October 21, 2025

“What

then must we do?”

Tom Hayes reflects on Gaza aid mission, captivity

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

“I’m active, I’m not an activist,” Tom Hayes said.

And active he is. Hayes was jailed for protesting the Vietnam War, participated in the anti-nuclear movement and has sailed twice with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Gaza.

He said the phrase, “What then must we do?” runs through his mind often, a question that pushes him to act.

Hayes, who has been with Ohio University since 2002, serves as an associate professor in the School of Film. Following his kidnapping and imprisonment in Israel, he was removed from teaching his only in-person course, the Art of Editing, with a replacement instructor taking over for the remainder of the semester.

It was already on record that Hayes planned to retire from full-time teaching at the end of the Fall 2025 semester.

Dan Pittman, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email that Hayes violated the faculty handbook by providing virtual instruction for his students while abroad. The university said his course was listed as strictly in-person, not mixed in-person and virtual.

Cait Rowe, a second-year MFA film production student in Hayes’ course, wrote in an email the class was “shocked” by the news. On Oct. 12, the students were told Hayes would return to Ohio and resume classes Oct. 14, Rowe said. The next day, they learned he had been removed as their instructor, with assistant professor Jordan Spayd taking over the course.

In response, the students organized and sent a letter to Dean Roxanne SchroederArce demanding Hayes’ reinstatement.

“We listed the reasons why, professionally and academically, Professor Hayes, as an instructor, has no equal here,” Rowe wrote in an email. “With over 50 years of filmmaking under his belt, he is the most qualified person to teach the Art of Editing course and the person we most want to learn from.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Hayes’ students walked out of Spayd’s class in protest. Outside the classroom, Hayes has long been vocal about issues of global justice. In 2024, he staged a solo protest against the United Nations’ veto of a ceasefire resolution by blocking traffic for about 30 minutes at the intersection of Court and Union Streets in Athens before being stopped by police.

“I thought that business as usual really has to stop in the face of genocide,” Hayes said.

Last summer, Hayes joined the Freedom Flotilla’s mission to deliver aid to the children of Gaza, so when the opportunity arose to sail again this year, he did not hesitate. The trip included media and medical workers aiming to provide aid to as many people in Gaza as possible.

A documentary filmmaker, Hayes has spent decades documenting life in Palestine. In the 1980s, he filmed in Palestinian refugee camps and has produced three long-form documentaries on the denial of Palestinians’ rights.

Among his documentaries, Hayes’ 2015 film “Two Blue Lines” explores the impact of Jewish settlements on Palestinians, while his 1985 documentary “Native Sons: Palestinians In Exile,” narrated by Martin Sheen, follows the lives of three refugee families living in Lebanon’s camps.

Hayes most recently co-directed “Voyage of the Handala,” an independent documentary about the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is premiering Monday at Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival in Spain.

“I guess that’s why I kind of hitch at the term activist, because it’s not about some political position or something like that,” Hayes said. “This is a community of human beings I came to know over time, and in some cases, have protected my life from the IDF.”

Hayes’ latest journey began Sep. 24 when he received a call informing him that the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla vessel delivering aid to Gaza, would soon depart from Italy. Two days later, he was in Otranto, a small port town on the Italian coast. On Oct. 8, the ship was hijacked by the Israeli military, and Hayes and his shipmates were taken captive.

Before the mission, the crew had practiced drills to prepare for a potential hijacking and even had a chant prepared if the Israeli army invaded the ship: “We are journalists, we are medics.”

Hayes said the Conscience was closer to Egyptian territorial waters than Israeli ones, so when the call came through that the Israeli military was on the way, “nobody was really ready for it.”

Once onboard, Hayes said Israeli soldiers confiscated anything of value.

Hayes said his books, Palestine T-shirts and even his hairbrush were thrown away, while his H4n audio recorder, DJI gimbal and other hard drives and cables were seized by the military.

The crew was detained on the boat, some zip-tied and forced to kneel on the concrete with their heads down for 45-90 minutes, according to Hayes. When one of the coalition members spoke up about being in pain, Israeli soldiers laughed and zip-tied him, Hayes said.

Hayes said the Freedom Flotilla members were then taken to Israel against their will at gunpoint, where they were processed and imprisoned.

Hayes described the processing: their bags were X-rayed, belongings taken or discarded and they were lightly stripsearched and interrogated. For every question he was asked, Hayes said he told the Israeli army he requested to see his lawyer and contact his consulate.

“The only question that I responded to in any way was when they asked me if I was a journalist,” Hayes said. “I said yes.”

Hayes and his comrades were then taken to another holding room where they were blindfolded and zip-tied. They were shoved onto a bus that, hours later, dropped them at Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert.

They spent at least two full days in prison before being released the morning of the third day.

“I think it was the morning of the third (day) that they showed up and just marched us out and then put us on a

bus,” Hayes said. “This time, they didn’t blindfold us and zip-tie us, and we were on a bus for about three hours, and then we were in at Ramon Airport … There was a Turkish Airlines plane waiting for us there.”

Hayes said throughout the detention, they were verbally abused by Israeli soldiers, border guards and the Israel Prison Service.

At one point, IPS officers shouted that Hayes and the other flotilla members were “f---ing terrorists.”

“(We were) people trying to deliver humanitarian aid to an area that has been adjudged by the International Society of Genocide Scholars to be under a genocide,” Hayes said. “If that’s what a terrorist is, then we really need to rethink this word.”

He said he could recount everything that happened to him step by step, but that was not what mattered. Hayes said what happened to him and the others was terrible and unpleasant, but there was a bigger issue at play.

“The mission was what counted,” Hayes said. “Our effort to try to open a maritime humanitarian corridor to people who are being starved to death, denied medical care, that’s what really matters to me. Really, the most unpleasant thing about it is that we were stymied in our effort.”

DeWine ensures no more ticket quotas, OUPD ticketing will not change

FIONA PETTICREW FOR THE POST

Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 114, which went into effect Sept. 30, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using quotas for ticketing or arrests. The bill prevents police departments and law enforcement officers from being encouraged in any form to reach a quota of arrests or citations, and officers are not allowed to receive any financial bonuses or rewards in return for hitting quotas.

Athens and Ohio University police departments patrol the streets often, checking the meters and making sure citizens are following parking procedures and guidelines.

SB 114 does not affect the number of tickets or the manner in which they are given for those parking at OU.

OUPD Community Relations Officer Evan Wilkof said the department did not have a quota prior to this bill.

“While a lot of municipalities have quotas to help fund municipal programs and projects,” Wilkof said. “Our department, through the university, does not receive any income from any traffic tickets. It would not necessarily benefit anyone in particular, and I feel that’s a good driving force to maintain an unbiased agenda when looking to enforce traffic.”

SB 114 does not affect OUPD’s ticketing or arrests, meaning parking enforcement officers will patrol as normal.

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Wilkof said although the department does not encourage or implement a quota, they are committed to creating a safe environment for pedestrians.

“We weren’t looking to enact a quota, but we do take traffic violations very seriously, just because we have an incredibly high volume of pedestrians,” Wilkof said. “And there were some traffic pattern changes over the summer, which I think have very much led to a safer campus.”

Megan Hoersten, a freshman studying journalism news and information, said she received a parking ticket even though she had two valid passes.

She was parked in Morton’s parking lot in an accessible parking space and received a $35 ticket. Hoersten said she felt as though it could’ve been a warning, as her passes were visible but simply flipped around.

“I have a disability, so I went to the transportation office and they verified that, if you have a disability, you can park in any handicapped spot on campus, it doesn’t matter,” Hoersten said. “... I didn’t think it was completely fair, because you could see both that I had the handicap sign, and I had my parking pass.”

Hoersten said she thought quotas hold officers accountable, but there is a chance for an officer to be nitpicky with their ticketing if there is a quota to meet.

Hannah Voegele, a senior studying field ecology, said she received a parking ticket from the Athens Police Department last year while she was taking an exam.

Voegele parked by Bentley Hall and paid for one hour, coming back five to 10 minutes late to find a $15 ticket on her windshield.

Voegele said she does not see a reason for a law enforcement agency to implement a ticketing quota, other than to collect more money. She said she can understand why departments provide bonuses or rewards for hitting a quota, but it doesn’t seem like a good use of time for any police department.

“Honestly, in a way, it kind of makes sense, but it shouldn’t be a lot, honestly,” Voegele said. “I could see a motivation like, hey, do your job, write all these tickets, arrest these people. But again, I feel like it shouldn’t be a goal to look out and make trouble or make these arrests and tickets.”

Voegele said OU and APD are often seen ensuring people have paid their parking fees.

“I will say it’s serious out here, like I always see people checking police officers checking the meters,” Voegele said. “I always see tickets on people’s windshields. It’s serious.”

Hoersten said officers are simply doing their jobs, and without their work, it would be much harder to find any parking spots.

“I just think they’re holding us accountable, though, because it’s showing that if we could get away with it, we’d have so many cars on campus,” Hoersten said. “Nobody would be able to park anywhere.”

Police blotter: Well-being checks, accidental alarms, disorderly conduct

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

10 Fri _________________________

Accidental alarm

Athens County Sheriff’s Office

deputies responded to a call from Mountain Belle Road in Coolville regarding an alarm activation.

However, deputies were later told the alarm going off was accidental and they could cancel.

Bro better have my money

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office took a report in regard to a bad check.

Deputies investigated and learned while the check was real, the amount on the check was inaccurate.

11 Sat _________________________

Loose dog

The Athens Police Department found a dog on the loose near Stewart Street and Mill Street in Athens.

After being unable to find its owner, the dog was then transported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, where a deputy got it into a kennel. The deputy then resumed patrolling.

Yes, the voices, they speak to me

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded near East First Street in The Plains after the caller told deputies individuals were screaming and the whole neighborhood could hear them.

The caller also told deputies the neighborhood was “going crazy.” Once on the scene, deputies patrolled the area but did not find anyone screaming.

12 Sun ________________________

Locked car

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Nelsonville regarding an individual locked out of their car.

On the scene, deputies got the vehicle unlocked.

Conduct yourselves orderly, please Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Sandstone apartments in The Plains after reports of a neighbor dispute.

Once on the scene, deputies made contact with all involved parties and gave them a warning for disorderly conduct.

6 Mon________________________

Weed theft?!

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from New Marshfield after receiving a call regarding an inactive theft.

On the scene, the caller told deputies two of his marijuana plants had been stolen. The caller also told deputies he wanted the theft documented.

Warrants of the week

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office has warrants of arrest out for Lula Harris and Tammy Rutter. Harris is wanted for theft, and Rutter is wanted for possession of drugs. Anyone with information on either individual is to immediately contact the sheriff’s office.

7 Tue ________________________

Backpack, backpack

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were on foot patrol when they came across a full backpack.

The owner of the backpack was located, and their property was returned to them.

Arrested

The Pomeroy Police Department located and arrested Jerry A. Stone of The Plains. Stone had an active warrant out for his arrest.

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office met the PPD at the county line to transport Stone to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

8 Wed ________________________

911 Hang-up

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to High School Road in The Plains upon getting a 911 hang-up call.

On the scene, deputies determined nothing was unusual and no assistance was necessary.

Verbal Dispute

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office dispatched to Town Street in Glouster after receiving an anonymous report of domestic disputes.

Deputies arrived on scene and concluded the dispute was verbal in nature, not physical. The parties separated, and the deputies resumed patrolling.

9 Thur ________________________

How dare you mow your lawn right now?

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to state Route 682 in The Plains after reports of a man mowing his yard and being loud.

On the scene, deputies patrolled the area, but did not locate such activity.

All good here!

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Maple Street in Glouster, referencing a well-being check for a man.

On the scene, the man told deputies he was okay and did not need help.

US Weekly Headlines: No Kings protests rage nationwide, CIA covert operations in Venezuela

ELIZABETH TALAGA | COPY CHIEF

13 Mon _________________________

Naked protest in Portland challenges the Trump Administration Protestors gathered in Portland to oppose President Donald Trump’s attempts at moving National Guard troops into the city to diminish previous immigration led protests, according to the Associated Press.

According to the AP, many gathered Oct. 13 to participate in a nude bike ride to signal protest against Trump’s efforts, riding to the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

Portland is waiting for an appeals court panel ruling to determine whether Trump will have the authority to send federal troops to the city, following an Oct. 5 temporary hold enacted by a federal judge.

14 Tue _________________________

Trump administration fires federal employees from HHS

The Trump administration fired hundreds of federal employees working in mental health services, disease outbreaks and disaster preparedness, over the last weekend. The mass firing is part of the president’s plan to pressure Democrats to end the government shutdown, the AP reported.

The individuals were all employed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, impacting divisions including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

According to an HHS spokesperson, the terminated employees were deemed non-essential, the AP reported. The spokesperson stated these recent efforts are a part of the agency’s goal of reducing waste and following through on the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

According to the AP, a court ruling from the Trump administration estimated 1,100 to 1,200 of the almost 80,000 staffers at HHS were receiving dismissal notices.

15 Wed _________________________

Trump administration revokes visas from critics of Charlie Kirk

The Trump administration revoked visas from six foreigners due to “derisive” comments they made regarding the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. U.S. officials claimed the individuals made light of or mocked the tragedy, the AP reported.

According to the AP, these nonidentified foreigners were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa. The State Department claimed any individual who celebrates the assassination of an American citizen while taking advantage of the country’s hospitality will be removed.

The recent decision comes as the Trump

administration engages in larger efforts to punish critics of Charlie Kirk and expel foreign critics of the U.S., according to the AP.

16 Thur _________________________

Trump confirms covert CIA operations in Venezuela

According to the AP, Trump confirmed on Wednesday the CIA has been authorized to engage in covert operations inside Venezuela.

The confirmation follows recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean against alleged drug-smuggling boats. Four out of the five boats that U.S. forces destroyed since September were from Venezuela, the AP reported.

Trump claimed the decision to mobilize CIA assets came as a result of drug cartels from Venezuela and illegal immigration from Venezuelan prisons.

According to the AP, Trump stated the administration is considering the decision to authorize land operations on Venezuelan soil.

17 Fri _________________________

Former Trump advisor charged with storing and sharing classified information.

Former national security advisor John Bolton was charged Thursday for allegedly storing classified documents at home and sharing confidential information regarding his time in the White House with relatives, the AP reported.

Bolton served under Trump during his first term before being fired in 2019. Since then, Bolton has been an outspoken critic of Trump.

According to the AP, the case is the third time in the last month that a Trump adversary has been charged with a crime.

The indictment alleges Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of information between 2018 and this past month, regarding his daily activities in government with relatives.

19 Sun _________________________

‘No Kings’ protests return nationwide, signify outrage over Trump administration

“No Kings” protests formed in cities nationwide Saturday to rally against the Trump administration and alleged authoritarianism, according to the AP. The demonstrations occurred in large cities such as New York City and Boston, as well as smaller cities across the country. Many of the rallies had marching bands, banners and people dressed in costumes.

The nationwide demonstrations are the third mass protest gathering since Trump returned to office in January, the AP reported. The demonstrations label Trump as a king and display attendees’ fear of rising authoritarianism.

Security and Fire Safety Report shows rise in dating violence

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

The 2025 Security and Fire Safety Report for Ohio University was released Sep. 30. The annual report provides information on campus security measures, personal safety and fire safety across all OU campuses.

The report includes data from the past three years and covers the Athens campus as well as OU’s regional campuses.

“These crime statistics also include reported crimes that occurred in off-campus buildings owned or controlled by Ohio University and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, its campus,” Dan Pittman, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email.

Pittman said the data is gathered from multiple sources, including OUPD, local police and university offices that handle student conduct

The Security and Fire Safety report is published in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, commonly known as the Clery Act. The law requires all higher education institutions to report information on campus crime and personal safety

Under the Clery Act, universities must include specific information in their annual reports. That includes data on criminal offenses, hate crimes, hazing, Violence Against Women Act offenses and arrests or referrals for disciplinary action, according to the

The report includes information on where to shelter in place during emergencies, contact information for local and campus law enforcement agencies and instructions on how to receive emergency alerts. It also provides resources on how to respond to and protect oneself during an attack, information about drug and alcohol use among students, guidance on theft prevention and steps to report sexual misconduct.

In 2024, OU reported a total of 20 rapes on the Athens campus, an increase from 10 in 2023 and 18 in 2022. Of those cases, 19 occurred in on-campus residential facilities, according to the report.

OU’s 2025 report also showed 18 incidents of dating violence in 2024, up from 15 in 2023 and eight in 2022, while stalking increased to 13 cases

from 11 the year prior. Burglary reports doubled from five in 2023 to 10 in 2024.

The Security and Fire Safety report is not unique to OU. Under the Clery Act, all institutions of higher education are required to publish similar reports each year.

Other Ohio universities, including Kent State University, the University of Akron and Bowling Green State University, have also released their 2025 reports. Like OU, their reports include information about on and off-campus emergency response organizations.

OU and BGSU both note in their reports they host events such as Take Back the Night and training sessions for resident assistants and mandatory reporters.

Each university’s report includes statistics on rape, hate crimes and arson occurring on campus. OU, Kent State and Akron reported no hate crimes for 2022, 2023 or 2024. BGSU reported no hate crimes in 2024 but recorded one on-campus hate crime in both 2022 and 2023.

Kent State reported no cases of arson from 2022 through 2024. OU recorded one case in 2022, two in 2023 and one in 2024. BGSU and Akron each reported one case of arson in 2022 and none in 2023 and 2024.

Kent State also reported no rapes during that period. In 2024, Akron reported six and BGSU reported seven.

Each report also contains fire incident data from 2022 to 2024. Kent State’s report did not specify the number of campus fires but noted “fire alarm testing exercises are conducted annually.”

At BGSU, two small residence hall fires in 2023 were caused by burning sage. That same year, Akron reported three microwave-related fires in the Exchange Residence Hall.

Ohio University reported two unintentional residence hall fires in 2022, two in 2023 and one arsonrelated fire in 2024. The 2024 incident occurred in Jefferson Hall and caused less than $100 in property damage. No injuries were reported in any of the fires from 2022 to 2024.

The full 2025 report is available online through the university’s website.

Marching 110, student orgs rock Homecoming

Ohio University alumni were back in A-town for Homecoming over the weekend and the main attraction, Saturday morning’s parade, delivered yet again.

The parade kicked off on West Union Street and ended at the Konneker Alumni Center. The sunny weather was complemented by a plethora of student organizations and local businesses who participated via floats and cars, throwing out candy and merchandise to hundreds gathered across campus.

Rufus and former Ohio University mascot, Mr. Bobcat, who debuted in 1960, were also in attendance, pumping up the crowd. One of the main attractions was the Marching 110 and Alumni Band. Both groups brought high energy to the morning.

As recent and older alumni cheered, their cohesive routine only fueled the crowd’s excitement. New Bobcats said the Alumni Band’s performance was easily the best part of the parade.

“It was cool to see a group that big, that passionate about something they did in college,” Aren Dullaert, a freshman studying plant biology, said. “I did marching band in high school, so just seeing a band like that is really cool. They had energy and all the noise they brought was just great.”

Kyle Phillips, a freshman studying chemical engineering, echoed Dullaert’s sentiment and said witnessing the Alumni Band firsthand was an incredible experience.

“It’s really cool to see tradition stick for that long, and the energy, and how they never forget [their routines],” Phillips said.

Alumni Band members had to start their marching careers somewhere. From thrilling facial expressions to energetic dance moves, the Marching 110 is one of the biggest draws for people who travel back to Athens for Homecoming.

“It is like coming home,” Ann Cugliari, a 2007 alumna, said. “It’s your family, whether you graduated last year or 50 years ago, it’s literally a Bobcat family.”

Cugliari said she was a flag member back when the 110 used flags in performances.

In addition to the music, the parade showcased various cultures at OU. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Student Union performed a dragon dance as the International Student Union waved flags from multiple countries.

Many of the colleges, including the Patton College of Education, Russ College of Engineering and Technology and the Scripps College of Communication, had cars and floats. E.W. Scripps School of Journalism professors were seen throwing foam toys.

Political organizations were present in the parade as well. The OU College Republicans flew a flag honoring Charlie Kirk and the College Democrats decorated a vehicle with their own political slogan. The Students for Justice in Palestine also walked down Athens’ brick streets.

Amid the countless student organizations, the signature green Go Bus traveled over the bricks as a promoter for the company tossed merch. Representatives from OU’s regional campuses, including Chillicothe and Zanesville, rode on a tropical themed

float, reminding onlookers of the college’s multiple branches.

For alumni and current Bobcats, Homecoming is a time to ring in the saying, “once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat.” Cugliari said she often recalls her Homecoming experiences as a student and will never forget the memories she made.

“OU is really home and it is special,” Cugliari said. “Enjoy it while you are here.”

AY490124@OHIO.EDU

Appalachian Children Coalition guides, uplifts youth

As children and families from Appalachian Ohio travel down a winding road to reach accessible healthcare, a group of passionate and like-minded individuals sits in the passenger seat, guiding the way.

The Appalachian Children Coalition, consisting of nine paid employees and additional volunteers, is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the health and well-being of Appalachian children.

As of spring 2024, only 50 primary care providers exist for every 100,000 people in the Appalachian Ohio region, the ACC states. This number is considered “lower and worse” in comparison to Ohio’s average value of 75 providers. Additionally, a report updated in February states 21.4% of children in the region live below the poverty line.

The Appalachian region spans about 206,000 square miles, housing 423 counties and covering 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. The size can be daunting for organizations such as the ACC, with countless areas in Appalachian Ohio facing healthcare and poverty concerns.

In an effort to serve Appalachian counties and educate potential volunteers or donors, the ACC teamed up with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service to create a data dashboard.

“It is pretty much a one-stop shop of around 250 indicators just to provide as much evidence to the region as possible,” Daniel Kloepfer, senior project

manager and director of research for the ACC, said. “We wanted to make it as easy as possible for folks in Appalachian Ohio for grant acquisitions, defending programs or understanding where particular needs are in the region.”

Kloepfer, a Bobcat alumnus and Cincinnati native, said it was not until he moved back to Athens to work for Voinovich in 2014 that he saw the challenges people in Appalachia face.

“I started to understand the community and the culture a little better, outside of Cincinnati, outside of Athens itself,” he said. “I worked on a project that had to do with College Credit Plus, and we were trying to increase the number of college credit courses that were accessible to high schools in Appalachian Ohio. That really opened my eyes to the needs of the region.”

Randy Leite, ACC executive director, said the coalition works in 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio covering nearly 40% of the state’s land mass.

“If you look at the Appalachian region, there are a number of challenges that exist,” Leite said. “There are counties with no behavioral health services, no dental services, no primary care. I always talk about the four p’s with Appalachia that are issues … there’s poverty, providers, the place and the people themselves.”

Leite, former dean of Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions, was the ACC’s first employee, joining the team as director.

“I told the board I would only do it for a year and try to get (the ACC) on solid

footing,” Leite said. “But we’ve had so much fun with so many opportunities, the time has flown by.”

Leite said new projects pop up left and right. A recent $64 million grant from Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine’s Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative kick-started the construction of school-based health clinics across 20 Appalachian counties.

“These clinics … will provide primary care and behavioral health care, not just to the kids at the school, but really to everybody in those communities,” Leite said. “We’ve facilitated about $95 billion of investment in the region and that’s to do things like build school health clinics.”

Elizabeth Jones, ACC’s senior director of operations and advancement, said the coalition is working with 16 different healthcare partners for the project and construction must be complete by October 2026.

“That won’t, however, necessarily end the work that we’re doing to continue to expand access to healthcare services for youth in Appalachian Ohio,” she said.

Just a couple of the ACC’s additional programs include the AndHealth Youth Well-Being Summit Series and Healthy Meals for Healthy Minds.

“As a nonprofit, we pride ourselves on being very fiscally responsible and operating as a lean organization,” Jones said. “We only have nine full-time staff members, so we wear a lot of hats and have a lot of responsibilities.”

Healthy Meals for Healthy Minds, an initiative started by the ACC in partnership with the Joe Burrow Foundation, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and other local

partners, battles food insecurity and mental health stigmas in Appalachian Ohio.

The Appalachian Regional Commission states nearly 300,000 residents in Appalachian Ohio face food insecurity, with 125,334 households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Of these residents, 19.7% are children.

“We host one big community event as a food giveaway,” Jones said. “The first two are focused around Thanksgiving, and so we’re giving away turkey, potatoes and stuff to make pies and green bean casseroles.”

Jones said representatives from healthcare agencies will attend the giveaways to encourage Appalachian natives to choose nutritious foods and positive mental health practices. Additionally, Robin and Jim Burrow will host assemblies about the importance of fueling the mind and body for students. The initiative starts Nov. 15 at West Elementary School in Vinton County, continues Nov. 22 at South Elementary School in Stockport and concludes at Wellston Intermediate School in Wellston Dec. 13. Jones said giveaways will run from 10 a.m. to noon, while food lasts.

For nearly five years, the ACC has gathered individuals from diverse backgrounds to accomplish a common goal: transforming Appalachian Ohio. From health initiatives to multi-million dollar projects and educational series, children in the region are in caring hands.

Vibrancy Theater transports audience from Athens to Athens

MARIA SAUNDERS FOR THE POST

Vibrancy Theater is performing William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The show runs until Oct. 24, bringing the world of ancient world of Athens, Greece, to Athens, Ohio.

Unlike the original production, performed by an all male cast, Vibrancy’s “Midsumer Night’s Dream” featured multiple gender identities. The theater’s mission is “create a space for Black and indigenous students of color,” something that would have been absent from early productions of Midsummer.

The director, Sarah Curtis, a thirdyear graduate student studying directing, said making Midsummer a good fit for Vibrancy was a matter of adapting the actors to the show and not the show to the actors.

“It was fun to look at the people that I collaborated with and say, ‘How do we want to do this?’” Curtis said. “‘How does this language sit in you?’ versus imposing, ‘This is how I think Shakespearean acting should or has looked like for centuries.’”

Annaka Guerrero, a senior studying musical theater, plays one of the show’s love interests, Helena.

“I just think she’s such a fun character

and I think she can be sometimes misinterpreted,” Guerrero said. “I just love her so much, she is very funny and comedy is really fun to explore.”

Part of staging a classic show is the reimagination of what has been done so many times before. Guerrero said the reimagination helps reveal classics’ relevancy, several years later.

“Using our resources now to be able to modify them or change them up a little bit or reimagine them just keeps them very fun and fresh,” Guerrero said. “It shows how they’re still relevant to this day.”

Part of the reimagination for this show specifically involves working with the Shakespearean language. This, Curtis said, was an “interesting challenge.”

“Some of the jokes in the play, it’s like, ‘Is this funny now?’” Curtis said.

“‘I don’t really think it is, so how do we make it (funny) now?’”

Abigail Carey, a junior studying biological sciences, attended Saturday’s performance with her roommates.

Carey said she felt the language was not difficult to understand.

“I feel like just watching it, you’re able to kind of follow along, even if you don’t fully understand what they’re saying,” Carey said.

The show’s set, lighting, music and

NOT REJECTED FOR BEING GAY

A mother once was told by her daughter that the mother's son (that is, the daughter's brother) was gay.

In addition, the daughter told her that she and her brother had made an arrangement. If the mother took the news well, then the daughter would turn on an upstairs light in her brother's bedroom, and that would let her brother know when he drove by that he was not being rejected for being gay and that it was OK to come home.

The mother was so distressed that her son could think that she could reject him that she turned on every light in the house, including the lights in the closets and in the back workshop, and not just the light in her son’s bedroom.

actors play a role in the audience’s understanding, experience and enjoyment, according to a previous report from The Post. Guerrero said one of her favorite scenes is part of the play’s resolution, when her co-actor delivers a monologue directed toward her.

“I love that moment,” Guerrero said. “I love being able to be his acting partner in that moment, and hearing him say it.”

Guerrero said acting in the show so far has been a dream. After she first read the play in high school, Guerrero said she immediately wanted to be Helena.

“When we were bowing and everyone was applauding it was a very surreal moment,” Guerrero said. “We’ve been working on the show for a while, and I’ve wanted to play this role for so long that it felt kind of crazy to actually be there bowing and playing this role.”

Audience members may also walk out of the theater with a similar feeling. Another author during Shakespeare’s time, Samuel Pepys, saw a performance of the show and reported it as “the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life.”

While Pepys meant this as no compliment, Curtis said she took no offense.

“H--- yeah, it is, it’s ridiculous, it’s funny, it’s lovely,” Curtis said. “I think Shakespeare would have said, ‘H--yeah,’ too.”

“It is a very funny all over the place play,” Carey said. “But I kind of like it for that reason.”

Despite its lightheartedness, the show does have a message behind the mischief.

“I think the show is about what happens when we try and control desire,” Curtis said. “I think Shakespeare is telling us desire is always going to win out, so you might as well just do what you want. You might as well love who you want. You might as well pursue the career that you want, because controlling it is only going to lead to mistakes in the woods.”

“You don’t really choose who you love; it just happens to you,” Guerrero said. “You have to fight for what you love, or who you love … you can’t fight against who you love.”

The remaining performances take place Oct. 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. in the E.E. Baker Theater in Kantner Hall. General admission tickets are $10; tickets for seniors and non-OU students are $7.

Athens schemes as Halloween creeps closer

CAITLYN VANCE | FOR THE POST

This year’s festivities will include events for students, families and visitors. Although there are many ways to celebrate during the weekend, the largest event is the Athens Halloween Block Party on Saturday, held on Court Street.

The Athens Clean and Safe Halloween Committee lends volunteer work to help put on the block party. The annual gathering began in 1974 and has historically brought crowds as large as 30,000, the website states.

Afternoon celebrations begin with a family-friendly party from 1-4 p.m., featuring a musical petting zoo, crafts, games, candy and more. At 5:45 p.m., Court Street welcomes people, musicians and vendors for the block party, which ends early the following morning.

In addition to the block party, Athens’ students and residents typically celebrate at house parties and bars on Court Street. As the fun commences, these Halloween events are not without their infrastructure issues.

“The event area is going to be closed off ... parking and some road closures are probably the biggest infrastructure issues that we’ve come across,” Nick Magruder, chief of police at the Athens City Police Department, said.

For partygoers who are commuting by car, limited paid street parking will be available, as well as the E. Washington Street parking garage. To avoid the chaos of uptown, the Athens County Fairgrounds will also have spaces available for $20.

Magruder said the APD spends six to eight weeks prior to Athens' Halloween weekend preparing for the celebration.

“We start having conversations about what the plan is, what Athens is going to look like, trying to figure out what else is going on around the area,” Magruder said.

Plans include reviewing the football schedules of other Ohio teams and talking to local organizations, Magruder said.

Zahra University of Chicago

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

All Bobcats living in the residential halls on campus are affected by the weekend festivities, regardless of their participation. Ohio University Housing and Residence Life plans for all students in the halls to attend informational meetings before the weekend, where rules for guests and entering the dorms are discussed.

For security, all residents and guests must wear wristbands all weekend to gain entry to the resident buildings, which will all be locked aside from the respective main entrances.

Wristband monitoring and locked entrances begin Friday at 5 p.m. and end Sunday at noon. Guests must pay a $50 fee for staying in the halls and there is a disciplinary charge of up to $100 for students who violate the fee. Residents can have one guest per room, a rule that

has been changed this year. Previously, students were allowed one guest per student.

“I think it’s smart to limit the number of guests that come on campus,” Jenna Klein, a sophomore studying hearing, speech and language sciences, said. “But I do get the frustration when people want more than one guest.”

Klein said she is having a registered guest stay in her dorm this weekend.

This form of crowd control has grown more important as the OU student population grows. The university stated the current Athens campus population is the largest it has ever been. For the 2025-26 school year, OU admitted a record-breaking number of 4,550 firstyear students.

This number has resulted in various

precautions and safety regulations for students, such as limiting guests, which is sure to help with the already large influx of students and town residents celebrating. This weekend, it is most important to have a plan and prioritize safety.

“Take some precautions to be safe ... having a charged cellphone, knowing where your friends are ... hydrating,” Nicole George-O'Brien, a 1998 alumna, said.

Halloween weekend holds fun for everyone and for several students and locals, Athens is one of the best places in the state to celebrate the holiday.

@_CAITLYNVANCE CV592923@OHIO.EDU

47TH ANNUAL ENDOWED COSTA LECTURE

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

Thursday, October 23, 2025 7:30pm

Ground game powers Ohio to Homecoming victory

OWEN LIPSTREU

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio looked refreshed after the bye week and dismantled Northern Illinois 48-21 on Homecoming weekend.

Ohio (4-3 overall, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) walked into Peden Stadium for the final Saturday home game for its seniors against Northern Illinois (1-6 overall, 0-3 MAC). After a poor second half two weeks ago at Ball State, the Bobcats came to play early in this one, jumping on the board first.

The Bobcats took an early 7-0 lead after forcing a punt that was returned to the Huskies’ 14-yard line by junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks. With emphasis on a fast start, the offense got right to work and scored in just two plays on a two-yard run by redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura.

“Honestly, that is the focal point for every game, start fast, finish fast,” Bangura said.” “When we played West Virginia, it was 17-10 and we felt we could’ve done more. Just starting faster was the emphasis all week, even right after the Ball State game, because we just know we can do more. We know the type of team we are. Everybody all around can make plays. So it’s just like we have to start fast and finish fast every week.”

After forcing another Northern Illinois punt, Ohio returned to the field and took the ball downfield on an 11-play, 91-yard drive that ended on a 9-yard touchdown run by graduate student quarterback

Parker Navarro as the lead grew to 14-0. The Ohio defense came to play as well, once again forcing a punt on a Northern Illinois drive that was capped off by a sack by redshirt sophomore Jay Crable.

Three drives, three scores was the recipe for the Bobcats to start this game.

What Pancakes Say About Poverty—and Politics

At Ohio University, I often enjoyed reading my students’ assignments, some of which were autobiographical essays. Sometimes I could read between the lines and realize some things that the student may not have realized. Some of my students wrote about special nights when everyone would eat pancakes for supper. Kids like pancakes with syrup or sprinkled with sugar or spread with peanut butter, so these were special nights. If this happens once, then Mom and Dad are probably tired and don’t feel like cooking, but sometimes they happened a few nights in a row. When and where I was growing up, it wasn’t unusual for a mother to send a kid over to borrow a cup of flour or a cup of sugar or a couple of eggs. The family was having a special-pancake supper because it was the end of the month, and money and food were running low.

NOTE: Both Ohio Senators (Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno) and Ohio District 12 Representative (Troy Balderson) voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will increase food insecurity. Some of the worst provisions of the OBBBA go into effect AFTER the 2026 election.

Read it and Weep

https://www.cspi.org/cspi-news/big-beautiful-billthreats-snap-school-meals-and-more

They were once again led by the ground game, but this time it was sophomore running back Duncan Brune who got them down the field before Bangura cashed in for his second score of the first half.

“It’s very important to take some of the pressure off of Parker, which is great, and I think they complement each other really well,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said about Bangura and Brune. “Both of them are physical, run hard, and I think Duncan has just a little bit of a different element of the physicality behind his pads. When both those guys are playing well, it can wear down a defense.”

Now leading 21-0, the Bobcats were caught a little flat-footed on the ensuing kickoff, and if not for a touchdown-saving tackle by redshirt senior Eamon Dennis, the Huskies would have gotten on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for Ohio’s defense, which was so stout throughout the first quarter, Northern Illinois took advantage and scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass. It then went for two, which it converted to cut the lead to 21-8.

The biggest story to close out the first half for Ohio was the lack of points. It would put together drives but could not sustain them due to an abundance of penalties. Ohio had three penalties in the span of five plays of its final drive to close the half that eventually ended on the only Ohio turnover of the day as Navarro tried to make a play in the final minute but was intercepted.

The Bobcats came out of the locker room hot and fast again. In only three plays, they got back on track and extended the lead. They scored on a 66-yard touchdown run by Brune, which took him over 100 yards for the game. The extra point that followed was no good, but the Ohio lead still grew to 27-8.

The following drive was another threeand-out for the Huskies. Ohio saw excellent play all day from individuals on defense, and the secondary stepped up big in one-on-one matchups, a big difference from the Ball State game the last time out.

“We watch film, we learn, practice every day with the intent to get better, especially coming off that loss,” Adonis Williams said of the defensive effort. “It kind of hit us hard, so we really got to reevaluate ourselves everywhere and attack each day, and I feel like we attacked this day.”

Ohio’s offense was hot, and Bangura kept it rolling with a 49-yard run to open the next drive. Then, the running back tandem and Navarro got right back to work, logging 97 of their 333 total rushing yards together on this drive. They capped another successful drive off with Brune’s second rushing score of the day from 5 yards out to go up 34-8.

Northern Illinois struggled to score in the first half, and the third quarter had so far been more of the same, but a 50-yard strike to junior wide receiver DeAree Rogers over the top of the Ohio defense. Northern Illinois once again went for two but was unsuccessful, trailing 34-14.

Homecoming is something special for players all over the country, but Bangura has found his groove during this game every year. For the second time in his career, he scored for the third time on the ground in the Homecoming game. Ohio now leads 41-14, and Bangura scored his 10th touchdown during a Homecoming game.

“I think we need to get his mom at all the games,” Smith said of Bangura’s success during the Homecoming games. “Typically, his mom usually comes to these games, and obviously he loves her a lot. She’s a great woman, and he typically plays better when she’s around.”

The lead was so large Ohio began to take its foot off the gas, and Northern Illinois cashed in with another touchdown to make the score a bit closer at 41-21. After a turnover on downs by Ohio, Northern Illinois threatened again, but Ohio’s defense stood tall, stripping the ball carrier and allowing junior safety Jalen Thomeson to scoop it up and take it to the house, a perfect exclamation point on the dominant Homecoming victory to end the game with a score of 48-21.

Sieh Bangura continues Homecoming dominance

CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS EDITOR

There are certain players in sports that seem to take their game to new heights on specific occasions. There is “game six” Klay Thompson in the NBA and even “playoff” Patrick Mahomes in the NFL, two athletes who have earned monikers for stepping up their game in the biggest moments.

After Ohio’s 48-21 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, it might be time to add “Homecoming” Sieh Bangura to that list of iconic nicknames. The senior running back had his best game of the season, going for 147 yards and three touchdowns on his senior day.

Those three touchdowns brought his career Homecoming total as a Bobcat up to 10 touchdowns, a staggering number for the Bowie, Maryland, native.

“This is when just the most family comes, so I feel like that plays a part in my energy when I go out on the field,” Bangura said about his performance on Homecoming. “This is the first time (my) family has come out all season. So just them coming out and then just me going in my head, ‘like I got family in the stands, man, I gotta do something big,” He was impactful from the jump, cashing in for his first touchdown of the day on his first carry of the game, a two yard score set up by a huge punt return from junior receiver Chase Hendricks.

Saturday’s game was not the first time Bangura had gone for three touchdowns on Ohio’s Homecoming. He went for a whopping four touchdowns as a redshirt freshman against Akron in 2022.

Bangura rushed for three scores and added another through the air, a true statement game for a player that went on to win MAC Freshman of the Year in 2022.

Not only was Saturday Homecoming, it was also senior day for Bangura and the 19 other seniors that walked before the game. Bangura had his family join him on the field for senior day, further adding to the familial boost to his game.

“I think we need to get his mom at all games,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “Homecoming, typically, his mom usually comes to those games, and obviously he loves her a lot. She’s a great woman, and he typically plays better

when she’s around. So I may have to work on how I can get here to all of our games.”

Bangura was able to put in work all game, but it was in the second half where he really was able to dominate the Huskies’ defense, going for 68 rushing yards on his first drive in the third quarter alone.

While Bangura had a banner day, coming a yard away from tying his career high, the entirety of the Ohio running game had a field day against Northern Illinois. When the final whistle blew, the Bobcats racked up 333 total rushing yards, a dominant performance for a rushing attack that has struggled at times this season.

Bangura had 147 of those yards while sophomore running back Duncan Brune had 126 while chipping in two touchdowns as well. Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro was his usual self on the ground as well, evading tacklers all day while earning 43 yards and a score on the ground as well. Finally, senior running back Doe Boyland added the last 19 yards to close out the game on offense for Ohio.

“ I think when both those guys are playing well, it can wear down a defense,” Smith said. “That’s when you see some of those runs start popping in the second half.”

That was a huge game for an offense that seemed to lose its way in a bad 20-14 loss two weeks ago against Ball State, where the Bobcats’ attack was shut out in the second half. The energy seemed to be down in that loss against Ball State, and Bangura was held to just 67 total rushing yards on the day.

That obviously wasn’t the case against Northern Illinois, as the confidence and energy looked to be restored in the defending MAC champs.

“When we’re running the ball well, I don’t think anyone can stop us in this league,” Navarro said. “I think that just puts this confidence behind us every drive, that we’re gonna go score no matter what, and we’re gonna get out of tough situations because we’ll run the ball well.”

Bangura and the rest of the Bobcats are traveling to face Eastern Michigan next Saturday, another big game for standings in a wide open conference.

Ohio falls to Longwood as offense fails to convert

Ohio (5-10, Mid-American Conference 3-4) lost to Longwood (4-10, MAC 2-5) 2-1 on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Pruitt Field. The Bobcats dominated possession and shooting chances with 24 shots, but could not take advantage. The star of the game, Longwood goalkeeper Sophie Mooldijk, made 13 saves and carried her team to the win. Mooldijk tallied her fourth straight game with double-digit saves.

“Their keeper is incredible, and we knew that,” head coach Ali Johnstone said. “We talked about the details of making sure you hit the corners and pass around her. It just didn’t happen.”

The first quarter started with a sign of what was to come. The Bobcats gained possession and received two quick shots from junior Emily Beitzel and senior Sasha Dikotla. Throughout the period, the Bobcats maintained possession and pressured the Lancers’ net. Mooldijk made her second save on junior Zoe Collins. It was her first shot of the year.

As the buzzer sounded, Longwood earned a penalty corner. As a result, the team had an untimed opportunity to score. Ohio goalie Ash Stephenson blocked graduate student Zoe Tierney’s attempt. The ball rebounded into the waiting arms of Caitlin Carraway, who scored her first goal of the year. After a strong first quarter, Ohio walked away with a disappointing one-goal deficit.

Again, the Bobcats controlled possession at the beginning of the second quarter. They generated three scoring chances, but the Lancers set up a strong yet undisciplined defense. They gave up three penalties, two corners and a penalty kick. Senior Emily Risser took the free shot and aimed it right at Mooldijk, but it was denied.

Longwood cleared the ball downfield. Ohio quickly

turned it around, creating a two-on-one breakaway. Mooldijk rushed out of the net to make a stop, and freshman Tiana Nhamoinesu took advantage and buried a goal, marking Nhamoinesu’s fourth goal in three games.

“She’s a beast,” Johnstone said. “Her communication is incredible and she’s like a little spark out there.”

Two corner opportunities and nearly a full period of possession later, halftime arrived with the game tied at one goal apiece.

Since the Lancers struck first in the opening half, the Bobcats raced into the second half with an aggressive offensive push. Risser earned a corner just 15 seconds into the third quarter. The Bobcats took five shots in the first five minutes of the quarter but came up empty.

Although the Bobcats kept possession in the offensive zone, their momentum faltered. The Lancers’ defense held the Bobcats outside the shooting circle. A flurry of green cards revealed rising tensions. Then, Beitzel received a yellow card, which left the Bobcats down a player heading into the final quarter.

Unlike the previous periods, Longwood immediately attacked. A neat passing play set up a goal by Madison Wiley. Molly Rothenberger provided the assist. The early goal startled Ohio into action. After four minutes, Ohio returned to full strength and began sustained offensive pressure. Risser set up a corner for sophomore Deborah James, who had a total of five shots in the game. Mooldijk stepped up again, making two critical saves. She also saved each shot on the next two penalty corners.

Coach Johnstone pulled Ohio’s goalie with three minutes remaining. Still, the Bobcats could not score. This game followed the season’s pattern: the Bobcats control possession, earn corners and fail to capitalize.

Even though the Lancers sit at the bottom of the MAC standings, the Bobcats let the win slip through their fingers. Standout goalie Mooldijk allowed the Lancers to play spoiler as the Bobcats look towards the MAC tournament.

“We need defensive discipline like we had against UMass and then execution like we had against Kent State,” Johnstone said. “If those two could be combined, then we’ll be good.”

Ohio sits on the bubble of qualifying for the tournament. A win against its upcoming opponent, James Madison, is necessary to secure its place. Before this match, Ohio and James Madison were tied in the MAC standings.

The Bobcats play again Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. against Miami. The rivalry matchup is Ohio’s final home game. Miami leads the MAC and is on a four-game win streak. The Bobcats will need to bring their all to come out on top.

Bobcats secure 3–0 win over Huskies

Despite gray skies, steady rain and strong winds sweeping across Chessa Field, Ohio (4-8-5 overall, 2-4-4 Mid-American Conference) battled through the elements Sunday afternoon to defeat Northern Illinois (4-8-3, 2-5-2 MAC) in a dominant 3–0 victory.

From the opening whistle, the Bobcats controlled possession, pressing deep into NIU territory and testing the Huskies’ defense early. That early start with possession led to a breakthrough, as in the ninth minute, sophomore forward Jaimason Brooker struck gold with her first goal of the season.

Brooker’s goal marked the beginning of a strong

offensive display. However, just six minutes later, she was briefly sidelined after rolling to the ground following a hard challenge. Alongside the team trainer, Brooker walked off under her own power with a slight limp. The injury scare proved minor as she later returned in the second half to finish what she started.

Ohio’s momentum continued in the 24th minute when Quintin Tostevin netted her third goal of the season off a sharp assist from Hailey Jeng. The Bobcats nearly added to their lead moments later with a goal that was ruled offside, and a dangerous shot by Kate Robinson in the 27th minute forced Huskies goalkeeper Lauren Pearson to make one of several critical saves.

Despite allowing two early goals, Pearson remained

resilient in the net, recording eight saves across the match and keeping Northern Illinois within reach through much of the first half. Ohio outshot NIU 8–2 before halftime and would go on to tally 20 total shots to NIU’s five.

The second half opened with Brooker back on the pitch, alongside continued offensive pressure from Iro Fakinou, who unleashed multiple shots on goal, including one that struck the left post in the 61st minute. On the defensive side for Ohio, goalkeeper Celeste Sloma shouted orders to keep the ball as Ohio dominated possession.

The Huskies fought back with grit, their white jerseys streaked with mud from sliding tackles and tight defensive stands. Defender Sarah Helphinstine anchored Ohio’s backline, clearing several dangerous balls as NIU sought to capitalize on set pieces. Despite NIU’s two corner kicks in the second half, Sloma faced only one shot on goal all afternoon.

With 11 minutes remaining, Brooker returned to the stat sheet, this time as the playmaker. Her corner kick curled perfectly into the box, where Tostevin connected with her right foot to bury Ohio’s third goal of the day in the bottom left corner, her second of the match and fourth of the season.

A theme for Ohio’s season has been its ability to create shots and chances, often outshooting opponents with some solid attacking, but being unable to convert those chances into goals. On Sunday against the Huskies, the Bobcats were able to convert and they did so in a big way.

As the clock wound down, the Bobcats’ bench and starters alike urged one another forward, voices carrying over the wind. When the final whistle blew, Ohio walked away soaked but smiling, earning a much-needed home win as the regular season nears its close.

Students share last-minute Halloween costume ideas

Between midterm season and homecoming excitement, students might be caught off guard by how quickly Halloween is approaching. For students who find themselves without any costume ideas and are left rushing to find a last-minute Halloween costume, here are some options.

For a quick and classic Halloween look, the black cat remains a staple: all-black clothing, a pair of cat ears, and a few whiskers complete the costume. A black top, black skirt and cat ears from Amazon have a combined total of about $25 for a quick and inexpensive costume.

The same base black outfit can be matched with a $13 pair of wings from Amazon and DIY antennas. To make the antennas, get a plain black headband, two black pipe cleaners and two black pom poms. Hot glue the pipe cleaners onto the headband and the pom poms onto the pipe cleaners to make your very own bumble bee, ladybug, beetle or butterfly costume.

Another costume students might find they already have pieces for in their closets is Britney Spears from her “... Baby One More Time” music video. The necessary clothing items include a white button-up blouse, a black or gray pleated skirt, black knee socks and a heather grey sweater. Match it with Spears’ famous two braided pigtails decorated with pink bows at the ends and pink fluffy scrunchies at the base of each braid, and you have an iconic costume.

Some students shared ideas for quick, easy and somewhat affordable Halloween costumes students can quickly throw together.

Emma Steiner, a sophomore studying environmental science and geography in the Honors Tutorial College, suggested dressing up as the titular character from the 2007 film “Juno.” She said all students would need is a striped T-shirt and jean shorts. This tee from Amazon costs $15 and is similar to the shirt Juno wears in the film.

Steiner also mentioned dressing as Rodrick, from the book and movie series

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” An easy way to achieve this look is to get a black Sharpie and write Rodrick rules on a white tee, and add a messy eyeliner look. A plain white T-shirt that would work well for this costume only costs $7.80 on Amazon.

Audrey Adkins, a sophomore studying business and strategic leadership, introduced the idea of going as a Tricky, a character from the mobile video game “Subway Surfers.” Students need a red toboggan, a white tank top and a pair of jeans. This costume can easily be assembled with some closet basics, with the addition of a red toboggan for $7.95.

Ricky Talbot, a freshman studying chemical engineering, describes his lastminute Halloween costume of choice as the “South Park” character Eric Cartman.

“It’s really easy because you just need a blue hat, which I’m sure I could find, and then I already have a red hoodie in my dorm,” Talbot said.

Really, any of the core four “South Park” boys are easy and recognizable costumes since “South Park” has kept producing content and maintaining relevance for 28 years.

According to Maddie Purcell, a sophomore studying political science and biology, the best way to spice up a lastminute Halloween costume is to add fake blood, a go-to for Purcell and her friends.

“We bought a lot of blood, and we periodically cycled through what ‘dead’ thing we were that night,” Purcell said. “It works, and it looks really cool. We were just like dead Playboy bunnies for a while.”

Purcell came up with this idea when she had to do a lot of last-minute costumes for Halloween weekend in 2024. One of the bonuses of this idea is that students can take any of their old costumes they have lying around and reuse them.

These are just a few ideas of a long list of Halloween costumes. Hopefully, these costumes can be an answer to students’ Halloween costume stresses or help with brainstorming new costume ideas.

Dan, Phil announce relationship, fans celebrate

YouTube fans everywhere rejoice as Dan Howell and Phil Lester, two longtime creators on the platform, announce they have been in a relationship for the entirety of their 16-year-long career.

Monday, Oct. 13, Howell and Lester posted a 45–minute video titled “Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship?

The Truth,” on YouTube. The video covers the origins of “Phan,” a ship name created by fans to pair the two together romantically, why they decided to wait so long and, finally, the reveal of their relationship.

As of now, the YouTube video has over three million views, with fans online ecstatic at the reveal.

“Genuinely so happy for Dan and Phil … they’ve come SO FAR over the years,” X user @yeahitselliot wrote.

Howell and Lester, as a duo, first emerged on YouTube in 2009, when they met each other in real life for the first time. Following that, they spent the next 16 years together recording content, living together and growing their channels.

Addi Hoar, a sophomore studying family consumer science and long-time fan, said the reveal was shocking but fantastic news.

“I am so happy that they were comfortable (enough) to announce that,” Hoar said. “This is such a big step.”

Since Howell and Lester’s most prominent era of popularity was from 2009-19, many people began watching them as children and have grown up alongside them.

“I just texted literally everyone I knew in 8th grade,” influencer Ali Marie wrote in the comments of Lester’s TikTok about the relationship reveal. “I’m literally 25 now.”

Ultimately, the decision to wait to reveal their relationship was a cautious choice. As their fans, known as the “phandom,” had many cases of being dangerously invasive, including leaking private videos Howell and Lester posted, using them as “evidence” they were in a relationship.

Some fans harassed Howell and Lester’s real life friends, revealing the address of their apartment and overanalyzing mistakes not edited out of videos. This high surveillance caused a strain on the pair’s mental health, as well as their relationship.

“And I think this negatively impacted (our relationship) because when your relationship is a huge part of all of this stress, it’s hard not to let that affect what’s going on,” Lester said.

Being a fan of a content creator is a delicate balance of enjoying their content while also not crossing any boundaries. To maintain safe and healthy relationships with people who post online, fans should remember content creators are entitled to privacy, and they have the right to choose what personal information to make public.

“I go with the rule that we don’t even know more than they tell us,” Hoar said.

Taylor Swift bashes Charli XCX in new song

AUSTIN YAU | FOR THE POST

Last year saw one of the biggest beefs in recent music history. Rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake went against each other in a slew of videos, accusations and attempted lawsuits.

But 2025 might have a version of this for a different group of music listeners.

In 2024, the music industry saw the rise of British hyperpop artist Charli XCX into global stardom with her album “BRAT.” In the same year, Taylor Swift, the second biggest pop star in the world, released her album “The Tortured Poets Department.” This album saw many variations, but the one that raised the most eyebrows was her UK exclusive release right around the time when “BRAT” was climbing the charts there.

Many felt this was an intentional move by Swift to prevent Charli XCX’s album from reaching number one. This could have been because Swift felt unfairly attacked by Charli XCX’s song “Sympathy is a Knife,” which included lyrics hinting at Swift.

“Don't wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend's show,” Charli XCX sang. “Fingers crossed behind my back / I hope they break up quick.”

People quickly connected that Charli XCX was talking about Swift. In 2023, Swift was allegedly romantically involved with Matty Healy of the band The 1975. Charli XCX was dating and is now married to George Daniel, who is the drummer of The 1975.

Although this song is more about Charli XCX feeling she will never be the level of star that Swift is, it seems Swift perceived it as a dig.

On her most recent album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift seemed to respond to the comments by Charli XCX.

Swift starts her song “Actually Romantic” with the line “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke's got you brave / High-fived my ex, and then you said you're glad he ghosted me.”

The song title also appears to be in reference to Charli XCX’s song “Everything is romantic.” Swift said Charli having all this hate in her heart is “actually pretty romantic if you really think about it.”

Some thought Swift and Charli XCX would reconcile on a remix of “Sympathy is a Knife.” This would be similar to what Charli XCX did with Lorde on her remix of “Girl, so confusing.” However, the reconciliation between the artists did not happen.

Many users online have compared this to last year’s Kendrick and Drake dispute. One user on X posted, “Taylor Swift vs Charli XCX is Kendrick vs Drake for white women.”

Although many are saying this in a joking manner, there are some interesting parallels between the two situations, even though they are in two different musical genres.

The first thing is the albums Charli XCX and Lamar released before they were launched into the beef. They both were coming down from very emotionally vulnerable albums and shared some of the struggles the artists went through during the time between releases.

Both Swift and Drake are some of the biggest artists of the 21st century, occupying the top two spots of Billboard’s top 100 artists of the 21st century list.

Unfortunately, one of the interesting parallels here is Swift and Drake’s misreading of an important song by their rivals. In Swift’s case, it is “Sympathy is a knife,” and in Drake’s it is “Mother I Sober.”

Drake’s referred to “Mother I Sober” in his song “THE HEART PART 6” where he mocks Lamar’s mention so

Gay marriage was legalized in 2015, six years after Howell and Lester officially entered a relationship. Being openly out about sexuality was not widely accepted.

Howell admitted a lot of his reluctance to go public has to do with his homophobic upbringing.

“In my mid twenties, I felt we had to hide the relationship because I was still hiding who I was to my friends, my family and myself,” Howell said. “And this is why all of the digging from people online hit a nerve, because Phil was my safe space … so when other people tried to grab it and drag it into the light, I felt completely violated.”

That being said, the fact that the pair now feels comfortable enough to go public is big news for the LGBTQIA+ community, with Howell and Lester being an example of a healthy, long-term gay relationship that has grown through adversity.

The phandom was mainly popular on Tumblr and consisted largely of LGBTQIA+ teenagers. For many, watching Howell and Lester created a safe space and a community when it was hard to find one.

In both Howell and Lester’s coming-out videos, as well as their relationship reveal, they mentioned themes of growing up with feelings of shame and sadness. Being open about the realities of being gay creates a community and an open, honest conversation that’s needed.

Following the relationship reveal video, the couple plans to continue uploading to their main channels with a new, rebranded logo and office, as well as begin recording a podcast titled “Hard Launch.”

“Everybody’s just really, really excited to see what comes next,” Hoar said. “And we’re just really happy to see that they’re so comfortable after everything they’ve been through.”

JF127523@OHIO.EDU

generational trauma and sexual abuse, “My mom came over today and I was like, 'Mother, I—, mother, I—, mother— Ahh, wait a second, that's that one record where you say you got molested.”

Although Charli XCX has not released any sort of response to Swift, this is an interesting part of modern music history. Charli XCX has become a media darling, and Swift has lost some favor with the underwhelming nature of her latest album.

Beef between artists gives listeners more music, more storylines and can help listeners understand the artists on a deeper level. No one can say what is to come with the current feud between Charli XCX and Swift, but the coming weeks are sure to be interesting for the music industry.

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Undeniably Abby When media glamorizes theft, culture pays the price

ABBY WAECHTER DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS STRATEGY

When news broke that thieves disguised as construction workers stole jewels from the Louvre on Sunday morning, my first reaction was sadness.

The theft, taking less than seven minutes, resulted in the loss of multiple “inestimable” items including necklaces, earrings and diadems, according to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office. Four people broke into the museum before it opened, shattered two display cases and took jewelry once belonging to Napoleon and his family. Crowns, earrings and necklaces were gone before most of Paris had even woken up.

It reads like a movie plot – the speed, the planning, the disguises – but behind the headlines is a quieter truth: France has lost a piece of its history. These jewels were not just valuable because of their materials; they carried centuries of stories. The hands that made them, the historical figures who wore them and the moments they witnessed, all of that history is now fractured.

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If anything, the scene feels ripped from “Ocean’s 8” or “The Pink Panther,” the kind of sequence where masked figures rappel from a skylight, lasers crisscross in the dark, and the audience holds its breath as a diamond is lifted from its pedestal. In those movies, the thieves escape to jazz music and applause.

But in reality, the silence left behind isn’t thrilling, it’s hollow. The empty display case doesn’t cue the credits; it marks the disappearance of centuries of art, craftsmanship and culture.

These objects were witnesses as each piece had belonged to people who shaped France, survived political upheaval and carried stories of triumph, grief and celebration. They had been in the hands of emperors and empresses and seen moments we can only imagine. That is what makes this theft more than a news story; it is a disappearance of human connection to the past.

It is tempting for the media to romanticize heists. Stories focus on cleverness, speed and audacity, highlighting criminals as audacious figures who outsmart institutions. But theft of cultural objects is not clever; it is erasure. The value of these jewels came not only from the emerald or gemstones but from the history they embodied and the lives they touched.

Journalists have a responsibility to report these events with perspective, emphasizing the cultural loss rather than the excitement of the crime. How we tell these stories shapes public perception, and glamorizing the

thieves risks turning history itself into entertainment. The Louvre heist is far from unique. In 1990, thieves posing as Boston police officers stole “The Concert,” a Vermeer masterpiece, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, along with twelve other artworks. For 81 minutes, they cut paintings from frames, bound guards with duct tape and vanished with treasures estimated at half a billion dollars. “The Concert” has never been recovered.

Visitors today see its empty frame, a reminder that this piece of art history is lost to thieves, not time.

Both the Louvre jewels and Vermeer’s stolen painting share a lesson: these objects carry more than beauty or wealth. They are connections to the lives of those who created and owned them, to the events they witnessed and to the stories they preserve. When stolen, damaged or destroyed, part of that connection disappears, and empty display cases serve as a visible reminder of what cannot be replaced.

Europe remains a hotspot for cultural theft. According to Statista’s Florian Zandt, nearly 23,000 cultural objects were reported stolen across 74 countries in 2021, with 78 percent coming from European nations. Coins, manuscripts, sculptures and paintings vanish each year, and each loss erases a piece of collective human memory.

The Louvre heist is part of that larger pattern. Crowns and emerald earrings once worn by queens and empresses have been removed from history. Authorities will try to recover them, but the theft has already altered their story.

For the media, this is a reminder that reporting should honor what has been lost, not celebrate those who took it. These objects survived centuries of war, revolution and political change. Being taken today is not thrilling or romantic; it is a cultural loss, and how we tell that story matters.

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

Heidi’s Hot Takes Oh Well

Pentagon journalists prefer integrity over access

HEIDI BARTOLONE FOR THE POST

On Oct. 15, 2025, about 40 to 50 reporters at the Pentagon packed up their desks and turned in their press passes. This wasn’t because of politics or pay. It was over journalistic principles and morals.

The Department of Defense has rolled out a new policy under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requiring reporters to sign an agreement limiting how journalists can gather and share information. Anyone refusing to sign would lose access to the building. Most major outlets such as NBC News, CNN News, Fox News Media and ABC News, as well as other news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Associated Press, NPR, Reuters and others refused to sign, the decision was nearly unanimous. By the end of the day, the Pentagon press room was nearly empty.

To someone outside of Washington, D.C., this may seem like another power struggle. This moment reaches further than the marble halls of The Pentagon. It affects every person who relies on credible information to make sense of the world. The people who walked out are the very individuals who track how tax dollars are spent, where troops are deployed and how government decisions impact the lives of everyday citizens. When their access gets restricted, so does access to truthful information. This new policy does not allow journalists to publish information the DOD has not authorized for release, including unclassified information. Therefore asking journalists to suppress or withhold important details from their journalistic work, puncturing morals and credibility. A written definition of the proposed policy is a shocking read. The policy states reporters could lose access if they sought unauthorized information, even when it wasn’t classified. This policy asks journalists to stop digging unless they have official permission from the Pentagon to publish. That is not protection; it’s

control masked as caution.

The policy was framed as a matter of national security. The government even called these new rules “common sense.”

For journalists and journalism students, this should hit close to home. The reporters who stood their ground are doing what every college student is learning to do: question power, chase uncomfortable stories and refuse to be silenced. The Pentagon’s policy turns that mission upside down. It turns journalists from reporters to puppets. For students preparing to enter the field, this sets a dangerous precedent.

Even for those who never plan to write a story, this walkout matters. The subjects the Pentagon reporters cover, such as government action, foreign policy and veteran care, shape the world we live in. They report on school funding, healthcare and public programs. If those stories are suddenly filtered through government approval, we all lose the ability to see the full picture. You can’t hold power accountable if you don’t understand it.

The reporters who turned in their badges didn’t choose an easy path. They gave up access, connections and the convenience of working inside the DOD. They chose the hard truth of losing access rather than integrity.

This isn’t a distant media problem; it’s a local one. Press freedom isn’t a national luxury; it’s a public right. It links the Pentagon Press to every campus newsroom and community paper in America. When the core weakens, we all feel it. Local newsrooms all over the country, which often depend on national press reporting from Washington, D.C., might find it much harder to provide independent coverage of government activity.

The Pentagon walkout may have happened hundreds of miles from Athens, but its echo reaches here. Journalism’s job is to question power, not ask permission and the day that stops, we will all be worse off for it.

You’ll match with someone on Halloween

CASSIDY MCCLURG FOR THE POST

Halloween is this weekend and the people of Athens are putting together their costumes. Popularizing creative Halloween costumes on social media platforms leads to people matching in costumes. This might be the case in Athens this year and the accidental matching can be fun.

Brandy Outly, a senior studying Hearing Speech and Language Sciences, says over the years in Athens, it has been a common theme that people wear the same costumes.

“My freshman year, everyone was Barbie,” Outly said.

This occurred because of the 2023 “Barbie” movie, making the doll more significant in mainstream culture, which led to the popular Halloween costumes. So, if a character or idea is popular on social media spaces and costumes are readily available, people are wearing them.

All the popular characters this year are going to be worn in Athens. I expect duplicate costumes if everyone chooses from this year’s popular movies and shows. Some popular characters include Glinda and Elphaba from “Wicked” and characters from “KPop Demon Hunters” as the movie’s songs top the charts. Even popstars like Sabrina Carpenter could be worn this Halloween.

As many search for creative costumes, social media has made it increasingly difficult to be the one wearing a nonreplicated look. Lots of accounts online share Halloween ideas, with a popular trend being people asking for ideas based on their hair colors, interests or what matches them and their partner.

“I think a lot of girls, at least, are gonna be wearing some popular costume options from TikTok,” Lexi Glinksy, a freshman studying business administration, said. “I know my outfits that I’m wearing are pretty popular from TikTok, so I expect to see a lot of girls wearing similar outfits to me, lots of similar groups.”

Glinksy mentioned she is dressing up as a biker, genie and a party animal for OU’s Halloween weekend.

“I’m sure girls will have very similar outfits to me,” Glinsky said. “There’ll probably be someone wearing the exact same outfit as me, I’m sure.”

Being in the same costume, though not unique, is very fun and a bonding experience. I believe many people are going to be enjoying wearing the same costumes and sparking conversations with new people.

Alina Rivera, a freshman studying hearing, speech and language sciences, mentioned a costume she shares with Glinksy. Rivera said at some point this weekend, she is dressing up as a party animal.

“I feel like party animals (are) easy,” Rivera said. “Like, I feel like anyone who needs an extra costume does it.”

Party animal is a Halloween idea in which someone wears animal print and something indicating a party, like a party hat or clown accessories. It’s an easy, affordable and cute costume.

As I considered some of these costumes myself, I was a little worried about whether or not I’d be matching with someone. Turns out, others are not worried about the same thing. Standing out and being unique is not important this Halloween; what is important is having fun and dressing up to celebrate. For Halloween, I hope to see creative, funny or flattering costumes. If you are in a duo or group costume, you might see others doing the same idea and then there is an opportunity to recreate the Spider-Man pointing photo. Oh well, if we are all wearing the same thing, we’re matching.

Cassidy McClurg is a freshman student studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassidy about their column? Email cm303824@ohio.edu or tweet them at @fuzzysnowycloud.

Enlightening with Laynee | Trump ceasefire motivated by glory, not peace

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 20 point peace plan introduced by the U.S., according to the Council on Foreign Affairs. Hamas has given up all living hostages, while Israeli troops have vacated half of the Gaza Strip.

The White House’s X account has posted President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict. Now that the plan is underway, many have commended Trump’s efforts for peace.

I believe Trump’s recent actions to settle the discord, hypocritical from the ones taken at the beginning his second presidential term, are motivated by glory rather than the two countries’ welfare.

Trump had made comments about wanting amends with Iran, a country that was bombed by the U.S. and Israel’s joint efforts four months prior, according to Newsweek.

If there was always motivation for peace,

the U.S. should not have begun a war with Iran.

Trump is “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, to the Israeli Parliament on Oct. 13, 2025.

“In April 2025, (Israel) had 751 active (Foreign Military Scales) cases with the U.S., worth a total of roughly $39 billion,” according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The U.S., under Trump’s leadership, has supplied copious amounts of military support to the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Trump’s plan includes sending aid to Gaza, sending in military trucks full of supplies to feed, heal and recover the Palestinians lives that had been destroyed with U.S. weapons.

If there was always motivation for peace, the U.S. should not have been supplying military aid to Israel.

Recent pro-peace propaganda has portrayed Trump as the savior of problems he’s created. This strategy is used to persuade the general public that Trump has more foreign power than he actually does.

Earlier this year, the U.S. suspended military aid to Ukraine due to an argument between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump during ceasefire negotiations.

Trump had blackmailed the Ukraine leader to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s requests by taking away aid that could have saved lives, in order to have the satisfaction of helping to end a war.

I believe the timeliness of the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has become irrelevant to the Trump administration due to the lack of attention the war has garnered, caused by the overshadowing coverage of the devastation in Gaza. Rather than focusing on permeating

peace, Trump has prioritized the algorithm of the media in order to garner the most amount of attention to his “nobel” contributions.

At the beginning of Trump’s second term, he voiced his yearning for the Nobel Peace Prize, and I’m convinced this strike of humanitarianism is rooted in his need for such praise.

The ceasefire continues to hold, but has been undergoing turmoil, according to AP News.

“An Israeli security official said the transfer of aid into the territory was halted … The military later said it resumed enforcing the ceasefire, and the official confirmed that aid deliveries would resume Monday,” AP News said.

The helplessness of the situation is apparent as funding to foreign lands can be, and has been, intercepted. People who want to help Palestinians to directly fund people or families in Gaza, rather than relying on aid to be sent nationally.

CROSSWORD

Government shutdown has harmed America’s federal employees

THE POST EDITORIAL BOARD

At the time of writing, the U.S. government has been shut down for 19 days. The shutdown began because Republican and Democratic politicians couldn’t agree on how to spend the federal budget. Now, the disagreement in our government has caused increasing stress for Americans as many are facing federal layoffs, lack of pay and removal of necessary services.

The government initially shut down after Republicans attempted to pass a short-term funding bill in the chambers of the U.S. Congress. The bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but did not make it through the U.S. Senate.

Senate Democrats are refusing to sign the proposed bill as it does not include a plan to extend the Affordable Care Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The ACA was passed in 2010 under President Barack Obama, and has helped over 50 million Americans gain access to affordable healthcare and be covered under the ACA’s health insurance marketplace in the last decade. Today, more than 24 million Americans have ACA health insurance, which is currently at risk.

SUDOKU

Since the initial shutdown Oct. 1, the Senate has still been unable to negotiate. Democrats have voted “no” 10 times on the GOP-led stopgap, which proposes funding to the government through Nov. 21, 2025. However, the stopgap lacks any discussion of healthcare costs or the ACA extension, which Democrats are holding out on a deal for. The party has chosen to withhold votes on issues until their demands are met and there is a healthcare plan for the American people.

As the arguing continues in Washington, D.C, with Democrats refusing to budge and Republicans refusing to negotiate, Americans face the brutal effects of the government shutdown.

Since the shutdown, 600,000 workers have been suspended from work and around 4,000 people have been laid off from their jobs at federal agencies.

JACKSON PENNINGTON | FOR THE POST

This number includes more than 465 Education Department staff and more than 400 people working in Housing and Urban Development. Crucial federal employees have lost their jobs and income for their families due to the government’s inability to agree.

However, Susan Yvonne Illston, a federal judge in California, has granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from firing more federal workers, allowing for a moment of reprieve for employees. Though this is not a permanent fix.

Not only are people facing the danger of losing their jobs, but others are facing a possible removal of government-provided resources such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. SNAP benefits are used by food-insecure Americans to buy and purchase food using the electronic benefits given by the program. The program provides benefits for over 42 million Americans, but if the government shutdown continues, there will not be enough funds to pay November SNAP benefits. Meaning, millions of Americans could go hungry if the government does not reach an agreement.

The uncertainty that has come from the ongoing government shutdown is plaguing Americans. In interviews, mayors in cities such as Kansas City, Missouri; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis and Cleveland told NBC News they’re hearing from their residents about the fear, economic insecurity and sheer anger over such chaos.

America’s federal employees are either working and receiving no paycheck or they have been let go. There is no end to the government shutdown in sight, and as this persists, so does the struggle of our country’s very own.

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

The Weekender

Halloween, university resources and music

FIONA PETTICREW FOR THE POST

TUESDAY, OCT. 21

The Heritage Community Clinic and Equitas Health are providing free, confidential care for students at the Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic in Grosvenor Hall, located at 16 W. Green Dr. They are open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are providing sexually transmitted disease testing,

Admission: Free

THRIVE is hosting a Creative Coping Cafe from 11 a.m. to noon in Lindley Hall at 79 S. Court St. Students are able to drop in at their convenience to learn coping strategies, focusing on artistic ways to do so.

Admission: Free

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22

Ohio University’s Asian American Pacific Islander Student Union is hosting a Halloween K-pop dance night at The Union. This event is one night only, doors open at 8 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.

Admission: $5 for 21+

$7 under 21

Athens Farmers’ Market is having its weekly market outside the Community Center Campus parking lot, located on 701 E. State St. Vendors are open for business from 9 a.m. to noon. The Saturday markets continue year-round, but the Wednesday markets continue only until Nov. 27.

Admission: Free

THURSDAY, OCT. 23

Ohio University’s Women’s Soccer team will be playing against Miami on Chessa Field from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The game will be live-streamed on ESPN.

Admission: Free

The Athena Cinema is showing “The Blair Witch Project” at 7 p.m. for its Appalachian Film Series. Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be acquired online. The event includes a pre-show presentation from Travis Eskins, a graduate student in the film studies program at OU.

Admission: Free, ticket required

FRIDAY, OCT. 24

Alden Library is showing the exhibit “Enslavement and Abolition in Antebellum Texts & Contemporary Artists’ Books” from 1-2 p.m. outside room 319. The exhibit will include historic and recent items from the rare book collection that illustrate slavery since and during the antebellum period.

Admission: Free

Housing and Residence Life will be hosting a movie night for commuter students from 4-8 p.m. in Jefferson Hall, room 160. They will be showing funny, scary movies and providing snacks for commuters and other students.

Admission: Free

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

Passion Works Studio’s Honey For The Heart Parade marches on 29 E. Carpenter St. at 5 p.m. Watch or participate in the parade, and wear a costume. The Honey For The Heart Ball takes place directly after the parade from 5:30-7 p.m.

Admission: Free

Little Fish Brewing Company is hosting Frights and Flights records spinning night at 8675 Armitage Rd., from 6-10 p.m., featuring DJ Reuben Sauce. This event is open to all ages.

Admission: Free

The annual Athens Halloween Block Party takes place on Court Street. Music starts at 5:45 p.m. at the main stage on the corner of Court and Union Street.

Admission: Free

SUNDAY, OCT. 26

League of Women Voters of Athens County is hosting a Venturing into Voting event in Alden Library. This exhibit features materials collected by LWVAC from the Mahn Center for Archives & Special Collections that demonstrate the activist history of LWVAC since 1949.

Admission: Free

The Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts will be hosting the fifth Octubafest concert in Glidden Hall, 3 Health Center Drive, at 8 p.m. The Tuba/ Euphonium Ensemble and Trombone Choir will be performing. All are welcome.

Admission: Free

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

POST TV: SEASON 6, EPISODE 2

By: The Post TV Staff

This week’s episode of Post TV features a story on the club rugby teams, a Homecoming twist on Voices on Court and many more! Scan the QR code to watch the full episode.

Scenes from Homecoming

Current and former Bobcats flocked to Athens on Saturday to celebrate their connection to Ohio University.

PHOTO 1: The Marching 110 performs on Union Street during the Homecoming parade, Oct. 18, 2025 (CALEB

| FOR THE POST)

PHOTO 2: A member of Ohio University Culinary Services throws candy during the Homecoming parade , Oct. 18, 2025 (TALITHA MALOY | PHOTO EDITOR) People wave international flags during the Homecoming parade, Oct. 18, 2025. (ELLE MALTRY | FOR THE POST)