Athens Local Issues: Take Back The Night

During their college career, according to one widely reported statistic, about one in every six women will fall victim to violent rape or its attempt. Take Back the Night Week is an event put together by the women's affairs commission of Student Senate. Take Back the Night originated in Philadelphia in October of 1975. The week began April 18 and centers on a series of speakers and performers who helped to spread the message of female empowerment. Many students shared their stories of abuse with the crowd which significantly added to the importance of the event. Each year about 95 percent of instances of sexual violence go unreported, and every year about two to four million women are battered in the United States, and 30 percent of college-aged women are in violent relationships.

From College Green to the bottom of Morton Hill, the women marched on in silence with lit candles in honor of women who have been victims of violence or sexual abuse. Organizers of the event encourage men to participate in secondary roles such as standing along the route of the walk to show support. Although there has been much controversy over whether or not to let men join in the march no decision has been made. Still though hundreds of female supporters came out to march and show support for those that have been hurt by sexual violence and the event was widely successful in spreading awareness and prevention of rape and other sexual abuses against women.

-Michael, Morgan, Kathy, Jeffrey

Peer- Tutoring

Ohio University has always been known as a “party school.” Most people assume all us students do on a daily basis is party; however this observation is far from the truth. Most students walk around complaining about their one miserable class or difficult schedule. Many of us seek help from tutors or other students familiar with our difficult subjects. Ohio University President, Roderick McDavis, has recently taken an interest in peer-mentoring programs on campus.

One program he is focused on is the college adjustment program (CAP). CAP helps students develop academically and motivate them to be successful in the future. They offer free private tutoring, advising, supplemental instruction (SI), and other skills courses. Almost every student is aware of a few of these programs because we receive bright yellow SI stickers in many lower level classes. The main reason these programs appeal to college students is because they are free. What broke college students doesn’t want free help?

Employees of the CAP program made a presentation to McDavis which explained that students showed at least a half letter grade improvement, if not better, in their academic classes. The CAP program is part of the Academic Advancement Center (AAC) located in Alden Library. The AAC has distributed $463,000 in grant aid and served more than 3,500 students (Felser). I have personally taken advantage of SI when I took biology. Although it was a difficult subject, the SI instructor, who was a student in that field and had taken the class before, knew what information to which we should pay particular attention.

These sessions are exceptionally helpful to adjust to college academics. A sufficient amount of people may be resistant to these sessions because they are afraid to look unintelligent or slow. But who is going to be laughing when you get better grades than your friends? McDavis is exhibiting a lot of respect for this and said “(The) Academic Advancement Center is ground zero for success (Felser).”

He has also stated the university is searching for a Director of Government Relations and a new Vice President for University Advancement. University advancement should be in academics because that is where our futures lie. President McDavis wants us to be the “nation’s best transformative learning community,” and we can start by learning from our peers.

Works Cited

Felser, Alex. "Board of Trustees: McDavis Highlights Tutoring Program in Board Report." The Post. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. .

Litter in Athens

It's not something I looked up online or something I read in the papers, it's actually just something I've noticed everywhere around Ohio University's campus: it's a trash problem.  And no it's not just one or two individuals dropping a receipt or a bottle here and there every once in a while; I've seen the result of what seemed to be entire trash bins just tossed into the woods around East Green.  It's really depressing and disgusting to walk around what is referred to as a beautiful campus only to see it covered in ripped up beer boxes, cans, bottles, and other ugly, harmful waste.  Not only is it displeasing to look at, it's not too good for the environment.  Yes, everyone reading this already knew that, I'm not patronizing you, I'm finding something to write about so it looks like I wrote a lot.  But I have seen squirrels and birds around here eating the trash at some points.  It's disgusting and I'm sure it isn't healthy for 'em.

Pointing out and noticing this problem is just half the battle, and even that half seems hard to win, seeing that it seems as if no one notices.  I personally will pick up some of the trash I see, especially if I'm just walking by it.  I've had the urge to pick up that entire forest full of dumped trash, but for some reason (I really have no excuse, I'm no better than the next guy) I didn't.  I think people just need to at least be aware of the problem, so that maybe they can at least pick up a chip bag on their way to class and throw it away.  Or at least don't drop it there in the first place.  People I've met here and have become friends with just litter, they just get their Burrito Buggy taco, take the foil off and throw it on the ground.  Maybe it was the way I was raised, but I just see it as wrong.  If you're not going to pick it up, at least don't put it there in the first place.

That is all.
(I'm not a hippie I swear it)

Good night.  Or morning.  Definitely depends on when you're reading this.

Update, here IS a website I found that gives some pretty good examples of what I'm talking about:
Pretty

South Green Lawn

Athens, Ohio, home of Ohio University since 1804. It's surrounded by rolling hills and lies next to the Hocking River. Athens is a charming town with a lot of personality. Many think that it personifies "the perfect college campus." Ohio University is the heart of Athens, and this is evident when walking through town. The spirit of Ohio University can often be seen on South Green Lawn. South Green Lawn is filled with life—especially when the sun is out.  Students can be seen doing various activities and occasionally special events are being held.

            South green is also commonly known as "south beach." Whether there are girls laying out in the sun or guys tossing around the football, there is always something to do on south beach. Dan and I walk across south green every day and finally we decided that we wanted to be a part of the fun.  So this is just what we decided to do. Sunday was gorgeous, the sun was out and the high was 86 degrees.  South Beach was crawling with students. Dan and I thought we would grab a towel and head up to south beach and observe the festivities. We had some trouble finding an open spot because of the hundreds of students lying out on the lawn.  Eventually we found a spot not far from the sand volley ball court. In the distance we could see students playing pickup games of basketball, football, and Frisbee. You name it—it was being played on South Beach.   
           
            South beach is also a regular place to hold events because of its popularity. While we were sitting Dan noticed some of his fraternity brothers holding a cookout. The cookout was designed to attract potential members. However, there were also other organizations and clubs there. We came to realize that we still had a lot to learn about our own campus. There is much more diversity on campus than we originally had thought. For example we noticed some sort of environmental group putting on a show promoting recycling. South Green also holds musical events and intramural games.

            To say the least south green lawn is a lively place. Prospective students should definitely make it a priority to stop by during their visit. This blog would be beneficial to upperclassmen in high school who want to get an idea of what college life is like at Ohio University. South Beach is really the essence of student life at OU and would hopefully encourage students to apply for admission. Beforehand we already enjoyed our experience here, but after spending a day on south green and taking a closer look we gained a greater appreciation for a place we already loved.   

By: Daniel Murtha and Kristen Dittmar

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Athens Alive

Beginning in fall the city of Athens couldn’t be more alive. Traffic jams are as plentiful as parking spots are scarce. Parents and their now college bound children are scrambling between their cars and dorms. Hauling load after load of clothes, bedding, and TVs across the streets and up into the various brick dorms. And it ends as quickly as it begins. The cars slowly return home and the students wonder around visiting friends while others begin organizing their rooms.

The students are now on their own and wake up to their first day of class. It’s another cloudy day and besides the occasional morning jogger and landscapers Athens is silent. Then once an hour it explodes as students pour out of the various buildings and dorms and make their way to each of their destinations. Traffic is forced to a standstill from all the roaming students in the busier places such as the top Morton and the Baker Center. Once again it all ends as quickly as it began..at least for the next 50 minutes. Athens is truly a spontaneous city that bursts to life as quickly as it becomes a peaceful country town.

Winter In Athens

Ah yes, the wintertime.  I know this is a blog called Spring in Athens, but I don't really care for spring as much as I do winter so here goes.  Most people hate it here in the winter.  Coming from Pittsburgh, PA I'm used to the cold weather.  The beginning of my winter in Athens, Ohio was amazing.  It snowed and snowed.  I would wake up to see a thick blanket of pretty, white snow.  The streets are empty and you couldn't hear a sound.  The world around you in or after a snowstorm can be so peaceful.  I know that when "snowmaggeddon"of 2010 hit Pittsburgh, it was almost like the world had gone silent for a little bit.  My neighborhood was empty, the roads were empty, you could make snowmen on the highway near my town.  Buildings, schools, and all roads were closed.  And all I could think about was snowboarding in the streets.  I think one of the reasons I like snow so much is because I've been skiing or snowboarding for half of my life, and I don't really get cold.  The heaviest thing I wear year-round is a hoodie, long socks, and some sweat pants.  I remember some nights in Athens I would just walk outside, call someone to hang out or just call someone on the phone and walk around and talk for hours.  That's another thing, at night, it's never really dark, no matter where you go.  The snow is so reflective, and the white lights that line the streets of the Greens in Athens are bright and white, giving the world around you a different look.  Random groups of folks just burst out into snowball fights.  Hot chocolate and hot food taste a lot better, going for a run becomes a lot easier, and Jeff and Morton hill become a lot more fun.  (Hence, why I brought my snowboard for the quarter)  Unfortunately, Athens weather also makes no sense.  So for the majority of the winter, probably from early to mid-February on, the weather got just warm enough to be cold but not snowy.  So until about this past Monday, weather in Athens has been cold and rainy, almost daily.  The salt, rain, and slush on the road seeped into my jeans, and then dried a nice, hard, sodium coating onto my pantlegs.  The whole place turned from a vibrant white to a bland and dreary grey.  The campus was dampened, but not my mood.  I just hope next year's winter was a little better than this one's.  

Here's a video I made consisting of mostly Athens in Winter footage... (before it sucked)


Canon 7D Test Reel from Alex Bolinger on Vimeo.

OU Baseball

Take me out to the ball game! That is what numerous Ohio University students were saying this past Wednesday as they dashed to the first home baseball game. Many Ohio University students came out to support the Bobcats as they prepared to take on Xavier.

As the weather is getting nicer a baseball game is a great way to show your support for OU athletics. The sun is shining and the grass is a vibrant green. All you need now is a hotdog and a coke at the top of the first inning to get you through the exciting game.

On numerous occasions, different vendors provide food, and

sometimes, even Bobcat attire! When everyone in the stands has their OU green on and is standing up and cheering, it gives the team even more of a reason to try that much harder to hit a homerun to win the game. So get out in this 80 degree heat and join your Bobcat community in supporting the Ohio University baseball team!

- TwoGirlsOneGuy

Donkey Coffee

There are countless places to get coffee in Athens, but Donkey Coffee is one that feels like it could only exist in this town. From the outside, Donkey seems out of place next to the police station and modern apartments near it. Even though there are relatively new buildings surrounding it, Donkey's appearance suggests that it hasn't changed in years.

The inside of the building is full of quirks that make it different from other coffee shops in the area. The majority of the furniture are couches and chairs that look like they were brought from someone's living room. Some of the drinks are even served in glasses, which made the store feel even more like visiting someone's home. The most interesting thing I saw was a wall of paintings. They were all renditions of Athens houses and yards that were oddly familiar, possibly locations that someone would pass if they made a trip to Athens. These paintings seemed like they were donated, not purchased to create a false ambiance. Some people stopped by the store just to talk with the employees for a while. Not to talk business, just to have a friendly chat between neighbors.

One reason why Donkey seems to be a uniquely "Athens" place to visit is the way it promotes local talent. There is a billboard plastered with posters promoting upcoming performances from local poets and bands. The music played in the store seemed equally split between mainstream artists and smaller bands that people who never visited Athens would never hear.

Donkey Coffee is one of the places I've seen that shows what Athens is: a close-knit community of people who want their neighbors to succeed. They promote their friends and neighbors by giving them a place to share their art, and the feel of the place is more akin to a neighbor's house than a shop. It's a placethat contains everything that Athens is about.

--Travis

Court Street, Athens Ohio

If you have never been to Athens Ohio and want to get a good idea of what the culture is like take a stroll down Court Street. Court Street is home to many restaurants, shops, and other buildings that range from banks all the way to hair and tanning salons.There is a large variety from food, to shopping, to memorabilia, and even simply sight seeing on Court. Simply walking down Court Street can improve your day significantly because of the friendly people and beautiful scenery! With it's wide range of storefronts there is literally nothing you can't find on Court Street. Court Street is also home to many businesses unique to Athens including Big Mammas Burritos, Goodfella's Pizza, and Burrito Buggy. In addition to all the great food establishments there are also some great shopping opportunities on Court Street including The Other Place, CVS Pharmacy, and Artifacts Gallery.

Court Street is an especially welcoming place if your hungry! You have the common fast food such as Wendy's, Chipotle, Subway and Quizzno's, but if you would like a more formal meal there is always restaurants like Stephen's or Casa Nueava that offer a more traditional restaurant experience. Yet these traditional restaurants are nothing compared to the

unique Athens food that you can find at the Burrito Buggy, Bagel Street Deli, or Goodfella's Pizza. If you're done eating, and would like a drink or some great live music feel free to visit one of the 20+ bars located on Court!

If the food isn't enough for you, there is always shopping to do! One place that is really unique to Athens is The Other Place, they have a wide variety of products from TOMS shoes to party dresses. There is also an assortment of affordable items that will leave you looking priceless! There are other clothing stores such as Artifacts and Figleaf, but for your basic shopping needs, there is always CVS. If you're simply visiting you can also stop into The College Bookstore for a wide variety of souvenirs and spirit wear. After all of that walking around you can always stop into one of the coffee or smoothie shops for a refreshing beverage! If you want an even longer break, there is always the Athens Athena Cinema that shows a wide range of popular as well as independent films.

So as you can see, there are various activities to do all over Court Street! Not only does it serve a purpose of unifying OU, but all of Athens as well. This fact is exemplified on Halloween when thousands of people gather together to the point where cell service isn't even available. On any given weekend you will find mass amounts of people gathering on Court Street in front of bars, restaurants, or simply to get together. There's always a festive and friendly feeling on Court Street to everyone who passes through and it significantly adds to the Athens landscape!

- Michael, Morgan, Kathy, Jeffrey

The Ridges

Ohio University’s campus in Athens often feels spacious to individuals walking around. In addition to the dorms, class buildings, and administrative offices there is an extensiv
e part of Ohio University’s campus that often gets overlooked, The Ridges. Located west of the Hocking River, The Ridges offer a unique experience in Athens for anyone interested in the history of Athens, those visiting Athens, or a student who wants to connect to their temporary home.

The Ridges were previously home to a mental health facility with patients from all over Ohio. Many consider the area to be haunted and inhabited by ghosts and ghouls. Today, some of the buildings on the hospital’s prior site have been renovated and are occupied by a museum, numerous offices, and other facilities all owned by the university.

When traveling to the Ridges one will enter a part of Ohio University that allows them to experience Athens from an entirely different perspective. The Ridges overlook the majority of campus, providing excellent views for everyone who ventures up to the property. Whether you choose to just park your car for a few minutes and take in the view or get out and walk around, both options will bring you closer to Athens.

When walking around on site, there are many historical buildings each with their own unique architecture. The historic brick look of campus exists at The Ridges as well. Walking beyond the buildings, there are several trails through the woods for those who feel adventurous and want to take a hike. Along the trials, you will discover the historic Tuberculosis Ward from the institution, along with the cemetery where those who resided on the grounds previously are buried. Pausing for a moment and simply looking down on campus will allow you to take a step back and see the rush of people everywhere and the busy campus life carrying on. Meanwhile, The Ridges offer you the opportunity to just relax and escape from it for a minute.

Whether a historian, visitor to Athens, or a student looking to get to know Ohio University and Athens, Ohio a little better, The Ridges offers a unique experience with a phenomenal view worth visiting if even for a moment during your time in Athens Ohio.

-Becca

Big Mamma's Burritos

What qualifies as a typical Athens/OU scene you might ask? Whether you are a visiting parent, student, or alumni, everyone enjoys a walk down Court Street. During the day you can visit local shops and unique restaurants, which add to the rich and diverse culture of Ohio University. Among those unique restaurants, lies a small “hole in the wall” called Big Mamma’s Burritos.

Since its open until 3AM, any student will tell you that a burrito is a perfect way to end the night. They have a variety of menu items that will satisfy any burrito craving. I’ve eaten there countless times and have never been disappointed. Once you walk through the door, the smell of beef, chicken, and steak will make your mouth water. You hear people yelling out orders through the crowd anxiously awaiting their food.

Making a Visit during the day, you won’t have to worry about a line; Come at night and you’ll wait in a line going out the door, but its most definitely worth the wait. They will even sell you a Big Mamma’s Burrito shirt! This restaurant is one of the many aspects of Athens people come to love. As Big Mamma’s likes to say “Simply put Big Mamma's Burritos is the most unique burrito experience you will ever have.”

OU Men's Basketball Game

As you walk into the Convo at Ohio University, you immediately feel the school spirit. The green and white banners that surround the basketball arena make you proud to be an OU student. Going to the men's basketball games is one of the most exciting things you can do here at Ohio University.

When attending a basketball game at the Convo, you want to be sure to sit in the Ozone. It is definitely worth the extra $10 you have to pay to be a member. The atmosphere is very uplifting and really gets you into the game. It can get really hot and crowded in the Ozone, but it only makes everyone seem that much closer with everyone. There are numerous cheers that everyone in the Ozone knows, including chants and hand gestures. Once you learn them, you really feel as if you are a part of the school. Everyone is extremely loud and obnoxious, but in a good way. When a player dunks, everyone goes crazy. If the other team makes a mistake, they'll never hear the end of it. In a way, the Ozone is brutal, but it just goes to show you how dedicated the students are to their sports teams here at Ohio University.

Looking at this description of a OU basketball game you can start to see how connected the community is. Weekend activities may border the illegal spectrum for some of the students but other activities that people do here in Athens range from playing rugby, football, throwing a ball, having a pick up volleyball game on South Beach, and many more. You can go uptown to court street as well and thats really where the heart of the town is. When you walk down a street as many times as you will walk down Court Street, you really get to know where things are fairly soon and you already feel at home after a couple weeks. The people in athens are so laid back and "chill" as most people refer to the Athens community in this modern age. Since most of the community here is students, you dont really see a lot of people who just live here. When you do see people interacting that live in Athens they seem as if they all know each other. It is remarkable how anyone can walk into a shop or store and know everyone inside, which defines Athens perfectly.

Strouds Run State Park

As a student of Ohio University it is sometimes hard to look past the campus itself, but in reality Athens surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Ohio. Strouds Run State park is one of the closest examples of the nature that makes Athens so unique. Only a short drive or bike ride away, Strouds offers and escape from the bars littering court street, while still experiencing the genuine Athens community.

On the drive to Strouds you can quickly begin to tell that you are entering a state park. You see very few houses as the tree canopy begins to develop above you. The park entrance isn't very obvious but as soon as you turn into the parking area you can quickly tell what Strouds has to offer. As you approach your desired parking spot, you see a tranquil lake, with canoes and kayaks scattered about the water, and a beach that will soon be full of Athenians hoping to enjoy the day.

As you exit the car, you are presented with several options. You could rent a kayak or canoe, take a bike through many of the biking trails, or explore forests that seem to be uncharted. As you hike through the woods, the lake glimmering next to you, you will come upon many spots to stop and leap into the water to cool off.

Other than a beautiful landscape, Strouds brings the community of Athens together. It a place away from the "Fests" that offers student and community members a place to relax and communicate. Strouds brings the diverse community of Athens together to a place that seems miles away from campus but in reality is only a short trip down the road.

-Turner and Chris

Ohio Bobcat Football Games

I am only a freshman and have experienced several of attractions at Ohio University. I am a football player on the football team here. I was really impressed with the amount of students that attend the games during the fall. The students here really support the athletic teams. During my senior year in high school I came to a few games during the 2009 season. I got the chance to experience the point of view from being in the stands.

It seemed as if everyone in the O zone knew each other. It was a large group of people who were very social. The football events attract different stereotypes of people. You had the group of people that were very loud and rowdy and you had the group of people who were talkative towards the people they know. Of course you had fans that were intoxicated. That’s just reality.

The great thing about going to the football games is that you can surround yourself around people just like you. You do not have to stand up and cheer. You can just go sit down and enjoy the game if you would like. If I had a high school kid trying to choose a college I would take him/her to a football game. I feel everyone could find a way to enjoy themselves at the Bobcat football game.

The staff here at Athens always seems to find a way to keep the audience involved at all times. Such things are tailgate events, pregame events, and also throughout the games. There is practically no way to become bored at any of the football games. The staff tries to keep the people involved by doing things such as giving away free items.

The last point I am going to touch on is the venders at the football games. It is really nice to be able to go and enjoy a football game with an ice cold coke and nachos. The venders have a large variety of food and drinks to choose from. It will be a moment to enjoy and make a new friend.

Communities

How do I define a community?  I consider a community a group of people consisting of anywhere from just a few to many people that closely coexist, sharing common beliefs, interests, and most importantly one or two main goals.  For example, a neighborhood community or a family usually just strives to live together in peace, a sports team strives to get together to better themselves, and an orchestral community strives to create beautiful sound in sync.  I have been a part of all of these communities and without cooperation, patience, and that common goal, these communities probably wouldn't have lasted very long.

That was waaaaay too formal for a blog and me.  Now I have to break up the formality with this picture of a cat.

Moving on:

What role does a language play in a community?  Most people would immediately say a huge role.  Personally, I'm on the a 419 Productions film crew which consists of 40 college students that gather every weekend to shoot a feature length film.  To work on this production, you must know a certain language, motion picture jargon.  You have to have a good knowledge of a completely different vocabulary.  DIT, DP, AC, F-stop, gaffing, HMI, pull focus, marker, take, rehearsal, and I could be an ass and keep on going.  C-47 is a good one.  Guess what a C-47 is.  Just guess.   It's a clothespin.  Yeah.  Why such a stupid name?  I haven't the slightest clue.  Shows you how dumb jargon can be.  But I say that language doesn’t always necessarily have to play a major role, or any role for that fact.  Look at the UN for example.  I mean of course most of the diplomats within the UN speak an eclectic collection of languages, one main one being English, however a language barrier can’t change people’s beliefs and goals.  Coming from a multi-ethnic family, I personally know that language isn’t essentially a hindering or beneficial quality of a community.  A good example of this is shown within the relationship between my english speaking father and my chinese speaking grandmother.  They talk and talk and talk, but rarely do they ever speak the same language.


Here are a few examples of communities that I've been a part of: orchestras, film crews, television studios, football teams, frisbee teams, rowing crews, my high school and college community, my personal friends and family, of course the list goes on.  Throughout my life I have been in a multitude of communities, many of which were successful and few that were very unsuccessful attempts at being a community.  What keeps the good ones together?  That similar mentality of achieving that single, maybe several main goals.  Nothing else is more vital than this for a community to survive.

Blog 1: Observation

In order to communicate most effectively, it is important to be aware of the discourse communities available to you. It is also important as a human being to feel knowledgeable about and comfortable with the places we live our lives.

Observe and describe a "typical" Athens/OU scene. Provide sensory details--you want a reader to feel as if they are there. After describing the scene, explain what this scene tells you about the kind of community (or communities) Athens is, and why you think that. In addition to your written entry, include an image that in some way helps to convey your points.