Major offerings at Ohio University may soon look different. The university announced Aug. 26 that several majors will be suspended or consolidated under new state guidelines. The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, also referred to as Senate Bill 1, was proposed by Republican Sen. Jerry Cirino on Jan. 22. Since going into effect on June 27, it has impacted public universities across the state.
Dan Pittman, a university spokesperson, said plans for overhauling majors were submitted to the Ohio Department of Education after SB1 went into effect. These plans state if an undergraduate program did not have at least five annual graduates in a span of three years, it would be marked for suspension.
So far, 11 majors are being suspended. These majors include Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, geological sciences, mathematics and physics. Admissions into the Bachelor of Science in Education in Family and Consumer Sciences, Education in Teaching and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts are also being suspended.
Several associate’s degree programs were suspended, including the Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Media, Associate of Applied Science in Equine Studies and Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Flight Technology.
Although the Bachelor’s of Arts in chemistry, geological sciences,
MAJOR CLEANUP
OU MAJORS SUSPENDED, MERGED UNDER NEW STATE LAW
Senate Bill 1 requires suspension or merger of majors with fewer than five annual graduates over three years.
mathematics and physics are being suspended, the Bachelor’s of Science for each program remains.
Eighteen programs have also been approved for mergers, including seven Bachelor of Arts majors, five Bachelor of Science majors and six Bachelor of Music majors.
Programs currently approved for mergers are the Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts in French, Bachelor of Science in Education in Spanish Education, Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art.
The three different geography majors students could pick from will now become one major with several tracks. The Bachelor of Science in Geography, Bachelor of Science in Geography Environmental Pre-Law, Bachelor of Science in Geography in Geographic Information Science, Bachelor of Science in Geography in Meteorology and Bachelor of Arts will now be under one Bachelor of Science in Geography.
The music majors, which previously were Instrumental Performance, Instrumental Performance in Contemporary Music and Digital Instruments, Music Composition, Organ, Piano and Voice, are to be merged into one program with a variety of concentrations.
On top of the suspensions and mergers,
waivers have been submitted for seven different majors. The waivers keep the programs from being either suspended or merged with similar programs. The reasons for the waiver submissions are cited as the “unique nature of the program, recent curricular adjustments, or alignment with workforce needs.”
The programs with submitted waivers are: the Bachelor of Science in Economics, Associate of Applied Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science, Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Management and Associate of Technical Studies.
Pittman said no immediate impacts are expected for full-time educators within the suspended or merged programs.
Students currently enrolled at OU in the aforementioned programs will be able to complete their degree. However, incoming students will not be able to major in these programs.
“Students who have declared any of the programs planned for suspension will be able to complete the program’s requirements and will receive more information from their college during academic advising,” the Aug. 26 news release announcing the suspension said. Students are also able to contact their academic advisors if they have any questions or concerns.
Emma Topnick, a sophomore studying psychology and sociology, is pursuing a minor in French. Many of the required classes for a French minor overlap with the French major, which will soon be merged into the Department of Modern Languages at OU.
Topnick said she does not expect the major cuts and mergers to impact her career at OU too much, but she worries about how it might affect future enrollment and staffing. To her, one of the main selling points for OU was it offers a wide variety of different majors and provides jobs for the people who work within the programs.
“I look at it from a sociological standpoint, where those are jobs too. People are losing those jobs because the university can’t keep them,” Topnick said. At the current moment, there is no estimate of how much money the university will save by cutting majors.
“It would be premature to discuss any potential financial outcomes until after ODHE has completed its review and the University has had an opportunity to fully implement the state’s final recommendations,” Pittman said.
Pittman said new information will be posted as ODHE completes its review of the merger and waiver applications.
KAITLIN HOGG | NEWS STAFF WRITER
ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
COVID-19 hospitalizations surge as vaccine eligibility tightens
ABBY WAECHTER DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS STRATEGY
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ohio nearly doubled during the past month, and two respiratory illness outbreaks were reported in Southeast Ohio, raising alarm as new federal restrictions limit access to the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
On Aug. 27, the Food and Drug Administration approved the new COVID-19 vaccine, along with its restrictions, according to the National Public Radio. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of federal vaccine policy, said the new restrictions were delivering a framework to American demand.
Under the new guidelines, only individuals at high risk for severe illness, including those 65 and older or with specific underlying conditions, are eligible. People who do not meet the criteria, even if they want the vaccine, are no longer eligible. Previously, vaccines were available to everyone, including babies six months and older. The change comes as public health experts warn of another difficult winter for respiratory illnesses. In the past week, 281 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19, nearly double the 148 reported four weeks before. Southeast Ohio makes up 11 of those hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Southeast Ohio has also reported two respiratory illness outbreaks, influenza and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which often spread rapidly in shared settings like residence halls and classrooms.
Rebekah Crawford, an assistant professor at Ohio University with a doctorate in health communication, warned limiting vaccine access could have unintended consequences and potentially backfire on the current administration’s vaccine agenda.
“If somebody dies from COVID or intense influenza that
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they could have not gotten if they had been able to have the vaccine, that’s a nuclear bomb these politicians are going to have on their hands,” Crawford said. “People are going to be very angry… but, ironically, RFK Jr might be starting the pendulum swing back toward acceptance by prohibiting their access. As soon as you take away humans’ autonomy, they want to reassert their autonomy.”
Zoya Bessler, a senior majoring in community and public health and president of Eta Sigma Gamma, the national professional health honorary society, said politicization of vaccine policy is discouraging some of her peers from entering the field due to concerns about job security and losing sight of the profession’s core values.
“Public health is something that can bring people together on both sides to unite for the health of this country,” Bessler said. “With the second Trump administration, it’s just completely gone out the window.”
Between November 2024 and July 2025, 13,955 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19 while vaccines remained widely accessible. So far this season, 1,442 have been hospitalized. Ohio, like much of the U.S., saw its health care system overwhelmed in the early stages of the pandemic.
Hospitals exceeded capacity, rural counties lacked sufficient access to care, and more than 44,976 Ohioans have died of COVID-19 since 2020, according to the ODH. Although the crisis has eased, public health officials continue to face staffing shortages and reduced trust in medical systems.
The eligibility changes have heightened concern among health professionals and the public, following a May 27 video in which Kennedy said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, guidance preceding the Aug. 27 decision to restrict access based on risk level. The CDC has not updated its recommendations since.
Adding to federal concerns, former CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted Aug. 27, and Jim O’Neill, a Health and Human Services official with ties to GOP donor Peter Thiel, is set to take over amid a leadership exodus, developments fueling unease in the public health community.
Megan Buller, an infectious disease specialist with OhioHealth, said many providers are still waiting for clarity on how to proceed.
“We have recommended it for all eligible patients or patients who are interested,” Buller said. “We are still waiting for additional information to come out of
upcoming meetings from the CDC to re-evaluate how exactly we are going to approach vaccination going forward in our patient population.”
Buller said patients now excluded from eligibility are uncertain whether they can still access the vaccine, and whether insurance will cover it, adding another layer of confusion.
“We don’t condone falsifying health information, but I appreciate the fact that people are wanting to find a way to get these covered,” Buller said. “We know vaccinations are important. The COVID vaccines are very effective. We’ve seen that, there’s no denying they’re safe.”
The policy shift comes amid rising skepticism around vaccines and public health messaging, shaped by years of misinformation and political division.
According to the CDC, only 23% of U.S. adults and 13% of children received the updated 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine. With eligibility narrowed and insurance coverage unclear, public health officials say those numbers may fall further.
As winter approaches, health care systems across Ohio are preparing for increased demand from both eligible and ineligible patients, as concerns around access, communication and trust return to the forefront.
“Science is a lot messier than people want to think, and it makes its progress kind of in a zigzag way, but it still makes its progress,” Crawford said. “We have really clear, centuries of evidence about vaccines as one of the best breakthroughs for community-level human health that we’ve ever made as a species.”
According to the Ohio University Police Department, an individual was transported to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital for an emergency pre-screen evaluation.
Domestic violence complaint
The Athens County Sheriff’s Department responded to The Plains in reference to a domestic violence complaint.
The complainant advised that she wanted law enforcement to leave. The suspect had left the scene before deputies arrived. Deputies were unable to find evidence of physical violence, and no threats of violence were reported.
6 Sat _________________________
Am I not allowed to park in my driveway?
Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office responded to Twist Tail Road after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle in a driveway.
Upon arrival, they spoke with the vehicle’s owner and confirmed that the man was parked in his own driveway.
You can have football, not my shirt.
OUPD responded to Peden Stadium for a 911 call.
Deputies found the subject had burned a T-shirt during the game and was cited for criminal damaging/ endangering.
8 Mon ________________________
What happens in the dorm room stays in the dorm room
OUPD took a report of a stolen TV and mirror from a dorm room.
Following a brief investigation, both items were recovered, and police determined no criminal activity had occurred.
Who let the dog out? WHO? WHO?
Deputies responded to Columbus Road in Athens for an animal complaint after a dog without a collar was reported to have been at an apartment complex overnight.
The dog was captured and taken to the Athens County Dog Shelter, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
9 Tue ________________________
Nap time in Chauncey
Deputies responded to Converse Street in Chauncey for a report of an unconscious male in a vehicle.
The man was awakened and evaluated by EMS, who found no signs of a medical emergency. No impairment was observed, and he was released from the scene on foot, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Trying to spark trouble
Deputies from Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mesaros Road in Glouster for a report of a man attempting to start a fire at an abandoned trailer. The man was taken into custody on a parole violation and transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail on an APA holder. The case remains under investigation.
Puppy lockout
Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to an apartment complex on Fayette Street in Nelsonville after a small dog accidentally locked its owner out of a vehicle.
Deputies were able to unlock the car, and the incident was resolved.
10 Wed ________________________
I think you need to see my therapist
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Null Road in Coolville for a report of an argument.
The complainant said she did not want her in-laws living at her residence, though her husband had invited them. Deputies determined the matter was not criminal, provided civil guidance, and diffused the argument before returning to patrol.
Mental health screening
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Windfall Ridge Road for a well-being check on a woman.
She was located and determined to be fine, requiring no assistance.
A to-go box break-in
OUPD took a report at Pickering Hall after an unknown individual entered a room and left behind a to-go box of food. The incident was classified as burglary/trespassing in an occupied habitation.
11 Thur ________________________
Who needs a gun when you have fireworks?
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Chauncey for a report of a man with a gun. When they arrived at the reported address, deputies found dozens of bottle rocket fireworks scattered on the ground in the area where gunshots and a firearm had allegedly been seen. No firearms were located. The male was warned about the fireworks.
Domestic disturbance
The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Oak Street in The Plains for a report of a domestic disturbance. A man at the residence was reported to be arguing with cohabitants due to possible mental illness or substance abuse. Deputies found no evidence of a mental health crisis or criminal activity. The male was advised to seek help for mental health and substance abuse issues.
US Weekly Headlines: Immigration operation, Charlie Kirk
8 Mon _________________________
Classrooms brace for Trump’s Smithsonian changes
President Donald Trump is reviewing the Smithsonian Institution to ensure its content is in line with his vision of American ideals, according to the Associated Press.
Educators, especially history teachers, refer to the Smithsonian for history materials. AP said the fear among those against Smithsonian changes is a “sanitized version of American history.”
Katharina Matro, a history teacher in Bethesda, Maryland, said people want history “produced by real historians,” according to the AP.
A survey by the American Historical Association found more than 80% of history teachers use free resources from the Smithsonian along with other federal museums, archives and institutions.
9 Tue _________________________
Department of Homeland Security initiates immigration operation in Chicago
The Department of Homeland Security began “Operation Midway Blitz” on Monday, targeting people with criminal records who don’t have legal permission to live in the United States, according to the AP.
Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement that the Trump administration is “focused on scaring Illinoisians,” rather than collaborating on public safety efforts, according to the AP.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois also condemned the operation in a statement, saying the actions of the DHS “are a waste of money, stoke fear, and represent another failed attempt at distraction,” according to the AP.
10 Wed _________________________
Gov. Lisa Cook can keep position as Trump fights to fire her
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook can remain in her position while fighting against Trump’s efforts to fire her, as ruled by a federal court, according to the AP.
Trump said he would fire Cook over allegations she committed mortgage fraud on two properties she purchased before becoming a federal governor.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled such allegations were not sufficient grounds for firing, AP said.
The ruling stated, “President Trump has not stated a legally permissible cause for Cook’s removal,” the AP said.
11 Thur _________________________
Charlie Kirk assassinated in Utah
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday at a public event at Utah Valley University, according to the AP.
Federal investigators called for public help locating the suspect Thursday, releasing pictures of a person in a hat, sunglasses and a black, long-sleeved shirt. A $100,000 reward was offered for information, according to the AP.
As of Friday, the suspect had been turned in by his father, identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah.
Kirk, who was leading a debate hosted by his nonprofit organization Turning Point USA, was speaking about gun violence when he was shot.
12 Fri _________________________
Radicalized Colorado school shooter injures two
Two students were injured at Evergreen High School in Colorado on Wednesday. The shooter was a 16-yearold boy. According to authorities, the boy was “radicalized by an unspecified ‘extremist network,’” AP said.
Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said authorities came to the conclusion the shooter was radicalized after examining his home and phone, according to the AP.
The shooter shot himself at Evergreen High School and died afterward.
14 Sun _________________________
Patel awaits congressional hearings after Kirk’s assassination
FBI Director Kash Patel faces congressional oversight hearings this week after mistakenly declaring the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk was in custody mere hours after the shooting Wednesday afternoon, according to the AP.
Two men who were detained were released, and Utah officials said the shooter was still at large following Patel’s claim. Patel now faces questions on his ability to lead the FBI.
In addition to questions about the Kirk assassination, Patel also faces queries about the Jefferey Epstein files, the firing of FBI senior executives and a shift in FBI top-priorities, which now places illegal immigration, street crime and drug trafficking at the top of the list, according to the AP.
ELIZABETH TALAGA | COPY CHIEF
Ambrosia beetles continue to threaten Ohio plants
The invasive species harms trees and agriculture production across the Midwest.
The invasive ambrosia beetle species continues to harm fruit trees across Ohio and has affected local farmers for years, taking a specific toll on the native pawpaw fruit.
The pawpaw tree, a vital part of Southeast Ohio culture, produces the largest edible fruit native to North America, according to the National Park Service.
Chris Chmiel, co-owner of Integration Acres, said he has been suffering the results of this invasive insect for around 5 years, claiming 70% of the trees in his orchard have died.
When a tree’s roots are flooded with water following extreme rain events, it will produce ethyl alcohol, which attracts the beetle, according to Chmiel.
“(Ambrosia beetles) drill holes into the tree, and wherever they drill holes, this fungus that lives in them and with them starts to take over the interior part of the tree,” Chmiel said. “The xylem phloem, which is kind of like the veins and the arteries of the tree which is pumping the energy through the tree, it gums that up, and it stops the tree’s ability to transmit the
energy that keeps them alive.”
After discovering an infected tree, Chmiel cuts it down and burns it, which he has found to be the best solution.
Some farmers use preventative measures such as spraying chemicals on the trees or setting up traps, according to Chmiel. However, he said he is not familiar enough with either to use them on his crops.
According to the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky, traps baited with ethanol are effective in attracting and trapping adult Ambrosia beetles. The method is to be combined with removing and burning all infested trees, as well as ensuring planted trees stay healthy.
Farmer Cliff England works on England’s Orchard in Kentucky and has struggled with ambrosia beetles for around 33 years. England said 50-170 trees in his wife’s orchard have been killed as a result of infestations.
England discovered a preventative measure while working with the University of Kentucky that has worked well on his trees. He uses a mixture of an insecticide called Talstar and a natural pesticide called neem oil.
England sprays this on his trees in March to prevent any Ambrosia beetle infestations.
“It is a synthetic para-retroid, and you mix it and I’m spraying at the rate of 150 gallons per one and a point five gallons of trilogy,” England said. “Trilogy is a neem oil that has been emulsified.”
Chmiel said he is planning on replanting his trees next year with increased drainage, stating he wanted to better understand the conditions before doing so. He is also considering using pesticides and traps in the future to deter the beetles.
Chmiel claimed the climate is partly responsible for this growing concern, noting extremely high precipitation in the area to be a cause of the infestations.
According to UK, flooding, drought, freeze damage and poor management practices are all factors that can make a tree release the ethanol that attracts ambrosia beetles.
The annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival, a treasured local event that celebrates the Pawpaw, took place Friday-Sunday. The event invites people from all across the state to come celebrate the native fruit. Valerie Libbey, owner of
Libbey Farm, looks forward to the event every year.
Libbey said she has not had problems with ambrosia beetles in her trees, but is familiar with the issue. She said research into Pawpaws is far behind other commercial crops such as apples and oranges, paxrtly contributing to the lack of knowledge about dealing with ambrosia beetle infestations.
Libbey expressed her gratitude to surrounding universities, such as Kentucky State University, Ohio University and the Ohio State University, for their ongoing research, and noted the Pawpaw Festival as a chance to communicate and learn from other farmers.
“(The universities) are doing work on pawpaws, but we are far behind in terms of funding the kind of research we’d like to see on controlling pests and diseases that affect Pawpaws,” Libbey said. “Connecting with other growers is probably one of the more important reasons why the festival is so important to me as a grower.”
FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER
Pawpaws sit in a crate at Integration Acres, the world’s largest producer of pawpaw fruit, according to owner Chris Chmiel, Sept. 7, 2025, in Albany, Ohio. (MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY | MANAGING EDITOR
Bobcats infiltrate OSU for historic football matchup
Saturday afternoon, the streets of Columbus overflowed with a sea of red and white, the typical indication of gameday at Ohio State University. This weekend, the crowd was sprinkled with green, the mark of Bobcats who made the nearly two hourlong trip to support their football team as they faced the national champions.
The last time Ohio University played OSU was in 2010 when the Bobcats were defeated 43-7. 15 years later, the teams faced each other again during primetime. Ohio Stadium’s capacity of 102,780 was exceeded by nearly 3,000 attendees, and despite little hope for a Bobcat victory, supporters looked forward to some solid gameplay.
“It’ll be closer than everyone thinks,” Jack Turner, a freshman studying pharmaceutical sciences at OSU, said a few hours before kickoff. “My prediction is 31-14.”
Sara Greenaway, a sophomore studying marketing at OU and Turner’s girlfriend of over two years, joined him for the day’s festivities.
“You can’t miss this game,” Greenaway said. “It’s so close, you kind of have to come.”
Despite wearing opposing colors, the two saw the game as an occasion to celebrate each other’s schools and compare the differences between football cultures.
“People leave after the band (at OU games), but at OSU I feel like everyone stays the whole time unless it’s a blowout,” Greenaway said.
Although Turner agrees about the caliber of OU’s beloved Marching 110, there was one caveat to his concession.
“The 110 is better than the Ohio State Marching Band, but Script Ohio, you can’t beat,” Turner said in reference to the OSU band’s famous pregame drill.
The simmering rivalry between schools permeates other relationships during the year and came to a head this weekend. Kelly Ernst, a junior studying visual communications, came to Columbus to visit her best friend, who
has a nickname for OU.
“It’s brotherly love,” Ernst said. “She (calls us) little brother, which is annoying because we were here first.”
Adding to this sibling bond, Ernst turned the weekend into an event for her whole family.
“My best friend goes here, my family came up,” Ernst said. “It was just a whole big to-do, it was really fun.”
Ernst travelled to Columbus with a group of friends from OU, including Natalie Bak, a junior studying biology. Over the course of the weekend, Bak found OSU’s emphasis on gameday traditions and festivities is “much, much, much bigger than OU.”
“I have a lot of friends that go here and they always are sat to watch the game,” Ernst said. “They love the football here. Most of the students I know, including myself … don’t really care.”
Despite their disinterest in OU sports and recognizing the likelihood of a victory for OSU, both Ernst and Bak got the chance to experience a different football atmosphere with the bonus of a historic game.
“It just seemed like a once in a lifetime thing, and I wanted to hang out with my friends,” Bak said.
Despite over a decade passing between matchups, the latest face-off between OU and OSU ended with the same outcome: a victory for the Buckeyes, 379. Nevertheless, the OU team put up a good fight throughout and gained some valuable experience looking toward their next game against Gardner-Webb University on Sept. 20.
The effort put in by the green and white players against such a formidable opponent made their fans proud, including Bak and Ernst, who went into the evening with resounding support for their team.
“Go Bobcats!” Ernst said.
“It just seemed like a once in a lifetime thing, and I wanted to hang out with my friends.”
–Natalie Bak, a junior studying biology
RFK Jr. should NOT be United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The worst tragedy that ever befell playwright and screenwriter Charles MacArthur and his wife, actress Helen Hayes, was the death of Mary, their daughter. She became seriously ill and was hospitalized when polio symptoms appeared.
On the first day in the hospital, she was put in an iron lung. On the second day, she looked at her father and said, “Help me, Pops.” On the third day, she died. One year after Mary’s funeral, Mr. MacArthur had inscribed on her tombstone, “Here beneath this stone doth lie / As much beauty as could die.”
Mary died in 1949. After field trials that proved its safety and effectiveness, Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was licensed in the US in 1955.1
Vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives since 1974, including nearly 94 million from measles alone, according to the World Health Organization.2 Despite this evidence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of opposing vaccination policies — a stance at odds with the life-saving impact of immunization.
JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST
JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST
1 Ben Hecht, Charlie: The Improbable Life and Times of Charles MacArthur (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1957), 217.
Athens Art Guild builds community at Farmers Market
It was a drizzly morning at the Athens Community Center Sept. 6, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s sunny mood at the Athens Farmers Market. Farmers, townies, college students and others weren’t deterred by the chill. One wonders how packed the market can get on a nicer day.
The Athens Farmers Market happens every Wednesday and Saturday at the Athens Community Center, 701 E State St., from 9 a.m. to noon.
Members of the Athens Art Guild are at the market almost every Saturday in the Art Market, on the side of the parking lot closest to the Community Center building.
On Sept. 6, the guild members Sunspots, Kevin Smyth, Southeast Ohio Fiberworks, Patricia Sabatino Leather, Sledding Hill Pottery, Four Seasons Soaps and The Salty Otter were among the vendors selling their wares at the market.
Julia Goettge, owner of Four Seasons Soaps, has been making her own soaps since 1996 and established her current brand in 1998. Recently retired from working at Ohio University, she now has more time to focus on making soap. She just started coming to the Athens Farmers Market this year, and she said she’s enjoyed coming to the market. Goettge makes her soaps out of organic sunflower, coconut, palm and castor oil and cocoa butter. Her unscented face soap has almond, avocado and oatmeal. Essential oils give the soaps their scent,
like scented rosemary and peppermint, patchouli and orange, lavender and lemon, tea tree and lemongrass.
“I use clays and botanicals for colors, so there’s no synthetic ingredients added to these,” Goettge said.
“It’s nice to all be seen together, we help each other out,” Goettge said about being in the art guild.
A ways down the line of tents was a display of bright stained glass in the shapes of humming birds, mushrooms and Homer Simpson, along with other pop culture icons. Adria Jerman, the owner of Sun Spots, likes to make art of nostalgic cartoons and science-fiction movies from her childhood.
Jerman learned glassblowing and fireworking from her parents, who were both full-time glass artists.
“I stopped doing it and rebelled against it,” Jerman said. “Then, in my late 30s, I decided I wanted to seek out a creative outlet involving glass, so I started doing stained glass.”
When she started making stained glass, she made a Mothman suncatcher as a gift and was bombarded with requests for more. After she got through order after order of Mothmen, she had remastered her craft.
She’s been running Sun Spots for seven years. Jerman estimated Sept. 6 was her fourth time selling at the Athens Farmers Market. She sells her art for anywhere between $20 and thousands of dollars, depending on the detail and size of the piece.
Near the end of the row of tents, Patricia Sabatino was selling handcrafted leather
bags, rawhide rattles, moccasins and necklaces. The prices ranged from about $10-$40.
New to the art guild this year, Sabatino started leathermaking nine years ago, when she lived in Arkansas. There was a shop selling little leather pouches from China that Sabatino thought were overpriced. The shop owner bet that if Sabatino made them out of real leather, she could sell them to the crystal mines in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Sabatino took her advice and started making and selling leather pouches in Hot Springs.
Sabatino said she likes painting the rattles and sewing moccasins, but her favorite thing to make is whatever new idea she has.
“You gotta keep changing so you don’t get bored with it,” Sabatino said.
Sabatino voiced her appreciation of the art guild and its members for their support.
“It’s not a way to get rich, but it’s a way to do something that you like,” Sabatino said.
The Art Market was quieter on Sept. 13, despite the reappearance of the sun – likely because many of the Athens Art Guild members were at the Pawpaw Festival the same weekend. Three art tents were in their usual row to the side of the farmers market: Jewelry Box Rocks, Four Seasons Soaps and Kevin Smyth. Anyone can check the guild’s Facebook to be certain what events it will be present.
RH919022@OHIO.EDU
OU alumna lives marketing dream
When new Bobcats arrive in Athens, they are immediately told about Ohio University’s strong alumni network.
Often, it can be stressful for a student to figure out what their degree can lead to post-graduation and seeing successful alumni can be inspiring for younger students.
Among the several thousand Bobcat alumni is Riley Farber, who graduated in December 2024 with a degree in communications and marketing minor.
From Hudson, Ohio, Farber currently works as a digital marketing specialist in Nashville, Tennessee. With her sister, Mackenzie, Farber founded Farber & Co. Digital, an online marketing company. It provides services such as social media marketing, brand consulting and analytics services. The sisters’ mother, Margie Anderson, works as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
Mackenzie is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and also fell into the marketing field. With just a two-year age gap and significantly older siblings, the Farber sisters wanted to work together from a young age.
“We always talked about maybe starting a boutique,” Farber said. “When she (Mackenzie) graduated college, she went into marketing, and then I just kind of followed along after her.”
Farber initially studied elementary education, but switched to
communications after her first semester of courses at OU.
“I was like, ‘I just don’t think this is for me,’” Farber said. “I just fell in love with marketing and the classes I was taking for communications.”
Although she graduated in December, Farber chose to walk in the spring commencement ceremony with her friends. As June rolled in, Farber and her sister decided to establish their own legacy.
“After I graduated, we were like, ‘Now is the perfect time. Let’s see if we can start this company together,’” Farber said.
Building a business from scratch is no easy task. The pair began by creating a brand kit, which included the planned visual elements of the company and decided to rope their mother into the project for behind-the-scenes work and finances. From there, Farber traveled from Nashville to Ohio to help design the website and do a brand photoshoot.
Farber said she enjoys working with her family and bouncing ideas off them. She said the company has brought them closer together, regardless of her living in Tennessee.
“We all have a pretty similar taste and style,” Farber said. “So, I feel like that’s super helpful ... we call each other all the time, so it’s awesome being able to talk to them so much now.”
Farber’s hard work and dedication can be motivating for Bobcats who are pursuing similar careers. Erin East, a junior studying international business, is involved around campus as a member of the professional communications fraternity, Kappa Alpha Zeta.
East said it is inspiring to see alumni succeeding in the world of business.
“It’s a good way to help you choose a path for yourself and see if someone’s already doing the job that you would like to have (and) what you have to do in order to take those steps to get there,” East said.
East also said OU’s professional requirements for undergraduates to graduate improve the student experience and help prepare people for the job market.
“I think OU does a really good job … I like how they require business majors to have an internship,” East said. “I think internships really play a good part in getting experience.”
Farber said she credits the courses she took at OU with preparing her to establish a company.
“They were all so educational, and I feel like it was all real-world stuff that I was learning ... they taught me a lot of what I still use today, which is awesome,” Farber said.
RENAE HEFTY | FOR THE POST
RENAE HEFTY | FOR THE POST
CAITLYN VANCE | FOR THE POST
Riley Farber (center) sits with her mother, Margie Anderson (left), and her sister, Mackenzie Farber (right).
Photo provided by farber & Co. Digital
Ohio Pawpaw Festival bursts with fruity flavor
COURTNEY MIERS FOR THE POST
Compared to the average apple, the American pawpaw is a fruit to behold. Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw, cannot be found on the shelves of a corner store or supermarket. Instead, lovers of the pawpaw must harvest their own fruit or seek out other pawpaw enthusiasts who may just be right around the corner.
The 27th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival in Albany, Ohio, welcomed residents from Athens and other cities this weekend to honor the fruity delight. Since its opening in 1999, the Pawpaw Festival has remained a neighborhood staple.
Chris Chmiel, festival founder, said the event is a chance to educate the masses on the delicious pawpaw fruit.
“It is like a seasonal ritual for families,” Chmiel said. “We have a little bit of stuff for everybody … educational stuff, beer and music. Good vibes.”
For 27 years, the festival has succeeded in offering pawpaw inspired drinks and foods and live entertainment.
Dave Moore, a horticulturist from West Virginia, has been growing and grafting rare fruit, including the pawpaw, for more than 40 years. Moore said the pawpaw is special and the festival celebrations have stood strong for decades.
“In my opinion, it’s the most flavorful, delicious and wild fruit on the continent or in North America,” Moore said. “It’s the largest fruit and it’s so perishable that you just won’t find it in any of the stores. It’s starting to come into the farmers markets, but it has such a short shelf life that it’s just not a commodity.”
Some local farms, including Five Springs Farm, 12691 Dutch Creek Road, Athens, Ohio, sell the fruit for $15 to $30, depending on the size and quantity. However, with the pawpaw not being widely available, the festival offers a chance for connection, allowing enthusiasts of the fruit and those curious to come together and socialize.
“It’s not about the money to me,” Moore said. “I like to talk to people about fruit trees and what I grow … there’s nothing like talking to neighbors and finding out what works, it’s a community.”
Moore is not the only business owner who enjoys the festival weekend. Sarah Tucker and her husband, Trent Tucker, who have been operating their beekeeping and dessert business in Chesterhill, Ohio, for 20 years, sell their goods year-round both at the Athens Farmer’s Market and the Pawpaw Festival.
Sarah Tucker, who runs the booth, said she appreciates the opportunities the festival provides for small businesses, as pawpaw weekend
delivers good sale prospects and attracts locals and people from other states.
“I’ve had people from Iowa buy honey and somebody from Michigan buy honey,” Tucker said. “This is a really good weekend … supports the bees, (we) have a chance to outlet and be able to get more honey to the people.”
While local farms and vendors were given a chance to sell to the greater community and grow, they are not the only ones who benefit from the Pawpaw Festival. Adam D’Angelo, Project Pawpaw’s director of research,
said festivals are critical in supporting social and environmental causes, including his own.
Project Pawpaw is a crowd-funded plant breeding and research project for pawpaws, aiming to develop a new high-value, low-input crop for small farmers.
“Last year we planted 750 trees in New Jersey,” D’Angelo said. “This year, we planted 1,000 trees in Wisconsin. It’s all been funded through the sale of merchandise at pawpaw festivals, (including) the Ohio one and other ones around the country.”
D’Angelo emphasized how pawpaws present an opportunity for farmers to diversify their operations. Project PawPaw strives to develop new varieties of pawpaw that perform better, helping small farmers remain economically viable in a world of consolidation.
“They already taste great,” D’Angelo said. “They grow really well, and they really present an opportunity for small farmers. It’s easier to put in a smaller planting of pawpaws in addition to a farm than it is to do that with apples.”
Top. Attendees take pictures in a pawpaw costume at the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sep. 13, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
Bottom. Participants eat pawpaw pulp during the pawpaw eating contest at the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden, Sept. 13, 2025, in Albany, Ohio.(MEGAN VANVLACK | FOR THE POST)
Everything is in front of Ohio after a successful start to the season
Ohio (1-2 overall) has finally gotten through the grueling part of the nonconference schedule after a 37-9 loss on the road against No. 1 Ohio State.
The Bobcats played a hard-fought and clean game, winning the turnover battle 2-0 against the Buckeyes. Ohio was able to close the lead to just a 13-9 game in the third quarter after a 67-yard Chase Hendricks touchdown.
The ending of the game marks the end of a tough opening schedule for Ohio, as it played against three straight Power Four opponents in the first three weeks of the season, the only team in the country to do so.
“What our guys have been through these first three games, and I think the way that they played in these first three games makes us extremely proud of them,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “I think it’s great for our confidence moving forward, just them understanding how well they’re playing against good teams, how close they are to wins.”
If the first two weeks of the season didn’t cement that Ohio isn’t going
anywhere under Smith, then Saturday night’s performance against Ohio State certainly did.
Ohio came into a raucous Ohio Stadium on Saturday night, playing in what is Ohio State’s only night game at home for the season, and didn’t look scared or out of place once.
The first drive of the game showed this and then some, with the Bobcats making a goal-line stand to start the game. Cornerback Tank Pearson got a huge breakup against Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. On the next play, defensive end Anas Luqman got a sack on the next play on fourth and goal to get the defense off the field.
For the rest of the game, Ohio State had serious problems converting red zone trips into touchdowns, and credit is due to Ohio’s defense for stepping up when it mattered most.
“I thought our defense played extremely well,” Smith said. “I think they played hard. I think that they tackled really well. There’s a lot of good things that they did, and the ability to make the stops that they made in the red zone and force field goals (was huge).”
The defense has improved dramatically throughout the gauntlet of an opening schedule for Ohio. They have gone from allowing 31 points in the first half against Rutgers to allowing just 13 total points in the next six quarters of football, from the second half against Rutgers to the end of the West Virginia game.
The Buckeyes’ offense eventually started to heat up. Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin finding two of the best receivers in the country in Tate and Jeremiah Smith for deep touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
The Bobcats won’t be playing anyone with that level of talent for the rest of the year. The signs shown from the defense should inspire confidence in fans going into next week against FCS opponent Gardner-Webb.
One hiccup that affected Ohio was Parker Navarro leaving the game in the second quarter with an unknown injury. The Ohio quarterback was slow to get up after getting hit by Ohio State’s Beau Atkinson, and he was out for the majority of the second half.
Despite the injury to what is one of the best quarterbacks at the Group of Five
level, the Ohio offense wasn’t dormant, and it was able to sustain drives as well as turn a turnover on defense into three points.
“I don’t think (there) was a fall off between Nick and Parker,” Hendricks said. “I mean, obviously (they have) two different types of games … but I don’t think it’s a fall off in between one and two. I think Nick can still get the job done, and I think that about anybody on the team.”
Navarro was able to come back, and he looked like his usual electric self, running the ball for a 9-yard gain on his first play back from the injury. He followed this with a 67-yard touchdown to Hendricks. Ohio has shown serious fight throughout the toughest opening threeweek stretch in the entire country. This bodes very well as the Bobcats move into playing a final FCS non-conference opponent before Mid-American Conference play begins.
CHARLIE FADEL | SPORTS EDITOR
Senior quarterback Nick Poulos (8) during Ohio’s game against Ohio State. The Bobcats lost
JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
Athens looks to keep building in 2025
CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS EDITOR
One of the biggest developments of the last couple of years in Southeastern Ohio high school football is the awakening of the sleeping giant that is Athens High School.
A storied school that had achieved tremendous success in the mid-2010s with the likes of Joe Burrow under center fell on tough times in the early 2020s. However, with head coach Nathen White at the helm, Athens has been on the upswing since 2023.
“We were two and eight,” White said. “So to see those kids get beat most Friday nights and come back to work and then after the season, hit the off-season and grind every single day, it’s so fun to see them get to taste that success and watch the hard work pay off.”
The success White is talking about has been appearing for some time now, starting in 2023, when the foundation was laid with a 6-5 season. The Bulldogs started off 0-3 to open the season, but they fought back, winning five straight down the stretch to deliver the school’s first winning season since 2018.
Last year saw more growth for the program, as they pulled off an impressive 10-win season, a feat that is difficult for any school.
“Now there’s a new challenge, you win 10 games, and can you continue that,” White said. “I remind our kids often, these seniors, when they were freshmen, we
won two games. So I remind them that they’re kind of the last link of the guys that flipped this thing around. Let’s make sure our effort is like we’re two and eight, no matter what our record is.”
The team that saw the double-digit win total was led by a great group of seniors, with guys like quarterback Braeden Young and running back Alex Pero leading the way on offense.
“We had a great senior group last year; we lost 15 players,” White said. “I kind of talked to our seniors that are coming back this year, and they knew the storyline to start the year was going to be more about who we lost than who we have back.”
The double-digit win in the 2024 season was the first for Athens since 2014, the year that saw a senior Burrow throw for 63 touchdowns and lead a 14-1 campaign, with the only loss being in the state championship to Toledo Central Catholic.
Athens is off to another blazing hot start this season, starting 4-0 with three shutouts against Logan, Paint Valley and Alexander. In those three shutouts, the offense was just as good, putting up 41, 48 and 71 points on those three teams, respectively.
This Athens team looks hungry, and the seniors who are back from last year have been playing like it, with guys like Anthony Sutton at running back and defensive linemen Jay Irwin and Isaiah Arocho coming up huge for the Bulldogs this year.
Sutton has been the workhorse of the
CHARLIE FADEL SPORTS EDITOR
After a two-win season in 2023 and a three-win season last year in 2024, it was time for a change for the Alexander Spartans football program, and that change came in the form of a new head coach.
Corey Bean was promoted from running backs and linebacker coach to head coach, and he is looking to turn the tide for a Spartans program that has struggled recently.
One of the ways he is doing it is with his scheme, implementing a quicker, runpass-option based offense, which takes time to adapt to but when it is run well, it can be deadly.
His Spartans are 2-2 to start out 2025, and the offense is coming along steadily with a group of younger guys who were previously inexperienced in the system.
One decision Bean made to try and help with the consistency and continuity of the team is keeping around the same staff from last year.
“I got the same offensive and the same defensive coordinators,” Bean said. “The big thing we continue to build on, really, is that consistency with the scheme, and that’s critical for these kids.”
His first game at the helm came at home against a tough Miller team, and they fought hard, losing by a close margin of 18-15 after turning the ball over seven times. Although there might not be a W in
(MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
offense this year after being the second back behind Pero last year, going for 647 yards and eight touchdowns through the first three games of the season. The changes are noticeable when looking at his success.
“Anthony has always been kind of a really fast kid,” White said. “His commitment to the weight room over the last few years in getting bigger and stronger (has been huge). Now he’s the really fast kid that can break tackles, and he has really transformed himself from a fast guy to a fast guy that plays running back.”
White’s offensive line has four seniors up front, leading the way for his rushing lanes as well. These same linemen
were getting reps when the team was struggling, and now the experience is paying dividends.
“We were playing 14 and 15-year-olds on the offensive and defensive and defensive line,” White said. “You worry as a coach, is that too much? Is that going to turn kids off? Is that going to ruin their mindset? But these kids have battled, and in the long run, that experience and that toughness gained has been huge.”
Alexander Spartans look for progress with first-year coach Corey Bean
the win column for Alexander after that game, the experience and fight shown from the Spartans was just as important as the win.
“When you look at that, and you tell somebody we had seven turnovers, and you look and see that we only lost by three points, I think that that tells a pretty good story of how well we played in that game,” Bean said. “I told them, I said, guys, this one happened to us for a reason, and that is to force us to continue to keep our faith in this program, this culture and in each other.”
That is exactly what happened for the Spartans, as they responded very well the next two weeks, picking up two blowout wins against East by a score of 47-0 and
Belpre with a score of 49-6.
Wins like those were huge for the confidence of the team, especially after a rough year last year a tough loss in week one.
“(It was) great validation for our guys being able to come in with a high level of confidence, put the loss behind us, come in and refocus,” Bean said. “We controlled, executed our scheme… and we did that for two straight weeks.”
Throughout the solid start for Alexander, junior receiver Colt Newton and senior receiver Alex Bateman have been go-to guys for quarterback Carter Jewell, as Newton has 138 yards and three touchdowns while Bateman has 116 and two touchdowns.
“As soon as we start gashing inside, that is what really opens up the weapons on the outside,” Bean said. “Guys like Alex and Colt out there have good football IQ. They run great rounds, (they have) good speed. They’ve got even better hands. So as soon as we can get the ball in their hands and let them go do their thing, our offense becomes very powerful and very threatening.”
The back doing the gashing inside this year has been Nolan Jenkins, and he has been steady with 183 yards and two touchdowns in the ground with an aggressive running style, especially after coming back from a tough injury he suffered last season.
“The best thing about Nolan is he had a very devastating season-ending injury last season, and he rehabbed and he got himself back up to 100% and came out that first game just on fire,” Bean said. “I’m very happy, very pleased with his ability to rehab and get back and be a huge part of this team. So we love giving him the ball.”
Alexander had their first real tough loss of the season last week against Athens, losing 71-0 on the road. Bean and squad will look to rebound and continue to improve throughout the rest of Tri-Valley Conference play.
(JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)
Ohio falls short in Beavercreek Invitational
Ohio (2-7) lost all of its matches this weekend at the Beavercreek Invitational. Ohio played Ohio State (2-4), Pitt (7-2) and Wright State (5-3). It was not able to win a single set in what was a disappointing performance from this Ohio team. Ohio only eclipsed 20 points in one set out of the nine it played, which was the final one against Ohio State.
Ohio State was first up to the plate for Ohio’s games in the Beavercreek Invitational, and it didn’t start out well. Ohio and Ohio State remained evenly matched until around the 10-point mark, where a spark lit in Ohio State, ripping off a huge six-point run to take the lead 16-10. Ohio answered back with a point off an attack error, but the Buckeyes quickly ran up three more points to make the score 19-11. Ohio State didn’t let off the gas and comfortably took the set with a score of 25-16.
The second set ended better for Ohio, despite it being a loss. The game was tightly contested until the end as Ohio was only down by one point with a score of 18-17. However, in the final scores of the game, Ohio State had five kills to put away Ohio for good, taking the set and going up 2-0.
The Bobcats put up a valiant effort in the final set as the teams traded many blows, and Ohio even had the lead at multiple points throughout the game. It just couldn’t close it however, as the final three points were all scored by Ohio State.
Ohio held match point with a score of 24-23, but Ohio State was able to answer back and not falter, leading to the victory going to Ohio State. Despite losing 3-0, Ohio had some momentum going into the Pitt game, as it played well in that third set.
That momentum didn’t last long as Pitt put up an onslaught of points late in the first set after having a slight lead for most of it. Pitt’s offense was firing on all cylinders, and Ohio wasn’t able to match it, leading to a 25-16 victory for Pitt. Things wouldn’t get much better for Ohio though, as the second set was much of
the same story, with Pitt closing out the game well and Ohio once again struggling to get past the 20-point mark, which will be a recurring theme through the rest of its tournament play.
The third set was by far the worst of Ohio’s play in the Pitt game, as the defense completely fell apart also, letting Pitt outscore it 25-12, not even hitting over half of the points Pitt scored. Many sloppy plays on Ohio’s part led to points for Pitt. The Panthers lived up to their No. 7 ranking and played a great game against the Bobcats.
Ohio played Wright State next and continued to struggle. In the first set against Wright State, Ohio only put up 13 points. At one point, the score was 19-5 with Wright State continuing to pile on points. Ohio lost the first set but didn’t do much better in the second set.
Wright State opened up the second set with three unanswered points, keeping the momentum it had from the first set. Wright State would eventually build this lead up to nine points, with Ohio having any chance at a comeback completely snuffed out. Wright State coasted to a victory in this set, with the score being 25-16.
The third set was much of the same story, as Wright State continued to pound on Ohio and jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The teams traded scoring runs, but Ohio was already in such a big hole that the game wasn’t close. Wright State would take this set and sweep Ohio. Ohio failed to score 20 points in its past two games, a tough end to a tough weekend for the Bobcats.
Putting these losses behind itself, Ohio travels to Charlotte, North Carolina, to play in the Charlotte Invitational. It looks to get back on track with some wins in what has been a very rough road trip for the team.
2025 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM STATISTICS AS OF 9/16
OVERALL (2-7)
ATTACK - KILLS 632 - ERRORS 228 - ATTEMPTS 1141 - PERCENT .117 - KILLS PER SET 11.3
SET - ASSISTS 330 - ASSISTS PER SET 10.3
- BALL HANDLING ERROS 2
SERVE - ACES 55 - ERRORS 106 - ACES PER SET 1.7
RECEPTIONS - ERRORS 44 - ERRORS PER SET 1.4
DEFENSE - DIGS 388
- DIGS PER SET 12.1
BLOCKING - SOLO 11
- ASSISTS 66
- ERRORS 4
- BLOCKS 40.0
- BLCOKS PER SET 1.4
BRANDON GROSS | SPORTS STAFF WRITER
SETTER KENDALL WHITE (12) JUMPS TO HIT THE BALL OVER THE NET AT THE GAME AGAINST BUCKNELL IN THE CONVO, AUG. 29, 2025. (JACKSON MCCOY | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)
Pawpaw Festival was hot, the music was hotter
AUSTIN YAU | FOR THE POST
The Pawpaw Festival, one of Southeast Ohio’s classic events, returned for its 27th year in Albany, Ohio, at Lake Snowden, bringing some wonderful musical performances. In the scorching heat of a Saturday afternoon, artists displayed musical talent and crowd interactions that kept the day cool despite the temperatures.
Local artist Trey Hedrick kicked off the afternoon with his classic Appalachian and bluegrass-influenced music. The singer-guitarist was joined by upright bass player Pete Mendenhall and fiddler Matt Opachik. The trio provided the crowd with all original songs, including ones written by Hedrick, which he stated were “for my Mamaw.”
The set finished with Hedrick’s song “Passenger,” which switched out the slower tempo that had been present throughout the set with a more upbeat song that livened up the crowd. Hedrick has recently been in Nashville, Tennessee, prepping to release his project “Passing Through” on Sep. 19.
The afternoon continued its local influence as Athens-based duo Drawknife provided a mix of original songs and covers, holding to their sound that is influenced by “many different genres and old-time roots.”
Kyle Lyons provided lead vocals and brought energy with his banjo. His companion George VanFossen added upright bass and supporting vocals, as well as occasional lead vocals on songs
with a deeper tonal range. Drawknife is performing with the previously mentioned Trey Hedrick trio as well as the Local Honeys on Nov. 7 at The Union Bar in Athens at 8 p.m.
Huntington, West Virginia, based artist and Ohio University alumnus Corduroy Brown brought an uptick in the energy on the stage, firing up the crowd with his “Feel Good Appalachian Music.” While the sound may have been different, he incorporated classic Appalachian sounds while also incorporating mental health advocacy.
This was highlighted by his original “Medicine,” written while he was in the hospital after dying and being resuscitated during a battle with COVID-19. The performance also included an unexpected first for him as he tried his first ever pawpaw while on stage, with a verdict that it was “really sweet, it’s really good.”
Although the afternoon provided classic Appalachian sound, the last music performance of the afternoon offered something a little bit different. Garagepop band Leggy from Cincinnati delivered a punk-pop-inspired performance on a stage it had long been waiting for, sharing that “we manifested this over a year ago.”
messy, it will be native to Ohio, and it will be delicious.”
The pawpaw eating competition, a festival staple, capped off the afternoon, showcasing participants’ ability to stomach down a whole pound of pulp and 10 seeds that they needed to clean off.
The participants reflected the impact that this festival has, with participants from local communities like Athens, but also big cities in Ohio, and one participant from Seattle, Washington.
with chants of “Pawpaw,” ringing out from the crowd.
The Main Stage at the Pawpaw Festival, during the afternoon of day two, delivered music representative of the local industry and overall great crowd energy. It was a wonderful show that showed talented musicians as well as their perseverance playing through the sweltering heat of the afternoon.
It brought a high-energy performance with songs like “Grrrls Like Us,” which is the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify. Its song “Prosper” was accentuated by the screaming line, “Wait, I love you, babe.” Leggy performed many new songs, including one described as, “Much like the paw, this one will be AY490124@OHIO.EDU
The competition was won by a participant from Cleveland who took down a very sizable and creatively decorated trophy and was celebrated
Taylor Frankie Paul takes center stage as next Bachelorette
EMILIE
DEOREO | FOR THE POST
Social media influencer Taylor Frankie Paul is stepping into a brand-new reality: dating in front of millions as the next Bachelorette.
On Wednesday, one of the stars from the Hulu original “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” confirmed the news during her recent appearance on Alex Cooper’s podcast “Call Her Daddy,” telling listeners she is set to lead Season 22 of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” The announcement comes as both a shock and an opportunity to shake up the longrunning franchise with a fresh face whose path to the mansion has been anything but ordinary.
Paul first rose to prominence as part of the “MomTok” wave, a viral corner of TikTok populated by young Mormon mothers documenting their daily lives in Utah. Her willingness to speak candidly about the complexities of balancing faith, motherhood, relationships and personal desire made her a standout among viewers.
Fans were drawn to her honesty and relatability, even as her story took a turn when she found herself at the center of a swinging scandal that quickly became tabloid fodder. Rather than shy away from the spotlight, Paul leaned into it, addressing her past openly and ultimately landing a role on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” alongside other influencers. There, she further cemented her reputation as someone unafraid to share her struggles as well as her triumphs, winning over viewers who appreciated her candor.
Unlike most Bachelorettes, Paul has no prior ties to the Bachelor franchise. For longtime fans of the show, this means a lead whose narrative is not weighed down by previous onscreen romances, rivalries or lingering heartbreak. Instead, Paul arrives with her own kind of fame and a unique backstory that promises to bring new energy to a format in need of reinvention.
ABC has leaned on fresh faces before, but rarely have they chosen someone whose notoriety began in the unpredictable world of TikTok and who comes with a built-in following that
extends far beyond traditional Bachelor Nation.
What fans can expect from Paul’s season remains to be seen, but early signs suggest that her trademark openness will play a central role. If her social media presence and past reality TV experience are any indication, audiences can anticipate a season full of emotional transparency, bold conversations and possibly a few moments of chaos. For a franchise that thrives on both romance and drama, Paul seems like the kind of lead who can deliver both in equal measure.
Her casting also highlights a growing trend of Mormon personalities moving into mainstream reality television. From fellow MomTok members, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck, appearing on the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars” to Paul herself, Mormon women are increasingly becoming visible in spaces that once felt out of reach.
Paul’s journey adds a layer of cultural intrigue to the upcoming season. Not only is she navigating the pressures of finding love in front of a national audience, but she’s also redefining what it means to come from a community often associated with privacy and restraint.
For Paul, the road ahead promises to be complicated, but it’s also a chance to reshape her narrative. What began with TikTok videos and a scandal that nearly derailed her public image has now brought her to the center of primetime television.
In the Bachelor Mansion, she will have to juggle the demands of fame, the scrutiny of an audience eager to dissect her every move and the very real task of searching for a lasting relationship that she has openly struggled with finding. Whether the experience ends in an engagement or not, one thing is certain: Taylor Frankie Paul is no stranger to reinvention and her turn as the Bachelorette is poised to be one of the most discussed seasons yet.
The Trey Hedrick Trio performs on the main stage of the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sep. 13, 2025. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
ABBY DOENCH
ABBY DOENCH FOR THE POST
Twenty One Pilots concludes decade-long saga with ‘Breach’
The story ends with the rap-rock tune its known for.
DREW HOFFMASTER FOR THE POST
Friday, Twenty One Pilots delivered fans its newest album “Breach,” revealing how their music’s narrative story ends and climbing to number seven on iTunes top albums during its first day.
The two-man band from Columbus, Ohio, began their musical career in 2009. Singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Joshua Dun used their discography to discuss topics ranging from mental health to love, including producing a full-fledged narrative story with their album “Blurryface.”
Through a combination of song lyrics, social media posts and their website, Twenty One Pilots managed to tell the story of Clancy, a fictional character who attempts to escape a dystopian city called Dema and take down the nine bishops.
The cover of “Breach” keeps the MS Paint aesthetic of 2024’s “Clancy,” but with a calmer red and black color scheme. Joseph and Dun appear front and center, their spacing and lighting forming a skull when blurred.
Reddit users micoryee, Jamieyo7 and TaylorJJ made posts connecting the imaginary to the narrative villain Blurryface, also known as Nicolas Bourbaki, the bishop’s leader.
Before the album’s official release, two of the 13 songs from the tracklist were released as singles.
“The Contract” starts right where “Paladin Straight,” the last song from the previous album, ends, and takes an eerie tone. Its lyrics and music video set the stage for the rest of the album while depicting the internal struggle between Clancy and the bishops.
“Now I plead, just take the deal / I promised you a contract,” Joseph sings. The second single, “Drum Show,” departs from the story as a song for the band’s drummer. This is the first song where Dun takes a vocal role while drumming a rocker-band style melody, showing how much he has grown.
“I think being a two-person band, we’ve always challenged each other to kind of expand or push ourselves a little bit more,” Dun said in an interview with BBC’s Radio 1. “I think putting yourself in a situation that’s a little uncomfortable is fun.”
The song “Robot Voices” is a direct collaboration between Twenty One Pilots and Blanket Approval. According to a Reddit thread by Shane Hogan, one of the co-songwriters, the song used parts from Blanket Approval’s “My Soft Spots My Robots.”
“Cottonwood,” “Days Lie Dormant,” “One Way” and “Intentions” take a more somber mode. They cover topics from Joseph’s grandfather’s passing, missing family while on tour and the band’s goals after the album.
A couple of the tracks dive into the topic of mental health. In part of the song “RAWFEAR,” Joseph urgently mentions his anxious thoughts while mimicking a panic attack. Joseph uses
songs like “Garbage” and “Tally” to discuss wanting to retreat into a state of mental struggle because of the familiarity it provides.
“Center Mass” pairs a synth background with lyrics to express Joseph being put down by his insecurities. The way music serves as an escape for Joseph away from his fears is expressed in “Downstairs.”
Twenty One Pilots’ decade-long narrative ends with “City Walls,” the first song listed in the album. In the music video, Clancy goes toe-to-toe against Bourbaki in an epic final battle.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Joseph said the band spent a million dollars on the video.
Throughout the battle, Clancy experiences flashbacks to previous songs, such as “Heavydirtysoul,” “Jumpsuit” and “Levitate.” To add to the battle and express its finality, the track mixes together the iconic rap-rock, piano beats and pop-punk style the band is known for.
At the end, Joseph defeats Nicolas Bourbaki but becomes the thing he has been trying to defeat, representing the fact mental health is truly a tough cycle and bringing the story to a close.
Joseph told BBC’s Radio 1, after the band does its tour, the band members plan to take a break from touring to be with family, not knowing when they will be back.
“In no way are we saying this is our farewell tour,” Joseph said. “This is not the last time we’re going to tour here, coming up in the fall in the States, but I need to feel like we don’t know when the next time is … So, I’m actually really excited about what’s created inside a timeline where there is no impending deadline.”
2025-26 TOUR DATES
18 SEP. 25, Cincinnati, OH
20 SEP. 25, Toronto, ON
23 SEP. 25, Milwaukee, WI
24 SEP. 25, Tinley Park, IL
27 SEP. 25, Hershey, PA
28 SEP. 25, Burgettstown, PA
30 SEP. 25, Hartford, CT
1 OCT. 25, Bangor, ME
4 OCT. 25, Wantagh, NY
5 OCT. 25, Bristow, VA
7 OCT. 25, Virginia Beach, VA
8 OCT. 25, Charlotte, NC
10 OCT. 25, West Palm Beach, FL
TRACKLIST
11 OCT. 25, Tampa, FL
14 OCT. 25, Orange Beach, AL
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No one is immune to gun violence
NATALIE SADDLER | SLOT EDITOR
Gun violence in America continues. Recent school shootings, such as the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which left two children dead and 19 others injured, haven’t been receiving adequate coverage. Yet, social media has turned its attention to the passing of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist most famous for debating college students on campuses across the country.
These reactions toward Kirk overshadow the children who have been affected by gun violence. In addition to this, users have created a double standard where attention of a tragedy should be placed or not.
Kirk himself was never a politician; rather, he created a name for himself by co-founding Turning Point USA in 2012. This organization aims to help spread conservative ideas to left-leaning colleges. Kirk is mainly famous for the viral video of debating 25 liberal college students on YouTube. He then dedicated his time to traveling the country, stopping at various college campuses to preach his views.
The root of the issue, however, is the reactions users chose to share via social media.
Firstly, most people who spoke out for Kirk’s death never spoke about past school shootings. It’s also incredibly horrifying another high school shooting took place in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday afternoon, the same day Kirk was killed. Little attention was given to this high school. Why does a conservative activist who debated undergraduates for a living get more attention than deceased children?
Supporters of Kirk and his views claim to be advocates of life, yet have remained silent during mass shootings killing children, calling for thoughts and prayers in place of action. “Thoughts and prayers” being posted every time a tragedy happens will solve nothing. People have been advocating to fix this issue for decades.
Kirk’s supporters took to social media and demanded action. Most users posted in his honor, but threatened Democrats for calling out their silence on recent mass shootings. There was little to no coverage on the Denver, Colorado, high school shooting due to the outrage over Kirk’s death.
Users like this need to stop having selective empathy toward different political topics. Just because Kirk was wrongfully hurt by the same weapon used to target most children doesn’t mean he deserves more attention. Why can’t the media give equal coverage to both?
President Donald Trump had an immediate reaction to Kirk’s injuries. On Truth Social, he said, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump then announced his death in addition to having all flags lowered to half-mast until Sunday at 6 p.m.
One of the main rules of flying an American flag at half-mast is for periods of mourning. Trump did not lower American flags when two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, Melissa Hortman and her husband John Hoffman, were shot in their home on June 14, 2025. He gave them no attention.
Instead, Trump blamed Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, and when asked if he called Walz to express condolences, Trump said, “ I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him.” Were these two lawmakers who dedicated their time to serving Minnesota not worth a period of mourning? Oh, right, selective empathy strikes again.
Most social media users tried to defend Kirk’s death by citing the First Amendment’s freedom of speech. Yet, Kirk’s beliefs aren’t opinions, they’re prejudices. Kirk believed in the end of diversity, equity and inclusion, the Second Amendment, the deportation of illegal immigrants and more. Some users compared Kirk to a “modern-day Martin Luther King Jr.,” all because King Jr. spoke out against society, and Kirk apparently did too. Yet, Kirk called King Jr. “awful” while stating King Jr.’s legacy was an “anti-white weapon.”
Most notably, Kirk was caught saying gun violence is “unfortunately worth it” to keep the Second Amendment.
The violence never spared Kirk because he advocated for it. Social media needs to realize the effect it has on politics; instead of creating division, users can create inclusion.
Society must advocate for the loss of everyone at the hands of gun violence, not just a single person. No one is truly immune to gun violence in America.
Natalie Saddler is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Natalie about their column? Email them at ns505423@ohio.edu
Claudia’s Corner Fool’s Gold
There are too many celebrity book clubs Give ‘Balatro’ a hand
CLAUDIA FULLER | FOR THE POST
In 1996, Oprah Winfrey founded Oprah’s Book Club. At the time, Winfrey’s decision to share her picks was laughable in upmarket literary circles. Nearly 30 years later, the celebrity book club has become a staple on Barnes & Noble shelves. It’s nearly impossible to walk down an aisle without spotting stickers emblazoned on sleek covers bearing the names of Reese Witherspoon or Jenna Bush Hager.
The celebrity book club has become something of a social phenomenon. Dakota Johnson, Laufey and Dua Lipa all run book clubs. Just last year, influencer and model Kaia Gerber officially launched her club, Library Science. The book club sticker has become both a stamp of approval and a cultural signifier. Although the book club effect has yet to be formally described, Reese’s Book Club has become a titan of marketing. It’s also introduced countless readers to new stories from female voices, as Witherspoon’s monthly picks are dedicated to women writers.
I wholeheartedly believe it’s a good thing celebrities are utilizing their platforms to promote literature. Instead of snake oil hair gummies or a makeup line, they’re influencing us with Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” Yet, I can’t help but wonder what celebrities might be gaining from this. In August of 2021, Witherspoon sold her company Hello Sunshine for a whopping $900 million. It was through Hello Sunshine that Witherspoon was able to bring book club picks like “Little Fires Everywhere” to the screen, a show she also happened to star in.
Although I don’t think all celebrities with book clubs are playing a malicious long con, there is something to be said about the profits made, both financially and culturally, from book promotion.
Celebrities may claim they have nothing to gain from promoting debut authors, but they do. Even if Kaia Gerber truly enjoys “Martyr!” and “Spring Awakening,” with an introduction by Franzen, it’s hard to deny the intellectual clout that comes with the book club.
The book club offers another side to celebrity, a profession often characterized by airheadedness and vanity. It allows them to briefly shed
their skin and take on the role of learned, thoughtful academic and layperson all at once.
The club is also another arm of their ever-growing brand, where they become avenues for production companies and profit. Like philanthropy and makeup, talking about their next read becomes another hobby they can profit from. Although authors may benefit from exposure, the books selected are already destined to be hits, like “Little Fires Everywhere” or “The Nightingale.”
Though more celebrity book clubs will continue to crop up, the rise of BookTok has already transformed the future of literature. For Generation Z readers, the book club sticker has become outdated, a mark of the millennial beast. Where the mass market book club depends on the celebrity, BookTok depends on popular opinion and genres like “romantasy.”
Of all the celebrities to grace us with a book club, perhaps the exception to this trend is Lipa’s book club. The singer-songwriter has been praised for the depth of her discussions, as well as her interviewing skills. Rather than slap a sticker on a book, Lipa focuses on writing clever, creative questions for her interviews with authors like Hernán Diaz. Her influence cannot be understated. It’s partly why she was chosen to speak at the Booker Prize ceremony in 2022, one of the biggest fiction awards of the year, rather than Witherspoon.
Although still the foremost way to publicize a novel, the market for celebrity book clubs like Witherspoon’s is on its way out. Dozens of stars are searching for the next “Where the Crawdads Sing,” each hoping to add their name to the cover. But with nothing new to set them apart, they are destined for the celebrity slush pile. BookTok is proof Gen Z wants to hear new voices.
Claudia Fuller is a junior studying creative writing at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Claudia about her column? Email her at cf204322@ohio.edu.
LOGAN BAUER | FOR THE POST
Last year, a card game from an unknown, one-man video game developer LocalThunk was released and made immense waves across the industry. “Balatro” won the Best Debut Indie Game, Best Indie Game and Best Mobile Game at the 2024 Game Awards ceremony. The game deserved all the accolades it received as it takes a very unique spin on poker and pushes the game to its absolute limit and then some.
I made the mistake of skipping out on the game until recently, after many recommendations from friends. After procuring a Nintendo Switch 2, I gave the game a download, which wasn’t hard to stomach at only $15.
At its core, the game is the card classic poker, but it adds even more layers to it in surprising ways. The game’s genre is called a rougelike or rougelite, which means the game focuses on replayability using information and items gathered from previous attempts to get further in later runs. The nature of a shuffled card deck, while still maintaining specific hands from poker, allows for the randomness and strategy balance to be kept intact.
Given the game uses poker as a base for its gameplay, one may expect to need to be good at poker to be able to get into and excel at “Balatro.” I personally disagree, as I was quite rusty at poker when I picked up the game. Will Jenkins, a freshman studying film, has an opposing view.
“Maybe watch some videos on it and see what you think,” Jenkins said. I found it easy to relearn the basics of poker and to remember all of the poker hands from the menus included within the game itself. Growing accustomed to the basis of poker took very little time, nor did the new additions and changes. Where the game differs from traditional poker is where it begins to get interesting. Playing better hands nets you more chips, and each round requires you to surpass a certain threshold amount of chips to proceed. What makes this system interesting is the shop element of the game, where you can purchase power-ups in the form of unique Joker, tarot and celestial card packs, which the
game calls consumable cards. These packs can make certain hands more powerful and increase or multiply chip amounts when played, leading to strategizing around certain consumable cards and specific hands. These cards can help in a lot of great ways, or make often silly alterations to the game, like outright destroying cards from the deck or changing suits.
The strategy element here allows for “Balatro” to take a unique approach not often seen in games, which is how each player has an original strategy. There is no particular best strategy, and everyone I know who plays the game goes for different styles of play entirely.
“You can take it to your own personal heights [and] make your own skill ceiling … You’re not trying to match the skills of other players,” Josh Plumley, a freshman studying actuarial science, said. “You can set your own skill cap and then break it … Try ‘Balatro’ and you will like it.”
As Plumley alluded to, no two “Balatro” playthroughs are exactly alike, which makes discussing and comparing strategies with others so valuable and interesting.
The game’s planned 1.1 update was recently delayed from this month to sometime next year, which is set to include new jokers and other content across all platforms in the first content update in two years. While awaiting said additions, I recommend giving “Balatro” a try, even for those who may need a refresh on traditional poker or feel they will be overwhelmed by all the fancy new additions.
For being an excellent new take on a classic with plenty of twists of its own and an enticing gameplay loop, “Balatro” earns a 10/10 rating.
Logan Bauer is a freshman studying film at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Logan about his column? Email him at lb324324@ohio.edu.
Real Talk with Rylee: Mental health isn’t a joking
Be advised this column includes matters of self-harm and suicide.
The normality of suicide jokes is what creates such an extensive stigma around talking about mental health.
Have you ever heard someone joke about suicide or mental illness? How did it make you feel? For me, I was never really bothered by it. It felt so normalized to hear someone joke about matters that make others feel so deeply. It shouldn’t be normal.
I recently was in a situation where I was speaking about how overwhelmed I was to some friends, and one of them then said, “Well, you know, you can always just kill yourself.”
My jaw dropped. I was very taken aback by this. I knew it was a joke, but it hit
close to home. I lost a dear friend to suicide last year, and these words made me feel so much sadness and anger all at once. I thought about whether or not jokes like this were made by my friend. Suicide jokes are unfortunately extremely common among most people, and I can guarantee that almost every time one is made, someone is affected in a similar way I was.
Jokes about suicide may not make it more likely someone contemplates committing suicide; however, they do bring a lot of hurt to those who have struggled with suicidal ideation or have lost a loved one to suicide.
Some may argue joking about suicide is making light of something serious, but it can make people feel their struggles are something everyone else sees as silly and
unserious. Although joking about suicide may not directly influence how someone thinks about suicide, it can minimize their feelings and cause them to feel unreasonable.
Think about whether or not you have made a joke about mental illness or suicide. How did you feel making the joke? Did you feel somewhat uncomfortable, like you knew you were saying something you shouldn’t? Think about the people around you; what were their reactions? Did they laugh along awkwardly, or even say nothing at all? Any mention of suicide is uncomfortable for all parties involved, and making jokes about it only makes it worse.
Continuing the jokes about mental health only feeds into the stigma. To stop this prevalence, it starts with all of us. If you stop making jokes, then maybe those
matter
around you will stop too. You also have to have the courage to speak up when your friends make jokes. Breaking the stigma starts with one person, but so does perpetuating the stigma. We all have a choice, and I believe the correct one is clear.
Do what is right for you and your community, even if it means being the odd one out. It may feel awkward when telling others to stop making hurtful jokes, but it is what our world needs. Be the person who makes others feel seen by standing up for them when they can’t.
Rylee Drees is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Rylee about their column? Email them at rd198224@ohio.edu.
RYLEE DREES | FOR THE POST
AIDEN RYAN | FOR THE POST
Ohio University’s campus is gorgeous. The trees, flowers and friendly students make a great atmosphere for young people from across the world to learn. However, there is a common misconception that such an environment creates a bubble which shields students from the outside world – a misconception which paints Athens as a liberally-minded wonderland filled with new ideas and investments. What people commonly reference in this idealistic belief is the city of Athens, not Athens County.
The county was founded March 1, 1805, exactly two years after the state of Ohio was founded. Meaning the county shares a significant history with its state, but the Appalachian region is older than any organized government. Underground mining in the region occurred while Ohio was still a territory, one significant factor that drove inhabitants to the region.
Today, the city of Athens continues to grow. For example, OU recently welcomed the class of 2029, an alltime high of 4,550 freshmen on the Athens campus for the fall semester. Interestingly, less than a quarter of the class contains students who come from Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties.
In the northeast quadrant of the county lies an extensive grid of underground mines. Many students are unaware of what’s under their feet, including mines in Nelsonville and Buchtel just off United States Route 33 – the route which travels north toward Columbus.
There are countless towns whose economies were once supported by booming coal and mining industries. Glouster, Trimble, Jacksonville and The Plains all have mine systems that once fed a large demand for coal in the state and the country. Today, many do not know the names of those cities, even if they live in a house or dorm less than an hour away.
OU faces a unique dilemma: it preaches a commitment to serving the region while its students do not have a full grasp of what the “region” is. It’s like taking a test on the first day of class; few will get the right answer without studying first.
Despite recent economic struggles, the region continues to survive, and its
people have deep roots in the region. A $2.8 million project is underway in the city of Glouster to address community development and revitalization. The project addresses four areas: improvements to downtown buildings and the Glouster Memorial Park, the construction of a daycare facility and a workforce development program for the town’s 1,620 residents.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the project plans to “mitigate the socio-economic impact of the decline of the coal mining industry.” Another goal of community development lies in its name. People look to raise their children in areas where they feel safe and supported.
Other areas of the county, including Glouster, are still looking for the resources the city of Athens has at its disposal.
Athens County contains over 62,000 people, per the U.S. Census Bureau, with the city of Athens making up a third of the population at over 23,000 people. When academics and students characterize the entire region as a socioeconomic haven, they must remember the heart of economic power and resources is located in the city of Athens, not distributed equally across the county.
Every college campus has history, but OU is steeped in an Appalachian pride not every student is inherently familiar with.
What the campus does with its history is what matters, including how it curates and takes care of it. Part of students’ time here is to be stewards of this campus and its neighbors. Because of this, the present is an incredible lesson for the state and country.
SUDOKU CROSSWORD Aiden’s Add On Rethink the divide in Athens County
Households across Athens County and the temporary academics who grace its green for a short time will continue to stand divided if they call Athens a “liberal” campus and a “conservative” county, because it ignores the immense socioeconomic pressures many Athens County residents do not have the time or the resources to express.
Students must build bridges broken by physical distance and time. An education at OU does not solely rely on the classroom. There are lessons to be learned just over the hill. It takes a sense of radical curiosity and a willingness to redefine popular conceptions in the name of truly serving this county.
Aiden is a sophomore studying journalism. Please note that the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Aiden? Reach him on Instagram at @aiden_with_an_i_ or email him at ar260223@ohio.edu.
A map of Appalachia from the study “The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey” by the Appalachian Regional Commision. Image provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The Weekender
Trivia, yoga and Skate Jam
GINA NAPOLI | HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR
TUESDAY SEP. 16
Serenity Roots Yoga and Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd., will host a gentle yoga series from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. This beginner-friendly series practices different breathing techniques, movements and meditation strategies. Anyone is welcome.
Admission: free
Ohio University’s Concerts on the Green series will continue starting at 6:30 p.m. on College Green, 47 E Union St. The series is presented by the OHIO Performing Arts Series, Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts and the OHIO School of Music. Each week features a new ensemble and the public is welcome.
Admission: free
WEDNESDAY SEP. 17
OU’s Zanesville campus invites students, faculty and staff to enjoy free food, local vendors, ice cream trucks, student clubs and interactive games from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fest will take place on Campus Green, 1425 Newark Road, and is free to attend.
Admission: free
The Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W Union St., will host its weekly karaoke night from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. MC, Lady J of High Stakes Karaoke, invites attendees to request songs through songbookslive. com upon entering to ensure they can perform. People ages 21 and older are welcome.
Admission: free
THURSDAY SEP. 18
The alumni association invites all students to have a free meal in Latitude 39, on the first floor of Baker University Center, and converse with Evan Wikof, OU alumnus. Wikof plans to discuss how OU inspired his career in law enforcement and encourages attendees to come with questions. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m.
Admission: free
The Pigskin Bar and Grille, 38 N. Court St., hosts a weekly trivia night from 7 to 9 p.m. All teams must consist of six or less and it is free to sign up. Following this week’s trivia night is a 2000s themed
dance and rave. People ages 18 or older are welcome.
Admission: free
FRIDAY SEP. 19
Athens locals and students of all ages are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Plains Public Library, 14 S Plains Road, by making traditional quesadillas. From 4 to 6 p.m., attendees can enjoy sides and beverages along with their homemade creations. All ingredients will be provided.
Admission: free
OU invites Bobcat families to kick off Family Weekend with Lyn Redington, vice president of student affairs and Kathy Fahl, dean of students on College Green. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., attendees can have a free refreshment and interact with staff and others around campus.
Admission: free
Fridays Live! will host a premiere of season 55 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the RTV Communications Building room 515, 35 College St. Will Miller plans to host the show, celebrating OU’s longest-running sketch comedy show.
Admission: free
SATURDAY SEP. 20
The 5th annual Skate Jam music festival will be held at the Athens Skatepark, 701 E State St., starting at noon. Bands including Cel Ray, DANA, DUNE and Brenda plan to perform. 100% of the proceeds raised support the Sojourners Resiliency Center’s free youth programming, as well as improvements to the skate park. Attendees can enjoy local food vendors, beverages and street and bowl skate contests.
Admission: sliding admissions of $10 to $20, children 12 and under free
The OU women’s soccer team will face the University of Akron at Chessa Field, 121 S Shafer St., at 1 p.m.
Admission: free
@GINA_NAPOLI_ GN857223@OHIO.EDU
The Post’s favorite pictures from the week
SEP. 8-15
PHOTO 1: Bobcat Battalion cadets and first responders participate in the 9/11 Stair Challenge in Peden Stadium, Sep. 11, 2025 (TALITHA MALOY | PHOTO EDITOR)
PHOTO 2: A skater jumps on a ramp in the Skate Jam section at the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sep. 13, 2025 (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)
PHOTO 3: The Marching 110 and the Ohio State Marching Band perform together during half time at the Ohio vs. Ohio State game in the Ohio Football Stadium, Sept. 13, 2025 (JOHN FOUSS | FOR THE POST)
