Bike for Tikes

Spring 2021 magazine THE SHOW MUST GO ON Theatre continues during pandemic | 16 ZOOM UNIVERSITY Time to Phase Out & Say Goodbye | 20 Bike for Tikes BEHIND THE MASK A Family Tradition of Ben Batey | 22 PAGE 12 CLASS OF 2021 Senior graduates | 38 Table of Letter from CONTENTS THE EDITOR To put into words what this year has been is awfully difficult. There are simply too many moments to count where I have been left profoundly astounded by the 4 36.76%36.76% 24 perseverance that students and staff hold within our community. A YEAR IN ISOLATION 34.87%34.87% CAMPUS IN REVIEW For months we existed only within the few walls that put together our homes. We by Brionna Scebbi have adjusted to online classes taught by professors who are just now using Canvas 5.09%5.09% EDITOR-IN-CHIEF to its full capabilities. Learning how to function within the spaces of the internet Kylie Tusing and realizing (possibly for the first time) that we cannot just live in the confines 6 26 of technology. We were left with memories of what the union used to be like and MANAGING EDITOR STUDENTS’ SPIRITUALITY WORLD YEAR IN REVIEW the reality of what it is now. This year, we lost pieces and parts of what made our Andrew Bailey IN COVID by Madison Finley communities whole then we found new ways to put it back together. WRITERS Each story told within this issue is a tribute to the perseverance, determination and Andrew Bailey 8 28 success that despite the odds being against BGSU students were still able to gain. Brandon Bell CROCHET AND CONNECT Ryan “RC” Cummings KAMALA HARRIS I would like to thank Paul Obringer for his continuous dedication to Key Magazine Megan Finke by Chloe S Kozal by Megan Finke but most importantly for bringing my vision to life through his designs. As well as Madison Finley Steven Iwanek my Managing Editor, Andrew Bailey, for not only the countless advice but the mere Chloe S Kozal Haley Lutz patience to put up with my countless ideas. To Mary Ross and Bri Scebbi, for always Shane Nissen 10 30 being a sense of encouragement and equipping me so well to take this role. Lastly, Brionna Scebbi UNAPOLOGETIC PETRA INDROVA Drew Terhall by Faith Zochowski by Drew Terhall to all the contributors who created phenomenal pieces for this year’s issue, took Kylie Tusing every critique with grace and came back with a stronger piece. I would not have Gabe Wagner Wesley Woods 12 32 been able to put this issue together if not for all you and I am truly grateful. Faith Zochowski BIKES FOR TIKES STACY KOSCIAK: When I received the incredible opportunity to put together this magazine, I wanted by Brandon Bell JOURNEY OF ATHLETICS to highlight this year and all the extraordinary accomplishments that COPY EDITORS by Wesley Woods Andrew Bailey BGSU students still made. Despite the hardships, challenges and continuous Brandon Bell change. Students showed up and created a better community than I think Ryan “RC” Cummings Kylie Tusing 14 33 anyone could have imagined during the midst of a global pandemic. THANK YOU: MACY SPIELMAN: LIVE AND LOUD A PROFESSIONAL FRIEND I hope this issue speaks volumes to the extraordinary lives that inhabit Bowling by RC by Steven Iwanek Green State University and inspire you as much as they have inspired me. PHOTOGRAPHERS Will Ardnt Megan Finke Yours, Kelly Mangan 16 34 Kyle Michaelis THE SHOW MUST GO ON SENIOR YEAR PLAYS TO Brynna Schroeder by Andrew Bailey EMPTY CROWDS Kylie Tusing, Editor-in-Chief Brionna Scebbi by Shayne Nissen 20 38 KEY MAGAZINE DESIGNERS ZOOM UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2021 Kaitlyn DiBiase Key magazine is published by Falcon Media at Bowling Green State University, Lindsay West by Haley Lutz Bowling Green, Ohio, 43403. It is distributed at locations throughout campus Mercedes Williamson and at select locations in the surrounding community of Bowling Green. Paul Obringer Student editorial offices are located in 100 Kuhlin Center, 22 and any questions related to content may be directed to student editor BEHIND THE MASK Kylie tusing by email at [email protected] or by calling 216-318-2155. OF BEN BATEY Questions related to advertising in Key magazine may be directed to Assistant by Gabe Wagner Director of Falcon Media Tonya Whitman at [email protected] or by calling 419-372-2606. Key magazine is published two times per academic year at Bowling Green State University, once in the winter and once in the spring. Falcon Media, School of Media and Communication 2 KEY MAGAZINE | Spring 2021 KEY MAGAZINE | Spring 2021 3 COVID’s effect on student access to mental health care Isolation, hopelessness,“ and fears of the unknown A YEAR IN fueled by the pandemic have led to a rise in anxiety, depression, and other stress among college students. ISOLATION As a result, there is a critical need to make Mental health hits hard on college students mental health services more accessible to By Brionna Scebbi all college students“ s college students hunkered down For some,“ it may be In January 2021, the state of Ohio in Ohio. for quarantine, their academic distributed $565,470 to BGSU to meet A and social lives continued to play an opportunity to slow the rising demands for mental health out in virtual settings. down and become care. Gov. Mike DeWine allotted this money The typical college experience had from the CARES Act and the Governor’s — Randy Gardner — significant losses for students across the more mindful of the Emergency Education Relief fund after he Ohio Department of Higher country, many of whom were already present moment and to and Ohio Department of Higher Education grieving the death of loved ones or Chancellor Randy Gardner spoke with Education Chancellor struggling financially as workplaces shut practice self-care in college students about struggles they were down or cut staff. At BGSU, graduating facing. Raising awareness of services offered n Much more difficult (23.28%) n No significant Change (34.87%) ways they may“ not have seniors from the Class of 2020 missed out “Isolation, hopelessness, and fears of by universities was another goal of the n Somewhat more difficult (36.76%) n Less Difficult (5.09%) on in-person commencement while many had time for before. the unknown fueled by the pandemic funding. BGSU’s “It’s OK not incoming freshmen never had prom. have led to a rise in anxiety, depression, to be OK.” campaign has resulted in “Many people are experiencing a sense SOAR, Campus Fest and Fall Welcome and other stress among college students. virtual events for undergraduate and of grief over the loss of events, interactions, took on virtual or socially distant formats As a result, there is a critical need to make graduate students, faculty and staff to connections, and freedoms. They may be Many people are to accommodate new and returning mental health services more accessible “ — Denise Litterer — have conversations about mental health feeling sad, afraid, and isolated,” Litterer students’ physical health. BGSU Counseling Center to all college students in Ohio,” Gardner concerns and strategies. wrote in an email. “For some, it may be experiencing a sense of The Healthy Minds Network and the wrote in a letter to university presidents. During a semester when three BGSU an opportunity to slow down and become grief over the loss of events, American College Health Association Boes said he wanted the funding to help Sixty percent of students report that the students have died, promotion of more mindful of the present moment and surveyed 18,764 students from 14 colleges the BGSU community understand the interactions, connections,“ pandemic has made access to mental Counseling Center has been present in to practice self-care in ways they may not from late March to May 2020 about how effect the pandemic has had on their health care more difficult, according to each student’s inbox. Denise Litterer, an have had time for before.” and freedoms. the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting classmates. the survey data. The survey also marked assistant director, training director and With on-campus vaccination clinics their mental health. From financial stress “There’s still a lot of people that I an increase in mental health having a psychologist at the Counseling Center, open to students and other signs of to an increase in hate crimes, the virus don’t think realize the sole impact of the negative impact on students’ academic spoke with Falcon Media reporter Haley normalcy shining at the end of a year of itself was one item on a long list of worries mental health crisis and what it’s doing to — Denise Litterer — performance compared to fall 2019. Weis in April 2020 about the local impact anxiety and caution, there is hope that for college students. the people around us,” he said. Undergraduate Student Government of the pandemic. students may regain some of the missed BGSU Counseling Center Vice President Xavi Boes began to see the aspects of a college experience come fall toll the pandemic was taking on his fellow semester. n KEY BGSU received While only 5.5% of students students in Ohio during conversations From late March through May 2020, If you or someone you know is in need of reported experiencing more than half of students were with state leaders about mental health. mental health services, please reach out discrimination themselves very or extremely concerned about: “To look at the statistics both locally for help: — institutionally — and then statewide, it’s so consistent,” Boes said in a phone LENGTH OF PANDEMIC BGSU Counseling Center: 66% interview.

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