January 27, 2026

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Sunday at noon, Jeff Hill turned into a snow-covered playground as students grabbed actual and makeshift sleds to make the most of the fresh snowfall.

The event, dubbed “Snowday at Jeff Hill,” was organized by Ohio Snowcats, Ohio University’s ski and snowboarding club, and announced the night before on Instagram. By Sunday afternoon, students were flying down the hill, momentarily turning it into a winter playground.

“We were assuming a bunch of (people) were gonna come out either way,” Ben Pirain, the president of Ohio Snowcats and senior studying restaurant, hotel and tourism, said. “But, we did organize this. We did the same thing about two years ago.”

With plenty of snow on the ground, Snowcats took the opportunity to lean into the moment. just about anything they could get their hands on, including sleds, snow tubes, boxes, lids, bags, skis and even dorm mattresses.

“I saw someone go down in a dorm bed, like a dorm mattress,” Pirain said. “That was good. I think the mattress was pretty funny.”

Pirain said the snow was icy and sticky, making it tricky to steer, especially on skis. Still, that didn’t stop him from strapping in.

“I’m using skis to go down and shred the gnar,” Pirain said.

Cole Burton, a junior studying engineering, said the snowfall felt like a blast from the past.

“(Going down that hill) was actually so crazy,” Burton said. “We were flying down the hill. It was so sweet. It was fun.”

By 2 p.m., Athens had accumulated just under five inches of snow as part of Winter Storm Fern, an unusually large winter system affecting much of the country, according to the Scalia Laboratory, OU’s official weather forecasting service. Snow continued into the evening, with temperatures and wind chills expected to create temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit through this week

Ohio University Police Department officers arrived around noon to warn students against sledding down East Union Street, the road running alongside Jeff Hill. About an hour later, officers returned and shut down the event.

“I was talking to them, and it kind of sounds like they’re going to come back,” Burton said before the event ended. “We’re trying to keep it open for as long as possible so it doesn’t get shut down, because this is so fun.”

The event wrapped up around 1 p.m., after students had already spent an hour racing down Jeff Hill and soaking up a rare snow day.

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SNOW MUCH FUN!

When it snows, Jeff Hill turns students into kids again

‘Operation Buckeye’ raises concerns for OU students

LAYNEE ESLICH FOR THE POST

Other than being the state’s official tree, “Buckeye” refers to the Ohio State University’s mascot, a peanut butter and chocolate candy, a lake, a town and a trail, according to the state of Ohio website. However, the name has most recently been adopted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, launching “Operation Buckeye.”

On Dec. 16, ICE deployed officers throughout Ohio. ICE’s intentions include arresting “the worst of the worst from Ohio, with convictions including felony drug possession, assault, DUIs and more,” according to ICE’s website.

Columbus city leaders addressed the federal operation on Dec. 18, according to a video from the City of Columbus’s YouTube channel.

“While some may say they’re here to make Columbus safer, the fact is, Columbus is already safe,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in the address. “We have not asked for and do not need this unwelcome intervention.”

The mayor highlighted the decreasing crime rates of 2025, addressing the city as safer than it has been in years. Ginther fears trust between citizens and the city’s first responders may be broken.

“We want people who urgently need

help to seek it,” Ginther said. “People suffering from domestic violence or witnesses of crime or individuals in need of an ambulance might not call for help because of fear that this operation isn’t intended to inspire.”

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance released an analysis conducted by ICE during the detention raids in Columbus. According to the analysis, more than 214 people were arrested and are currently in Ohio and Michigan prisons.

“Citizens, legally-authorized immigrants and people with legal work permits and pending immigration cases are among those detained,” OIA wrote. “Agents aren’t actually looking for specific people. They are racially profiling anyone they come across.”

During the Ohio State University career fair, held on Jan. 20, three people were arrested for protesting the Border Patrol’s attendance. Two of the people were students, according to The Lantern, OSU’s student newspaper, protesting outside of the event at the Ohio Union.

The Ohio State University Student Association has made many statements through its social media and during protests opposing the arrests.

In an Instagram post, the association wrote, “ICE, DHS, CBP and any and all other institutions that uphold structural continued pg. 3

Police blotter: Dollar Tree threat, EZ-Mart hit-and-skip

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

16 Fri ________________________

Tractor call

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to U.S. Route 50 regarding a tractor found on a property.

Deputies spoke with the man on the scene and advised him on whom to contact to gain ownership of the aforementioned tractor.

Be careful driving

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Baker Road after a car hit a deer.

The deer was taken care of, and patrol resumed.

17 Sat _________________________

Ditch driving

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Hooper Ridge Road in Athens regarding a vehicle stuck in a ditch.

Deputies on the scene made contact with the driver, who told them he was fine but needed a tow truck. A tow truck was called to pull the vehicle out. Who’s there?

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to New Marshfield regarding an open 911 call.

Deputies went to different locations to find the caller, but the caller was not found. Patrol resumed.

18 Sun ________________________

Music is too loud!

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies went to Carl Drive in The Plains after receiving a loud music complaint.

Deputies patrolled the area, but did not find any loud music.

Dispute!

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were sent to Fossil Rock Road after receiving a 911 call that disconnected.

While on the way to the location, deputies were able to make contact with a man who told deputies about a dispute. On the scene, all involved parties were spoken to, and a female left the residence.

19 Mon________________________

Warrants of the week

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office

released warrants of arrest for the week of Jan. 19.

Warrants of arrest are out for James Bunner and Donald Young. Bunner is wanted for two counts of possession of drugs. Young is wanted for three counts of receiving stolen property and possession of drugs.

Anyone with information on either man is to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.

Hit and skip

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to EZMart in Glouster regarding a private property hit-and-skip accident.

Deputies on the scene took a report.

20 Tue ________________________

Identity theft is not a joke

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a report of identity fraud in Albany.

At that time, the victim only wanted the situation to be documented.

Residential alarms

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Possum Hollow Road in Shade regarding an alarm at a residence.

Deputies on the scene determined that everything was secure, no indications of forced entry.

21 Wed ________________________

Drive-by threats

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Dollar Tree in The Plains, with the caller claiming he had been threatened.

The caller told deputies he had been riding his bike when a truck drove close next to him, and the driver threatened him. No evidence of a threat was discovered. Deputies returned to patrol.

Trespass?

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Shade Creek Road in Guysville after receiving a report of a woman trespassing.

On the scene, deputies did not locate one individual.

22 Thur ________________________

No reports released

U.S. Weekly Headlines:

ICE arrests 5-year-old, Trump’s first year in office

20 Tue _________________________

Trump’s first year in office

Tuesday marked the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Trump flew to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to speak with some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

According to The Associated Press, many people are concerned Trump is catering to the richest population rather than the average American. A survey conducted by the AP found that six in 10 U.S. adults say Trump has hurt the cost of living.

The AP reported members of the Republican party is worried about the issue of affordability and how Trump is going to help the situation. The same AP poll found only 16% of Republicans felt Trump has helped “a lot” in making things more affordable.

21 Wed _________________________

Trump backs down on Greenland

On Wednesday, Trump reversed his threat of tariffs on eight European nations. The president originally requested the U.S. have control over Greenland and requested the “right, title and ownership,” according to the AP.

Following that, Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social, that he reached an agreement with the head of NATO for a future deal on Arctic security.

NATO members are hoping this will lead to a compromise between Trump and Denmark. The alliance plans to move forward with building more U.S. military bases in Greenland in a deal with Trump, according to the AP.

22 Thur _________________________

TikTok creates new American operation

TikTok finalized a deal Thursday to create a new American operation. The deal comes after the threat of a ban in the U.S., which constitutes more than 200 million users of the app, according to the AP.

The platform signed an agreement with major investment companies including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form a new U.S. operation. The new version will include “defined safeguards” and “comprehensive data protections,” according to a statement from the app.

Trump praised the deal on social media, and he gave a special shoutout to Chinese President Xi Jinping for cooperating with him. Adam Presser will serve as the

American CEO of TikTok, along with a board of directors to organize the app’s operations in the U.S., according to a statement from TikTok.

23 Fri _________________________

Department of Homeland Security defends detainment of 5-year-old boy

A 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, along with his father, outside their home in Minnesota. The preschooler was on his way home when his house was swarmed by federal immigration officers.

Neighbors who witnessed the scene claimed that ICE agents used the child as “bait” to potentially make an additional arrest of his mother, according to the AP. The Department of Homeland Security claimed the description was an “abject lie,” and officers were simply trying to arrest his father.

The 5-year-old and his father are currently being held in a detention center in Texas, near San Antonio. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said the boy’s father was in the U.S. illegally, while the family’s attorney said he had a pending asylum application, which allowed him to stay in the country.

24 Sun _________________________

Man fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents

On Saturday, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Pretti was a U.S. citizen and had no prior criminal record.

Pretti was helping a woman who had been pushed by a federal agent when he was pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground by a group of officers. The agents then shot and killed him.

The incident happened during widespread protests following the killing of Renee Good by Johnanthan Ross, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer, on Jan. 7. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Pretti was shot after he approached officers with a gun, but officials on the scene did not confirm this statement, according to the AP.

Videos from bystanders at the scene show no weapons appear to be visible on Pretti during the altercation. Top Trump administration officials have suggested Pretti was a “domestic terrorist,” but friends and family deny the accusation, stating he was a caring and kind person.

‘Operation

Buckeye’

violence do not belong in an academic environment – this should be reinforced by administration and the student body alike.”

The Ohio State University declined to comment.

The Ohio University Student Association organized an “ICE Out Walk Out” in support of Minnesota on Friday, through a flier posted to its social media, according to a previous report from The Post.

Cami Jackson, president of OU OSA, said the walkout was a response to Minnesota’s call to action directed at the organization.

President Donald Trump’s Administration deployed 2,000 ICE officers and agents in Minnesota, according to the Associated Press, which led to the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE officer on Jan. 7.

Videos from bystanders show Renee Good in her car when an officer approached and asked her to get out of her car. According to AP News, the car begins to move forward, and in response, another officer in front of the car fires at least two shots, killing Good.

“A U.S. citizen born in Colorado, Good described herself on social media as a ‘poet and writer and wife and mom,’” AP News wrote. “Her ex-husband said Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday and was driving home when she encountered ICE agents on a residential street.”

/continued from pg. 1

Following Good’s death, another bystander, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, was shot by an ICE agent on Saturday, according to AP News.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims Pretti approached officers with a handgun. A graphic video of the interaction has caused much debate on the validity of the federal response.

Jackson said the OSA organization reached out to its Athens chapter to stand in solidarity with Minnesota and launch a campaign for student safety.

The campaign launched Friday, where OSA encouraged attendees to sign a petition. The campaign will include demands necessary for OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez to make and be delivered to her on Feb. 6. According to Jackson, the petition will be available to sign online through their social media.

The petition has six demands, including that OU inform the public about its policy toward ICE through email or webpage.

Currently, any OU information about ICE is on the Immigration Information page on OU’s official website, which Jackson said does not apply to students who are not international but still get targeted by ICE.

The website states, “Immigration

enforcement officers are required to have a criminal judicial warrant or search warrant (i.e., signed by a judge) to lawfully enter limited access areas on campus without consent, such as a residence hall room.”

OU OSA’s petition also demands a public statement that ICE is not welcome on campus, the refusal of all data sharing with ICE that is not legally mandated, to treat ICE’s presence on campus as a critical emergency, deny ICE access to campus buildings and refuse to sign the 287(g) agreement.

“The overall reason for this campaign and walkout and rally is ultimately to protect OU students,” Jackson said. “That’s why we’re doing this right now, right here.”

Chick-fil-A packs Athens’ coop, some say unneeded

DREW HOFFMASTER FOR THE POST

Chick-fil-A announced that 25-30 locations will be built in Ohio by 2027, one of which will be in Athens, according to a press release.

Currently, there are 80 locations in Ohio, with the first opening in Cleveland in 1979. In addition to Athens, the expansion effort will bring locations to cities in Northwest Ohio.

The Chick-fil-A expansion is a part of the company’s goal to continuously serve communities in need across Ohio, the press release states.

“Ohio’s mix of vibrant cities, close-knit suburban communities and deep-rooted traditions truly makes it the ‘Heart of it All,’” Omar Dione, area director for the Midwest Region, said in a press release. “It’s been an honor to serve Ohioans for the past 45 years, and we look forward to building on our restaurant company’s legacy in such a strong state.”

Currently, Athens has five chicken restaurants: Hotbox Chicken Fingers & Tots, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Miller’s Chicken, Raising Cane’s and Wings Over. Ohio University also has its own chicken place, Earl’s Coop, where students can use meal swipes.

Hotbox opened Nov. 23, 2024, and Raising Cane’s followed suit on Oct. 7, 2025.

Chick-fil-A offers a variety of chicken items, sides, drinks and desserts. Its singleserve meals are priced between $9.45-13.28 and family meals between $31.99-34.99.

The chicken places currently in Athens have different prices compared to Chickfil-A. Hotbox offers a meal deal that

includes three chicken tenders, tots, sauce and a drink priced at $8.50. Cane’s serves the Box Combo, which includes three tenders, a sauce, fries, Texas toast and a 22-ounce drink for $9.59. Miller’s has three tenders at the price of $8.99.

The nearest Chick-fil-A location to Athens is 38 miles away in Vienna, West Virginia. A Chick-fil-A truck parks periodically along East Union Street between Court Street and College Street.

Ava Jump, a freshman studying production design and technology, said she thinks there are better chicken options in Athens than Chick-fil-A.

“I’m honestly not the biggest Chick-fil-A fan,” Jump said. “I would probably prefer just walking down and going to Hotbox. That’s what me and my friends would usually do.”

Miller’s Chicken has been a restaurant in Athens since the late 1940s, according to a previous report by The Post.

Sandra Zoulek, the owner of Miller’s, said she is not concerned about losing business because Miller’s serves a different type of chicken than Raising Cane’s and Chick-fil-A.

“I think Chick-fil-A is colored up in the same way, (focusing on) sandwiches and nuggets,” Zoulek said. “For us, it’s chicken, homemade sides, pies and everything else we offer.”

Zoulek said she is also not concerned because most of Miller’s foot traffic is from Athens locals, and chains and uptown businesses cater to a different audience.

At Miller’s Chicken, three chicken tenders cost $8.99 while at Chick-fil-A the same

item is priced at $5.59.

The dining dollar can spread out more with the addition of Chick-fil-A, according to Kevin McNamara, the owner of Hotbox.

“I think the rallying cry to shop local and support small business just gets louder,” McNamara said. “The townies in particular, while it’s good to have something large and national come in, they want to keep the character of Athens. They really push on reminding people to shop local when possible.”

McNamara said the addition of Chick-fil-A allows for the other chicken restaurants to be brought up in conversation. He said if it were a new steakhouse being put in, Hotbox would not be mentioned.

“We kind of figured that Chick-fil-A would come at some point, just as we knew that Canes was coming,” McNamara said. “It’s just a matter of carving out a unique identity and a unique menu and just letting the community know that we’re still here.”

McNamara said Hotbox tries to distinguish itself from other chicken places. The restaurant offered free meals to people affected by the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

McNamara said he hopes this underscores the business’ dedication to the town and started a scholarship fund last year.

“We’re grateful for Chick-fil-A local owner-operators and team members who create remarkable experiences for our customers and show tremendous care every day,” Dione said. “As we continue to grow, we look forward to bringing more opportunities that support and uplift local communities.”

Discover what’s happening across campus—concerts, guest speakers, club meetings, and more. The Student Org Events Calendar has something for everyone.

These Ideas Once Defined the Republican Party

We believe that basic to governmental integrity are unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government. We shall continue our insistence on honesty as an indispensable requirement of public service. We shall continue to root out corruption whenever and wherever it appears.

We are proud of and shall continue our far-reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs— expansion of social security—broadened coverage in unemployment insurance —improved housing—and better health protection for all our people.

We hold that the Bill of Rights is the sacred foundation of personal liberty. That men are created equal needs no affirmation, but they must have equality of opportunity and protection of their civil rights under the law.

[We hold that] America does not prosper unless all Americans prosper.

[We hold that] Government must have a heart as well as a head.

[We will] Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;

[We will] Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;

[We will] Extend the protection of the Federal minimum wage laws to as many more workers as is possible and practicable;

[We will] Continue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;

[We will] protect more effectively the rights of labor unions, management, the individual worker, and the public. The protection of the right of workers to organize into unions and to bargain collectively is [our] firm and permanent policy […].

We have fully resolved to continue our steady gains in man’s unending struggle against disease and disability.

We [support] the distribution of free vaccine to protect millions of children against dreaded polio.

[We have] unequivocally recognized that the supreme law of the land is embodied in the Constitution, which guarantees to all people the blessings of liberty, due process and equal protection of the laws.

[We support] an immigration policy which is in keeping with the traditions of America in providing a haven for oppressed peoples, and which is based on equality of treatment, freedom from implications of discrimination between racial, nationality and religious groups, and flexible enough to conform to changing needs and conditions.

We shall continue vigorously to support the United Nations.

We shall continue our cooperation with our sister states of the Americas for the strengthening of our security, economic and social ties with them.

We shall continue to support the collective-security system begun in 1947 and steadily developed on a bipartisan basis. That system has joined the United States with 42 other nations in common defense of freedom.

We will continue efforts with friends and allies to assist the underdeveloped areas of the free world in their efforts to attain greater freedom, independence and self-determination, and to raise their standards of living.

We believe that active duty in the Armed Forces during a state of war or national emergency is the highest call of citizenship constituting a special service to our nation and entitles those who have served to positive assistance to alleviate the injuries, hardships and handicaps imposed by their service.

NOTE:

These are excerpts from the 1956 Republican Party platform. Political parties change over time: Many members of the USAmerican left have beliefs like those of Dwight D. Eisenhower Republicans. (Eisenhower did such things as support unions and raise the minimum wage, which helped many people.)

Howmanyofthesebeliefsdoyouthink Trumpandhisadministrationhold?

Source: Republican Party Platform (1956), American Presidency Project

WOUB faces funding cuts, loss of $1.7 million

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

The White House released an executive order May 1, 2025, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease funding for National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service.

“I therefore instruct the CPB Board of Directors and all executive departments and agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS,” the order states.

The order further stated government funding of public media is “outdated and unnecessary” and “corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

Funding for public media remains a contentious issue, yet many outlets depend on that financial support to sustain their operations, including affiliate stations such as WOUB Public Media in Athens.

When the cuts were first proposed, Stephen Skidmore, WOUB interim general manager and Chief Technology Officer, said a large campaign was launched involving public media stations nationwide, urging their Congress members to oppose the funding cuts.

“That campaign failed,” Skidmore said.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting received $1.1 billion in federal funding, which it distributed 70% of to PBS and NPR. However, Skidmore said most of that funding was allocated to affiliate stations.

WOUB utilized these funds to cover programming costs, salaries and the overall operations of its TV and radio stations.

The federal funding has not only diminished, but Ohio has also reduced its financial support for public media organizations.

“Our total loss there is about $1.7 million immediately in October,” Skidmore said.

WOUB has also received funding from Ohio University, but that support is set to decrease following President Lori Stewart Gonzales’s announcement in October of a planned 2% expense reduction “across the board,” as reported in a WOUB article published Jan. 9.

“As the University shared in August, WOUB experienced a 30 percent reduction in its annual operating budget as a result of federal cuts to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and reductions in state funding for public media organizations in Ohio,” Dan Pittman, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email.

There was no reference to the expected decrease in funding that is likely to accompany the university’s budget cuts.

Since the cuts are occurring on both a state and federal level, WOUB is not the only station trying to make ends meet. Similar affiliates like WBGU (Bowling Green), WYSU (Youngstown), WOSU (Columbus) and WCET (Cincinnati) have also faced the federal and state cuts.

Although some of these stations do receive a portion of their funding from universities nearby, Skidmore said they cannot rely solely on that and donations to sustain their operations.

“The donations, the alumni support, membership, all of that is a huge portion of our budget,” Skidmore said. “The university gives us another large portion of our budget. No, we cannot solve (it) just on that. We have to have other revenue streams.”

Skidmore said three full-time employees were laid off Jan. 6 due to the cuts. When asked about the possibility of further layoffs, Skidmore said it would only be considered as a last resort.

The team at WOUB has also been in communication with the teams from other affiliate stations to determine the most effective ways to handle the budget cuts.

“We speak on at least a monthly basis,” Skidmore said. “All of us are going through the same hardship, so we’re all sharing. The one good thing about public media is we’re not competing with one another … We’re saying, ‘Hey, this worked for us, that didn’t work for us.’ We’re all trying to figure out how to come out the other end of this. We’re not going to come out unscathed, but we want it to be as minimally evasive as possible.”

Adam Earnheardt serves as the interim director of broadcasting at WYSU and is also a professor in the Department of Strategic Communication and Media at Youngstown State University. He said WYSU has managed to avoid any layoffs due to its budgeting practices and preparation for the necessary cuts. He said WYSU receives some financial support from YSU.

“We have some contingency plans in place,” Earnheardt wrote in an email. “We plan to increase our campaign targets and to look at previously unexplored grant opportunities.”

Skidmore said they are trying to remain positive throughout the funding cuts.

“We believe that everything that we do is important and valuable service to our community,” Skidmore said. “But we’re going to have to prioritize those services and make sure that the most critical services continue for our viewing public and listeners and to support the mission that public media exists for.”

Ambition drives fight against maternity deserts in SE Ohio

ALEXANDRA HOPKINS, SUZANNE PIPER, DAPHNE GRAETER, GINA NAPOLI FOR THE POST

This story is the third in a series of solutions stories The Post is publishing as a part of the Solutions Journalism Network’s Student Media Challenge. Stay tuned for more stories about maternity deserts and other solutions in the coming months.

What are maternity deserts?

In 2022, over 2.3 million women lacked access to quality maternity care and more than 150,000 babies were born in places without proper care, meaning their county did not include a hospital offering obstetric services or birth centers and no obstetricians, gynecologists or certified nurse midwives. Athens County, a low access area itself, is surrounded by counties with extremely limited access to maternal care.

In the U.S., this is known as a maternity desert, which affects 35% of counties across the nation. According to a 2024 report, 16 out of 88 Ohio counties are considered maternity deserts, including Vinton, Hocking and Perry counties.

Seven of these 16 counties are in Southeast Ohio, making it the region with the highest concentration of maternity deserts in the state. Cory Cronin, an associate professor in the Department of Social and Public Health, said the Appalachian region as a whole faces maternity deserts and will need additional resources to address the issue.

“Across the state, when one region is facing the impact of a trend like this so significantly, you do need to look to things like policy and collaborative networks,” Cronin said. “Organizations aren’t going to be able to move the needle on their own. They’re going to need resources, workforce and partners to address this challenge.”

Counties can also be classified as having low access to maternity care, moderate access or full access. Around 3.3 million women live in counties with limited access, according to updated data from March of Dimes. Low access care means the county has one or fewer hospitals or birth centers in which obstetric care is provided, fewer than 60 obstetric clinicians per 10,000 births or greater than or equal to 10% of reproductive-aged women without health insurance.

“Many people know somebody (or) are somebody who have trouble receiving the services they need in that time, and it has to do with women and children, a significant population when we look at health policy priorities,” Cronin said.

Maternal care is essential to the survival of mother and baby. Over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are considered preventable, many of which could be avoided with quality care, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“(The problem is) one in which a population is very defined, and the needs of that population are relatable and understandable,” Cronin said. “When we look at Ohio, there’s significant room for improvement in maternal health outcomes and care.”

A copy of the novel “Health and Wealth” in Dr. Cory Cronin’s office in Grover Center in Athens, Jan. 14, 2026. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

Local & campus outreach

Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine houses the Obstetrics and Gynecology Club. President of OB/GYN Club, Gabriella White, a medical student at Heritage College, said the club organizes events for students interested in obstetrics and gynecology.

According to the club’s website, its mission is to “provide comprehensive information on training and career opportunities, facilitate discussions on women’s health issues and foster an environment where students can connect with experienced professionals in the field.”

OB/GYN Club holds fundraisers for a variety of diseases, including breast cancer, provides training events for students to increase performances and attends panels of OB physicians who attend meetings.

“But really, it’s what the students want to see,” White said. “If they wanted to see somebody come in and talk about fertility, then we could find a speaker to come talk about fertility specialties and things like that.”

White discussed her involvement in the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways Program, a learning community that aims to support and prepare medical students to practice in medically underserved areas. White said through the program, she was introduced to the concept of maternity deserts.

White said smaller hospitals in Ohio and other states lack sufficient funding for OB programs, and as a result, they often shut down.

The OB/GYN Club has played a role in bridging gaps within the region’s maternity healthcare. White said as OU recruits medical students from rural Ohio, it’s beneficial to rural areas within the state that lack access.

“By recruiting those students to be in your program, you would think they want to go back home and serve that patient population,” White said. “I think that’s something OU’s doing.”

~30% statewide in Ohio), lower preterm and low birth weight, and greater breastfeeding initiation,” according to the Buckeye Birth Coalition. There are also direct-entry midwives, who enter the midwife practice directly, without “nursing education and licensure,” the American Association of Managed Care Nurses states.

As of 2021, CNMs are the only “legally enabled professional midwife type who can practice in Ohio,” according to The Center for Community Solutions. Per Ohio Revised Code section 4723.41, CNMs must meet requirements including “licensure as an advanced practice nurse.”

Ohio announced the Comprehensive Maternal Care program in 2022 to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid patients at the community and statewide level. Clinics that use this program ensure patients are linked to resources that address broader factors of health, like housing and food instability.

Clinics providing CMC in Southeast Ohio include Adena Medical Group in Chillicothe in Ross County, Muskingum Valley Health Centers in Malta in Morgan County, Marietta Memorial Hospital in Marietta in Washington County and Holzer Clinic in Gallipolis in Gallia County, according to a CMC 2025 enrolled practice list.

Regional outreach

Midwives are bridging the gap in counties experiencing maternity deserts. Because they can travel to expectant mothers, midwives help reduce the long drive times that many pregnant people face and increase access to prenatal care in rural areas. According to March of Dimes, 6.5% of women living in Ohio had no birthing hospital within 30 minutes compared to 9.7% in the U.S.

Through storytelling and shared experiences, midwives strive to transform the birthing process and create everlasting connections with mothers across counties in Southeast Ohio.

A midwife is a trained “healthcare professional who cares for people during pregnancy and childbirth,” the Cleveland Clinic states. Types of midwives include certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, certified professional midwives and unlicensed or lay midwives. Most often, midwives travel to their patients, expanding the potential for care in counties without a birth center.

According to Midwife Schooling, CNMs attended more than 12% of births in Ohio in 2023, an increase from 7% a decade ago. Midwife-led care “is associated with lower C-section rates (~5% in midwife-attended cases vs.

For an aspiring CNM to receive their license, Midwife Schooling states they must earn a qualifying degree in nurse midwifery, take and pass the national certification examinations, apply for an advanced practice registered nurse certificate of authority as a nursemidwife through the Ohio board of nursing, explore career opportunities as a nurse midwife in Ohio and maintaining credentials and review CNM salary and job outlook in Ohio.

Erica Andrews, a midwife at Laughing Moon Midwifery in Athens, calls herself a “community” midwife because the state of Ohio does not offer a CM or CPM title. Unlike direct-entry midwives, Andrews does have schooling and training in midwifery.

Andrews aspires to combat the growing issues surrounding access to prenatal care. She is on call 24/7 and supports three to four expecting mothers every month. Andrews said she and expecting mothers often develop a trustworthy relationship.

“We spend so much time together,” Andrews said. “ … We do a lot of storytelling in our prenatals, it’s how we pass knowledge … I find that in prenatal care, when we spend so much time together and we’re telling them stories about the things that they’re asking, that is where trust comes from.”

Despite the benefits a midwife can offer for expecting mothers, Andrews is just one of the few practicing midwives in Southeast Ohio. In Ohio, 97% of counties do not have midwives and 30% do not have advanced practice midwives, according to a November 2025 study by the University of Washington.

For expecting mother Paige Fox, who is due in June, receiving care from OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital in Athens is the most practical option. Fox lives in Meigs County, which is classified as “low access to care” according to the March of Dimes report, and lives about a 30-minute drive from O’Bleness. Fox said she researched nearby midwives to avoid the long drive, but was unsuccessful.

“I did look into multiple midwives, and it was frustrating that there just weren’t more options,” Fox said. “Some didn’t work out for various reasons, like my due date didn’t work for them, they were on vacation or too far away.”

Fox said she is seeing an obstetrician and is satisfied with the care; however, she still has concerns.

“If anything were to go wrong, we are far away,” Fox said. “It’s not a knock on O’Bleness, but it kind of feels like you’re settling.”

Fox said she travels to O’Bleness every four weeks for check-ups, but will have appointments every two weeks in her third trimester.

According to Adoptions with Love, the average cost of childbirth and postpartum care is nearly $19,000 for an expectant mother. The average cost of childbirth at an Ohio hospital costs $15,149 without insurance coverage. Those with insurance coverage pay around $3,000 out-of-pocket, depending on the type of delivery.

These prices can be daunting for some Ohioans, as 21% struggled to pay off their medical bills in 2023, according to the Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey.

Andrews’ care costs $4,500 per client and includes all prenatal care, lab draws, birth support and postpartum care.

It was not Andrews’ plan to become a midwife. The OU alumna studied anthropology, but after an epidural scare during her second pregnancy, she became curious about different birth processes. Andrews had her third baby with a midwife and said the experience altered her perspective; she said it felt “powerful.”

“I felt like I just climbed to the top of a mountain, and I came down with a baby,” Andrews said. “Nobody did anything for me except held space for me … and that was one of the most empowering moments of my life.”

Andrews said the “safest” type of birth is physiologic birth, a type of natural birth concerning expecting mothers undergoing a “low risk” pregnancy and in good health.

A physiologic birth or “normal childbirth,” as stated by the World Health Organization, takes place between 37-42 weeks of pregnancy and “starts spontaneously,” excluding induced labor and pain medications.

“(Physiologic birth) is the safest for the baby,” Andrews said. “It is the number one thing we could do as a society to lower our maternal and infant mortality rates.”

The National Library of Medicine states normal physiologic labor and birth can have short and long-term benefits for mothers and newborns, including physical and emotional strength, enhanced infant growth and development and a potential decrease in chronic disease.

“I wait for a baby to show me it needs help, because if a baby needs help, you’re going to know,” Andrews said. “Very rarely do babies need you to help them be born and they have their own innate awareness thanks to newborn reflexes.”

Fox said her goal is to avoid “unnecessary interventions” during the birth; however, it is hard to determine the proper time to go to the hospital.

“If you are too soon, sometimes they (doctors) want to intervene,” Fox said. “They’re like, ‘Let’s get this going.’” Fox said the birth of her first daughter was unmedicated, but she did face pressure from the nurses to take pain medications.

“It was the only negative experience that I’ve had,” Fox said. “When I was getting checked in to have her, I expressed I did not want an epidural. The admitting doctor tried to use it almost like a scare tactic … and I still denied it. I had comments from nurses about it taking longer because of that, and just kind of comments in front of me that weren’t positive.”

Each expecting mother across Southeast Ohio can hold a different viewpoint on where and how they want to give birth. Although long drives to the hospital and other challenges stand in the way, midwives and doctors across Ohio’s 17 hospitals and independent practices aspire to help expecting mothers in need.

State outreach In Dec. 2025, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio will receive over $200 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, an initiative authorized by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The application for the funding was submitted by the Ohio Department of Health with assistance from the Ohio State Medical Association.

OSMA regularly works with the health department to ensure Ohio physicians and patients are involved in healthcare decisions being made across the state, including RHT, according to CEO Todd Baker.

The RHT proposal includes a series of larger projects, and within those are specific components that will improve access to maternal care. One of the largest aspects of the proposal includes an effort to increase the number of healthcare workers in rural areas.

“That, in and of itself, is going to create the opportunity for expanding the kinds of healthcare professionals that provide maternal healthcare,” Baker said. “While it doesn’t specifically mention defined types of workforce, (the proposal is) talking about creating opportunities to increase the workforce throughout the healthcare continuum in rural areas.”

The plan includes a series of initiatives that will improve access to rural Ohioans, including those that address the maternity desert crisis, according to the program’s project narrative.

“Addressing maternity deserts with legislative change and support to rural hospitals who will have the opportunity to add quality, low-cost birthing centers operated by general practitioners and midwives for mothers with anticipated health deliveries,” the project narrative said. “This initiative prevents unnecessary, sometimes long drives to hospitals away from the mother’s home, while also leveraging the knowledge and skills of local practitioners and rural hospitals.”

In Ohio, residents living in maternity deserts must travel 1.9 times farther to reach a Title X clinic than residents living in low-vulnerability counties, according to March of Dimes. These clinics are defined as “federally funded healthcare sites that provide lowcost reproductive healthcare services including contraceptives, wellness exams and breast and cervical cancer screenings.”

There are only five of these clinics in Southeast Ohio, including Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, AthensHealth Center in Athens County, Gallia County General Health District in Gallia County, Lawrence County Health Department in Lawrence County, Family

The plan also calls for an increase in high-quality home visiting services in rural communities to “improve outcomes for pregnant women and their children” while “providing babies with the healthiest start in life and preventing maternal and infant mortality.”

“The idea is to look at existing programming, existing initiatives and really try to amplify those,” Baker said. “Part of the goal is to look at existing types of initiatives and say, ‘How can we fund those at an even greater level?’”

Although access to maternal care is a persistent challenge in Southeast Ohio, growing investments in resources, partnerships and community initiatives are beginning to close the gap toward equitable maternal healthcare.

To watch the accompanying video, visit thepostathens. com or scan the QR code.

Black Student Union cultivates compassion across campus

CAITLYN VANCE | FOR THE POST

The Ohio University Black Student Union works to uplift students of color while fostering an inclusive space for students of all races.

“The physical spaces might be changed, but our voices are still here,” BSU said in an Instagram post.

Zadrian Neloms, a junior studying creative writing who serves as the BSU’s vice president, joined the BSU’s board when he was a sophomore, serving as treasurer.

“We really want to harbor a safe environment for people to just be themselves, whether it’s through informing individuals about what is going on on campus or the world, or just playing silly games,” Neloms said.

BSU has more than 200 members registered in its GroupMe, but meeting attendance has been impacted by the effects of Senate Bill 1, the state law responsible for the closure of OU’s Multicultural Center, Pride Center and Women’s Center, at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year.

“Our attendance has been low, and I think that is a result of the Multicultural Center not being the Multicultural Center anymore,” Bailey Smith, a senior studying retail and fashion merchandising and BSU president, said.

Aside from attendance, SB1 affected the annual Multicultural Exposition, an event hosted by BSU.

After years of support from the OU administration, the typical $6,000 of funding was not received for the 2025 event, meaning BSU board members had to accumulate money themselves

to continue the tradition, according to a previous report by The Post.

Previously, the event would receive contributions from various colleges within the university, providing monetary or basket donations. This past year, no university affiliates assisted with the event.

Smith said BSU relied on its own businesses and small Athens vendors to raise around $500 for the exposition.

“It was definitely a lot harder than it needed to be, especially since we didn’t have the support of the DEI department that was in the Multicultural Center,” Smith said.

On Jan. 2, BSU shared a letter addressed to OU’s President Lori Stewart Gonzalez and Executive President and Provost Donald J. Leo, dated Nov. 26, 2025, on its Instagram account.

The letter expressed dissatisfaction with the administration’s lack of support for students following SB1, requesting funding for the exposition be restored and a demand for a 30-minute in-person meeting with administrators to express concerns.

Neloms, who was tasked with writing the financial request, said the letter took a lot of preparation and was revised by faculty members.

The university has yet to respond to the letter, but BSU has received acknowledgement from other university members and over 200 interactions on Instagram, receiving comments from alumni and current students.

Following initial coverage of the letter by The Post, BSU scheduled a 30-minute meeting with the Office of Student Affairs for Jan. 30.

Additionally, Student Senate President Dan Gordillo reached out to BSU.

“They’re having a meeting for the Student Senate, and Lori obviously goes to that, so hopefully they can push that even more so we can actually get a meeting,” Smith said.

Sara Togni, a sophomore studying integrated mathematics, said she chose OU nearly two years ago for the inclusivity of the community, but thinks the post-SB1 university would not be on her radar if she were choosing a college today.

“It doesn’t feel like what I signed up for,” Togni said. “It doesn’t feel like the home I thought it would be. Had I been a senior this year in high school, this would dock points.”

Togni said she believes the response OU had to SB1 could have been executed differently.

Nolmes said other universities in the state did not handle closures similarly to OU, referring to Kent State University.

Although Kent State also closed various offices, Neloms explained that administration at OU seems less transparent with the implementation of SB1 than other campuses, referencing the lack of response to BSU’s letter.

“My good friend goes to Kent; she basically said that ‘the way you guys are handling it is crazy,’” Neloms said. “It seems like at OU, we’re not being sympathized with. We’re kind of just forgotten about.”

River Of Time Boutique hosts free music performances

FIONA PETTICREW HUMAN INTEREST STAFF WRITER

Friday, Athens locals and those traveling from far away gathered in the River Of Time Boutique and Gallery to listen to Grammy award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jorma Kaukonen and guitarist John Hurlbut put on a captivating, free performance.

River Of Time, located on 19 W. Washington St., is owned by Vanessa Kaukonen, who opened the shop with her husband, Jorma Kaukonen, in 2023. They transformed what Vanessa Kaukonen calls an “old comic book shop” with secret rooms into an open, colorful boutique where people can find jewelry, apparel, vintage vinyl and a gallery with works from the 1960s.

Vanessa Kaukonen said she and Jorma Kaukonen once owned Fur Peace Ranch, a facility in Southeast Ohio. The couple held workshops with anyone who wanted to learn guitar from Jorma Kaukonen and enjoy the company of those who loved music and creating it. After 23 years of business, they stopped teaching at the Ranch and sold the property.

What was once a physical location to help those old and young learn how to strum guitar became “a state of being,” as described on the Ranch’s website. Now, as the husband and wife run the

boutique, Jorma Kaukonen tours the country to perform and take Fur Peace Production on the road. In between his travels, Jorma Kaukonen performs at the boutique.

“Not a whole lot of people put on free

Vanessa Kaukonen said. “Everybody gets paid, but we don’t charge anyone. It’s just something that we can do. So we do it.”

Vanessa Kaukonen said they try to host a free music performance once a month in the spring and summer, and a few concerts in the winter. She said the performances always start Fridays at 4 p.m., but people often come beforehand to talk to Jorma Kaukonen and Hurlbut about music.

“It’s been a cold winter,” Vanessa Kaukonen said. “(Jorma’s) going to be leaving, but it just helps people kind of

Vanessa Kaukonen said performances are about an hour long and typically have 60-75 attendees. Attendees sit on stools, benches or stand as Jorma Kaukonen and Hurlbut perform their original music in front of the art gallery.

Friday, Hurlbut and Jorma Kaukonen played several songs from their 2020 album “The River Flows,” including “Kansas City Southern” and “Across The Borderline.” Attendees could leave the performance and shop around the boutique while they listened to Jorma Kaukonen plucking the strings and Hurlbut singing and tapping his feet

“People deserve free music and (we) have the ability and the capacity to

house them and to offer something a little different mid-week or end of the week,” Vanessa Kaukoen said.

Jorma Kaukonen recently celebrated his 85th birthday. Hurlbut said he looks up to Jorma Kaukonen and hopes he is doing just as well when he turns 85.

“This is just the greatest thing, whenever I get to play with Jorma I look forward to it,” Hurlbut said. “This is such a special thing and in an intimate setting like this … I really look forward to when we get to come over here and play for people.”

Rocco Dipenti, an audience member at Friday’s performance, is an Athens local and artist. Dipenti visited River of Time Boutique before Friday, describing it as “stepping back in time.”

Dipenti said his wife follows River Of Time on Facebook, and they are fans of Jorma Kaukonen and Hurlbut. Dipenti said he was happy to sit at the “feet of a legend.”

“I got the opportunity to get a fist bump from Jorma,” Dipenti said. “Every guitarist knows who Jorma Kaukonen is.”

Those who are looking to spend an afternoon shopping for vintage items and spending time with Jorma Kaukonen and Hurlbut can check the boutique’s Facebook for updates on performances and scheduling.

(ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)

Ohio falls to Akron in crushing loss at home

OWEN LIPSTREU ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio Men’s Basketball (11-10 overall, 5-4 Mid-American Conference) could not build momentum and was dominated by a physical Akron (16-4 overall, 7-1 MAC) team, falling 86-65 at home Friday night.

Coming off a down-to-the-wire win against Northern Illinois, Ohio welcomed Akron to Athens on Friday night, and the building was restless as The Convo filled with fans. The players for both squads stepped on the court, and the intensity began with the opening tip-off.

The Zips were the first team on the scoreboard, scoring three layups that included an and-one for guard Tavari Johnson to give him five quick points and Akron a 7-0 lead. The Bobcats started sloppily on both ends, opening with two turnovers and only making one of their first five shots.

“They put a lot of pressure on the ball,” Ohio head coach Jeff Boals said. “We knew they’d trap the ball streams with Jackson (Paveletzke), but I thought we missed some layups early. We bobbled the ball out of bounds early, even things that weren’t really forced. You have to capitalize when you get trapped.”

The slow start did not last long. Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons went to work and got two tough layups to fall, cutting the Akron lead to 11-6. Ohio kept rallying from behind through the next few minutes, and the ball kept finding senior guard Jackson Paveletzke, who got hot in a hurry with a pull-up jumper and then a threepointer on Ohio’s following possession to cut the lead to 16-12 in favor of the Zips.

The Bobcats started slow beyond the arc until senior guard Dior Conners hit one from deep. Akron countered with a string of scores by forward Amani Lyles, who hit a three-pointer and a contested layup to stretch the advantage to 9 for Akron, 25-16.

The Ohio offense hit a stretch of turnovers, and Akron looked to take advantage with a 6-0 run by guard Sharron Young to push the lead to double digits, but the Zips weren’t done as they followed that run with a threepointer and a couple of free throws due to a flagrant and technical foul on Ohio senior forward Aidan Hadaway. Akron pushed the lead to 20 on a jumper from Johnson, completing a 16-2 run to go up 38-18.

“They were trapping a lot of ball screens, and it kind of caused us to be sped up a little bit and make rush decisions,” Paveletzke said of Ohio’s first-half turnover troubles. “Kind of took us out of our (offensive) sets.” Ohio ended the run with a strong couple of minutes

from redshirt senior Jalen Breath, who had a hustle rebound on offense to keep the possession alive. He cleaned up for a physical two points, while also forcing a couple of Akron misses on the defensive end to cut the lead to 41-22.

The remainder of the first half was back-and-forth, with Akron winning the final couple of minutes by three, and both teams headed to the locker room. Ohio trailed and needed answers coming out of the tunnel, down 48-26.

The Bobcats’ first possession out of the half went well with a three-pointer from freshman guard JJ Kelly, followed by their defense forcing two consecutive turnovers on the Zips. Ohio kept it up when Simmons scored through contact and converted the free-throw to draw a bit closer, now down 48-32.

Akron responded with a 5-1 run capped off on a turnaround jump shot by Johnson on the right baseline. The Zips kept pressuring Ohio and looked for a lot of paint touches early in the second half, which were successful in helping re-extend the lead to 63-39.

Ohio needed an answer and looked to a couple of veterans to supply it. First, Simmons grabbed an offensive board and put it back up for a two. Then Hadaway spun past a defender in the post and scored through contact for an and-one, cutting the Zips’ lead to 66-48.

The final 10 minutes ticked off the clock as the Bobcats tried to stay in it. They went on a 5-0 scoring run powered by Kelly. Paveletzke found him in the corner for a three-pointer, and then after a pair of Simmons free throws, Kelly rejected a dunk attempt by a Zips big man, as Ohio continued to cut away at Akron’s 70-55 lead.

The Bobcats just could not get the shots to fall Friday night, shooting 33.3% from the field and 23.5% from the three-point line. Plus, the Zips took full advantage of each Bobcat turnover, cashing in for 16 points off of them. The Bobcats continued to battle until the final horn, but Akron managed the clock well in the final five minutes and put the game away.

“Today was a game where we could make very few mistakes, and we made a lot more than we should have,” Simmons said.

Ohio was led on the night by Simmons with 16 points and five rebounds, followed by Paveletzke with 16 points and four assists. These two had solid efforts on the night, but the Zips simply outplayed the Bobcats from start to finish on Friday night, ending in an Ohio defeat of 86-65 at home.

Time is ticking after Ohio’s blowout loss to Akron

CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS EDITOR

Clipboard markers flying, technical fouls, poor shooting and fans leaving well before the final buzzer. Those were all things fans and those watching at home on national television were treated to during Ohio Men’s Basketball’s (11-10 overall, 5-4 Mid-American Conference) loss to Akron (16-4 overall, 7-1 MAC).

Last season’s rendition of Akron coming to The Convo was arguably the highlight of the season for an Ohio team that had an up and down year. The Bobcats were able to put it all together and snap the Zips’ unbeaten streak in the MAC in front of a raucous crowd and national TV audience.

The same blueprint was there for this year’s game, with everything except Akron’s unbeaten MAC record on the line, as its only loss has been to 20-0 No. 25 Miami.

Ohio fell flat from the jump, getting outplayed in nearly every way Friday night as the opportunity to make a statement turned into a flop on national television.

“They came in here and did exactly what they wanted to do, what they needed to do,” Ohio head coach Jeff Boals said. “I got out-coached, we got out-competed, and give them credit. It’s a really good team.”

Akron came out of the gates flying, swarming guard Jackson Paveletzke with pressure and double teams, forcing the Ohio offense to be sped up and make mistakes.

Those mistakes allowed for the Zips to take the lead and never let go of it, as Ohio never held a lead in the game.

The Bobcats started the game shooting just 6-16 from the field and 2-7 from deep. Those shooting numbers aren’t good enough against a great Akron team that has so many scorers.

One of those scorers was Sharron Young, a sophomore guard who was able to rattle off three straight baskets by himself, prompting a Jeff Boals timeout.

Soon after the timeout, Young was fouled by senior forward Aidan Hadaway. After a review, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant, and Hadaway did not like the call. He spent the entire time Young was at the line arguing with referees, an action that got him a technical foul, his fourth of the season which is tied for second in the country.

Hadaway wasn’t the only Bobcat that was “T’d up” as Boals himself was given a technical after an outburst on the sidelines. The head coach slammed his clipboard across his knee after Akron’s Eric Mahaffey went coast to coast for an and-one after no one picked him on defense.

The marker from the clipboard went flying across the court, all the way near the mouth of the attack cat logo at mid-court.

“At some point I knew it was going to hurt us, and tonight was the night,” Boals said. “The emotional maturity has got to be there, and it wasn’t tonight. (It) includes myself. I got upset after we gave up a layup off a free throw when we weren’t communicating.”

Those types of lapses can’t be happening for a team that is trying to compete for a MAC title, especially against a top-tier team like Akron.

The clock is ticking for this team to prove that they can compete at a high-level against good MAC competition. The Bobcats shot just 23.5% from deep on Friday which isn’t much worse than the 30.3% they are shooting against MAC opponents combined.

The hot streak the team went on heading into MAC play was a great sign of progression, but that streak is more than over now following losses to Toledo, Akron and Ball State.

Time is ticking for the senior class and Boals to get things back on track to compete in the MAC tournament because in this era of college sports things can change in an instant.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: LACK OF DEFENSE LEADS TO LOSS TO TOLEDO

CARLY KUNKLER FOR THE POST

Ohio (12-5, 6-1 Mid-American Conference) welcomed MAC rival Toledo (9-8, 4-3 MAC) to The Convo on Saturday for its Green Out Game presented by Turn It Gold. The Bobcats could not grab a lead the whole game and lost 75-66 to the Rockets.

“We’ve been getting out-rebounded these last couple of games,” junior guard Bailey Tabeling said. “Throughout the week and practice, (coach Bob Boldon has) been reiterating that we have to box out, we have to rebound.”

The first quarter started slowly for the Bobcats, making zero of their nine field goal shots and zero of their five 3-point shots. Their only points came from seven free-throw shots. The team had a total of nine turnovers. Meanwhile, the Rockets made seven baskets and one 3-pointer to give them a lead of 16-7.

“I think it did kind of limit us to what we wanted to do,” junior guard Asiah Baxter said when asked about how the team could not overcome their issues in the first quarter.

The Bobcats gained more momentum going into the second quarter, but still could not grab the lead. They put up 23 points in the quarter, much better than the seven points in the first. Toledo matched Ohio’s 23 points with 21 points of its own, keeping a 37-30 lead over the Bobcats.

The Rockets’ junior guard Ella Weaver put up 13 points in the first half, leading the team. For the Bobcats, graduate student forward Elli Garnett and graduate student guard Asiah Baxter had five points to end the first half.

To start the second half, Tabeling carried the offense, putting up 12 points to lead the team. The Bobcats were still getting out-rebounded 3320 by the Rockets. Sophomore guard Faith Fedd-Robinson led Toledo with 13 points and five rebounds.

“I thought at times we were doing a nice job, but we had too many breakdowns,” Boldon said. “Part of our rebounding breakdowns came from players moving out of position when the shot goes up.”

Moving into the fourth quarter, the Bobcats got the closest to the lead they would get the whole game with a score of 63-57 after a free-throw from Tabeling. Ohio would make more shots, but all points would be answered by Toledo, leading to the Rockets’ 75-66 lead.

“The one way you can fix the rebounding is to drill it in practice, which is a scary initiative this time of year, especially with the number of players we finished the game with,” Boldon said. “By the looks of things, we could be down to seven players on Wednesday, and we need all seven of those players healthy.”

Both Garnett and sophomore forward Danni Scully left the game in the second half due to injuries and did not return to play.

Tabeling had 15 points overall for the Bobcats with sophomore guard Bella Ranallo adding 13. Ohio had a 36.7% field goal rate and a 29.6% 3-point rate.

For the Rockets, Fedd-Robinson had 16 points and sophomore forward Miriam Diala had 14. The Rockets as a team had 43 rebounds, with 31 coming defensively and 12 coming offensively. They made 48.3% of their field goals and 19% of their 3-pointers, only making four.

With the loss, Ohio moves to a record of 12-6 overall and a record of 6-2 in the MAC, keeping its third-place standing. Toledo now has a record of 9-8 overall and 4-3 in the MAC, staying in sixth place.

The Bobcats will play again Wednesday, welcoming UMass to The Convo, while Toledo will also play Wednesday against Kent State.

Hockey: Ohio shuts out Stony Brook in dominant win

As a winter storm rolled into Athens, the Bobcats faced off against the Stony Brook University Seawolves. In the most recent rankings, Ohio maintained its No. 2 spot while Stony Brook went from unranked to No. 22.

Originally scheduled to be a twogame series, the teams decided to cancel Saturday’s game due to severe weather. As of now, there are no plans to reschedule. All tickets will be refunded.

Ohio (23-3) secured a 6-0 victory over Stony Brook (12-10-2). A strong defense gave the Bobcats the edge. Senior goalie Matt Zazon earned his third shutout of the season. Although it took a bit for the scoring chances to come, they more than doubled the opponent in shots, 55-27.

The Bobcats controlled the puck early. The Seawolves intercepted passes and pushed the Bobcats to the boards, but could not generate offense when they had the puck in the offensive zone.

“I thought we turned over too many pucks in the neutral zone,” Ohio head coach Barry Schutte said. “We were too cute around the other team, tried to make an extra pass for no reason.”

Zazon and Stony Brook’s goalie, Steven Reganato, made excellent saves as the game went back and forth between the teams. With six minutes left in the first period, Reganato played the puck poorly and left the net wide open. The Bobcats just barely missed when the shot hit the post. Still, this play opened the floodgates.

Freshman forward Lance Mengel made a spinning pass to alternate captain and senior forward Luc Reeve, who scored the Bobcats’ first goal. Freshman defender Brady Gilbert had the secondary assist. After the next faceoff, sophomore forward Nolan Abraham scored. His casual-looking shot caught the goalie unaware. Junior forward Will Cohen and sophomore defender TJ Richey assisted the goal.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Mengel said.

In the second period, the Seawolves were able to find an offensive rhythm but did not score. Zazon made a pretty save in the middle of the frame, but otherwise, the first half was uneventful.

“He just looks really calm back there,” Schutte said. “Whether it’s a big-time chance or a ho-hum chance, his heart rate seems to stay the same.”

Assistant captain and junior forward Noah Holt found the back of the net as Stony Brook scrambled to regain their positions. Cohen and Abraham got their second points of the night with the assists.

After a Stony Brook player slid into Zazon, the teams had a quick tussle to end the period. The refs did not award any penalties.

In the third period, the Bobcats shone. They maintained pressure on the Seawolves and forced them into a penalty. Senior forward Drake Albers scored a power-play goal with assists from sophomore defender Blake Dustin and senior captain Jack Glen. Ohio had two more high danger scoring chances, but the next goal did not come until 90 seconds left in the game. Sophomore Kevin Kasper wrapped around the goal to sling a pass to junior forward Graham Broadfoot, who tipped it in to score. Junior Barron Stibbe had the secondary assist. Then, with 20 seconds remaining, Mengel buried the puck on a slap shot. Seniors Hollander Thompson and Tommy Kloepfer assisted.

“You’re up by a bunch of goals, and you think you can take your foot off the gas,” Schutte said. “But I like how we batted for (Zazon) to continue with that shutout. We finished the game properly.”

The Bobcats celebrated Military Appreciation Night before the game. Lieutenant Colonel and professor of military science Troy A. Lovely performed the ceremonial puck drop.

‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ is emotional and brutal

JUDE HANNAHS SPORTS STAFF WRITER

Films about the zombie apocalypse and its spread across the entire globe have had their seat at the table for years now. There are plenty of great examples of engaging plotlines with interesting characters in this specific subgenre, and there are others that aren’t enjoyable in any way.

In 2002, filmmakers Danny Boyle and Alex Garland brought to life a version of the zombie apocalypse that was a commentary on the decline of Great Britain. That film was “28 Days Later” (2002), starring Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Naomie Harris and Christopher Eccleston.

The far less popular sequel titled “28 Weeks Later” was released in 2007, which shifts from the creepy atmosphere of the original film to a more conventional action thriller. Last year, Boyle and Garland teamed up again to make and release “28 Years Later” (2025), which starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes.

That film garnered a lot of attention for its return to the tone and filmmaking style of the first entry into the franchise. However, it still isn’t seen as a masterpiece by many, as it currently stands at a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb. A sequel to “28 Years Later” was also filmed in the summer of 2024. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026) serves as a direct continuation of what was shown in “28 Years Later,” and it might very well be the best of this franchise.

Viewers follow the story of Spike (Alfie Williams) as he’s drawn into a satanic cult led by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) begins researching more on the exact cause of the Rage Virus and its effects. He uses an alpha-infected person, one Dr. Kelson dubs “Samson” (Chi Lewis-Parry), to run tests.

Sir Jimmy Crystal’s cultists, whom he calls “The Jimmies,” go about their ways of torturing innocent, non-infected people as offerings of sacrifice to Sir Jimmy’s father, Old Nick. For those unaware, “Old Nick” is another name for Satan. Eventually, The Jimmies and Dr. Kelson’s paths cross, resulting in a test of survival, faith and enduring humanity.

What “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” does extremely well is being its own film without needing to be compared to previous works in the series. This film does not have the same style in terms of shaky-cam and the discomfort when Boyle was behind the camera.

For the most part, this film’s visual storytelling is more relaxed in its approach. But it does have moments of blood and violence that definitely make the audience want to look away. Director Nia DaCosta did a fabulous job balancing that tone.

The look of the film is also worth pointing out. It was shot and filmed in various forest locations near the village of Redmire in North Yorkshire, England. The film’s director of photography, Sean Bobbitt, captures beautiful scenery with almost every frame of the picture.

It’s not too often a modern-day horror film looks as stunning as “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” While the film takes place in a zombie apocalypse environment, it offers far more subtext on the meaning of life and death, and that is not possible without Fiennes’ performance as Dr. Kelson.

Dr. Kelson was introduced in the prior film, but was not the focus, same as Williams’ Spike and Comer’s Isla. Here, he’s given more screentime and simply more to do with his character. Dr. Kelson is easily the best character of the two films he appears in.

Fiennes has always been an actor to deliver an excellent performance that will stick with the audience for a long

time, even if they aren’t always awardnominated. Dr. Kelson and his doctorpatient relationship with Samson is a surprise plotline many will not see coming. The way it is written is deeply empathic and human.

So much more could be said about “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” Other performances like O’Connell’s Sir Jimmy Crystal are phenomenal, and the choice

of music really works with certain scenes in the film. For a film released in January, it already has grounds to be one of 2026’s best.

Rating: 4/5

The Post Predicts: Grammy Awards 2026

Album of the Year by Austin Yau

Predicted Winner: “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny

The premier award of the Grammys is the Album of the Year Award. Eight artists across different genres and languages are nominated. The field for this year’s ceremony is Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” Justin Bieber’s “SWAG,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out,” Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM,” Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX,” Leon Thomas’ “MUTT” and Tyler, The Creator’s “Chromakopia.” There are four albums leading the category. The least likely to win is “Chromakopia.” It is vulnerable and innovative, but the precedent of not picking a hip-hop album in recent years has been set. The last time a hip-hop album won this award was OutKast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” in 2004.

Picking between the final three is difficult. Both “DTMF” and “GNX” rank much higher than “MAYHEM” on Album of the Year’s 2025 Music Year-End List Aggregate List. It is unlikely Gaga will take this award. Both “GNX” and “DTMF” are great representations of the year in music. “GNX” is a great album that was a victory lap for Lamar, but it doesn’t have the same levels of depth that Lamar’s previous albums have. Bad Bunny’s evolution in both topic and sound, as well as his global stardom, will be what wins him the Album of the Year award in a stacked field.

Song of the Year by Luke Ream

Predicted Winner: “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast

The Song of the Year category features the same nominees as Record of the Year, except for the replacement of “The Subway” by Chappell Roan with “Golden” from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters.” Despite not being in the Record of the Year nominations, “Golden” will be the Song of the Year winner.

“KPop Demon Hunters” was year-defining, with “Golden” standing as its lead single for the film. The track stands as one of the only songs that truly was a defining song of 2025. Only “Luther,” “Manchild” and “Golden” spent any time at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, but only one came from a film that defined the culture of 2025.

“Golden” is also the favorite to win Song of the Year on GoldDerby, Kalshi and Polymarket, the major betting and predicting platforms. “Golden” is definitely the song to beat, but Grammy darlings Carpenter and Lamar have a chance to spoil its golden moment.

Record of the Year by Grace Schmidt

Predicted Winner: “luther” by Lamar & SZA

The nominations for Record of the Year are stacked with viral music industry moments such as Doechii’s “Anxiety” and Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower.” It is important to note the difference between Record and Song of the Year. Record of the Year is based on the artists, engineers and producers of the song; Song of the Year focuses strictly on songwriting.

Last year, Lamar swept the two major categories with his hit single “Not Like Us.” His album “GNX,” which contains the hits “luther” and “tv off,” is nominated for Album of the Year. There is a chance, after Kendrick’s sweep, the academy will steer away from having him win again to avoid favoritism, but “luther” was an unignorable hit from his album this year.

His work with SZA is often a fan favorite, but “luther” became a mainstream hit after performing it with SZA at the 2025 SuperBowl Halftime show. That success launched their joint Grand National Tour, and the song charted No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks. With the snowball of his viral halftime performance, tour and his ability to recreate mainstream moments right after his hit “Not Like Us,” it is likely the academy will find it hard to ignore his major success this year and acknowledge it with the win for Record of the Year. Best New Artist by Sophia Anness

Predicted Winner: Olivia Dean

This year saw a lot of new artists break into the music scene, and eight were nominated for Best New Artist: Olivia Dean, Sombr, Addison Rae, Thomas, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, The Marias and Lola Young. Although this year’s class brings a lot of talent, Olivia Dean is my predicted winner.

Sombr, Warren and Rae have all put out some hits this year. However, none of them stand out as Best New Artist. Dean brings a new sound unlike many of her fellow nominees, and her art triumphs over the rest.

Dean’s album, “The Art of Loving,” gained a lot of traction this year, with her songs flooding everyone’s ears. Songs such as “The Man I Need” and “I’ve Seen It” have blown up in the last few months, giving her a great chance of winning Best New Artist.

Pop Vocal Album by Leanne Abel

Predicted Winner: “MAYHEM” by Gaga

The nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album go to Bieber for “SWAG,” Carpenter for “Man’s Best Friend,” Miley Cyrus for “Something Beautiful,” Gaga for “MAYHEM” and Teddy Swims for “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy – Part 2.”

It’s so hard to say Carpenter and Cyrus might not win with their albums. Cyrus shows once again her vocal range is unmatched, and Carpenter brings humor to pop that might even be too funny to be pop music.

“MAYHEM” stood out as the best album in this category. With “Abracadabra” and “Die With A Smile” topping the charts, the album had such a beautiful mix of range and coherence. Bringing Bruno Mars to sing a ballad with her was one of Gaga’s best ideas. Gaga made up words, showed her incredible voice and made some funky beats. “MAYHEM” is a top contender for this Grammy, which would mark her 15th award.

Best Rap Album by Nyla Gilbert

Predicted Winner: “Let God Sort Em Out” by Clipse

Since its creation in the early 1970s, rap has prevailed as a raw, fresh art form. The past two years have been rejuvenating for the rap industry, seeing newcomers in deserved rises in fame and the returns of legends. Many of this year’s “Best Rap Album” nominations are well-deserved.

The rap duo Clipse, composed of rappers Pusha T and Malice, released one of, if not the best, rap albums of the year. Returning after 15 years, the duo’s returning album “Let God Sort Em Out” debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 charts, at number one on both the Independent Album and the Vinyl Record charts.

With features from artists like Lamar, NAS, Tyler, The Creator, John Legend and Pharrell Williams, this album was a statement on hip-hop and rap as an art form, showcasing the raw creative storytelling ability of rap. The first track on the album, “The Birds Don’t Sing,” is part of mega music history, as the duo performed it at the Vatican’s Grace for the World event, making it the first rap song ever performed at the Vatican.

Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out” spotlighted the rap industry, solidifying the industry’s impact in consequential global spaces, showing that rap can change the world. This was truly the best rap album of the year.

Best Rap Song By Michael Dorwaldt

Predicted Winner: “The Birds Don’t Sing” by Clipse featuring Legend

When looking at the nominees for Best Rap Song, big names such as Tyler, The Creator and Lamar fill the minds of listeners. However, when looking at the true meaning of the category and the genre of rap as a whole, “The Birds Don’t Sing” by Clipse featuring John Legend stands out as the top contender.

The song, which peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025 focuses on deeply personal storytelling rather than the most catchy hook or mainstream appeal, which is exactly what this Grammy category values.

Best Rap Song is awarded based on lyrics and

composition, rather than its accompanying category Best Rap Performance, which covers the delivery and cadence of the song.

What makes “The Birds Don’t Sing” a strong Grammy contender is its lyrical depth and emotional honesty. Pusha T and Malice, the iconic hip-hop duo, use vivid imagery and lifelong reflection to explore loss and memory in a way that feels intimate and universal, making the song impactful beyond its beat and performance.

Best Album Cover By Michael Dorwaldt

Predicted Winner: “Chromakopia”

For the first time in the Grammys’ 68-year history, album covers have their own category. Best Album Cover recognizes the work of art directors and, in many cases, reflects the artist’s creativity and the album’s overall message.

After listening to the album and revisiting the artwork, the cover for “Chromakopia,” created by Shaun Llewellyn and Luis Pere in collaboration with Tyler, The Creator, stood out. Straying from Tyler, The Creator’s catalog of colorful album covers, the art for “Chromakopia” channels a 1930s and ’40s film noir aesthetic.

The cover depicts the two-time Grammy Awardwinning rapper wearing a mask of his own face, his right hand reaching toward the camera. Although open to multiple interpretations, the mask reflects the album’s themes of authenticity, identity and the tension between public and private life.

Although others in this category such as William Wesley II for “The Crux” and Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio for “DTMF” bring meaning to the project through the art, the vulnerability attached to the “Chromakopia” album cover sets it over the other nominees.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance by Emily Frank

Predicted Winner: “APT” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars

When it comes to Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, there seems to be an agreement among fans of all the different nominees that KATSEYE’s “Gabriela” is not even in competition. Though “30 for 30” did really well this year, it seems unlikely that it will win in comparison to other songs in the category.

The “Wicked” films and the press tour have had a big impact on pop culture the past few years. Now “Defying Gravity” is nominated for the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Some fans believe it should not win the category because it is not an original song. Netflix has been campaigning hard for “Golden,” yet some fans believe that despite “KPop Demon Hunters” remaining in Netflix’s “Top 10 Movies in the U.S. Today” since the film’s release in June, the song does not align with how votes for the category typically turn out.

ROSÉ and Mars’ “APT” seems to be leading in multiple betting polls with “Golden” coming in second. Either of these songs winning would be a historic first, as there has never been a K-pop idol or group that has won a Grammy.

The Post Editorial

Editor-in-Chief | Jackson McCoy

Managing Editor | Sophia Rooksberry

Community Standards Editor | Alexandra Hopkins

Director of Business Strategy | Abby Waechter

EDITORIAL

Local & Campus News Editor | Maggie Amacher

Regional News Editor | Suzanne Piper

News Staff Writers | Kaitlin Hogg, Finn Smith

Human Interest Editor | Gina Napoli

Asst. Human Interest Editor | Emma Snyder-Lovera

Humam Interest Staff Writer | Fiona Petticrew

Sports Editor | Charlie Fadel

Asst. Sports Editor | Owen Lipstreu

Sports Staff Writers | Brandon Gross, Jude Hannahs

Opinion Editor | Daphne Graeter

Asst. Opinion Editor | Clara Leder

Entertainment Editor | Sophia Anness

Asst. Entertainment Editor | Nyla Gilbert

Copy Chief | Elizabeth Talaga

Slot Editors | Carly DeLuca, Peyton Ann Hodge, Maia LeClair, Natalie Saddler

ART

Art Director | Alaina Dackermann

Asst. Art Director | Abby Doench

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Photo Editor | Talitha Maloy

DIGITAL

Audience Engagement Editor | Sofia Osio

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BUSINESS

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Student walkouts demonstrate democracy on campus

THE POST EDITORIAL BOARD

On Friday, hundreds of Ohio University students joined protestors around the country in an effort to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis. Friday’s walkout was part of a nationwide movement to protest the inhumane actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, in cooperation with Minnesota’s “ICE Out” day.

The day was initially created in Minnesota as a general strike, a work stoppage across multiple industries, which is very rare in modern times, as it is typically hard to organize across companies. Yet, Minnesota did, and many states and cities nationwide joined in solidarity.

In Minneapolis, over 480 businesses closed their doors in support of the general strike. Hundreds of other protests ensued across the country, as citizens called for protection and change.

The day was intended to be a day of nonviolent reflection in response to the violence ICE perpetrated, as well as the killing of Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE officer. A day after the protest occurred, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.

A licensed pediatrician in Minnesota who was at the scene described the terrible treatment of Pretti during the incident to CNN, “Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the (federal immigration) agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds.”

After brutal killings and deportations of undeserving people, it’s apparent now more than ever that the avenue for change is not coming from the Trump Administration; they are encouraging and promoting the presence of ICE and mass deportations. The American Immigration Council describes this as the “most extreme tactics.”

In Athens, around 350 students came out to College Green to join Minneapolis, a part of the same movement to tell the university, the state and the nation, ICE is not welcome in Athens or anywhere in our country. Students called for campus protection from agents and communication from the university, including a petition with six demands for OU.

According to a previous report by The Post, the Trump administration has deported over 605,000 people between Jan. 20, 2025 and Dec. 10, 2025.

When the American people exercise their First Amendment right to protest, they send a message to any and all who will listen. We are here, we have power guaranteed for us in our constitutional rights and we need change, now.

Mass deportations are only continuing in 2026, and just this past week, 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken from his own driveway after arriving home from preschool. Ramos and his father were taken to a detention facility in Texas soon after. This event makes him the fourth student from his Minneapolis suburb to be detained by immigration officers.

When ICE officials decide a five-year-old is a critical threat, enough so to rip him from a running car, there are not only problems in our country, but there is poison in our streets and it takes human form in ICE agents.

Students in Athens exercised their right to protest and made it clear to everyone that ICE is not welcome here, and the actions displayed on the national stage by agents are appalling. One student held a sign that displayed a quote from Thomas Jefferson, “When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”

Protests are the heartbeat of democracy. They require the courage to see injustice, name it as wrong and take action in pursuit of change. This is something the Trump administration, instead of calling for change, has only promoted the harmful actions of ICE agents across the country. In fact, ICE has become the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, with a budget of $85 million.

We as Americans have earned the ability to walk in our streets, neighborhoods and schools united together. Through differences and similarities, we share an identity as human beings and the treatment of human beings across the nation by federal workers is inhumane, vile and disgusting.

To hope for change is to sit by while we watch cruelty continue to plague us. We must use our voices, as well as our rights, to push for the change we want to see. It begins with us, as students and young people, to truly ignite the change we desire and that starts on our campus.

If your neighbors are not safe from violence, racial profiling and harm, no one is safe. We as Americans must continue to send a message to the federal government that they have failed us, and the horrible tragedies and treatment of everyday folks must be halted at once.

The Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage. Have thoughts? The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com

Pen to the Point | Face winter with a positive mindset

DREW HOFFMASTER FOR THE POST

Some people love winter while others hate it. I love and hate it.

Winter, especially in Ohio, can be unpredictable, frigid, cozy and fun all at the same time. We have beautiful days, such as Jan. 9, where the high was 66.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and others where it drops to 0 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurred Monday. Overall, winter is one of the coldest times of the year, with varying lows being reached across the globe.

Emma Edwardson, the associate director at Scalia Lab, said winter weather in the United States comes from a battle between two air masses. One mass travels from the North Pole, and the other comes from the Gulf of Mexico. This clashing of air masses makes it tough for meteorologists to predict during this time of the year what the weather exactly will be. This uncertainty is not only felt by meteorologists but also by the average person. Some people often underdress for the cold and snowy weather because they expect it to be warmer or not even snow. This unpredictability may cause some people to risk it and travel when they should not, because they do not believe the roads will get that bad.

“A lot of times, even if the models are saying we are going to get a snowstorm, if that parameter doesn’t

reach the level it needs to, we’re not going to get that snowstorm after all,” Edwardson said.

Winter gets a bad rap from some because of these unexpected situations. However, this is not the only reason; the cold is also extremely unwelcoming.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 57% of people prefer to live in hot climates, while 29% enjoy residing in the cold. I believe this statistic largely comes from the mental health affects chilly environments cause.

The National Institute of Health identifies this as seasonal affective disorder, which is caused by lower serotonin and vitamin D from less sunlight and high melatonin levels from oversleeping. People feel more inclined or forced to stay in to avoid the cold, leading more people to get excess sleep. This is another large reason people say they hate winter. No one likes to feel down.

I understand where people are coming from when they cite these reasons because I feel the same way. It sucks having to deal with the cold and darker days; however, call me crazy, but I always find myself still looking forward to winter.

Even though there are a lot of bad parts of winter, there are a lot of good parts too. During the cold months, a variety of holidays occur, such as

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Holidays give the opportunity to visit loved ones and take time off from work and school, which is always nice. Just thinking about having the time to catch up with family and friends I have not seen in a while excites me.

In addition, the aesthetics of this season are unmatched. It’s the time of year for elaborate holiday displays, beautifully crafted hot drinks and winter fashion. According to a previous Post article, the layering aspect of winter fashion allows people to stay warm and stylish while rocking beanies, sweaters and knitted sweaters. Every year, without fail, I find myself checking online to see when people start embracing these traditions. They never fail to make me smile.

According to the National Weather Service, this past weekend we were set to receive about a foot of snow. This snow was perfect for people looking to sled down Jeff Hill, get into a snowball fight or even take aesthetically appealing photos of the white landscape. All of these are fun things to do and things I personally look forward to every year.

With so many good aspects to this season, I feel that, unlike most people, I am unable to say I hate the winter. I may look forward to it, but, like most, I still dread the cold, ice and snow. To

me, the only proper way to identify how I feel about this time of year is to call it a love-hate relationship.

The main reason why I look at winter like this is that a person’s mindset matters for deciding how they will frame something in their head. According to a blog published in SELF by Julia Ries Wexler, a health psychologist who moved to Norway, where from November to January the sunsets don’t rise. She said Norwegians were not affected by the season due to their mindsets.

This is why I say I have a love-hate relationship with the season. By saying this, I am acknowledging there are still bad parts, but good things I look forward to. Only oneself can determine how they frame any time of the year, which is why approaching the winter with this perspective is important.

So, I challenge everyone to take a step back and think, “What is good about winter?” Then, instead of focusing on having to be bundled up in a heavy puffer jacket, think about what good is happening or is to come.

Winter is not in any way perfect, but by choosing to see its beauty alongside its challenges, it becomes a season I cannot help but appreciate.

Want to talk to Drew Hoffmaster about his column? Email them at dh384223@ohio.edu.

Layla’s Lens | Staying informed is your civic responsibility

communication.

Don’t talk about politics or religion at the dinner table. The traditional etiquette is one that many people were raised upon, considering it common courtesy to avoid any potentially tumultuous discussions with guests to preserve a peaceful, harmonious evening. While respecting others’ opinions is an important covenant to uphold, regarding open conversation as taboo may have hindered the inclination of many individuals to become invested in politics.

The expressed disinterest of those who have been turned away from discussing politics altogether, reluctant to be viewed as impolite or obsessively concerned, reflects a commonly used phrase offered in response to any political issues brought to their attention; “But, I’m just not into politics.”

We are currently at a point in our history where news is more accessible than ever before; the internet provides us with access to hundreds of sources for seemingly every direction on every issue. However, it is precisely this overflow of information that has left many individuals unsure where to turn

According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, a large portion of fake news mimics the common visual and structural formats of social media platforms, making it easily digestible and leading to a high risk of confusion.

The increasing prevalence of misinformation leaves many potential voters overwhelmed, unable to uncover the truth and turning a simple search for knowledge into a never-ending rabbit hole.

Social media outlets aren’t making it any easier, often getting away with perpetuating misinformation under the Communications Decency Act of 1996 Section 230, which states that a platform cannot be sued for user content, as they are not considered to be a publisher. This differs drastically from traditional news outlets, which can be held legally accountable for any published defamation, libel or slander. This is increasingly prevalent with the way the majority of young voters obtain their information, with the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement finding that 77% of young adults rely on at least one form of social media or YouTube as one of their top three

sources of information.

Gita Johar, professor of business at Columbia Business School, took a deeper look with her colleagues as to why platforms cannot control misinformation. One of the main issues they discovered was that human fact-checkers hired by these platforms to verify posts were quickly overwhelmed by the amount of content. So, if hired professionals have found themselves struggling to stay afloat in the floodgates of fake news, everyday citizens have surely faced the same problems themselves.

Nonetheless, while these hurdles can be incredibly discouraging to voters, simply deciding to remain ignorant of the political discourse taking place within the United States is not a reasonable alternative. Ignorance might be bliss, but it’s a privilege only enjoyed by a select few who do not have to concern themselves with politics because there is no issue directly impacting their day-to-day lives.

By saying that you are “not into politics,” one might as well be saying that they are not invested in any injustices our government may carry out, they are not concerned with any lives that are not their own. Our

democracy is built and sustained through voting, and it is our civic responsibility as citizens in this country to be well-educated on the state of our country.

We owe this to our fellow countrymen who have worked toward earning this hard-fought right. But we also owe it to humanity to have empathy for one another, to care about what happens to one another and to fight for what we think is morally righteous.

By no means am I insinuating that you should vote simply to say you have done so. Any decision made under the veil of ignorance and misinformation damages the people who suffer through the consequences of your decision. But taking the time to educate yourself on media literacy, finding reliable sources and determining the truth is a sacrifice that one must make in the name of democracy.

Layla Vinson is a junior studying journalism & English at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Layla Vinson about their column? Email them at lv861322@ ohio.edu.

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES | 1/20

Undeniably Abby

The Pledge isn’t the problem, the distraction is

ABBY WAECHTER DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS STRATEGY

It’s hard to ignore how loud the Pledge of Allegiance debate has become in Athens. What began as a proposal to add a pledge to the start of City Council meetings turned into a packed room, heated public comments and a debate that has stayed in the headlines.

This is City Council, not a stage. It’s a governing body. The Council decides how about $55 million of public money is spent, how services are delivered and how the city responds to the issues that affect residents’ daily lives.

And yet, the most intense debate lately has been about whether the meeting should begin with a pledge.

Councilmember Alan Swank proposed combining rules seven and eight to include the Pledge of Allegiance as the second step in the agenda. Under the current rules, meetings begin with opening procedures, then move through the order of business, starting with establishing a quorum and approving minutes.

During the Jan. 12 council meeting, Swank said his goal was to “add formality and tighten up the meeting structure,” not to change the Council’s work, but simply to adjust the order of how meetings begin. After the debate drew national attention, including comments from Vivek Ramaswamy, Jay Edwards and other Republican lawmakers on social media, Swank said he hopes those using the issue for political gain will reconsider their motives.

she did not want to introduce “religion or loyalty pledges into local government.”

Councilmember Paul Isherwood, an immigrant who became a citizen four years ago, pointed out the pledge’s history is complicated and tied to antiimmigration sentiment.

These are sincere concerns, personal concerns, and they deserve to be heard.

The First Amendment exists to protect exactly this kind of disagreement. It protects not only the right to speak, but also the right not to speak. It protects the right to show patriotism in your own way, and it protects the right to refuse a ritual that feels like it belongs to someone else’s version of patriotism.

I’m not here to tell anyone what to do. The point isn’t whether someone should or shouldn’t say the pledge. The point is that we’ve turned something small into a public test of loyalty, and it’s distracting us from the real work of local government.

The Athens city budget is a reminder of how serious the council’s work is. The city manages more than millions of dollars across various funds, including internal service funds, medical claims, community grants and utilities. These council members clearly care about this work. They ran for office knowing the time and responsibility it would take to serve. Reciting the pledge doesn’t change how they do their work, it does not change how they vote or carry out their responsibilities, and it doesn’t affect the way money is spent or services are delivered.

Bluegrass, Winter Hikes and a 5k

ETHAN HERX FOR THE POST

Tuesday, Jan. 27

The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., is screening Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

The film begins at 7 p.m.

Admission: $8

Housing and Residence life is hosting a pajama movie night at the Living Learning Center. The movies begin at 6:30 p.m.

Admission: Free

Wednesday, Jan. 28

Ohio Women’s Basketball plays UMass in The Convo at 7 p.m.

Admission: $3-34

Bluegrass musicians Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall and George Meyer are performing at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $5 for students, $8 for seniors, $10 for general tickets

The Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia is hosting a guided hike from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A local environmental interpreter will join to discuss how plants and animals adapt in harsh winter conditions. The hike is free, but attendees must reserve a spot. The hike begins at Chauncey-Dover Trailhead Park, 8433 W. Bailey Rd., Millfield.

Admission: Free, with a reserved spot

Thursday, Jan. 29

The Center for International Studies is hosting a grant writing workshop with Faith Knutsen, Director of Innovation and Social Enterprise at the Voinovich School. The workshop is in Baker University Center 320 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Admission: Free with registration

The College of Arts and Sciences is hosting poet Kimberly Johnson at Galbreath Chapel. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.

The Athena Cinema is screening “O Pioneer” as part of its From the Hills and Hollers series. The film begins at 7 p.m. Dr. Tiffany Arnold will give a pre-show presentation.

Admission: Free with tickets

THRIVE is hosting a painting with Bob Ross event in Baker Center 333 from 1-3 p.m. All supplies are provided.

Admission: Free

Bobcats Arts Care is hosting a Create Your Own ArtsCare kit event on the third floor of Baker Center from 1-3 p.m.

Admission: Free

Friday, Jan. 30

The College of Arts and Sciences is hosting Dr. Matt Kesler to discuss generative artificial intelligence in higher education. The talk is in Gordy Hall 313.

Admission: Free

Saturday, Jan. 31

The Athens Art Guild is hosting its weekly art market at the Athens Community Center, 701 E State St. from 9 a.m. to noon. Local artisans are selling handmade arts and crafts.

Admission: Free

Sunday, Feb. 1

The Kennedy Museum of Art is hosting a weaving basics workshop as part of its Community Open Studio series from 2-4 p.m. No prior experience is needed.

Admission: Free with registration

The Alumni Association is hosting the Founders Day Virtual 5k. Participants can run anywhere and have from February 1-18 to run a 5k, which is 3.1 miles. Participants can post photos of their run on social media to count toward the larger goal of getting 730 accrued miles.

Admission: Free with no merchandise, $18 with the Cutler Package

“This isn’t about the president of the United States, this isn’t about Congress,” Swank said. “This isn’t about anything but your neighbor and how you want to treat people and be treated, particularly the least among us.”

Councilmember Michael Wood, a Quaker, said he was “very against it” during the Jan. 12 meeting for three reasons: article of faith, the performative nature of the pledge and discomfort in the current political climate. Wood said he felt like Swank was “just adding steps to add steps.”

“It doesn’t change how we do things,” Wood said. “It was funny because we got a letter from the woman that runs the VFW Auxiliary, (telling us to) go back to saying the pledge. We’ve never said the pledge, so we’re already back to what we were doing, so it felt like, ‘why are we adding this right now?’”

Councilmember Jessica Thomas said

And yet it has become the center of the debate.

Housing, public safety, infrastructure and community services are the problems that deserve our attention, and the kind of energy this pledge debate has consumed.

I’m not saying we should stop talking about the pledge. I’m saying we should talk about it in the right context and remember what our city council is actually responsible for. The council is not a ceremonial body; it’s a governing body. And the work they do matters far more than what happens at the start of a meeting.

Abby Waechter is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Email Abby at aw087421@ohio.edu.

Admission: Free

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

SNOW DAY IN ATHENS BRINGS JOY

DREW HOFFMASTER FOR THE POST

STUDENTS TOOK TO JEFF HILL ON SUNDAY AT 12 TO HAVE SOME FUN IN THE SNOW. THE “SNOW DAY” EVENT WAS HOSTED BY SNOWCATS; THE AFTERNOON WAS FILLED WITH STUDENTS SLEDDING DOWN THE HILL ON ANYTHING THEY COULD FIND.