November 9, 2023

DATE DATE DATE NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Moments to last a lifetime A look into soccer’s historic 2023 season

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A roundup of election results

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How OU Veterans are celebrating Veterans Day

19

Get to know some of Ohio’s star players

New scholarship to allow high school graduates to attend OU for free SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST When Lori Stewart Gonzalez–the 23rd president of Ohio University–was welcomed at her Presidential Inauguration on Oct. 18, she announced a new scholarship for students living in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington Counties.

The Opportunity Promise Award is a renewable scholarship that allows students in surrounding counties to attend Ohio University tuition-free, according to an OU news release.

To receive the Promise Award, students must graduate high school with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be Pell Grant eligible. Students will have to submit an application for OU and for the scholarship by the early decision deadline, Nov. 15, 2023.

Not only will students attend OU tuition-free, but qualified applicants get automatic general admission to the Athens campus.

“This is an expansion of our ongoing commitment to access and affordability, and to serving the students of our region,” Gonzalez said during her address.

The pilot program will cover the remaining costs of in-state tuition and mandatory fees after Pell and other gift aid are applied during a student’s four years at OU, according to the release.

“The intent is great, especially for students who would not perceive themselves as able to afford to go to college or do not have the resources to figure out how to afford

college,” Chad Springer, principal of Athens High School, said. “You know, a lot of them are first-generation students.”

Attending college free of tuition will hopefully encourage students who have never had college on their radar to apply, Springer said.

“Athens County is one of the poorest, if not still the poorest county in Ohio,” Ky Sweet, a junior studying public health and minoring in environmental health science and anthropology, said.

Sweet graduated from Athens High School in 2021. Sweet said many people that she went to high school with had not even thought of college because of financial reasons.

“I think that it's going to help a lot of people continue their education beyond Athens High which is definitely necessary,” Sweet said.

Springer said that not only will this open opportunities for high school students, but it will also help the Athens community.

“If we have more people from this area, whose families live in this area, able to go to college and remain in this area, it is beneficial to the greater Athens area in lieu of students pursuing a degree here and then moving five states away,” Springer said.

“We want to invest in our community also.”

@_SUZIEPIPER SP249021@OHIO.EDU

President Lori Gonzalez during her induction ceremony held in Memorial Auditorium in Athens, Ohio, Oct. 18, 2023. (ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY) COVER BY JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST

2 / NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Officers deal with injured deer, burglary in Wilson Hall KENDALL WRIGHT FOR THE POST Lights off, someone’s home A case of identity theft was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

A man told deputies someone called American Electric Power, or AEP, with the caller’s account information and asked to shut off the caller’s power.

Deputies told the caller to contact AEP to add more security measures to his account.

Silly freshman…

An ambulance was requested to Jefferson Hall, according to the Ohio University Police Department, or OUPD. OUPD officers also cited a student for disorderly conduct by intoxication and for possessing a fake ID. Straight shot A man shooting his firearm in an unsafe direction on Plantsville Road, Chesterhill, was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies attempted to locate the suspect, but upon arrival, they determined the suspect had left the scene before the officers arrived.

This isn’t “You” A reference of menacing by stalking at James Hall was reported to the Ohio University Police Department.

Officers took a report of actions taken by an individual from a previous relationship.

Wrong turn!

Criminal mischief at Liars Corner Road in Millfield was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The caller said someone ran over her mailbox. As of Friday, the case was closed due to a lead on a suspect.

Just a prank Suspicious activity at Mackinnon Hall was reported to OUPD. Officers took a report concerning posts made on social media. An investigation occurred, but no criminal evidence was found.

Need a place to park?

A suspicious vehicle on McDougal Road in Millfield was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The caller stated that the vehicle pulled into the complainant’s driveway, turned off the headlights, then backed out and drove away.

Upon arrival, deputies patrolled the area, but the vehicle had already left.

GIVE ME BACK MY BLANKIE A burglary at Wilson Hall was reported to the OUPD. OUPD officers took a report on an unknown individual going into a room and taking a personal item from the victim.

Deputies spoke with the owner of the vehicle and photographed the damage. As of Sunday, the investigation was pending.

Good thing Baker has 1,634,794 chairs A reference to destruction of property at Baker University Center was reported to OUPD. OUPD officers took a report for damage done to tables and chairs.

BAMBI NOOOOOOOOOO An injured deer on Wood Road in Albany was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

The deer had been injured in a motor vehicle accident, according to deputies. The deer was severely injured, and the officers disposed of it for humane purposes.

OUPD on the track Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported to Sandstone Apartments in The Plains after the stolen property had been located.

Sheriff’s Office deputies called OUPD, who came and collected the property.

Go graffiti on a wall or something A reference of vehicle vandalism in New Marshfield was reported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

@KENDALLKWRIGHT KW229520@OHIO.EDU

CAMPUS EVENTS November 10th - November 22nd Social Engagement & Student Org Events

November 12 Pioneer Tournament Magic the Gathering Club 5:15 -8:00 pm Little Professor Book Ctr arrive early to participate

SCAN

for more events

November 15 Diwali Celebration South Asian Student Assoc.

7:15 -9:00 pm Schoonover 130 November 16 Thanksgiving Crafts Best Buddies OU 7:00 -8:00 pm Ellis Hall 019 RSVP on Bobcat Connect

November 16 Mindfull Eating Event OUMBL CLub 6:00 -7:00 pm Patton College 306 RSVP on Bobcat Connect November 16 Legacy Game Day Bobcat Tabletop 5:30 -11:00 pm Living Learning Center

* To have your event included on this calendar make sure it is registered on Bobcat Connect!

November 17 Friday’s Live Host Emma Erion 4:00 -9:00 pm Studio C (RTV 515)

Bobcat Hockey

November 17 Indigenous Food Tasting 7:00 -9:00 pm Culinary Studio Jeff Marketplace

December 8 & 9 Ohio vs Kent Bird Arena 7:00 PM

December 1 & 2 Ohio vs Niagra Bird Arena 7:00 PM

November 17 High Ropes Open Climb 9:00am -1:00 pm Challenge Course The Ridges

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

Athens election roundup NEWS STAFF FOR THE POST Ohio’s Nov. 7 election passed two progressive issues on the state level, but it was business as usual for local Athens elections. To view the full breakdowns of all local issues, visit https://www.thepostathens.com/section/news.

Abortion rights enshrined in Ohio constitution Issue 1, an initiative to establish a right to reproductive health care in the Ohio Constitution passed. Reproductive care includes abortion, but it is not limited to abortion care. The issue allows abortion restrictions only if a fetus is deemed viable by a physician and not at risk to the carrier’s health.

According to a New York Times report, as of Nov. 8, it passed with 56% of the vote; 2,186,962 votes were in favor of the issue, and 1,675,728 votes, or 43% of the votes, were opposed.

“We found that people across the board were interested in getting that on the ballot,” Solvieg Spjeldnes, a democratic Athens resident, said. “It was like shooting fish in a barrel. I mean, of course, we did this in Athens, but even across the county and in other nearby counties, we got a lot of cooperation.”

Spjeldnes is the 1st ward representative on the Athens City Council, but she said her comments and work on Issue 1 were as a citizen, not a council member.

In Athens County, 12,583 votes, or 72% of votes, were in favor of the issue.

Recreational use and cultivation of marijuana legalized Similarly to Issue 1, Issue 2 passed, which legalizes the recreational use, sale and home-growing of marijuana in Ohio. It also established a 10% sales tax for adult recreational marijuana purchases on top of the existing sales tax.

According to a New York Times report, as of Nov. 8, 2,183,734 votes were in favor of the issue, which accounted for 57% of the votes; there were 1,649,384 votes, or 43%, votes against it. In Athens County, 12,096 votes, or 69% of votes cast, were in favor of Issue 2 passing.

The laws established by the issue will go into effect Dec. 7, 30 days after it passed.

Athens City Schools bond issue to replace high school passed The Athens City School District had a bond issue on the ballot for city residents to raise funds to build a new high school and eventually demolish the current one in The Plains.

The Athens City School District levy will increase taxpayers’ current property taxes by about $30 more in 2025 than in 2024 for every $100,000 of appraised value per year, ACSD Superintendent Tom Gibbs said.

The levy will provide ACSD with the funds it needs to construct a new high school. Gibbs said the property taxes associated with this levy will start being collected in 2025.

The school district bond issue passed with 4,658 votes or 58% of the vote for and 3,349 or 42% against.

“People in our community have continued to support our school district, and they know that education is important … they’ve been gracious to continue to support the school district when there’s need,” said ACSD School Board member

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Mayor Steve Patterson smiling during the watch party for the election at Pigskin Bar, in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. (CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

Sean Parsons.

Tax levy to fund Athens County Emergency Services (ACEMS) passed The funds will be used for various necessities and daily operations, including wages, trucks, buildings and insurance.

Rick Trask, a paramedic at ACEMS and president of the ACEMS International Association of Fire Fighters Local #5126, said the levy will also help raise the base pay for the paramedics within the ACEMS, which has been behind other emergency and medical services.

Amber Pyle, the ACEMS Chief, said an ACEMS levy has never failed in Athens County, and this passage continues to show support from the community.

The Athens County Emergency Medical Services levy will provide the department with $1,913,870 in additional tax revenue.

The county EMS tax levy passed with 10,508 votes, or 62% of the votes in favor, with 6,430 votes against, or 38% of the vote.

Patterson retains his position as mayor The only contested election in Athens city this November was the mayoral race between Democratic Incumbent Steve

Patterson and independent challenger Damon Krane.

It is the second race between the two, the first being in 2019. Patterson will serve his third term as Athens mayor.

“I would have to say, the trajectory that we’re on,” Patterson said. “There’s nothing that I would do any different to continue to accelerate the progressive movement here in the city of Athens.”

Initially, Patterson assumed office in 2016 after winning his first mayoral election in November 2015, when he ran unopposed and secured 100% of the vote.

Throughout his two terms as mayor, Patterson has focused on addressing limited affordable housing options in Athens and has actively investigated its root causes within the city.

He emphasized the challenge is not exclusive to Athens but a widespread issue across the nation. According to a previous Post report, he stressed that unless Athens takes steps to make housing more affordable, it won’t be able to attract new residents.

Damon Krane, Patterson’s opponent, said his budget for this year’s campaign was one-eighth of his budget in 2019.

“I think the outcome isn’t terribly surprising for that reason, but I’m happy with my performance,” Krane said. “I got new voters registered; I gave the city its only contested race;

I boosted the turnout for Issues 1 and 2.”

Patterson garnered 3,490 votes, whereas Krane received 816 votes and lost by 81%.

Athens City Council has new faces, but all candidates ran unopposed Each Athens City Council democratic candidate won their seat unopposed.

Former 3rd-Ward Councilmember Sam Crowl won the election for Council President with 3,659 votes, replacing Chris Knisley, who did not run for reelection.

“Sam is going to be a well-educated, well-versed Council president,” Mayor Patterson said. “President Chris Knisley did a fantastic job; I think the world of Chris Knisley … I think that (Crowl) is going to reflect a lot of what the decorum was with Chris Knisley.”

Michael Harrison Burchby Wood will be the new 3rd-Ward Councilmember, replacing Crowl. He received 934 votes.

Micah McCarey was reelected for his at-large Council seat with 2,724 votes, joined by Beth Clodfelter, who received 2,684 votes and Jessica Thomas, who received 2,653 votes, replacing Ben Ziff and Sarah Grace, who did not run for reelection.

“I know the new at-large candidates … and I feel as though they’re very competent. They’re very nice,” Councilmember Solveig Spjeldnes said.

Spjeldnes was reelected to the 1st-Ward seat and received 756 votes. Jeffrey Risner will return to the 2nd-Ward seat with 822 votes. Alan Swank will return to his 4th-Ward seat with 891 votes.

Auditor, treasurer and law director Kathy Hecht ran unopposed for the city auditor position, gaining 3,624 votes. She has held the position for 20 years.

The city auditor is responsible for supervising the Income Tax Department, overseeing payroll, accounts payable, fixed assets and estimating and reviewing the revenue that each source will generate throughout the year.

Hecht served on the Athens City Council two years before running for auditor.

“When I realized as a council member that we were struggling with resources and having enough money for additional or unexpected expenses in the general fund, I wanted to make sure that we could cover our expenses and things that we needed,” Hecht said.

Josh Thomas ran as a write-in for Athens city treasurer, winning with 331 votes after being appointed treasurer two years ago.

“I’m basically up for reelection because I was appointed into the position,” Thomas said. “Instead of actually just having a four-year term, if you’re appointed into a position like that, you have to kind of run in the next general election.”

He said the treasurer is responsible for overseeing the reconciliations of all the city accounts.

Lisa Eliason ran unopposed for the law director position, gaining 3,581 votes. She has held the position in Athens for the past eight years.

The law director is responsible for giving legal advice to city officials and supporting and defending Athens lawfully.

While it’s Eliason’s last term running for law director, she said she is confident the current assistant law director, Jesse Branner Hittle, will be a beneficial asset to the future law director.

Donovan Hunt, Anna Miller, Paige Fisher, Harshita Singhania, Payton Daugherty and Suzanne Piper contributed to this report.

Information provided by Athens County Board of Elections (ZOE CRANFILL | PHOTO EDITOR)

Poll workers putting boxes of ballots onto the cart outside of Board of Elections, in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. The election was about abortion rights and marijuana measures.

(CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

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Ohio University welcomed another record-breaking class this academic year, and bars in Athens had to prepare for more underage drinkers attempting to get into their establishments. On top of the underage drinking crackdown by the Athens Police Department, or APD, according to a previous Post report, as well as higher punishments for going over building capacity, Court Street’s main attractions have their hands full.

Many students spending their weekends on Court Street can easily notice an increased police presence. While some bars do not experience frequent police checks, bar employees have still observed a higher volume of police actions.

Jacob Motta, a first-year graduate student studying business and a bartender at Lucky’s Sports Tavern, has noted a larger police presence outside of the bars.

“For the first four or five weeks of the semester, I was still a barback before I became a bartender, so I was at the front door checking IDs,” Motta said. “As I would watch the street, I definitely noticed a lot more cops roaming around … they'd stay parked on the street and keep an eye on everything.”

Additionally, some bar employees have noticed more police walking in and out of the businesses they work for.

Mason Newberry, a sophomore studying finance and a barback and bouncer at Red Brick Tavern, has seen more and more police officers actually walk into bars. “(Police are) typically in (the bar) at least once a night,” Newberry said. “They go in, do a little walk around. They're there a lot more this year than when I was working last semester.”

Newberry noted that officers interact with bargoers very often when they do a walk-through as well.

“They usually talk to people almost every time they go in,” he said. “Sometimes they go in and they just stand there and kind of hope that that's enough to scare anybody who's potentially underage.”

Some bars have not experienced an increase in police walk-throughs or checks. In contrast, even on weekends, certain businesses may not see a single officer, and they may only get a visit from APD on big weekends.

Jack Johnson, a junior studying political science and a

bartender at The Pigskin, shared his experience –or lack thereof–with the police in the bar where he works.

“I have not, but in previous years, I mean, they would just walk in no questions,” Johnson said. “Even this Halloween, I wasn't really dealing with a (high police presence) like I did in the years before. Usually, my manager will tell me if I'm going to have an undercover come in. I'm supposed to be aware of it and look for the name and the date on their ID. But this Halloween, it was not like that.”

A big issue for the bars this year is also complying with the capacity rules set by the Athens Fire Department. Maintaining compliance with these capacity numbers is a high priority for bars, alongside preventing underage drinkers from entering.

“The fire marshals are really cracking down on capacity,” Motta said. “That's been a really big thing. Capacity has always been something that we had to watch for. Especially at the start of this new semester versus last semester before the summer started.”

Motta also shared that the bar owners have had meetings with local safety officials to ensure compliance from the local bars.

“I know that the fire marshals had a meeting with all of the bar owners and were like, ‘If you're caught over capacity, there's going to be bigger or some repercussions for you,’” he said. “Which again, plays into not letting underage people in to keep the crowd down.”

According to Newberry, certain bars in Athens may be targeted by police because of their reputations. However, those bars still have a commitment to create a legal and safe environment for their patrons. Newberry is hopeful the reputation of the bar he works at will improve.

“There's kind of this reputation that Red Brick has of being the freshman bar,” Newberry said. “I don't know about past years, but I know that now that's starting to really (change) in the sense of, we care about doing what's right. I know there've been many moments where I've had to break up fights or kick somebody out who was making other people uncomfortable, things like that. I think overall, from what I've heard…it's becoming a much better environment.”

@_JACKSON_MCCOY JM049122@OHIO.EDU

Students, parking officials discuss parking

Parking meters on Court Street in Athens, Ohio. Oct. 20, 2023.(ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

ABREANNA BLOSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER Parking in Athens is a puzzle, complicated by all of its complex pieces. Ohio University students and Athens residents are often left frustrated, plagued by costly citations and a lack of space to station their vehicles.

At the center of uptown parking citations and regulations is one sector of the Athens Police Department – Parking Enforcement.

According to the most recent Athens Police Department annual report, in 2021, parking enforcement efforts in the city resulted in 12,629 tickets being issued, generating approximately $734,884.23 of revenue for Athens City’s General Fund.

Captain Ralph Harvey supervises parking enforcement at the Athens Police Department. As he explained, people can become angry after receiving a citation. When citizens become frustrated with a citation, officials work to calmly resolve the issues at

hand.

“We try to let them explain their side of it, let them vent,” Harvey said. “Then we try to explain to them why that law is the way it is.

A lot of the time they don’t understand and sometimes they don’t like it.”

According to Harvey, there have been extreme situations as a result of a frustrated citizen who has received a ticket.

“We have people that kind of fly off the handle,” Harvey said. “We’ve had problems.

We’ve had parking officers… people have tried to hit them with their cars.”

Most recently, Harvey recalled an instance where an individual received a citation for failing to pay their meter. The individual became enraged with the parking officer.

“They were following one of our parking officers,” Harvey said. “He was trying to come back to the office because this person was just flipping out on them, yelling and screaming, cussing them out and kind of

threatening him.”

However, these cases are extreme. Harvey said most of the time, citizens at the receiving end of a citation are reasonable and parking officers are often kindly willing to explain a citation.

There are five parking officers within the city of Athens, according to Harvey. Their duties include enforcement, money collection and meter repair. One of these officers is Jonathan Smart. Smart said he is always ready and eager to explain a citation to a citizen.

“If I end up having to cite a vehicle, I try to make it a point that I educate them on why it was cited to begin with, and how they can avoid that and all future occurrences,” Smart said.

Smart shares a range of advice for students and residents looking to avoid citations. For example, he suggested paying the meter no matter how long someone is going to be away from their vehicle.

“A lot of times, we don't know if people have been gone for a few seconds or a few hours,” Smart said. “So generally, if we have a vehicle that has an unpaid meter, we have to enforce them as unbiased as possible.”

Smart also suggested that individuals parking in Athens avoid bagged meters, always read signs near parking spaces and avoid parking in front of fire hydrants or alleys.

“As long as you pay your meter and you're parked within the lines, that's 90% of the trouble, so you're almost there,” Smart said.

Clay Lewis, a senior studying chemistry, said over the years, he has received a multitude of tickets. But he believes he has mustered up a recipe to avoid citations and park responsibly as an OU student. For example, Lewis suggested that students park in metered university lots, rather than trying to find a space uptown.

Even though Lewis has found parking success, he still has frustrations with citations.

“If it was up to me, I would say no tickets, but I guess that's unrealistic,” Lewis said. “I think the price for the tickets is a little out there. I don't think there's any reason for them to be as expensive as they are.”

Similarly, Alex Lorenz, a junior studying aviation, explained parking in university lots can be frustrating.

“I am a commuter student,” Lorenz said.

“It makes parking an absolute nightmare.”

When The Convo lot is closed, commuter students must find alternative parking. Lorenz said there have been occasions when university parking fails him and he turns to Athens city parking.

“I think the city of Athens does a fairly decent job with their parking,” Lewis said. “On Court Street, there's plenty of street-side parking. A lot of people get ticketed, because they don't pay the meters. But, that's their problem, not the city's problem.”

Despite any frustrations or praises citizens of Athens may have with parking services, Smart said he has overall goals as a parking officer: safety and education of residents and students.

“I'd much rather (parking students) keep that money in their pocket and spend it on the expense of tuition and books and room and board,” Smart said. “If we have people come up to me, it makes my day to be able to answer questions.”

ABBYBLOSEE AB532721@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

The Veterans Center celebrates Veterans Day KAYLIN PICKETT FOR THE POST Ohio University’s five campuses are home to around 600 veterans and they are all connected through the Veterans and Military Student Services Center.

The Veterans and Military Student Services Center provides support and advocates for all military-affiliated students. This includes currently serving members of the military as well as spouses and dependents.

This program earned Ohio University a Yellow Ribbon and the designation of a Military Friendly School.

Its biggest role is helping to process VA educational benefits to help cover the costs of a college education.

“We have several students, veterans currently serving and dependents and spouses that are using some type of VA educational benefit to help offset the cost of college,” said retired Lt. Col. Terry St. Peter, the director of the Veterans Center.

They also provide support and advocate for students who get deployed and have to suddenly withdraw from school.

“We have a university policy letter that talks about that so that they can go through the process to get withdrawn from school without having financial implications,” St. Peter said. “Because they're being told to go there, they have no choice.”

The center also helps connect veterans to counseling services. It works closely with OU’s Counseling and Psychological Services on campus. There is also an outpatient program in Athens available to veterans.

It also has a number of programs to raise awareness of the veteran and military-affiliated students on campus and the challenges they face.

A student can go to the center if they experience any microaggressions or hostility on or off campus. It is there for any student who feels they are being treated unfairly due to their military status.

The staff does its best to make sure the center is a space veterans want to be in by providing computers, a free printer, a gaming room and drinks and snacks.

To celebrate the upcoming Veterans Day, the center is hosting a program on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the third floor of Baker University Center for students to come and meet student veterans. There, they will have a patch wall for anyone to add a unit patch.

“What we're asking folks to do is bring some patches from their units, when you’re in a unit you have a unique patch,” St. Peter said. “Even students who are not veterans, if their mom or dad were a veteran they might have a patch, they can bring the patch and tell a story.”

8 / NOVEMBER 9, 2023

ZOE CRANFILL | PHOTO EDITOR The goal of this event is to help the veterans on campus build connections and find people who may share similar experiences and for other students to learn more about their community on campus.

Nov. 16 and 17 the center is also hosting a campaign called Stop17 to raise awareness of the 17 veterans who are lost to suicide daily. They are asking people to come to Baker’s third floor and complete 17 repetitions of their favorite exercise to represent the 17 veterans.

“The important part is not what exercise you do, the 17 just represents those 17 folks we're going to lose that day,” St. Peter said.

“Once they complete that, we're going to give them a free T-shirt.”

The Veteran and Military Student Services is on campus to offer whatever support

they can to any veteran or military affiliate that needs it. All they need to do is reach out and ask for support.

“We obviously can't make you tell us what you're feeling or experiencing but if you're willing to field your problem to us, there's someone in this vicinity that's going to help find a solution,” said Ethan Barnes, a junior studying political science.

Barnes works at the Veterans Center through the VA work-study program and is responsible for helping veterans get the help they ask for as well as being an intermediary between the students and the VA. The center and the people working there want those who need help to reach out to them and emphasize that they care about the students' struggles.

“We want you to reach out, we want to

help you,” St. Peter said. “If you have questions, concerns or need assistance, that's what we're here for. The thing that keeps me up at night is worrying about students who are having issues and not coming to us for help until it's too late.”

@KAYLINPICKETT KP240121@OHIO.EDU

Athens Equitas Health Fall Fest will provide gender-affirming services ABREANNA BROSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER In an effort to make gender-affirming health care and services more accessible, the team at Equitas Health in Athens will be hosting the first annual Gender-Affirming Fall Fest.

The event will take place Friday, Nov. 10 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Athens Community Center Parking lot, located at 701 E. State St., and is free to all those interested.

Emilee Hemler, the Prevention Health Navigator at Equitas in Athens, said the Fall Fest will bring a number of services to Athens in an effort to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ residents. From gender-affirming haircuts to legal name change services and medical check-ups, Hemler said she hopes the event fosters community connection and support.

The event will offer free food provided by New Leaf Marketplace, along with music by DJ Barticus, a free clothing closet, financial counseling, a community resource fair and door prizes.

“What we’re wanting to do with this event is really focus on bringing gender-affirming, and whole-person health care services into one easy and accessible spot,” Hemler said.

During the event, the Equitas legal team and Southeastern Ohio Legal Services will be providing name change services to attendees.

Ward Bryson, the Health Advocacy Case Aid at Equitas in Athens, explained a legal name change can be costly and confusing.

The services at the Fall Fest will work to minimize these barriers.

Bryson also explained that the event will host gender-affirming hair stylists to provide free haircuts to reduce the stress of entering a salon.

“It can be really daunting just as a trans person to go and get your haircut,” Bryson said. “Salons are really gendered places and definitely cis folks don’t have to think about that in the same way.”

Gabriela Grijalva, a Medical Health Advocate for Equitas in Athens, said the Fall Fest will also provide a slew of medical services including free HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis testing as well as linkage to PrEP, a medication that can help reduce the chances of contracting HIV through sex.

Grijalva said there will be referrals to the Equitas mental health recovery team in addition to free condoms, lube and other swag items. A Mobile Outreach Vehicle will be on site for medical check-ups.

As Bryson explained, there is a vast array of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being introduced nationwide.

According to the ACLU, in Ohio alone, there are seven bills advancing in the Senate and House targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.

“There’s a lot of doom and gloom from folks who are transgender and who are non-binary, and in the world in the United States right now,” Bryson said. “We just want to make services accessible and we want to do it in a fun and welcoming way.”

Hemler explained that hosting events like the Fall Fest allows community members to navigate a tricky system with assistance from different allies and resources.

“An event like this is important because it creates an intentional space that celebrates and provides much-needed services to our

gender diverse, transgender and non-binary individuals who live in our community and beyond our community,” Hemler said.

Grijalva explained as an Athens native, they are enthused to be able to help host an event that fosters a sense of community among Athens LGBTQIA+ individuals.

“Reflecting on my experience growing up as a teenager and preteen, if I had known about the supportive environments and the supportive people and seen real-life, happy queer adults, it would have given me a lot of comfort within my own journey too,” Grijalva said.

For them, the first annual Gender-Affirming Fall Fest is an act of celebration and solidarity.

“Bringing visibility and bringing a sense of community and knowing that hey, we’re here, we’re queer, we exist,” Grijalva said.

“Really celebrating that is important, especially in trying times. We have a lot of legislation right now that’s targeting queer youth, so it’s really important to have these celebratory spaces of solidarity.”

@ABBYBLOSEE AB532721@OHIO.EDU

Members of Equitas Health in Athens pose for a photo while tabling on OU’s campus. (Provided by Equitas Health)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

Donna Lewis spreads breast cancer awareness in new single SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY FOR THE POST Halfway through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, iconic songwriter and platinum artist Donna Lewis released “The Messenger,” a single written in defiance of the cancer inhabiting her own body. The song is a prelude to her upcoming album, “Rooms With A View,” which dives deeper into her recent personal journey of struggle and healing.

Lewis’ diagnosis came in 2021, the same year she was due to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her chart-topping love ballad, “I Love You Always Forever,” as well as her debut album, “Now in a Minute.” A routine medical checkup was the catalyst of a year spent in treatment and surgery, instead of her anticipated year of tour dates and a live TV special. Despite the grueling process of medical care, Lewis kept writing and recording until she was prepared to release new music again.

“When I received my breast cancer diagnosis in 2021, it made me think about how I was living my life. I’ve always been pretty fit and healthy, so the news came as a total shock. Was my body out of balance? Was my life reduced to a mere checklist? It was a tough moment that made me question

whether I could rise above it. I saw cancer as an uninvited and unwelcome messenger - a dark dweller that I vowed to banish from my body with the support of my loving family, brilliant doctors and my art,” said Lewis.

The art she created during that time manifested into the recent single and forthcoming album, featuring renowned electronic artist and producer Holmes Ives. Lewis was introduced to Ives’ style when he reworked a track she had released, called “I Told You So,” in 2021. This event led to a desire for further collaboration, so she suggested they write a few songs together when she restarted her creative journey. The process was entirely remote, with Ives working up trip-hop and atmospheric tracks for Lewis to write lyrics to.

“The instrumental tracks that Holmes Ives sent me coaxed the lyrics from the pages of my journals and inspired an album of stories, unlocking fears and the climb to a healthier me - mind, body and spirit,” said Lewis.

While working on her new music, Lewis’ emotions associated with her treatment poured onto the page without any intention to do so, each set of lyrics representing the new chapter of her life that she was processing.

Some songs are more cryptic encapsulations of her trauma and fear, while others are blunt

Breast Cancer, a national breast cancer awareness movement for which she is to become an ambassador. The movement’s website offers the ability to donate to the cause.

Discussing the intentions of the album, Lewis said, “It is an offering of hope for anyone going through a dark tunnel. I am forever grateful to share it with you.”

observations about the details of her experience—the view from her hospital room, stories about her favorite nurse, etc. “Rooms With A View” was originally conceived as a four-track EP, which then grew to a full-length album fit to contain her multifaceted history.

“The Messenger” is mystifying from the very beginning. Ives’ electric production shines through in anticipation of Lewis’ vocalizations. The entrance of her airy, yet powerful voice is oddly sultry from the beginning, standing in defiance of the cancer in her body.

The three facets of the song – Lewis’ lilt, Ives’ soundscapes and the soft echo in the background – perfectly complement each other to create the imagery in Lewis’ head.

The solace Lewis found in her fresh creation is evident. Her vocals soar in simmering passion, painfully haunting and teasingly slow. Her lyrics are inspiring and masterfully enhanced by her talent for voice. The depth created by the rhythm completes the song’s mission to convey gratitude, courage and strength.

“The Messenger” is a pivotal step toward Donna Lewis’ most transformative album yet.

It is both a satisfying listen and an inspiring message of support for anyone who needs it, for any reason. Another show of support is Lewis’ involvement in Making Strides Against

@SOPHIAROOKS_ SR320421@OHIO.EDU

EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

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Diving into some of the most iconic films from the last 15 years GRACE KOENNECKE ASSISTANT EDITOR OF THE BEAT By now, most of Generation Z has watched movies like “Pitch Perfect,” “Easy A,” “The Perks Of Being a Wallflower,” “Superbad” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” These films contain relatable storylines and humorous characters and have become staples in this generation, as many people can lean on them for their emotional well-being.

As many of these movies were released within the last 10 years or so, let’s dive into what makes them so memorable after all this time: “Pitch Perfect” (2012) Within the last year, “Pitch Perfect” has resurfaced into the mainstream again simply for how funny it is. Starring well-known actors like Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine and Brittany Snow, the film gained traction at its release for its depiction of college a cappella and college life in general.

Tying in witty lines with outspoken characters like Fat Amy and Bumper, the movie has now become a Gen Z favorite for its plot and dialogue. If you haven’t seen this movie at least 10 times by now, you’re probably missing out on one of the most timeless comingof-age movies. “Pitch Perfect” will not leave you disappointed.

“Easy A” (2010) Starring Emma Stone, “Easy A” follows her character as she decides to spread a lie throughout her high school about losing her virginity due to her lack of popularity. However, she doesn’t stop lying, especially as she gets more attention from the popular crowd.

Becoming known for the wrong reasons, this movie is all about debunking the shame that comes with not being ready for sex and intimate relationships, which makes it utterly important for female-identifying viewers to see. A film that uses comedy and emotion to depict the awkwardness of being a teenage girl, “Easy A” remains an iconic film from this time period and into today because of its heartwarming themes of independence, making mistakes and owning your individuality.

“The Perks Of Being a Wallflower” (2012) The 2012 film “The Perks Of Being a Wallflower,” is based on the novel by Stephen Chbosky. What makes this film so good after 11 years is its sense of nostalgia. Tackling diverse and difficult subject matter like LGBTQIA+ issues, dating and relationships and sexual assault, the film deserves more praise for its sensitivity and accurate depic-

EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR tion of these topics. With amazing acting by Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, the movie will bring you to tears for its emphasis on meaningful friendships. Also, it lets viewers know that it’s okay to be introspective and introverted and that the right people will find you in the end, which is extremely moving.

“Superbad” (2007) While “Superbad” contains a lot of famous jokes and references, it also touches heavily on friendship and change. Following two high school seniors, played by Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, the film depicts the duo partaking in a crazy adventure as they prepare

to attend their first high school party. From meeting crazy cops to filling up a laundry detergent container with alcohol, Cera and Hill create a hilarious and somewhat relatable representation of what it means to be naive and unapologetically yourself in high school.

Also, the movie is simply notable for its wide range of characters like Fogell, aka McLovin, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Officer Slater, played by Bill Hader.

Cera as Scott Pilgrim, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers, Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers and more, the film had such an eccentric cast, with all of their characters working well together. Using Marvel-esque cinematography and scandalous humor, the movie caught viewers' attention for its play on romance and redemption as Cera tries to defeat all of Winstead’s ex-boyfriends.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010) “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is another movie from the last 15 years that has become beloved by not only fans of the comic book but Gen Z nerds, too. Starring Michael

@GRACE_KOE GK011320@OHIO.EDU

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The Beat staff reflects on GRACE BREZINE, GRACE KOENNECKE AND THE BEAT STAFF FOR THE POST

A

t The Post, there are many writers who have a love and passion for music and attribute certain artists and albums that helped shape their tastes and preferred genres. In The Beat section, it’s not hard to find college students who can’t name a favorite album of theirs, as the plethora of music in the world is the medium they gravitate most to.

Containing many music lovers, The Beat section members decided to reflect on their favorite albums and the artists who have left a lasting impact on their lives.

Grace Brezine, editor for The Beat (she/her) One of my favorite albums at the moment is, “For All The Dogs” by Drake. Due to the nostalgic sound of Drake’s early music and with features from some of my favorite artists, it’s placed at number one. Drake has always been one of my top artists because of the wide array of his music, ranging from rap to R&B. I really think he has the perfect mix of the two, and he’s someone I can listen to at any time of the day or any mood that I may be in. In my opinion, Drizzy really made a comeback with this album.

“Virginia Beach,” the opening track, is one that I always find myself listening to. I love the slow yet uplifting beat it has, and it always puts my friends and me in a good mood. Another favorite is “First Person Shooter (feat. J. Cole).”

This duo is unmatched, and their collaborations will never get old. Although this isn’t my favorite collab they have done, it’s a great song and gets me in the mood to have a good time. Last but not least, one of my favorite songs at the moment is “Rich Baby Daddy (feat. Sexyy Red & SZA).” This track is a consistent play between my friends and me, and it reminds me of the good memories we’ve been making recently. It’s catchy and puts a smile on my face. Overall, “For All The Dogs” is one of my favorite albums right now and may even be one of m y favorites from Drake.

Grace Koennecke, assistant editor for The Beat (she/ her) My favorite album at the moment is probably “After Laughter” by Paramore. The album really speaks to me because it talks so openly about mental

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health struggles, which is definitely interesting to see from the perspective of frontwoman Hayley Williams. Even though there are only 12 songs on the album, it still holds such significance since its release in 2017 because of its range and vulnerability. It has also become a staple in Paramore’s discography and is honestly one of its most experimental records since its start in 2005.

Some great moments on the album come with bangers like “Hard Times” and “Told You So.” Although these songs sound upbeat, their lyrical content holds a lot of weight, especially with lines like “Hard times / Gonna make you wonder why you even try / Hard times / Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry.” Other moments that proved Williams’ struggles with fame and her mental health come on pivotal peaks in the album like “Fake Happy” and “Tell Me How,” with Williams pushing her vocals to near tears after trying to maintain her self-esteem amid the pressures of looking happy for fans. Overall, the album has been highly influential not only among my views of what music can discuss with fans, but also with my writing and how I address my own mental health.

Elizabeth Talaga, freshman studying journalism (she/her) My favorite album at the moment, and probably of all time, is “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift. The original “1989” album was released in 2014 and was an album I played relentlessly over the past five or so years since I really got into Swift’s music.

Although it has only been a short two weeks since its release, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” has completely taken over my Apple Music history and has occupied all of the space in my brain. With five vault tracks,—songs that did not make the cut for the original album—I have gotten to experience new songs off the album while reveling in the excitement of listening to my favorite songs for the first time again.

While there has been some criticism of the album, I have found endless magic in these re-recordings. Songs like “Shake it Off” and “Style” are songs I have listened to incessantly over the years, and the subtle differences in the new “Taylor’s Version” songs have given me a chance to fall in love with them all over again. A majority of my favorite Taylor Swift songs are from “1989” and listening to them as essentially brand-new songs has been so much fun. I am currently obsessed with “I Know Places (Taylor’s Version)” and

“Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” I have tortured my earbuds with the constant streaming of these tracks. The release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” has been my favorite Taylor Swift moment and memory, and the album will always occupy a large space in my heart.

Sophia Anness, freshman studying journalism (she/her) Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” is one that I have had on repeat throughout the fall season. Kahan has introduced a whole new genre of music that I did not even realize I loved. The folk album is an extended edition of his 2022 album “Stick Season” because Kahan felt like what he put out was incomplete.

It tells a beautiful story about reliving childhood memories, battling heartbreak and resenting living in a small town through a variety of songs.

Each song has a special place in my heart, and it is hard to choose a favorite when the songs are so different but so meaningful. “You’re Gonna Go Far” is an addition to the original “Stick Season” album, and it assures listeners that it’s okay to leave home. This song in particular helped me with my transition from high school to college because I had a hard time leaving behind family and friends as I took on a new chapter. Other songs on the album, such as “Northern Attitude” and “Dial Drunk,” have so much emotion behind them, but they also hold so much power. Kahan has a habit of writing verses that build and it’s as though the music comes to life through the choruses. He is an artist who has inspired me and is one to look out for in the future.

Alicia Szczesniak, junior studying journalism (she/her) As the nights get longer and colder, I find myself returning to old favorites that fit the vibe of the season. Lord Huron’s 2018 album “Vide Noir” does just that. It fits more than just one vibe though, it fits EVERY vibe. If I’m on a long latenight drive, I default to the cosmic “Lost in Time and Space” or “Emerald Star.” If I’m in the gym, it’s “Never Ever” and “Ancient Names Part I.” If I’m studying in the library, I’m listening to “Secret of Life” and “When the Night is Over.”

Plus, the lore for the album runs deep. It tells the story of a man on a cross-country trip to find his fiance, who had just left him. The trip brings him to strange new places with strange new people, and along the way, he encounters the mysterious hallucinogenic substance Vide Noir. The story is set to an interesting soundscape, with both folk and progressive rock fusing together, all backed by masterful lyricism brimming with vivid imagery. This is seen in tracks like the trippy “The Balancer’s Eye” and the smooth and pensive “Wait By The River.” It is, without a doubt, a no-skip album, as every single song is an absolute banger.

Sophia Rooksberry, sophomore studying journalism (she/ her) I grew up listening to “Fake Plastic Trees” on CD, and lat-

its appreciation for music er the song grew to be one of my all-time favorites. Thom Yorke’s vocal style is viscerally showcased on this track, and the lyrics are undoubtedly some of the band’s best. “Sulk” and “Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was” are other examples of the band’s lyrical capabilities, as well as demonstrations of their ability to match a musical aesthetic with deep and chilling text. Songs such as “Black Star,” “My Iron Lung” and “Just” adopt a completely different style, leaning heavier into classic rock influences and gritty musical design. “High and Dry” is the only song off “The Bends” to make Spotify’s top five most streamed Radiohead songs. While the rest of the album is certainly deserving of such accolades, there is a good reason for that particular song’s placement. It is a desperate plea masked by gentle guitars and timid vocals and exemplifies the true core of the band wonderfully. Albums like these are not produced every day, not even every decade. It has been in circulation for nearly 30 years and will withstand the test of time through at least another 30.

One of the most pervasive debates in the world of rock music is that of the best Radiohead album. There are many defenses for albums like “OK Computer” and “Kid A,” even some for their debut album, “Pablo Honey.” However, it is my firm belief that “The Bends” deserves the top spot on the leaderboard. The album’s flow and aesthetic are unmatched, and the songs are also able to stand alone as individual masterpieces.

Jackson McCoy, freshman studying journalism (he/him) While I’ve been listening to a lot of albums lately, the one that’s been hitting the hardest has to be Miley Cyrus’s 2020 album “Plastic Hearts.” It is such a standout album from her more recent works and compared to her other releases, it has such a unique aesthetic and sound. The distinct ‘80s influence with rock and pop sounds from the decade combined with the grimy Hollywood visual aesthetic really sets this album apart. “Plastic Hearts” was also released over quarantine, and it was one of the many things that managed to get me through that incredibly isolating time.

For me, this album is very much a summer album. Songs like “Night Crawling (feat. Billy Idol)” have a very nostalgic sound that makes listeners feel like they’re flying down the streets of Los Angeles, while other tracks like “WTF Do I Know” take inspiration from glam rockers of years past.

Cyrus also wasn’t afraid to get vulnerable and details her own mental health struggles in songs like “Angels Like You” and “Never Be Me.” In addition to featuring the legendary Billy Idol, “Plastic Hearts” also features other 1980s icons Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett, and Cyrus performed a cover of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” on the album. The entire LP is very cohesive and teleports listeners to a crowded California beach at night, lit up by neon lights. “Plastic Hearts” always reminds

me of car rides with the windows down at a time when that was one of the few ways I could leave the house, and it never fails to make me feel incredibly free.

least—after “Favourite Worst Nightmare”, this release stands as one of the few high points Turner hit post-2008 and is easily one of the best EPs of the 2010s.

Kenzie Callahan, freshman studying journalism (she/her) One of my current favorite albums is The Good Witch by Maisie Peters. In the summer, I raved to my friends about how this was the perfect summer album; now, it’s autumn, and I rant about it being the perfect fall album. The album connects with me because of how versatile it is. It’s filled with anthems like “BSC” and “You’re Just a Boy (And I’m Kinda The Man)” that celebrate loving yourself while simultaneously encapsulating what it feels like to let go of someone or something.

For example, the album features acoustic, heartbroken ballads like “Two Weeks Ago,” “Want You Back” and “History Of Man” among angry, vengeful songs like “Body Better” and “Therapy.” “The Good Witch” takes it a step further with songs about going on tour in a band or feeling like the universe is shifting just for you. A musical element I like about this album is the bridges, particularly on “History Of Man” and “There It Goes;” they add such clarity and passion to the songs with lyrics so telling to the meaning. This album is emotionally charged with confidence and crazy ex-girlfriend energy, meaning it’s also really fun to hear live. The album is one that I will truly never get tired of.

William Troyer, senior studying media social change (he/ they) Tyler Childers tells and retells the stories of Appalachia in his music, especially on his most recent album, “Rustin In the Rain.” Still, it all began with his 2017 album “Purgatory.”

Since living in the Appalachian region of Ohio, I have gained a shocking appreciation for country music. Songs like “Banded Clovis” and “Whitehouse Road” tell a story we’ve heard before – the long days and the long nights and the struggles Appalachia faces – but indeed highlight the beauty behind those flaws as a “hell with hope” due to the strong sense of community and the people that sew together the fabric of the region.

These lyrics from “Lady May,” “As you cut my roots away / And I fell a good long ways for my lovely Lady May,” particularly resonate with me. I’m a senior this year, and those lyrics resound with me louder and louder as my time winds down here in Athens. I can’t help but think about those long nights, the strong sense of community I’ve felt here, my love for Athens and the love of communities woven within it.

Roman Salomone, sophomore studying communication studies and MPRI, (he/him) A release I’ve been listening to recently has been the “Submarine” soundtrack EP by Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. Released in 2011, it remains to be the only solo proper release from the AM frontman and a major departure from the sounds of his prior output. Turner dials back on the Dr. John Cooper Clarke-isms and the Sheffield snark and instead shoots for singer/songwriter ballads, wallflower-y indie pop, and a certain charm that lands between classic Prine and Blur’s “13.”

Although it’s only five songs and an intro, nearly everything there is great. The piano-backed “Stuck on the Puzzle” contains some of the EP’s most clever and humorous lyrics, and continues to be a classic indie tune. There’s also the beautifully gentle “Hiding Tonight,” the melancholic and romantic “Glass in the Park,” and Alex does a genuinely great homage to early Dylan-esq writing on the fan-favorite “It’s Hard to Get Around the Wind.” The amazing “Piledriver Waltz,” a song the Monkeys would re-record for “Suck It and See” later that year, closes the EP as undoubtedly one of the finest tunes Turner has ever penned. The song actually steps into a proper waltz on the chorus, as Alex flips the “Heartbreak Hotel” cliché on its head, and paints the picture of his significant other going through a rough patch. While the Arctic Monkeys’ music drops in quality pretty significantly—for me at

Clara Leder, sophomore studying high school language arts education (she/her) Many albums have been shuffling through my music rotation lately, but the one that sticks out the most is “Deadeye”

by The Ballroom Thieves. Discovering The Ballroom Thieves is one of the best things that happened to me this fall. The soulful blend of voices mixed with beautiful instrumentals allows for a powerful music experience. Although this album was released in 2017, the songs remain relevant even now.

The Ballroom Thieves are a pop-folk group that once you listen to, you won’t be able to stop.

This album has some of my favorite songs included in the 14 tracks. The standout heartfelt anthem, “Anyone Else” gives light to passionate love, one that is worth screaming about.

The buildup in “Storms” is one of the best moments of the album, as the song details the struggle with mental health.

“Bees” and “Peregrine” are softer songs but will have you hanging on to every word. On the opposite end, the album also contains heavier ballads like “Pocket of Gold” that mix breakup anthems of the 2000s and rock of the ’80s.

It is a standout track that aids in the versatility of the album. “Deadeye” is a beautifully crafted album that has a song for every feeling and every season.

The Ballroom Thieves and “Deadeye” have carried me through fall and will continue to carry me. The Ballroom Thieves are my new favorite band and are responsible for one of my favorite albums now.

@GRACEBREZINE GB194519@OHIO.EDU @GRACE_KOE GK011320@OHIO.EDU

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Here’s what your favorite ‘Gilmore Girls’ character says about you CAMI SEYMORE FOR THE POST Rory Gilmore You may relate to Rory’s penchant for reading and academic achievement, but you overworked yourself in high school and burned out. Still, you have managed to have extremely loyal friends and family in your life, even though your romantic relationships may be slightly less reliable. You love all food, including pancakes, burgers and Red Vines.

Nothing is off-limits.

Lorelai Gilmore You are independent, self-reliant and resilient, and you take whatever life throws at you and make it work. You are a problem solver whose smooth talking gets you out of any predicament you’re in. You have an endless supply of pop culture references, and your magnetic personality attracts people to you because your bright presence lights up every room. You also really love coffee.

Emily Gilmore You may be pushy, hard to please, opinionated and sometimes even cruel, but your

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high standards make you sophisticated and respected among your peers. You value tradition and how you present yourself in society, but you can be vulnerable and just want to be appreciated and loved by your family.

Richard Gilmore People may think you are old-fashioned, but your stoic demeanor and hard-working nature allow you to provide for your family, especially with your excellent business ventures. You don’t always show your emotions, but everything you do is to support your loved ones.

Luke Danes You may come off as cynical or grumpy, but at heart, you are actually a softie who is tremendously loyal and will do anything for the people you care about. You are always the first to drop whatever you are doing to help a friend in need, no matter the circumstances.

Sookie St. James You are a perfectionist, putting your all into everything you do. You’re sweet, quirky and bubbly, and you are the first person your friends go to for advice. You are also a bit clumsy, yet people overlook your mishaps

because of your big heart.

Lane Kim You are a music buff who has an encyclopedic knowledge of music history and pop culture. You may relate to Lane’s upbringing, and struggle to respect your parents’ strict expectations, while also wanting to pursue your dreams that they don’t approve of.

Paris Geller Academic achievement ranks above anything else, but your high-strung nature comes off as intense and competitive. You put on a tough exterior to mask your insecurity, but your true friends know you’re not as intimidating as you seem.

Kirk Gleason A jack-of-all-trades, you are very involved in your community and passionate about all of the projects you take on. While you may seem a bit eccentric and even a little odd, you are lovable and a memorable presence in your community.

Michel Gerard You are organized and direct, and though you may come off as mean or unpleasant to strangers, you unknowingly use sarcasm and

insults to keep others at arm’s length. Your fastidious nature makes you a natural-born leader, and everything runs smoothly when you’re involved.

Jess Mariano Even though you came from a tough upbringing, you overcame everything working against you and proved everyone wrong. You are both book-smart and street-smart, and your savvy gives you an advantage.

Logan Huntzberger Growing up with privilege, you think you can get away with anything. You present yourself as a party animal who often makes reckless decisions, but in your heart, you’re a deeply emotional person who never knows how to truly express it.

Dean Forester If your favorite is Dean, you probably only watched the first couple of seasons. You might think you’re rooting for the good guy, but you are mistaken. You should probably rewatch “Gilmore Girls” in its entirety and reconsider this opinion.

@CAMISEYMORE CH525822@OHIO.EDU

Election Night through the Lens

A Sheriff walking into Board of Elections during election night, in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. (CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

Member of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office stands outside the Athens County Board of Elections during the vote tabulation process. (BEN PENNINGTON | FOR THE POST)

A poll worker takes ballots out of a car at the Athens County Board of Elections Office in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023.

(JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Mayor Steve Patterson and his watch party taking a group picture at Pigskin Bar, in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. Mayor Patterson was running for Mayor of Athens again this election. (CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

People sign in to receive a ballot at the Athens County Board of Elections office on Court Street, Athens, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2023. (TALITHA MALOY | FOR THE POST)

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

We need to start learning social media etiquette

Chase Borland

We as Generation Z students were really the first people to be raised with social media in our everyday lives. Many of us downloaded Instagram and Snapchat as soon as fourth and fifth grade. I have an issue with this, though. I believe that in many ways being raised by social media has made us as a generation somewhat worse off.

I know the many positive aspects that having social media has brought to our lives. We have a much easier time staying in touch with loved ones, long-distance relationships and friendships, especially now that we’re in college. It also helps us check in on one another to see what’s up in people’s lives.

This phenomenon of social media has brought the world closer together in a way nothing else really could have.

However, I also think social media has made us further apart in real life. You can see this same thing just walking around campus. Everyone’s heads are tilted downward to their phones or they are listening to music with headphones in. It sometimes seems like no one is actually interacting with one another.

I also think social media has created this problem of saying out of pocket, rude things to others while on social media. People say things online that they wouldn’t say to each other face-to-face because they feel like the screen they’re hiding behind protects them. Some seem to have forgotten that digital footprints exist.

Something specific that comes to mind is the rise of

“BookTok,” which refers to the niche side of TikTok focused on the recommendations of different books. What came of this was the growth of a variety of fantasy relationship books, specifically ones about hockey. This resulted in the fantasy extending beyond books and into the real-life NHL. Some people went to hockey games, recording certain hockey players while they were doing things like stretching and posting the videos on TikTok. These videos went viral and caught the attention of these NHL players' wives, who were uncomfortable with their husbands being posted in such a way. They were also disturbed by what the comments were suggesting, as these people were given the outlet to take the video too far. This is due to the “protection” of being behind a screen, but it doesn’t deny that there are still human beings on the other side who can — and are — affected by people’s lack of manners online.

This lack of manners can also lead to cyberbullying and general hatred online. Regardless of what a particular person or influencer is posting, they still have feelings and it doesn’t give you the right to say whatever you want.

It’s unfortunate that some members of the generation raised by social media don’t know the basics of how to act on social media. We as young people need to start being a better example for the next generation before this negative behavior becomes the “norm” on social media.

Chase Borland is a freshman studying marketing and journalism at Ohio University. The views and opinions of this columnist do not necessarily reflect those of The Post. If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns then you can contact him at cb297222@ohio.edu.

Here are three suprising things from the NHL so far

Andrew Bowlby Watching the first few weeks of the NHL season has been weird. Teams have surprised me, and I have been caught off guard by some of the happenings among the 32 teams. This season has been one of the most puzzling in recent memory.

So, here are the three most surprising things from the first month: What is going on in Edmonton?

Was I expecting the Oilers to come out flying and dominate the league? No, but did I see them sitting at the bottom of the league? Absolutely not.

This has been genuinely shocking. This has been one of the most disappointing season starts I can remember. Everything that could go wrong so far has gone wrong in Edmonton.

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Goaltending has been non-existent. Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell have combined for a 2-8-1 record, 4.25 goals against average and a 0.865 save percentage. This is all well below what is needed to have success in the NHL and what is expected of the tandem.

While the goalies have part of the blame on their shoulders, the defense has been horrendous. Giving up 47 goals in the first 11 games (4.27 per game), Edmonton ranks second in goals against only San Jose, who gave up 10 on back-to-back nights.

The biggest concern in Edmonton? The strengths of past seasons are nowhere to be found this year. What was an offensive juggernaut in recent seasons is now in the bottom portion of the league in goals scored.

As of now, the only bright spot is the power play ranking ninth in the NHL. Other than that, the Oilers are getting worse by the day. If Edmonton doesn't make major changes in the next few weeks, don't expect to see the Oilers in the playoffs in the spring.

The Sharks aren't just bad, they may be the worst ever Through 11 games played, San Jose is 0-10-1, giving up around 5 goals per game and only scoring 12 total goals. The average final score of San Jose Sharks games is 5-1. Not to mention, they gave up 10 goals in two straight games.

Every season, there is a clear-cut team, or group of teams, that are clearly much worse than everyone else. This year, San Jose has proved to be worse than normal. With how populated the league is with talent today, it's wild to think the Sharks haven't even scratched the surface of winning a game.

Seven players on the roster already have double-digit minus ratings. Only four other players across the entire league have

suffered the same tough start.

The story of the year with the Sharks will be whether they are able to not finish with the lowest point total in NHL history, a feat currently held by the 1974-75 Washington Capitals with a minuscule 21 points in 80 games.

Anaheim may be a sneaky contender in the West Heading into Nov. 7, the Ducks have won six consecutive games, including victories over the league's top two teams (Boston and Las Vegas), a winning streak few people saw coming. But this win streak is sustainable.

They likely won't win every game, but the things the Ducks are doing, combined with their roster makeup, make them a team to watch out for this season.

With a mixture of young stars and veteran players and a solid goalie duo, it's feasible to see the Ducks going on a run.

Through the opening stretch of the season, Anaheim possesses the fifth-highest SRS, or simple rating system, which is a metric that takes into account who the team beats and by how much. Anaheim also has the highest strength of schedule. Seeing the Ducks' success after playing the teams they have, I think this could be the season when they take the next step into the playoffs.

Andrew Bowlby is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts about the column? Let Andrew know by tweeting him @andrew_bowlby.

Why does time go by so fast in college?

Quinn Elfers We are in the homestretch of the fall semester whether we like it or not. It is such a weird sensation that we are halfway through week 11 of 15. Out of the many actualities I’ve discovered about college, the pace at which time flows here is what blows my mind the most. I remember quite vividly calling my dad after week one claiming that college is progressing at the rate of a snail, and he responded with, “Once you get busy, the time will fly.” He was right.

At that time, I was longing for a pace change, as I was merely a homesick little boy who was unsure of how to spend my time.

Nowadays, time is a commodity. I could write a novel on little tips and advice for the person who walked into Sargent Hall on Aug. 25 at approximately 10 a.m. The most prevalent piece of advice I would hammer into his skull is one of importance to everyone: enjoy the time you have now because you soon feel like you’re drowning due to the lack of time you have.

One culprit in the absence of time is the amount of clubs one believes they can be a part of. Parents and peers urge you to get involved with clubs and whatnot in college, and it is very tempting to want to dive headfirst into everything that sounds interesting. I warn future college students who are planning on joining a plethora of group chats and email lists to educate themselves on the clubs they want to devote a proper amount of time to.

In my brief experience with clubs, I have learned you can only devote a considerable amount of time to two or three clubs to fully experience the wonders of said clubs. Beyond two or three, you end up overwhelming yourself and the intention of having fun

gets lost. Students love to cram their schedules with clubs when they don’t have to worry about classes and hours of homework in the first few weeks of school; however, once classes ramp up and homework takes hours to complete, going to clubs seems like a chore. Then, you just end up being very busy and time starts to feel like it’s accelerating at a drastic pace.

Another culprit to my newfound lack of time might be my horrendous sleep schedule.

I am dumbfounded as to how I now struggle to get out of bed before 10 a.m. I lose the crucial hours of the morning that could be devoted to studying and replace them with studying at odd hours of the night. I gaslight myself into thinking I can fix this schedule in a day, but my hopes never come to fruition.

I feel as if I can combat this lack of time going into the second semester, and I think anyone else experiencing this can, too. Once I figure out my specific class times, I will know what to expect, which eases my anxiety. The next step will be going to bed at a normal time. I also know I need to set aside time to unwind and enjoy the moment. Time is quite precious, especially in college, and it is essential to slow down in the fast-paced world we live in.

Quinn Elfers is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts about the column? Let Quinn know by emailing him at me989022@ohio.edu.

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Editorial: Younger voters will vote when it feels worthwhile Patient reporters burst into the newsroom last night with the final election results as the news section worked hard to update The Post’s readers with the results of Election Day as quickly as possible. The results revealed not only the winning candidates and status of issues, but also that Athens County had the largest off-year election turnout of this century.

Younger voters will vote in off-year elections, but they need to feel there is a purpose to their vote.

Off-year elections refer to elections that are neither presidential or midterm election years. These ballots are often more local and issue-based, as there are no scheduled congressional or presidential elections. These years typically have the smallest voter turnout or percentage of registered voters.

According to the official results from 2022, voter turnout was at 49.58% in Athens County for last year’s midterm elections. For November 2023, voter turnout was at 47.03%. This is an impressive turnout, especially considering this was the largest off-year turnout for Athens County in the 21st centu-

ry. Since 2000, the average voter turnout in Athens for offyear elections is 29.22%.

There are patterns in who votes. A study from the Pew Research Center examining voter turnout from 2018 through 2022 found white Americans were more likely to vote than adults of other racial backgrounds. Turnout was also higher among those with some form of college education. Alternatively, 18-29-year-olds had only one-third of the turnout of other age groups.

Unlike many other off-year elections, this year had two statewide issues that a large number of Ohioans were familiar with. The last off-year election with statewide ballot measures was 2017, when Marsy’s Law passed, granting rights to crime victims, and an effort regarding prescription drug pricing failed. It is inferable that these issues, although important, did not attract young voters the way this year’s election did.

College students are more likely to make time for the polls when abortion and marijuana are on the ballot. While data is

Editor-in-Chief | Katie Millard Managing Editor | Emma Erion Equity Director | Alesha Davis EDITORIAL News Editor | Madalyn Blair Asst. News Editor | Donovan Hunt Culture Editor | Alyssa Cruz Asst. Culture Editor | Abby Jenkins Sports Editor | Bobby Gorbett Sports Editor | Robert Keegan III Opinion Editor | Tate Raub Asst. Opinion Editor | Meg Diehl The Beat Editor | Grace Brezine Asst. The Beat Editor | Grace Koennecke Projects Editor | Hannah Campbell Investigative Editor | Alex Imwalle Copy Chief | Addie Hedges Slot Editors | Arielle Lyons, Ashley Pomplas, Aya Cathey, Tre Spencer ART Art Director | Abbie Kinney Asst. Art Director | Emma McAdams Director of Photography | Alaina Dackermann Photo Editor | Zoe Cranfill DIGITAL Director of Web Development | Tavier Leslie Audience Engagement Editor | Logan Jefferies Asst. Audience Engagement Editor | Jenna Skidmore Director of Multimedia | Cole Patterson Asst. Director of Multimedia | Kendall Timms BUSINESS Media Sales | Gia Sammons, Molly Wilson Director of Student Media | Andrea Lewis 18 / NOVEMBER 9, 2023

not yet available for this year’s voter demographics, messaging for Issues 1 and 2 was abundant on campus. Chalk messaging both for and against Issue 1 dyed sidewalk squares, often quickly washed out by passing water bottles. People knew about the election and people talked about it.

Off-year elections can generate higher voter turnout if voters feel it is worth their time. While not every election is going to include weed or reproductive debates, the same methods for getting the word out can be used. Widespread education about upcoming issues encourages voter turnout, especially when that awareness brings a personal connection to the issues. Higher voter turnout is possible no matter what is on the ballot, but the hard work needs to be done in advance of election day.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Katie Millard, Managing Editor Emma Erion and Equity Director Alesha Davis. Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage.

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A legendary sign-off

Senior Carsyn Prigge reflects on triumphant tenure with Ohio LOGAN ADAMS FOR THE POST The last hoo-rah is a part of every great story. Regardless of fiction or nonfiction, learning the background of someone who has been through triumph, heartbreak and a whirlwind of other emotions is a rewarding experience for all parties involved.

Carsyn Prigge, currently sitting just outside the program’s top 10 in total starts, is one of the seven seniors on the Ohio soccer team in the midst of her last hoo-rah as a college athlete.

She and the Bobcats have played through a season cut short by a pandemic, entered the season as a one-seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament and, as of this year, won the MAC tournament as the No. 6 seed to make it to its first NCAA tournament in school history.

The ups and downs of Prigge’s four-year tenure with the Bobcats have been a spectacle to watch. Now, with a crescendo of a senior season that is not yet over, Prigge reflects on the team’s growth in confidence that has led to a historic season.

“I think just as a program, we’ve gained confidence,” Prigge said. “We’re winning against big teams that we’ve always had a rivalry against, and I think just that confidence that we’ve built as a team, as a program, it’s changed.”

That confidence is essential for a team like the Bobcats, who have been an underdog since the start of the season. They started off slow, barely staying even on the season with a 2-4-3 conference record before finally hitting their stride in the last two games of the regular season.

The team finished the regular season with two road wins against Eastern Michigan and Akron, but there were still things that needed to occur if the season was to continue. Players waited with great stress and excitement as the final day of games played out, which would all soon vanish as results from other conference games revealed that they would be making the MAC tournament as the sixth and final seed.

Their momentum would carry through

the entire tournament, winning out to secure their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history, becoming one of the best underdog stories in the nation.

“We came in as underdogs, people expected us to not do as well and … having that lower expectation from other teams and other people gave us that underdog mentality,” Prigge said. “We can prove everyone wrong by doing big things such as winning the MAC. It gave us higher expectations because we knew we wanted to prove others wrong.”

Regardless of how the season ends, this Bobcats team has truly exemplified the air of what a Cinderella story is. The team, and specifically the seniors, are riding a high that’s impossible to equate to any other experience.

“There’s just no feeling like it, it’s just been awesome and just embracing the moment with my teammates and going through it with them and experiencing everything we’ve experienced these past few days has just been awesome,” Prigge said, “I can’t even explain it. It’s amazing.”

It is not meant to be interpreted that the triumphs of this season were achieved by luck alone. Countless hours of hard work were poured into what became a historic season for the Bobcats, especially their seniors.

“All the feelings of all the hard work that we’ve all put in for the last four years, ending in this way has just been so amazing,” Prigge said.

Nobody appreciates the hard work of the seniors more than Head Coach Aaron Rodgers, who has seen it all firsthand, directing this team and its seniors through the ups and downs, seeing how these seniors grew and inevitably helped the team reach their first NCAA tournament.

“Their freshman year was the year that we didn’t get to play a full season because of the pandemic,” Rodgers said. “For them to come from that moment to now, to winning a MAC championship, I mean, it just shows a lot. They’ll long be remembered as the senior class that helped drive this program to a MAC championship.”

Carsyn Prigge, a midfielder on the women’s soccer team, talks with reporters on Chessa Field, Nov. 8, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

There could not have been a better ending to Prigge’s and the seniors’ careers, but the season is far from over. Prigge and the Bobcats are still awaiting their appearance in the biggest game in school history, an NCAA tournament appearance with a Big Ten opponent. Ohio will once again look to shock

the world, in no small part due to Brigge’s and the seniors’ contributions, on and off the field.

@LOGANA_NBA LA486821@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

Rayann Pruss’ offensive emergence came at the perfect time for Ohio

Rayann Pruss talks to reporters on Chessa Field, Nov. 8, 2023, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

BOBBY GORBETT SPORTS EDITOR

N

early every part of Ohio’s unbelievable run to the NCAA tournament has been a complete surprise to everyone outside of the Ohio locker room.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Ohio sophomore defender Rayann Pruss being at the center of Ohio’s offensive explosion.

When Ohio was facing a 1-0 deficit against No. 2 seed Bowling Green, the team was likely expecting to find an equalizer from one of its many skilled attacking players. Instead, Pruss, who hadn’t scored a goal in her collegiate career, became the most unlikely of heroes with a 46th-minute goal as part of a second-half comeback by Ohio in its 2-1 win in the semifinal.

Pruss’ highly decorated high school career at Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg, Ohio, included 34 goals and 71 assists in 78 games. This suggests Pruss always had the capability to help spark Ohio’s offense. Pruss’ four years as a Yellow Jacket culminated in personal and team glory when she scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the district championship during her senior season.

It wasn’t long after Pruss scored one of the biggest goals

20 / NOVEMBER 9, 2023

of her 10-plus-year soccer career that she committed to Ohio. Ohio’s 3-5-2 system was an obvious fit for the impressive speed and ball skills of 5’1 Pruss. Pruss’ abilities and experience allowed her to make an instant impact as a freshman in 2022. Pruss started nine of 17 games she appeared in on an Ohio defense that struggled at times to be consistent in Mid-American Conference play.

Pruss continued to grow throughout her freshman season and after a long offseason, Pruss was ready to make more of an impact on offense. In Ohio’s first match against Duquense, Pruss claimed her first assist as a Bobcat.

Pruss has appeared in every game for the Bobcats but for the first time all season, Pruss was not named a starter against Buffalo. Pruss handled it well, picking up her second assist of the season on the match’s only goal. Pruss’ improvement in 2022, along with strong play from defenders like Quintin Tostevin, Ella Biano and Maia Soulis, combined to take the Ohio defense from the seventh-best unit in average goals allowed in the MAC in 2022 to the second-best unit in the MAC in 2023.

Ohio needed its defense during an offensive midseason drought. By the end of the season, Ohio was able to keep its distant MAC Tournament hopes alive by grinding out results.

Back in the starting lineup, Pruss helped Ohio’s defense only

allow one goal to Central Michigan, which was good enough for a draw after a 90th-minute equalizer from Shae Robertson. Then Ohio had one of its best defensive performances of the season in a draw against MAC regular season champ Western Michigan.

Ohio’s defense had been just good enough to get into the MAC tournament on the final day of the regular season. The team was playing its best soccer of the season following a two-match winning streak but still faced almost all of the best opponents the conference had to offer. Perhaps because the team was free of the burden of expectation or because of the team’s attitude, Ohio was not afraid of any opponent.

“I don’t think there’s a better word than resiliency,” Pruss said. “We’re led by such amazing leaders and coaches that it’s just so fun. Everyone loves a good underdog story, but it’s almost not really felt like we’re always the underdog. Honestly, I feel like we just peaked later in the season.”

Ohio was clearly improving after a 2-0 road win against the No. 3 seed Ball State, which catapulted the team into the semifinal against the regular season juggernaut Bowling Green.

It would’ve been easy for the Bobcats to get discouraged at halftime, having been outplayed and outscored by a seemingly better opponent for 45 minutes, but that isn’t the DNA of the Bobcats.

“The adrenaline from halftime, like I said, our whole team and our coaches are so motivating and they just got the blood flowing and great vibes at halftime,” Pruss said.

The vibes must have been great at halftime; Pruss scored just 50 seconds out of the break. Pruss described her goal in full detail.

“I came out and we got the counter-attack and a cross came from out wide and I see the ball coming and my defender hesitated a little but tucking in and I honestly just ran through it,” Pruss said. “I felt like the ball was rolling down my body as I’m running through the goal. It was just a gritty goal.”

Pruss’ goal wasn’t the prettiest, but Ella Deevers’ incredible cross made her job easy and Pruss converted. Scout Murray’s goal nine minutes later was pretty enough to make the SportsCenter Top 10. Ohio’s defense then did its job to keep Bowling Green off the scoreboard for the remainder of the match to get to the Championship match.

Ohio found itself in the exact same position at halftime against Kent State. Funnily enough, Pruss created as many quality chances for Ohio’s offense as anyone in the second half, putting all of her offensive skills on display. Pruss’ efforts didn’t lead directly to a goal but helped Ohio create valuable offensive momentum, which led to another two-goal offensive run. The 75 minutes Pruss played in the championship match against Kent State was the third most she played all season.

Despite only being a sophomore, Pruss’ late-season heroics helped Ohio reach new heights as a program and submitted her as an emerging star. The great teammate that the former Perrysburg captain is, Pruss was quick to credit her team for her individual success.

“It’s special for sure (to play well at the end of the season),” Pruss said. “Honestly, the whole team has helped me get here.”

@ GORBETTBOBBY BG238320@OHIO.EDU

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Ohio hopes this memory will never end Aaron Rodgers, head coach of the soccer team, talks with reporters on Chessa Field, Nov. 8, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR The story of the Ohio soccer team is not only one of record-breaking statistics and shocking outcomes, but it is also one of triumph, heart and an unyielding will to win.

For the first time in program history, the soccer team has won the Mid-American Conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament. This story is one of utmost unpredictability and leads most to ask: How the heck did we get here?

With only a week left in the regular season, the future MAC champions held a conference record of just 2-4-3. In order to even qualify for the six-team tournament, Ohio would need to win the remainder of its games and also receive some serious help from other teams in the conference.

By the skin of their teeth, the Bobcats snuck in as the No. 6 seed in the tournament.

From that point on, Ohio “had nothing to lose.”

Week after week, it was the same story, “Ohio pulls off yet another major upset.”

As the season progressed, the team continued to improve. From the moment the 22 / NOVEMBER 9, 2023

season seemed all but over, the team has yet to lose, winning five straight matches to find itself in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

“I think it’s just like, we weren’t expecting to be here, but now that we are, we know that we deserved it; I think it’s just like a sense of relief,” MAC tournament MVP Scout Murray, said.

The team was led by whom Head Coach Aaron Rodgers said he believes is “the best goalkeeper in the league,” Celeste Sloma.

Sloma allowed just two goals in the span of the team's three-game run in the MAC tournament and has been one of the leaders in an impressive Ohio defense all season long.

“After we beat Kent State (in the final game of the conference tournament), I don’t think anyone wanted us to win, and we used that … no one thought we were going to win either,” Sloma said. “ We just used that to propel ourselves forward; it really energized us and gave us momentum and I think that momentum will carry into the tournament.

We’re so excited to go play Michigan State

and I really think that we have a chance in this game.”

Playing as an underdog basically since the start of conference play, Ohio has learned how to embrace doubt and use it to its advantage. From here on out, Ohio will likely not play a match as the favorite to win, and maybe that’s exactly how they prefer it.

“I think you saw it with Western Michigan, who Kent (State) beat in the semi-final.

They had won the regular season, and you know, you win the regular season, you feel like you have that expectation… to go on and win the tournament, and you get that pressure on you,” Rodgers said. “We knew that we had no pressure. On Wednesday before the last game, nobody even thought we’d even get into the tournament; I even thought it was a long shot.”

From then on, Ohio just kept winning.

The team played its best soccer of the year and received results that no other team in the history of Ohio Soccer has achieved.

“We told the team to start making a memory when we had to beat Eastern Michigan,

then make another one when we had to win by multiple goals against Akron,” Rodgers said. “Let’s keep this memory going; that has freed us … Let’s just go out and be who we are.”

@ROBERT_KEEGAN BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Celeste Sloma discusses team chemistry, NCAA tournament appearance BEN WILK FOR THE POST Throughout the 2023 season, the Ohio Bobcats faced numerous ups and downs on the journey to winning the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship in school history. However, one of the most consistent positive factors for Ohio this season has been the performance of sophomore goalkeeper Celeste Sloma.

For the 2023 season, no other Bobcat has played more minutes than Sloma, who has recorded 1,890 on the year. Sloma has been the centerpiece of a dominant Ohio defense that has managed to hold opponents to 0.90 goals per game.

Thus far, Sloma has recorded 87 saves, maintained an 82.1% save percentage, and has posted seven shutout victories for Ohio.

Her statistics have been impressive, but her shutout victories were the most impressive factor as six of Ohio’s nine victories in 2023 were shutouts. Additionally, there have been only three matches all season in which Ohio allowed two or more goals in a match.

Ohio has succeeded with dominant defensive play this season, and Sloma has captained that effort all season. As the season has winded down and the Ohio offense has found consistent success, it has helped out the defense and Sloma specifically, who was glad not to feel the pressure as much as earlier in the season.

“All three of the games in the MAC, we scored two goals. So it took a lot of pressure off my back,” Sloma said. “I felt like a bit earlier in the season, I would have to be that outlet to make those big saves, and it was definitely expected of me, but I think our defense played so solid the entire season, and just them having my back, it kind of allows me to play free.”

During the MAC Championship match versus Kent State, Sloma made some incredible saves to keep Ohio in the match after giving up a goal in the third minute. Sloma kept Ohio only down by one before the team could rally in the second half and take the lead 2-1.

According to Sloma, a mistake made in the Bowling Green match allowed her to improve in the championship match.

“In the BG (Bowling Green) game I got scored on,” Sloma said. “I was a little bit upset with myself because I felt like I could have closed on that (shot) and cut off her angle a little bit more. So when I saw that I was in a one-on-one situation with her (Alisa Arthur) and she was their leading scorer, I knew she was going to shoot it. I knew she

wasn’t going to pass. So I just waited for her to take that big touch.”

Toward the end of the regular season, Ohio found itself on the outside looking in at the MAC playoff picture with only two matches remaining. Even though making the tournament was out of Ohio’s control, the team fell back on its well-constructed team chemistry to build momentum going into the postseason, which resulted in Ohio winning the MAC tournament as the lowest seed.

According to Sloma, Ohio’s team chemistry is one of the things that differentiates it from its opponents.

“Yeah, I think this is one of the closer teams I’ve ever played on,” Sloma said. “I think that sets us apart from other teams where they might yell and bicker at each other on the field. But we might have one person be like, ‘Okay, let’s go pick it up, and you got the next one,’ but it’s never a bad attitude. I think that’s something that really sets our team apart.”

Now that Ohio has won the first MAC title in school history, the team will move on to the NCAA tournament. Ohio will travel to Michigan State and play in the first round of the tournament for the first time in Ohio Soccer history. After winning their last five matches and claiming the MAC title, the Bobcats have plenty of momentum going into a matchup against the team that finished in a tie for first in the Big Ten in the regular season.

Sloma has had a fantastic year and is a primary factor in Ohio being able to go on this underdog run this postseason. The Ohio soccer program has a great goalkeeper with championship success to lead the program into the coming years.

BW327020@OHIO.EDU

Celeste Sloma (left) and Rayann Pruss (right) talk to reporters on Chessa Field, Nov. 8, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Global Entrepreneurship Week

Matt Nelson, creator of Tuesday, November 14th 6:00 PM in CoLab (301 Alden) Limited seats, RSVP here!

Questions? ce@ohio.edu

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