Image from Google By: Jordan Schmitt, Editor in Chief As society grows more representational of minoritized groups, genders, sexual orientations, and backgrounds, so does its governmental system. The U.S. is currently witnessing an increased amount of people from marginalized communities transitioning to positions of power. According to the Pew Research Center, the 117th Congress is the most diverse so far, with about 23% of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate membe

By Madison Salyer, Editor-in-Chief As another year of Variant comes to a close, so does my time at the magazine. Being a member of Variant for four years has made my OU experience truly amazing, and as I say goodbye to my position, I think about the generation before me and the generations to come after. Variant was created to acknowledge and celebrate our differences as individuals, and I am proud to say we continue to commit to these values. When Variant first started, it

By Maya Meade, Blogger With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it is time to start thinking of the perfect gift to give your mother or important parental figure in your life. Aside from the typical gifts like accessories, flowers and breakfast in bed, there are many unique ways to show your loved ones you care. You can get creative and make your own, or buy from local businesses. Here is some inspiration for you to start the search for the perfect Mother’s Day gift: Create

Illustration by Ashleigh Bublinec By Madison Kopp, Blogger If you and your friends are bored this summer in Athens, here is a list of places you may have never been to before! Kennedy Museum of Art This museum is located in Lin Hall, which was once the administrative building for the Athens Lunatic Asylum, now known as The Ridges. The Kennedy Museum of Art is the only part of The Ridges that is open to the public. The museum showcases exhibits such as jewelry, weavings and

Illustration by Olivia Dutkewych By Grace Dearing, Web Editor Unplug appliances when not in use Or, plug larger appliances into a power strip. Electric items left plugged in but not turned on still suck up a TON of energy. Unplugging these items when you’re not actively using them reduces the amount of energy your house is using. That is even easier with the use of a powerstrip which can be switched off to quickly “unplug” multiple appliances at once! Let clothes air dry inst

By Emily Squance, Blogger Spring cleaning is a tradition that partially originated in the 1800s when cleaning was a necessity due to homes being covered in soot from the sources of heat homeowners used during the winter. However, as time passed, the tradition became deeply rooted in society. Today, many people use the beginning of spring as an excuse to declutter their homes in an effort to start the season off with clean and organized spaces. Some experts have even said th

Photo from @peopletreeuk on Instagram By Maya Meade, Blogger Earth Day is this Thursday, and you can do your part to celebrate by shopping these brands. People Tree People Tree is a pioneer in sustainable and Fair Trade clothing. The brand started in 1991 and has been continuing its mission to make clothing at the highest ethical and environmental standard from beginning to end. The goal is to make innovative, stylish and affordable clothing for women while respecting the

By Emily Squance, Blogger About 1 in 54 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Every individual with the disorder may have a different degree to which it affects them. There are mild cases of autism to very severe cases. Depending on how severe the case, the disorder can affect each body differently. For example, early signs of the disorder may include, avoiding eye contact, wanting to be alone or even delayed speech. As children with autism age, they m

By Grace Dearing, Web Editor Strouds Run State Park View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Athens Ohio (@athensohio) College Green View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ohio University (@ohio.university) Hock Hocking Adena Bikeway View this post on Instagram A post shared by OHIO BSO (@ohiobso) Emeriti Park View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ohio University (@o

By Jordan Schmitt, Head of PR Whether driving through the concrete jungle of New York City or the streets of Pittsburgh’s cultural district, a passerby glancing out the window is likely to see a painting or mural by artist Janel Young . The road to becoming an established artist was not an easy one for Young, who spent many years fueling her passion juggling shows and exhibits while holding down a day job. With an inclination toward art from a young age, Young attended Rogers

By Madison Kopp, Blogger College means two things: no parents and no one telling you to clean your room … until your dirty clothes start to pile up and your roommate starts subtly suggesting that you do your laundry. Doing your own laundry may be challenging at first, but it is easier than you may think. Laundry symbols on clothing labels may seem confusing, but they are important for correctly washing and drying as well as bleaching or ironing. Here are a few common symbols

By Emily Squance, Blogger The official origin of April Fools’ Day is actually unknown; there have been many speculations as to how this day gained importance. Some historians believe the day may originate back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Those that were unfamiliar with the switch, celebrated the new year during the last week of March through the first of April . The people who were still using the Julian calendar were made

By Emily Squance, Blogger In honor of National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day on March 29, there are many ways to support the family-owned small businesses in your community. If you’re in Athens, Ohio, there may be a lot more small businesses in your area than you may think! Here are 6 small businesses you should check out in Ohio University’s college town. Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery Located at 22 West Union Street, Jackie O’s is the place to go if you’re new to Athens. The

By Maya Meade, Blogger Women’s History Month is a month-long event that highlights the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history and those who are making changes in the world today. Passed by Congress in 1981, the celebration began as Women’s History Week and then continued to expand over the years until it became Women’s History Month in 1995. Since the declaration of Women’s History Month and in the years leading up to it, many women have left their mark

By Grace Dearing, Web Editor As someone who has never been very skilled with hands-on crafts and art projects, I’m always looking for simple ways to express my creativity. In honor of March being National Craft Month, here is a crash course for beginner knitters and crocheters from Bowling Green State University student, Tay Sauer, founder of Knits and Crannies ! What is knitting? How is it different from crochet? Knitting is done with two needles and crochet is done with on

Photo from @tabletopcleve on Instagram By Madison Kopp, Blogger Are you looking for a new and fun way to spend time with friends and family? Well look no further than Tabletop Board Game Cafe . Tabletop, which is located in Ohio City, in Cleveland, Ohio, isn’t your traditional cafe. Offering an interactive experience for all ages, it features over 1,200 board games, weekly trivia nights and seasonal DIY design sessions. View this post on Instagram A pos

By Emily Squance, Blogger COVID-19 has forced everyone to create a new sense of normal. Many businesses, colleges and even high schools have been forced to transition to learning and teaching online. Due to this, there aren’t many chances for students and staff to relax and catch a break. Ohio University has implemented “wellness breaks” but unfortunately spring break was still canceled. However, there are many ways you can bring spring break to you! Here are my top 6 ways t

By Jordan Schmitt, Head of PR Repurpose an old green t-shirt! There are so many ways to upcycle an old green t-shirt already in your closet! Using bleach is a trendy way to spice up a shirt. Dipping a shirt in bleach gives it an acid washed effect. You can also use a bleach pen to draw! Or, adding a V-neck or cropping an old shirt will help you get some more use out of it! Dress up a plain white tee with green tie-dye.  Glasses Funky glasses are definitely in. A cute and

Illustration by Olivia Dutkewych By Hannah Barrett, Blogger This past year has evoked countless changes to life as it was known before the pandemic. Along with many other firsts that have occurred this year, this will be the first year some college students at universities around the country will not be given a spring break. Spring break has not only been a chance for students in the past to plan an exciting trip and soak up the sun on a spontaneous getaway but has also aide

By Emily Squance, Blogger Is the glass half empty or half full? You’ve probably been asked this question at least once in your life and your answer may say a lot about you and your mindset. Mindset Mentor has slowly gained popularity by providing a podcast that puts forth tips and tricks on how to improve your mindset and overall confidence with life. There are a lot more benefits of having a positive mindset than you might think. Researchers have found that having a positi