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Editorial: Bobcat Lane comes with an over-the-top price tag

Nov. 21, 2014

We wrote earlier this semester about Bobcat Lane opening for a six-month trial run in December, editorializing that we were glad the road was finally opening after years of deliberation — even though it was just on a temporary basis.We also added it was concerning that Ohio University and the city of Athens were dedicating so much time and resources to the project.As was reported in Thursday’s edition of The Post, the trial-run has been delayed an additional eight months to August 2015. The project will be combined with additional Richland Avenue changes, and the university is setting aside $355,000 for construction.That is absurd.Although the university said the project will consist of more than just pulling three stakes out of the ground and leveling off the sidewalk so that cars can drive over, $355,000 is far too much for the opening up of what is essentially a right-turn-only alleyway.We had been glad to hear that Bobcat Lane would open this year, as tentatively planned. The road, when finally opened, should ease traffic in front of Baker and on Richland Avenue and create a safer atmosphere for pedestrians crossing Richland at a crosswalk where a student was struck by a car earlier this semester.OU officials said the $355,000 will finance the widening of Bobcat Lane that will make it passable for motor coaches and safer for pedestrians, as well as improved lighting in the area.Those are good ideas, but not $355,000 good ideas. OU officials: We suggest you take action to open the road as soon as possible. See how it goes. Make improvements based on your findings.Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors.

Jim Ryan

From The Editor's Desk: Breaking news coverage important to ‘Post’ readers

By JIM RYAN | Nov. 21, 2014

I often hear that a journalist’s instincts take over in the midst of a breaking news event.My first reaction when I heard of the fire in Uptown Athens on Sunday was to mistakenly run the wrong way down South Congress Street, away from the fire. I saw smoke, but it took me a trip around the block to find the fire.Luckily for me, many of The Post’s staffers had better instincts than I. After shooting a quick video of the flames and jotting down a couple notes at approximately 5:30 a.m., I spent the rest of the day holed up in our newsroom, updating our coverage as new information became available.A team of approximately 10 Post reporters and photographers stayed on the scene, feeding information back to our managing editor, Sara Jerde, and myself. Their reporting was read by thousands of readers — many of whom also shared our content on social media.It’s common for readers to turn to our website for breaking news coverage, but Sunday’s online audience was far and away the largest that The Post has ever had during a single 24-hour period.On Sunday alone, our online news stories, photos and videos were viewed more than 150,000 times. That affirms to me that The Post’s commitment to breaking news reporting is paying dividends to our readers.Please don’t get me wrong: Posties don’t revel in situations of tragedy, panic or sadness. Rather, we know that it’s our duty to provide our readers information about such events.Our efforts, it appears, have been mostly well-received. But journalists are under the microscope more than ever during times of breaking news, and I have fielded complaints from readers and sources this semester about Post photographers being too steadfast; reporters pestering authorities to get the latest updates; and editors spreading misinformation on social media.We do our best to eliminate those instances and strive to treat such situations — and those affected by them — with the professionalism and respect they deserve. I was particularly proud of how Post staffers conducted themselves while reporting on the Uptown fire.I was also deeply moved by many of the stories they have told this week. I hope many of you were too.As always, thanks for reading.Jim Ryan is a senior studying journalism and political science and editor-in-chief of The Post. Want to sound off on this issue? Contact him at jr992810@ohio.edu or on Twitter at @Jimryan015

The Post

Letter: Learning safety from West Union Street fire

Nov. 21, 2014

To the Editor,As many are aware, a fire broke out and spread through many buildings on West Union Street early morning of November 16. The fire spread rapidly through the businesses and apartments, leaving a lot of damage behind, and students without homes and belongings. Fortunately, there were no fatalities and those affected by the fire are being taken care of by the generous community.Let us all learn from this devastating experience and be thankful no lives were lost. As a friendly reminder, please remember to follow these fire safety guidelines so that in an event of a fire, you will be prepared and get out safely:- Get out IMMEDIATELY at the sound of an alarm or sign of a fire. - Fires spread rapidly. DO NOT try to gather belongings. Exit promptly, then call 911. - Be sure to have two escape routes in case one is blocked by fire. Have a plan in mind.- Smoke detectors are lifesavers and absolutely must be installed properly and tested often. Without smoke alarms, the smoke could overcome you, putting you into a deeper sleep, rendering you helpless and unable to escape. Test them every month, and change the batteries twice a year.- Practice basic fire safety. Do not leave cooking or open flames, such as candles, unattended and use common sense when disposing of smoking materials. - Always remember that when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your ability to make logical decisions in an emergency situation are greatly reduced.The Athens Fire Department would like to thank all responding agencies who offered their services. Also, we thank those who offered their hospitality, providing food and drinks, during the tiresome event. Please contact our department at 740-592-3301 for any questions regarding fire safety or concerns.  Lt. Dan Riley is a firefighter for the Athens Fire Department.

The Post

Students affected by fire still thankful

By BETHANY BELLA | Nov. 21, 2014

After recounting their experiences during the Union Street fire to The Post earlier this week, the paper caught up with Alison Stewart and Rachel Portik to see how they’re doing five days after a fire that deeply affected them.Last Sunday’s Union Street fire, a rare disaster that ravaged one of Athens’ most beloved blocks, left affected Ohio University students in various states of disarray. One of those students is Alison Stewart. “We were the attic, and it kinda fell through to the bottom,” said Stewart, a previous resident of 12 ½ B W. Union St., an apartment that was torched by the fire. “My entire apartment is just gone.” Stewart’s bedroom — under a little white roof three stories above the street — collapsed during the fire that displaced 40 OU students — 17 of them permanently — who were all safely evacuated Sunday morning. No one was seriously injured and everyone survived, yet the same cannot be said for many personal belongings. “Everything is a total loss,” said Stewart, a senior studying special education. “I had one roommate, and everything of hers was a total loss, as well.” Those losses, Stewart said, included her glasses, her bed and her great grandmother’s necklace. While other students and faculty from the university provided considerable donations of clothes, toiletries and other household supplies to the fire-affected students, not everything has been easy to replace. “Although I did get a lot of donations, I am having to go out and buy professional clothing, because I am going to be a teacher, so I’m still in my field placement,” Stewart said. Replacing lost personal items will put an unforeseen strain on these families, especially for the upcoming holiday season. “I feel bad because my parents have paid a lot for this incident,” Stewart said. “But I think we’ll manage — we’ll pull through the holiday. My siblings might not be getting as much for Christmas, which I feel bad about.” Not every Bobcat who was affected by the Union Street fire is having to cope with considerable damages. “We really just had to get our clothes smoke-cleaned,” said Rachel Portik, one of the previous residents above Chipotle on Court Street. “We’re just dealing with the water damage now.”Her apartment, which only had smoke and water damage, was not damaged by the flames. On Sunday, Portik told The Post she believed her roof had caught fire and did not know if any of her possessions still existed.Despite the discrepancies in fire-related damages, one resounding theme has echoed from these resilient Bobcats: thankfulness. “I’m very thankful. The university has been amazing to us,” Portik said. “They have done everything to make this better for us; they’ve been very helpful during this time.” These students are also appreciative of the firefighters who fought the blaze and police officers who assisted in the fire evacuations. “Back where we are, there are so many doors and only a few little houses,” Portik said “The fact that they got everybody up and out is just amazing.” The donations that students and faculty provided were also well received.“I actually feel extremely thankful for the generosity that’s been given to me this week,” Stewart said. “It really shows you who cares about you and will support you through these kinds of things. I feel very thankful.”Material possessions may come and go, but for next week’s Thanksgiving holiday, these students say they still have something to celebrate.@bnbjournobb308113@ohio.edu

Adam Wonderly

AFC North Nation: Solid running backs essential for teams to succeed in NFL

By Adam Wondrely | Nov. 21, 2014

The Cincinnati Bengals are a testament to just how important a running back can be in the NFL. When Bengals running back Giovani Bernard went out with an injury to his hip, rookie running back Jeremy Hill stepped in and made an immediate impact. He was only seeing limited playing time because Bernard had been so good, but now it’s apparent to what the Bengals have in the backfield.Teams are constantly looking for that one guy who can carry the workload of an entire NFL season and do it on a consistent basis. Now, the Bengals have two of those guys, and it’s a great problem to have. With the inconsistency of quarterback Andy Dalton, running the ball has been more important than ever.The Bengals have been lucky, drafting two guys in two years that made an immediate positive impact. Some teams in the AFC North have gone elsewhere to try and bring in someone who has already established themselves in the NFL.The Cleveland Browns picked up running back Ben Tate from the Houston Texans and added him to their three-headed monster in the backfield, which consists of Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. Once Crowell and West get the green light that they will be getting more carries, Tate is out the window. Tate signed a two-year $6.2 million deal with the Browns in the offseason, and it seems the team has already decided it isn’t going to work out.The Browns are no strangers to making surprising deals when it comes to the running back position. Last year, the Browns traded Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for a few draft picks because they didn’t feel like he was the right guy for them.The Browns aren’t alone in releasing running backs this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers have also joined in on the fun. The Steelers cut Legarrette Blount, who they recently picked up from the New England Patriots. People might remember when Blount got in trouble at the beginning of the year when police found illegal drugs in his car.Fellow Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was in the car with Blount, but neither was given a suspension by the NFL or the Steelers organization. Bell has had a much better year for the Steelers than Blount, and I’m assuming that’s why Blount was let go, not because of previous encounters. It just goes to show that if you’re having a great year in the NFL, helping your teams win games and putting butts in the seats, then you have a little more pull in the organization.Running backs are a rare commodity in the NFL — there are a lot of guys that can get you two or three yards by just being brute force guys. But it’s hard to find a guy that can make home-run plays for you on a consistent basis. For Browns and Steelers fans, let’s hope the organizations have a plan to keep these teams in the race for the division.Adam Wondrely is a senior studying creative writing and journalism. Who do you have finishing in first place in the AFC North? Email him at aw922910@ohio.edu

Cassie Fait

AfterTASTE: Gendered dining etiquette should no longer be the standard

By CASSIE FAIT | Nov. 21, 2014

For women, eating out in public was once considered indecent. Only men could experience the thrill of eating in restaurants. But then the rules slowly relaxed in many areas globally. Women could dine in Paris with an escort and never alone with a man that was not family or her husband. It was considered a thrill to be seen in society.

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