this semester, Denhart said.

“I am concerned that students will have less

opportunities to gain practical experience that will prepare them for their future goals,” Denhart said in an email. “I am also optimistic that students are being challenged to find new ways of producing work.”

Adriana Holst, a sophomore studying musical theater, has been struggling to adapt due to her lack of workspace. Her parents have been trying to sell their house and didn’t expect her to be home, so she’s been working in hotel rooms, hallways and bathrooms.

More than a lack of workspace, Holst wishes she could be with her peers while performing.

“At least to the performing arts, I just think that we build off of each other a lot,” Holst said. “So I think it is a big challenge to not have each other in the room giving their support and building off of each other’s energy.”

theater is how it’s become so inaccessible to people who can’t afford Broadway tickets.”

This positive outlook exists within Holst, Strasel, Burkett, Jackson, Harrison and a good majority of the students and faculty in the College of Fine Arts. They do, however, all feel the difference this semester when it comes to the tradition and heart of performing arts.

“I would say though in respect to the arts and a virtual class environment that, especially with the oral arts, is that music is much better heard in person and much better felt in person than over the internet,” Harrison said. “I really hope that we can, as a country, overcome this pandemic so that we can get the arts back to normal.”

Performers Persevere Students like Holst believe virtual performing may change the course of the entire performing arts profession. At least in regards to theater, however, she doesn’t think this is a bad move.

“I think that we’re seeing a shift into digital live theater, which I think would be awesome,” Holst said. “I think one of the biggest flaws with the evolution of live

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLIVIA JUENGER

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Tavolino provides free lunches every Tuesday ple can just (take some soup) if you forgot your wallet, need some lunch … Whatever, just come up; grab it.”

But what stands out most about Christine to customers isn’t just her willingness to give, but her willingness to share.

As the coronavirus has spread across the globe and countries have shut down and gone into quarantine, her focus has broadened. Christine recognized higher unemployment rates meant more people were in need, and she decided she needed to come up with a program that wasn’t just targeted at the underprivileged.

“It was just really horrendous,” Christine said, talking about the unemployment rates in Athens as the pandemic hit.

“I mean, this area is already super poor to begin with, and I was just trying to think of what I could do, something to help.

People get anxious about using the free soup sometimes, and I just wanted something for everyone.”

Christine’s Tuesday lunch program was born. For the past couple of months, Christine has been providing free meals to anyone who wants them every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. She sees it more as a “community thing” than a “free meal kind of thing” because her goal is to feed the people of Athens and make their days easier. Christine has provided up to 164 meals in one Tuesday.

“I want everybody to come, not just if you need a free lunch,” Christine said. “It’s nice to get things for free, you know, for everybody … I’ve thought about it, and I definitely committed to the end of September, but then I thought about it more, and a few weeks ago, I just decided that there is no point at which I’m going to feel OK with saying, ‘OK, we don’t need this anymore’ because, realistically, we needed it before the pandemic. This area needs more food availability and security for everybody.”

Most of the ingredients purchased for the lunches had been paid for right out of Christine’s pocket until she started getting donations. These donations, which range from just a few dollars to the $1,000 donation the Athens Catholic Community Food Pantry provided, are now another strong factor that keeps Christine afloat.

Now, because the community has shown its support and put even more into her restaurant, the lunch program seems to have no end in sight.

Raymond Robinson, a retired Bassett House substance counselor, had never visited Tavolino until the coronavirus hit, and he caught word about the lunch programs. He was impressed with the invitation, which he described as “no muss, no fuss, no questions about income, just a simple ‘Y’all come.’’’ Robinson has been visiting Tuesdays ever since in order to pick up Christine’s homemade lunches.

“It is like Cheers: ‘Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always so glad you came,” Robinson recited the lyrics in an email. “That’s how it is. Emily knows me by name, as well as other customers. I know them, they know me and it honestly feels like old time America. Neighborly, friendly. No matter race, creed or sexual orientation, you are just people and you are welcome.”

Tavolino, 9 N. Shafer St., is one of the many restaurant establishments providing free lunches for those in need since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Southeastern Ohio. (NATE SWANSON | PHOTO EDITOR)

@THELILYROBY LR158117@OHIO.EDU

LILY ROBY STAFF WRITER For just over three years, local entrepreneur Emily Christine has been serving traditional Italian food to Athens and the surrounding area through her restaurant, Tavolino. Located on the west side of Athens, 9 N. Shafer St., Tavolino has always prioritized helping the people of Athens, be it through soup programs or free lunches.

Athens local Kathy Bick, who first visited Tavolino back in 2019 for its 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Meal, describes the restaurant as a small community restaurant serving five-star Italian food that is seasoned with both love and a warm personal feel. Bick makes a point to visit Tavolino weekly at minimum in order to support Christine’s business and take part in her altruistic programs.

“Events such as these inevitably nour-

14 / SEPT. 10, 2020

ish all in the community,” Bick said in an email. “Simply said, I look forward to Tuesdays. I enjoy being surprised by what soup it might be that day, or if she has decided to provide a salad during the summer’s hottest weeks.”

Christine’s selflessness can be traced back to her #SoupOnHold program, which has provided free soup to the community ever since Tavolino initially opened in 2017. Those who feel like giving are able to purchase bowls of soup, pre-paying for people who really need it.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Christine made it easy to pre-pay for others’ meals by offering to just add the price of single soups onto the bills of those dining in.

“They can just tack it onto their bill or whatever, and they can write a nice little note and stick it on the board,” Christine said, explaining the simple process of purchasing soups for others. “We have (the board) right at the front where peo-

Incoming freshmen defer, take courses elsewhere KERI JOHNSON ASST. CULTURE EDITOR As college classes continue across the country, many students have found themselves not where they pictured. Classes, residence halls and coursework have all been adjusted to the ongoing pandemic.

But some students have decided to wait it out.

For Olivia Kuehnle, it kind of felt like there were only two options for her freshman Fall Semester: opt into online classes or defer semesters. Kuehnle chose the latter.

Kuehnle was set to study environmental biology this fall. Instead of taking class through Ohio University, she chose to go through her local community college.

“I felt like it would make so much more sense to take my classes, still online, through (my community college) for almost free, (rather than) through OU, who we still weren’t getting info from,” Kuehnle said in a Facebook message.

Kuehnle didn’t find herself alone. One of her roommates deferred, too. It’s been a real roller coaster going through the pandemic as an incoming freshman, she said.

“I was so excited to join clubs and

meet people from everywhere and I just feel like I’ll never get that back,” Kuehnle said in a message. “I think it’s more of the not really knowing what to expect already and then having this thrown in that adds so much more anxiety to it.”

The decision to defer was extremely difficult, Aaron May, an incoming transfer student, said. It took him about three weeks to decide.

“I was going to be a meteorology major,” May said in a Facebook message. “But I am rethinking my major to a GIS and geography major.”

Like Kuehnle, May is taking community college classes in the meantime.

“I made the choice to defer simply because of the price of OU,” May said in a message. “I am now temporarily attending Sinclair Community College so I can continue my education for cheaper.”

Like May, Ainsley Sawyer, an incoming freshman studying biology, deferred to spring 2021 for financial reasons. As an out-of-state student, Sawyer didn’t want to take online classes and pay regular tuition. Her parents tried to prepare her for the reality of deferring, but she also didn’t want to risk what she couldn’t predict.

“I didn’t want to have the slight possibil-

ity to come to school and then not be able to go and have to pack up in a week,” Sawyer said. “We figured we might as well wait.”

Sawyer hopes she’ll be able to come back to campus soon.

“Hopefully when I go, COVID will get cleared up, and I can have a regular college experience,” Sawyer said.

Though it was a difficult decision to make, the deferral process was quite simple, Sawyer said. With the click of a few buttons and a confirmation call, she deferred to spring in a few weeks. Sawyer said she might defer again if the circumstances aren’t different by spring. In the meantime, she has a job.

It’s been disappointing to not attend OU this semester, May said. He, Sawyer and Kuehnle all said they were excited to meet their peers, go to events and join student organizations.

“I was looking forward to attending clubs and sporting events,” May said in a Facebook message. “I have been attending Sinclair since 2019 and they have been doing a fine job helping me. I have fantastic profs (my geography one which graduated from OU) and they have been helpful. It is disappointing to not have any clubs or activities hosted by Sinclair, however.”

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER For both Kuehnle and Sawyer, as unfortunate as it was that they couldn’t come to OU, they realized the risks that come from traveling to Athens.

“With all this being said though I do understand that Athens couldn’t necessarily handle thousands of students having COVID and all the residents getting it too, but it still very much sucks,” Kuehnle said in a Facebook message.

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Swag bags that are handed out with dinners during Jewish community nights in Athens, Ohio.

Connecting the community

Hillel at OU engages students, Athens residents with activities RILEY RUNNELLS CULTURE EDITOR The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on several clubs and businesses between Ohio University and Athens, but OU Hillel isn’t one of them.

Sarah Livingston, executive director of Hillel at OU, worked with the rest of the Hillel team to keep their members active as well as involve new students.

For the Jewish community, Hillel offers the Athens Jewish book club, which meets almost monthly now through Zoom.

“It’s a way that we keep our older community members that really need some connection connected in a simple way,” Livingston said.

In addition, Hillel is offering “Shabbat 16 / SEPT. 10, 2020

To Go,” which is a weekly dinner they used to hold in person with a religious service but now pack up for whoever wants one.

These dinners celebrate the Jewish Sabbath, or the day of rest. For older members who are at a higher risk, there are student volunteers who deliver the dinners, so they don’t have to miss out.

“I felt like it was the bare minimum,” Livingston said. “I always worry I’m not doing enough.”

Hillel interns Hannah Movshin and Jason Tischler believe Livingston is not just doing enough, but is going above and beyond for the organization. Both Movshin and Tischler are doing their best to help out by hosting events, finding out data and information about students and contacting people about getting involved and

staying involved as much as possible.

Hillel is also hosting events every week to keep students engaged. They have a craft night coming up through Zoom, a virtual JackBox game night and more fun activities. They even held a freshman mixer to get new students involved with the organization.

They’re even offering swag bags to students, alumni, faculty and staff that include a Hillel T-shirt, a #OUOyVey face mask, custom OU Hillel stickers and a Hillel hand sanitizer.

Other than group events, gifts and dinners, Livingston said the staff has been trying to set up Zoom coffee dates or get-togethers with members as a more personal way to connect with them during this time.

“Just to generally make sure that they know that we’re there for them,” Livingston said. “That’s been the biggest focus of all is just making sure our students know that they’re our priority, and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure that they know that we’re here to create a really amazing experience in Athens for their Jewish college experience.”

Tischler, a junior studying physics, knows some students are lucky enough to be living in Athens right now, be it an apartment or a house. However, most students, especially freshmen, haven’t had any college experience yet other than virtual courses.

“It’s just like a prolonged first two, three days of being on campus where you don’t know the organizations you’re interested in or what friend groups you might adapt to. You’re just kind of going through courses online and alone,” Tischler said. “So I think it’s important to show that there is still campus life, even in times like this.”

Movshin, a junior studying occupational therapy, knows that for a lot of students, Hillel acts as a safe space. She feels especially when people are stuck at home, they need to have some sort of outlet where they feel comfortable, and she works hard to make sure Hillel does that.

“We have students who can’t come out to their parents or don’t feel welcomed anywhere else, so Hillel is that place for them,” Movshin said. “Or they feel more attached to their religion than their family does, so they don’t go to Shabbat services and right now. Most temples and synagogues are closed. So we hold our services ... online, either Facebook or Zoom, and it’s all safe, and whenever those students have an issue, they have people that they can talk to. It’s just a safe space where nobody’s judged.”

Movshin and Livingston also emphasized the idea that not everyone has to be Jewish to be a part of Hillel. The organization is open to anyone who wants to participate, and Livingston personally invites as many people as she can to get involved.

“It’s really easy to get lost and to feel disconnected,” Livingston said. “This environment can really breed a lot of negative emotions: you get fatigued, you’re lonely, you’re sad or angry because what you thought your school year would look like isn’t looking like it should. The reason why we pushed so hard to maintain a sense of community and to build on the sense of engagement is because that’s, I think, what people need right now: to feel some sense of belonging, in this very crazy and chaotic space that COVID-19 has created.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

JUST LISTEN TO JL

Embrace the moment.

Don’t be imprisoned by it.

J.L. KIRVEN

is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University

Last weekend was a roller coaster for three of the NBA’s top stars.

LeBron James’ Friday was whack after his scoreless fourth quarter lowlighted the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Rockets.

His 28/11/9 statline Sunday, however, helped cap his weekend off with a win and some positivity.

Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers’ superstar forward, planned on continuing his playoff dominance in game two against the Nuggets on Saturday. Instead, his 13 points on 4/17 shooting was his worst performance of the postseason.

And hopes seemed lost for the Milwaukee Bucks after the reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, injured his ankle in game four against the Heat on Sunday. But I can imagine Antetokounmpo was shocked to see the Bucks come back in the locker room with the overtime win.

Needless to say, this weekend was not the best for basketball’s best. These things happen. We all have our “on” days and our “off” days.

But don’t tell that to Twitter.

In the age of sports talk shows and social media, the shackles fans wear in the present have become tighter. It doesn’t matter what a player did earlier in the season or even the week: their performance in the now not only reflects their place among their peers, but it also represents their place among the other legends of the game.

And despite what you think athletes should endure for their massive pay-

checks, that’s not fair.

When Lamar Jackson broke every ankle in the NFL in 2019, many considered him the new face of the league.

Yet when Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Titans, the narrative switched to Jackson being a one-trick pony who couldn’t win when it counted.

Nobody took into account that Jackson was in his second year.

As sports fans, we need to remember that not every shot will fall, not every pass will be completed and not every game can be won. Athletes aren’t perfect. And you certainly aren’t, either.

Remember that time you screwed up at work?

Or when you called in sick that one time?

Or that time you forgot an assignment?

I’m sure you don’t remember the Twitter-verse calling you a “bum” or a “fraud” or “soft” for it. Because nobody wants to tear you down for your mistakes. I’m sure you’re a good worker, and I would have rather you called off that one day instead of risking your co-workers’ health.

But when James or Leonard or Antetokounmpo mess up or take a rest?

Ohhhh, no.

That’s when we bring out the names and the comparisons and the trolling.

And to be honest, it’s kind of sad, immature and insecure.

Throughout Kobe Bryant’s legendary career, sports fans constantly held his

accomplishments up against legends (Michael Jordan), peers (James) and even teammates (Shaquille O’Neal). It wasn’t until Bryant died that people realized that they were wrong to take the great moments for granted.

We all have moments of mediocrity. Our present self isn’t always our best self. The times we truly do achieve greatness are rare and fleeting. Why harp on the failures?

I’m not an athlete apologist, but I do like to use sports to prove a point.

We fail every single day. It could be something small or something huge.

The only difference is our failures aren’t broadcast around the world. Our accomplishments are. We’re able to control that because we mainly post the good on our social media timelines.

Athletes don’t have that same luxury.

We see the good and the bad. We don’t see the effort behind the scenes, though.

We only see the present moment.

And, unfortunately, we’ve become prisoners to it.

J.L. Kirven is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. He also serves as co-sports editor of The Post.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let J.L. know by emailing him at jk810916@ ohio.edu.

@JL_KIRVEN JK810916@OHIO.EDU

The Lakers’ LeBron James ended his weekend with a 28/11/9 stat line Sunday, despite his scoreless fourth quarter against the Rockets on Friday. Photo provided via Twitter by @CBSSportsHQ.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

FOOTBALL few practices he was granted early in the season.

“Starting out, I felt like I was monitoring our safety protocols more than I was coaching football,” White said. “It’s a tough thing to deal with because I want our kids to be as good as they can be. However, we aren’t going to be able to keep doing this unless the protocols are followed.”

The “new normal,” as White calls it, has finally set in for his team. He doesn’t have to remind players to spread out or tell his staff to keep their masks up. The process of prevention is just a minor inconvenience for most practices.

There have been setbacks, though.

The worst side effect of the regulations affects what happens immediately after practice: the Bulldogs can’t watch game film together this season. The health risk is too high to have the entire team contained in one space.

Instead, the staff decided to get creative. To supplement the team reviews, White uploads his film to Hudl and divides it among his position coaches. The coaches then mark the most essential plays for the players to study on their own.

“We’ve had to take a little bit more time as coaches to pick out certain players and make playlists,” White said. “Honestly, that’s something to come out of this that we’re probably going to utilize more even if we do get back to normal.”

White and his staff are now considering implementing the current Hudl sysAlexander’s Michael Lash II attempts to run the ball past Athens’ Braxton Springer during the game at Alexander High School on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Athens beat Alexander 20-13. (ANTHONY WARNER | FOR THE POST) tem into future seasons. The staff has received positive feedback from the players who’d rather study themselves than sit through lengthy film sessions.

The coaches believe it gives the players more responsibility to the team to study themselves and what can be fixed. Less film to watch means the player can dial in on the clips that focus on themselves. If they don’t study the tape and learn, that falls on the player.

“They have said it’s better than what they’re used to,” one’s said that all the protocols are the same thing. It’s White said. “They don’t have to sit down for two hours on JACK GLECKLER just starting to feel kind of like normal.” a Saturday watching every play we tag. We can find 10 or SPORTS EDITOR Athens has begun a return to a regular practice sched12 really good or not so good plays for each position and Nathan White is finally getting his team back to a state ule. The Bulldogs can now be on the field for practice four share them with the guys.” of normalcy. He’s been waiting for it for months. days a week — the same routine they had last year.

Even in a pandemic, the Bulldogs can find a system The head coach had to bide his time for word from the It’s not all the same, however. The team is only allowed that better suits themselves. The new systems are nothstate of Ohio on whether or not Athens was going to take outside for practice, and all unnecessary interaction ing like what they’re used to, but experimentation is a nethe field this fall. July passed with little word, and summer must be mitigated. That includes limits on the number of cessity during a pandemic. conditioning had to be skipped. By the time White and his people in the locker room or other areas inside.

The Bulldogs wanted a normal season, but they’ll do staff were given the green light in August, the Bulldogs “We can’t be in the locker room together,” White said. what’s necessary if it means they can take the field. had to jump directly into practice for their first game of “No locker room, no weight room. Because it’s indoors, “If we could, we’d all go back to a ‘true’ normal in a the season. it’d be tougher to do social distancing. We have limits on second,” White said. “When it comes down to it, we’ll Despite the questions raised at the potential risks how many people can be indoors.” do anything we can, any way we have to if it let’s us of high school football, no significant problems have Even on the field, the Bulldogs have to take precauplay on Fridays.” emerged yet. The uneasiness surrounding the early days tions. Players have to stay 6 feet apart when not involved of the season has simmered down. Schools in the TVCin drills. All staff members must wear a mask. Team Ohio have kept a tight leash on their health protocols to workouts have been relegated to players working out on @THEJACKGLECKLER keep the season alive. their own.

JG011517@OHIO.EDU “I’ve talked to a lot of friends in the coaching profesWhite was often frustrated by having to balance sion and everyone that we’ve played,” White said. “Everythe health of his players and the productivity of what

High School Football: Athens has found a sense of normalcy

18 / SEPT. 10, 2020

UNCLE SAM

OU Phase 2 plans are willfully ignorant

SAM SMITH

is a senior studying geography at Ohio University

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, President Nellis informed the Ohio University community that over 7,200 students would be invited back to the Athens campus during Phase 2 of the university’s return to on-campus learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The 7,200 students invited back represent 31% of the undergraduate student body and 100% of OU graduate enrollment. The decision comes frightfully soon after Athens County shifted from a Level 1 “yellow” county to a Level 2 “orange” county just last week as cases have climbed since Phase 1 of the return began in August.

A phased return plan initially showed promise as a safe way to re-ignite campus

operations yet, in many ways, the decision to proceed with such a significant return to Athens seems imprudent — or what I call “willfully ignorant.” Indeed, OU seems to be living under a rock as the situation grows more dire not only in Athens, but also nationally. The first piece of evidence for this willful ignorance is, of course, the fact that Athens County regained Level 2 status last week – “regained” because the county spent time in Level 3 previously during the summer.

After gaining control of the situation to return to Level 1, it is curious the re-augmentation to Level 2 has directly coincided with the return of students during Phase 1.

These two occurrences are not hard to link, but OU’s administration has apparently failed to connect the dots — or they have and are simply ignoring it, which would be willful ignorance on the part of the higher-ups.

Secondly, by promising to notify students regarding the status of Phase 2 on Sept. 8 – the very day after Labor Day – OU’s decision to bring 7,200 students back inherently does not account for the trend in cases after Labor Day Weekend, traditionally one of the most active party weekends throughout the year.

Even this year, for those in Athens, it was fairly clear that social gatherings without following social guidelines were rampant during the holiday weekend — the perfect recipe for increased spread. However, because COVID-19 symptoms can take anywhere from two to 14 days to appear after exposure, making

a decision on Phase 2 merely one day after the weekend willfully ignores any trends that might emerge from it.

So, let’s recap: OU is bringing back 7,200 students despite worsening circumstances in Athens County, and without considering any new trends after a notoriously festive weekend. The third reason that suggests OU is willfully making the wrong decision is that experiences of other universities across the nation have already shown us how this ends.

It is not as if we have no prior knowledge upon which to rely here: Chico University, Gettysburg College, James Madison University, Notre Dame University, SUNY Oneonta, Temple University, University of North Carolina, West Virginia University … all institutions where substantial on-campus operations were initiated this fall and had to be canceled due to resulting major outbreaks.

By refusing to learn from these establishments — some of which have student bodies smaller than the 7,200 students OU is bringing back — once again, OU is demonstrating willful ignorance.

All of this would not be quite so bad, of course, if OU would take a more serious stance on enforcing the OHIO Pledge, which it is asking all students to sign. Such institutions as Denison University, Northeastern University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, University of Illinois and many others are taking direct measures to sus-

pend or otherwise punish students and organizations that do not follow public health guidelines. However, despite direct support from OU students, parents, staff and Athens residents, OU has taken no such direct action against offenders.

The reasons for OU’s willful ignorance on keeping people safe are only speculatory, ranging from wanting to prevent students from unenrolling or taking gap years to trying to milk every possible drop of tuition fees. In the end, my purposes here aren’t to speculate, but we absolutely need to demand an answer from President Nellis and the OU administration as to why OU is blatantly ignoring trends both in Athens and at other higher education establishments, all while not actively enforcing the pledge we’ve all been asked to sign. Call it what you want — an honest mistake, willful ignorance, an act of contempt, blatant greed — but inviting 7,200 students to an impoverished Appalachian county that is not prepared to handle a major outbreak is, according to the facts, not a great decision.

Sam Smith is a senior studying geography at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Sam know by tweeting him @sambobsmith_.

EXISTENTIAL BINGE-WATCHING

‘The Boys’ are back in town, better than ever

JACKSON HORVAT

is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University Superheroes are seemingly everywhere these days. They’re in TV shows, movies, video games, you name it. Whether it be originals or adaptations, the various forms of entertainment all have their own unique approaches to the genre. Some go realistic, and some aim for extreme comic book accuracy, while others take the more satirical or comedic angle.

Now, take any strange concoction of all these elements, mash them together and ramp them up as much as you can possibly fathom, and you’ll get the masterfully chaotic show The Boys.

Season two of the show just dropped last week, and it brings with it everything season one had to offer but with the added intensity of being more comfortable in its own skin. Second seasons always seem to make or break TV shows, and though we’re only three episodes in so far, season two has already established that, not only are The Boys back, but they’re here to stay for as long as they care to.

The Boys might just be one of the most accurate depictions of a superhero story ever to be released, not in terms of staying true to its comic book source, but genuinely showing what the presence of superheroes would look like in the modern world. This is to say they’d be gobbled up, subdued and controlled by corporate organizations, greed and politics. It’s an angle that’s never really been seen and one that feels — sadly — the most true to

what’d actually happen if superpowered people started popping up tomorrow.

Not to mention, the inherent messiness the show covers that’s often ignored by most other superhero movies or shows. Powers aren’t always just going to knock a bad guy out, and superheroes aren’t all innately good or evil. The Boys covers it all, from the horrifying to the truly good at heart and every shade of gray area in between.

Which, yes, means there is a lot of violence. However, it’s warranted and established clearly from the word “go” in season one, so no real surprises for those who know what they’re getting into. It could be seen as excessive at times, but really, what else would you expect from a world with a sociopathic Superman wannabe or a speedster who’s hopped up on super drugs and can’t steer himself very well as he zips around the city?

The series takes scenarios you might have often theorized about in your head and brings them to life on the screen, whether it be awful or absurd. Even with added layers of comedy and not taking itself too seriously, The Boys is a show that has everything:

adapted and improved elements from its comic source, gore and comedy in a constant tug-of-war for your attention, realistically layered heroes and villains and a top notch, edge-of-your-seat plot that will even have you holding back a few tears at times.

It’s everything you could ask for from a superhero show trying to stand out as unique in a market that’s getting more and more oversaturated. Plus, it’s got hilarious episode synopses to boot — no, really, read them.

The Boys alone makes an Amazon Prime subscription worth it, so be sure to check out season one if you haven’t and the start of season two. New episodes come out every Friday now, but don’t get too frustrated.

It’s just some beautifully hectic escapism to look forward to and get you through the long weeks ahead.

Jackson Horvat is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Jackson by tweeting him at @horvatjackson.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

FILM REVIEW

ALBUM REVIEW

‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ is a confusingly creepy examination of the human psyche

Big Sean’s inconsistency plagues ‘Detroit 2’ JOEY PERKINS FOR THE POST

Netflix released ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ on Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo provided via@imthinkingofendingthingnetflix)

BRANDON BOWERS FOR THE POST Adapted from the book I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid, the 134-minute film is directed by Charlie Kaufman and ditches the blockbuster-spectacle for a story that delves into the deepest corners of the minds of both the characters and the audience itself.

What was once separated is now meshed together, as the audience struggles to understand whether the characters or they themselves are being examined and questioned. Starring Jessie Buckley (Lucy/ Amy) and Jesse Plemons (Jake), the film highlights the relationship of the couple through a metaphysical journey toward meeting Jake’s parents, who are portrayed

by Toni Collette and David Thewlis.

However, upon arrival at the parent’s house, suspicious and unexplained events take place, leading the audience to question every bit of reality. What is real, who is the narrator and what is time are some of the questions that begin to surface during this high-stakes, dramatic thriller.

The achievement in this film is not within the cinematography (though it is absolutely beautiful) or the score, which is breathtaking and suspenseful, but it is within the writing and editing of this story. Many scenes that transferred the feeling of awkward tensions were some of the best scenes, for as they were analyzing the characters at that moment, they were also studying the viewer and the reactions the watcher experienced. The writing and editing execute an eerie feel to the film where it is hard to watch, yet you cannot look away.

The thriller aspect of it excites and terrifies the audience. This writing led to many instances where, since it is a Netflix original film, I had to pause and contemplate

what was going on with the characters and how it made me feel about the life I was trapped in. This is one of only a few films where I felt myself paralyzed in the thought that the narrator was inside my head and highlighting aspects that I do and don’t like about myself.

The other big standout in this film was the incredible cast, with every actor acting at an unbelievable level. Each character demanded the screen with their performance, and each actor deserves heavy consideration come award season. However, while given only supporting roles, Toni Collete and David Thewlis were the clear standouts as their characters experienced many facades across a short period of screen time.

Both actors dazzled the screen with their brilliantly psychotic performances, electrifying the viewer into complete hypnotics.

This film isn’t perfect, mainly due to a slow pace and an abundance of confusion.

Where Tenet worked for me with the time concepts, this film leaves everything up to the audience and, while beautiful, it also annoyed me because I wasn’t too sure of what was what, who was who, was this person real or fictional and is this some supernatural event, or is it all an illusion? I felt a little betrayed at the end because the story left more questions than answers, and the answers that were provided were optional.

Overall, this is a win for Netflix and an experience that is essential in better understanding yourself. Through incredible acting and an utmost magnificent story, this film gave me some emotion that most films don’t provide. This film can be summed up as simply as Jake awkwardly says in an immensely long car ride, “The world’s larger than the inside of your own head.”

@UNABASHEDLYBMB BB175716@OHIO.EDU 20 / SEPT. 10, 2020

Rapper Big Sean, the Detroit native, has released his newest album, Detroit 2.

This project serves as a sequel to Sean’s well-received project, Detroit, which was released in 2012.

Fans have waited more than three years since his last solo project, I Decided. There was a lot of buzz surrounding the release of Detroit 2, as fans have been eager to see what Sean has been working on over the past few years.

This project, like all of his others, is no masterpiece. Sean’s albums have consistently been pretty good, as every project he releases comes with its fair share of highs and lows. There was hope this album would be more consistent than the others, as he took so much time with it.

The belief that more time between his albums would make for a better project is dead wrong. Detroit 2 is Sean’s most inconsistent album yet. There are too many lackluster tracks with underwhelming features and a good number of forgettable bars from Sean.

Too many songs sound like B-sides from Sean and Metro Boomin’s collaboration album, Double Or Nothing. “Wolves,” “ZTFO” and “Lithuania (feat. Travis Scott),” among others, are hollow tracks that ultimately serve no purpose to the theme of the project.

Others, like “Lucky Me” and “The Baddest,” have fast flows by Sean that don’t seem to land, either. On this excessive 21-track album, the majority of the songs seem like he’s trying too hard to sound like someone he’s not. On some, he tries to rap fast, which doesn’t bode well for him and his sound. On others, he tries to create upbeat, braggadocious tracks which fail to land, too.

“Body Language (feat. Ty Dolla $ign, and Jhené Aiko)” and “Time In” are both horribly executed love songs. “Time In” features Big Sean’s falsetto, which is dreadful to say the least.

There are other songs, however, that keep this album somewhat afloat. Unsurprisingly, all of the tracks that succeeded on this album were ones where Big Sean sounds like Big Sean. Wisdom-driven, nonchalant yet deep lyrics over smooth, jazzy or even church-like instrumentals have always been his forte.

Songs like “Everything That’s Missing (feat. Dwele)” and “Guard Your Heart (feat.

Anderson .Paak, Earlly Mac, and Wale)” are prime examples of what Sean can do when

Big Sean released his fifth album, ‘Detroit 2,‘ on Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo provided via @ bigsean on Instagram)

he’s in his element.

“Full Circle (feat. Key Wane, and Diddy)” is another track where Sean shines.

The simple, beautiful, distorted-sounding instrumental pairs perfectly with their calm and soothing flows.

“Deep Reverence (feat. Nipsey Hussle),” which was the lead single, gave the album false hope. The late Nipsey Hussle started the track off with perfection with a very demanding, confident flow.

Sean follows suit while getting personal by talking about his recent mental health issues. The depth that Sean goes into on this track was something that would’ve been great to hear over the whole album, but he clearly had different plans.

Big Sean is best when he sticks to his sound. While there’s no shame in Sean branching out, he simply couldn’t deliver when he tried.

Detroit 2 is mostly full of underwhelming, lackluster tracks that seem to not have any connection with one another, which is typically one thing that Sean can provide within an album. While there are a few solid tracks on the album, they can’t outweigh the damage he did with the others. With no common theme, no consistency and no exceptional tracks, Detroit 2 fails to live up to any of the expectations it had.

Rating: 2/5

@JOEYPERKINS_ JP391418@OHIO.EDU

5 free resources for OU students for Suicide Awareness Month LEXI LEPOF FOR THE POST September is Suicide Awareness Month. Suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students. Within these uncertain times caused by the pandemic and the stress of starting a new semester, it is important for students to be aware of the current state of one’s mental health. Suicide Awareness Month also serves as a great reminder to check up on friends and colleagues often, to make sure they are doing OK. Ohio University provides multiple resources to aid in improving mental health. Here are five resources OU students can access and use for free: OHIO COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS, offers mental health services, including individual counseling, group counseling and psychiatry. Although students would traditionally meet with a counselor in person, CPS is offering counseling through telehealth, which allows students to use CPS remotely. With telehealth, students can meet with counselors via face-to-face video chat or over the phone. Anyone currently enrolled as an OU student, including those who have never used CPS before, can access CPS and telehealth services for free.

SURVIVOR ADVOCACY PROGRAM Ohio University’s Survivor Advocacy Program, or SAP, provides confidential support for survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence and stalking. SAP allows survivors to meet and speak with an advocate. SAP is currently working remotely. Survivors can meet with an advocate through a phone call or video chat. SAP is also hosting workshops for survivors virtually.

GROUP FITNESS Exercise is a great way for students to improve their mental health and well being. Ping Recreation Center is still offering group fitness classes this semester. Whether students are at home or on campus, they can take a number of classes offered, ranging from yoga to high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, and more. Classes are being offered through

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA JUENGER YouTube live streams and limited in-person outdoors. Group fitness classes are open to all OU students.

BOBCATS WHO CARE Bobcats Who Care is a great resource for students, faculty and staff looking to learn more about suicide. It includes information concerning basic statistics, definitions, warning signs, risk factors and appropriate referral resources. This training program teaches attendees how to recognize and support someone who

is feeling depressed through individual knowledge, self-awareness and communication skills. Those interested in receiving training can request a training session on its website.

WELLTRACK WellTrack is an app that students can use to monitor their own mental health.

The app allows students to confidentially log their moods, improve depressive thoughts and behaviors and learn more about managing anxiety and stress. OU

students have full access to WellTrack when they register with their official OU email address.

For any help, you can always reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or, in Ohio, text “4HOPE”. If you do not like phone calls, consider using the Lifeline Crisis Chat at www.crisischat.org.

@LEXILEPOF LL653118@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

the weekender Artkinglot pop-up sale comes to west side with jewelry, plants KERI JOHNSON ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

For those in need of some fresh, locally made art, look no further than Athens’ very own Tavolino — or, rather, its parking lot.

This Sunday, Sept. 13, seven local vendors will showcase their goods at the West Side Tavolino Artkinglot PopUp Event. The pop-up is one of many to come, Cricket Jones, local artist and pop-up organizer, said.

The events come from a want by both Jones and Tavolino owner Emily Christine to engage with Athens.

“This is a brainstorm between Emily and me,” Jones said. “Emily‘s desire and my desires to get closer with the community and do some events that will bring the community together along with the restaurant. We’re always thinking in those terms.”

Jones, who makes jewelry full-time, sells locally, like at the Athens Farmers Market or “Cricket’s Corner” in Court Street Coffee. Jones often makes jewelry from silverware and antique materials. Jones said she started making jewelry after claiming she could make better rings than a set she had bought.

“That night, I saw a spoon that was bent pretty severely bent ... and the way it was resting — it looked like almost a ring,” Jones said. “I thought I could just cut them up and do this.”

Jones said her colleagues were blown away with the result. “They all came out and said, ‘Wow, that is great, and people will buy that.’ They were shaking me, and they said, ‘If this is the first ring you’ve ever made, this might be your calling.’”

Jones had no prior jewelry training; she is self-taught — but had a little help from friends over the years. Jones has been working in the jewelry scene for almost 10 years now and has mastered 22 / SEPT. 10, 2020

the game.

Jones invited fellow jewelry maker DaintyPrairie to sell at this weekend’s pop-up. DaintyPrairie, made up of jewelry makers Courtney Martin and Rachel Broughton, will also be in the Tavolino parking lot Sunday.

Martin does a lot of needle felt jewelry, she said. It’s a type of jewelry involving wool and a special type of needle, but she also does much more.

“I started making wire earrings and wire wrapping,” Martin said. “My latest thing is doing resin. Resin is something I’ve wanted to master for so long.”

Martin said, at first, working with resin was hard: it smelled bad and was messy. But like Jones, after years of practice and experimenting, she knows how to work with the art. A lot of her resin art features glitter, she said.

“I’m obsessed with glitter, sparkly things — and I really like cutesy adorable shapes and hearts and flowers,” Martin said. “The moulds I choose have a bit of nostalgia — stuff we would’ve worn when we were kids and now we are adults and have style.”

But the pop-up sale isn’t all jewelry; Seeds & Things, a local plant seller, will be there, too.

Seeds & Things gathers local seeds and plants for its shop. Plants and sustainability are a passion of Seeds & Things owner Benjamin Shonk. Shonk knew he wanted to start his own business when he didn’t see other businesses practice sustainability.

Seeds & Things started as a mass collection of local houseplants that Shonk and his partner, Nicolette Anderson, had collected.

“It’s been like gathering houseplants and splitting them and selling them back to the community,” Shonk said.

Locals gather for Artkinglot pop-up sale in the Tavolino’s parking lot in Athens, Ohio, on Aug, 30, 2020.

Seeds & Things mostly sells houseplants, like peace lilies and pothos, but also sells some landscaping and outdoor varieties. The sale this Sunday will feature some more exotic species, like typhonium giganteum, aka “Voodoo Lily.” But household staples, such as jade and Chinese evergreens, will be for sale, too.

The event also features vendors Abby Miller, Emi Olin, the Henna Faerie and Brandon Ault. The sale starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

IF YOU GO WHAT: Artkinglot Pop-up Sale WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Tavolino, 9 N. Shafer St. ADMISSION: Free

WHAT’S GOING ON?

to the safety guidelines implemented. Admission: Cost of supplies

Take a yoga class, participate in Shabbat ERIN GARDNER FOR THE POST

FRIDAY SEPT. 11 Friday Night LIVE OHIO at 8 p.m., hosted by OHIO Involvement. Head over to Twitch for some Friday night entertainment. There will be prizes and giveaways. Admission: Free Shabbat To-Go at 4 p.m., hosted by Hillel at Ohio University.

Although Hillel cannot host Shabbat in person, they still want to make your Shabbat dinner experience enjoyable.

Sign up each week to receive a delicious kosher Shabbat meal with everything you need to bring in Shabbat to your residence with roommates or loved ones. Don’t forget to join them on Zoom every Friday at 6 p.m. EST for services.

Admission: Free Beginning Oil Painting at 1 p.m. at The Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Lane. Come to the first class series since reopening and join beginners and more experienced painters build a solid understanding of painting fundamentals. Please pay attention

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 DMTK at Athens Farmers Market at 9 a.m. at Athens Farmers Market, 1002 E. State St., hosted

by Dr. May’s Thai Kitchen. Mask up, and enjoy authentic Thai food while you’re shopping. Order online for contactless payment while skipping the line.

Admission: Cost of food Online/Zoom or Outdoor Power Flow with Liz at 10 a.m. at Bodhi Tree Guesthouse, 8950 Lavelle Road. Strengthen your body and mind with this vigorous class that focuses on breath.

Admission: Price of baked goods

SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 An Exploration of Fascia at 5 p.m., hosted by Spiral Path Therapies. Join trained professionals for a virtual exploration of fascia through yoga, meditation and writing. The event starts with an introduction and a guided meditation prompt, followed by a 60-minute yin yoga practice, then a 30-minute guided meditation centered around the principles of craniosacral therapy and trauma resolution with a focus on fascia. Admission: $1040, pay what you can

@ERINGARDNER_ EG245916@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

PRACTICE S A FE SI X STAY INFO R ME D WA SH YO U R H A NDS AVO ID CLO SE CO NTA CT WE A R A MASK CLEAN A ND DISINF E CT MO NITO R YO U R H EALT H

BE S A F E BO BCA TS .