Brooke Tacsar

Fourth-year student at Ohio State studying public affairs journalism and criminology & criminal justice studies with a minor in nonprofit management. 

Brooke Tacsar Journalism Portfolio

Student assistant for Ohio State's Parent and Family Relations and creator of Department Debriefs, senior editor and writer for Her Campus and reporter for The Lantern.

Skating Between Classes: A Passion for the Ice

Ambika Sharma, a first-year in biology at Ohio State, has been skating since she was four years old. With a deep passion for the sport, she dedicates much of her free time to the ice, refining her skills and embracing her love for skating.

Ambika's dedication to skating goes beyond just a hobby—it's a central part of who she is. She trains regularly and finds a sense of peace and focus on the rink that helps balance the demands of her studies. As she navigates her first year at Ohio State, skating remains her escape, providing both a challenge and a source of joy that keeps her grounded amidst the fast-paced college life.

The following video was produced by multimedia student and senior reporter Brooke Tacsar, a fourth-year in journalism and criminology and criminal justice studies.
Her Campus •

Book Review: Rebecca Yarros' "Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3)"

“Onyx Storm” is an enthralling new entry in the fantasy genre, as I am sure most of you have heard. Combining rich world-building with a fast-paced plot, the book explores themes of identity, power and destiny.

The highly anticipated third book in Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing” series takes readers on an even more catastrophic journey of war, betrayal and bonds. Picking up where the second book left off, this latest installment follows the complex relationship between the main characters Xaden Riorson and Violet Sorrengail, the consequences of their choices and the high-stake battles they both face.

While the novel attempts to build on the intense stakes and character dynamics, much of the plot feels like a rehash of what came before, lacking the fresh energy fans were hoping for.
The Lantern •

A home for queer joy: Members of Bossy Grrl’s Pin Up Joint speak on recent transgender legislation, experiences in LGBTQ+ community

Bossy Grrl’s Pin Up Joint has earned a reputation as a vibrant hub for performance, community and self-expression.

A staple of the Old North Columbus neighborhood for over a decade, the venue — located at 2598 N. High St. — fosters an inclusive atmosphere and showcases a diverse array of events, including drag shows, karaoke nights and live performances by both emerging and established drag and burlesque artists, said Mickie Johnston, local performer, show producer and bar manager at Bossy Grrl’s.

With recent political developments targeting transgender rights, members of the Bossy Grrls community are speaking out about their experiences both at the venue and within Columbus’ queer community as a whole.
The Lantern Projects •

Brotherhood and parties or violations and sanctions: Inside the hazing culture of Ohio State’s fraternities

Ohio State’s chapter of FarmHouse International Fraternity, Alpha Tau Zeta, is a fraternity committed to shaping men into intellectual, moral, spiritual and physical leaders.

A community of young individuals with philanthropic interests, FarmHouse actively supports organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, according to its website.

And just like 30 other Greek life organizations, it is also a fraternity that has faced hazing violations.

In September 2022, the Student Conduct office within Ohio State’s Office of Student Life received an anonymous report alleging hazing — including activities such as a blood oath, verbal abuse, pornography and forced memorization of songs about rape — had taken place on ATZ’s property, specifically inside the fraternity’s house at 153 E. 14th Ave.

“How did you become aware of this violation?” the report language asks.

“It happened to me,” the anonymous reporter wrote.
Parent and Family Relations •

Jan. 2025 Department Debrief: Suicide Prevention and REACH

Department Debrief is a monthly article from the Parent and Family Relations office dedicated to helping family members and supporters better understand the services, opportunities and support offered by particular offices for students.

This month, our team met with members of Ohio State’s Suicide Prevention Program (OSUSPP), an initiative working to create a systematic, inclusive, diverse and coordinated effort that educates and advocates for suicide prevention to be seen as a shared campus responsibility.
Parent and Family Relations •

Nov. 2024 Department Debrief: Office of International Affairs

Department Debrief is a monthly article from the Parent and Family Relations office dedicated to helping family members and supporters better understand the services, opportunities and support offered by particular offices for students.

This month, our team met with the Office of International Affairs, an office dedicated to championing cross-cultural interactions through teaching, learning, outreach, collaborations and innovative programs that help create a globally engaged campus.
Parent and Family Relations •

Oct. 2024 Department Debrief: Buckeye Leadership Fellows

Department Debrief is a monthly article from the Parent and Family Relations office dedicated to helping family members and supporters better understand the services, opportunities and support offered by particular offices for students.

This month, our team met with Buckeye Leadership Fellows, a program that partners with alumni and community leaders to provide undergraduate students with unique and transformative experiences to gain competitive advantages in their post-graduate pursuits while remaining connected to Ohio State.
The Lantern •

Opinion: Reimagining justice: Why the death penalty should be left in the past

I had just turned 14 when my life resembled that of an American classic killer-next-door story.

My 13-year-old neighbor fatally shot his 11-year-old brother — a horrifying act subsequently reduced by local media to mismanaged behavioral choices. My own experience with the brothers, however, was deeper than something that could merely be classified as a tragic incident. It was a glaring reflection of systemic failure when it comes to society’s attitude toward crime.
Her Campus •

“Better Than the Movies” Book Review

Lynn Painter’s New York Times bestseller “Better Than the Movies” is a classic high school rom-com where the goody two-shoes girl falls for the bad boy neighbor. A quintessential romance book, “Better Than the Movies” kept me up until 2 a.m. to finish binge-reading it in one sitting. This love story follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic with a flair for melodrama. After her childhood crush, Michael, returns to their hometown, Liz is determined to capture his attention.
The Lantern •

Centuries awaited: Ohio State prepares for Ohio’s first total solar eclipse since 1806

While headphones are enough to drown out Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Ohioans will need more protective gear in preparation for Monday’s total solar eclipse.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, creating a path of totality, also known as the track of the moon’s shadow across the Earth’s surface, according to NASA. Those within the path of totality — a 124-mile-wide band that spans diagonally across the country — can see a full solar eclipse.
The Lantern •

Ohio State English Department launches reader experience lab

Instructors, advertisers and politicians are always trying to find ways to make their message more clear, persuasive or attention-grabbing. A new lab at Ohio State may be able to provide more concrete answers.

The Department of English’s new “reader experience lab,” launched in January, is looking to concentrate on gathering direct data on how readers interact with, generate, interpret, analyze, comprehend and respond to both verbal and written messaging formats that are created by students themselves, Christa Teston, the director of business and technical writing in the Department of English, said. The lab is built into the business writing curriculum and is an official course in Denney Hall, but Teston said the lab has the potential to be reserved by researchers starting next semester.
Parent and Family Relations •

March 2024 Department Debrief: Buckeye Food Alliance: Parent and Family Relations

Department Debrief is a monthly article from the Parent and Family Relations office dedicated to helping family members and supporters better understand the services, opportunities and support offered by particular offices for students.

This month, our team met with the Buckeye Food Alliance (BFA) to delve into their impactful mission of combatting food insecurity and explore their approach in providing a diverse array of essential items such as meat, dairy products, personal care items and more through their accessible food pantry so all students have the resources they need to thrive.
The Lantern •

Fuel for thought: The dynamic duo of energy drinks and their health ramifications

Before reaching for that extra boost of energy, dietitians recommend students consider the “monster” hidden within seemingly innocuous cans of energy drinks: too much caffeine.

Though students can expect to feel less fatigued after consuming one of the drinks, Liz Weinandy — an instructor of practice in dietetics and nutrition at Ohio State’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences — said energy-seekers should first contemplate the perils of excessive caffeine consumption. These include heart failure, increased anxiety, high blood pressure, jitters and, in the worst cases, even death.
The Lantern •

College of Nursing debuts new accelerated bachelor’s degree program

A new academic initiative designed for non-nursing graduates was recently established by the College of Nursing, providing an accelerated pathway to a nursing career and a potential remedy to staff shortages.

Launching this summer, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will allow students who already hold a bachelor’s degree to take part in a full-time curriculum spanning 18 months, or five consecutive semesters, said Wendy Bowles, the assistant dean for baccalaureate programs in the College of Nursing. Successful completion of the program makes students eligible to take the State Board’s National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nursing.
Her Campus •

Book Review: Sarah J. Maas' “Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow”

Sarah J. Maas’ latest installment in the “Crescent City” series, eagerly awaited by fans, fell short of expectations and instead proved to be predictable, tedious and uncharacteristically not a masterpiece.

In “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third book in Maas’ series released on Jan. 30, 2024, we continue to follow Bryce Quinlan’s journey as she navigates a perilous world, striving to overthrow the Asteri while safeguarding her loved ones in the process. The book maintains its familiar structure, narrating chapters and plotlines from different characters’ points of view, including Bryce’s love interest Hunt Athalar, Bryce’s brother Ruhn Danaan and Bryce’s childhood friend and former love interest’s sibling Ithan Holstrom.
The Lantern •

Center for Ethics and Human Values celebrates over a decade of encouraging civic debate

In its 13th year of facilitating the “Conversations on Morality, Politics and Society” program, the Center for Ethics and Human Values celebrated the past decade of events with an exhibition in Hopkins Hall.

The exhibition, which opened Feb. 8, celebrates the COMPAS program’s many-year-long series of events, including conferences and panels to encourage civil discussion and debate on a topic of public concern chosen by the center, said Piers Turner, the director of the Center for Ethics and Human Values, said.
The Lantern •

Student Wellness Center removes free HIV and STI testing

The Student Wellness Center no longer provides free HIV or STI testing for students due to the capacity limitations of local clinics in Columbus.

Before COVID-19, the Student Wellness Center was able to supply free testing for both sexually transmitted infections and the human immunodeficiency virus – a virus that attacks a body’s immune system and causes AIDS – by trained students and staff, Arianna Camel, the associate director of the Student Wellness Center, said.

In April 2022, free STI and HIV testing were brought back to the center, with roughly 300 students using the service year-round through the help of outside clinics such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Camel said. It was removed this academic year because the capacity of local health care communities became smaller due to limited staff and low funding in the health care system since COVID-19.
The Lantern •

BuckeyeThon: Making Miracles

BuckeyeThon, the largest student-led philanthropic initiative in Ohio, continued its battle against childhood cancer Feb. 10.

Raising roughly $500,000, all of which is earmarked to go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit, BuckeyeThon recommenced its signature 12-hour fundraising event.

At its core, BuckeyeThon promotes philanthropy, cultivates awareness of childhood cancer and fosters a culture of service and spirit amongst Ohio State students and staff and the wider Columbus community.
Her Campus •

“Better Than the Movies” Book Review

Lynn Painter’s New York Times bestseller “Better Than the Movies” is a classic high school rom-com where the goody two-shoes girl falls for the bad boy neighbor. A quintessential romance book, “Better Than the Movies” kept me up until 2 a.m. to finish binge-reading it in one sitting.

This love story follows Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic with a flair for melodrama. After her childhood crush, Michael, returns to their hometown, Liz is determined to capture his attention.

The only way in? Wes Bennett. Portrayed as a quirky senior on the search for the romance of the ages (as portrayed in movies like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Notting Hill”), Wes is the perfect man to fake-date until she wins Michael’s heart. Little did we know, however, that Wes was her hidden dream boy all along.
The Lantern •

More programs to be offered by CCS, target graduate students

Ohio State’s undergraduate students may dominate campus in numbers, but graduate and professional students are still a priority for the Counseling and Consultation Service.

Under Ohio House Bill 33, which established budget estimates for state agencies and programs for 2024 and 2025 after it passed in July 2023, Ohio State received $2.5 million as part of the $20 million dedicated to university mental health support for students, Micky Sharma, the director of CCS, said.

Alongside other university-wide endeavors, such as a program aimed at training student organizations in establishing mental health ambassador positions, CCS plans to implement a variety of their own, including teletherapy services, a graduate student administrative assistant position, biofeedback equipment and online mental health modules, Sharma said.
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