US Headlines
Gas prices surge, Gulf allies vie for continued conflict
30 Mon _________________
Chaos, arrests at No Kings protests
Thousands of “No Kings” protests took place across the U.S. and in Europe on March 28, according to the Associated Press.
At a No Kings protest in Los Angeles, authorities deployed tear gas near a federal detention center. Los Angeles police said 74 people were arrested for failure to disperse following an order given after the rally ended. Some protestors threw rocks, bottles and broken concrete blocks at officers, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
war between the U.S. and Iran is drawing major geopolitical concerns.
Disruptions and closures in Iran’s Strait of Hormuz, a passage that transports about 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade, are causing price jumps for gas across the world, according to the International Energy Agency.
A vast majority of the protests remained peaceful, with over 3,100 events registered in all 50 states. In Denver, at least eight people were also arrested for throwing objects, the AP reported.
31 Tue __________________
Gas prices surge nationwide, highest since 2022
Gas prices in the U.S. surpassed an average of $4 a gallon, the highest since 2022. The prices continue to soar as the war with Iran continues, the AP reported. The national average of $4.02 is over a dollar more than pre-war rates.
U.S. drivers have not paid this much at the pump in four years, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. The Iran-U.S. conflict has caused heavy supply chain disruptions for main oil producers in the Middle East. Crude oil costs also rose since the conflict began, according to the AP.
The war also caused higher utility bill prices, caused by rising fuel costs. The recent conflict and rising prices have caused backlash from Americans, with 45% of adults being “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas.
Gulf allies privately vie for continued U.S. attacks on Iran
U.S. allies in the Gulf, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are pushing President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran. They argue Tehran is not yet weakened enough by the month-long strikes, according to the AP.
Officials in allied countries are privately stating military operations should not cease until Iranian leadership or behavior is significantly changed. The push from allies is met as Trump wavers between continuing to wage war or settling the conflict.
Support for the war in the U.S. is becoming increasingly rare as the global economy continues to suffer and 3,000 are dead across the Mideast. Gulf countries have hosted U.S. forces, becoming sites for offensive strikes, but have not joined in the war directly, the AP reported.
continued pg 3
According to the American Automobile Association, the national average for gas on April 2 was $4.08, marking the first time in four years the national average exceeded $4 a gallon. The average cost of gas in Ohio is $3.750, as of Sunday, according to AAA.
Hyacinth Bean Florist has been serving the community for all their floral needs for over 20 years, and now, under new ownership, the shop will continue to provide for the Athens community.
Many people love surprising their loved ones with flowers or brightening someone’s day with a bouquet of roses. There are several places to fetch flowers in Athens for whatever occasion, and Hyacinth Bean Florist, now under new ownership, is where many go for their floral needs.
Hyacinth Bean Florist, located at 540 W. Union St., had its grand re-opening celebration March 31, at which new owners Whitney and Brett Walls cut a ribbon in front of the store, beginning a new chapter.
Polly Creech, the original owner of the floral shop, opened it 21 years ago after growing tired of the “bureaucracy” of working in health care. Before opening Hyacinth Bean Florist, she began by growing her own flowers and selling them at the Athens Farmers Market, other sellers in town and wholesalers in Columbus.
During this time, Creech was being asked to provide flowers for weddings, and she ended up doing 21 weddings in three years before deciding to open up her own shop.
“So I had to make a decision,” Creech said. “Am I going to keep growing flowers, or am I going to open the flower shop and really be accessible to people? So I decided to open the flower shop.”
Creech said she wanted the
opportunity to work parttime and did not want to deal with the paperwork and “government reports” required to run her business. Now, she is looking forward to making new art, as she enjoys walking throughout the woods and collecting driftwood, turtle shells and other elements to create natural centerpieces.
“I want to spend more time walking in the woods,” Creech said. “I want to volunteer for Friends of the Shelter Dogs.
And I want to work with Passionworks. I just didn’t have the time to do all those things unless I sold it.”
The ribbon cutting attracted many individuals and locals, chattering about the products on the shelves and enjoying the cookies provided for them.
Bonnie Genney, Brett Walls’s grandmother, was present at the ceremony and loved the presentation of the store.
“I love it, it’s just beautiful,”
OU to sunset 32 undergraduate programs
LAYNEE ESLICH FOR
THE POST
Ohio University will eliminate or combine 32 programs by Aug. 15 in response to the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, also known as Senate Bill 1.
The law requires public universities to evaluate academic programs and eliminate those that graduate fewer than five students annually on average over a three-year period. The mandate falls under Ohio Revised Code section 3345.454, “Retrenchment and Program Elimination.”
The university’s Board of Trustees must approve the cuts and may request waivers for certain programs before July 15. If approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the waived program might continue temporarily while working to meet enrollment standards.
“The state provided specific guidance for programs that could be submitted for a waiver, including alignment with particular workforce needs in the state or pending curricular changes,” Dan Pittman, OU senior director of communication, wrote in an email. continued pg 4
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER
Genney said. “There’s a lot of community interest in here. They just did a really good job here, it really looks so pretty.”
The inside of Hyacinth Bean Florist on West Union Street, April 6, 2026, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF
Ohio beats Ball State in big road series / pg. 7 Rhythm & Food finds harmony in the kitchen / pg. 12
Student vote on OU disclosure of Israel bonds passes
KAITLIN HOGG | NEWS STAFF WRITER
The Ohio University Student Senate introduced Senate Bill 2526-11 on March 18. The bill was approved unanimously within the Senate, and added to the Student Senate election ballot March 31, where it passed with 86% of the vote.
The bill calls for OU to publish all of its investments online and to end all investments in Israel bonds through the Ohio University Foundation.
Dan Pittman, senior director of communications, said the university was aware of the referendum and the vote, but noted legal limitations. Pittman said Ohio law prohibits divestment from Israel-related investments.
“While Ohio University values input from Student Senate and the student body it serves, it is important to note that the University will neither consider, nor act upon, any resolution or referendum that proposes illegal actions or could expose the University to civil liability,” Pittman wrote in an email.
In response to the referendum’s call for greater transparency, Pittman added that OU’s financial information is already publicly available.
“Audited financial statements for the Ohio University Foundation are published annually and are publicly available in accordance with state law,” Pittman wrote. “These documents, which include consolidated, nonconfidential financial information for each fiscal year and an independent auditor’s report, can be viewed online.”
Student Senate President Dan Gordillo said he anticipated the results of the vote, but he has learned in the job not to blindly believe that any legislation will automatically pass.
“You can never be certain, but this doesn’t necessarily surprise me,” Gordillo said.
Donald Theisen, the governmental affairs commissioner, said the passage of the bill does not mean that the university will stop its investments in Israel fully. Rather, it means when the time comes to renew the investments, OU will not participate in the renewal.
Section 9.76 of the Ohio Revised Code states, “A state agency may not enter into or renew a contract with a
company for the acquisition or provision of supplies, equipment, or services, or for construction services, unless the contract declares that the company is not boycotting any jurisdiction with whom this state can enjoy open trade, including Israel, and will not do so during the contract period.”
“There’s kind of a loophole here with not renewing them, and I know there’s another bill (House Bill 489) going through the House right now that would alter that initial bill to make it legal to pull investments again,” Lily Bishilany, minority affairs commissioner, said.
The primary sponsor of the bill was Commissioner Bishilany. Secondary sponsors included Governmental Affairs Commissioner Donald Theisen; Henry Turner, Eden Truax and Roger Gauthier from Students for Justice in Palestine; Liam Syrvalin, the former President of Young Democratic Socialists of America; and Alma Weisberg, member-leader of Jewish Voice for Peace in Southeast Ohio.
“A really big thank you to everyone who voted … whether you voted for it or against it, your opinion, your voice, your
Gas prices / continued from pg 1
Counties in Southeast Ohio are seeing slightly higher costs than the rest of the state. The price of gas in Athens County is $3.955, putting the county in the highest cost level, with only 17 other counties in the state.
“In Ohio right now, taking for example, gasoline is sitting at $3.81 a gallon,” Matt McClain, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, said. “That’s up about a penny to two pennies over just the last 24 hours. For diesel, on the other hand, it’s $5.06 in Ohio, and that is obviously up by quite a bit as well. So well over $1 a gallon just over the past five weeks.” McClain said the rising gas prices can
only be attributed to the war with Iran.
“We’ve been seeing gas prices rise basically since the Iranian, Israeli and the United States conflict or war began some five weeks ago,” McClain said.
“Unfortunately, we are going to continue to see those prices increasing as we go forward, and we are going to see them increase until we have some sort of a solution with the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz has been a pivotal part of the conflict in Iran. President Donald Trump warned Iran to open the Strait by Monday, the Associated Press reported.
vote, it is all super valuable,” Gordillo said. “The Senate exists to serve the students.”
Turner, a junior studying creative writing and history, said the bill was important to him because he values accountability and transparency, and he wants to see that from the university.
“If (OU administrators) want to actually be transparent, and if you want to show that you care about the voice of the students, now is the time to publish all of your investments, as well as listen to student voices and agree to end all investments directly into Israel,” Turner said.
Theisen said the vote is timely for the university, as there is a large interest and student opinion on the matter.
“It’s just something that a lot of students have been persistently concerned about,” Theisen said. “People have been concerned about investments in Israel and defense industries for a long time, but I remember when a lot of these conversations really kicked off after October 7. I remember people talking about OU’s investments even then. They said it’s not transparent.”
Though the vote passed, the Senate is continuing to work. Gordillo said he is meeting with OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez on April 8, and the results of the vote will be discussed in the meeting.
“What else I can commit to is working with the next administration to see that this is continued,” Gordillo said. “I’ve got a strong feeling that Donald (Theisen) is going to continue this, considering that he was a sponsor of the bill to have this referendum.”
The bill and the vote were a collaboration between numerous OU student organizations and required the civic engagement of the student body.
“I want to say that this referendum was supported by many other student organizations, and that student organizations are coming together to represent the voice of the students, and Students for Justice in Palestine are in solidarity with all Ohio University and Athens community organizations that want to make a difference,” Turner said.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”
The U.S. is not the only country feeling the effects of the Straits closure. Diplomats from over 40 countries met in the U.K. recently to discuss methods to pressure Iran to reopen the waterway, the AP reported.
Jonathan Ernest, assistant professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University, mentioned the U.S. could tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower the impact of the costs.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the world’s largest emergency crude oil supply that can be used to mitigate the impacts of supply chain disruptions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
“If we were to kind of release all of it, we could make it so there was essentially almost no impact of the limitations for maybe, a couple of weeks or something like that,” Ernest said. “What we would more likely do was to release some oil from this petroleum reserve to help limit the decrease overall.”
The oil would not necessarily flow into the U.S., according to Ernest. The oil would add to the world’s supply, which could help stabilize prices. He said it would work well as a short-term stopgap but would deplete the reserves and could still not replace the 20% of oil that moves through the Strait.
The surge in gas prices is affecting Americans across the country. According to a recent AP-NORC poll, 45% of adults in the U.S. are either “extremely” or “very” worried about being able to afford gas in the coming months. That is up
from 30% in 2024 after Trump won the presidential election.
Daniel Karney, associate professor of economics at Ohio University, said there is a typical increase in gas prices near the summer months, but not this drastic a change.
“Since the beginning of this particular conflict with Iran, oil prices have increased by about 30 to 55%, depending on how you want to measure them,” Karney said. “Gasoline prices are up 30% or so, diesel prices (up) about 40 to 50% or so.”
The rising gasoline and diesel prices have a deeper ripple effect on the economy, beyond the tank. Diesel vehicles that transport goods, such as trains, barges and semi-trucks, will also face higher prices, which will drive up costs for consumers to purchase goods.
“Higher energy prices in general drive up production costs,” Karney said. “So this will be an increase to the cost base for essentially all goods and services. It’ll use some kind of energy to produce them or move them around, and so that increases that cost base.”
Karney stated it is not yet known whether that will be a temporary shock where things will return to normal, or if it will build a new baseline for higher permanent level costs.
McClain recommended using an app like GasBuddy, which can point users to the closest and cheapest gas station.
“Combine your driving if you’re in a financially sensitive household, where many Americans are,” McClain said. “You combine whatever driving you need to do, don’t make three trips across town to pick up three different things at three different times in the day. Combine it all into one.”
(ALLIE STEVENS | FOR THE POST)
Student Senate meeting held in Walter Hall at Ohio University, Athens, Oct. 8, 2025. (TALITHA MALOY | PHOTO EDITOR)
US Headlines
1 Wed __________________
Trump creates national voter list
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order that will establish a nationwide list of all verified voters. The order also restricts mail-in voting, according to the AP. Many law experts say these moves by the Trump administration violate the Constitution.
The order will organize the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration to compile the list. The order also stops the U.S. Postal Service from shipping absentee ballots to people who are not approved for it.
Moves by the Trump administration are part of the push to secure the election under the pretense that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Democratic states have threatened to sue the Trump administration for the acts, arguing it is infringing on states’ rights to run elections.
2 Thur __________________
NASA rocket takes off to the moon A NASA voyage took off Wednesday, set to go around the moon. The 32-story rocket is housing four astronauts and blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, according to the AP. Thousands of people gathered to watch the historic takeoff.
Many were scared as hydrogen fuel flowed into the rocket, after there were hydrogen leaks in tests earlier in the year. No leaks
occurred, but the rocket had technical issues that were resolved quickly.
For the first 25 hours of the 10-day test flight, the astronauts will stay close to Earth before they fire the engine that will take them around the moon, the AP reported.
3 Fri _____________________
Happy Good Friday!
5 Sun ___________________
Trump sends new threats to Iran
On Sunday, Trump threatened to escalate strikes on Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by his deadline. Iran did not show any sign of complying with those threats, continuing to strike infrastructure in neighboring countries in the Gulf, according to the AP.
In a TruthSocial post, Trump wrote that he would strike power plants and bridges in Iran if they did not open the Strait, a major waterway used to transport large amounts of the world’s oil. Similar deadlines have been issued by Trump before, but extended once there seemed to be progress with ending the war.
Possible war crimes have occurred on both sides as Iran and the U.S. have hit civilian targets, such as oil fields and desalination plants important for drinking water, the AP reported.
@FINNSMITH06 FS227223@OHIO.EDU
Blotter: Breaking and entering, dog issues, neighbor problems
KAITLIN HOGG | NEWS STAFF WRITER
27 Fri ___________________
Doggone issue
Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Huckleberry Road in Coolville regarding a neighbor issue involving a dog.
On the scene, deputies spoke with all involved parties. The issue was documented, and it was agreed the dog would stay on the owner’s property. Patrol resumed.
Used needle
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Dollar General in The Plains after reports of a used needle found in the parking lot.
Once on the scene, the needle was disposed of, and deputies documented the incident. Deputies then resumed patrol.
28 Sat __________________
Scam text
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office spoke with a woman about filing a report regarding traffic violation scam texts.
Deputies took her report and resumed patrolling.
Dog bite
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Fourth Street in The Plains regarding a dog bite complaint.
Deputies on the scene spoke with all involved parties regarding the incident. The incident will be given to the dog warden for a follow-up.
29 Sun _________________
Breaking and Entering
Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Coolville following a third-party report of a breaking and entering.
Deputies were on the way to the scene when they were advised it was a family entering the home and not an active breaking and entering.
Once they arrived on the scene, deputies determined it was the family who wanted a well-being check done. Contact was then made with the individual and found them to be fine.
Not quite missing
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Beal Road in Athens following a missing persons report.
Deputies made contact with
the caller. It was determined the individual was not, in fact, missing.
30 Mon __________________
Warrants of the week
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office released warrants of arrest for Dorthea Anderson and Eddie Hartley.
Hartley is wanted for domestic violence. Anderson is wanted for felonious assault.
Anyone with information on either individual is to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Gun in the parking lot
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Stewart, following a report of a firearm in the school parking lot.
The gun was put into evidence upon collection. No threats of violence have been directed at the school.
Two vehicles, a gray 4-door sedan and a dark colored Jeep, are under investigation for pulling into the school parking lot around 2:00 a.m., when the gun was believed to be left behind. At the time the media report was released, the case was still under investigation.
31 Tue ____________________
Missing persons report
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Main Street in The Plains regarding a missing person report.
Deputies spoke with the involved parties on the scene and determined the location of the individual. The man was located at a business off state Route 550.
Neighborly fight
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Washington Road in Albany following a neighbor dispute.
On the scene, deputies spoke with the caller. A statement was taken, but deputies were unable to get in contact
THE FACTS HAVEN’T CHANGED
“The November 3rd [2020] Election Was The Most Secure In American History”
made a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems to avoid going to trial. Dominion had alleged that Fox had defamed it by knowingly broadcasting false claims that Dominion had rigged the 2020 US presidential election to enable Joe Biden to become President. In fact, under oath, Rupert Murdock, the founder of Fox News, testified that the 2020 election was fair and that Biden had won. In sworn questioning in January 2023, lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems asked Rupert Murdock, the founder of Fox News, “Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was free and fair?” Mr. Murdock answered, “Yes.” Later, he said, “The election was not stolen.”
The settlement meant that Fox News did not have to apologize or to admit guilt. Still, it is unlikely that Fox News gave Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million out of the kindness of its heart.
ON 12 NOVEMBER 2020, DONALD TRUMP POSTED THIS ON X:
“REPORT: DOMINION DELETED 2.7 MILLION TRUMP VOTES NATIONWIDE.
DATA ANALYSIS FINDS 221,000 PENNSYLVANIA VOTES SWITCHED FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP TO BIDEN. 941,000 TRUMP VOTES DELETED. STATES USING DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS SWITCHED 435,000 VOTES FROM TRUMP TO BIDEN.”
An Associated Press Fact Check found that this claim is a “tall tale”:
“AP FACT CHECK: Trump tweets a tall tale of ‘deleted’ votes”
“THE FACTS: There’s no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, or of major problems with Dominion’s systems. Election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well, and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
“‘There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised,’ says a statement emailed to reporters Thursday by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, a federal agency that oversees U.S. election security. ‘The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.’”
(Source: Associated Press, Nov. 12, 2020.)
with the other neighbor.
1 Wed ___________________
Facebook theft
Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office took a report of theft through social media.
The caller told deputies she sent over $1,500 to a Facebook Marketplace listing of two residences in Athens City and County. The case was under investigation at the time the media report was released.
Arrested
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit was patrolling near state Route 356 when they came across two vehicles on a pull-off with a woman left behind.
The woman told deputies there were three men in the woods looking for ramps. The deputies made contact with the men shortly after, as they were walking in the middle of the road.
Deputies determined the one man was Robert Kneece, who had a warrant out for his arrest for Cruelty to Animals. Kneece was arrested and taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail. 2 Thur ___________________
Forgotten bike
Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to The Plains regarding an abandoned bicycle.
As deputies were investigating, the owners returned and took the bicycle back.
Verbal fight Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Alderman Road in Millfield following a verbal altercation report.
Deputies on the scene spoke to all involved parties, documented the incident and separated the parties.
TRUMP CONTINUES TO OFTEN CLAIM THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
Wikipedia defines “The illusory truth effect (also known as the illusion of truth effect, validity effect, truth effect, or the reiteration effect)” as “the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure.”
For More Information:
“Results of Lawsuits Regarding the 2020 Elections.” Campaign Legal Center (CLC).
“The various claims of evidence alleging a stolen 2020 election have been exhaustively investigated and litigated. Judges heard claims of illegal voting and found they were without merit.”
(Source: Campaign Legal Center.)
CAN WE BELIEVE TUCKER CARLSON?
In an interview with Dave Rubin, Tucker Carlson said, “[…] I mean I lie if I’m really cornered or something. I lie. I really try not to. I try never to lie on TV. I just don’t – I don’t like lying. I certainly do it, you know, out of weakness or whatever.”
(Source: The Guardian, Sept. 14, 2021.)
CAN WE BELIEVE ALEX JONES?
Josh Owens, a former video editor and field producer for Alex Jones’ Infowars, says the work he did for Infowars was “nonsense” and “lies.” For example, he was part of a team that flew to El Paso, Texas, to look for an Islamic State (IS) training camp across the border. They found no evidence that such a training camp existed, so they fabricated a video showing a reporter dressed as an IS agent holding a severed head prop and crossing a stream that they falsely claimed was the Rio Grande. In Owens’ words, “We just happened to find a little stream that looked like it could be the Rio Grande. We said we were on the border. The reporter I was with simulated the beheading, walked across and that’s what we posted.” Within a few hours after being posted, the video got over 1 million views.
(Source: NPR, March 31, 2026.)
David Bruce paid for
The Post
Pittman said students who are currently enrolled in the programs set to be eliminated or combined will be able to complete their degree requirements, while incoming students who applied for any of the programs will receive information on alternative options in the coming weeks.
Four programs are awaiting waiver decisions, while three have already been denied, according to OHIO today.
Student Senate President-elect Donald Theisen, a junior studying economics and political science, voiced opposition to the law, arguing it limits academic opportunities.
“There’s so much value even to programs that are small,” Theisen said. “Having those departments, having those professors, having classes that other students can take, even if they’re not going to graduate with that degree.”
The Senate plans to support student organizations affected by the changes. Theisen said campus spaces eliminated by SB 1, including the Pride Center, Women’s Center and Multicultural Center, will be a focus moving forward.
Jamie Miller, programs and organizing manager of United Campus Ministry, said the cuts have already displaced some student organizations.
“What (UCM is) trying to do is we’re trying to make a third space for pretty much anybody, which is everyone needs one, especially after SB 1 closed down a lot of minority centric places at the university, we have been kind of a hub for where those student organizations are going,” Miller said.
Miller said he encourages any student who feels passionately about the cutting of programs to get involved with organizations and not give up.
“I was a student only a couple of years ago, so it’s very easy to feel mired in helplessness and doom, because doomscrolling is real, and it’s what they want you to do to engage with the program or the online medium,” Miller said.
Most of the affected programs will still offer related minors, according
Degrees proposed for suspension include:
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Bachelor of Arts in Physics – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Science in Physics
Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Media – The associate degree was offered at select regional campuses. The Athens campus will continue to offer related bachelor’s degrees.
Associate of Applied Science in Equine Studies
Bachelor of Science in Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education in Teaching
Associate of Applied Science in Child Development – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Flight Technology – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Flight
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts – OHIO will continue to offer a minor in Interdisciplinary Arts
Associate of Individualized Studies – OHIO will continue to offer a Bachelor of Specialized Studies
to OHIO today. Two exceptions, the Associate of Applied Science in Equine Studies and the Bachelor of Science in Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education in Teaching, will not have minor options.
Senate Vice President-elect Mark Vitelli said concerns about program cuts have already surfaced among students, including those in the Bachelor of Music Therapy program.
The Ohio Student Association’s OU
chapter, formed in response to SB 1, according to Vitelli, has criticized the bill as “one of the most controversial, extremist, and unnecessary anti-higher education bills in the country.”
In an Instagram post, OSA wrote “Senate Bill 1 has stripped us of our campus homes, centers, scholarships, programs, and majors. Our universities were silent. Join us in showing admin: Students are watching.”
Medieval Society teaches skills from pre-17th century
FIONA PETTICREW HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER
Being able to learn and re-create history is a hobby for many worldwide. For those in the medieval society at Ohio University, learning about medieval arts and fighting styles is a great way to learn, exercise and meet others with similar interests.
OU’s medieval society is part of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international non-profit organization devoted to researching and re-creating pre-17th century skills. Members of the SCA participate in archery, costuming, calligraphy, fiber arts, cooking and more.
SCA started in 1966 in Berkley, California, when a group of friends organized a large tournament for “knights” to fight for the “fairest” title for their ladies. There are currently around 60,000 participants in the organization, according to the official SCA website.
The international organization is divided into “kingdoms” ruled by a “pair of monarchs” and can span over multiple states. Kingdoms contain subdivisions, which local officers run and plan activities, combat practices and educational classes.
Ohio is part of the “midrealm,”and OU’s chapter is the Shire of Dernehealde.
Adam Myers, or “Adam der Strom,” is an Athens’ local and “seneschal” of the Shire of Dernehealde. A seneschal is both a society and corporate officer and is responsible for coordinating the administration of the chapter’s historical re-creation.
Myers said the Shire of Dernehealde formed in the 1970s and he has been involved for about 12 years.
The medieval society holds a Tuesday combat practice in Morton Hall from 7-9 p.m., and a general meeting Thursdays in Grover Hall from 7-9 p.m. Myers said he facilitates the fighting practices.
“The fight practice is so fun,” Myers said. “I love running that, and I love introducing students to fighting. It keeps me young.”
Myers said he has Nicholas Kobe, the club president, conducts drills to teach members how to work with blades and strike opponents and there are around 15 to 25 participants.
“I generally try to have people find what works best for them,” Myers said. “Different body types require different speeds. Sometimes they can power
through. Sometimes they can just go as fast as they can.”
During Thursday general meetings, the medieval society learns about the arts and sciences of historical cultures. Myers said the organization also hosts classes, activities and travels to conventions and tournaments.
Henry Schimmoeller, a junior studying biology, joined the society his sophomore year and said he used to work in a living history museum, growing a passion for historical craftsmanship.
“The people are really great, I just really enjoy the environment,” Schimmoeller said. “A lot of people here are nerds in the way that I am a nerd, so I feel very included.”
Along with one-on-one combat, the society also participates in melee fights, which is group combat, and can include many participants on each team.
Fencing, the sport of fighting with swords against a singular opponent, is another activity society members participate in.
“It’s a great exercise in doing something under pressure, one on one,” said Logan Porter, a sophomore studying music production and plant biology. “Where you have to rely on yourself to make decisions and everything has an action and a reaction and a consequence to it. It’s very direct in your face karma. And it’s a very different pace to learn things than what
you get in a classroom.” Porter has been involved with medieval society for about two years and is adding a history minor due to his rewarding time in the society. Porter encourages people to join the organization even if they are nervous about combat.
“Be OK with losing,” Porter said. “It’s a good exercise learning how to lose because that is how you improve. And that’s another great lesson in life, is just to keep doing things.”
Those interested in learning more about medieval society can visit the organizations Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date.
Top. Adam Myors helps new students with rapier hand placement at a Medieval Society meeting, Oct. 17, 2023, in Athens. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)
Bottom. Ethan Nateoneczny (left), Don Hector (middle), and Sydney Kelly (right) at a Medieval Society meeting, Oct. 10, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (JUSTIN DELGADO | FOR THE POST)
Students walk by the Multicultural Center on the second floor of Baker Center, Feb. 3, 2025, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
Editorial
THE POST EDITORIAL BOARD
In an early Easter Sunday post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump threatened to target Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. These comments, delivered during one of the holiest days in Christianity, raise serious moral and legal concerns about how the war with Iran is being framed and communicated.
These are not abstract targets. Power plants, bridges and water systems form the backbone of civilian life, and their destruction would not only disrupt military operations but also cut off essential services to millions of people who are not engaged in combat.
This is not typical wartime rhetoric, either. According to The New York Times, legal experts say threats to destroy civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes under international law.
International agreements such as the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the targeting of civilian populations and infrastructure that is indispensable to their survival. Although modern warfare often exists in gray legal areas, openly threatening these types of targets represents a significant departure from how American leaders have traditionally justified military action, which have consequences that extend far beyond foreign policy.
Escalating rhetoric and the threat of expanded conflict in the Middle East have immediate economic implications, particularly involving critical oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
When instability increases in that region, markets respond quickly, and Americans feel the impact just as fast.
In both Athens and the entire US, that impact is visible at the gas pump. According to NPR, the national average price of a gallon of gas recently reached $4.12, a figure that reflects not just domestic economic conditions but also rising geopolitical tensions. For college students, that price point can determine whether it is financially feasible to travel home for a weekend. For families and small businesses, it compounds existing financial pressures in ways that are difficult to absorb.
And yet, in his national address, Trump promised gas prices would “come tumbling down” and pointed toward “no inflation,” offering a version of economic stability that does not align with the realities of an escalating international conflict.
Threatening widespread destruction while promising economic relief is not simply inconsistent. It is misleading in a way that obscures the real costs of war.
The concern is not only the substance of the president’s statements, but also the tone and medium through which they were delivered. The language used in the post was casual and aggressive, reading less like a measured articulation of military policy and more like a provocation designed for reaction. The president used an expletive while threatening large-scale destruction, language that is highly inappropriate for a commander in chief speaking about military action.
For decades, American presidents have, at minimum, framed military decisions within the language of international law and restraint, even when those standards were imperfectly upheld. Moving away from that framework, particularly in such a visible and unfiltered manner, risks normalizing rhetoric that diminishes the distinction between military targets and civilian life.
This is not just a question of policy. It is a question of what Americans are willing to accept as normal.
When a president publicly threatens actions that could harm civilians, it reshapes expectations for how power is exercised and communicated, both at home and abroad. It signals to allies that longstanding norms may no longer guide decision-making, and to adversaries that escalation is not only possible, but openly embraced.
And at home, it leaves Americans navigating the consequences in tangible ways, from rising fuel costs to increased economic uncertainty.Americans deserve clarity about both the human and economic realities of war, not assurances that minimize its impact or rhetoric that escalates it without accountability.
Words from a president influence markets, shape global perception and, in moments like this, raise serious moral and legal questions. Americans are already feeling the consequences. The question is whether they are willing to accept the rhetoric behind them.
Hunter’s Horizon | Anchored at Kharg, no exit in sight
HUNTER PERSON FOR THE POST
The U.S. campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran has escalated into the largest regional conflict since the 1991 Gulf War. The collapse of diplomacy and the crackdown on protestors preceded a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive. The operation, designated Operation Epic Fury by the U.S. and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel, began Feb. 28.
In the opening hours, Israeli forces struck the Supreme Leader’s compound in Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and much of his inner circle are confirmed dead, according to CNN, but as the war enters its sixth week, the fate of his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still uncertain.
While Tehran’s leadership is not a traditionally hereditary role, Mojtaba was appointed quickly to ensure regime security. Russian officials say Mojtaba remains in Iran, though he hasn’t appeared publicly.
This uncertainty is why an exit strategy was never clear. Decapitation strikes can destabilize a government, but they rarely produce a controlled outcome. The combination of unclear leadership, ongoing diplomacy and active
military pressure points to a conflict without a defined end state. Even before the most recent developments, there was little indication of what political outcome could actually conclude the war.
As of April 3, this conflict has drawn in at least 15 countries. Much of the Gulf has endured attacks from Iranian drones and missiles, while countries such as Cyprus and Turkey have experienced targeting as well. Iran has attacked U.S. positions at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, Erbil Air Base in Iraq and a naval base in Bahrain, causing at least seven casualties.
A U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Iraq killed six airmen, but government sources say the crash was an accident unrelated to enemy fire, according to U.S. Central Command. On its own, that may seem like a small error, but in a conflict like this, even accidents carry weight. They add to the human cost and raise pressure at home, especially when the broader mission remains unclear.
More importantly, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has threatened American companies and universities across the region. Rather than purely focusing on standard military targets, this war has continually shifted into the economic and civilian space. Most
U.S-linked businesses, researchers and students are now potential targets, even if they are not directly involved in the conflict.
Regional actors, meaning states directly affected by the conflict, are responding with caution. Gulf states are reinforcing their defenses, Israel continues operations alongside U.S. forces and Ukraine now provides intelligence and logistical support, reflecting a broader effort to counter Iranian expansion.
Additionally, Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have reportedly pushed for deeper involvement in the conflict. They’re pushing signals of expectations of a longer war in the region, rather than preparing for deescalation. Instead, they are preparing for spillover and possible expansion.
Maritime control is also increasingly critical for both sides. Iran has partially closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing some commercial vessels, particularly Chineseowned ships, to pay up to $2 million, according to NBC News and The New York Times.
The U.S. and its allies have mobilized to counter these restrictions, engaging Iranian vessels and submarines, though drones, inland
missiles and potentially sea mines still pose threats. For the U.S. and its allies, keeping the Strait open is essential to maintaining economic stability and energy access.
The human death toll in Iran is severe, as well. Urban areas have suffered repeated strikes, resulting in civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, major disruptions to water, electricity and medical services. Internally, reports point to rising unrest, but information remains limited due to ongoing hostilities and restricted reporting.
President Trump has continued to claim that the war is progressing well and that most goals are near completion, including through posts on Truth Social. At least 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed in the region, including a Marine Expeditionary Force, paratroopers and soon, an additional aircraft carrier, according to the Associated Press. The likely objective is to secure Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
Special Operations Forces may also be operating in the region, likely to prevent sabotage of critical infrastructure on Kharg Island, which Tehran may attempt to destroy in a lastresort effort.
Despite troop deployments, a full-scale invasion remains unlikely. Unpopularity at home and the risk of highprofile casualties make such an operation politically and logistically difficult. Nevertheless, Congress is moving to approve an additional $200 billion in war funding, potentially affecting domestic priorities such as healthcare.
Looking ahead, a contained conflict appears increasingly unlikely. Despite Israeli sources citing an April 9 end date, factors like IRGC dominance, unclear U.S. objectives and regional escalation make a quick resolution doubtful. Broader aims may include limiting China’s access to Iranian oil and maintaining longterm control over regional energy flows, as seen in Operation Southern Spear earlier this year. With Iranian leadership splintered, the central question is whether escalation can be contained before it exceeds expectations on either side.
Hunter is a senior studying political science and international studies at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Hunter about their column? Email them at hp626321@ohio.edu
Ask Aleni | Exhaustion is becoming a personality trait
ALENI BENDER FOR THE POST
Look around Ohio University, and you’ll see students moving through the day like zombies, fighting the urge to fall asleep standing up. The majority of college students do not get enough rest, and lethargy has become the new normal.
“How are you?” is the default greeting for both people we know and those we don’t. “I’m good,” used to be the standard response, even if that wasn’t necessarily the truth. Recently, though, there has been a shift in our society’s accepted answers to that question; “I’m tired” has entered the equation.
The statement is now a regular comment, and similar to “I’m good,” no followup inquiries are asked. Tiredness is now presented as a default mood.
Keith Markman, an associate professor of social psychology at OU, explained why college students are normalizing having less of it.
“I think it’s become normalized … because so many people talk about it and actually romanticize it in a way,” Markman said.
“People become entrenched in maladaptive behaviors, and then those behaviors are validated by learning that so many people around them are doing the same thing.”
Many students blame poor exam scores and irritability on low energy, turning exhaustion from an excuse into a defining trait. It has become normalized for everyone around you to be running on little to no sleep; with how often students talk about it, a kind of mob mentality forms, where no sleep is accepted as normal.
“(Lack of sleep) impairs your attention and your concentration,” Markman said. “There’s studies that show there’s certainly a correlation between lack of sleep and lower test scores and GPA, because these cognitive functions have been undermined.”
For students wondering why their grades don’t match their study time, all-nighters don’t help.
“Your mind is very active, and one of the purposes of (REM) sleep is to consolidate memories from that day,” Markman said. “If people don’t get that kind of sleep, then their memory for information that they’ve learned within the past day
or two is not as good as it could be. With regard to studying, the REM stage is important.”
Without proper sleep, we become easily irritable. While unpleasant events are part of everyday life, they shouldn’t be all-consuming of our energy and ruin our days. That being said, some factors can contribute to this, especially with mental health conditions on the rise.
“There’s emotional lack of sleep (which) affects what we call emotional regulation,” Markman said. “A lack of sleep actually leads you to have a higher risk for depression and a reduced ability to cope with the inevitable setbacks that occur along the way.”
Over 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health condition. Additionally, poor nutrition can contribute to the problem, and 71% of university students acknowledge their substandard diets. While this statistic is high, many students say campus dining options don’t meet nutritional standards.
Expectations only add to the problem. Students are expected to attend classes, maintain relationships,
exercise, join organizations and apply for jobs or internships – all at once. The list goes on and on. A college student’s packed itinerary makes resting nearly impossible.
There is little time for real downtime, and the opportunity to prioritize resetting is even more sparse, enhancing the possibility for our batteries to hit empty fast.
According to a recent survey conducted by Statista on college students in 2025, results show 27.8% of the represented students felt tired for seven days of the week. When rest gets put on the back burner, we turn to temporary solutions to help us power through the day.
Starbucks is the most prominent coffee shop globally, leading in store locations and sales.
95% of college students consume caffeine, with 66% consuming 1-2 caffeinated beverages a day. Additionally, the average college student spends anywhere from $15 to $20 a week on coffee, which equates to $1,000 annually.
“All of those things (caffeinated drinks) rely on releasing a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine … that increases alertness,”
Markman said. “The problem is the use of those drinks, that’s what’s going to cause the staggered sleep schedule in the first place.”
We are stuck in a cycle: no sleep, caffeine, repeat. Where we choose to focus our attention during any time of inactivity only contributes to this widespread matter. Instead of taking a nap, many students spend their time doomscrolling TikTok or watching drama-filled TV. This worsens the problem by preventing the brain from resetting, even when we think we are being “mindless.”
Instead of replicating each day with the same mistakes, we should look for ways to recharge beyond sleep so we can terminate the exhaustion that has become part of us.
Aleni Bender is a sophomore studying organizational communication at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Aleni about her column? Email/ tweet her at ab285023@ohio. edu/@aleni_bender
Ohio beats Ball State in big road series
CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS EDITOR
After a solid weekend series win against Central Michigan last week, Ohio (24-13 overall, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) had a solid week of rest before heading on the road to Muncie, Indiana, to take on Ball State in another big MAC series.
Ball State has struggled this season, with an overall losing record and a 2-7 record in the MAC before the series against Ohio.
The Bobcats took a tough loss in the first game, losing 7-6 in a nail-biter before bouncing back a few hours later to pick up a win and split the Friday games.
The next day, they closed out the series win with another tight game, pulling through 8-7 after being down 4-0 early.
Let’s take a close look at each game this weekend.
FRIDAY
Ohio entered the first game Friday with graduate student pitcher Skipp Miller on the mound. After a tough performance, the star pitcher allowed six earned runs on eight hits, and her season stats took a hit, dropping her ERA to 3.74.
Ball State started the game hot, getting a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Grace Spencer, but a tworun home run from graduate student infielder Rylee McDaniel put Ohio on top.
Junior infielder Brenna Farmer also delivered with a two-run double in the third inning to make the score 4-1, in favor of Ohio.
An Ella Whitney home run brought the Cardinals back into the game, but a sac fly the next inning from senior outfielder Belle Hummel gave Ohio a 5-3 lead.
Whitney was back up to bat and delivered a sac fly to cut the lead to one, and then Spencer came through for Ball State once more with a massive three-run blast to give Ball State the lead.
Farmer scored one with a sac fly in
the seventh, but Ball State closed it out for a big win in game one. Ohio’s win in the second game on Friday was a little more stress-free. The offense exploded for three home runs and a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The game started with another tworun home run from McDaniel in the second inning, her second of the day and fifth of the year
Ball State responded right back with yet another home run from Spencer, who delivered her third of the afternoon.
The two teams were scoreless for three innings until Ohio came through with a huge three-run advantage in the sixth inning. Senior infielder Shelby Westler had an RBI double before junior catcher Kylie Gorsuch crushed a tworun home run to make it 5-1.
Senior infielder Colleen Bare delivered another Bobcat blast, a solo home run to pad the lead even more. Ball State’s Grace Spencer wasn’t done yet and hit her second home run of the game and fourth of the day to make it an interesting seventh inning, but Ohio was able to hold on for a 6-3 win.
SATURDAY
The Bobcats had to fight for their series win on Saturday, as the Cardinals jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings after three RBI singles and a sac fly.
Ohio’s offense was weak for the first four innings, but a six-run explosion in the fifth inning gave the Bobcats the lead.
The first two runs came from Ball State errors, as Farmer walked with the bases loaded, bringing in a run before a wild pitch brought home Alexis Book.
Sophomore infielder Sydney Young then stepped up and blasted a threerun home run to give Ohio a one-run lead. Soon afterward, junior outfielder Izzie Wilson blasted a solo shot to add an insurance run.
Ball State responded again, as another single and another sac fly tied the
Kent State dominates Ohio at home
Ohio has certainly gone through rough patches throughout the 2026 college baseball season, but this weekend, Kent State came to town and swept the Bobcats, winning by a combined 34 runs over the three-game series. Ohio (6-25 overall, 3-12 Mid-American Conference) was the most competitive in Thursday night’s game. Freshman right-handed pitcher Mason Gass was on the mound for Ohio, making his first start of the season. Gass pitched well, but the lack of offensive support saw the Bobcats fall behind 3-0 after four innings, as Kent State (23-7 overall, 12-3 MAC) capitalized on a pair of sacrifice flies.
“With runners in scoring position, there were a lot of struggles, especially at the beginning part of the game when it was 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and was continuing to grow,” Ohio head coach Andrew See said.
Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ohio finally got on the board with a home run by junior outfielder Taylor Harris. Gass was pulled after five innings, and the Golden Flashes took advantage of Ohio’s new arm, freshman lefty Gaige Stuckey. They had an RBI single by Nolan Belcher and a second run crossed on an error by the Bobcats, who now trailed 6-1.
“I thought Gass gave us a quality (start), did a good job just keeping them at bay,” See said.
Ohio chipped away at the lead again in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single to left field by junior catcher Tyler Stack to make the score 6-2 in favor of Kent State. The Bobcats scored again in the bottom of the seventh as graduate student infielder Colton Shirley hit an RBI double to score Stack. Ohio added on again in the eighth on an unearned run as senior utility man Cale Steinbaugh scored.
Kent State found another gear offensively at the top of the ninth and sealed the game with a five-run frame. Sawyer Solitaria mashed a solo home run, which was followed by a pair of two RBI singles. The Bobcats had no answer at the bottom of the inning, only bringing home one run, and falling 11-5 Thursday night.
Friday’s action was more of the same as Kent State pulverized Ohio pitching in the shortened seven-inning game. Stack homered in the third inning to tie it at 1-1, but the Golden Flashes scored 14 unanswered in four innings, which saw Kent State hit no home runs, but with polished base running and patient hitting, it won 15-1.
The dominance rolled into Saturday’s finale. Ohio was held scoreless through five
game back up in the bottom of the fifth inning.
It was Book who was the hero for Ohio. Book drilled a massive two-run home run over the right field wall to give Ohio a two-run lead.
Ball State drove home one more run with a solo home run in the seventh inning, but Miller was able to get the save and secure another MAC series win for Ohio.
innings, being dominated by Kent State’s Ben Rabatin. Rabatin struck out six in five innings but
Lamar Conard ready for new challenge at Ohio
CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS EDITOR
Following Ohio’s 17-10 victory over UNLV in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl to cap off a 9-4 season, it became clear interim head coach John Hauser was the choice to lead the program moving forward.
Once his hiring was announced, the ripple effect followed, as changes at the top almost always bring changes below.
When Hauser began assembling his first staff at the helm of Ohio’s football program, one of his first calls went to Lamar Conard. Having previously worked together, the decision did not take long.
“Hey, dude, I know you’re going to have plenty of people reaching out to you, other opportunities,” Conard said, imitating Hauser. “I just said, ‘man, the opportunity to be an assistant head coach and have more growth in my own space matters to me at this moment, more than some of the financial opportunities that I’ll have.’”
Conard joined as assistant head coach and running backs coach after three seasons at his alma mater, Purdue, where he coached running backs from 2023 to 2025.
It marked a return home for Conard, an Indiana native from Elkhart and former Boilermaker who walked on at Purdue, earned a scholarship and started three seasons at defensive back.
“I was blessed,” Conard said of his time playing for Purdue. “I ended up having a wonderful career. I think back on it, and my kids got to experience it with me a little bit. It was just a wonderful journey. I
Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now
By A.E. Housman
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again, And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom Fifty springs are little room, About the woodlands I will go To see the cherry hung with snow.
BARNDAIRY FEST
wouldn’t change a thing.”
After his playing career ended, Conard moved directly into coaching, beginning at Illinois State, where he spent nine seasons at the FCS level.
Despite playing defense in college, Conard transitioned to coaching running backs at Illinois State, a move that proved successful. He coached players like Marshaun Coprich in 2014, who earned AllAmerican honors and was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Year.
“After my second year, he moved me to offense because (Illinois State head coach Brock Spack) knew I had played multiple positions,” Conard said. “(He was like) ‘Hey, man, you’re really bright, I also want to make you my recruiting coordinator,’ and it really changed the trajectory of my career.”
That shift led to continued success with the Redbirds and eventually a move to the FBS level, where Conard spent four seasons coaching running backs at Miami (OH) in the Mid-American Conference.
The transition to Oxford also led to his connection with Hauser, then the cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator.
“It was a great experience for me,” Conard said. “I knew some guys on offense, but when I met Hauser, right away, we felt like brothers. We just got along really well.”
After four years at Miami, Conard returned to Purdue, making the jump to the Big Ten and back to a place that had shaped both his playing career and personal life.
At Purdue, he coached running backs such as Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Mockobee, helping develop a productive unit. Tracy Jr. was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and has since totaled 1,529 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over his first two seasons.
Following a 2-10 season for the Boilermakers, Conard departed the program, which opened the door for Hauser’s call.
Conard officially joined Ohio’s staff on Feb. 13 as assistant head coach and running backs coach and now steps into a role leading a talented running back group.
“I’m happy to be here and be able to transition and help Hauser in his first year,” Conard said. (I’m happy to) help him as an assistant head coach and see some things from a different perspective. And also help develop these guys who are here. Duncan Brune is awesome, Victor Rosa is awesome. Mike Taylor has unbelievable talent. (Irving Brown) is awesome.”
Off the field, Conard said his early impressions of Athens and the university have stood out.
“This is an awesome school, awesome campus,” Conard said. “The people are fantastic, friendly. They just want to win. They just want a good product on the field. But the biggest thing to me is the people; everybody’s been super kind and welcoming, and you could feel that they want this football team to be successful.”
Sassy Cassie FIA needs to change regulations for fair, safe racing
CASSIE DYE | DIRECTOR OF MULTIMEDIA
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how this Formula 1 season may be the most exciting one in years. Three races into the season, the new regulations have led to some exciting moments. However, some of the “improvements” have the potential to cause serious danger. Some of the regulations include a new start system and a new ratio compression system that some teams are taking advantage of.
It wasn’t until last week at the Japanese Grand Prix that all 22 completed a single racing lap this season.
Oscar Piastri finally started his 2026 championship campaign after not being able to race in Australia due to a crash and unable to race in China due to car issues. The cars are bound to have issues throughout the season, but on race two, this was very shocking.
McLaren isn’t the only team with issues. Aston Martin has had problems since before race one, and their drivers’ safety is at risk. The Aston Martin car, powered by Honda, has extreme vibrations from the power unit, and could leave its drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, with permanent nerve damage. The team didn’t finish a race until last week in Japan; even then, it was only one car that was able to finish.
While some teams are struggling with the new regulations, other teams are thriving. Some of the newly introduced regulations include a new start system and mainly a new ratio compression system some teams are taking advantage of. The Mercedes team has been a top contender in F1 for a while now and this season they are taking advantage of a loophole
found in the new regulations.
There is a 16:1 compression ratio limit for the cars while cool. However, Mercedes is said to have found an 18:1 ratio while hot and running, which means they are technically within the rules since their compression ratio while cool is 16:1. This change has given them tenths of seconds on laps.
Four out of the five engine providers in F1 protested this difference in ratio, and it was successful. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile said Mercedes had to change their compression ratio to comply, and they are giving the team a June 1 deadline. This gives Mercedes five races to run with their illegal car. It would have been seven if not for the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs.
Since the FIA deemed the cars’ compression ratio illegal, Mercedes should’ve changed it immediately; it’s unfair to allow them to run their car with this clear advantage.
While Mercedes is running an illegal car, there are other new additions to the cars that can cause serious harm to drivers. There is risk in F1 and all motorsports. With vehicles going over 100 miles per hour while racing, it’s known to be a dangerous In Japan, Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed at high speed and had a 50 G-force collision with the barriers. Bearman was limping away from the crash but was given the all clear from the medical staff. Again, crashes happen in F1, but this one was unique because of the speed at which he was driving and how slow the car in front was driving.
This was a result of the new regulations. Other
drivers had warned the FIA of a dangerous crash before it happened. The new regulations create a “mushroom in Mario Kart” feeling for drivers when using the boost and overtake buttons.
If a car is harvesting battery, the lights on the back of the car don’t blink to warn drivers behind that it is slower due to harvesting. Bearman’s crash happened because Bearman had been using boost and overtaking, while the car in front had just shifted into harvesting mode, going way slower than Bearman. This caused Bearman to swerve into the barriers because he didn’t get any indication the car in front was slowing down.
Luckily, Bearman was OK, but the FIA should’ve listened to drivers; it could have prevented this crash.
There has been no word on whether the FIA is going to change regulations so that drivers behind will be warned about drivers in harvesting mode, but the FIA should change it to prevent another huge impact crash from happening.
With new regulations, this F1 season has seen a lot of ups and downs in only three races, and there is more to come. However, the FIA has to fix the issues that have been presented for fairer and safer racing.
Cassie is a senior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.
David Bruce paid for this ad.
Music at Baker Center, movie releases, screenings at The Athena
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
Tuesday, Apr. 7
The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., is showing “No Sleep Til Kyiv,” an awardwinning documentary about humanitarian aid in Ukraine, at 7 p.m. There will be a panel discussion following the screening.
Admission: Suggested $10 donation; tickets required.
The “Best Medicine” season finale will premiere on Fox at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 8
The first two episodes of season five of “The Boys” will be released on Prime Video. The season will consist of eight episodes, with the finale releasing May 20, drawing a close to the series.
Thursday, Apr. 9
“Big Mistakes,” a series about two siblings getting involved in organized crime, premieres on Netflix.
Friday, Apr. 10
“You, Me & Tuscany,” a romantic comedy directed by Kat Coiro, releases in theaters. Starring Halle Bailey and RegéJean Page, the film follows a woman (Bailey) crashing at an Italian villa, pretending to be the owner’s fiancée, leading to an unexpected romance.
Ella Langley’s 18-track “Dandelion” album releases
globally. The sophomore album was co-produced by Miranda Lambert and Ben West, following themes of growth and hope.
Season 10 of “Temptation Island” releases on Netflix.
Saturday, Apr. 11
The Athena Cinema is showing “Mamma Mia” at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in celebration of Mom’s Weekend. There are four showtimes, beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. and closing on Saturday. There will be Aperol Spritz and Mimosas for purchase. Tickets are available online.
Admission: $8
Sunday, Apr. 12
“Euphoria” returns to HBO at 9 p.m. for its third season, four years after the release of season two. Aside from the absence of Barbie Ferreira and Storm Reid, the entire core cast will return. Eric Dane will be featured posthumously. Angus Cloud is not featured, as filming followed his death in 2023.
Monday, Apr. 13
Noah Kahan’s documentary “Out of Body” premieres on Netflix. The film follows his journey to reconnect with himself after a blast into fame following his hit 2022 album, “Stick Season.”
CAITLYNVANCE_ CV592923@OHIO.EDU
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Students hold town hall to ask administrators address the ICE policy.
Video by: Ranjini Shank & Michael Dorwaldt
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EMILY STOKES FOR THE POST
Spring brings change, new beginnings and a chance to reset.
Along with spring cleaning and preparing for the summer season, it’s also a chance to let go of habits and mindsets that no longer serve you
This spring is a chance to reflect and lighten your load. Below are some examples of things I’m doing to bring spring cleaning into my life and prioritize my own mental health.
Stop treating rest as unproductive
Driven in part by American work culture, we’ve been conditioned to believe productivity always means doing something.
However, it’s also true that the less you rest, the less productive overall you will be. According to Gallup, an estimated $44.6 billion is lost due to poor sleep, an estimated 7% of the U.S. workforce.
So next time you feel like
Black girls in pop spark debate on exclusion
For almost a month, the internet has debated the lack of mainstream Black pop singers and their treatment.
DAWNELLE BLAKE FOR THE POST
On Wednesday, LeighAnne Pinnock, a member of the disbanded British girl group Little Mix, called out the reason for the lack of mainstream female pop artists in an interview with Bricks Magazine.
“People will say, ‘Where are all the Black pop girls?’” Pinnock said to the media outlet. “You can’t see us because you’re tearing us down. You’re not allowing us to thrive and are not supporting us. They did the same to Chloe Bailey and Normani.”
Even before Pinnock’s statements, a slew of criticism targeting black pop artists reached a boiling point among fans in recent months.
Chloe Bailey is often considered the catalyst for the motifs used in criticisms against newer Black pop singers. Bailey, who gained fame through the sister duo Chloe x Halle, released her own single in 2021 called “Have Mercy.”
The 2021 track satiated the appetites of many who had been looking for the next generation of Black pop stars, to follow in the footsteps of Beyoncé and Rihanna. However, Bailey was criticized severely for it. Accused of being too “provocative” or miscategorized as an artist, Bailey has been the subject of hate and extreme commentary.
One of the more obvious contradictions that fans pointed out was when Bailey released the single “Boy Bye” in 2024, and uses the word “Motherf—er.” Despite the song being one of her best pop releases, critics online argued the song was too vulgar and wouldn’t achieve mainstream success because of it.
Two months later, Sabrina Carpenter used the same word in “Please, Please, Please” and received little to no criticism
for it. The song went number one on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
The British girl group FLO also began to face similar criticisms. When the group released “In My Bag,” it was criticized for being “too urban.”
The term “urban” is often used as a microaggression to categorize something as “Black” or “ethnic.” The term’s usage originated from the influx of minorities into urban areas.
Recently, FLO released “Leak It,” an undoubtedly poporiented song. Comments about “being urban” usually stem from the production and types of lyrics used in songs. The phrase “in my bag” was popularized by Black Americans, and therefore, that or other phrases with a similar origin are deemed “urban.”
While it’s been praised, FLO was criticized for sounding “too pop.” Fans of non-Black pop artists have praised the song, while also commenting they wish their favorite artists had similar music.
A FLO fan on X wrote, “It’s always I wish x artist made music like flo, instead of becoming a flo fan. Why’s that?” Alluding to some people’s hesitancy to just listen to Black artists.
In December, Ravyn Lenae, whose song “Love Me Not” became a hit earlier in 2025, called out a post on X that read, “Her aesthetic gives only black girl in a white friend group.” This post alluded to her and her music, being considered “whitewashed;” not presenting as Black enough.
After the 2025 Grammys, when biracial British singer Olivia Dean took home the award for Best New Artist, people online criticized her for being “boring” and “too classy.” Instances such as these sparked debate as to why there aren’t many mainstream Black pop singers.
“‘Why do we not have any
black pop girls?’ Have you considered that you guys just hate black women?” X user @_ emxnchj wrote in a post. “And that you criticise them for artistic qualities and choices that you ignore when it comes to praising white and asian pop girls?”
Another X user, @ BeccaRBRoyalty, responded to Pinnock’s statement, saying, “Exactly. People tear Black women in pop down, withhold support, and then question their visibility. It’s a cycle, and it’s exhausting.”
Fans argue the “criticism” against Black women in pop, for many, boils down to contradictory and fickle condemnation for the music and art produced by these women.
Bailey was seen as too sexual, but Dean is too classy. Bailey was too urban, yet Lenae is whitewashed. FLO’s song “Leak It” was just right, but showed people’s hesitancy to enjoy a song by Black pop artists. On the other hand, some people argue the criticism isn’t misplaced; the music and direction are just bad.
“To be honest, I hate when [black women] celebs who make garbage music start saying this kind of stuff because it’s misleading,” X user @gingerIemons wrote in response to Pinnock. “Like, yes, the black pop girls are graded on a harsher scale than others, but also, the music has to be GOOD, and Little Mix is not that. Stop expecting support just because you’re part black.”
“Even tho I agree with her, the issue these three have isn’t the lack of talent… It’s the musical quality,” X user @ JAPANESEBLACK responded to Pinnock’s statement.
Regardless of what pop fans believe, many people are still waiting for the next generation of mainstream Black pop stars.
@DAWNEJPG (IG) DB948724@OHIO.EDU
Emily’s Evidence | Bloom where you’re planted this spring
taking a break is hugely consequential to the amount of work you get done, remember it may be the opposite if you don’t take a minute to stop and breathe.
Letting go of drinking to stay cool
Let’s face it, drinking culture is prominent on college campuses. Even so, there’s a large association between drinking and being able to make friends.
According to the Public Health Institute, a 2025 study found that over half of college students reported alcoholrelated harms from others. Not only are you compromising personal identity, but also exposing yourself to an increased risk of harm.
I’m here to tell you that is not the case, and if you feel a friend or someone is pressuring you to drink, then they aren’t a friend you should waste your time with.
A classmate, study buddy or even someone you meet at trivia on Court Street can become a meaningful connection.
Stop letting other people
determine your self-worth
This is especially relevant for women and the relationships they build in college. It’s easy to compare yourself to others’ clothes, followers or appearance, when in reality your own value comes from within.
A lot of this is in accordance with social media, with an increase in screen time correlated to both cyberbullying and general bullying behavior, according to UNESCO.
So, in other words, remember your worth. You have value, you matter, and more than anything, you are your own person, not defined by others’ perspectives.
The ability to choose is powerful, and I think being able to drive the change you want to see is an important part of taking control of personal happiness.
Commit to celebrating the small wins in each day
I’m a big proponent of celebrating everything, even if it is the little things. Life is more fulfilling with joy and
whimsy.
Those moments matter more than you realize. There’s real science behind celebrating them, according to Southern New Hampshire University. In reality, life is far too short to let things go uncelebrated, and you work too hard not to appreciate your mind, soul and body carrying you through the semester. Hit the confetti cannon!
Give compliments to other people
Another thing I personally hope to bring in this season is giving compliments to others, just for fun. Not only does it strengthen personal social skills, but according to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, it boosts self-esteem for both people. Uplifting others costs nothing, and I think personally it makes one a generally happier person. Similarly to celebrating the little wins, it also makes everyday life more fun. Sharing the love with other people could easily make their day, and that is more important than anything.
Throw casual dance parties
To round out my list of things we should be bringing in and letting go of this season, I propose casual dance parties. Why wait for a Friday night pre-game when you could wait for your cup of coffee to brew or brush your teeth at night with a funky soundtrack?
According to an article from Harvard Medical School, movement has been found to be positive for neurological coordination. The link between dance as therapy is real and ever-changing. Science has the ability to discover new things constantly, especially when it comes to improving mental health. Who knows where we will be years from now! Start building habits. While the birds are chirping and the spring season has begun, think about some of these ins and outs for the current season as new parts of your life to adopt. Just as flowers bloom, so can better habits.
With love, Emily
CLARA LEDER
ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR
Mars, the planet of action and passion, will move into its ruling sign, Aries, on April 9. This brings impulsive energy, and you might feel increasingly competitive, courageous and more likely to act on an urge.
Expect fiery energy, direct communication and bluntness to be prominent this week as the remnants of the Pink Moon dare us all to be honest with ourselves and in our relationships.
Aries (March 21–April 19):
Aries, this week you are the star of the show. Mars in your sign brings an extra edge of confidence and ambition. This is a great time to make a bold move. Bring up what has been bothering you, send the text and remember your goals. As you move through the week, challenge yourself to reject doubt and push through your own fears.
Taurus (April 20–May 20):
Taurus, you have been drained over the last few weeks. This week invites you to take your energy inward. Focus on places and people that make you feel safe. Expect a quieter, peaceful time this week as you come back to yourself. Let your people in, as their energy will help replenish you. Enjoy your reflective reset week.
HOROSCOPE
Gemini (May 21–June 20):
Gemini, you have been feeling extra social and growing more connected with your people. This week, channel that energy you have been putting into others into yourself. Reflect on your goals, and continue to dream about the big plans you have. Remind yourself you can do it, then go get a drink with your friends. You have been working hard.
Cancer (June 21–July 22):
Your emotions will take a toll on you this week as you might learn of career changes or growing responsibilities, Cancer. Pressure follows you this week as you focus on the expectations you have for yourself. It’s important now more than ever to stay grounded in yourself. Take it one step at a time and focus on the meaningful moments.
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22):
Expect an exciting week full of new experiences and increased energy. The universe rewards curiosity. You have big dreams; answer your own “what ifs” with action. Don’t ignore your feelings this week, ground yourself in your own truth as you move along and go after what you desire.
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sep. 22):
This is a very productive week for you, Virgo, if you continue to build upon
CROSSWORD
your routines and channel your stress. Reassess your priorities and, in the final weeks of the school year, let go of some responsibilities; instead, focus on manageable milestones. Do one thing you’ve been seriously avoiding this week, then follow through. Show yourself you can.
Libra (Sep. 23–Oct. 22):
You’re going to experience relationship tension and pressure this week. Remember to maintain emotional stability, speak from the heart and clearly communicate through struggles. This is a time to stop overreacting and instead face the problem head-on. You might also experience unexpected changes in your career path. Whew! Hold on tight, Libra.
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21):
This week, the Aries energy begs you to focus on present responsibilities and not rush decisions. Take time to do what you do best, inner reflection. You might have a problem you haven’t solved or a decision you’ve been avoiding. In order to move past it, you need to take a patient approach. You know what you need to do; it’s all about staying steady to strategically get there. Focus on your own capabilities.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21):
Embrace the confidence you have been building and go after what you want this week. The universe rewards bold moves in love and creative endeavors. Pay attention to what excites you and
remember to pour intentional energy into it. Use your momentum wisely and take care of what takes care of you with passion.
Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19):
Capricorn, this week will feel a bit scattered. You have been working to embrace change, and this week you might find yourself needing to have honest or hard conversations you’ve been avoiding. Focus on the balance between personal life and the outside world. It’s important to stay flexible this week and remind yourself of your inner strength.
Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18):
You’ll come out of your cocoon this week, Aquarius. Expect an increase in energy. The time of feeling low is over; get outside and be social; this will help you not to feel so overwhelmed. Your mood will increase this week as work life will become more manageable and clear. Focus on your priorities this week and hug yourself. The tides are turning for you and you’ve made it here.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20):
This week, stay grounded in recent insights. Pay attention to how you have been feeling; your momentum is changing. Use that to focus on how to practically fulfill your desires. Your career will head toward success. Small wins will propel you forward this week, but watch your head; make sure it doesn’t get too far up in the clouds.
SUDOKU
April 3 marks first annual Jane Goodall Day
CAITLYN VANCE FOR THE POST
The Jane Goodall Institute declared April 3 Dr. Jane Goodall Day, in celebration of the conservationist’s birthday and legacy.
Goodall, who died October 2025 at age 91, was an anthropologist and primatologist who shifted the world’s understanding of chimpanzees.
Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute was founded to support Goodall’s research in Tanzania. Since then, it has grown into a global non-profit committed to wildlife research that prioritizes communitycentered learning.
The April 3 celebration is intended to honor Goodall by promoting the performance of acts of goodwill, of any size. Those partaking can share their deeds using #GoodAllDay on social media.
“The idea is simple: do good, all day,” the institute’s website read.
The official Jane Goodall Facebook account announced the celebration March 23 and users took to the comment section of the post to share their appreciation for the renowned activist.
Some shared stories of meeting her, and others explained the impact she had on their attention to environmental change.
User Elise Seidman Salisbury, who met Goodall in 2018, shared that Goodall had advised Salisbury’s young son, who was
‘Daredevil:
interested in wild animals.
“She said start locally, Salisbury wrote. “He began working at our local nature center and then got his degree in conservation biology. He now works for a different conservation education organization in land stewardship.”
Another user, Margaret Thomas, shared changes they have made in response to Goodall’s mission.
“Our senior community is no longer using Styrofoam,” Thomas said. “We simply carry a container if we want to take food home, and we are happy with the outcome so far.”
Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals, shared an article from HWA about Goodall alongside a brief message on Goodall’s impact on animal welfare.
“Jane Goodall was a beacon for all of us who are trying to make the world a better place for animals,” Block wrote in a LinkedIn post.
The article, written by Jeffrey Flocken, describes the impact Goodall had on animals and conservationists.
“Like many others in the animal welfare and wildlife conservation field, I was inspired by Jane for my whole career,” Flocken wrote. “She was also someone whom I was lucky enough to collaborate with and consider a friend.”
Flocken, a prominent animal welfare advocate and awardwinning author, is a cofounder of Emerging Wildlife
Conservation Leaders, which mentors up-and-coming conservationists.
Additionally, Flocken interviewed Goodall in 2023 for HWA’s All Animals magazine; the two discussed her observation of chimpanzees and hope for the future of conservation.
The institute’s youth-led community action program, Roots & Shoots, spent April 3 not only celebrating Goodall, but also its 35th anniversary.
The program, founded by Goodall in 1991, partners with young people in more than 60 countries to address issues in their communities.
Young people can honor Goodall by creating a profile on the Roots & Shoots site.
On March 30, the Facebook account shared a few ideas for ways to celebrate Goodall’s legacy on April 3.
“Take action in her name,” the post read. “Ask yourself, ‘what would Jane do?’ and act.”
Whether it is as simple as practicing kindness to those around you or even hosting a community cleanup event, the institute shared that all practices of bettering communities are honorable and a remembrance of Goodall.
“Jane taught us that hope is action,” the institution’s website reads. “When you give, you create real change in animal welfare, scientific innovation, youth action, climate solutions and ecosystem restoration.”
Born Again’ season two shows promise in first three episodes
The second season of Marvel Studios’ “Daredevil: Born Again” (2025) is officially streaming, with the first three episodes available on Disney+. These episodes make it clear the show is in better hands than it was in season one.
Season one was messy with how a new creative team was supposed to complete a storyline with creative elements that weren’t theirs to begin with. This time, showrunner Dario Scardapane and filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead craft a far stronger storyline, with characters driving the plot.
Compared to the first season, season two, so far, has all of its characters involved in the plot in a way that makes sense. Previously, a handful of the secondary characters, like Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva) and Cherry (Clark Johnson), often did not provide much to the story.
The main characters like Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) are written with great agency. They aren’t standing around seemingly waiting for something to occur like last season.
This season of “Daredevil: Born Again” takes place
some time after the events of season one. Kingpin targets Murdock/Daredevil and Page through his Anti-Vigilante Task Force, while the duo works to leak information about his nefarious activities as Mayor of New York City.
Meanwhile, trials are being held for captured vigilantes like Jack Duquesne/ Swordsman (Tony Dalton), with Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James) representing them as his attorney. Glenn, hired by Kingpin during last season’s finale, conducts psychological examinations on Duquesne, and she falsely classifies him as a psychopath.
Glenn is still reeling from the trauma of her experience with Muse/ Bastian Cooper (Hunter Doohan), and she often takes Kingpin’s side in actions against the vigilantes.
Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) is similar to Glenn in that she is consistently anxious about the whereabouts of a violent vigilante. Benjamin Poindexter, also known as Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), is a recurring part of her nightmares.
A technical aspect that has always been a point of discussion when comparing “Daredevil: Born Again” to the original “Daredevil” (2015-18) series, previously on Netflix, is cinematography.
While these shows are canon to one another, they are produced under different showrunners and circumstances. It’s important to acknowledge that. However, the look of “Daredevil: Born Again” is worth criticism.
The first season did have an overall desaturated, and frankly, visually unappealing look compared to the Netflix version. The original show was gorgeous; it felt like a literal comic book coming to life and appearing on a television screen.
Season two does shake this up and has better shot composition, lighting, staging and color usage. It still is not what the original series was, but at least it is a vast improvement over season one.
Fight choreography and stuntwork were also significantly upgraded. The fight scenes with Daredevil in season two have been masterfully done. Without giving anything away, there’s a one-take fight sequence with Daredevil, including other characters that directly mirrors the Netflix series.
It’s hard to say exactly how the rest of season two will unfold in the following weeks.
Right now, “Daredevil: Born Again” is better in nearly every category than its first season.
I’m a Navy veteran, software engineer, and Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio’s 12th district. I’m running a grassroots campaign to unseat Rep. Troy Balderson, a Republican who consistently votes in support of lobbying groups, super PACs, and his billionaire donors. It’s time to give power back to Ohio’s working class.
No amount of money will change my positions. I don’t care about being a good Democrat or politician. I care about being a good American.
EARLY VOTING STARTS APR. 7, THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS MAY 5, the GENERAL election is Nov. 3
THE ISSUES
GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Money has distorted our politics so badly that people barely recognize the system anymore. When the Supreme Court handed down Citizens United, it opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending and told the richest voices in the country they could drown out everyone else. Billionaires should not have a louder voice than a teacher, a mechanic, a nurse or a janitor. If we are serious about self-government, we have to end Citizens United, cap campaign spending, and make it clear that elections are not auctions. Lobbying as it exists today is legalized bribery with paperwork. Corporate interests and well-funded groups swarm Washington to extract policy that benefits them, not the people. Dark money flows through shell organizations so voters cannot even see who is pulling the strings. And yes, foreign interest groups should not be shaping our laws. That includes banning foreign-linked organizations, including groups like AIPAC, from influencing elected officials through campaign cash or political pressure. If you represent Americans, your loyalty and your funding should come from Americans. Clean up the money, expose every dollar, and watch how quickly policy starts reflecting working families instead of donor-class wishlists.
PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY
The government is not some distant machine. It is us. And in a healthy republic, the people hold the power. That means protecting the right to vote with the seriousness it deserves. We should pass the Voting Rights Act and fully restore the protections that were stripped away after Shelby County v. Holder. When federal oversight was weakened, states were free to pass laws that made it harder for certain communities to vote. An updated framework like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would reestablish clear guardrails against discrimination and ensure that changes to voting laws are reviewed before harm is done. Protecting democracy means making sure every eligible citizen can cast a ballot without unnecessary barriers and know it will count. The government should answer to the people. And if those in power ever forget that, the ballot box is how we remind them.
JUDE HANNAHS SPORTS STAFF WRITER
Weekender
ETHAN HERX FOR THE POST
Tuesday, April 7
The Alumni Association is hosting the 2026 Student Research and Creative Activity Expo at Walter Fieldhouse from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students presenting should check in by 8:30 a.m., judging takes place from 9-11:30 a.m. and projects are open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission: Free
Big Run Kava Bar, 72 N. Court St., is holding its weekly open mic night, hosted by Savanna Rion from 7-9 p.m.
Admission: Free
The Union Bar, 18 W. Union St., hosts its weekly game night. The downstairs bar opens at 4 p.m. Bingo is from 6-8 p.m. Trivia begins at 9 p.m.
Admission: Free Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, is hosting its monthly open mic night from 7-9 p.m.
Admission: Free with registration
The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., is screening the film “No Sleep Til Kyiv” at 7 p.m.
Admission: Suggested donation of $10, ticket required
The Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts is hosting a concert by Nella in Baker Center Theater from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Admission: $5 for students, $8 for seniors, $10 otherwise
Wednesday, April 8
Culinary Services is hosting the District’s Spring Carnival in Boyd Hall from 5-8 p.m.
Admission: Meal swipe or equivalent payment
The Union is hosting its monthly “Locals Only” show. The lineup includes Miss Crimson, Ananke, Twerp, CAMEØ and Burn Down Nelson. Doors open at 8 p.m., music begins at 8:30 p.m.
Admission: $5
Thursday, April 9
Aly & AJ are performing at Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as part of their “Places to Run” tour. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $25-45
The Athena Cinema is screening the film “The Dukes of Hazzard” as part of its “From the Hills and Hollers” series. Nerissa Young is doing a pre-film presentation. The film begins at 7 p.m.
Admission: Free, tickets required
Friday, April 10
Well Being & Recreation is hosting Mom’s Weekend ziplining at the Outdoor Pursuits Challenge Course from 3-6 p.m. Ziplining opportunities are also available on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Admission: $20 Cats’ Cupboard is holding
Rhythm & Food finds harmony in the kitchen
a baby item drive in the third floor atrium of Baker University Center all day. The drive takes place through Sunday.
Admission: Free
Culinary Services is hosting a “moms eat free” day as part of Mom’s Weekend across all culinary venues from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Moms eat free with their student’s meal swipes.
Admission: Meal swipe
The Voinovich School is hosting a pop-up thrift shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Morton Field.
Admission: Free
The Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Lane, is hosting its annual craft festival from 3-8 p.m. Over 40 vendors will be in attendance. The fair will also run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission: Free
Saturday, April 11
The International Street Fair takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Union Street between Court Street and University Terrace.
Admission: Free
Ohio Softball plays a doubleheader against Bowling Green at the softball field beginning at 1 p.m.
Admission: $3 - $7
Pink Floyd cover band Any Colour is performing at The Union. Doors open at 8 p.m., music begins at 9 p.m.
Admission: $20.85 for ages 18-21, $17.68 for 21+
University Courtyard Apartments, 366 Richland Ave., is hosting its third annual Mom’s Weekend Art & Craft Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Little Professor Book Center, 65 S. Court St., is hosting a Mom’s Weekend book-making event from noon to 2 p.m.
Admission: $10
Big Run Kava Bar is hosting a cat adoption event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in partnership with Feral Ladies Cat Rescue.
Admission: Free
Sunday, April 12
Ohio Softball plays against Bowling Green at the softball field at 12 p.m.
Admission: $3 - $7
The College of Fine Arts is hosting a concert by the Klinder String Quartet in the Glidden Recital Hall at 6 p.m.
Admission: Free
The Center for International Studies is hosting the Athens Festival of Colors in honor of Holi from 2-4 p.m. at the West State Street Park, 398 W. State St., Shelter 2. All are welcome.
Admission: Free
As part of Mom’s Weekend, there will be a “Brunch & Bouquets” event from 10 a.m. to noon in the Baker Center Ballroom. Food is available and participants are encouraged to create bouquets.
Admission: Free
AMBERLEE GLADWELL FOR THE POST
Sounds of sizzling grills, laughter, orders being placed and live music form the kind of music Ronnie Givens hears only when cooking his specialty sandwiches at Rhythm & Food.
“Music and food are my two favorite things,” Givens said. Givens and Lucricia Dotson own and operate the Athensbased food trailer. The partners opened for business in 2022.
“COVID had everything shut down,” Givens said. “I’m a people person. I like to socialize. I like connecting with different people. And it seemed like all that was coming to an end. There was a lot of just delivery food, nobody can go sit down in the restaurants and socialize. And I’m like, ‘What can I do that could bring the food to the people?’”
With more than 20 years of experience in contract food services, military cooking and training at the Art Institute of Cincinnati, paired with Dotson’s hospitality background, the partners had the skills to get started.
Deciding what food to serve was easy. Getting the trailer ready, however, was “a little bumpy,” Givens said, with not much knowledge of electrical components. It took an “overhaul” to get the trailer up to code.
“I was like, ‘I just want to do sandwiches,’” Givens said. “It’ll be something that I can get out fast. I like sandwiches. It’s something that people can grab and go and don’t have to wait too long for.”
Prices range from $6 to $12 for the sandwiches with drink options as well. Gluten free bread and vegan cheese are also available to accommodate dietary needs and preferences.
Once it was up and running, Givens said the truck was a change of pace.
“Before I started this, I was in corporate dining and contract food service,” Givens said. “I felt like I was a hamster on one
of those wheels, and every day I come in and I do the same thing in the same place, with not that many windows … This gives me a chance to be out there … talking to different people, hearing music, hearing bands, seeing reactions, really connecting with the community.”
Dotson and Givens sometimes have two additional workers on the sandwich line.
The fast-paced environment on a busy day feels different from an office job, though it is not without challenges, Givens said.
“We’ve all been working with each other now for a couple years, so our crew is all used to each other,” Givens said.
“We know when somebody needs to tag out and cover the register or tag out and jump on the grill.”
The trailer appears at events around Athens, including the Ohio Pawpaw Festival and Nelsonville Music Festival.
“My mom used to cook on Sundays,” Givens said. “She’s cooking food and cleaning the house, but always got music playing. Now, I’m cooking food and there’s music playing because there’s bands at the event or something; it’s an awesome feeling.”
Even without a live performance, cooking provides a groove where Givens can find himself.
“When I’m in that zone and I’m cooking my food, there’s a song being played, and it’s like a rhythm to the cooking,” Givens said. “You’re hearing the sizzle of the grill, and you’re looking at all the different colors, and you’re putting everything together, and you’re just creating a song, and then you see people eating and laughing and talking.”
The conjunction of food and music is something both owners enjoy. Givens said he and Dotson are always on the lookout for food trucks and bars when traveling.
Dotson said seeing Givens’ passion for cooking is one of her favorite aspects about owning the trailer.
“He does all the cooking — I try to stay away from it — but
having that opportunity to at least be there while he’s doing what he loves and being a part of it,” Dotson said. “Being a part of it is where it matters, that’s what is most important to me.”
When Rhythm & Food first opened, customers could build their own sandwich with opportunities to create special combinations. The trailer transitioned to a menu of sandwiches that can be modified.
“Keeping a simpler menu with about four items works better than having all this other stuff that may not get ordered or it’ll take too long to get it out the window,” Givens said.
Some of Rhythm & Food’s most popular sandwiches are classic combinations, including the chicken bacon ranch and the cheesy grilled cheese, with American cheese and cheese sauce.
Other sandwiches are Givens’ creations. The Heavy on the Hog features bacon, pickles, pulled pork and cheddar cheese on Texas toast.
“This is a massive sandwich,” Givens said. “So you couldn’t just call it pulled pork and cheese. I was like, ‘this is heavy on the hog.’”
Natasia Steele, a sophomore studying early childhood education, never tried Rhythm & Food before. Although Steele is not the biggest fan of meat and cheese, she said she would try most of the menu.
Steele said the caprese sandwich, with tomato, mozzarella, balsamic reduction and pesto sounds like her “wildest dreams” and “so yum.” Dotson and Givens plan to come up with additional sandwich ideas and find rhythm in the kitchen with support from Athens’ locals.
“It’s a real humbling experience,” Givens said. “It makes you feel like you’re just not punching the clock; you’re doing something you love. You’re with people you love, people that care about you. And although it’s stressful at times, we’re also having fun.”
Hyacinth Bean / continued from pg 1
Genney said she saw a variety of people in the store, and mentioned how Creech is a “wonderful lady,” and deserves retirement.
Whitney Walls said they never closed the store during the owner transition. She said Creech came to her earlier this year and asked if she would take over the business.
“So she’s been doing this a long time,” Whitney Walls said. “This was her dream, and she was able to bring that to fruition, which is fantastic. And so she came to me, I believe, in October, and we kind of started talking about me buying it from her, and so she can still work a couple days, but not to do all the ownership things.”
Whitney Walls said she got to know Hyacinth Bean by working there for three years, and her favorite flowers are lavender and roses. She said they finished putting the utilities and other official documents into their name, and reorganized their products and floral arrangements throughout the store.
The shop has many antique
collectables, such as vases, tiny painted figurines and other vintage items to hold pots and plants. They have a section for Passionworks art for sale, jewelry, soaps, handmade items and lucky charms.
Hyacinth Bean offers many kinds of arrangements for every occasion, including anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations and other celebrations. The flower arrangements for “just because” range from $70 to $160, and birthday arrangements range from $50 to $225. Other pricing information is available on the website.
Whitney Walls said Athens is a “diverse community” and thinks it’s fun to see many different people and have a new project daily. She said Hyacinth Bean does subscriptions and standing orders for those who wish to have flowers weekly at their business or home. It delivers in Athens County and can help send flowers to any location.
“We do wire outs, which means we can help customers send flowers outside of our
area,” Whitney Walls said. “We help them pick a florist to fulfill it. And we can do that even internationally.”
As for where the shop gets its live greenery, Whitney Walls said this time of year is special because more locally sourced flowers are available.
“We just got a lot of tulips from East of Shade,” Whitney Walls said. “She’s a flower farmer, and fantastic. And there are some other ones too, but we have a wholesale company in Columbus that we get flowers from year-round.”
As for the future of the shop, Whitney Walls plans on engaging the community more with workshops. On Saturday, April 11, Hyacinth Bean is hosting a “Pick a Plant, Paint a Pot” workshop, which is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is $25 per person, and registration is encouraged to reserve a spot.
To register for the workshop, email hyacinthbean26@gmail. com or visit its Facebook and website for more information on upcoming events and arrangements.
MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST
MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY