September 30, 2025

OU receives D- for free speech, expression policies

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression released its annual report on university speech climates, giving Ohio University a D-.

Each year, FIRE evaluates universities across the country based on anonymous student survey responses about free speech and expression policies. Students answer questions later broken down by categories including race, gender, religion, political ideology and major.

OU’s overall score this year was 61.5%, down 0.3% from 2024. A total of 371 students responded to the survey.

Grades are based on 12 factors: six covering student perceptions of free speech, three addressing university policies and three examining responses to campus controversies. Higher scores indicate stronger free speech climates.

Hans Meyer, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, said he initially doubted the ranking but reconsidered after reviewing the data.

“It’s a sad state of things when only 11 schools get rankings above a C,” Meyers said. “There’s a lot of improvement that we and a lot of other schools need to make.”

OU ranked 64 out of 257 schools, the same as last year when it also earned a D-.

FIRE’s report noted 42% of surveyed students said they selfcensor at least once or twice a month. The site also estimates there are 1.99 liberal students for every one conservative student at OU.

Because the survey is voluntary, FIRE notes the results only reflect the students who responded, not the entire student body.

Dan Pittman, a university spokesperson, said free expression remains a central part of OU’s mission.

“Freedom of expression is the foundation of an Ohio University education, and we believe that robust debate and civil disagreement — when conducted safely and legally — are signs of an engaged community that can challenge ideals and ultimately help

foster growth and community,”

Pittman said in an email.

Over the past four years, OU’s scores have remained relatively consistent, receiving 61.4% in 2021, 59.1% in 2022, 61.1% in 2023 and 61.8% in 2024.

OU also received a D in comfort expressing ideas, an increase from past years. Other categories, including openness, self-censorship and administrative support, received a D+ and two D- grades.

Students answered 52 questions in the survey, including “How often do you self-censor during conversations with other students on campus?” and “How comfortable would you feel expressing disagreement with a professor on a controversial political topic in a written assignment?”.

Lily Sellars, a senior studying media arts production, said she has not felt the need to self-censor but believes the university could better support open expression.

Sellars said after the implementation of the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act and the removal of the LGBTQIA+ programs, she has felt change.

“I think they could be more open to supporting other communities,”

Sellars said. “It doesn’t have to be a program, but just supporting, I think that would be a good thing.”

FIRE said OU could raise its score by revising campus speech codes and adopting an official commitment to institutional neutrality. The university currently holds a “yellow light” spotlight rating, meaning some policies restrict speech.

Meyer pointed to a university policy that requires faculty members to go through University Communications and Marketing before speaking with the media.

“As a proponent of free speech, I think that is an unfair requirement,” Meyer said. “I think that sends the

wrong message to students that the university is trying to control the message too much. It’s not allowing free speech among its faculty.”

Pittman added OU highlights its history of activism and has launched an educational video series on free expression for the campus community.

Meyer said improving campus discourse requires effort from both students and faculty.

“It’s fundamental to our interactions as human beings,” Meyer said. “We just need to learn to be better on both sides of listening to each other and giving each other space to talk and share an opinion without shutting them down.”

Overall percent of Ohio schools surveyed

Police blotter: Goats on the loose, warrants of the week

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

19 Fri _________________________

Key theft

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Nelsonville about stolen keys. At the time the report was written, the case was under investigation.

Timber!

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from U.S. 33 near Peach Ridge in regards to a tree obstructing the roadway.

Deputies worked with local fire departments to move the tree out of the way, then resumed patrol.

20 Sat _________________________

It’s not Halloween yet!

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Bessemer Road in Buchtel after reports came through of three individuals dressed in Halloween masks.

Deputies patrolled the area but did not make contact.

Keep your drugs out of the park

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to The Plains after reports of drug paraphernalia in the park.

Deputies arrived at the scene, located the drugs and disposed of them, then resumed patrol.

21 Sun ________________________ Goats?

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office received reports of goats near U.S. 50 in Guysville, but when they arrived on the scene to patrol, the goats were not in the area.

Theft complaint

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke to a woman in Glouster regarding a theft complaint.

Deputies took her statement, and at the time the police reports were released, the case was under investigation.

22 Mon________________________ Hit and run

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to North Plains Road to assist the Ohio State Highway Patrol in locating an individual after a hit-and-run car accident. Shortly after deputies arrived, the man was located and released into the custody of a State Trooper. Deputies then resumed patrol.

Warrants of the week

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office posted warrants of arrest for Donald Masters and Leslie Hall III. Masters is wanted for possession of drugs, and Hall is wanted for failure to comply, failure to appear as required by recognizance and breaking and entering. Anyone with information on

either man is to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.

23 Tue ________________________

I take care of my dog!

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Republic Avenue in Glouster after reports that a house was vacant, but a dog had been neglected and left behind.

Once on the scene, deputies determined people were residing at the house and the dog was being properly taken care of. Deputies then resumed patrol.

Keys in the car

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to North Plains Road in The Plains after a man called and told deputies he locked his keys in his car.

Deputies arrived at the scene and were able to unlock the car to retrieve the keys.

24 Wed ________________________

Broken windows

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Front Street in Glouster after a call regarding a broken window in a house.

Deputies made contact with the caller, who told them she found a smashed air rifle pellet near the window. Evidence was collected, and deputies gave the case to the Glouster Police Department for further investigation.

Accident on US 50

While Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were patrolling, they came across a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 50 near U.S. 33.

Deputies remained on the scene until officers with the Athens Police Department arrived.

25 Thur ________________________

All good!

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from Center Street in Mineral for a wellbeing check.

Deputies arrived on the scene and spoke with the individual, who told them that everything was fine.

Church theft?

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Vanderhoof Baptist Church in Coolville.

On the scene, deputies were told items had been stolen out of a storage unit. At the time the report was taken, the case was still under investigation.

US Weekly Headlines: Trump honors Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel returns to late-night television

22 Mon _________________________

Trump, officials celebrate Charlie Kirk’s faith and legacy in the conservative movement

President Donald Trump praised conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and “martyr for freedom” during a memorial service that drew tens of thousands of mourners, according to the Associated Press.

Kirk, who was assassinated at 31, was remembered for his strong faith and influence within the conservative movement. Trump credited Kirk with helping secure his 2024 election win.

“He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” Trump said in his tribute.

Speakers urged conservative activists to honor Kirk by remaining steadfast and working to push American politics further to the right.

23 Tue _________________________

Trump makes unproven claims about Tylenol, autism

At a White House news conference Monday, Trump repeated a debunked claim linking Tylenol and vaccines to autism. He urged pregnant women and mothers not to give infants the drug, according to the AP.

The claims remain unproven and, in some cases, disproven. Still, Trump’s team announced a broad effort to study the causes of autism.

Trump’s remarks fueled already discredited claims that vaccine ingredients or closely scheduled doses contribute to rising autism rates in the U.S.

No new research was introduced, but Trump’s team announced plans to study brain disorders, supported by the Make America Healthy Again movement. Backers of Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., including several antivaccine activists, have long pushed for such investigations.

24 Wed _________________________

Kimmel returns to late-night, addresses remarks about Kirk

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday following a weeklong suspension, the AP reported. In an emotional speech, Kimmel said he never intended to joke about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

According to the AP, Kimmel said he did not intend to blame any group for “the actions of what … was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.”

“That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,” Kimmel said.

He acknowledged his remarks may have been “ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both,” and criticized ABC affiliates that

removed his show from the air. Nexstar and Sinclair, which together represent about a quarter of ABC stations, ordered their outlets not to broadcast his return.

25 Thur _________________________

Officials say ICE facility shooter sought to kill federal agents

Officials said the man who opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday hated the U.S. government and sought to incite fear by killing federal agents, the AP reported.

Handwritten notes found at the home of 29-year-old Joshua Jahn outlined plans to ambush the agency before he fatally shot himself. The attack targeted ICE buildings, including a van transporting detainees.

Authorities said Jahn fired from a nearby rooftop, indicating the assault was premeditated. One detainee was killed, two others were critically injured, and no ICE agents were harmed.

26 Fri _________________________

Former FBI Director indicted after Trump urged prosecution

Former FBI Director James Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a case filed days after Trump urged his attorney general to prosecute him, according to the AP.

The charges stem from the long-closed investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Comey is the first former senior government official tied to the probe to face prosecution.

The AP reported the case is likely to heighten concerns the Justice Department, now led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, is being weaponized for political purposes.

28 Sun _________________________

Comey indictment highlights years of scrutiny over Russia probe

The two-page indictment against Comey alleges he falsely testified to Congress in 2020 about authorizing someone to serve as an anonymous source for news stories, according to the AP.

The testimony at the center of the case has already been the subject of extensive congressional and internal investigations that produced thousands of pages of records and transcripts.

According to the AP, those investigations focused on Comey and his agents’ role in examining whether Russia aided Trump’s 2016 campaign.

MM336621@OHIO.EDU

MARY KATE MCNAMEE | FOR THE POST

Nationwide Children’s Hospital suspends gender affirming care

The decision was made to proactively plan for changing legislation. LGBTQIA+ advocates oppose the decision and cite this as another removal of important care for transgender individuals.

FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER

Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus has decided to suspend all gender affirming care for patients, effective Friday. The hospital made the decision, despite state and federal laws not prohibiting gender affirming care for individuals over the age of 18.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital senior director of media relations Michelle Fong shared the announcement in a statement via email.

“Although we are currently in compliance with state and federal regulations,” Fong wrote in an email. “In order to proactively plan and support our providers and patients in a rapidly changing regulatory environment, Nationwide Children’s providers will discontinue prescribing genderaffirming medications to patients effective Sept. 26.”

The decision comes after HB 68 effectively banned any gender affirming care or surgery for patients under 18 in 2024. Gov. Mike Dewine initially vetoed the ban, with the state legislature voting to overturn the veto. A long-standing legal battle now continues between the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union and the state government regarding HB 68, according to the ACLU website.

Basil Scalera, a freshman studying osteopathic medicine, is a member of Ohio University’s chapter of the Medical Student Pride Alliance. Scalera voiced their concern regarding the recent decision.

“It’s tough because obviously, a patient’s medical care is very private to them and their doctor, and with all this political frenzy going on, you’d kind of think that relationship would hold sacred,” Scalera said. “And so seeing that kind of be ripped away from thousands of patients that are receiving their care there and kind of lose that backbone of support, it’s kind of devastating.”

Zahra University of Chicago

Tara Zahra is Hanna Holborn Gray Professor of East European History at the University of Chicago. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant (2014) and the author of Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars (2023).

Jane Balbo, a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Ohio Health, commented on the typical treatment regimens used for gender affirming care.

Balbo said doctors will sometimes prescribe puberty blockers if treatment is started at the beginning of puberty. The medication halts the individual’s puberty cycle so one does not produce the hormones that align with the sex assigned at birth.

Another common course of treatment is providing the patient with hormones such as testosterone to provide masculinization, or estrogen for feminization, based on the patient’s gender identity.

Balbo said if an individual is removed from the care, the body will begin developing physical traits of the sex they were assigned at birth. Balbo stated this will likely cause mental health concerns for many transgender patients.

“If you’re someone who lives at odds with your body all the time,” Scalera said. “Suddenly having to look in the mirror and see someone that you were not prepared to see, someone that’s not you, that’s just going to do untold damage to people’s psyches.”

Balbo also cited the high rates of suicide in transgender youth who don’t receive gender-affirming care. 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide, with 40% having attempted suicide, according to a study by the National Library of Medicine. The study also found that suicidality is highest in trans youth.

Ohio Health has resources for transgender individuals listed on its website. The list includes organizations such as Stonewall Columbus, which offers advocacy and support groups, and Equality Ohio, a clinic that provides legal services to LGBTQIA+ Ohioans.

Additionally, Ohio Health provides patients with hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery and other medical

support for transgender individuals, according to its website.

Scalera commented on the state of resources available to transgender people in the state.

“In my experience, it was kind of like a shallow pool that is now drying up a little,” Scalera said. “I think if you have a lot of time and dedication and really good insurance, you could find care still, but it’s definitely not accessible in any sense of the word.”

According to the statement by Nationwide Children’s, it will work with patients currently receiving medication to end their prescriptions, ensuring patient safety. It will also continue to

provide these patients with behavioral health services and other needed healthcare.

“I just think it’s really unfortunate that gender identity and the lives and experiences of transgender people have become an issue of debate,” Balbo said. “People who identify as transgender or gender diverse in other ways, that is their experience and that is their identity and providing gender affirming care can be the difference between someone living their true best life and feeling comfortable in their body and feeling safe in their body versus feeling unsafe in their body.”

FS227223@OHIO.EDU

47TH ANNUAL ENDOWED COSTA LECTURE

Democracies, dictatorships, empires, colonies, and governments. The revolt against globalization transformed the way millions of people traveled, ate, and lived. While the global economy ultimately recovered, that legacy offers both a warning and a guide for our own anti-Global moment.

Thursday, October 23, 2025 7:30pm • Walter Hall 135

A helicopter flies over Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Sep. 29, 2025. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

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October 2nd

Safeguard Ohio app to report violent threats using AI

The Ohio Department of Homeland Security has officially launched a new suspicious activity reporting application that uses AI to gather reports of violent threats across the state.

FINN SMITH | NEWS STAFF WRITER

Ohio Homeland Security launched Safeguard Ohio on Sep. 12, a new suspicious activity reporting app that utilizes artificial intelligence to collect information regarding potential violent threats.

The app, announced in a press release by the OHS, utilizes an AI chatbot that prompts users with pertinent questions regarding the potential crime.

The reporting system is available on the OHS website and does not replace 911. The AI will analyze the information a user is submitting, and if it deems the report to be an imminent threat, it will direct you to call 9-1-1. The AI will also provide the crisis text line and the suicide hotline if it analyzes that an individual may be having mental health issues.

The application is also focused on being user-friendly, and can be used in 11 different languages, including Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Haitian, Hindi, Nepalese, Somali, Yiddish and Arabic.

“This is just opening up that aperture to give our citizens more of an opportunity to share that information,” Executive Director of OHS Mark Porter said. “It allows those that speak maybe English not so well, or it’s not their first language, it opens that aperture up to them.”

Safeguard Ohio was developed by OHS and its private partner Vigiliti, following the state’s previous tip reporting application that required the user to either call the OHS office or submit a form on the state’s website. Additionally, the form did not include followup questions and put the burden of deciding what pertinent information to include on the user, according

The old platform only allowed users to report threats under the category of counter terrorism. With the new app, users can submit tips falling under eight categories, including human trafficking, gun-related school threats, drug-related tips, crimes against

The previous average number of reports OHS received a month was around 30, from January to June of this year, according to Porter. After the system’s soft release Aug. 6, the number of tips during the one month nearly

Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Andy Wilson, commented on why the new AI chatbot can help mitigate past issues.

“As the person reports what they find suspicious, if it’s vague or it’s incomplete, that AI chatbot basically fleshes out, uses questions to flesh out specifics that we would need to make a good assessment,” Wilson said. “So we want to make sure that we’re getting granular enough information, specific enough information to do a good assessment on whether or not the threat is credible.”

After submitting a tip, users receive a QR code they can then download and use for up to 30 days after the report was made, and it stays on the dashboard of OHS for 30 days. The QR code will allow users to upload any additional information they might observe or have forgotten to include regarding their reported crime.

Porter believes the app will appeal to younger generations who are more present on their phones. He claims the simple and easy-to-use application will bring more reports and allow their job to get done.

The application allows for a user to upload photos, audio or videos to the report that may be important to the claim.

“In the past, you could not share audio, video or photos with us through our website,” Porter said. “Now, this will allow someone who is seeing something on site, you are there in town, you want to record it, you are taking photos. You can upload that stuff as a part of the app, and it will ask you for that.”

The app has been undergoing development for around two years. Porter signaled the app stands as a conduit between the federal government and local governments; the mission of the OHS is public safety. He mentioned public safety has become a growing concern for the entire country.

“We feel that with getting more tips, getting more leads, getting more suspicious activity is a good thing,” Porter said. “And it’s going to help make our local community safer by increasing our activity and getting this kind of information and sharing it with our state and local representatives.”

Students shred, sing in Stuart’s Opera House music program

Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville hosts an afterschool music program for students between the ages of 12-21. Program leaders are dedicated to teaching students valuable life and musical skills.

FIONA PETTICREW FOR THE POST

Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, strives to provide a space dedicated to student-run creativity with its Afterschool Music Program.

AMP welcomes all students ages 12 through 21 and provides them access to a recording studio, practice rooms, instruments and guidance from multiple instructors. Stuart’s established the program 13 years ago and continues to support local children who have a passion for making music.

Four days a week, nearly 65 students gather in Stuart’s, located at 52 Public Square, to meet up, practice and showcase their musical talents.

Each student can learn recording, performance, collaboration and other musical skills. Adam Remnant, assistant director of arts education at Stuart’s AMP, has been involved in the program since year one.

He said at the start of each year, he places students into groups based on their music styles and skill levels.

“A lot of times we’ll have students coming in starting at all different abilities, so I try to get them with peers that have roughly the same abilities as each other,” Remnant said. “I usually just try to get them to play music with peers that are

roughly into the same music.”

Remnant said the students will have opportunities to perform this year and a performance was already booked at Casa Nueva on 6 W. State St. for the Athens Artists Memorial Project Fundraiser on Oct. 21. The bands also perform every year at Benefest, a show at The Union Bar on 18 W. State St. to support Stuart’s AMP.

Remnant said the first goal for the bands this year is to write and record an original song, as well as mix and release it.

“We try to make it very studentled in terms of the style of music, we don’t tell them what songs to play,” Remnant said.

The music program has been supported through donations from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation for 10 years. AMP also benefits from smaller donors too, including local businesses and individuals. Enrolling in the program is free; however, students and families are encouraged to make a $200 donation.

Evan Seurkane, a senior studying music production and recording, has been in the program for six years as a teacher and student. Seurkane is a member of The Laughing Chimes, a band created in Stuart’s AMP.

“I think one of the biggest ways that AMP helps is that it’s really nice to be able to kind of get in a

situation where you can be playing and practicing every week with your peers,” Seurkane said. “So I think that is really invaluable and it’s great that they are able to offer that, especially for no cost at all.”

As an instructor, Seurkane said his role is to support the students through their creative processes and help them become the best version of themselves. He also said instructors act as band managers or producers.

“Sometimes we will, as instructors, try to challenge them in a sense, so that they can get better and help kind of build their confidence more and stuff like that,” Seurkane said.

Juno Beard, program coordinator

for arts education at Stuart’s AMP, said the program has grown. In previous years, Beard said, there has been one band, but now there are nearly 10.

“I think it’s really great to get kids involved in the arts,” Beard said. “Especially in today’s world where I think sometimes the arts aren’t as valued as they should be in terms of what they do for students’ development and their socioemotional growth.”

For students interested in applying for next year’s music program at Stuart’s Opera House, visit its website for more information.

FP074825@OHIO.EDU

ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST

Students in Stuart’s Opera House’s Afterschool Music Program perform in their season showcase in Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, May 17, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

Tea dating app infiltrates Bobcat’s lives

MARY KATE MCNAMEE FOR THE POST

The new and free to download Tea Dating Advice app is creating a frenzy among students.

Tea, originally designed to deter women from men who appear on the app, ensures anonymity.

With nearly 150,000 ratings and 4.5 stars, users can share and receive information on the men roaming campus.

Users can post images of men and others can decorate the posted profiles, donning men with green or red flags and releasing alleged rumors or “tea” about them.

“Tea was born from a deeply personal mission — to give women the tools they need to date safely in a world that often overlooks their protection,” the Tea for Women website states.

The app didn’t see a surge in popularity until summer 2025, despite its 2023 release.

Shamaiyah Bradley, a junior studying social work, originally heard about the app in July.

“I think it is informative, I have the app … and it’s usually just like, ‘Oh, is this guy a good guy? I’m talking to him’ or ‘This guy did this to me,’” Bradley said.

Despite her positive outlook, Bradley said the app is currently popular, but she is unsure how long the craze will last.

“I think it will die down, but I don’t think it’s going to disappear,” Bradley said.

Like Bradley, Ellie Patrick, a sophomore studying marketing, said

she also heard about the app over the summer and downloaded it out of curiosity.

“I really didn’t think much of it, but my friends were talking about it so I ended up downloading it to see what it was about,” Patrick said. “I think it just has had such a big rush right now that so many people are getting posted … so I think eventually it will die down.”

Patrick said she is not on the app very often and shares conflicting views regarding its safety.

“I want to say it’s informative, but I think it’s also really toxic and there is a lot of gossip,” Patrick said. “What if the roles were reversed, girls would be saying it’s really toxic. I do think it can spread misinformation, but it could also be informative, too.”

Colin Haggerty, a sophomore studying finance, spoke about the app from a male perspective.

“I just think it’s whatever the kids make it,” Haggerty said. “I guess it could be poisonous, but it could also just be like, ‘hey, stay away from this dude, he’s weird.’”

Haggerty said the app could be detrimental to a student’s mental health.

“I wouldn’t want to be a dude and hear my name is on the Tea app personally, about how bad a person I am,” Haggerty said.

Patrick shares a similar view to Haggerty and said the app can impact personalities and limit growth.

“If someone has a bad past, I am a firm believer that people can change,” Patrick said. “I think this app would maybe stop someone from that or affect their progress with that.”

Although it is receiving mixed reviews on campus, Tea for Women said the app has helped over 5.7 million women make safer dating decisions, pushing Tea to the number one spot on the app store.

The Tea app, which was originally designed to protect women, straddles a fine line between promoting women’s safety in dating and creating a potentially toxic online space of gossiping and rumor spreading.

“I don’t think it’s a bad app,” Bradley said. “Every app is whatever; it’s just how people use it.”

Signs of the Times houses historical treasures

From lithographs, to desks and chairs, Signs of the Times antique store has a special item for

MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST

With a charming brick exterior and wooden trim, Signs of the Times on 143 N. Lancaster St. invites customers in to browse various antiques and hidden treasures.

Signs of the Times has everything from dishware and eyeglasses to books and lunchboxes. Judith Jones, owner, collects antiques from dealers, auctions, antique malls and antique stores.

Jones said she welcomes all regulars, newcomers and window shoppers.

“(I’m) very happy to see people come in and just visit, even if they don’t buy something,” Jones said. “My favorite part these days is having people come in and talk to me.”

Jones opened the store in 1975 and has been running it herself ever since. Originally from Lebanon, Ohio, she moved to Athens when her then husband was a student at Ohio University.

Signs of the Times, Jones said, has a double meaning.

“I started out first dealing in advertising signs in country stores,” Jones said. “So it’s that kind of (physical) sign … and it’s also an indication of an era.”

Of the pieces Jones has acquired, she houses a plethora of historical materials, including late 1800s and 1920s lithographs. These

advertisements are hand made and often created using stones or metal plates and oil-based inks.

“They were just beautiful,” Jones said. “It was true art and it also advertised things.”

This type of antique has always been special to Jones.

“My specialty and special love is old advertising items,” Jones said in a previous report by The Post.

Olivia Sparshott, a freshman studying sociology and criminology, is not an antique enthusiast, but grew up around a household full of interesting items.

“They have always interested me,” Sparshott said. “When I was young, just visiting my grandparents’ house and my great-grandparents’ house and seeing everything … I got curious about it. Where did it come from? What did they use it for?”

Like Sparshott, Jones’ interest in antiques flourished organically.

“My mother hated antiques,” Jones said. “But a very dear friend of our family had a Victorian house, furnished with wonderful things (and) I realized there were wonderful things out there.”

Recently, Jones said she has seen younger generations shopping in the store, which comes as a surprise.

“Some people my age and maybe 50 on up to my age say that young people

don’t like antiques but that is not really true,” Jones said. “There are a limited number of people that like antiques in the first place, but I don’t notice any difference in how many young people begin to like it as ever did.”

Dylan Halsey, a sophomore studying philosophy, said old maps are the most interesting type of antique.

“At one point in time they were useful,” Halsey said. “Now you just have them to sort of keep around and look at but they’re not useful in the way they used to be.”

Sparshott said her most treasured antique is a gold, cross-shaped jewelry box.

“I just like the story that they (antiques) hold,” Sparshott said. “I feel like they hold so much even though they’re just objects. They have a story.”

Sparshott said she has been to several antique stores but is excited to explore Signs of the Times, as she was unaware it existed.

The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jones encourages potential customers to stop by.

“I just love that I have something somebody really treasures and really likes,” Jones said.

ABBY DOENCH | ASST ART DIRECTOR

The front window of Signs of the Times antique store on North Lancaster Street, Sept. 28, 2025, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | FOR THE POST)

‘Art & Process’ toasts faculty artwork

A new exhibit, “Art & Process,” recently opened at the Kennedy Museum of Art. It features the School of Art and Design’s faculty artworks and provides insight to the creative process of Ohio University’s professors. The exhibit is open until March 29.

LIBBY SHOEMAKER FOR THE POST

Ohio University’s School of Art and Design faculty brought their artistic abilities and passion for art to the Kennedy Museum of Art in September. Located at 100 Ridges Circle, the new “Art & Process” exhibit celebrates faculty artwork and educates locals.

“Art & Process” highlights the creative methods taught in the School of Art and Design. The exhibit displays a variety of different art forms and mediums. It looks into the artistic mind of the school’s educators, displaying their own artistic practices.

Melissa Haviland, a printmaking professor, is a screen-printer and installation artist. Her piece “Poppy Expanse,” part of her Flourish series, examines 15 historic cash crops. The piece focuses on patchwork and historical design. It also has emphasis on pattern and layered imagery.

When asked about her creative process, Haviland said she was inspired by pattern design.

“I’m very interested in pushing pattern design,” Haviland said “These are some of the first patterns I had working with many layers. If you get up really close, you can see they are built with lots of

imagery. For me, it was a design and archive project.”

Haviland said she worked with the National Library in Copenhagen, Denmark and the Lloyd Library and Museum in Cincinnati to research historic cash crops – all of which greatly influenced “Poppy Expanse.”

Similar to Haviland, many faculty in the school shared pieces that took several years and a lot of dedication to complete. The exhibit displayed a variety of art forms, from installation

work to digital pieces. Among these technological pieces was “Destroy Again! Syria,” featuring projection and sound.

“Destroy Again! Syria,” by Basil Masri Zada, represents Syria’s ongoing struggle with terrorism and dictatorship.

Zada is an assistant professor of digital art and technology for the School of Art and Design. With Syria being his home country, Zada said his creation process involved a fifteen-year exploration of Syria’s complex political landscape.

In his piece, Zada developed a unique

artificial intelligence sequencing technique to trace his own frame. By doing this, he formulated an authentic piece to symbolize the country’s transitions between different forms of dictatorship. The artwork utilizes flags and a black house to symbolize terrorism and a barbed wire to showcase continuous challenges faced by Syria.

“Just be aware that there’s other parts of the world that have conflict and it’s not just what you see on the news,” Zada said. “It is not always good or evil, there is always a spectrum of things and in the end, people are out in the middle and have to live with that.”

Through “Destroy Again! Syria,” Zada said he wants to demonstrate a meaningful message connected to the struggles his home country is facing.

Members on the museum’s board, or Friends of the Kennedy, encourage not only Athens locals to visit the exhibit, but OU students as well.

“Come up, and take your time,” Jen Cantu, secretary on the museum board, said. “If you have questions, people will answer them for you … it takes more than one look at something. You can come in and experience galleries at one point in time and then come back again, and you’ll see something different.”

LS299724@OHIO.EDU

Miller’s Chicken fuels, nurtures rich history

At the edge of Ohio University’s campus, on 235 W. State St., lies an Athens institution.

Miller’s Chicken, serving up fried chicken and classic sides, has been a part of the Athens food scene since the 1940s.

Miller’s Chicken started off as a meat market, said Sandra Zoulek, current owner.

“My grandfather had a meat market in Canaanville … in the 40s,” she said. However, in the late 1940s, Zoulek said her grandfather’s oldest son, Harold, moved the business to Athens and sold “strictly poultry.”

“Local farmers would bring in live chickens at Thanksgiving time, like turkeys, and we butchered and processed (them),” Zoulek said. “So, it really started out that everything was fresh, just raw poultry and eggs and things like that.”

The business continued to sell poultry until around the mid ‘60s when Harold decided to start cooking the chicken and other members of the family got involved.

“It started out very small, just like chicken, maybe some french fries, and then it grew,” Zoulek said. “My Aunt Dorothy, his wife, started adding coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, which she actually ... would make them in her home.”

Dorothy’s home was right up the road from the restaurant and the food was

always sold fresh to customers, Zoulek said. Freshness is an ideal the restaurant has fostered since the original meat market days.

OU bought Miller’s property in the late ‘60s, which is now occupied by the Central Food Facility and some athletics fields on South Shafer Street. This was a blessing in disguise, as Miller’s moved to their current location on State Street.

“By then, … (we were) cooking more chicken than raw chicken,” Zoulek said.

For a brief period, Miller’s offered delivery services for local grocers and Greek life organizations. Zoulek said the services “dissipated” because of larger distributors, including Cisco.

Despite the restaurant’s location, far from the heart of campus, Zoulek said Miller’s still serves plenty of college students especially on busier weekends such as homecoming.

“Now the university colleges have bigger apartment buildings and a lot of rentals, but back then when I started working, they didn’t have all that,” she said.

With Athens housing other options for fried chicken, including Hot Box on 74 N. Court St. and the soon-to-be Raising Canes on 63 S. Court St., Miller’s has some competition. Each restaurant has its own style and price range.

While a Miller’s five piece fried chicken order costs $9.25 and does not include sides, Hot Box’s four-tender combo, served alongside a sauce, coleslaw, garlic toast and french fries or tater tots comes to $12.

Cane’s box combos range between $8.59 and $15.59 and include french fries, coleslaw, Texas toast and a fountain drink.

Prices can deter a student or local at any restaurant; however, Zoulek said Miller’s is special not only because of its fresh and tasty chicken, but familyrooted history.

“We cut our own chickens,” Zoulek said. “We have a meat cutter … which makes it a lot better than ordering them in. We’ve been around a long time. I’ve been told that Miller’s is an institution … and our (customers) are not going to get the same quality food elsewhere.”

Miller’s historical and welcoming qualities resonate with customers such as Bella Davis, a junior and intervention specialist.

“I’m a sucker for any kind of restaurant that’s not a chain and it originates in that place, so I love that,” Davis said.

“And it just kind of has that Athens feel, which is nice.”

Maggie Louderback, a sophomore studying theater design production, shares a similar outlook on the establishment and said Miller’s food quality is unmatched.

“What makes Miller’s different is the style of the chicken and the breading,” Louderback said. “It’s very juicy. The crust is thin and flaky, rather than thick, bumpy crust. It’s thinner and softer and you don’t get that dry chicken inside that you get at other places.”

For many locals, Miller’s positive reputation is due to the restaurant’s high-quality chicken, strong connections and representation of the spirit of Athens.

Miller’s is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed Sunday.

AUSTIN YAU | FOR THE POST

The outside of the Kennedy Museum of Art, located in The Ridges, Sept. 19, 2024, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | FOR THE POST)

Sandy Zouleck, the owner of Miller’s Chicken, poses in the kitchen of Miller’s Chicken for a portrait, Sept. 16, 2025. (SKYLAR SEAVEY | FOR THE POST)

Field Hockey upsets undefeated UMass at home opener

ANNABELLE GRACE

FOR THE POST

Ohio (2-7, Mid-American Conference 1-1) defeated No. 11 UMass (8-1, MAC 1-1) by a score of 1-0 in front of a large crowd in the team’s first home game of the season. This game marked Ohio’s first inconference win and the first shutout of the season. Anouk Plaehn scored the game’s lone goal in the fourth quarter. Sophomore goalie Ash Stephenson sealed the net along with Ohio’s steadfast defense. Although UMass had offensive possession most of the game, the team was unable to score. This loss ends its eight-game win streak.

“Going into the game, we changed our press,” head coach Ali Johnstone said. “UMass is a very good team. They shift around constantly, so we worked on our footwork and communication. It’s important to protect your feet against this team. They draw a lot of corners.”

The Bobcats started with first touch on the newly redone Pruitt Field. The Minutewomen quickly gained possession. During this offensive push, freshman Emily Barrett shot wide. The Bobcats eventually took their turn on offense. After an aggressive play by UMass goalie Myrte van Herwijnen, Ohio’s Sasha Dikotla forced a penalty corner. Plaehn missed high.

UMass maintained pressure on the Ohio goal for the rest of the period. Ohio’s defense, led by senior Emily Risser and sophomore Deborah James, made stops again and again. The team couldn’t get the ball past the center line, however. Stephenson made her first save of the game with less than a minute left.

Stephenson worked with her coach

Katie Maxim all week on moving across the net to make saves.

“I’ve been burned a lot of times, trying to make that save,” Stephenson said. “Coach Katie helped me with my footwork. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Then I’m like, ‘oh my god it’s all coming together.’”

As the clouds covered the sky, the Bobcats went on the offense. Goalie van Herwijnen saved both Bobcat shots. She is one of the best goalkeepers in the country and ranks fifth in goals against average.

The Minutewomen turned the ball up the field and earned a corner. A short pause for a goalie equipment malfunction halted their momentum. This corner became a series of five penalty corners with the Minutewomen taking a shot each time. Three players now had two shots apiece: Lina Kroeger, Elena Cloconeanu and Barrett.

UMass retained possession to the end of the half. The teams revised their game plans as the field was watered.

Ohio continued to play stellar defense in the third. They consistently pushed UMass to the edge of the field. UMass kept control of the game but only managed two shots.

“They have very good aerials,” Johnstone said. “So do we. I wanted us to focus on minimizing their chances to get through with the aerials.”

During the first two minutes of the quarter, the Bobcats kept the ball in the offensive zone. Their only other chance to score came off a poor pass by the Minutewomen. The Bobcats quickly lost possession.

The pressure was on for Ohio to finally sustain offensive possession. The teams went back and forth at the beginning of the fourth. Ohio blocked a shot before pushing towards UMass’s goal.

Three and a half minutes into the quarter, Ohio was awarded a penalty corner. Risser passed to Plaehn. Plaehn dribbled a little, then took a shot at the right side of the goal. Plaehn’s goal is her second of the year.

“I don’t think she (Plaehn) meant to shoot it. But she found a hole and it went in,” Johnstone said.

Stephenson comes up with a crucial save as the clock winds down. The Bobcats keep their opponents away from the goal.

The Minutewomen put Ohio’s defense to the test, and the Bobcats showed up. By minimizing scoring chances, they defeated a team much stronger on paper.

“We were really nervous going in,” Stephenson said. “But when we know a team will be a challenge, that’s when we play to the best of our abilities. This win showed that.”

“I don’t think there is an English word for how excited I am,” Johnstone said. Next, the Bobcats take on Central Michigan on Sep. 28. Central Michigan is coming off its first conference win, as well. Both teams aim to capitalize on their recent success.

Ohio loses first two MAC games against Bowling Green and Toledo

Ohio opened its Mid-American Conference play Thursday while trying to break its seven-game losing streak. The Bobcats traveled three hours northwest to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on the even 6-6 Falcons.

The Bobcats then traveled just 25 minutes up I-75 to take on Toledo, opening up MAC play with back-to-back games against in-state rivals.

Both teams were opening up conference play and trying to start off with a win. The Falcons were 1-0 at home going into the game, while the Bobcats were 1-2 on the road.

Ohio struggled in the first set with nine errors and a tough -0.057 hitting percentage. Despite Ohio’s first set struggles, it still kept it relatively close, losing 25-17 with the help from freshman outside blocker Blaire Bailey who had five kills.

Ohio was warmed up by the second set as it had a whopping 17 kills, coming from six different players. Junior middle blocker Olivia Gardner had 10 kills while freshman outside hitter Mady Long had four kills. The Bobcats also cut down on the errors and upgraded their hitting percentage tremendously to 0.353.

Ohio took set two 25-22 to even the game 1-1, and looked hot-headed into set three. Ohio regressed heavily in set three with only eight kills and eight errors.

The Bobcats fell 25-15 in set three, which made set four a must-win. Set four was better for Ohio, it had 14 kills. Half of those impressively came from freshman outside hitter Mady Long. Ohio’s hitting percentage also improved to 0.276%.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the Falcons played an amazing fourth set with only one error to 15 kills. Despite Ohio keeping it close, Bowling Green took the fourth set 25-22 and won the game 3-1. This loss continues Ohio’s losing streak to eight straight losses, falling to 2-11 and starting 0-1 in MAC play.

TOLEDO

The next day after Ohio’s loss to Bowling Green, it traveled further north to take on the 10-3 Toledo Rockets. The Rockets had been a perfect 4-0 at home going into this game and they were on a fourgame winning streak. The Bobcats had just fallen to 1-3 on the road and a rough eight-game losing streak.

It was safe to say Ohio was a big underdog going into their second MAC game. Ohio had an okay first set with 13 kills, a combined eight of them coming from Olivia Gardner and Torre Kildow. Due to a rough first set from Toledo, where it almost had as many errors as kills, Ohio took set one 25-22. The Rockets locked in heading into set two and didn’t look back again.

Toledo had 15 kills to only two errors, with a very good hitting percentage of 0.317%.

Ohio had a very similar set to its first one, but this time Toledo wasn’t going to let it slide, as it took set two 25-18. Despite a poor third set from the Bobcats, it was a very close set. Both teams fought hard in this back-and-forth third set, trying to take an important 2-1 lead. Ultimately, Ohio’s lack of kills in the set hurt it as it fell 25-21, and Toledo took a 2-1 lead. The Bobcats had a good fourth set, but it wasn’t enough to take down this strong Toledo team that was getting hot.

Toledo took the fourth set 25-19 despite a battle from Ohio through the first half. Toledo won this game 3-1. Ohio dropped its second MAC game and fell to a ninegame losing streak as its record sits at 2-12.

Next Friday, the Bobcats are home for the first time in nearly a month to try and end their losing streak and pick up their first MAC win against Akron.

Ohio back Deborah James (8) goes for the ball against Saint Louis University at Pruitt Field in Athens, Sept. 15, 2024.

(ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

BOWLING GREEN

LONDON DEMARCO FOR THE POST

Freshman middle blocker Bailey Bliss celebrates after Ohio scores a point against Bucknell in The Convo, August 29, 2025. (JACKSON MCCOY | EDITOR IN CHIEF)

Ohio powers through Bowling Green for first MAC win

the Ohio defense off the field, holding Bowling Green to a 33-yard field goal, the score now 21-13.

Ohio (3-2 overall, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) entered Peden Stadium on Saturday for its only noon game of the season against Bowling Green (2-3 overall, 0-1 MAC). The earliest start of the year looked as if it may have affected Ohio right on the opening kick; Bowling Green started near midfield with hopes to jump ahead early.

The Bobcats’ defense was not sleeping, however. Graduate student linebacker Cameron Hollobaugh intercepted the second pass of the day from the Falcons quarterback Drew Pyne and returned it 71 yards to the house as Ohio took the early 7-0 lead.

The Falcons did not go away quietly, spreading the ball around on their second drive and utilizing their whole running back room. Running back Chris McMillian had a 33-yard run, and running back Kaderris Roberts caught the 27-yard touchdown from Pyne to tie the game at seven.

Ohio’s offense was unfazed, methodically marching down the field. The drive started with redshirt senior running back Sieh Bengura gaining a first down. Then Ohio found redshirt sophomore tight end Mason Williams three times for 38 yards, including a 19-yard receiving touchdown to go up 14-7.

“The ability to break tackles, you know, that’s a huge thing,” Williams said. “You know, when you only have one guy to beat, if you break that tackle, then there’s no one else, so you kind of just run free.”

Bowling Green decided to open its third drive with trickery, running an endaround to wide receiver RJ Garcia for 38 yards. Ohio’s defense bent but did not break, holding Bowling Green to a 26yard field goal with only a minute to play in the first quarter.

Now leading 14-10, Ohio exchanged punts with Bowling Green. Ohio got the ball back again around midfield and used the legs of graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro to get to the 25-yard line. Navarro then looked to use his arm, dropping one in the bucket to junior receiver Chase Hendricks for a touchdown.

The Falcons’ offense leaned on McMillian and Garcia to get down the field. Unfortunately for them, Pyne was put under pressure and got ambitious on a throw downfield but underthrew his receiver. This allowed graduate student cornerback Tank Pearson to step in front and intercept the pass.

Ohio went three and out after the pick. After a good punt by Ohio, Bowling Green began making its way down the field. With under 2 minutes to play in the half, Bowling Green again could not break through for six points. A crucial thirddown hurry by Hollobaugh helped get

The Bobcats looked to match the Falcons’ field goal and got down the field in less than a minute. However, the Bobcats did not convert on the 38-yard field goal attempt and would head into the locker room up eight.

Ohio came out of the half hoping to extend its lead but Navarro was intercepted on fourth down, starting a turnover frenzy between the two offenses. After Bowling Green punted, both teams exchanged fumbles. The first was by Navarro. Then, Hollobaugh forced one to get the ball back to Ohio, recovered by redshirt sophomore Jay Crable.

“I feel like both offense and defense, if the defense gets scored on, the offense counters back and we get a touchdown, and if something bad happens on the offense, we come back and get a stop,” Crable said. “So it’s really a mutual thing, and just all about adversity and overcoming it.”

The Bobcats took over just outside of the red zone. Bangura took the ball down to the 10-yard line. Then, after another fiveyard run, Navarro finished off the drive with a five-yard run to end the scoring drought and go up 28-13.

The scoring once again slowed as a result of back-to-back punts by both teams. Once Bowling Green got the ball back it was under duress from the Ohio defensive line. It had two sacks on the drive, one by Crable, who had three in the afternoon, and the line as a whole had five total.

“I think it’s a great reflection of the commitment he’s made to our Player Development Program,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said on the growth of Crable. “(He’s) believing in what we’re trying to do and how we feed them, how we train them, and just how his body’s developed since he’s been here, and how he’s trusted our coach and continued to grow as a player.”

Ohio looked to shut the door, and after a 33-yard run by sophomore Duncan Brune, it looked poised to do so. Bowling Green did not allow the game to slip away, forcing Navarro to fumble again and scoring on the ensuing drive on a 15-yard run by McMillan to cut the lead to 28-20.

The Bobcats ran the clock down as they pushed the lead back to two scores due to a 34-yard touchdown run by Navarro, who ran down the left side while evading Falcon defenders and using key blocks downfield.

Ohio’s defense continued to shine as the clock dwindled away. It turned Bowling Green over on downs and then, to cap off a day full of turnovers, redshirt sophomore DJ Walker intercepted Pyne to shut the door on any comeback in the 35-20 Ohio win.

Trump Pardon Erases $168M Restitution

Trevor Robert Milton founded and served as executive chairman and CEO of electric vehicle start-up Nikola Corporation.

In 2022, Milton was found guilty of securities and wire fraud.1 He was found guilty of making false and misleading statements to investors. Among other things, he was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $168 million in restitution to his former company.2

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “Trevor Milton lied to investors again and again — on social media, on television, on podcasts, and in print. But today’s sentence should be a warning to start-up founders and corporate executives everywhere — ‘fake it till you make it’ is not an excuse for fraud, and if you mislead your investors, you will pay a stiff price.”3

Unless …

Brad Bondi, the brother of Pam Bondi, whom Trump appointed as U.S. Attorney General, helped defend Milton during his securities fraud case.

Less than a month before the 2024 presidential election, Milton and his wife donated more than $1.8 million to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.4

In March 2025, President Trump gave Milton a full pardon.5

As a result of the pardon, Milton does not have to go to prison, and he does not have to pay $168 million in restitution to his former company.6 He gets to keep that money.

But wait, there’s more.

He also does not have to pay restitution to the people he was convicted of defrauding. Before the pardon, prosecutors were seeking restitution of more than $660 million from Milton to Nikola shareholders. Now the Nikola shareholders get nothing from Milton.7 Trump claims that Milton “did nothing wrong,” and Milton claims that he got a “sacred pardon of innocence.”8

Defense continues to improve in win over Bowling Green

CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS EDITOR

The path of any team’s season is never linear, especially in a sport like college football in the current state of the sport. Ever-changing coaching staffs and rosters make for teams that are only given one offseason to gel, while the rest of the chemistry must be built during the season.

After Ohio (3-2 overall, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) took down Bowling Green (2-3 overall, 0-1 MAC) by a score of 35-20, it was clear the Bobcats’ defense and team as a whole are still coming together in a positive way.

The start to the season was a tough one for Ohio, as they were the only team in the country to open with Power Four opponents in the first three weeks of the season. The first game against Rutgers was a tough one for the defense, but the unit came alive in the second half, holding the opposing offense to just three points.

That performance against the Scarlet Knights carried over in a big way the following week against West Virginia, where the defense held the Mountaineers to just 10 total points, never allowing the offense to find a groove.

They held strong against Ohio State before giving up some deep touchdowns, but week four against Gardner-Webb was the worst performance of the year for Ohio, especially against an FCS school. The Runnin’ Bulldogs scored 35 points on the day and ripped off a number of big plays after some poor tackling from Ohio.

“Having 181 yards giving up based off missed tackles is not our style of football,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “In a way, we’re a much better tackling team than what we showed.”

That game felt like a needed reminder for Ohio, a team that seemed to be lacking energy against a lower-level opponent after being so battle-tested throughout the first three weeks of the season.

Thankfully for Ohio, that energy didn’t return in the team’s MAC opener against Bowling Green, as it was the defense that routinely made huge plays to secure a solid win to open conference play.

“Rebounding from last week, just energy-wise, I thought our guys played with a lot better energy (and) intensity,” Smith said. “They were more excited. They had a lot of fun.”

That energy was clear from the jump, as Ohio linebacker Cam Hollobaugh found a tipped pass from Bowling Green’s Drew Pyne in his hands and proceeded to take it 71 yards to the house for a pick six on the game’s opening drive.

Hollobaugh is a transfer this year, coming from DII Walsh University in Canton, Ohio, and to begin this year, he was a backup, still taking time to gel with the system.

“I was a two, so I obviously took a lesser role to start the season,” Hollobaugh said. “I was just kind of hungry the whole time, waiting for my opportunity… You gotta make the most of your opportunities. Because at this level, that’s what it’s all about.”

Ever since stepping in for an injured Jack Fries against West Virginia, Hollobaugh has made the absolute most of his opportunities, hauling in two interceptions and forcing a fumble in the third quarter of the Bowling Green game after a strip sack on Lucian Anderson III. The fumble was picked up by another one of the defense’s breakout contributors, defensive end Jay Crable.

Crable has been adapting to his position throughout his college career at Ohio. He played a myriad of positions in high school at Archbishop Hoban in Akron, but not defensive end.

The redshirt sophomore has broken out for the Bobcats, racking up four sacks to start the year, with a record-tying three of them coming against Bowling Green. On a defensive line that desperately needed some juice, Crable delivered that in bunches against the Falcons.

“It’s all (due) to the guys around me,” Crable said. “They weren’t letting the quarterback get out much, and they were closing gaps, and they’re just letting me get back there and make plays. Really, I just appreciate them and my physical ability.”

Ohio tallied five sacks on the day, and it was able to get pressure on Bowling Green’s quarterbacks all day, a stark change from the sackless performance against Gardner-Webb just a week ago.

“I think this week, compared to last week, it was 100% just a change in our energy and attitude,” Smith said. “Our guys were playing harder, they’re running to the ball better. I think that was a direct reflection of our ability to get to the passer.”

There is, without a doubt, room for improvement for the defense. Bowling Green was very effective running the ball in the first half, going for 164 yards before the run game was shut down. The Falcons finished with 16 second-half rushing yards and 68 total yards in the second half.

The impact plays and improvement from the Ohio defense is a good sign for the rest of the year for a team that looks to continue its winning streak deep into MAC play.

Cornerback Michael Mack II (9) pushes back against Bowling Green’s Eli Jacon-Duffy (82), at Peden Stadium, Sept. 27, 2025, in Athens. (MIA LUCAS | FOR THE POST)

‘Wicked: For Good,’ the final look

On Sept. 24, the second and final trailer for the sequel to the 2024 adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Wicked,” dropped, and with it comes a whole new view of the wonderful world of Oz. The movie, titled “Wicked: For Good,” is named after the second act of the musical and arrives in theaters in November. Now, two months before the premiere, there’s a three minute preview of what is in store.

The trailer quickly indicates this movie does not immediately follow the events of the first movie. Fans of the musical know roughly three to five years pass between the first and second acts of the Broadway show. With “Wicked: For Good” serving as the second act, it is safe to say it will follow the same time jump.

Life in Oz is wildly different since the events of the first film. Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, has turned her life of privilege and high social standing into a new life as a public figure under the guidance of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Morrible’s propaganda has shaped public opinion of Glinda, creating her title “Glinda the Good,” with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) serving as her rival, now known to the public as the Wicked Witch of the West.

These opening scenes also give audiences the only song not included in the first trailer. Grande opens the trailer with vocals from the act two opener, “Thank Goodness.” Viewers are also introduced to the new Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), now Captain of the Guard. The celebrations throughout Oz are interrupted by Elphaba spelling out “OUR WIZARD LIES” in the clouds.

Elphaba’s life has been noticeably different from that of her counterpart, spending her days underground growing her powers with the help of

the Grimmerie. She has turned the winged monkeys to her side, despite the majority of the first film’s end being a battle between Elphaba and the Wizardcontrolled flying monkeys. Elphaba’s main objective is to free animals like the flying monkeys from the wicked ways of the Wizard of Oz.

The first reunion between the main characters is not a pretty one. Conflict rises immediately and quickly turns violent. However, it does give the fullest view of Glinda’s newest look. She sports a dress outside of her signature color from the first film, leaning much more into blue and purple than pink.

Historic settlement over Prime practices reshapes Amazon

ANNA

Amazon isn’t just an online shopping giant; it’s the driving force for convenience in the e-commerce industry. Millions of people rely on its one-click deliveries and Prime Video, but the company is now facing a $2.5 billion settlement.

The lawsuit, first filed in 2023, centers on the company’s Amazon Prime membership program, a subscription service that promotes fast, free delivery on thousands of products. This shows even a brand built on speed and simplicity can face backlash over the culture it helped create.

The Federal Trade Commission says Amazon enrolled customers in Prime without consent and used deceptive tactics to keep them subscribed. The agency alleges Amazon failed to clearly disclose terms and made it harder for shoppers to buy products if they declined a membership.

Roughly 35 million customers are expected to receive money from the settlement. Amazon will have to pay $1.5 billion in refunds to Prime members who signed up between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, with eligible users receiving an automatic $51 refund. The

company will also pay $1 billion in civil penalties for violating the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shopper’s Customer Act. Investigators said Amazon repeatedly slowed or rejected internal proposals to simplify cancellations.

Amazon denies wrongdoing but says the settlement will allow it to “move forward.”

In a statement, the company said it sympathizes with customer frustration and is working to improve Prime, including new technologies and clearer disclosures.

The debate has sparked a broader cultural conversation. Critics argue the settlement allows Amazon executives to avoid personal accountability. The American Economic Liberty Project, for example, said ordinary people face harsh penalties for similar conduct.

People have gone to social media to express their concerns about this settlement. Users on Facebook state their concerns about the speed at which they will receive the money in their pockets.

“$51?” one Facebook user said. “I remember when I first signed up, my packages were actually delivered the next day. Now it can take longer than a month to get what I order. It’s hardly ever

At this point in the trailer, the storyline recognizable from the iconic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” comes into play. Elphaba’s visions see the infamous house of Dorothy Gale carried by a tornado created by Madame Morrible. The audience is reintroduced to the iconic cast of characters: the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. Differing from the original film; however, this Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) explicitly orders Gale and her friends to kill the Wicked Witch of the West, rather than tiptoeing around it.

The demise of the Wicked Witch of the West is well known, with Gale mistakenly pouring water on her when trying to douse the flames on the Scarecrow. Here, viewers see the townspeople are aware of the fact water will kill the witch, as a person carries a bucket of water with the words “melt her” written on it.

From this moment on, the trailer shifts in mood. Glinda witnesses the townspeople threatening the one friend who has truly mattered to her, and we see the beginning of the reconciliation of their beloved friendship. Birthing one of the most emotional and devastating lines that may define the film, “Just look at me… not with your eyes… with theirs.”

In the stage version of the musical, Glinda’s iconic bubble dress is actually blue, mostly due to copyright issues. The film may be paying homage to the stage production, following the iconic cameos of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the first film. Menzel and Chenoweth were the first to play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.

The color change may also symbolize Glinda losing herself in the “Glinda the Good” persona. However, viewers saw Glinda back in her signature color at the very beginning of the first film, which takes place following the events of the sequel.

The characters’ adventures are only just beginning, though, spanning from a reunification with the Wizard, a wedding, a battle, a betrayal and a significant amount of drama.

If the trailer is any indication, audiences can expect even more spectacle and drama than the first film. To see what is to come, fans will have to wait until Nov. 21 to see how the story unfolds when “Wicked: For Good” finally lands in theaters.

on time. I always get the ‘Sorry, but your delivery is late’ email. Every time I find something I want to watch on Amazon Prime, they want me to enroll in Hulu, Netflix, Paramount, etc. Amazon Prime is charging for things we were promised WITH the enrollment. They are crooked.”

Some users even commented, asking who would receive the money. People have also gone to many media platforms to start educating other viewers on how to receive their money.

Lawyer Angela, a TikToker and Harvard Law graduate, is informing her viewers about the lawsuit and what that could mean for their bank accounts.

“Amazon and the FTC announced a $2.5 billion settlement, with $1 billion going to the government as a penalty, “Angela said. “The other $1.5 billion is returned to you (consumers).”

Whether the case signals a new turning point remains uncertain, but it shows regulators are willing to challenge even the world’s biggest digital gatekeepers. For millions of Prime members, the lawsuit isn’t just about a refund; it is a reminder to stay alert in a marketplace where convenience can quietly come at a cost.

LUKE REAM | FOR THE POST

ABBY DOENCH ASST ART DIRECTOR

HANES | FOR THE POST

Paul Thomas Anderson goes full pulp with ‘One Battle After Another’

Paul Thomas Anderson is the definition of a true auteur filmmaker. His films range in genre and storytelling, making him one of the best directors and screenwriters to adapt any story wanting to be told. Anderson’s latest, “One Battle After Another” (2025), is a film different from his normal directing style, yet it makes sense. It’s a bizarre film to say the least.

Inspired by the 1990 novel “Vineland” by Thomas Pynchon, “One Battle After Another” tells the story of a group of revolutionaries named the French 75 led by “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), and how their group is dismantled one by one by Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn).

Those not caught by Lockjaw are forced to go into hiding. This includes Calhoun having to change his name to Bob Ferguson and raising his and Hills’ baby daughter, Charlene Calhoun/Willa Ferguson (Chase Infiniti), alone.

Sixteen years pass by, and the French 75’s old nemesis in the form of Lockjaw resurfaces, and Willa Ferguson goes missing. Bob Ferguson, at this point in his life, is a drug addict and alcoholic, but that doesn’t stop him from finding her before the consequences of his past radically catch up to him.

One of Anderson’s best traits as a filmmaker is directing actors. DiCaprio is almost unrecognizable when he switches from Pat Calhoun to Bob Ferguson. It’s a role he’s never played in his career as a leading man.

“One Battle After Another” marks DiCaprio’s first collaboration with Anderson, and hopefully, the actor and director will continue to make films together as time progresses.

Other legendary actors like Penn and Benicio del Toro, who plays Willa Ferguson’s karate instructor, Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, make their second appearance in one of Anderson’s films. Del Toro’s first was in “Inherent Vice” (2014), and Penn was last seen in “Licorice Pizza” (2021). Penn serves as the primary antagonist, while del

Toro is just a side character.

What could’ve benefited this film was having more screentime dedicated to Penn and del Toro’s characters and their performances. At two hours and 50 minutes overall runtime, perhaps Anderson thought they were given the appropriate amount of minutes.

Penn as Lockjaw is a villain that’s too ridiculous to take seriously. Sure, in the eyes of the characters, he’s intimidating, but the audience is always poking fun at

Fall drinks to spice up the season

THE POST

There’s no better feeling than sitting in a cozy chair on a brisk fall day while drinking a nice cup of coffee. As soon as the nights get cooler, people flock to their local coffee shops to taste their first sip of fall. Coffee is often associated with feelings of comfort and peace, making it the perfect partner in crime for fall weather. In late August, coffee shops start rolling out their annual fall menus. These menus often include flavors like apple, cinnamon, caramel, hazelnut, brown sugar, maple and, of course, pumpkin.

Coffee lovers get particularly excited when Starbucks announces its fall menu. TikTok users frequently highlight daily trips to Starbucks to try a new fall flavor. By the end of the season, they rank their favorite drinks.

Woo Kong, a freshman studying journalism, likes to order his coffee with cinnamon.

“The taste of cinnamon reminds me of fall, like apple pie kind of, stuff like that, very chill vibes,” Kong said. Spices like cinnamon are common in many fall drinks, including the famous pumpkin spice latte.

When asked what her go-to fall coffee order is, Julianna Manley, a freshman studying integrated language arts, said she orders pumpkin.

“A pumpkin spice latte, with pumpkin cold foam,” Manley said. “If I could order it all year long, I would, because it’s that good.”

Pumpkin spice lattes are a staple part of fall. The drink tastes like autumn bottled up in liquid form. It is carefully crafted from pumpkin puree and mixed with spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. One can’t go into any

coffee shop without seeing a pumpkin spice latte on the menu. The iconic flavor is by far the most popular order for the fall season.

Kaitlyn Whaley, a freshman studying history, is another student on campus who echoes this sentiment, further proving its popularity.

“I ordered a pumpkin spice latte,” Whaley said. “I just think it tastes nice, very fall-ish,”

If you aren’t a fan of the pumpkin spice craze, or coffee isn’t your style, another popular drink order is a chaider. Chaiders are a mix of apple cider and chai tea.

The sweetness of the apple blends seamlessly with the spice of the chai, making it the perfect drink for a chilly day. The taste will remind you of picking apples in an orchard.

Another must-try drink this fall is the newly popular matcha, but with a twist: a pumpkin spice matcha latte. The drink isn’t exactly on the Starbucks menu, but it can be ordered by asking for a grande iced matcha latte with oat milk, no syrup, two pumps of brown sugar syrup, one pump of pumpkin, add pumpkin cold foam and pumpkin spice topping. The result is a perfect coffee-alternative fall drink.

Other honorable mentions for fall drinks include a pumpkin cream cold brew, an apple crisp latte and hot chocolate. These seasonal drinks will not only quench thirst but also fulfill the fall aesthetic mood board.

These delicious drinks are perfect to pair with a fall adventure to look at the scenic trees or to carve a pumpkin. Whether that drink is a pumpkin spice latte or a chaider, the common consensus is that coffee is a significant part of fall.

him. He feels like a little kid who, just because he got to sit in the big boy’s chair, feels like he now has power over others.

Infiniti’s Willa Ferguson is a highlight many moviegoers likely won’t expect. In a film with A-listers, including Regina Hall as a member of the French 75, Infiniti’s Willa Ferguson is the heart and innocence between the constant violence and chaos between the revolutionaries and members of the U.S. government military.

She’s pushed into a world she only knew of because of her father, and even so, wasn’t fully prepared for what could happen. By the end, she’s a completely different person, and Infiniti perfectly personifies that in her performance after having been through one heck of an experience at the age of 16.

With a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, “One Battle After Another” is one of the most popular recent releases. However, the follow through of the plot throughout the film doesn’t mark this as one of the best films of the year.

There are far better and more enjoyable films released this year by Warner Bros. than above and beyond this film, such as James Gunn’s “Superman,” Joseph Kosinski’s “F1,” Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”

However, the performances are good, the comedy is used suitably and the cinematography by Michael Bauman is well done. The story is presented simply and does not make it a candidate for Best Picture at next year’s Academy Awards.

Love him or hate him, Anderson is someone who goes by his own rules and doesn’t allow for a studio to change his film for any unjust reason. If this film suits your fancy, see it.

Rating: 3/5

JH825821@OHIO.EDU

JUDE HANNAHS | SPORTS STAFF WRITER

ELLA MOLER | FOR

MEGAN VANVLACK DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another. Courtesy of © 2025 WARNER BROS. ENT. All rights reserved.

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Advertisement Policies

Unapologetically Abby Breast Cancer Awareness Month means more than pink

ABBY WAECHTER DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS STRATEGY

As October paints our towns in shades of pink, it can be easy to see it as just another tradition. However, in Southeast Ohio, awareness means very little without the community that stands beside it.

Lee Wood’s experience with breast cancer began in 2012, when she was diagnosed at 47 years old and faced years of treatment, including chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and immunotherapy. Her care required frequent drives from Athens to The James Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio, which she was able to manage, though she worried about the women in her community who did not have the same resources.

In 2014, Wood turned her concern into action, founding the Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund. The organization helps provide gas cards, hotel stays, meals and emotional support for women in Southeast Ohio facing breast cancer. Since its founding, Wood estimates she has helped over 200 women through their battles against breast cancer.

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“I know a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, it’s pink, everything’s pink, and I’m tired of it,’” Wood said. “Embrace the pink for a month. It’s important. One in eight women is going to get it. There are going to be women who don’t make it, and we need people to help each other through it.”

In Southeast Ohio, healthcare access is not guaranteed. Residents of Morgan County, just 24 miles from Athens, live in a health desert, often traveling more than 45 minutes to reach the nearest hospital in Zanesville, according to WOSU. The American Cancer Society reports a 99% five-year survival rate when breast cancer is caught early, but only 32% when it’s detected late. Prevention matters, but when care feels out of reach, it’s easy to fall behind.

That’s where community programs like Break for Breakfast step in to bring care closer to residents. Organized by Hocking-Athens-Perry County Community Action in partnership with CareSource and OhioHealth, the event comes directly to the community, offering a welcoming space, breakfast

and on-site mammogram scheduling. This year’s event is Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Athens City Pool parking lot.

“I think people are excited about something that is seen as a kind of chore and maybe not their favorite thing to do,” Eva Bloom, director of Athens’ Break for Breakfast, said. “It helps them be more likely to get these types of checks.”

For me, breast cancer became personal last November, when my mom was diagnosed at 46. I’ll never forget her voice, telling me she didn’t want to die before my 11-year-old brother had grown up. Hearing that from the person I’ve always seen as invincible shook me to my core.

Since then, I’ve watched her endure multiple surgeries, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a month of radiation with a strength I can only hope to emulate. What struck me most was the strength of our community. Neighbors we barely knew organized meal trains, strangers offered to drive my siblings to practices and family members sat beside her through long infusions. Their kindness carried us when we could not carry ourselves. I felt I owed it to both my mom and my community to share this story during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thank you to everyone who stepped in when we were shaken to our core, when so much of the road ahead felt uncertain. This battle was my mom’s, but it touched all of us and in the midst of fear, it revealed a kind of beauty I never could have imagined.

One in eight women will face breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Awareness alone isn’t enough; in Southeast Ohio, survival often depends on the strength of the community. From the Pink Ribbon Fund to Break for Breakfast to the neighbors who show up unasked, it is support, not slogans, that saves lives.

Abby Waechter is a senior studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email Abby at aw087421@ohio.edu.

Heidi’s Hot Takes On Meg’s Mind

Your TikTok feed is not a therapist Stop overlooking women in sports

HEIDI BARTOLONE FOR THE POST

Somewhere between a get ready with me and a smoothie recipe, your For You page probably has popped up with a video titled something like “10 signs you may have ADHD” or “why you’re actually neurodivergent.” All of a sudden, millions of young adults are now convinced they’ve self-diagnosed their way into a clinical condition.

Welcome to the age of DIY diagnosis. It’s becoming dangerous.

To be clear, mental health awareness is a good thing. Generation Z talking openly about anxiety, depression and neurodivergence is a huge step forward from the hush-hush attitudes of past generations. However, awareness without accuracy or diagnosis is a recipe for disaster. It’s exactly what is happening on social media right now.

In 2021, the hashtag ADHD had 2.9 million views, and the hashtag tourettes had 2.5 billion views. The popularity of these hashtags and videos is not mental health awareness. Instead, they are playing the role of a doctor without a license.

The problem is not only that TikTok therapists oversimplify complex conditions into aesthetic checklists. It is these watered-down definitions that blur the line between everyday experiences and real diagnoses. Feeling sad after a breakup isn’t typically considered clinical depression. Being introverted doesn’t mean you have social anxiety. Losing focus in math class does not automatically equal ADHD. Social media has made those distinctions fuzzy and in some cases, nonexistent.

There is also a darker side to selfdiagnosis. Potentially misdiagnosing oneself can delay proper treatment.

Misdiagnosis is dangerous because there’s a risk of masking symptoms of a serious condition or delaying necessary medical attention. Young adults who assume their panic attacks are simply anxiety might ignore underlying medical issues. Someone convinced they have ADHD might push for stimulant medication they do not actually need. Those who convince themselves they are beyond help because of a label they gave themselves may never seek help at all.

Meanwhile, doctors are sounding the alarm. This is due to the creation of an echo chamber on social media surrounding mental health. The algorithm on social media is designed to show content that aligns with the behaviors of users, resulting in content that may reinforce a mental health concept or condition, rather than providing another perspective. Although TikTok can provide a community for those struggling with mental health, it shouldn’t be a diagnosis.

The most dangerous part is selfdiagnosis gives a false sense of understanding. Young adults think they are taking control of their mental health when in reality, they are often building identities around misinformation. It is not self-awareness, it is self-deception.

It’s time to stop treating TikTok like a medical journal and more like a resource. It is great to relate to content and recognize patterns in your behavior, but this should be the starting point, not the final answer. Mental health is personal and deeply individual. It deserves more than a 15-second video and a hashtag. Talk to a professional. Receive an evaluation, ask questions. Curiosity is healthy, but self-diagnosis without expertise is not self-care. It’s selfsabotage.

MEAGAN LARICK FOR THE POST

As a woman wanting to work in the sports field, it can be exhausting when you are in a room with men talking about sports and they don’t ask your opinion. You get treated like you’re not even there when the topic is sports. Or, if you ever are brave enough to speak up, you’re called a “pick me” and you don’t actually know what you’re talking about. You just want to seem cool. Maybe some girls just want to talk about sports the same as guys. People need to take women in sports seriously; we know what we’re talking about. It is a systematic problem and it starts at the top.

It is incredible that of 2,242 sports articles, 94.9% are written by men. The audience for these stories is predominantly men. When men are reading stories about sports written by men, they’re conditioned to expect sports talk from men.

The number of women employed in sports needs to rise. There is a demographic out there for women and it needs to be represented in the media. How is this possible when at the same time, 47% of viewers for the Super Bowl, one of the biggest American sporting events, are women. The amount of women watching sports is not something you would be able to tell by looking at who is broadcasting it.

We have a large demographic of women consuming sports in America, but somehow, we still are not considering women in conversation. Yes, this is getting better as we broaden coverage of women’s sports; the number has risen from 4% to 15% of total sports media being women’s sports. But that’s not

enough. Putting women in coverage of women’s sports is just shoving them in a corner. It’s like saying women can only know about women. Women like Erin Andrews, Maria Taylor and Holly Rowe have proven women are more than capable of being amazing at covering men’s sports.

The notion that you have to be able to play the sport to cover it is outdated and has to go. There is a double standard because men have been covering women’s sports since broadcasting began.

The way we fix it is by including the girls in the conversation around the table at dinner or in class. Then we are used to speaking about it across genders in casual settings, so when it becomes a professional hiring situation, the next generation loses the bias.

Women are sick of sitting around the table responding to men’s conversation about sports in their heads because they can’t be bothered to ask. Let’s fix it now. We are far too advanced as a society to keep such a silly problem. Talk to the women around you about sports. Ask the girls across the table, and invite everyone. Inclusion happens in every realm of life. Let’s please stop acting like anyone’s gender controls what they are and aren’t allowed to talk or know about.

Meagan Larick is a Freshman studying Journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Meagan about her column? Email her at ml386724@ohio.edu. @ meaganlarick

Soph’s Soapbox | OU Parking Services needs improvement

SOPHIA ANNESS ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Perhaps the five parking tickets I’ve received over the last year are a result of pure laziness, but I truly believe ticketing students is nothing more than a cash grab.

Every now and then, I test my luck with Ohio University Parking Services. I park my car behind my residence hall after a late-night Taco Bell run to avoid the sixminute walk from under Nelson Court. Then, I move my car back to the correct lot in the early hours of the morning. Occasionally, I am greeted by a white slip on my windshield: a $35 fine because of parking a little closer to my residence hall. My short anecdote brings me to the one thing I would change about the school I have so much love for. OU must change how it runs its parking services.

OU Parking Services is a scam. I have had my car on campus for the last two years. Since then, I have given OU approximately $1,405 to have my car

on campus. This number includes two academic year passes, two summer passes and five parking tickets.

I park under Nelson during the school year, and for that spot I paid $550. I have a few qualms about this price.

OU is currently working on building a new residence hall right behind the “Front Four” called McDavis Hall. McDavis Hall’s construction is in full swing as the building is set to be completed for the fall 2026 semester. As a result, dust and debris from the construction frequently blow into the parking garage, leaving my car covered in dirt.

If I am paying $550 to keep my car on campus, it should not be getting covered in dirt from the surrounding construction. Because of the ongoing construction, spots in this lot should have been offered at a discounted price.

Another issue I have with the spot is that the lot under Nelson often is partially closed because of the construction going on, limiting the number of spots for students who pay to park there.

The garage is already overcrowded with cars, making it difficult to find a spot when the parking lot is open. When it is closed off, it becomes more difficult to find a spot. I am often forced to move my car to a different lot, risking a ticket if I do not find a parking meter to keep my car at.

The price students pay for parking is outrageous, as well. At other Ohio colleges, the price of their parking permits is significantly lower.

Kent State University’s on-campus parking permits are $232 for the academic year. Youngstown State University’s parking passes are $310 for the academic year. Miami University parking permits cost $200 for the academic year.

OU’s parking permit prices do not fall below $490 for on-campus parking spots for the academic year. Knowing OU’s outrageous parking prices, it is shocking parking services is still so quick to hand out tickets.

With the number of tickets I see daily, I

can only wonder where the money from parking ticket fines is going. OU must be making a significant amount of money off parking tickets, and since students already pay so much to attend, why be so strict about parking services?

As enrollment numbers rise, parking spaces are slim and with the continued construction of new buildings across campus, OU is getting rid of parking lots crucial for students. According to OU’s website, 4,550 first-year students were enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year, another record-breaking year for OU. Therefore, this is not the time to get rid of parking lots.

OU needs to do something about parking services to improve students’ college experiences. Although I have had a great experience at OU so far, I believe my experience would be significantly better if I did not have to play musical cars, take my car through a car wash twice a month and pay less for a parking spot.

SUDOKU CROSSWORD Debriefing

Kamala Harris’ MSNBC interview is shameful

ADAMS FOR THE POST

Kamala Harris, former vice president and now author, has a new book: “107 Days,” a memoir recounting the lessthan-four months between Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race July 21, 2024, and the election Nov. 5, 2024.

As is customary, Harris launched a press tour, including a sit-down on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow. The interview was a shameful display of excuses, false attributions and a reluctant “endorsement” of the Democratic Party’s biggest rising star, Zohran Mamdani. The interview left many questions, chief among them being, “Do Democrats want to win?”

It did, however, answer one question. Harris is spineless and full of excuses.

In the interview, Maddow pressed Harris on several points made in the book. An excerpt in which Harris suggests former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg would not have made a good vice president because he’s gay, arguing it would have made him too risky. A point Harris all but backtracked.

As she discusses her book, Harris details the reasons she believes she lost the race. She pens a falsehood that she was fighting from behind from the start, despite polling data saying otherwise. Overall, she claims she simply didn’t have enough time to prepare. She deflects from her inability to run a campaign separate from Biden, backtracking on foreign policy and free healthcare.

To top it off, Harris gave the flimsiest endorsement of a candidate, perhaps ever. When asked if she’d endorse the leading candidate in the biggest city in the country, Mamdani, Harris’s response was, “I support the Democrat in the race, sure.”

Let the record show there are

three former or current Democratic candidates leading the New York City mayoral race. Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams, who is now out of the race, have all previously run on the Democratic ticket.

Harris goes on to say the Democrats exist under a big tent, meaning many upstart candidates are vying for time and there just isn’t enough room for all of them. There are plenty of rising stars in the Democratic party, Harris told MSNBC, and centering the party on its most successful race in the country’s biggest city is not worthwhile.

Mamdani’s race has been historic for the Democratic Party. In the party’s primary, he drew a record-breaking vote count on track to a blowout, upset victory over Cuomo, a dynastic heir of a family deeply rooted in U.S. politics.

As a proud Democratic socialist, not only have Mamdani’s policies of free childcare, frozen rent and grocery prices and fast and free buses become wildly popular, but socialism as a whole has boomed nationwide, in no small part due to the market New York City provides. Harris’ failure to endorse Mamdani is a symptom of why she and several Democrats have failed to win key races – failure to recognize and address what Americans need. It wasn’t the 107 day time limit. It wasn’t Biden. It certainly wasn’t Buttigieg. Until Harris and the Democratic party as a whole can recognize this, they will continue to blow the wide-open layups, failing Americans and losing races.

Logan Adams is a senior studying journalism. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Logan know by tweeting him @LoganPAdams.

LOGAN

Hook, Line & Sinker | ALAINA DACKERMANN

The Weekender Craft night, flea market and a fair

ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST

TUESDAY, SEP. 30

The Athena Cinema on 20 S. Court St. is screening the film “Boca Chica” as part of its Hispanic Film Series. The film will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free but tickets are required and can be obtained online.

Admission: Free

Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., is hosting its weekly Designated Space poetry night at 9 p.m. All are welcome to sign up and showcase their poetry, prose and spoken word.

Admission: Free

The Union Bar, 18 W. Union St., is hosting its weekly Tuesday game night. The downstairs bar will open at 4 p.m., bingo will run from 6-8 p.m. and trivia will begin at 9 p.m.

Admission: Free

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1

Housing and Residence Life is hosting a Bobcat County Fair on West Green from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will include a mechanical pumpkin ride, food and snacks as well as games and prizes.

Admission: Free

The Athena Cinema will be holding a screening of the film “Seeing The Unseen” as part of its Sustainability Film Series. The film will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free but tickets are required and can be obtained online.

Admission: Free

Alternative band Your Arms Are My Cocoon is headlining a show at The Union with support from For Your Health and Kaiba. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music begins at 9 p.m.

Admission: $11 for 18-20, $8 for 21+

THURSDAY, OCT. 2

Ohio Bobcats soccer (3-5-4, 1-1-3 MidAmerican Conference) plays Ball State (44-2, 1-2-1 MAC) at Chessa Field at 4 p.m. Ohio is coming off of a tie against Eastern Michigan and aims to bring its record up.

Admission: Free

Donkey Coffee hosts its weekly open mic night at 8 p.m. Locals and students are invited to sign up and share their talents with the audience.

Admission: Free

Ohio Bobcats field hockey (2-8, 1-2 MAC) plays Bellarmine (1-8, 1-2 MAC) at Pruitt Field at 1 p.m.

Admission: Free

Jillian Kay & The Jewels is performing at The Union with support from Coyote and

Passion Cracked Bottle. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music begins at 9 p.m.

Admission: $11 for 18-20, $8 for 21+

FRIDAY, OCT. 3

Ohio Bobcats volleyball (2-12, 0-2 MAC) plays Akron (7-6, 0-2 MAC) at the Convocation Center at 6 p.m.

Admission: $3-12

Midnight Music is hosting a concert at The Union featuring YACOBUCCI, Joey Aich, loljack and Jack Wyatt. Doors open at 8 p.m. and music begins at 9 p.m.

Admission: $11 for 18-20, $8 for 21+

The first day of Click Fest, Ohio University’s electroacoustic music festival, will be held at Glidden Recital Hall, 3 Health Center Drive. The first concert starts at 10:30 a.m.

Admission: Free

Fridays Live will be hosting its second episode of the season from 8-10 p.m.

Students can watch the episode in RTV Communications Building room 515, located on 35 College St.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

Ohio Bobcats volleyball plays Buffalo (3-8, 0-2 MAC) at the Convocation Center at 6 p.m.

Admission: $3-12

The College of Fine Arts is hosting a Korean Craft Paper Workshop with Aimee Lee at the Kennedy Museum from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will learn and get to experience traditional Korean paper making in a hands-on setting. Registration is strictly limited to 35 participants.

Admission: $10

SUNDAY, OCT. 5

Ohio Bobcats field hockey plays Queens (1-7) at Pruitt Field at 1 p.m.

Admission: Free

Ohio Bobcats softball plays a doubleheader against Marshall at the softball field. The first game begins at 12 p.m. and the second game starts at 2 p.m.

Admission: Free

Visiting artist and pianist Michael Davidman is performing at the Glidden Recital Hall at 4 p.m.

Admission: Free

Kindred Market on 284 E. State St. is holding a flea market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Free

Women’s open mic night at The Union, in photos

Ohio University’s Women In Music Industry and girl-band Blush hosted a successful ladies’ open stage Wednesday.

ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST

PHOTO 1: Blush performs at the Women’s Open Mic Night at The Union in Athens, Ohio, Sep. 24, 2025.

PHOTO 2: A fan records Emaline Duqette’s performance at the Women’s Open Mic Night at The Union in Athens, Ohio, Sep. 24, 2025.

PHOTO 3: The crowd sways together watching Emaline Duqette performs at the Women’s Open Mic Night at The Union in Athens, Ohio, Sep. 24, 2025.