College News Network

Corman, R-Centre, said the budget proposal, which passed through the senate on May 9, reflects current available revenue for the Commonwealth, leading to some changes and updates from the budget proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in February. The bill, penned by the senate Republican majority, passed with a 39-8 vote and is currently up for discussion in the state house.

The 8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival officially kicked off Friday, and even with big names like Iron & Wine and Guided by Voices, it was a relatively unknown act that stole the show.

Charles Bradley, sometimes known as “The Screaming Eagle of Soul,” and His Extraordinaires won the hearts of minds of everyone in the crowd with his soulful funk jams and energetic dance moves.

Bradley dropped to his knees during his final song, crying out, “I don’t care what you believe in, but I bet all of you believe in love.” And when he later shouted, “They don’t want me to leave,” the crowd erupted, proving he was exactly right.

And while Bradley may have been the surprise of the day, Iron & Wine — the project of Sam Beam — played an expectedly strong set, albeit a long one. Beam’s father played alongside, switching between the mandolin, guitar and banjo.

“You’ve got the before and after here,” Beam said, pointing to his father. “Yeah, I brought my dad with me.”

Guided by Voices took to the main stage after Iron & Wine. Their set was their first show in months, leading frontman Robert Pollard to dub the set as “something of a practice.”

“This is our first show in months,” Pollard yelled to the crowd. “We hate to practice on you, but that’s kind of what this is.”

The band, originally from Dayton, went on to prove that age means nothing when it comes to putting on a show. Pollard and other members of the band swigged liquor and drank beer throughout the set while showcasing the energy of a much younger band.

Rather than just playing old favorites, Guided by Voices played mostly new material. And even though everyone seemed to be loving it, when the band walked offstage for the first time, much of the crowd vacated, leaving only about 150 people for the encore.

The No-Fi Cabin and Porch Stage drew hundreds as well, with the No-Fi Cabin overflowing during the set of Athens’ own brother-duo, Adam and Jesse Remnant.

Some other noticeable happenings included:

—The ground in front of the main stage seemed to show some lasting damage from last year’s festival, which had quickly turned into a mud pit after three days of rain. This year’s festival has a more promising forecast, with highs in the 80s and sunny skies for all three days.

—Charles Bradley’s performance featured a costume change. After dropping into the splits and promptly walking offstage, Bradley returned to join his band in a sparkling red suit. As with his first outfit, he quickly shed the jacket.

—Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) — or what might have been a Sam Beam doppelganger — was spotted munching a burrito in the crowd during Charles Bradley’s set.

—Although the men of Guided by Voices put on an energetic performance, their age showed during parts, particularly when bassist Greg Demos grabbed his chest and sat down on the cooler. Even so, they played through with gusto.

—Between them, Guided by Voices brought a handle of Jose Cuervo, a handle of Crown Royal, a cooler of Miller Lite, a pack of Camels, and a pack of Marlboro to the stage — as well as guitarist Mitch Mitchell's wife, who made sure that he always had a lit cigarette. By our count, Mitchell smoked more than 13 cigarettes while on stage — and that’s not even counting the sound check, throughout which he dangled a smoke from his mouth as well.

—Kurt Vile and the Violators had to convince fest organizers to let them play over their allotted time.

—While there were highs in the 80s during the day, once the sun went down the temperature dropped to the low 50s. For those planning to attend the rest of the fest, sweaters are recommended for the evening.

—During Iron & Wine’s set, audience members routinely sent up flaming luminaries of some sort into the sky.

—The Post's business manager, R.J, Sumney, brought his seven-year old son to the Kurt Vile show, and after the show the boy wanted an autograph to remember the show by, as it was his first concert. Vile happily signed a vinyl record, giving the child something to remember.

—Kurt Vile performed a spectacular cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Downbound Train."

—The overall pacing of the festival seems a little bit different this year, with the biggest crowd grabbers taking the stage on Friday and Sunday. With that said, Saturday is traditionally the most well-attended day, so tomorrow should be bustling from the time yoga takes place bright and early.

—Nicolien Buholzer, Cameron Dunbar, Ian Ording and Adam Wagner contributed to this story.

The OU softball team stomped Lehigh, 19-3, in the first round regional matchup. The Sooners run ruled the Mountain Hawks in just five innings.

The OU baseball team beat Samford, 6-2, Friday to even the series at one game a piece. Sophomore pitcher Johnathan Gray notched his seventh win in the season.

Correction appended: May 18, 2012 With jury selection scheduled to begin in less than three weeks, the judge presiding over the Jerry Sandusky case approved a number of changes to the details of the incidents connected to the former assistant football coach's charges.

 

An Ohio University student was charged with raping a 17-year-old female.

Michael Alexandrov, 19, who is from Mamaronek NY, is currently being held on a $50,000 bond, according to an APD release.

The victim reported on May 18 at 2:15 a.m. that she was the raped by Alexandrov, in a residence in the uptown area. The victim told APD that she knew Alexandrov.

Alexandrov has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Sophomore pitcher Frank Duncan threw a complete game shutout, allowing seven hits striking out five and giving up just one walk on rout to the 1-0 victory over the Missouri Tigers Thursday evening at Hogland Park.

Thursday night marked game one of a three game set in the final Border War Showdown between these two rivals.The victory, coming after Kansas State beat Texas Tech Thursday night, moves the Jayhawks into seventh place in the Big 12 standings. With one more victory, Kansas can clinch a spot in the Big 12 Baseball Championship in Oklahoma City.

Kansas improved to 21-31 record overall and 6-15 in conference play. The Tigers drop to 27-25 and 9-13 in the Big 12.

In the bottom of the 7th senior Zach Elgie led off the inning with a single to left field, and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by freshman Dakota Smith. Freshman Michael Suiter drilled a two out, RBI double to left-center field to bring Elgie in for the only run of the game.

The Jayhawks will return to the field Friday night at 6 pm against the Tigers. Freshmen Wes Benjamin is set to take the mound for the Jayhawks and is scheduled to face Missouri’s freshmen John Miles.

A Penn State student reported Wednesday to Penn State University Police that he or she was sexually assaulted by a known person about a month ago on campus.

Three Disney movies will be shown at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art this summer: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Walt & El Grupo” and “The Lion King.”

People looking to celebrate local food, health and nutrition can take part in a day of appreciation scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the Oklahoma State University-OKC campus in Oklahoma City.

The Big 12 and SEC have announced a five-year agreement to play each other in a postseason bowl game. The game will be in addition to the new four-team playoff model and begins following the 2014 season.

Bicycle enthusiasts across Norman rode to work today, celebrating National Bike to Work Day as a transportation alternative. Bike to Work Day a national campaign promoting bicycling as a healthy and efficient transportation alternative.

Ohio University’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity celebrated its 93rd charter anniversary on Thursday.

The fraternity hosted the event in Baker University Center’s Multicultural Center Art Gallery.

The opening Thursday drew crowds of students to see the artifacts, including old issues of The Post, programs from past events and civil rights protest signs.

“We were not only the first the first historically black fraternity established at OU, but we were also the first African American organization established at OU,” said Jerry Valentine, OU Alpha Phi Alpha’s vice president.

For some Alpha Phi Alpha members, the gallery exhibit and charter day celebration is bittersweet.  The switch to semesters next year will not allow the fraternity to commemorate its charter day.

“We decided since there’s the big semester switch, we won’t be here on May 17th anymore, so we decided to celebrate our 93rd with this exhibit,” said Valentine, a junior studying exercise physiology.

Finding the artifacts and arranging the exhibit led the members to the archives in Alden.

"We went to the fifth floor of Alden where the archives are and just gathered all the artifacts,” said Nick Banks, director of educational programs for Alpha Phi Alpha. “We decided to bring people together to see our history over the last 93 years.”

Although this is the last charter day celebration for Alpha Phi Alpha, the semester switch will allow the fraternity to celebrate founding day on Dec. 4.

“So even though we can’t celebrate our charter day anymore, we can now celebrate our founding day," said Banks, a junior studying communications.  "It’s kind of sad because we could have done things like this before and even though we won’t be here next year, I’m sure the brothers will still get together to celebrate.”

The REACH party brought out their brooms and took every possible Student Senate position but one in this year’s election despite the second-lowest vote total since 2007.

With 1,140 votes, REACH’s Zach George will replace Kyle Triplett as senate president, with running mates Amrit Saini netting 1,181 votes and Evan Ecos garnering 1,489 votes for vice president and treasurer, respectively.

“It is a very coming-of-age moment,” George said. “This is clearly brought to us by students. It’s a very humbling experience for sure. We thought the real work began 30 days ago; the real work starts now.”

George plans on tackling student advocacy and administrative accountability while in office.

“They are going to do a phenomenal job next year,” Triplett said. “Those three guys have good exposure and will represent the student body very well next year.”

Saini, who wore his emotions on his sleeve after the announcement of his victory, is looking forward to collecting applications to form next year’s senate.

“I’m still nervous and anxious and excited,” Saini said. “I wouldn’t have done it with any other team.”

Ecos ran unopposed after Eric Holley, treasurer candidate for the opposing yOU ticket, dropped out after The Post reported he had a disorderly conduct violation on his record. Ecos said he plans to include this year’s independent presidential candidate Jared Henderson and yOU’s presidential candidate Tony Koehling on next year’s senate as a result of this year’s positive campaigning.

Henderson said he hopes to hold a commissioner position.

“I tried to win on purely my personal platforms without traditional methods,” Henderson said. “I’ve always been a student advocate, and I will continue to do so next year.”

Koehling is unsure of how involved he will be with next year’s senate, he said.

“Money talks, people were influenced by it, and that’s what matters,” Koehling said. “I don’t think there will be representation, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a fine job for the university.”

With a budget of up to $4,000, REACH outspent yOU by about $3,800.
Of the 31 senate positions, the only one REACH did not win was that of the Honors Tutorial College senator, which write-in candidate Brett Weiler won by only five votes.

This year’s election had the second-lowest number of votes compared with recent years with just more than 2,000 students voting, said Kate Steven, chair of the Board of Elections.

The calm campaign was the main reason behind such a low voter turnout, Steven said.

“Had there been more campaigning and even campaigning, there would have been more closer, even results,” Steven said.

Also on the ballot were questions regarding OU’s Budget Planning Council, though the majority of students chose to not answer.

sj950610@ohiou.edu

Graduate Student Senate’s PROUD party celebrated its uncontested victory Thursday night among fellow students on Baker University Center’s fourth floor.

Despite a lack of competition, the party managed to bring in 149 votes after a week of campaigning with presidential candidate Tynita White receiving 115 votes.

Ashley Furrow, a student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, will now serve as the vice president of communication for GSS with plans to revamp the graduate student website next year.

“We’re looking to create a central focus for graduate students to find housing,” Furrow said. “Right now, the website’s kind of sporadic.”

Several new faces will be taking office under PROUD’s administration.

Kat Mitchell, an undergraduate senior studying political science and now senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, is a new addition to GSS. She is eager to get working to increase health and safety on campus during her term.

Along with the crop of fresh faces are GSS veterans who will switch positions for the upcoming academic year.

Molly Yanity, former vice president for communication, will become vice president for administration and finance. Yanity, the party’s former presidential candidate, made a last-minute candidacy swap with White.

White became the presidential candidate because of a graduate assistantship mix-up that would have negatively affected Yanity’s graduate stipend.

“From my perspective, the switch went seamlessly, and I believe that the elected candidates with serve well in 2012–13,” Board of Elections Chair John Hummel said.

White is a first-year graduate student studying public administration after receiving her undergraduate degree in political science from Ohio University.

As president of SHADES, White formerly worked with the student organization dedicated to strengthening the connections between multicultural and LGBT students. The organization has been largely involved with organizing and promoting Pride Week and the National Day of Silence.

“My main focus is the graduate student body, but I want to get more of those student communities involved,” White said.

Last year, then-GSS President Tracy Kelly and White teamed up to organize a multicultural exchange, experience that White said will help her prepare for the upcoming year.

“I feel relieved. Now we can start planning for an awesome school year,” Kelly said. “I’m looking forward to working with all these great people again this school year.”

hm156809@ohiou.edu

Saturday’s 9Fest will see a beefed-up law enforcement presence compared with previous Number Fests in a push to keep the party raging without interruption.

Though past fests have always had officers patrolling within their jurisdiction, fest operators have added Athens and Ohio University police forces to the payroll, marking the first time they will be part of the fest in an official capacity.

Athens County Sheriff’s deputies, Athens Police and OU Police will patrol outside the venue, primarily helping with traffic flow and parking, while private security will take care of crowd control at the actual event.

“The most expensive of all of them is the sheriff’s office, which is well over $15,000,” said Dominic Petrozzi, an OU alumnus who founded Number Fest. “But we’re 100 percent glad to work alongside local law heroes of Athens.”

OU Police Chief Andrew Powers and Athens Police Capt. Ralph Harvey were unavailable for comment, but Petrozzi said the festival pays a special duty rate for their services.

Athens Police will patrol the West Union Street area, where the fest is taking place, while OU Police will generally stick to Peden Stadium, Petrozzi said.

Though it cuts into the fest’s profits, the advantage of having law enforcement allows the fest to go on as planned.

“When you’ve gone eight years without an incident, that has to be attributed to something important,” Petrozzi said. “(Law enforcement) is one of the top-five line items we have for the entire event following entertainment, venue, ticketing and marketing.”

Though important to keeping the fest raging on, local law enforcement won’t be inside the venue, Petrozzi said, adding that 30 private security officers will be inside to help with crowd control.

“They’re going to be there to help, not to harass. It’s not like the city of Athens forced us to do this,” Petrozzi said. “Our goal is to get everybody home safe and sound.”

But the Ohio Investigative Unit, responsible for about half the arrests at High, Palmer, Oak and Mill fests, will have jurisdiction inside the fest grounds. The undercover agents from the unit have jurisdiction anywhere there’s alcohol.

9Fest is slotted to have about the same number of agents as the street fests, said Julie Hinds, spokeswoman for the unit.

The agents’ tactics will not change for the fest, but the unit will combat a different set of risks because 9Fest is not in the city and drunken driving by partiers could be dangerous.

“It’s different (from other fests) in that there is the real severe possibility of people driving,” Hinds said. “We’re looking to curtail a major incident.”

— Xander Zellner contributed to this report.

 jj360410@ohiou.edu

As Ohio University’s last Spring Quarter and, possibly, fest season come to an end, organizers and musicans of 9Fest plan to go out with a bang.

“It’s coming together great,” said Dominic Petrozzi, one of the fest’s organizers.

“We’ve had no real issues this year, and we are really emphasizing the quality of production. Overall, we are all just excited and everything is going super smooth as the fest quickly approaches.”

Petrozzi added that recent security issues for other local fests have had no effect on 9Fest and that audience members should expect some major surprises on stage, including confetti blasts.

“It’s something that you would see at an Ultra Fest. The production is going to be way different than years past,” Petrozzi said.  

Timeflies, 12th Planet and Chip Tha Ripper will headline the event.

Chip Tha Ripper, a musican who began his career in the Cleveland area, will be debuting new tracks from his recently released mix, Tell Ya Friends. The album was recently featured in Entertainment Weekly.

“Just expect a huge party,” Chip said of his performance Saturday. “I don’t want to give too much of the show away, but it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Sammy Bananas and Maggie Horn of Telephoned have a slightly different style, as they specialize in taking recognizable songs and turning them into their own mix. They also are able to pull off the same trick with their own music.

“The audience should expect a crazy show that can blow them away,” Horn said.

“We started as just a cover band, remaking current radio songs into more dance music songs. Our shows are a mix-match of recognizable songs that everyone knows and our own music.”

Throughout the day, local and visiting DJs will also take the stage, including DJ Etrayn and local duo Dave Rave.

“It’ll be pretty high energy,” said Dave Alexander of Dave Rave. “It’s one of the biggest parties in Athens.”

DJ Etrayn added that listeners should expect a brief flashback from the past as he will throw some ’90s hits into the mix.

“I’m excited to play at 9Fest. I played last year and it was a blast ,” Etrayn said.

“I love fests, and there’s going to be thousands of students just having a good time. It’s the end of the year and an introduction to summer, so people should expect to rage.”

lf328610@ohiou.edu

In memory of West Elementary School’s former guidance counselor, Patricia “Patsy” Barrington, the Athens Bulldogs Cross Country Club is sponsoring a 5k fun run/walk Saturday.

Remembered for her kindness and compassion for students and faculty, the 5k will lead in to a memorial service for Barrington, who died Dec. 11 from colon cancer at the age of 56, at the Dairy Barn Arts Center at 2 p.m.

Barrington’s two daughters, various friends, family and faculty of West Elementary will be in attendance, including 2nd grade teacher Shannon Schloss and special education teacher Jan Allen.

“Patsy could light up a room with her laugh and her smile,” Schloss said. “Anytime you felt down in the dumps, you could always depend on Patsy to make you feel better.”

Barrington spent much of her life at West Elementary, teaching kindergarten in the exact same classroom in which she was taught in as a child, said Allen. She spent several years as a kindergarten teacher followed by her 20-year tenure as guidance counselor.

Barrington devoted much of her attention to her students, said Schloss.

“If there was ever a problem with a student, she asked how their behavior was affecting students and she always met with the them to talk about their problems,” she said. “Even if I had a problem with anything, I always went to her.”

The cost to participate is $25 for community members and $10 for Athens City School District students, according to the pre-registration flyer.

Half of the proceeds go toward the Athens Bulldog Elementary Cross-Country Clubs and the other half go toward the Friends of the Shelter Dogs of Athens.

So far, more than 300 people have volunteered and $3,500 has been raised from pre-registration.

“This race is absolutely for anyone that wants to help memorialize Patsy,” said Liz Schwarzel, organizer and Athens Bulldogs Cross-Country coach.

The 5k is located at West State Park Saturday morning at 9am with registration beginning at 8am.

“She was extremely important to not only the staff and administration, but for what she did for the students,” Schloss said. “She has a pretty big legacy in the Athens city school district and will be part of our community for years and years to come.”

az346610@ohiou.edu

Months of anticipation will come to an end Friday night when Pittsburgh’s own Wiz Khalifa takes the stage for the Spring Convo Concert.

Khalifa with featured guest Sean Kingston will perform at The Convo before a packed crowd that is expected to sell out before the night is over.

Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director for the Campus Involvement Center, said 4,750 tickets have already been sold with only 250 remaining in the upper obstructed view seats, Last year’s B.o.B. show sold 2,000 fewer tickets compared with this year’s show.

“We were thrilled with B.o.B last year, but we wanted to be bigger and better,” said Kyle Triplett, president of Student Senate. “Wiz is a bigger act, and we got a bigger response as far as ticket sales go.”

Triplett said he hopes Student Senate will continue the model that was put forth this year in which students vote on the act they would want to see, adding that he believes the voting model is why there is an increase in ticket sales.

Even with the increased ticket sales, the university will not be able to pay the $150,000 cost for Friday night’s show from those sales alone. To cover the gap, an estimated $10,000 will be taken out of the General Fee, which is taken from tuition paid to the university by students.

In the fall, that General Fee money was set aside as a cushion for the concert.

Triplett said he does not expect to have to use the entire safety-net fund.

Part of the reason so many tickets have been sold is that people are coming from out of town to see all of the weekend’s events, including the eighth annual Nelsonville Music Festival and 9Fest, said Hannah Croft, live entertainment director and PR coordinator for the Campus Involvement Center. Still, she said, the event is directed at the students.

“The reason we do big concerts like this is so that people from Athens don’t have to go to Columbus,” Croft said. “These kind of shows are (in Columbus) all the time, and they are pricier because they have a whole metropolitan area to play off of.”

She added that this is probably the biggest music weekend at OU simply because there is something to offer everyone on every day.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about it,” Triplett said of Friday’s show. “There will be 5,000 students in The Convo all at once for the same reason, and I think it’s going to be a great environment.”

wh092010@ohiou.edu

Athenians will be breaking out their bikes to raise awareness about the method of transportation that is proving to be popular in the city during an event Saturday.

The City of Athens Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee will sponsor the first Simply Cycling event in the parking lot of the Athens Community Center. The event is aimed to bring Athens bicyclists together and inform them about bicycle safety and resources.

During the meet and greet, cyclists can interact with representatives of cycling clubs, organizations and shops in Athens.

ShadeTree Bike Works will also demonstrate how to fix a flat tire.

There will be a preliminary skills course offered by the League of American Bicyclists that will help riders learn bicycle safety and bike-handling tips.

Athens ranks high among similarly sized cities in the number of pedestrian and bicycling commuters, according to the city’s 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

“Athens is bike friendly, but, as always, we can improve in this area with better-marked pathways to neighborhoods, places of business and parks,” said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-At Large.

With the ever-growing number of bike paths, Athens is a bike-friendly city and more residents and students are choosing bikes over cars.

“It’s a lot less expensive to maintain than a car —there’s no parking or insurance, which is especially better for students and everything is within biking distance,” said Carrie Stemridge of the Ohio Bike Federation and an organizer of this event. “Not everybody [in the biking community] knows each other and this will be a good opportunity to meet and discuss amongst each other different events and cycling groups.”

Athens is becoming more bike-friendly with "share" lanes and extensions to the bike path, said Maxine Rantane, owner of Cycle Path Bicycles.

“The more Athenians bicycling, the better,” Knisely said. “Bicycling contributes to making Athens a more environmentally sustainable community and lessens the parking and traffic congestion.”

There is a social and educational component that comes from people sharing information amongst each other, said Stemridge.

“Education, information, community and a sense of confidence on a bike is what I hope to see happen this weekend,” she said.

cw105510@ohiou.edu

Escalating home run totals prompted college baseball and softball officials to restore some normalcy to the sport by changing the bats.

The NCAA introduced a plan in 2010 to make the sports more balanced by having players use BBCOR — Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution — bats. The bats have a 10 to 15 percent decrease in power capacity compared to the old BESR bats that provided more “ding” for the buck.

But through almost two complete seasons of use in each sport, the bats have not had the same effect for baseball and softball for all teams in the Mid-American Conference.

“Those (bats) were really hot,” Ohio baseball coach Joe Carbone said. “The weight had to be three ounces within the length, but you didn’t play much small ball anymore because you had guys who could really hit the ball out of the ballpark.

“We recruited to that — we had Marc Krauss, Gauntlett Eldemire, Robert Maddox — (Jensen) Painter’s home run total would be in the high 20s if we had those bats right now.”

Switching bat technologies had contrasting effects on baseball and softball.
With BESR bats in 2010, Ohio softball hit only 33 home runs, while the Ohio baseball team hammered a conference-leading 79 bombs. On the other hand, last season Ohio softball set a program record with 35 home runs while Bobcat baseball saw its totals decrease by more than half to 32. No MAC baseball team hit more than 40 longballs in 2011.

The difference in output from the same technology are largely unknown, but the answer might boil down to just the bats.

“We have been looking to recruit players who can help increase our power numbers,” Ohio softball coach Jodi Hermanek said. “But, technology for our sport is always a large factor on how the game is played. These bats are definitely different.”

At Ohio Softball Field, the center-field fence is only 210 feet away from home plate, while the deepest part of Bob Wren Stadium is almost twice the distance of softball, at 405 feet.

BBCOR bats do not flex as much as the now-banned composite BESR bats do, which allows for less energy to produce long hits and accounts for the different effects in each sport, according to Easton, Ohio softball’s official bat supplier.

The lower flex helps make the bats more durable over time and does not allow for any breaking in, which was a major factor of highly inflated home run numbers in baseball. But less flex allows for more line drives, proving beneficial for softball, as players can still get the ball over the fence. The much greater distance required to hit a home run in baseball means that home runs are not as likely.

“Honestly, I was not really aware that the bats had changed,” Ohio softball player Lauren Gellerman said. “I think I, myself, have just progressed as I have aged. The bats have not affected me to my knowledge.”

Gellerman, along with teammate Raven King, hit 13 home runs apiece this year to break Ohio’s single-season individual record and helped to break the team record for the second season in a row.

Softball teams are seeing power numbers on the rise across the MAC. Squads have from averaging 30 home runs in 2010 to almost 35 in 2012, MAC baseball teams numbers have plummeted to only 28 per team a season after an average of 52 with the BESR bats.

In 2010, the Bobcat baseball team had five players hit seven or more home runs. With only two games remaining on the schedule this season, only senior Jensen Painter has more than seven home runs, as he has gone deep 14 times.

cl1027410@ohiou.edu

Even though Miami has played Ohio 228 times over the years, the RedHawks finally broke the century mark Thursday with their 100th win in series history.

The RedHawks (27-26, 11-14)took game one by a score of 5-2, but are still on the outside of the Mid-American Conference playoff picture. Akron is a half game back from the RedHawks. Ohio (27-26, 15-10 MAC) sits fourth in the MAC picture; one game ahead of Eastern Michigan and a game back from Central Michigan.

The series-opener storyline was dominated by a lack of opportunistic hitting from the Bobcats, while Miami was more in-tune with runners in scoring position.

“We kind of had a couple mental mistakes, had a couple errors that were not physical, but mental,” senior starting pitcher Brent Choban said. “So coming out tomorrow we just have to focus on being mentally strong and they did more things right than we did, so they came out on top.”

The Bobcat offense kicked into gear in the second inning when freshman second baseman Ian Mezlak popped a sacrifice fly to center to scorefreshman catcher Cody Gaertner, who had singled to lead off the inning.

Choban allowed his second walk of the game to begin the third, but made up for the free base with a quick pick-off move for the inning’s first out. Max Andresen made the game’s first explosive connection later in the inning, where he popped a liner down the first base line, just outsidefreshman first baseman Jake Madsen’s diving reach.

Ohio coach Joe Carbone said if Madsen would have repositioned his body and gotten behind the ball, it would have likely saved further damage.

The RedHawks continued their offensive push as Matt Honchel blasted a grounder that was too hot for junior Ben Otto to handle at short, which scored Andreson. Choban put himself in another tough situation when he hit another batter to bring in Ryan Brenner but got out of the inning three strikes later after notching his fourth of five strikeouts.

With the bases loaded in the third, Ohio junior third baseman Dan Schmidt gave the Miami dugout a scare, knocking a fly ball that had warning track power. However, Honchell, the RedHawks left fielder, hauled it in and limited the swat to a sacrifice fly.

The RedHawks scored three runs in the sixth inning. The third run scored on a bang-bang play at the plate when the throw from right fielder Jensen Painter was a split-second too late.

Both teams’ bats were relatively quiet for the remainder of the contest, save an Ethan Newton double in the eighth for Ohio.

The Bobcat defense picked up steam later in the game under the direction of junior relief pitcher Tyler Backstrom, who capped off the night with a strikeout. Gaertner also caught Miami’s lone runner of the inning attempting to steal second.

Despite the efforts on the opposite side of the ball, the Bobcats went down in order to end the game.

“When they were giving us opportunities, we didn’t cash in some base hits with two outs,” Carbone said. “The bases loaded one time, couple times a guy was on second base, but we have to give credit to Miami, they pitched and hit and got some key hits when they needed to."

— Ohio starting pitcher Brent Choban pitched 6-2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. He struck out five and had five walks.

— Miami’s Max Andresen went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

— Game two will begin at 6 p.m. Friday. The series will conclude at 2 p.m. Saturday.

 jr992810@ohiou.edu

Goalies are like actors: Everybody sees the player wearing the mask or brightly colored jersey, but nobody can decipher their identity beneath the equipment.

That is an enigma only they know the answer to, and sometimes, only they can understand.

“It’s certainly a different breed of person,” Ohio soccer goalkeeper Mattie Liston said. “The more goalies I meet, the more I’m like, ‘wow, we are so similar.’ ”

The key to success is instinct. With minimal reaction time, goalies are forced to make split-second decisions that could be the determining factor of a game.

“It takes a little bit of extra assurance,” Liston said. “It has to be instinct, because if it’s not instinct, you’re going to be too slow.”

Bobcat field hockey goalie Jen McGill started her goaltending career in fourth grade. Liston, on the other hand, began playing goalie during her freshman year of high school when her coach offered her a starting spot on the varsity team. In the case of Ohio ice hockey goalie Fedor Dushkin, his father was the first to lobby for him to try on the pads.    

“My dad actually forced me to be a goalie because he saw the way I skated and didn’t think I was good enough to be a player,” Dushkin said. “It kind of just went from there … but I don’t regret his decision to put me in as goalie. I love it.”

Despite wearing tons of padding, goalies run the risk of injuring themselves each time they stand in front of the net. McGill and Dushkin said that the most dangerous part of their position is getting knocked over by opposing players.

“You can’t think of it often during a game. You just have to keep focused on saving the puck,” Dushkin said. “You worry about (injuries) after the game.”

McGill, who has sustained two concussions in her career, said that she has never considered the possibility of leaving the field hockey pitch.

“Concussions are a serious matter, but I’ve fallen in love with this game,” McGill said.  “I’ve never really thought about not coming back.”

Nursing injuries is not the only downside to the position. With the extra equipment comes extra responsibility. McGill, who often misses running drills because she is working on her technique, will run alone to stay in shape. Liston described her position as “the last line of defense and the first line of offense” and said she studies film to understand each position on the field.

But the perks of playing in the limelight usually outweigh the heavy workload.

“You’re always in the public eye,” Dushkin said. “If you make a great save and save the game, then the credit is all for you.”

To set their mind for an onslaught of shots, McGill and Dushkin do not stray from their pregame rituals. Both deny superstition, though admit they have certain ways of doing things.

Dushkin starts game days with homework and finishes with home-style chicken from Nelson Grab ‘n’ Go. McGill puts her pads on the same way every game and wears the same shirt underneath her jersey.    

Liston limits her superstitions to touching the posts upon running out to the field.

“I’m more of the type that’s like, ‘Well, if you’re good it’s probably because you practiced a lot, not because you put the same socks on every game,’” Liston said.

Doing things in a similar way is advantageous for goalies as opponents are constantly trying to knock them of their game.

McGill said her biggest annoyance is when forwards stand on her feet to prevent her from moving. She counters the obstruction with an equally unorthodox method, but preferred to keep her move a secret. The mystery, after all, is part of what makes goalies who they are. 

 mm938910@ohiou.edu

The music industry tends to be a male-dominated field, yet more and more women are making their presence known, especially at the Nelsonville Music Festival.

Last year’s festival featured 16 bands with women in a main or major supporting role in the group, and this year’s festival goes even further. Eighteen acts feature a majority of women as the head of the band, and many of these acts are  nationally known.

Tim Peacock, executive director of the festival, said that it’s not the organizers’ intention to take precedence on women over men or vice versa — he just enjoys quality music.

“When we started booking it this year, it was very male dominated,” Peacock said. “We like to have a diverse lineup.”

Multiple acts — such as Jessica Lea Mayfield, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside and Those Darlins — have gained a strong national following, and some have even landed performances on late night talk shows.

Jessi Darlin of Those Darlins sings about her experiences with male rockers on the road in her song “Be Your Bro,” in which she said that many guys are just looking to have sex, even if they’re married and away from their families.

While the music industry has traditionally been very male-dominated, she said more women are coming out of the woodwork.

“Being a girl in a band and touring all the time, there are a lot of women, but at the same time there are a lot more dudes,” she said. “The more that time goes on, the more women see other women and go ‘oh I can do that too.’ ”

Sallie Ford, lead singer for Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, said that it’s not necessarily that more women are coming into rock and roll, but more so that rock and roll is making a resurgence.

“Hopefully rock is coming back and people are tired of this folky stuff,” Ford said.

“(Playing rock music), you can still be vulnerable and write about things that matter, but you can do it in a way that’s energetic. I think that’s why girls are into rock — it makes a live show more interesting.”

In the past few years, women have truly reached great heights in the rock music scene, but many instead turn to country and pop.

Even well-established acts, though, are trying to support more women singers and instrumentalists. During Jack White’s recent performance on Saturday Night

Live, every member of his backing band was a woman.

“You don’t really see women taking the lead guitar solo but it’s happening more often,” said Angela Perley, a Columbus-based country artist playing for the festival. “It’s really inspiring to know that there are really cool women artists out there.”

wh092010@ohiou.edu

Court Street will be lined with booths offering food and games from around the world Saturday, while African dancers perform on a nearby stage.

In its 30th year, the International Street Fair will take over Uptown Athens, providing residents and students an opportunity to experience more than 25 cultures from around the world without stepping foot outside Ohio.

“The organizations will be selling food, doing cultural presentations, doing raffles, or small cultural games at their tables,” said Mohamad Al-Issa, president of the International Student Union, the event’s sponsor. “We have some performers, there will be dancers and a band. There will be a (dance) group from Japan, a group from Africa and a group from China.”

The fair is the culmination of International Week, a week that celebrates the diversity of OU with different cultural events throughout the week. Koko Kondo, this year’s keynote speaker and Hiroshima bomb survivor, spoke Monday and other events like the ISU talent show have also been held. Saturday will also be the first round of OU’s world cup soccer tournament.

Amanda Yusko, an adviser for the International Student and Faculty Services, helped organize the International Street Fair.

“It’s anything from Interfaith Impact to the Chinese Cultural Exchange group, all sorts,” she said. “For the 30th year, we compiled a yearbook that will be available in limited supply. It has the history of the Street Fair with pictures and mementos from Street Fairs past.”

The International Street Fair is made possible by a collaboration of organizations, including funds from the Student Activities Commission. The ISU contributed $15,000 toward the event.

Both Yusko and Al-Issa expect a large crowd Saturday and urge students to attend.

“How often do you get to see a celebration of so many cultures in one place, presenting food, presenting books, presenting paintings?” Al-Issa said. “It’s not something you get to see every day.”

Yusko views the Street Fair as a way for students to experience something new.
“It’s a really great opportunity to get out and experience new things,” she said.

“There are 100 different nations represented on campus. Get out and meet other people. Try something different.”
 

jf392708@ohiou.edu

Norman CART services will free all day today to promote a clean-air environment during an ozone alert day. The Association of Central Oklahoma Government’s Clean Air Committee issues ozone alert days for the state.

No matter a person’s beliefs, discrimination is still wrong in every way. One’s creed does not license one to discriminate.

The OU softball team will take on Lehigh in the first round of the NCAA regional tonight. The No. 4 Sooners won't look past the Mountain Hawks, freshman first baseman Lauren Chamberlain said.

The Alumni College has invited national television host and American historian to speak at the university. Steven Gillon will speak at noon Wednesday.

The outcome allowed coach Ehren Earleywine to express confidence heading into Saturday's game against DePaul.

Although the regular outdoor season is over for many Bobcats, the team will host the third annual Ohio Sunset Distance and Discus Classic Friday on the Goldsberry Track for athletes to either prepare for the NCAA Championships or wrap up their seasons.

“It’s basically a post-season fun meet,” throws coach Nick Pero said. “Not everyone competes in it from our team — only the people who want to do something, do something.”

Distance coach Mitch Bentley said there are six events with 10-15 athletes competing in each. All events are individual based, so there will be no team events.

Along with a few Bobcats, post-collegiate, unattached and some Division III athletes will compete. The Division III schools are Ohio Wesleyan and Mount Union, both of which have some athletes reaching for marks to make their NCAA meets.

Starting at 6 p.m., the events begin with the discus throw, followed by the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 800-meter run, the mile and conclude with the 5,000-meter race.

“This distance trails are always fun because the races are at night so it’s cooler and the wind has died down,” Bentley said.

Bentley went on to say that this meet is huge for the Ohio men’s cross country team because they are gearing up for summer training and it sets the tone for their upcoming fall season. 

Sophomore Emily Pifer is not one of the Bobcats competing this weekend. Instead, she is preparing for the 10,000-meter race at the NCAA East Regional meet in Jacksonville, Fla. next week.

UPNEXT
Ohio Sunset Distance and Discus Classic
May 18
Goldsberry Track

nb155607@ohio.edu

About 10 Athens residents and Ohio University students could be seen portraying characteristics of various disabilities during the third annual Challenge by Choice event Thursday.

The Athens City Commission on Disabilities hosted the event, which raises awareness about people with disabilities, said Larry Jageman, president of the commission.

“We are trying to help the community at large become more aware and helpful to people who are disabled,” Jageman said.

Tolerance and acceptance come most easily through immersion and an understanding of disabled people, Jageman said, adding that people have to learn to be helpful in the right ways.

“We don’t want to force (those with disabilities) into dependence when they are trying to be independent,” Jageman said.

The event started at noon at Ponderosa, 743 E. State St., where participants chose which disability they would be portraying for the rest of the day and concluded at the Athens Community Center, where volunteers spoke about their experiences.

Among the participants were Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl and Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost of Ohio University.

“I think the university does have some challenges (for disabled people) because of our topography,” Benoit said. “We work hard to make it accessible.”

Benoit chose to take on the role of someone with a math learning disability by following provided guidelines that helped her emulate behaviors of those with such a disability, such as counting on her fingers and using a calculator to check any math work.

Because a majority of her day is spent on dealing with budgetary issues, Benoit said the limitations of her disability were detrimental to her workflow.

“It must be exhausting to figure out how to deal with this,” Benoit said.

OU’s School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences provided on-call support for participants throughout the day.

The students helped volunteers mimic physical disabilities in various ways, including casting arms and restricting volunteers to wheelchairs for the duration of the experience.

Kristen Grinnan, a graduate student studying physical therapy, said that this is her second year helping with the physical disabilities portion of the experiment and that the school participated to raise awareness for the community.

People should not feel helpless or embarrassed around a disabled person because they are all around us, Jageman said.

“They’re probably 99.9 percent the same as us,” Jageman said. “This is to help us (without disabilities) through the feeling of helplessness.”
sm366909@ohiou.edu

The dimensions of the field differ; there are fewer downs and more players, but to former Ohio running back Chris Garrett, it’s still just football.

Garrett is carrying the pigskin north of the border in the backfield of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He has handled the transition to the pro game and the off-field parts of the game that come with playing professionally.

“It’s a great feeling to be blessed to have my own jersey, let alone have people walk around in it,” Garrett said. “Every time I see somebody in it, it’s like a blink of reality like, I’m somebody now.”

Canadians love football, but it is no secret that hockey is the national pastime. The return of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets has brought that crazed environment back to the city.

Garret has embraced hockey more because the football season ends around the same time hockey season begins.

“I’ve actually been to a few Jets games, it’s so unreal. It’s a great experience each time that I go,” he said. “I hadn’t watched hockey or been to a hockey game before … to see people thrive off of it, it is a feeling and experience that I didn’t expect, but it’s one that I enjoy being around.”

In only his second season with the team, Garrett helped lead the Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup championship game, the CFL’s version of the Super Bowl. But the Bombers fell to the British Columbia Lions 34-23.

“I had a great time, even though we didn’t win,” Garrett said. “I’m looking to go back and win it this season.”

This past season, Garrett ran for 576 yards and four touchdowns in the pass-heavy league. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry and was the team’s second leading rusher.

Ohio offensive coordinator Tim Albin said Garrett’s versatility as a running back and kick returner serve him well in the Canadian game.

When the Bobcats brought Garrett in, they knew it would be bad to have him sit on the depth chart behind all-time great Kalvin McRae. Instead, Garrett was put on special teams.

“We had to get him on the field somehow,” Albin said. “To do that, we put him as a receiver and as a return guy. He helped us win a lot of games.”

When Garrett got his chance to be the featured back in the Ohio offense, he did not disappoint. Garrett broke Tony Carifa’s 1980 record for all-purpose yards in a single game in 2008 against Miami with 321 yards.

Donte Harden surpassed the record by one yard in a game against Temple last season.

Blue Bombers’ special teams coordinator and running backs coach Kyle Walters said Garrett’s transition was not easy.

Walters said Garrett struggled to make the roster. He was around the team for a period of time and then he would disappear and return.

Once Garrett got his chance, he was “absolutely dynamite,” and his perseverance was key for him, Walters added.

“I think, with the bigger Canadian field, it’s more of a spread offensive attack. Chris has fit right in,” Walters said. “He’s a fast, real powerful runner, and he has decent hands coming out of the backfield.”

Some players make the jump from the CFL to the NFL, but Garrett remains committed and focused on his time with the Blue Bombers, but said he wouldn’t mind being given a look from the NFL.

“The NFL has always been my dream. Right now, I am not too worried about the NFL — that’s not where I’m playing right now,” Garrett said. “I’m playing in the CFL and that’s what I am focusing on, but, if the NFL came calling, I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot.”

nr225008@ohiou.edu

The OU basebal team dropped its second straight game Thursday night, falling to Samford 4-2. OU came from behind twice but couldn't put enough offense together to take a lead.

It is difficult to get people to care about fracking and other environmental issues.
On Tuesday, I went on a trip to Wetzel County, West Va., to witness the impact of fracking.

Now I’m writing this down with my fingers trembling, eye filled up with tears: It was terrifying, horrible, horrendous. I was shocked, appalled, astounded.

No, I’m just kidding. As much as I wish that’s how I felt after my encounter with fracking, it wasn’t, I need to be honest and objective here because I am an awesome journalist.

The truth is, apart from the busy traffic, there was not so much going on. Yes, I did see some fracking sites, but they were no more different than any type of construction sites, and they were just sitting there, looking quiet and innocent — nothing monstrous. OK, one of the sites was a little loud, but observed from a rather distant place, it did not bother me much, if at all.

But you see, you will be much more interested in my story if I start with “a visit to fracking sites in West Virginia makes the worst experience of my life” than “OK guys, even though I did not see anything, I heard fracking is bad”.

This brings up my first problem: There are very few dramatic happenings going on in the world of environmental news. Granted, you would see some dramatic news from time to time, but sometimes it’s exaggerated or it’s only a one-in-a-million example.

For example, before I went on this trip, I was so sure — based on some relevant coverage I had read about fracking — of what I was about to witness: The fracking company people acting like total jerks, landowners setting their faucet water on fire and people frowning and holding breath from the bad smell from the contaminated water and polluted air. In fact, I was so sure that I even wrote an imaginary column based on the dreadful scenes in my head.

So you could imagine my horror when I realized I was not seeing anything terrible.

The second problem is the invisibility of the outcome. One of our group members brought up the situation of wild life near the fracking sites. The guy who gave us the tour (and who looked like a cowboy, by the way), an active member of Wetzel County Action Group, said there was no scientific study done to show the impact of fracking on wild life.

Let’s be honest, even if there were studies, unless I take a picture of a cute squirrel running and screaming with its hands covering its ears, or a disturbing story of the fact that wild animals getting killed drinking the water contaminated by fracking fluids, the science stuff — the numbers and words — will not do much.

And last but not least, life is not black and white. I would love to portray big oil company as a fat Satan and environmental activists as angels, but the reality is much more complicated.

Our group talked to a guy who considered himself a victim and complained about all the change forced to his life; we also talked to another old guy who used to be a coal miner, and he told us the positive impact the industry has brought without making any big change to his life.

Both gentlemen were nice; both had a saying on this issue; and both sounded sincere.

And at moments like this, I just hate the “evil side” for not being completely evil so that everybody hates its guts and I’m the hero everybody counts on to take it down.

Bixi Tian is a graduate student studying journalism and a columnist for The Post. Email her at bt121511@ohiou.edu.

In an article about the upcoming Arabian Night written for The Post on May 9, titled “Student association hopes to open eyes to Arabic culture,” Anjelica Oswald wrote that “Each performance will be incorporated in a narrative about Ibn Battuta, a famous Arab explorer.” This sentence contains a basic factual mistake and contributes to the erasure of an often marginalized indigenous group.

Ibn Battuta was not Arab, and even the most basic research (even checking the oft-maligned Wikipedia, which is more accurate on this point than The Post) would have informed the author that Ibn Battuta was an Amazigh (singular) Muslim. This indigenous group is often identified with the word “Berber,” a racist term imposed by colonizing forces on Imazighen (plural) that means barbarian.

Imazighen are the indigenous people of North Africa who historically and presently inhabit the present day countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Niger, Mauritania, Azawad, Burkina Faso, the Canary Islands and the Western Sahara. Following the Arab-Islamic conquest and colonization of North Africa, the region has undergone a process of Arabization that continues to this day. In other words, Amazigh culture and history has and is being appropriated and redefined by colonial powers as “Arab,” a kind of process that often takes place in settler colonial states and is intended to destroy the indigenous group it victimizes. Arabization can also be viewed as a form of genocide if one follows the definition of Raphael Lemkin, the Polish Jewish jurist who first defined the term and drafted the United Nations Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Identifying Ibn Battuta as Arab and not Amazigh, erasing his ethnicity and indigeneity, is not just a factual error. It makes one complicit in the Arabization — the destruction of the culture, past, present, and existence—of the Amazigh people. (I am sure that the author did not intend this, but that is the result of reproducing this untruth.) I hope that The Post will issue a correction and that this error will not be repeated.

Stephen Pearson is a graduate student studying teacher education.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank and recognize Professor Joe McLaughlin, outgoing chair of the Faculty Senate.  

Through three difficult years, with heavy pressure from all sides, Joe managed to find a rational balance, spoke for sensible policies, criticized ill-advised moves and worked tirelessly with all concerned to improve our institution.

He has been a clear and consistent voice advocating for students and faculty, and somehow he kept his cool through it all. Joe has been a universally respected figure in a time of too much contention. He is genuinely looking forward to returning to teaching and scholarship, always a true academic.

Thank you, Joe!

David Drabold is a distinguished professor of physics

As a proud Ohio University alumnus and local developer who has been highly critical of the city­–university relationship, I must applaud the recent efforts of the city and university to come together to address the problems associated with the fests.

What is often unsaid is that the beautiful city of Athens does not exist and prosper to the extent it has prospered without the economic engine of the university. It has always been an enigma to me that the city has not more fully embraced the university on various projects such as Bobcat Lane, and we all remember the multiple year closure of Jeff Hill. Perhaps the recent memorandum between the city and the university is in fact a sign of a new era of a real working relationship.

Only time will tell.

I was graciously allowed a few moments at the microphone to address an issue which I believe to be important in the discussion of the fests. 

First, understand that even as a former criminal defense lawyer, I in no manner condone acts of disobedient behavior or certainly conduct rising to arson. This conduct is unacceptable. However, conduct which is also unacceptable, is the head-slamming of an arrested suspect, hand-cuffed in custody and laying on the ground. Police in riot gear and mounted police do absolutely nothing to calm a situation that perhaps would not rise to a situation if police officers in riot gear are not physically shoving persons back to the sidewalks.

Also as an attorney in a former life who sued many police officers and filed numerous Federal 1983 actions, the videos I have seen would give rise to significant claims against those law enforcement agencies and specific officers who feel that the power of the badge gives them the right to physically touch or, in many instances, physically assault students. Manhood is not defined as hiding behind the badge.

 Contrary to the police chief’s assertion at the rally, students who gather together at the fests do not view persons in riot gear and officers on horseback as being their friends. The police chief actually stated, to the amusement of the students in attendance that the “students actually like to interact with the horses.”

If this singular statement doesn’t show a disconnect with law enforcement, I simply don’t know what other example could be cited. The recent initiative by the university to integrate students with green jackets in the crowd is an excellent idea. The various police departments should actually take note of this policy and attempt to do the same with their officers. Policing can be effective with communication and interaction. It is not necessary to have a show of force to serve and protect.

This is Athens, not Iraq or Afghanistan, where a lone police officer in a crowd fears for his life. I can assure you that arrests will drop when police interact instead of confront. Historically, many of these arrests occur when students come to the aid of a student who was unjustifiably arrested or insulted or assaulted by a police officer. Incitement by law enforcement is compounding the problem and I assure you that the number of arrests will decrease, if for the lack of better term, the “cool officer” is interacting with the students to discourage bad behavior instead of pulling out his bully stick because he can.

In sum, the meeting was a great start. Let’s continue to encourage students to act responsibly but let’s also encourage law enforcement to serve and protect instead of incite and arrest.
 
Bret Adams is a 1981 graduate of Ohio University.

About 300 residents packed into the Market at East State Street Thursday to learn more about Cunningham Energy’s new oil and gas lease and possibly sign the agreement.

The new lease was negotiated through Athens attorney and resident John Lavelle after the first batch of leases became void because Cunningham failed to make payments to lessors in March.

The meeting was an opportunity for lessors of the previous agreement and new lessors to ask Lavelle and representatives from Cunningham questions about the new lease terms, Lavelle said, who signed the lease for his own land.

“We might have good oil down here, we might not,” said Lavelle. “We really won’t know until we drill.”

According to the new lease, Cunningham will build five vertical test wells throughout Athens County to test the viability of drilling in the area. If the wells find there is enough gas to make drilling economic, then the company could bring hydraulic fracturing to the area.
In addition, the new agreement has higher payouts on the back end, while the previous lease had been more frontloaded.

“To get a risk partner, you have to make the entry fee attractive enough that someone’s going to take the risk, and hopefully we’ll get the same amount (of payouts) in the long wrong.”

He added that the largest benefits of the lease would be from the 16.5 percent royalty that the lessor will receive if the vertical test wells start producing.

Lavelle urged lessors who had signed Cunningham’s previous lease to sign the new lease at the meeting, as their old lease expires Friday.

Stan Molnar, who signed Cunningham’s previous lease but did not sign at Thursday’s meeting, said he was scared away by the short notice.

“When Lavelle said, ‘You have to sign tonight,’ it sounded like I was at a car dealership.”

A number of people did not hesitate to approach tables at the front of the room to sign the new lease agreement. Representatives from Cunningham were available to answer questions and assist in the signing.

A representative from Cunningham, who declined to give his name, said the number of people who signed is about what the company expected.

Tom Bidwell, a Madison County resident who owns land in Vinton County, said he signed the lease because a friend had talked him into it.

“It sounded like a good deal, so I went ahead and signed it,” Bidwell said.

ls114509@ohiou.edu

This weekend, School of Dance students will put a little spring in their steps.

Friday and Saturday, Ohio University’s School of Dance presents its Spring Dance Concert. The concert features dancers performing works by guest artist Lisa Lock, professors from the School of Dance and student work selected by adjudication.

Lock returns to OU for her third time and has spent the quarter working with students on different dance techniques. She has choreographed two dances for the show, a duet titled “Little White Flowers,” and a group number for five women called “Miya Niya,” which she said was inspired by snakes and a woman’s almost-serpentine power.

“The music is a little bit eerie and scary, and I generate the movement of snakes in the dancers,” Lock said. “They have a little bit of edge which is a metaphor because women have a power; they are strong and you respect them for it.”

Mickie Geller, a professor of dance, originally created her piece for the concert titled “Half-Unnamed Couple” in 1989 when she did improvisational work with dancers. She has since re-worked the piece with two dancers, who made the process an enjoyable one, she said.

“Michael O’Neill and Emma Rumberg are both very experienced performers, so they were able to learn the material quickly and invest it with just the right movement qualities to get my ideas across,” Geller said. “They were very helpful and generous in figuring out how to execute some new partnering material that I added.”

While professors created most of the pieces, individuals or teams of students in the School of Dance choreographed several as well. Allison Brandon, a sophomore studying dance, created the piece “Membrane” with fellow students Lauren Slivosky and Liz Conway. They later decided to enter the piece into the concert.

“Our piece was originally a comp study that we did,” Brandon said. “The assignment was creating a piece that could not be done without a prop; we chose to work with a sheet. We picked the sound effects from the planet Uranus and came up with this image that we are on another planet and we are discovering this thing (the sheet).”

In addition to these pieces, there are also dances by Assistant Professor of Theater Rebecca VerNooy and students Steven Evans and Annie Scott.

ks574510@ohiou.edu

If You Go:

What: Ohio University’s School of Dance Spring Concert

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater, Putnam Hall

Admission: $8

As the current season of Glee comes to a close, Ohio University’s a cappella groups perform to fill the void.

Saturday, five of Ohio University’s a cappella groups will perform at the 10th annual Ohio University A Cappella Invitational.

The invitational is a concert that marks the only formal instance each year when all a cappella groups on campus perform for one another. That is exciting not only for the audience, but for the groups involved, said Jonathan Head, a member of Leading Tones, an all-male group that began with members of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.

“I’m most looking forward to the other groups because most of us haven’t had a chance to hear them,” he said. “It’s a nice change to listen to the other groups and have a chance to what they’ve been doing.”

The groups on campus range from all-female groups like Title IX — made up of some members of OU’s Women’s Chorale and The Tempo Tantrums, an entirely extracurricular group — to all-male groups like the concert’s presenters, Section 8, an ensemble made up of some members of Singing Men of Ohio to the co-ed group, New Chords on the Block.

While some groups are part of the School of Music, others, like Leading Tones, are separate, which Head said makes the experience of the group more relaxed.

“We don’t really have any boundaries,” he said. “We like the idea of the Leading Tones being something we do for fun and not have to stress about it.”

Each group will perform several songs from their “highlight reel” of the year, said Andy Blum, a member of Section 8.

“My favorite part of the invitational every year is seeing the pieces that the other groups are premiering,” Blum said. “All the groups show off their best stuff and generally save a song to debut at the invitational. They really work their tails off to make it fantastic.”

Audiences at the concert can expect pop songs in the usual style of groups, and while some of the set lists remain secret, the groups will perform tunes from popular artists such as Adele, Michael Buble, John Mayer and more.

“This year proves to be one of the biggest and best lineups in recent memory, and we already have some very exciting things in the works for the show,” said Ryan Norris, a member of Section 8.

If You Go:

What: The 10th annual Ohio University A Cappella Invitational presented by Section 8

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium

Admission: Free

ks574510@ohiou.edu

While most graduates usually feel pride in their achievements, the LGBTA Center is showcasing those who have a different kind of pride.

Sunday, Ohio University’s LGBTA Center presents Pride Graduation and Community Celebration, a commencement and awards ceremony that honors graduating members of the LGBTA community, according to a press release

The ceremony originally began as an informal dinner that Mickey Hart, director of the LGBTA Center, hosted at his home for graduating seniors. Seniors would dine together and then have a chance to be recognized and share their experiences.

In 2000, after Hart became head of the LGBTA Center, he made the event what it is today, which Hart call “elegant, but casual.”

The evening begins with dinner and a slideshow of pictures of the LGBTA Center events held during the year. Hart said that, even though the event has become more formal, the dinner portion of the evening is still reminiscent of the less formal event.

“When it comes to formal events like these, you see everyone trying to rush through dinner, and that’s where this differs,” Hart said. “I believe this part is important because the discussions and social aspects are important. We take our time.”

Following dinner, each senior is recognized and awarded a rainbow tassel and an Ohio University LGBTA alumni pin. They are also invited to share their best experience at OU and future plans. Keeping with the theme of graduation, superlatives are also given out such as “Most Fabulous” and “Most Out-Loud and Proud.”

A raffle is held at the end of the evening, and knitted rainbow-themed door prizes, created by graduate assistant Nancy Baur, are given out.

Hart said that having that type of separate celebration is important to the LGBTA community.

“I think that obviously there is commencement, but this is a little more special and a little more personal,” said Hart. “It’s a good way to bring closure to some things.”

Adam Russell, a senior studying French and European studies, echoes Hart’s thoughts about the graduation.

“I’m excited to finally be able to walk across the stage,” Russell said. “I think events like these create a further sense of unity in the community.”

ks574510@ohiou.edu

Journalist addresses Manship graduates

Purple lights twinkled down upon renowned veteran journalist Bob Schieffer Friday as he told a group of more than 100 Manship School of Ma...

By: Lindsey Barrett

Trayvon Martin’s full autopsy report was made public and revealed the Florida teen had marijuana in his blood and urine, which experts say could help George Zimmerman’s defense. The report, pu...

By: Corey Cohn and Andy Marmer

Our men’s and women’s sports teams reached new heights during 2011-2012, as numerous collective and individual accomplishments capped off a successful campaign. Here are the highlights from the past two semesters, with some help from a few motivational...

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has prepared videos for visiting recruits before, but the video he made for prospective football student-athlete Ezekiel Elliott was one he might like to take back. Smith’s video resulted in one of 46 violations ...

By: Tina CasoBanquet awardees reflect on college athletic careers

Six exceptional students were presented with awards for their personal achievements as Vassar College athletes. ...

By:

I think it’s hard to write about a time of your life that you’re still inside of, that you don’t have enough distance from, but I’m going to try anyway. I didn’t realize how much the swimming and diving team shaped my life until I sat down to write thi...

By: Jean-Luc Bouchard

As a rising junior and non-empathic sociopath, it’s difficult for me to place myself in a senior’s soon-to-be-graduating shoes. But according to the roughly eight thousand Facebook and SayAnything posts I’ve read, graduation is apparently a very emotio...

By: Matthew HauptmanArt students contemplate human bond

The studio art majors graduating on May 20 have spent the last four years developing and refining a wide range of techniques through a variety of media. From garments to sculpture, painting to photography, their projects demonstrate the diverse interes...

By:

I think it’s hard to write about a time of your life that you’re still inside of, that you don’t have enough distance from, but I’m going to try anyway. I didn’t realize how much the swimming and diving team shaped my life until I sat down to write thi...

Monkeys applauded for quick response

Fifteen minutes after midnight last Tuesday, during a Barefoot Monkeys performance on the residential quad after the traditional Primal Scream to celebrate the end of classes, Emily Riordan ’15 was burned in a freak accident when the fire whip she was ...

While pomp and circumstance may be lavished upon the graduates more publicly this Sunday, commencement also marks an occasion to celebrate the contributions of professors whose time as faculty members is coming to an end. ...

High participation leads to anonymous alum donation

As of May 16, the 2012 Student Gift raised $22,993.84 towards expanding the Internship Grant Fund (IGF), with 1900 students donating. ...

Theater doesn’t die out at Vassar over the summer—instead, it takes on a new form through the Powerhouse Theater program. The eight-week intensive program unites audiences, artists and students in a season of plays, readings, musicals. ...

By: Jessica TarantineFullbright recipients use award to fund research, travel

While for many seniors, graduation marks a daunting world of endless possibilities, three seniors have more concrete plans that will take them to locations across the world. ...

The World’s Largest Paint Party stopped in Columbus and made its neon mark on the Franklin County Veterans Memorial. Dayglow’s Life in Color tour, an event which offer...

Nuts and Bolts Weekly News Podcast

Sitting in for Thomas Bradley and Kelsie Ozamiz, Cody

No love for No. 6

We're really still not tired of debating Bron-Bron by now? His woeful late-game shooting, his patented fadeaway hairline, his sometimes-n...

Jerry Sandusky's defense team is set to hand over information relating to their expert witnesses to prosecutors after the Commonwealth motioned Tuesday to have the court require them to hand it over.

Jerry Sandusky's attorney asked the courts Wednesday to dismiss all charges of child sex abuse filed against Sandusky by the Commonwealth.

Jerry Sandusky's defense team filed a 34-page brief Thursday in support of various pre-trial motions they have submitted to the court that have gone unanswered.

Norman police are seeking two men suspected of armed robbery at 5:15 a.m. Thursday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, 930 Ed Noble Parkway. The Norman Police Department will handle the case through the Criminal Investigation Division.

 

Former Ohio wide receiver LaVon Brazill confirmed to The Post on Thursday that he has signed a four-year, $2.178 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

Brazill, a sixth-round pick in last month's NFL Draft, was the only Ohio player drafted this year.

During his Ohio career, Brazill set six Ohio receiving records including single-season receiving yards and touchdowns. 

Brazill became the 30th Ohio player to ever be selected in the draft, and the fourth Bobcats taken in the last five years. 

He is the second former Bobcat to sign a contract with an NFL team this offseason. Undrafted free agent linebacker Noah Keller signed a three-yeal deal with the St. Louis Rams shortly after the draft concluded. 

ro137807@ohiou.edu

Student season tickets sale for OU football will end at 5 p.m. Friday. Tickets cost $175 and will be charged to students' bursar account with a $15 non-refundable processing fee.

Sacha Baron Cohen returns to the big screen as Admiral General Aladeen of the fictitious North African country “Waadeya.” This is by far the some of the best work Cohen has done compared to his infamous Borat persona.

The OU football team has received a verbal commitment from four-star quarterback recruit Cody Thomas, his high school coach confirmed today. Thomas is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and threw for 3,057 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior in 2012.

A male student reported being robbed in Emeriti Park early Wednesday morning.

The student reported the crime Wednesday afternoon. He was approached by three males at 1 a.m. that morning by three males while walking from Oxbow Trail toward Clippinger Hall, according to an OUPD Campus Crime Alert.

The males were about six feet tall and demanded money from the victim. No weapons were involved in the incident and the victim was not physically injured, according to the release.

The first suspect was described as having a lean build with wavy black hair and a goatee. He was wearing an OU hoodie and black Nike shoes, according to the release.

The second suspect, was wearing blue jeans and yellow Nikes.

The third suspect was only described as being 5 foot 10 inches tall, according to the release.

This is the second robbery this year. The previous robbery occurred on Wednesday, January 18 in Seigfred Hall Parking Lot near Playground Drive between 4 and 5 a.m., according to the release.

University police are currently investigating the robbery but if anyone has any information pertinent to he investigation, contact OUPD at 740.593.1911.

Anonymous tips can also be made to Crime Solvers at 740.594.3331

A University law student from Shawnee has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after colliding head-on with another car. The driver of the vehicle was killed.

The collision occurred at Interstate 670 and Broadway Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo. at 1 a.m. on Saturday, Apr. 28. Police records say 25-year-old Robert Domsch, who is enrolled in the University's J.D./M.B.A. program, was driving the wrong direction on westbound I-670 when the accident happened.

Domsch was taken to the hospital and admitted with a broken leg and pelvis. Toxicology reports indicated his blood alcohol level was 0.242, three times the legal limit.

The driver of the other vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as 28-year-old Marco Vendetti of Kansas City, Mo.

Domsch is charged, in a Jackson County, Mo., court, with one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Bond has been set at $100,000.

OKLAHOMA CITY — U.S. Census Bureau estimates show Hispanics remain the largest minority group in Oklahoma, but the Native American population has made gains after dropping from the largest minority in last year's report.

 

Huh, that’s weird. Usually, when I’m 10 minutes late for class, I can hear the professor lecturing from down the hall on my way in. But it’s totally quiet.

Hey, maybe class was canceled!

Or not; everybody seems to be sitting in their seats. And … writing feverishly. Without saying anything.

Uh oh.

OK, maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe they’re just taking notes! And the professor is lecturing … telepathically. Oh, she’s handing me a piece of paper. A study guide, clearly, definitely not an exam I completely forgot about.

“Exam 2.” Crap. Twenty-five percent of our grade!? That seems way too high. I should file a complaint. Did she even tell us we had an exam today?

Wait, yeah, she did. And that email she sent last night — the one I filed as spam —that was probably … crap, crap, crap. You’re such an idiot, past self! I hate you so much.

OK, this isn’t so bad. Just sit down, get out your pen, uncap your pen and write your name. See? Look, you’ve already started. I’ll bet this test is super easy, anyway. Sure, maybe I spend each class period surfing Facebook or doodling instead of paying attention, but that’s no big deal; I bet I’ll nail this. I bet all of my money. To myself.

First question is … well, it’s not A. Probably not B. Definitely not C. That means it’s D! Except … I don’t think it’s D. Could it be C? Maybe it could. Or, maybe it could be all of them because YOU DIDN’T FREAKIN’ STUDY FOR THIS EXAM!

Calm down. Deep breaths. In, out. There we go. So, I clearly don’t know the answer to question one, so … I’ll just skip it! That’s what I’ll do. Just skip the ones I don’t know, then come back and do the others. Easy peasy.

So … question two. Nope, no idea. Puttin’ it on the skip list. Question three … uh, let’s pass on that one for now. Question four … nope, nope, all of my nope. Question five … oh, come on, that’s clearly a trick question. I’m not even gonna bother with that one. Question siiiiiix ...

OK, this clearly isn’t working. Nothing left for it, then: just gonna have to cheat. That 50-page-long thing about academic responsibility is just to scare freshmen; everybody knows that. Let’s just take a glance at this jerk’s text next to me ...

Exam B? Wait, but I have Exam A! Ugh.

The prof did this on purpose, didn’t she? She has always hated me. This whole exam is just so she can fail me, personally. I’ll show her! Let’s just slip out the old iPhone here, consult my good ol’ friend Google and see what he has to say about …

Oh, COME ON! Why isn’t the wireless working!? Oh, I get it: So the tech department is in on your scheme too, eh, prof? I’ll make you guys pay for this! When I get back to my dorm, I’m gonna download so much porn that the routers are gonna get an STD.

Look at these stupid jerks in here. Oh, look at us, we studied for the exam! We’re just sooooo perfect! We’re not in danger of failing because we turned in a half-eaten sandwich for our last project! You people are what’s wrong with this country.

Five minutes left? Oh God. Oh God oh crap oh God. I’m so screwed. Why did I not study when I had the chance? If only I could go back and do everything right …

… Eh? I … I’m in bed in my dorm! It was all just a terrible dream! The exam isn’t until tomorrow; I still have plenty of time to study!

…

Eh, I bet the exam isn’t that hard …

 

Ryan McAndrews is a junior studying journalism and a columnist for The Post. Did this motivate you to study? Email him at rm287608@ohiou.edu.

A word you probably didn’t see making headlines when President Obama became the first U.S. president to back same-sex marriage? Underwhelmed. But a lot of us are feeling just that. Why is Obama getting so much praise for finally coming around to what most Democrats already support?

 

Steps to casting your ballot:

1.        Visit https://webapps.ohio.edu/stusenate/ between 8:00am and 7:00pm TODAY, May 17^th , 2012.

2.        Log in with your OHIO ID and password.

3.        Choose “2012 Undergraduate Student Senate Ballot”

4.        Vote and submit your ballot.

After a house fire during Palmer Fest marred the already shaky reputation of the annual street celebration, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis reached out to his counterparts throughout the state in regard to spring fest behavior.

The result: University administrators from schools in the 14-member Inter-University Council of Ohio are concerned that the campus gatherings are too hard to handle.

Among those schools are Miami University, Kent State University, the University of Akron and Ohio State University — all of which have differing opinions of how to handle student behavior during spring fests.

“The president sent a letter to his peers, and Dr. (Kent) Smith sent a letter to his peers,” said Becky Watts, McDavis’ chief of staff. “(They’re trying to find out) who has come to Athens and made bad choices.”

Timeka Rashid, Kent State’s assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Student Involvement, attributed the university’s College Fest rowdiness on April 21 to attendees from out of town.

McDavis tied that sentiment to Athens at a May 9 town-hall meeting. Only about half the 124 arrests at Palmer and Palmer Place fests were OU students.

“The issue comes when students organize something on their own off campus where jurisdiction falls out of our hands and into the city’s hands,” Rashid said.

Although none of the 33 people arrested at College Fest 2012 was from OU — considered the wildest since 2009 — only nine were from Kent State, lending some credence to McDavis and Rashid’s beliefs.

No OU students were arrested at Kent State’s annual Flash Fest on April 19, headlined by Third Eye Blind. Rashid said the university oversaw the fest and that administrators and the university police were present.

“If you look at Akron, for example, they did digging with their area police and found that a lot of students being arrested aren’t affiliated with their university,” Rashid said.

Students are more inclined to cause a disruption at a university other than their own, said Charles Fey, Akron’s vice president for student engagement and success.

“I think that a student who has pride in his or her institution would take much more care and care about their environment than those who aren’t a part of that institution,” Fey said.

Although Fey said some of the events on streets — like that of Palmer Fest — do cause a ruckus, they have never reached the level of Palmer Fest.

“We haven’t had a magnitude of problems like that,” Fey said.

Fests are a problem both for OU and Athens Police, but Patrick Maughan, OSU’s director for risk and emergency management, said fires can be a severe problem.

“In the past, we had a fatal fire off campus at OSU, and some of the folks were from visiting campuses,” Maughan said. “You end up with too many people than what the apartment is designed to hold, and there are more bodies than the space can handle. People from different schools aren’t aware of exits and they aren’t familiar with the turf that they are on.”

bc822010@ohiou.edu

In the final week of what might be the last 30-day Ohio University Student Senate campaign season, candidates scrambled to get last-minute votes.

Students can vote from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday electronically or on the fourth floor of Baker University Center.

Throughout the season, many candidates used an online presence to push their platforms and this week was no exception.

Independent presidential candidate Jared Henderson did not raise money for his campaign but said he will continue to reach students via his Tumblr account, Twitter and Facebook events.

“You don’t want to overwhelm people with too many notifications, so I am trying to find the right balance,” Henderson said.

Presidential candidate for yOU Tony Koehling also concentrated on pushing his campaigning efforts online. After raising $145, yOU will spend the final hours talking to students in Baker Center and on all the university’s greens.

Koehling also launched another YouTube video that highlighted different points in yOU’s campaign.

“We think (the video) is awesome,” Koehling said. “We think that it turned out really well. The video not only is fun, but it shows the good side of OU and it shows what our ticket is all about and why we think that our ticket should get elected.”

REACH, which was expected to raise between $2,500–$4,000, has distributed pens and buttons to students outside Baker Center. The party also will be grilling and will be handing out popsicles at College Gate.

“We are going to keep talking to students to get the word out,” said Zach George, REACH’s presidential candidate. “Trying to get people out to vote is what we are doing right now.”

Jiuqing Cheng is the only other independent candidate. He is running for the SAC at large senator position.

Cheng, who is satisfied with his campaigning efforts, has spent $50 printing flyers on and off OU’s campus.

“The most important thing is that I will let students know about the election and ask them to vote,” Cheng said. “I will visit places on campus to ask students to vote for next year’s senate.”

On Thursday, voters also can take a stance on OU’s Budget Planning Council, an addition to the ballot senate made at last week’s meeting.

Voters have the option of answering three questions on the ballot: “Do you feel there is enough student involvement on BPC?”; “Do you feel that student input and opinion are respected on BPC?”; and “Do you agree with the financial advice BPC has provided the Board of Trustees, inadvertently or directly provoking a tuition increase?”

The Board of Elections will announce the winners at 8 p.m. in the Bobcat Student Lounge.

“I’m not sure (how it will go),” said Kate Steven, chair of the Board of Elections. “I’m hearing a lot of different things. I hope all candidates get the word out to students and let them know the game plan for (today).”

Once in office, Steven said, the new senate members will vote on this year’s Board of Elections’ recommendations, which include shorter campaign seasons and clearer procedures that define how to put additional issues on the ballot.

sj950610@ohiou.edu
bc822010@ohiou.edu

Thanks to local hip-hop artist Jéan P and his right-hand man DJ iShine, fellow musicians are being awarded a fourth chance to take to the stage to raise money for a greater cause.

“It is a blessing to see Hip-Hopalooza reach its fourth concert,” said Christopher Summers, who performs as DJ iShine. “Plus, we have many great acts this time around.”

The tradition began two years ago when local emcee Jéan Johnson — aka Jéan P — and Summers learned that they would not be included in any of the spring fest lineups. Looking for spring stage time, they decided to create their own opportunity and cause, creating Athens’ Hip-Hopalooza.

“I admit, I was a bit salty when I wasn’t considered for any of the fests,” Johnson said. “But instead of pouting about it, we decided to make our own thing that was just as big.”

Johnson added that the event typically draws a large crowd of at least 100 and the crew is typically able to raise more than $500 for Good Works Inc.

“Each dollar spent at the door is given to Good Works,” he said. “It’s our way to give back to the community and show our appreciation. They give so much and we want the chance to give back.”

This year’s lineup also includes local artists IZ, J Doze and UDrop, as well as visiting artists YNO and Black Collar.

“All of these guys are great, and I’m really excited to share the stage with them,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a great night with great music and a great cause.”

Jonathan Udeozer, known by his moniker J Doze, shared similar feelings as he geared up for his performance. The emcee said he was grateful for the opportunity to take to the microphone and show his talents.

He added that audience members should expect to hear meaningful material at the show.

“I wanted to do Hip-Hopalooza because of the type of crowd the event brings in,” Udeozer said. “Everybody there wants to hear some good hip-hop music. It’s just a very inviting atmosphere that allows every artist to be comfortable on stage as they showcase their talent.”

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at The Union, 18 W. Union St. Cover is $4 for those older than 21 and $3 for those under age.

lf328610@ohiou.edu

Athens officials are considering building a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Hocking River, but the plans could come falling down if a grant fails to hand the city enough money.

Athens officials are weighing the options of connecting a bike path near Armitage Road to a patch of land on the other side of the river. The bridge, with an estimated price tag shy of $900,000, would be able to accommodate only pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

But the city might be able to build the bridge at a significantly lower price tag if it is awarded an $800,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, leaving taxpayers to foot the remaining $100,000 of the bill.

An official application for the grant was submitted May 1, but the final amount the city receives won’t be finalized until June, said Andy Stone, director of Engineering and Public Works.

“We may not receive the full amount we’ve requested, but we would need at least $500,000 in grant money to move forward with the project,” he said.

The bulk of the cost comes from utilizing an outside contractor to complete the project, Stone said.

“We could defray some of the cost doing it with our own forces, but building (a bridge) across the Hocking is beyond our capabilities,” he said. “We’d need an outside contractor.”

The city’s street and capital improvement funds could be sources of revenue for the portion of the project paid by the city, but that would likely depend on other commitments the city has in the year the construction would take place, Stone said.

The bridge should help citizens travel within the city, Mayor Paul Wiehl said, adding that Athens Police would be able to take some of their smaller vehicles, similar to golf carts, across the bridge.

“People look at biking like it’s recreation, but let’s look at it as a mode of transportation,” he said. “The city needs to be connected so people could do what they want to do.”

With the project slated to begin sometime in 2015, the city would be able to make only rough projections about how spending would be appropriated, Wiehl said.

“(Plans are) pretty far down the path,” he said. “This is all dreaming stuff.”
Still, Athens City Council passed an ordinance May 7 that would allow Wiehl to acquire bike path funds through the ODOT for the project.

“It’s expensive to build a bridge,” Council President Jim Sands said. “The city would not be spending a million dollars of its own, but it’s unknown how the money would be
appropriated.”

Though expensive, the project would be justified because the city adopted the Bikers and Pedestrian plan in 2010, which stated that the Columbus Road area ought to be made more accessible, Sands said.

“This would be a way for bike traffic to come and go from the Columbus road area,” he said.

jj360410@ohiou.edu

Pending regulatory legislation for hydraulic fracturing in Ohio was in the hot seat during an Athens County committee meeting Wednesday.

In a unanimous vote, the Athens County Strategic Advisory Committee on Hydraulic Fracturing approved recommendations for Senate Bill 315, which provides the regulatory framework for horizontal fracturing in Ohio and passed through the Ohio Senate on Tuesday.

The committee supported provisions in the bill that strengthened regulation but called for additional requirements in areas it felt were not stringent enough.
One of the committee’s major recommendations for the bill is to require a plan for wastewater recycling in all horizontal-well applications.

“Chesapeake (Energy) reports that they recycle 95 percent of their water,” said Al Blazevicius, chair of the committee. “We need to hold them to that on a regulatory basis.”

 The committee also said that a water-recycling plan is worthwhile to include in an application because it is a way to reduce injection waste.

 “It makes financial sense for companies to recycle water,” committee member Pat Smith said. “It’s good to try and put rules in that the companies are more likely to comply with than to start a fight.”

The committee also suggested that SB 315 strengthen requirements about disclosure of chemicals used in injection wells. The version passed by the Ohio Senate requires only the chemical class be disclosed, but the committee called for disclosure of chemical names as well as the volume at which each is injected in wastewater.

“There are holes in SB 315 where these rules are not being defined,” Blazevicius said.

The committee will present their recommendations to the county commissioners at their meeting next week, who could then bring them to state representatives.
Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan, a committee member, was not present at the meeting.

Committee member Rob Wiley, who was tasked with meeting with Wayne National Forest officials about drilling activity in the forest, reported that, although there are no pending permits to drill horizontally on their property, there is nothing to prevent it from happening on land they already leased.

Wayne National Forest owns only 40 percent of their mineral rights and has already leased 7,000 acres for oil and gas drilling, Wiley said.

After his meeting, Wiley said he does not believe forest officials expect drilling will likely occur there in the future. 

ls114509@ohiou.edu

The TEN Institute, a nationwide network, released a report Tuesday on the gains of LGBT equality in Oklahoma universities and colleges. The report named OU as one of the top promoters of LGBT equality within the state.

The OU baseball team looks to shore up its postseason résumé against the Samford Bulldogs this weekend. The Sooners are 3-1 in their last four contests, including a series sweep of No. 4 Baylor.

The Inasmuch Foundation of Oklahoma City donated $500,000 to the university to help build the Scholars Walk.

Host families are still needed to support students who are visiting for five weeks to attend OU's New Media Institute for South Asian Students. The students will stay with a host family from June 1 to 3.

“That is so fetch” was an unknown phrase until the success of the 2004 film Mean Girls landed it a spot on the pop culture map.

In the film, mean girl Gretchen Wieners attempts, with little success, to make “that is so fetch” catch on. While her efforts were in vain in the film, the catch phrase became one of the movie’s most popular and recognizable quotations.

But not every phrase can be fetch. Since the beginning of the English language, there have been phrases that have caught on while others have fizzled out. Some words are built to last and some simply “bite the dust.”

History

Much of the slang and abbreviations that have made their way into modern nomenclature have been added to English vocabulary slowly throughout history.

“Some words come in as technical terms because of technology or travelers who bring them in and are accepted as the official word,” said Marsha Dutton, English department chair and professor of medieval literature. “Other words have become accepted as real words even though they are technically slang words.”

Some examples of slang words that have become standard are plane (airplane), cell (cell phone) and trendy (fashionable).

“When it comes to defining standard English, we don’t have a sense of what it should be,” Dutton said. “The great thing is that we understand each other, no matter what term we use.”

The introduction of a new piece of technology, type of entertainment or major event can also have an impact on the language.

After World War I, new language connected with new kinds of music and entertainment tended to become popular, Dutton said. Along with the entertainment speak came war terms used by soldiers and factory speak from the workers.

“Language is mysterious,” Dutton said. “Linguists don’t know the exact reasons behind every change, but we can guess.”

Why we say what we say: the effects of media and word of mouth

New technologies that enabled instant communication also led to the introduction of countless shorthand abbreviations that are now commonplace.

People like to use words that are shorter and faster to type because it’s easier for social media and texting, said Elsa Heiner, an Ohio University freshman studying biological science.

“Obviously, words like ‘lol’ or ‘brb’ are used a lot in text, so they have been colloquialized,” Heiner said. “It’s convenient.”

Television and movies also play a role in how phrases become popular. People will watch a show and imitate the character, Dutton said.

“A few years ago, ‘whassup’ became a popular phrase, and I don’t even know what it’s from,” she said. “It caught someone’s imagination and then caught on for good.”

“Whassup” was introduced to the public as a commercial campaign for Anheuser-Busch Budweiser beer from 1999 to 2002 and was also used in a 2012 episode of How I Met Your Mother.

Although pop culture helps spread new phrases, the most common way a phrase spreads is by word of mouth.

Social groups and social reinforcement play a major role in how words are spread, Dutton said.

“If you use one term and your friends laugh at you for it, you’ll eventually change to what they are using,” she said. “It’s not because they say you shouldn’t use it, but it’s just something you say to fit.”

Withstanding the test of time

A word’s longevity is largely linked to its ability to change with the time, said Christina Correnti, a teaching assistant for Linguistics 270 and a graduate student studying linguistics, who cited the word “dude.”

When it was first used in the 1870s, “dude” was used to mean unfamiliarity with urban life (e.g. dude ranches) and later evolved into a surfer’s word in the ’60s. It eventually became a word used to refer to a friend in the late ’70s.

“When a word shifts around, it becomes more acceptable,” Correnti said. “It doesn’t define a certain group, and then it becomes an informal term accepted by everyone.”

A word will become popular if there is a need for it, and it will stick around if it is still necessary, said Spencer Smith, a junior studying English.

“If we still felt like there was a need for ‘phat,’ we would still be using it,” he said. “But for whatever reason, words have replaced it or we don’t identify with that word anymore, so we’ve gotten rid of it.”

How what we say affects us

Language is also used as a tool to make judgments on how a person might act, Dutton said.

“We define ourselves by the way we dress and hold ourselves and talk,” she said. “If you hear me speak without seeing me, you are going to make an assumption.”

Different geographical regions have certain speech patterns and choice of slang words that hint at specific traits, she added.

Common stereotypes that can exist in college are what define a hipster or a “bro,” Smith said.

“Everyone identifies words that a ‘bro’ would use or they assume that hipsters would use older words,” he said.

“Fratty” and “bro” types use more modern or short words whereas hipsters stereotypically use words that aren’t common, Heiner added.

Popular phrases

While popular culture and societal trends prompt near-daily changes in modern vocabulary, some choose to stick with more tried and true vocabulary.

“I’m called the resident gramps because of how I speak,” said Cullen Challacombe, a freshman studying business. “Some of my favorite phrases to use are ‘razz my berries,’ ‘salty’ and ‘you lie like a rug.’”

Challacombe adopted “razz my berries” as his own after he discovered it during his junior year of high school.

“I don’t ever hear anyone else say it, and the undertones are funny too,” he said. “A word has to be interesting for me to like it.”

Freshman Jess Cawley said she prefers to use words such as “delightful,” “dapper”, “swell” and “nifty.”

“As an English major, I like to use words that people don’t use, because it makes them interesting,” she said.

Isaac Callion said he likes to be original with his vocabulary by using words and phrases that aren’t always familiar to others.

“I like to say ‘are you about that life,’ ‘that’s not real’ and ‘I’m going to hit something up,’” said Callion, an undecided freshman.

Friends from high school and the humor behind each of the phrases are what make the phrases appealing, Callion said.

“People are less worried about what others think in college,” he said. “You can say whatever you want to say, and, if it catches on, that’s cool.”

ao007510@ohiou.edu

This letter is not an endorsement; rather, it is a response to baseless personal attacks. In his May 16 letter, “Henderson will always petition for students,” Christopher Wagner addressed the moral fortitude of REACH executives Zach George, Amrit Saini and Evan Ecos.

As Mr. Wagner correctly identified, last year’s election was negative, full of tension and frankly an emotionally taxing experience for everyone involved. By questioning the REACH executives’ character, Mr. Wagner is contributing negativity to this year’s campaign, which has been extremely civil and objective from my perspective.

During my time as the presidential candidate for RSVP, George, Saini and Ecos served valiantly and responsibly as our campaign managers. The three were never negligent or immoral. In the two years that I have worked closely with the REACH executives, they have been forthcoming, prudent and student advocates; to suggest otherwise is, as Mr. Wagner puts it, “wantonly negligent and immoral.”

Do not take my word on that. One area where I agree with Mr. Wagner is the fact that individuals or tickets are not “worthy” of office; rather, they are “chosen to do so.” If you question the character of the REACH executives, I encourage you to reach out to them, or those who have worked with them, and make an informed decision for yourself.

I encourage every student at Ohio University to do their research on independent candidate Jared Henderson, the REACH party and the yOU party. Be your own judge on who you want to represent the student body during the 2012-2013 academic year and be sure to vote today at ohio.edu/students.

Kyle Triplett is a senior studying political science and the current
Student Senate president.

Joy! Today is Student Senate Election Day!

That might be news to some on campus, but we all should treat it like a holiday, because, finally, after a month, the “popularity” contest is over!

It’s the end of campaigns seemingly based on the Law of Triviality, the end of debates you need a bottle of Pepto to sit through, the end of candidates spending campaign money on pizza to pass out to people getting obliterated at Palmer Fest.

The end of having to walk past tables at Baker and seeing 12 students standing around and talking to only one another while everyone just walks by — or as they call it, getting their message out.

Today is like the day you get your cast off, the day you freeze off that wart, the day we declare victory on an aircraft carrier. It’s the day Sisyphus gets to stop rolling the boulder up the hill. It’s the day when Ohio University students don’t have to deal with grating Student Sandbox campaigning for 11 more months.
I think we should call it “Victory over Senate Day.”

At least this year we have been spared a little — one of the tickets has barely campaigned at all, spending just about $145. The other ticket (you’ve probably seen them running around in their Smurf-blue T-shirts) has spent $2,500 to $4,000.

Sounds fair, doesn’t it? But, of course, it really is of no consequence which side wins, because Student Senate matters about as much on this campus as the legal-drinking age does at Rio.

Because of this, I urge you not to vote today. Not that I really have to urge anyone not to vote — most OU students already couldn’t care less. Less than 20 percent of students voted in last year’s ballot, in which one senate presidential candidate basically ran on the platform that his mustache looked cool.

And honestly, ask yourself right now: Do you know the name of the current senate president? Do you know anything of importance they’ve done this year? Do you know when they meet? How often? Where?

No, of course you don’t. And you should embrace that apathy, because, reciprocally, Student Senate and the people in it really don’t care about you. And, even if they did, it’s such a sycophantic body that has so little real power it wouldn’t really matter.

Look at the Senate Bill 5 fiasco from this past fall, when our elected representatives failed to take any kind of stance on an issue with a direct effect on students because, according to their fearless leader, “It’s not Student Senate’s role to get involved in issues that are purely political.”

I.e., they didn’t want to upset anyone over in Cutler Hall. A-level bootlicking, the good old “college don’t try.” In what kind of world would a senate be involved in anything political?

The senator who wrote the resolution, Taylor Abbott, did have the candor to say what was really going on:

“I think some of our voting members are scared of repercussions. They don’t want to touch this. This is something that does carry weight and it does have meaning, and I’m not sure if they’re prepared for that.”

At least they did pass a resolution that “views any tuition increase in negative light.” Two days later, our Board of Trustees passed the latest 3.5 percent increase without batting an eye. And we’re led to believe senate’s voice has sway. Reflect on that “negative light” while you go a little deeper into debt.

But hey, they did keep their campaign promise to spend $100,000, a lot of it from the General Fee, to bring a big-name rapper to OU. And we students only have to pay an additional $25 to $45 to go! They’ll say the tickets are paying for the performer, which really means students are paying twice — once into the Fee and another time for the ticket.

Lovin’ it.

So far this campaign season, we’ve seen the rhetorical brilliance of our senatorial candidates right here on this editorial page.

In a May 2 letter to The Post, the three candidates running for Senate president co-wrote a piece that actually said, and I quote, “In following the other schools that already have policies on conflict minerals, OU could be a leader for human rights.”

So glad they can all agree that by following others, they are leading!

Why The Post actually feels the need to give senate more than cursory stories, I don’t know, and I work here. Honestly, I think it’s kind of like the attraction we have to car wrecks and Cleveland Browns games — you know it’s going to be terrible, but you can’t look away. It’s our own little brand of farcical politics that we can watch and mock down here in Southeast Ohio.

Really, this is a body full of kids who want something to put on their resumés for graduate school. Student Senate is a lame duck every year. Getting elected is what’s important; after that, they don’t really have to do anything — and they don’t. Good for ‘em.

I don’t want to be too hard on our senators; it’s nothing personal. I’m sure they’ve put in long hours pontificating on what nonbinding resolutions they should pass or what toppings should be on the pizzas they passed out at Palmer Fest. And they are just students, like me.

But, truthfully, I have no problem bashing those students because, whether they like it or not, they are public figures beholden to their constituents. Plus, sometimes it’s fun to be childish about childish things.

You may ask, “Why all this hostility, why get your panties all in a tizzy if Student Senate doesn’t matter, anyway?” And, for most of the year, you’d be right to say so.

But, inanely, Student Senate is more prolific and visible during the actual campaign season than any other time. I just wish that, in May, they’d work to be as imaginary, insignificant and irrelevant as they are during the 11 other months of the year.

Cameron Dunbar is a junior studying journalism and a slot editor for The Post. Is today a date which will live in infamy? Send your views to him at cd211209@ohiou.edu.

This letter is not an endorsement; rather, it is a response to baseless personal attacks. In his May 16 letter, “Henderson will always petition for students,” Christopher Wagner addressed the moral fortitude of REACH executives Zach George, Amrit Saini and Evan Ecos.

As Mr. Wagner correctly identified, last year’s election was negative, full of tension and frankly an emotionally taxing experience for everyone involved. By questioning the REACH executives’ character, Mr. Wagner is contributing negativity to this year’s campaign, which has been extremely civil and objective from my perspective.

During my time as the presidential candidate for RSVP, George, Saini and Ecos served valiantly and responsibly as our campaign managers. The three were never negligent or immoral. In the two years that I have worked closely with the REACH executives, they have been forthcoming, prudent and student advocates; to suggest otherwise is, as Mr. Wagner puts it, “wantonly negligent and immoral.”

Do not take my word on that. One area where I agree with Mr. Wagner is the fact that individuals or tickets are not “worthy” of office; rather, they are “chosen to do so.” If you question the character of the REACH executives, I encourage you to reach out to them, or those who have worked with them, and make an informed decision for yourself.

I encourage every student at Ohio University to do their research on independent candidate Jared Henderson, the REACH party and the yOU party. Be your own judge on who you want to represent the student body during the 2012-2013 academic year and be sure to vote today at ohio.edu/students.

Kyle Triplett is a senior studying political science and the current
Student Senate president.

Full disclosure: I’m a third-year student (according to my DARS, I’m a senior … wow) and a former candidate for West Green Senator for Student Senate (from the 2010 race). With the race for senate in full swing as our candidates table and canvas like nobody’s business, I feel it’s time I weigh in with my feelings on the matter.

I think that everyone on the ticket is way too idealistic for his or her own good and for the good of senate. Here is why: Student Senate is a puppet government given to us by the university administration as a showcase of the power they allow us to believe we have.

Look at the bills and resolutions that go through Student Senate: They’re suggestions! Legislation like 2009’s “Resolution to Recognize Halloween” (the title is paraphrased, but the resolution is legit; go check if you don’t believe me) or the resolution this past February that only suggested City Hall and Ohio University do something about Bobcat Lane.

So, what in the name of everything that is good and just in this world makes those parties think they have the power to do what they say they are going to do?

REACH, the party that will win most, if not all, of the positions (sorry yOU, but with the sitting senate’s financial and verbal backing, you never really had a chance) is hilariously going to mandate “mid-semester professor evaluations” and compile an online database of syllabi which are subject to frequent change, both of which are powers of the Faculty Senate, NOT the Student Senate.

Their platform on sustainability is laughable at best. They plan to switch Morton Hall and Copeland Hall to energy-saving motion-sensor lighting, which would cost more than they have to spend in three years and is a power that belongs to our Board of Trustees. Their implementations of outlet switches in Boyd Hall and other renovated dorms is going to cost so much more up front than it would be worth to spend on them, and their payoff won’t come for another five years.

Look to their platform: It’s way too idealistic for their own good. yOU’s platform is basically invisible (Where do I find it?) and I’m not even too sure that Jared has a platform (no offense, Jared).

Let’s look at REACH’s top three, which consists of a former opponent, a high school friend of mine and Amrit Saini. Zach George ran against me for West Green Senator in 2010. He did not show up for the candidate’s debate that was coordinated by the sitting senate and Mary Kate Gallagher. When I went to Boyd Hall’s council meeting to express my platform, they told me that I had their full support; one of their most-absent members was none other than Zach George.

Never once did I see that man on West Green and I have yet to see him campaign this year. Do I trust that man to run the student government? Not with my life.

And Evan Ecos for treasurer? Let me explain: Evan Ecos has had big dreams for most of his life. The Evan I knew in high school wouldn’t have settled for treasurer. This Evan sold out. No doubt he will be a great treasurer for senate, but something tells me that this is not the position that he wants. I would trust REACH if Evan was their leader because I believe Evan would make seven times the leader that Zach George will be. Evan was out just as often as I was two years ago on the campaign trail. He knew East Green better than anyone I knew. He was out trying to garner votes when he could’ve been working on homework, and I have seen him give the same commitment to this campaign. Why am I not voting for my friend? He’s running unopposed.

I look at the history of Student Senate and I look to what power they actually have versus the power that they say they have, and I only come to the conclusion that the best vote on Thursday is no vote at all.

Because, at some point, students and senators alike need to realize something: We, the regular students, have more power than they do. Look to what student organizations have done at this school. Bobcats for a Conflict-Free Campus has been a vocal presence in getting our university to go conflict-free. OU Student Power organized multiple protests against the tuition hike. Did that happen because we let Student Senate assert a fake idea of power? No. That happened because regular students mobilized themselves and became active in their university community.

The power is yours, Bobcats. Don’t give it away.

Thomas Pinney is a senior studying political science.
 

What ended with a walk-off win for Ohio last season will pick up again Thursday when Miami will make the trip to Athens to square off with its age-old rival.

The Bobcats (27-25, 15-9 Mid-American Conference) took two of three games from the RedHawks (26-26, 10-14 MAC) in 2011 and appear to have the upper hand this time around as well.

Coming off four straight wins, Ohio holds second place in the MAC East, while Miami is five games back and tied for third. But the RedHawks are on the Bobcats’ tail in terms of overall record, sitting only a game behind.

Ohio also holds an edge in the all-time series against Miami. The Bobcats have roped together 128 wins in 227 meetings with the RedHawks, meaning that Miami is on the brink of its 100th win against Ohio.

If the Bobcats get their wish, that milestone win for the RedHawks will have to wait until a different year.

“Back when I played, it was the great rivalry,” said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone, who will be coaching his final series at Bob Wren Stadium. “It was the knock-down, drag-out battle every year with Miami. They had a great team. We came to the field with fire in our eyes. We didn’t like red.”

Things have not changed in that regard. For some Bobcats, the disdain reaches far beyond the baseball field. Junior pitcher Seth Streich, who will take the mound Saturday, said the rivalry has affected everything from his wardrobe to his choice of décor.

“I don’t own any red shirts, have any red hats,” Streich said. “Anything that’s red in my room, I want it out.”

The Bobcats might get the chance to knock the RedHawks off their perch this weekend, as three losses could bump Miami from MAC Tournament contention.

Bowling Green and Buffalo bring up the rear in the MAC East but could jump Miami if it were to stumble through the end of the regular season with six straight conference losses. Miami fell to Kent State in three games by a combined score of 20-10 last weekend and did not take the field for a tune-up game Tuesday.

At this point in the season, there’s an eternal “rest versus rust” argument, and Carbone is hoping the former will outweigh the latter in the upcoming series.

He noted that not throwing his top three starting pitchers during non-conference games keeps them fresh for the weekend and allows them to stay on track at this point in the season.

“Some schools will throw their starters from the weekend a little bit in (midweek) games to ensure that they’ll get a win,” Carbone said. “We’ve never done that here. Not that we don’t want to win and not that we’re not trying to win, but I’ve always felt that wears your starters out.”

As much as Carbone’s strategy plays into his starters’ hands, it also helps acclimate younger players, who benefit from coming out of the bullpen in more pressure situations.

“My philosophy has always been to put the young guys in there and give the relief pitchers that don’t get to pitch as much some work so they stay sharp,” he said.

The Bobcats have relied heavily on their pitching staff this season, but they showed the capability to bust out the big bats Tuesday in a win against Dayton.

Senior right fielder Jensen Painter hit his stride against the Flyers, belting a pair of no-question homers, while backup catcher Kyle Dean brought the crowd to its feet with the first grand slam of his collegiate career.

But the Bobcats will need more than explosives to blow away their competition this weekend. Carbone said his team’s focus is staying fresh with the MAC Tournament on deck.

“Last year, we were on a good run and we just kind of faded at the end,” he said. “This year, we’re staying strong. This is almost a whole new team, and with a bunch of young guys, I think they’re starting to realize what it takes to win.”

 jr992810@ohiou.edu

Dear Ohio University Students,

Each year, you get one opportunity to select the students who will carry your voices into Cutler Hall, into the planning meetings and into the funding meetings. Each year, you get the power to change the course of your university by electing people into Student Senate who will push for your agenda in those meetings and keep your best interests in mind. This year is no different.

During the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to follow both political tickets via the web, and, from our standpoint, there is only one ticket that has the organization and experience to truly be effective messengers of the student voice, and that ticket is REACH.

From the beginning, REACH has proven to be the ambitious and thoughtful party. By launching a streamlined website with a complete platform and bios of individual candidates on day one of the campaign, REACH arguably surpassed the efforts of the yOU party’s entire campaign. Furthermore, REACH has also utilized traditional campaign strategies, like tabling, passing out fliers and visiting student organizations to further provide students with an opportunity for face-to-face communication, which is an essential step in holding leadership accountable.

It is clear that REACH has done much more to establish a presence on the web and through campus than their opponents. In a time where students are craving strong, discernible leadership, REACH is the only ticket that clearly embodies transparency. It is obvious from their efforts that they not only want to be elected; they actually want to interact with students.

As former Student Senate executives and four-year members of the body, we recall many of the critiques of our organization, one of the most prevalent being Student Senate hid from the students; yOU seems to be heading in that direction. There is nothing wrong with advancements in computer-mediated communication and social network campaigning, but it can never replace the accountability that is bestowed by face-to-face interactions.

Voting in this election cannot be about who you like; this election is about the affordability of your college degree, the preservation of the Ohio University experience for future generations and the overall improvement of your community. REACH is the only ticket that has stepped up to the platform, looked students in the eye and asked to be held accountable. We strongly believe that REACH embodies the wants and needs of the student body by taking to the streets and not hiding behind the computer screen. After all, you cannot tweet or blog your response in meetings over the budget.

Jesse Wanzo Neader graduated in 2011 and was the former Student Senate president 2010-11. Patty Roberts graduated in 2011 and was the former Student Senate treasurer in 2010-11.

Today, you will have a choice between many qualified candidates to represent you for the 2012-13 academic year for the Ohio University Student Senate. This campaign has been quite different from the other campaigns that I have been a part of — from differing campaign styles to social media uses. It is imperative that the students of OU receive accurate coverage and are educated about the issues. I am writing you today to encourage you to vote for the REACH party.

At the helm of REACH, Zach George has been an integral part of this campaign, as well as past and current Student Senates. His experience in senate and his ability to stand up for the students is something that this body needs. Zach is a leader inside and outside of Student Senate, and I firmly believe that he is the best candidate for this position. Zach has shown up for the entire campaign period — talking to students, talking to the media and being accessible to students voicing their concerns. Zach stands up for what is right and has been at the forefront of many conversations regarding diversity center hours, college affordability and enhancing the life of OU students.

Amrit Saini, the REACH vice presidential candidate, has done nothing but advocate for OU students. His involvement in the transition from quarters to semesters has been an integral part of this year’s Student Senate, and I have no doubt he will continue to be a strong advocate. He has worn many hats during his tenure with Student Senate, starting as an intern, and filling roles as an East Green senator, a university life at-large senator and the current academic affairs commissioner. Amrit has taken a stand for the students by advocating for those who could have been hindered by the transition to semesters, and has been a great liaison for this body regarding the transition.

Evan Ecos, REACH’s candidate for treasurer, is an integral member of the Student Appropriations Commission and has tirelessly worked to enhance SAC to be more efficient, proactive and diverse. Evan’s work ethic and budgetary experience will serve him well during the 2012-2013 Student Senate year.

The rest of the REACH ticket and supporters are a diverse group of students who have the best interest of the students at OU and the Athens community in mind. REACH has veteran members of Student Senate like Victoria Calderon, who has worked non-stop for the women on this campus, hosting two successful Take Back the Night events, and Mary Kate Gallagher, who has worked endlessly on educating the student body on responsible fest-ing and alcohol consumption. REACH also hosts a diverse population of new and upcoming faces who have already shown that they are willing to put in the hard work necessary to be a successful member of Student Senate.

There has been an argument that other tickets and candidates are a better representation of the student body. REACH has members of the LGBT,
African-American, International, Greek and Athletics community, just to name a few. I have seen first-hand the importance of diversity in a ticket, and I truly believe REACH is your best option.

I encourage you to educate yourself about the issues for the upcoming election and to vote REACH.

Sean Martin is a junior studying applied mathematics and a candidate for the at large senator for the REACH ticket.

Ohio University has fearlessly decided to sponsor a trip to Las Vegas for hotel management students this summer; a venture that they hope won’t leave them loathing the decision.

A group of students interested in learning about casino management will join Patton College of Education assistant professor Alan Silver for a four-night trip to the Excalibur Hotel.

The trip will cost $1,424 per student, Silver said, for round-trip air and bus travel expenses, hotel, admission to several different venues and the cost of the course. It is open to students of all majors.

Casino management will likely become a track under the restaurant, hotel and tourism major at OU, he said.

Students must be at least 21-years-old to go on the tour, said Ann Paulins, chairperson in the department of human and consumer sciences. Otherwise, they would not have access to some of the learning opportunities, she added.

Apart from the students spending their time earning credit for RHT 290, there will also be free time for exploring the city on their own, Silver said.

“We don’t want to discourage students from having fun,” Paulins said. “We do, however, encourage responsibility.”

The focus, Paulins said, is that Las Vegas is home to a number of lucrative business enterprises.

The goal is to teach students how to manage hotels, casinos and restaurants, Silver said. Students will take tours of the front and back of the casino houses, have dinner with the Buca di Beppo family and meet with other prominent casino executives.

“The shops, restaurants and shows are some of the best in the world. Some people will go there and not gamble at all,” he said.

With this week’s opening of Horseshoe Cleveland, Ohio’s first full-service casino, Silver said he believes that it is important to teach students how to properly manage the businesses.

“If we can get them on site to the best well-established places, it will enhance their educational experience,” said Paulins.

bl171210@ohiou.edu

Dejan Mraović is already a photographer, graphic designer, author and filmmaker, but now the senior is pushing himself in an entirely new way — redesigning the Serbian currency.

For his MFA thesis exhibition project, Graphic Ambassadors of a Country: (Re)design of Serbian Dinars, Mraović’s research is focused on money and redesigning the Serbian currency, the dinar. The project is a collaboration with the National Bank of Serbia in Belgrade.

“As a measure of protection for my currency, I designed a completely new, sans-serif font titled Serbiana,” said Mraović. “Serbian is the only language in the world that uses both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabet. I included both alphabets for this project. I believe that this unique, brand-new font will contribute to the originality and beauty of my redesigned dinars.”

His exhibition began May 8 and will continue through Friday. It is being held at the Ohio University Art Gallery in the School of Art at Siegfried Hall.

On Thursday, though, the Serbian governor and treasurer will view the redesigns for eventual implementation and Desko Nikitović, consul general of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago, will visit OU to view the exhibit.

“It is my pleasure and prestige to have them here,” said Mraović. “I couldn’t believe that I could design this and have such great attention.”

Don Adleta, Mraović’s advisor and chair of the graphic design program, helped Mraović create the exhibit.

“My God, the visual aesthetics and algorithm he makes creates this synergy that’s quite incredible,” he said, adding, “It’s pretty honorable and fantastic to be a part of this exhibit.”

Norma J. Humphreys, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts, worked with Mraović as well.

“He was always very gracious and accommodating here at OU and I wish him and his exhibit well,” she said.

In addition to his thesis project, Mraović is also writing a book that combines his research and plans for currency.

More than anything else, Mraović believes that this project is a great collaboration between the United States and Serbia. The show will also be offered to the embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C.

Adleta, too, has been invited to visit Nikitović in Chicago and meet the Serbian diplomats.

“It was a pleasure for me to work with Adleta, who is the best professor of graphic design and typography that I ever had,” Mraović said. “Professors David LaPalombara, Joseph Lamb and Norma J. Humphreys support multiculturalism and openness to the different cultures at OU, and that is why I never felt (like) a foreigner at Ohio University.”

And although Mraović is quick to sing the praise of his professors, they feel that all his success comes from himself.

“He’s a pretty unique and stellar human being,” said Adleta. “I think he took full advantage of what he is able to do here at the school.”

wa054010@ohiou.edu

Student pregnancy is one of those privileged issues to which people usually refer to as “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Although not widely spoken about, this problem deserves attention.

Like any aspect of student life, perception of student pregnancy depends on a society’s social values.

Getting pregnant in countries such as China and Russia, for example, is regarded, if not as a crime, then as a misdeed and a disreputable act. Shortly afterward, that female student will be labeled as immoral, idle and irresponsible.

The stigma of a bad girl –– the one who breaks the rules –– will follow her through the rest of her time in college. Unfortunately, if she decides to keep the child, it won’t be easy for her to adjust her studies to the new situation.

In Russia, the bureaucratic system has no regulations concerning student pregnancy. Taking a maternity leave can jeopardize a female student’s chance to further her education. Provided her family’s moral and financial support, she will have to go to school, just as any of her peers, combining the two roles of a mother and a student.

Professors and colleagues will often look down on her, treat her as inferior and incapable of serious achievements. Many equate getting pregnant with being caught red-handed: The sinner pays for the follies of everyone else. According to social norms, being a single mother is still the worst thing that can happen to a young woman.

Although not completely devoid of the bad-girl stigma, the attitude toward young, single mothers differs in Germany and France. The presence of a female student who’s expecting, or the one with a small child in a classroom does not make everyone turn and stare in her direction. The state recognizes the right of young, unmarried females to become mothers. There is social welfare to help them pull through their studies, though she must demonstrate her ability to continue working to receive the assistance. No one will criticize or reproach a student mother for getting “knocked up” as long as she is strong and independent enough to raise the child.

Just like in Russia and China, abortion in Germany and France is not a politicized and state-controlled issue. The decision whether to keep the child concerns the woman herself, her financial circumstances and the degree of her family’s and her boyfriend or significant other’s backup. A female student will more likely preserve this little life in a social environment with more support.
Comparing the perceptions of student pregnancy provides an insight into the social norms and values that these societies hold dear.

Many Western countries regard student pregnancy as acceptable, recognizing female students as individuals mature enough to decide for themselves and become mothers while still successfully pursuing a career. Being pregnant and single is not considered a “fail,” but a natural circumstance in life.

Yet, in many societies, getting pregnant while in college is viewed as losing in life and not being an achiever. To avoid this, young women either abstain from sexual contact until married or choose abortion.

Motherhood is a blessing and a gift, regardless of social status. No one has the right to stigmatize a female student for choosing to become a mother.

Nadja Panchenko is a graduate student studying journalism and American studies who attended Ohio University last quarter and is a columnist for The Post. She is continuing her studies at Leipzig University. Email her at np577711@ohiou.edu.

The Ohio State baseball team didn’t help their chances of making the Big Ten tournament by blowing a seven-run lead and losing their opening game at Indiana, 10-8, Thursday. With the loss, the Buckeyes drop to an 11-11 record against Big Ten opponent...

This week on ARTthrobs, Alex and Sarah talk about Donna Summer's death, Jennifer Lopez possibly leaving "American Idol," Britney Spears and Demi L...

By: Lantern Staff

In this week's webcast, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer holds a town hall style meeting with students a day before releasing his depth chart. We were on the scene for both events. We also take a look at the newest eatery on campus, Waffle House. ...

Every week students, staff and faculty can explore the fresh seasonal flavors of Ohio-grown foods and learn about the farmers and food artisans behind them by getting one market bag.