Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Donate
The Post - Athens, OH
The Post

COLUMNS

Lean in Further

Lean In Further: ‘Bobkitten’ labels are demeaning

By Jessica Ensley | Sep. 22, 2014

We need to stop calling women on this campus “Bobkittens.” We call the student body as a whole, “Bobcats” but then to turn around and say “Bobkittens” when it’s only female students. This is an example of how we as a society infantilize women. The use of language to demean women is nothing new.

Jordan Williams

The Good-isms: Trans actress works for equality

By Jordan Williams | Sep. 21, 2014

Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox — recognized as the most publicly visible representative of the transgender community — has stepped back from behind her prison hairdresser’s chair (on the acclaimed Netflix series, Orange is the New Black) in recent months and into an activist role for the general safety and well-being of the transgender community. Her work to educate the public and bring transgender rights to everyone’s attention has been a huge inspiration for me.The actress has utilized her rapid climb to fame as an outlet to help those who face the same stigmas she encounters every day. Cox has lived as a post-op transgender woman for an undisclosed period of time. She shares her experiences from her transition and daily life to educate audiences on the reality transgender or transitioning individuals face every day. As she said in a speech last January, “Healthcare for trans people is a necessity. It is not elective, it is not cosmetic, it is life-saving…But we are more than our bodies.”Cox has undoubtedly become the most visible advocate the transgender community has ever had. Following a September 16 appearance at Ohio State University, Cox announced that she will host an upcoming documentary on MTV to further educate audiences on LGBT youth. The documentary, titled Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, will feature seven trans individuals of varying backgrounds and stories, all aged 18 to 24. The show will explore “the intersection of race and gender identity” with the seven young people. The first airing is scheduled for October 17 at 7 p.m. EST on MTV and Logo.With Cox’s inspiring activist roles in mind, let’s shift the focus back to the Bobcats. Our campus has sponsored a host of LGBT social activities through Ohio University’s LGBT Center. With a combination of college graduates and current OU students, the center brings all students together in supportive and educational social activities and training programs (most notably the popular SpeakOUT! program).Because I am sure the question has come up while reading this, yes, I am a proud ally of the LGBT community. That means I am simply not just a part of the LGBT community, but I support equality and every effort made to educate the public on the importance of general equality for all. OU has been amazing with all of the LGBT programs that have been conducted this semester, and I recommend everyone become more involved in the coming weeks to learn more and become more active in the fight for equality, from our city of Athens to the global scale. Jordan Williams is a junior studying English and Women’s and Gender studies. Email her at jw719111@ohio.edu

Zander Myers - Culture Shocked

Culture Shocked: Wanderlust is essential for personal growth

By Zander Myers | Sep. 21, 2014

I was having a conversation with my roommate last night about traveling and her experiences. She came up with some interesting points that I happen to agree with. We both think it is crucial to branch out and travel, even if that just means venturing to a neighboring state or nearby city. It’s important to explore places beyond your comfortable hometown, even if the little town you call home is actually a major city. Travelling expands a person’s view of the world, society, and culture around them. Even if you do not travel out of the United States, there are still many places that can have a big impact on the rest of your life.

GamerGirl - Sophie Kruse

Gamer Girl: Mario Kart 8 is perfect for longtime game fans

By Sophie Kruse | Sep. 21, 2014

When the Wii U was announced, I thought it was the dumbest thing ever.I was a definite doubter. I thought the tablet was chunky and awkward, and I could only picture someone getting way too into their game and accidentally chucking the tablet through the television.I thought the tablet was unnecessary too: Mobile games should stay on mobile devices and console games should stay on consoles (with normal controllers).Once I actually tried out the Wii U, I discovered that I genuinely enjoyed it.I’ve only really played one game on the console, which to me has made it completely worth it: Mario Kart 8. I think I might actually be obsessed with this game. I’ve played some of its predecessors in the past, but this is truly a great version that I highly recommend to long-time Mario fans.There are a ton of different maps from all the previous Mario Kart games — including two versions of Rainbow Road.There’s a new, super awesome power-up in the game as well. It’s rare, and I’ve only ever got it when I’m lagging behind in the race. It gives you eight power-ups at the same time that you can use (including a banana, a red and green shell and a mushroom). Be careful, though. Opponents can easily run into you when you have this and make you lose certain parts of it.The online component of the game is also really fun. When your friends get tired of playing over and over again with you, you can easily connect with people online and play your heart out on there.The tablet makes this game fun because instead of looking at the television screen, you can just watch the tablet screen (if you’re lucky enough to be the one playing on it).I enjoyed playing this way online too, because you can play the Wii U without even having the television on. I could play Mario Kart just on the tablet and binge-watch something else on television — it’s pretty great.While playing the game, you get to unlock different characters, cars, wheels and parachutes, which makes it feel like more of a campaign game — or at least one where you have to build up to get better. They’re making a variety of new maps for the game as well. I’m looking forward to the Animal Crossing pack that will be released in a few months, which will have you racing as characters from the 3DS game and on different maps from it. And come on, who doesn’t want to combine Animal Crossing and Mario Kart?Sophia Kruse is a junior studying journalism. Email her at sk139011@ohio.edu. or tweet her at @kruseco.

Put It In Writing

Put It In Writing: Becoming a great writer comes with more than just writing

By Kirsten Saylor | Sep. 17, 2014

Many people want to become better writers. Being a great writer is something people should aspire to be. However, you’re not going to become a great writer just by writing. Yes, practicing will improve your writing to a certain degree, but it is not the only thing (or necessarily the best thing) to help you become a better writer. The best way to improve your writing is to read.  It may sound cliché, or maybe it’s something you’ve never really heard, but reading is the No. 1  way to improve your own writing. Reading allows you to explore different styles, words, structures and worlds that you may have never considered for yourself. Reading isn’t merely looking at the words on a page; reading is opening up your mind to a unique realm full of knowledge.Not only does reading allow you, as the reader, to discover what appeals to you, but it also exercises your mind. Joseph Addison, an 18th century writer, once said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” When exercising, you build resilience and strength in your muscles, keeping them fit and agile. Reading does the exact same thing, but for your mind. When you read, you are exercising your brain by mentally cataloguing dialogue and imagining scenarios through words on paper. This only goes to increase your intelligence, thus making you a better reader and a writer.Read everything you can get your hands on. Read full length novels of every genre. Read the classics. Read the newest releases. Read short stories by independent authors on the internet. Read Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. Read newspapers, articles and essays from local providers and websites. Read poetry. No matter what it is, read it. It could provide you with insight that you may not notice on your own.Stephen King, the author of “The Shining” and “Pet Cemetery,” has a quote which goes well: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” You have to make the time to read in order to improve your writing. Whether you can only fit in one chapter of a book a night or if you can finish an entire novel in a few days, do it. Even 10 minutes of reading is better than not reading at all.Read when you can, write when you can and watch your writing improve before your eyes. It’s amazing how quickly you can progress if you continuously read and write. You will find what works for you through this process, and your writing will begin to feel like you. All you have to do is exercise your brain a little.Kirsten Saylor is a freshman studying English. Email her at ks749113@ohio.edu.

Lights Camera Ashton

Lights, Camera, Ashton: Comedy becoming too self-aware to be funny

By Will Ashton | Sep. 17, 2014

Anyone who is knowledgeable about comedy will tell you that it is subjective. Different people just laugh at different things. There is no right or wrong answer to what someone finds funny.I mean, sure, it’s easy to get mad at someone who keeps sponsoring Adam Sandler’s half-assed attempts at comedy, or Melissa McCarthy’s tired overweight routine. But they are not wrong per se. That’s just their preference. Personally, I like my comedy dry and witty, dark or absurd. But I know for a fact that there are things I find hilarious that many people look at with a blank, confused face.With that in mind, however, there’s definitely something to be said about how comedy weaves itself through culture. Vaudeville led the way to silent comedy and slapstick. The invention of sound in films led to quick-witted humor and mile-a-minute joke telling. Later, comedies like There’s Something About Mary paved the way for seemingly thousands of R-rated comedies involving different bloody fluids.Nowadays, there seems to be a new trend in pop culture comedy, but it may be one that comes at a price down the road. It’s self-aware comedy; comedy that prides itself in not only knowing it is a joke, but making a joke of how much of a joke it is.When applied well, there are certainly times where this works. Looking at some examples from the past few years, 21 Jump Street capitalized on the crappiness of its genre with fast wit and tongue-in-cheek aplomb, while The Cabin inthe Woods is, in my opinion, one of the better horror comedies to grace the screen of late—if just for its delightfully gory third act.But now, it seems that any and every (successful) movie with comedy has self-referential comedy in it. There was The Lego Movie, which — to its credit — needed this awareness and still serves as the best comedy of the year. And then there was Muppets Most Wanted, which was fine, solely because the Muppets have always been self-aware, and are funny about 95 percent of the time anyway.But after those, it started to get a little irksome. Just this summer, there was Neighbors, A Million Ways to Die in the West, 22 Jump Street, They Came Together, Let’s Be Cops and Guardians of the Galaxy —all of which took pride in saying over and over, “Oh, don’t worry. We get the joke.”For the most part, the strategy works for most of these movies, which makes criticizing them something of a bizarre, backhanded compliment. But it’s not about the films so much as it’s about the approach. The reason why self-aware comedy worked in its traditional sense was because it dealt with a select few being aware of the joke.It was like the one guy in class who was able to see through the BS and get away with sarcastically making fun of it. But if everyone is laying back and being sarcastic, there is no rhyme or reason to everything. There’s no joke, because nobody is out of the picture. It’s just preaching to the choir, and then it is no longer self-aware comedy. It’s just the norm.So, perhaps this isn’t a criticism but a warning: Slow down on the self-aware stuff. It’s cute, but the wear and tear is starting to show. If you don’t slow it down now — and considering how much money some of these movies made, they won’t — comedy is going to become stale.But hey, maybe that will be when self-aware comedy will be funny again. Someone will finally see the joke within the joke within the joke.Will Ashton is a senior studying journalism and a writer for The Post. Email him at wa054010@ohio.edu.

In The Know With Meg O

In The Know With Meg O: Libraries not on the outs in the States

Sep. 17, 2014

A Pew Research study published this week reports that libraries are not, in fact, dying.The study finds that Millennials are just as likely to have visited a library in the past year as their older counterparts and, additionally, are more likely to have visited a library’s website.The study also reports that how Americans use libraries is just one part of a broader social view. According to the report, “As a rule, people who have extensive economic, social, technological and cultural resources are also more likely to use and value libraries as part of those networks. Many of those who are less engaged with public libraries tend to have lower levels of technology use, fewer ties to their neighbors, lower feelings of personal efficacy and less engagement with other cultural activities.”In short, those who go to the library may be more engaged and involved citizens.While I am happy to read these findings, I’m pretty shocked.When I was younger, I went to the library every week to check out books and movies (and to sneak a peek at People Magazine … I was such a rebel), but I rarely have gone since I got a Kindle for my 17th birthday.I am an independent bookstore’s least favorite person. While I used to be an avid bookstore-goer (though it wasn’t independent, I cried actual tears in high school when the Borders by my house announced they were going out of business), when I got a Kindle, I just didn’t go anymore.However, my mom goes to the library almost once a week and just picks up a book that looks interesting to her. I haven’t done that in years. I figure that I should be up to date on bestsellers if I want to talk to any of my peers about a book we read for pleasure.I love being recommended a book, reaching into my backpack, typing it in and clicking pay. I could start reading a book days earlier than I used to, but I totally bought into the instant gratification that Amazon and other e-reader services provided, even though I was aware that it was being criticized as consumer censorship.So here is a shameless plug: visit your local library if you go home this weekend, and if not, stop by the Athens Community Library and pick out a book that looks interesting, not just the current number one book on Amazon. Apparently, that will make us a whole lot more engaged with the world around us.

RedBlueandYou

Red, Blue & You: America needs to counter ISIS terror group

Sep. 17, 2014

“Mission Accomplished,” were the words hanging behind President George W. Bush on the USS Abraham Lincoln when he gave his infamous speech in 2003 announcing that, “major combat operations in Iraq have ended.”What seemed to be the end of conflict in Iraq turned out to be nothing more than a 10-year pause when a new terror group started to gain power in the country.The new threat to peace in Iraq is known as ISIS (The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or ISIL (The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).ISIS is an extremist terror group that aims to turn Iraq and the Levant (a region consisting of Lebanon, Syria and Palestine) into an Islamic state. The group was formed by Abu Ayyub al-Masri who had ties to Al-Qaeda. al-Masri was killed in 2010 and was replaced by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who leads ISIS today.The group started gaining attention in June, when they gained control of Mosul, Nineveh, an Iraqi province and Tikrit, another city in Iraq. Since then, ISIS has declared an Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.Although the group’s acts in June did earn some national attention, nothing earned more of a response than the Aug. 19 video released by ISIS showing the execution of American journalist James Foley.The man who executes Foley in the video says that American journalist Steven Sotloff is also being held captive and will be decapitated if U.S. airstrikes continue. ISIS followed through with their promise Sept. 2 when they posted the video. Afterward, ISIS made another threat to British aid worker David Haines.On Sept. 10, President Obama gave a speech regarding what America’s plans were in handling ISIS. He said, “Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”This had no impact on the terror group, who just three days after Obama’s comments, released a video showing the decapitation of Haines.Everyone can agree that something needs to be done to destroy ISIS and provide payback for the vicious acts they have done over the past several months. The only problem is that not many Americans think President Obama can get the job done.According to an NBC News poll, “70 percent of Americans say they lack confidence that the U.S. will achieve its goals in fighting the terrorist group ISIS.”There’s good reason to be skeptical about America’s ability to handle conflict in the Middle East — America has a less than stellar track record in dealing with the problems in the Middle East.We already know how things went in Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan seems to be heading in the same direction with a fear that the country will fall back into extremist control once the U.S. removes all troops in the coming years.The list goes on and on with examples of American intervention in the Middle East with what seems to be no real results or solutions to the problem. Acting as the world police in the Middle East is like playing a cruel game of whack-a-mole — just when it seems one problem is solved, another one pops up.It’s important to realize that the U.S. as a whole, not just President Obama, has had trouble dealing with conflict in the Middle East in the past.These failures should not scare us away from acting on a threat that would affect the safety of Americans and others across the world. The possibility of yet another terrorist attack on American soil may seem premature to worry about, but there is no telling what ISIS is willing to do in order to get their point across.But one thing is for certain. Whatever President Obama and the U.S. government decides to do regarding this new terror threat, the country, as a whole needs to understand that any form of action is a step in the right direction.

upport Us
Trending
The Post on YouTube
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2025 The Post, Athens OH