REPORTER BLOG: No 6:00 AM Snooze Button

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

My alarm rang at 6:40 a.m. this morning. Snooze was not an option. It was time to get up.

"Why so early?" screamed my cold toes as they hit the floor, outside of the warm bed.

Time for basketball practice.

The Student Athlete
Of course I'm complaining. Because at 7 a.m. this morning, I wasn't running or dribbling or working on my jump shot. And I hadn't already sat through a half-hour of game films.

I was just holding the camera. I was there for 20 minutes tops. And no offense to the lady Bobcats, but I probably won't be back anytime soon.

But everyday those college athletes wake up at 6 a.m. to get to practice on time. Then they go to class just like the rest of the full-time students here on campus. They are expected to perform -- in the classroom and on the court. No one cuts them a break.

I was never talented in the sports arena, so I can't imagine the dedication the college athlete must have for his or her sport not to hit the snooze at 6 a.m.

For many Ohio University athletes, no matter how hard they practice, their sporting careers will end in Athens. How do those students split their lives between their academic mission and their love of the game?

These student-slash-athletes are accountable to their coaches, their professors and their performance. They spend hours each day in training. They spend weeks each season on the road. How do they balance it all?

The Student Journalist
I stood on the sidelines of this morning's practice and thought about all of this. And just when I started to feel inadequate with my own accomplishments, I remembered.
I don't go to practice each day, but I do spend a lot of time with that camera. At sporting events. At parades. At news conferences. At city council meetings.

Sometimes I'm the one at work while others are enjoying themselves. Sometimes I'm the one charged with asking the tough questions that no one wants to hear out loud.

So is the life of the student slash. Student/Journalist. Student/Mother. Student/Father. Student/Part-time Waitress. Student/Athlete.

None of us has it easy -- well maybe a few stereotypical Animal House characters. But most students are working hard at their studies and their lives outside.

So students, enjoy your holiday breaks. Whether you spend them on the court or on the couch, it's time well-deserved.

REPORTER BLOG: College is the place to learn to live

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

Council member Nancy Bain struck a chord with me at last week's Athens City Council meeting. Because this is a college town, the solution to many problems is education.

Education. That's why the Council developed the landlord tenant agreement that has bogged down the last few weeks of City Council action.

Young adults move on from high school and come to places like Ohio University where they hope (or maybe their parents hope) to grow up and graduate in four or five years. It's accepted as a transitional time in a person's life. A time and place for mistakes made and lessons learned.

Learning to Life
But a lot of that learning seems to interfere with the lives of other college town residents.

Our Athens neighbors who have already passed through their college transition really don't want to deal with ours. Rightfully so. Many college students are rude, dirty neighbors. So Athens has city codes - like most cities - to prevent the abuse of students' bad habits.

These codes were more than words to the council members and city representatives that created them. But to students, they might be just more laws to break. So the solution? Education.

The Landlord Tenant Agreement
Council President Bill Bias said Monday that the forms were designed to educate residents so neighbors could rest assured that college students were aware of the code.

So the form was designed and passed along to landlords so they could be charged with educating their tenants about city rules. For whatever reason, lots of landlords did not comply - 334 to be exact, says Athens City Law Director Pat Lang.

Lang defended the position that the non-compliance was a sign the form was inadequate.

And if the city's action in the realm of code enforcement is any indication, it might be. Education hasn't been the simple solution to mounting problems with garbage. Instead the city has hired a Solid Waste Code enforcement officer, better known to students as the trash man.

Taking out the Trash 101
Now students who live in off-campus housing scattered about Athens wake up Sunday mornings to trash tickets and warnings on their front doors. No garbage in the front of the house, no beer cans in the yard. Clean it up.

And the city agreed Monday to begin filing almost 500 misdemeanor charges against those 300 plus landlords without the proper paperwork.

Time for some simple Athens city arithmatic:

Mad Athens Residents = Landlord Tenant Agreement
LTA No Compliance = Increasingly Mad Athens Residents
Increasingly Mad Athens Residents = Trash Man + 500 Criminal Charges

Now the city will collect fines from trashed houses and delinquent landlords, which equals double jeopardy.

Back to the Lesson
So what have we learned?

Living next door to college students isn't easy. Living next door to students in a college town is a fact of life.

Is the problem education? Maybe.

Is the problem inherent with immature young adult behavior? More likely.

I agree with Councilman Elahu Gosney, who said Monday, “I think that (the forms) are minimally effective if at all."

Whether a tenant signs off on the rules or not, they may not follow them. And it might be time for a solution that starts there -- at the root of the problem.

Links to previous Athens MidDay coverage on this topic:

Update: Fixing the Form or Pressing Charges

A Matter of Preference: Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

The state of Ohio may ban discrimination based on sexual preference, and the city of Athens is behind the measure.

At Monday's Athens City Council meeting, Council voted unanimously to endorse two separate Ohio bills that would add sexual orientation to Ohio's anti-discrimination law. The law currently includes race, color, religion, gender, familial status, ancestry, disability and national origin. The Athens City resolution endorsed House Bill 502 and Senate Bill 305 which would add sexual orientation to that list.

Council's resolution lists 15 Ohio cities and 20 other states that have already adopted laws which prohibit this kind of discrimination. Many local businesses, Ohio University and the city of Athens all have their own bans against the sexual orientation bias.

What the Bills Would Do
The current bills would make it illegal statewide to fire someone, deny them housing or force them to leave a public place simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Mickey Hart is an Athens resident and a founding member of Equality Ohio, a gay rights group that supports the bills.

Hart said not only is this an issue for homosexual Ohioans, but heterosexual workers as well.


Equality Ohio founding member said the law would also apply to heterosexual workers.

If passed, these bills would change current Athens laws with the addition of language on gender identity. Hart said when Athens City Council enacted the local anti-discrimination law, gender identity was a relatively new concept.

According to the language of the bill, "Sexual orientation means actual or perceived, heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender identity and expression."

Gender identity and expression is defined as "the gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual regardless of the individual's assigned sex at birth."

Passage of the two bills would give transgender or transitioning members of the gay community the right to dress according to their identity when in their workplace or other public arenas.

A violation of this bill could result in fines of up to $25,000 for a single offense.

Why the Bills are Necessary
Hart said Equality Ohio's campaigns are focused on one idea: Ohioans values don't match their laws. He said if you look at state laws, Ohio is one of the most unwelcoming states in the nation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Although Hart isn't aware of specific cases of discrimination, he said a subtle undertone exists in the state.

"It's people not feeling they can be themselves fully in the workplace and just always wondering and worrying about being fired or having some kind of restrictions put on," Hart said.


Mickey Hart of Equality Ohio talks about the necessity of the bills.

"The sooner we do this, the better we make Ohio," he said.

Several rights activist groups have come together to back the idea. The Columbus City Council, as well as many other areas of the state, have already voiced their support of the statewide measure.

Opponents of the Bill
But not everyone is in favor of the legislation. Several Christian organizations, including the Ohio Christian Alliance have testified against the measures.

OCA President Chris Long provided written testimony to the House committee, stating, “This bill seeks to provide a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist."

The Christian Alliance has also suggested the bills could ultimately be used to challenge our state’s constitution - including laws against gay marriage.

The Next Step
Athens City Council members briefly discussed the possibility of expanding current city laws to include gender identity discrimination.

Council member Jim Sands, who introduced the resolution, said hopefully with the state's passage, that would be a mute point.

Ohio University graduate student Michael Evans said he hasn't experienced discrimination because he is gay. But regardless of his own experience, Evans said he supports the measure.

"If people aren't being accepting of other people, it's kinda nice to have the law on our side," Evans said. "And it's great that the state of Ohio wants to be on our side."


VIDEO: Athens City Council votes to endorse sexual orientation anti-discrimination bills.

Links:
Text of Senate Bill 305
Explanation of Senate Bill 305

REPORTER BLOG: Vote Smart

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

Voting is a civic duty. It's a privilege. For millions of Americans in our past, the right to vote was life or death.

But voting is also just plain hard.

The candidates, the issues, the ballot items. It's a lot to think about. That's why I was so impressed by the senior government students at Alexander High School.

The Lessons
My first chance to vote in November 2004 was also a presidential election. Nothing makes voting more exciting than the national scale of the presidential race. I tried hard to free myself of any bias to make the right decision for myself. But it really wasn't that easy.

The pressures of television campaign ads were calling out to me, the uninformed voter. "Vote No!" "Vote Yes!" How do you know whom to believe? There were things I read and heard that seemed contradictory. There were issues I thought I understood and loopholes I knew I didn't.

I wish I had had what the AHS students did: a place to listen and learn.

The Leanings
Government teacher Joel Laufman said it's difficult to teach a class without revealing his own partisanship. "I try to play devil's advocate," he said.

But his students have asked him day in and day out what party he'll support on Tuesday. Why? Because even through all the dialogue and debate, they still can't tell.

It's usually not so fair at home. Many families have a political tradition of sorts that can be hard to stand up against. When Senior Lauren Raines said the issues can get heated at her house, I was in awe of her conviction.

After my own exploration of the political process, I was an apple that didn't fall far from the tree. I did the research. I know how I personally feel. But often my feelings are similar to those rampant in my family.

For Raines to know at 17 that she feels differently is democracy at work.

The Local Races
If you missed the opportunity to be an educated voter in the past, you still have time for the 2008 Election. Most people have an idea of whom they will support for president, but statewide issues and local candidates get little widespread attention.

The Athens County League of Women Voters has complied a 2008 Voter Guide to local candidates and ballot items.

Update: Fixing the Form or Pressing Charges

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

At Monday's Athens City Council Community Issues Committee meeting, a long agenda was halted by discussion of the landlord tenant agreement. It took more than an hour for Council, the city Law Director and Athens residents to voice their varied opinions.

And the outcome: more waiting in a game that could end with dozens of landlords facing criminal charges.

The History of the Form

Council member Nancy Bain broached the topic in Community Issues committee meeting, starting with the history of the form. Bain said the form was the brainchild of Ohio University and the city to prevent problems like a house fire during Halloween weekend 2004.


Bain said the form was intended to educate tenants.

Despite problems with enforcement, Bain said the process for completing the form is simple.

"It's not tough! It is what you do if you care about your property for goodness sakes," said Bain, who also owns several rental properties.

Bain's explanation brought up three questions for the Council to answer.

Should We Keep the Form?
Law Director Pat Lang introduced the controversial idea of changing the form or the process at the last regular Council meeting.

"To watch for two years as the city lifted not one single finger ever to attempt to support this law," Lang said, "I know that your frustrations are entirely valid."

Lang said if the goal of the form was to educate tenants, Council must agree there are some problems with the law.


Lang asked Council to agree there are problems with the law.

Lang said if the city agrees to go forward with prosecution, his office is prepared. He presented a stack of 291 criminal complaints already drafted by his office.

"City Council decides they want to go ahead, we're ready. We've got them right here," Lang said. "We need to enforce this law. But are we doing it in a way that is responsible and in a way that limits our potential problems down the road with this?"

Should We Change It?
Council member Kent Butler said he's heard concerns from city residents and landlords about the education idea behind the form.

"I don't think we need to spoon feed grownups that happen to be first time tenants," Butler said.

Landlord Jennifer Romero said she feels uncomfortable explaining and answering questions about laws she didn't pass.

Athens resident Joan Kraynanski, who is also a member of the West Side Neighborhood Association, said if the city doesn't do a better job educating student renters, it becomes the responsibility of their city resident neighbors.


Athens residents share their thoughts on the landlord tenant agreement.

What Should be the Penalty?
The current law makes failure to turn in signed forms a criminal offense, which Lang thinks is wrong.

Lang suggested the city could use other means to punish delinquent landlords, such as tying the agreement to city rental permits. Landlords would not be able to renew annual rental permits without complying with the landlord tenant agreements. He said being denied a permit would be worse for landlords than the fine they might pay if charged with a minor misdemeanor.

Mayor Paul Wiehl said this could create a problem because rental permits are renewed in January, while many leases begin in June. Wiehl said the city simply needs to start filing charges. "Hammer 'em," Wiehl said.

Local attorney Bill Soprani said, "This is no time to back off, it's time to move forward."

If the city did file the 291 complaints, landlords would have the following options:

-Fight the charges in court
-Plead guilty and pay the fine

The maximum fine for a minor misdemeanor offense in Ohio is $150.

Council agreed to hold a work session in the next few weeks to decide on changing the law or starting to file charges.

To read Athens MidDay's earlier report on this subject, click here.

The Landlord Tenant Agreement: Signed and Forgotten?

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

For many Ohio University students, signing a lease is a first chance at freedom - a first look at the world outside the dorm.

Junior Jarred Goldner said it was an attractive deal, until the actual signing began.

"They give you all these papers and they say, 'Sign them!'" he said. "They put such a quick date on returning them nobody really reads anything. It makes it a little unfair."

One of those papers Goldner said he signed was the Landlord/Occupant Declaration of Compliance and Disclosure, more commonly referred to as a landlord tenant agreement.

The form is designed to educate tenants about several specific city rules regarding trash collection and party-related violations.

The form is similar to others used around the state.

To read a copy of the landlord tenant agreement, click on the images below.




What the City Says
At Monday's Athens City Council meeting, Law Director Pat Lang asked the council members to consider a review of the agreement. He said landlords were supposed to turn in signed forms to the city by Sept. 30.

But nearly half of city landlords did not comply.

Lang said the code enforcement office has not received agreements from 334 landlords of 965 properties in Athens.

"When there is a law that isn't being followed by literally half the people, I think it is appropriate to question is this a problem with the people or is this a problem with the law," he said.

What a Landlord Says

Thomason says the city hoped the agreement would mean compliance with city laws.

Caroline Thomason is the general manager of student housing provider Best of Athens Rentals. Although Thomason said she is in compliance, she said she dislikes the agreement not only because it is a pain in terms of paperwork, but also because it is prejudiced against student renters.

"It is biased. It's not for the entire city of Athens. It's not for permanent residents," Thomason said. "It's only for houses with rental permits. So it definitely segregates only the students."


Thomason says the agreement is partial to permanent residents.

What the Students Say
Although Goldner signed the agreement like many renters, he said the form isn't fulfilling its purpose.

"You don't know what the city codes are until you've broken them," Goldner said.

Some students we talked to had never heard of the agreement and had no idea whether or not they had signed it. Many of those who were familiar with the form supported Lang's idea.


Student renters discuss the landlord tenant agreements.

Ohio University's Student Legal Services Web site discusses the form, as well as many other issues related to rental properties.

The Next Step
City Council agreed Monday to review the agreement next week and decide whether to prosecute delinquent landlords.

Law Director Pat Lang said his office will not prefer charges against any landlords until that discussion.

Landlord Caroline Thomason said this problem will not be an easy one to fix, but necessary.

"Without Ohio University, the City of Athens would not be what it is. And of course we can't have Ohio University without the students. So you must find this cohesiveness for the city and the residents to live next to, not necessarily amongst, but next to students," she said.

"We can't have one without the other."

REPORTER BLOG: Heart of the Game--Hometown Rivalries

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu


Getting ready for the big game is quite a task for most teams. Practice, pep talks and spirited rallies all help players build their confidence. But there is one game where getting ready goes beyond all that – a hometown rivalry.

Preparing for a rival game starts before tryouts. It’s the effort of a community. That’s what I saw when I covered the volleyball game where Nelsonville-York beat Trimble.

It All Begins
High school rivalries aren’t born overnight. Rivalries can develop in different ways. In this case, Nelsonville-York and Trimble are county seats, separated by just a hill.


Nelsonville-York Coach Courtney Porter talks about the rivalry.

The weight of game inspires the players and riles up the fans. On Monday, the Buckeyes’ student cheering zone never took their seats, while Tomcat fans maintained a steady beat, “Let’s go ‘Cats!” I love to see the crowd get into a game. Win or lose, it’s a great opportunity to see school pride.

Throughout the game, my eyes kept landing on the “Buckeye Pride” signs lining the walls. All that hometown spirit was spreading to the court where neither team was quick to give up.

Coach Versus Players
The Trimble Tomcats had a slow start to this season, but still have a chance to win their league title. Nelsonville-York has been stuck in a tough slump. Both teams have already been placed in their tournament seats, ready to go in post-season play.

Although the Trimble Nelsonville-York matchup is not a league game, it was one very important to the players.

Buckeye Coach Courtney Porter must not be a N-Y native, because she says she just doesn’t get it. “This is practice for me, for tournaments,” Porter said. Porter said the matchup was in no way a must-win game.

Meanwhile for Trimble Coach Chris Downs, the game was simply an opportunity to turn up the heat.


Trimble Coach Chris Downs says he's thinking about the future.

Downs says although his girls lost, he thinks it will help inspire them to keep their heads up as tournaments begin.

What It Takes To Win
I was never a great athlete. But after many years of sitting the bench, I did learn one thing. It's all about wanting it.

Determination is hard to hold on to, especially when a rocky season is coming to a close. But what I saw in the Buckeyes yesterday was a desire to win.

When I asked senior Chelsie McLaughlin how the team pulled together, "It's all we really wanted," she said. No pep talk can build confidence like that.


The Bucks score the winning point.

Catching the Copper Crooks

Sara Shookman
ss237405@ohio.edu

Criminals looking for a quick cash fix by selling stolen scrap metal may be out of luck.

A new state law aims to prevent the crime by requiring scrap metal dealers to ask for identification and keep better records of the metals they purchase.

State Senators passed Bill 171 in March to slow metal thefts brought on by the high prices scrap dealers pay for recyclable metals such as copper and aluminum.

After the House and Senate disagreed over whether Ohio cities should be allowed to have their own tougher laws, Ohio legislators okayed a compromise plan in May.

The law took effect Thursday, September 11.

Scrap sellers are now required to show a photo ID and must prove that they own items such as utility wires, beer kegs, catalytic convertors and other high dollar scraps.

Bad for Business

The crime has become increasingly common across the nation, including in Athens.

Danny Cullison owns Cullison Metals in Athens County.

Cullison says that he's been asking for identification for months after a rash of thefts made him nervous about his business.


Cullison makes changes after being hit hard with scrap metal thefts.

Just down Salem Road, another scrap metal dealer is thinking about how the new law could affect his business, but Terry Boch says he hasn't heard anything from the state on how to follow through.


Scrap dealer Terry Boch says he's not sure what the new law will mean for business.


Desparate for Dough

Scrap items have become increasingly valuable and in these tough economic times the temptation to steal the precious metals and sell them to scrap yards is high.

Across the state, thieves have been ripping air conditioners and aluminum siding from homes and offices, copper wiring from telephone lines and cutting catalytic converters out of cars.

Boch says a single catalytic converter can earn a seller anywhere from $10 to $100, depending on the make and model of the car.

Scrap sellers can find the current market values for each type of recyclable on the Web.

Athens Police Lt. David Williams says local police have been fighting converter crimes all summer.


Athens Police Lt. David Williams says metal thefts are common in the city.

Williams says the new law will help them catch and prosecute metal muggers, but preventing these crimes is also important.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), the national trade association for the scrap recycling industry, has partnered with the National Crime Prevention Council to raise awareness of scrap metal thefts.



ISRI has instituted online theft alerts to help "take a bite out of crime."

Williams says he hopes Athens County scrap dealers work closely with police as the new law is enforced.