Ohio

Ohio State’s Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies’ Film Series returns for first time since 2020

Published

1 year ago

September 24, 2024

Ohio State’s Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies’ Film Series returns for first time since 2020

The next screening in Ohio State’s Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies’ “Magic & Mayhem” Film Series, which will show the 1968 movie “Witchfinder General,” will take place at Hagerty Hall Thursday. Credit: Nick DeSantis | Asst. Arts & Life Editor

With Halloween nearly around the corner, Ohio State’s Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, also known as CMRS, is ready to fulfill students’ seasonal movie desires with the return of its film series, with this year’s theme being “Magic and Mayhem: Films on Magic & Witchcraft.”

After taking a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual film series — created in 2005 — returned this year with an Aug. 22 screening of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s 1986 film “The Name of the Rose”, which follows a 14th century Franciscan monk who must challenge the church’s authority in order to solve the mysterious deaths of the other monks. CMRS is set to present three more films throughout the semester as a part of its series.

The next film in the series is Michael Reeves’ 1968 film “Witchfinder General” — which takes place in the 1640s during the English Civil War and follows a young soldier who seeks vengeance on a witch hunter who terrorized his fiancée and executed her uncle — which will be shown Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in room 180 of Hagerty Hall.

The following two films in the screening series include “The Crucible” — which takes place in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials and follows a group of teenage girls who get caught performing a ritual in the woods that is falsely accused of being witchcraft by the townspeople — which will be shown Oct. 24, and “The Love Witch” — a horror film that follows a modern-day witch who uses magic to make men fall in love with her — which will be shown Nov. 21.

Christopher Highley, an Ohio State professor of English and director of CMRS, said he is hoping the film series will pull in students of all majors.

“We are always on the lookout for new ideas that would attract undergraduate students,” Highley said. “We are here for everyone in the university, not just people who are already devotees of ‘Game of Thrones’ or Tolkien.”

Nick Spitulski, administrative coordinator for Ohio State’s Humanities Center Consortium and instructor of Ohio State’s magic and witchcraft class — formally known as “MEDREN 2666: Magic and Witchcraft in the Middle Ages and Renaissance” — said he has been helping lead the efforts for this year’s series. He said every screening is free to the public and includes pizza and refreshments.

“We have a lot of lectures in medieval and renaissance studies that are aimed more toward our faculty and grad student affiliates, but we didn’t really have a component of programming for undergrad students,” Spitulski said. “We thought the film series would be a nice way to hopefully get undergrads engaged with the kinds of things that we do.”

Following each screening, Spitulski said there will be a Q&A, during which CMRS faculty members will answer questions about the film as well as any other academic-related questions they may have.

“We will have a few leading questions and then if people want to talk about something that they found interesting in the film or other types of historically based questions, they’re certainly welcome to jump in,” Spitulski said.

Spitluski said the theme of this semester’s films were chosen to align with the CMRS magic and witchcraft class, a course that examines the history of witchcraft from late antiquity through the 18th century.

Highley said he was happy to see the series return this year and already has plans for next semester.

“In the spring, I’m scheduled to teach a course on Shakespeare’s London and I will definitely be offering a movie series in connection with that,” Highley said.

Spitulski said he hopes the film series will continue to attract undergraduates to learn more about the wide array of offerings at CMRS.

“We hope that people will remain connected to the series across the term and use that as a jumping-in point to hopefully find out a little more about the center,” Spitulski said.

More information about the CMRS Film Series can be found on The Ohio State University website.

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Ohio

Ohio Goes to the Movies announces lineup for free, yearlong statewide film festival

Published

6 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Ohio Goes to the Movies announces lineup for free, yearlong statewide film festival

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio Goes to the Movies, the statewide film festival launching in February, is coming into focus. Organizers have released the initial schedule for the nearly yearlong event. Part of the state’s America 250 celebration, it will bring more than 280 screenings to all 88 counties. Each film is tied to the Buckeye State in some way, and all screenings are free.

“Ohio has played a significant role in the history of American film and continues to attract talent, productions and storytelling that resonate around the world,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “Ohio Goes to the Movies ensures that residents in every community can participate in the America 250 celebration and rediscover the films that connect us.”

From classic movies starring or made by Ohioans to Hollywood blockbusters shot in downtown Cleveland, the lineup highlights the depth of the state’s influence on the film industry. The festival is also meant to encourage movie fans to explore the state by attending screenings all over Ohio.

Here’s a list of events planned for Northeast Ohio’s seven-county region.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

“Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Feb. 12. Phoenix Theatres Great Northern Mall.

“Major League.” March 1. Cinemark Strongsville at SouthPark Mall.

“Draft Day.” March 1. Cinemark Valley View.

“Welcome to Collinwood.” March 12. Cleveland History Center.

“Major League.” April 5. Capitol Theatre.

“Cool Hand Luke.” April 12. Cedar Lee Theatre.

“Draft Day.” April 23. Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square.

“Toy Story 2.” June 24. Chagrin Documentary Film Festival HQ.

“The Scarlet Letter.” July 11. Cleveland Silent Film Festival at Cleveland Public Library.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” July 11. Great Lakes Science Center.

“More Than a Game.” Sept. 11. AMC Ridge Park Square.

“Superman.” Sept. 18. AMC Westwood Town Center.

“Passing Through.” Sept. 19. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque.

“Kill the Irishman.” Oct. 6. Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore.

GEAUGA COUNTY

“A Christmas Story.” June 11. Mayfield Road Drive-In Theatre.

LAKE COUNTY

“White Boy Rick.” March 11. Regal Willoughby Commons.

“Superman.” April 8. Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium.

“Air Force One.” July 7. Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center.

LORAIN COUNTY

“The Princess Bride.” April 22. Apollo Theatre.

“The Hunger Games.” Sept. 18. Regal Cobblestone Square.

MEDINA COUNTY

“Major League.” March 7. Hickory Ridge Cinema.

“Draft Day.” Sept. 12. Regal Medina.

PORTAGE COUNTY

“Unstoppable.” Feb. 22. Atlas Cinemas Barrington.

“Dog Man.” March 8. The Kent Stage.

“The Philadelphia Story.” March 19. Kent State University Museum.

“A Christmas Story.” June 10. Midway Twin Drive-In Theatre.

SUMMIT COUNTY

“The Big Short.” Feb. 21. Regal Hudson.

“The Avengers.” April 12. Akron Civic Theatre.

“Howard the Duck.” May 21. The Nightlight Cinema.

“Down by Law.” June 13. Akron–Summit County Public Library Main.

For a complete guide, go to ohiogoestothemovies.org.

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Ohio

Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Meigs County, Ohio

Published

18 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Meigs County, Ohio

POMEROY, Ohio (WCHS) — A fire destroyed one home and damaged two others Wednesday evening, but then rekindled early Thursday morning and destroyed another home, police said.

The fire was first reported just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the 300 block of Wetzgall Street in Pomeroy, according to a press release from the Pomeroy Police Department.

According to police, the fire spread to the two homes on either side of the original home on fire. Firefighters contained the fire and saved the two surrounding homes, but the home that first caught fire was deemed a total loss.

Then, just after 3 a.m. on Thursday morning, the fire rekindled and spread to one of the other homes, resulting in a total loss of that home as well, police said.

Pomeroy police said both homes were occupied at the time of the fires, but all occupants of each home were able to exit their homes safely. Police also said that there were no reported injuries, though both families lost everything they owned due to the total losses of the homes.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the incident is still under active investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to police.

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Ohio

DOE aims to end Biden student loan repayment plan. What it means for Ohio

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

DOE aims to end Biden student loan repayment plan. What it means for Ohio

The Department of Education has agreed to a settlement to end the Biden-era SAVE student loan repayment plan.
Over seven million borrowers currently on the SAVE plan will need to select a new repayment program if the court approves the settlement.
Ohio has about 1.7 million student loan borrowers and over $60 billion in debt. The average student loan debt in the state is approximately $35,072.

Student loan borrowers under the Biden-era student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), may soon have to select a new repayment plan after the U.S. Department of Education agreed to a measure to permanently end the program.

A proposed joint settlement agreement announced Tuesday between the DOE and the State of Missouri seeks to end what officials call the “illegal” SAVE program, impacting more than seven million SAVE borrowers who would have to enroll in another program. The settlement must be approved by the court before it can be implemented.

Ohio borrowers carry some of the nation’s highest student loan debt. Here’s how the proposed change could affect them.

What is the SAVE plan?

Originally known as REPAYE, the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan was created to deliver the lowest monthly payments among income-driven repayment programs. Under the Biden administration, it became the most affordable option for borrowers.

According to USA TODAY, the SAVE plan was part of Biden’s push to deliver nearly $200 billion in student loan relief to more than 5 million Americans. It wiped out $5.5 billion in debt for nearly half a million borrowers and cut many monthly payments down to $0.

But officials in President Donald Trump’s administration claim the Biden plan was illegal.

Why does the Department of Education want to end the SAVE plan?

The DOE says the SAVE plan aimed to provide mass forgiveness without congressional approval, costing taxpayers $342 billion over 10 years. In a press release, the Department said the administration promised unrealistically low payments and quick forgiveness without legal authority.

“The Trump administration is righting this wrong and bringing an end to this deceptive scheme,” Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a release. “Thanks to the State of Missouri and other states fighting against this egregious federal overreach, American taxpayers can now rest assured they will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for illegal and irresponsible student loan policies.”

If the agreement is approved by the court, no new borrowers will be able to enroll in the SAVE plan. The agency says it will deny any pending applications and move all SAVE borrowers back into other repayment plans.

Borrowers currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan would have a limited time to select a new repayment plan and begin repaying their student loans.

The DOE adds that it is working on the loan repayment provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, which created a new Income-Driven Repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), that will be available to borrowers by July 1, 2026.

How many people in Ohio have student loan debt?

Numbers from the Education Data Initiative show that there are about 1.7 million student loan borrowers in Ohio, carrying over $60 billion in debt. The average student loan debt is approximately $35,072.

Ohio also ranks No. 10 among the states with the most student debt, according to personal finance site WalletHub.

How much money does Ohio get from the Department of Education?

The DOE budget for Ohio for fiscal year 2025 is estimated to be more than $5.65 billion, The Columbus Dispatch previously reported.

President Trump announced his intentions to eliminate the Department of Education earlier this year, meaning that Ohio could lose more than $5 billion in annual funding.

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