May 25, 2023

BSO can be overwhelming, but you’re in the right place

KATIE MILLARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hello, and welcome to Bobcat Student Orientation! This is the first step of many into your journeys as Bobcats – or Bobcat-adjacents – and it should be celebrated. Be proud of yourselves for getting to this point. As you settle into your visit full of preparation for what’s to come, things can be overwhelming. Let this serve as your reminder to take a deep breath, absorb what you can and know things will be OK no matter how your BSO experience goes.

I know this from personal experience. As a 2020 incoming Bobcat, my BSO was a half-day session largely focused on teaching us to use Microsoft Teams. Even that felt somewhat overwhelming, so my heart extends to those of you facing the daunting task of moving to college in person today.

My experience did very little to make me excited to become a Bobcat, but coming to Ohio University remains the best decision I have ever made, and I know each of you will thrive on this campus. Even if you are not

Editor-in-Chief | Katie Millard

Managing Editor | Emma Erion

Digital Director | Anastasia Carter

Equity Director | Alesha Davis

EDITORIAL

News Editor | Madalyn Blair

Asst. News Editor | Donovan Hunt

Culture Editor | Alyssa Cruz

Asst. Culture Editor | Abby Jenkins

Sports Editor | Bobby Gorbett

Sports Editor | Bobby Keegan

Opinion Editor | Tate Raub

Asst. Opinion Editor | Meg Diehl

The Beat Editor | Grace Brezine

Asst. The Beat Editor | Grace Koennecke

Projects Editor | Hannah Campbell

Investigative Editor | Alex Imwalle

Copy Chief | Addie Hedges

Slot Editors | Arielle Lyons, Ashley Pomplass, Aya Cathey, Tre Spencer

ART

Art Director | Abbie Kinney

Asst. Art Director | Emma McAdams

Director of Photography | Alaina Dackermann

Photo Editor | Zoe Cranfill

DIGITAL

Director of Web Development | Tavier Leslie

Audience Engagement Editor | Logan Jefferies

Asst. Audience Engagement Editor | Jenna Skidmore

Director of Multimedia | Cole Patterson

Asst. Director of Multimedia | Kendall Timms

BUSINESS

Media Sales | Gia Sammons, Grace Vannan

Director of Student Media | Andrea Lewis

feeling that bone-deep enthusiasm for OU yet, feel secure that you are here for a reason. The anxiety accompanying such a big change is only natural, so allow me to reassure you this is a great place to be.

Firstly, look around. The campus is beautiful. Our seat at Appalachia’s feet basks the campus in a beauty that remains unparalleled in my lifetime. It is easy to romanticize rain when it lands on changing leaves or somehow paints the world an even deeper green. Even on your worst days, it is possible to look around at the campus and feel happier.

Your fellow Bobcats will be kind, too. One of the most daunting parts of college is finding your people, but OU’s culture is a great starting place. I have been struck when I’ve visited friends at other universities by how it is much more difficult to meet new people. Entering my fourth year here, I still meet new people constantly, and you will always find someone with a smile to share or who will answer any question you may have upon entering campus. People here want to help you and befriend you, and I know you will find your corner of home on campus.

The Post is also here to help. Serving as OU’s largest, editorially-independent student publication, we offer the following pages (and all of our content) as resources for Bobcats, by Bobcats. During the year, feel free to stop into The Post’s newsroom on the third floor of Baker Center, room 325 or reach out to us at editor@thepostathens.com. We are here to support you!

I did not know the meaning of school spirit until I got to OU. The people here are proud to be here and for good reason. Bobcats are beyond proud of their school, and I am so excited to have a new class of students and their families entering to call Athens home.

My last piece of advice is to take photos of where you will be spending the next few years, take in all you can at BSO and take a deep breath. This is your first step onto campus, and you’re walking into great things.

Katie Millard is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Katie by tweeting her at @katie_millard11.

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KATIE MILLARD

We are thrilled to welcome you to our beloved bricks. e experiences you will have over the next four years will forever change you. You will learn, grow, laugh, stress, perhaps stumble, but also succeed. Try new things and get out of your comfort zone. From all of us at the Division of Student Affairs, welcome to the Bobcat family!

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

We've been waiting for you. ese bricks we call home are now yours, too.

5 places to know

Baker Center:

Located at 1 Park Place, Baker Center is a student hub. Inside the five-floor building are important offices, eating options and study spaces. The Front Room Coffeehouse, West 82 and Latitude 39 are all eateries located within the building. Baker also houses the Bobcat Depot, which sells apparel, technology, school supplies and provides technical support for some student devices.

Alden Library:

The seven-floor library, located at 30 Park Place, is just down the street from Baker on College Green.

There are three types of floors in Alden: silent study, quiet study and group study. Night owls love Alden; all the floors are open until at least midnight, and floors two and four are open until 2 a.m., providing ample time for latenight studying.

Academic Achievement Center (AAC):

The Academic Achievement Center, or AAC, is located on the second floor of Alden; the AAC provides students with free in-person and online tutoring, writing assistance, academic coaching, peer navigation and Supplemental Instruction. The AAC also coordinates support programs and services to assist with students’ needs.

These services are provided by fellow students who want to help their peers develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed in their coursework.

Hudson Health Center:

Located at 2 Church Street, the Hudson Health Center houses OhioHealth Campus Care, which provides comprehensive primary care and urgent care for students.

Hudson also contains Counseling and Psychological Services, which provides students with therapy, group therapy, psychiatric consultations, eating disorder support, support spaces and more.

Ping Recreation Center:

All students looking to better their physical and mental health should head to 82 S. Green Drive, home to the Ping Recreation Center.

Ping has three floors with one double-sided climbing wall, five basketball/volleyball courts, two multipurpose gymnasiums, an elevated four-lane indoor running track, six racquetball courts, free weight areas and two group fitness rooms.

Chubb Hall:

Chubb Hall, located on College Green at 1 Ohio University, handles administrative matters at the university.

The building houses many offices, including Undergraduate Admissions, Bursar, University Registrar, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and University College.

@PAYTONDAUG

5 faces to know

Lori Stewart Gonzalez:

security and ensures student safety.

Meeting new people at college can be hard. The first few weeks for new students on any college campus tend to consist of a lot of small talk, asking people what their major is and where they are from. Although there are many different people at OU, here are five you need to know.

Incoming OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez will serve her first year as OU’s president during the 2023-24 school year. Prior to entering this role, she served as the executive vice president and provost at the University of Louisville.

Gonzalez received a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Arts degree in communication disorders from Eastern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Florida.

Steve Patterson:

Steve Patterson is the mayor of the city of Athens. He has lived in Athens since 1998 and was an associate professor of health psychology at OU until March 2016.

Patterson oversees the Board of Control, Board of Zoning Appeals, Disabilities Commission, Housing Board of Appeals, Planning Commission, Records Commission, Shade Tree Commission, Taxi Board and Recreation Advisory Board.

Andrew Powers:

Andrew Powers is the police chief of the Ohio University Police Department, or OUPD, which maintains campus

OUPD sends out crime alerts when campus security is at risk, conducts investigations for incidents that occur on campus and enforces criminal laws.

Megan Handle:

Megan Handle is the newly-elected president of OU’s Student Senate. Student Senate represents and advocates for students to university administration and beyond. They fund over 600 student organizations every year and help host events like Pride Week, Finals Fest and Take Back the Night.

Robert Rymer:

Robert Rymer is the Chief of the Athens Fire Department. He oversees the firefighters responsible for responding to all fire emergencies across campus.

Student Senate recently passed a $50 opt-out fire fee Rymer had introduced to help teach fire safety to students on campus and support the understaffed fire department.

@PAYTONDAUG

Baker University Center, located at the center of campus, May 16, 2021. (TANNER PEARSON | FOR THE POST)

Lori Stewart Gonzalez stands in Baker Center (PROVIDED BY BEN WIRTZ SIEGEL)

BOBCAT DEPOT

WEST END

Student Senate’s fire fee bill potentially slated for Spring 2024

JACK SOLON FOR THE POST

Student Senate passed the previously defeated fire-fee bill, which aims to fund the understaffed Athens Fire Department with a $50 opt-out fee for every student each semester and further advance fire education on campus.

Senate passed the fire-fee bill on April 26 during its final meeting of the 2023 Spring Semester. The bill’s primary sponsor, Dan Gordillo, a freshman studying political science and linguistics and the senate’s governmental affairs commissioner, said he conducted a random survey sent to Ohio University student emails that gathered 707 responses, 75% of which were in favor of the fee.

Gordillo said the fee was the result of conversations with Athens Fire Department Chief Robert Rymer, who met with Gordillo in October to discuss the fire department’s low-staffing issues.

The bill aims to provide the AFD with 10 new firefighter positions, although Gordillo and Rymer said a timeframe for filling the positions is not yet clear.

Concerns were raised about the university’s inability to pay the $50-per-student fee. Rymer said part of the reason for the student fee is the fire department can’t rely on property tax because about 50% of commercial property is tax-exempt, including university buildings.

“I agree that it’s a bit shameful on the part of the university that they can’t find ($50 per student for the AFD), but, for example, they just put up new laundry center signs that were totally unneeded,” Gordillo said. “But the best way to put it is we can’t twiddle our thumbs and wait for somebody else to do it. It’ll never happen.”

Rymer said the bill is crucial because the AFD is currently forced to make hard decisions when there are two simultaneous emergencies. It can either send less than a full staff to both emergencies or fully commit those on duty to just one of the two emergencies at a time.

“We have a minimum of four people on duty each station,” Rymer said. “That’s two per truck, so if I have a call to Gamertsfelder Hall for let’s say, burnt food … and another call comes in for a car accident or a fire across town, those guys have to decide to send one truck over to get things started

until we wrap up here or we’re abandoning this call.”

Rymer said those decisions are difficult for the AFD firefighters. He also said deciding between putting a fire out or getting people out of a burning building is also difficult but luckily, he has not had to make that choice yet.

“We’ve been lucky for a long time,” Rymer said. “We definitely don’t have enough staffing to handle what they call high-risk, low-frequency events like structure fires, technical rescues, things of that nature.”

Megan Handle, a junior studying social work in the honors tutorial college and senate president-elect, said she has concerns about the bill’s sustainability.

“I recognize our fire department does need support, but I’m not sure that it’s necessary to come from students, it feels like a bigger issue than what we can immediately provide,” Handle said. “With what Chief Rymer said about how the money needed to fund a single firefighter is over $100,000, I’m just concerned in the long run it’s not a sustainable way to get a substantial amount of funding.”

However, Gordillo said that even if the goal of filling 10 new positions is not met, any number of new firefighters on the force is a step in the right direction.

“The fact of the matter is, even if 50% of the students opt out, that’s still $900,000,” Gordillo said. “That’s still about six firefighters right there. At the end of the day, Chief Rymer … said anything is better than nothing at this point because he would rather have five firefighters than zero.”

Handle said the bill, though it was passed by Senate, still needs approval from the OU Board of Trustees to be fully implemented.

Gordillo said the earliest students can expect to see the fire fee would be just before the 2024 Spring semester.

“We would have to submit everything by Jan. 1, 2024, for it to be on the Spring Semester,” Gordillo said. “So you’re not going to log onto your student center this fall and see ‘pay the fire fee.’ That’s going be Spring, maybe even Fall of 2024 but I’m aiming for Spring.”

OU acceptance rates continue to increase

MADISON KENNEDY FOR THE POST

The college admission process can be a stressful and anxious time for many students, especially due to selective admission processes, and Ohio University was no exception when choosing admittees for the 2023-24 Academic Year.

Students who wanted to attend OU during the 2023 Fall Semester had until May 1 to choose to confirm their intent to enroll. OU accepted students on a rolling basis, reviewing applicants’ academic qualifications to meet the colleges’ preparatory criteria.

Vice President of Enrollment Management Candace Boeninger said the division of enrollment management expected to have more than 25,000 applications submitted by May 1 for the 2023-24 academic year, which is more than last year's numbers.

“We’re not surprised to see a slight increase, since students nationally are submitting a higher number of applications to colleges and universities on average,” Boeninger wrote in an email. “Since our admission processes and guidelines are the same, we expect our volume of admitted students to be fairly similar to recent years.”

Ali Kleiner, an incoming freshman who plans to study environmental pre-law, said she immediately accepted her offer to OU because she was confident it was the right school for her.

“The admission process was very easy and didn’t cause me any stress,” Kleiner wrote in an email.

Application reviewers consider various factors when evaluating incoming students’ applications; the reviewers mostly look at students’ high school curriculum, performance, grade point average and class rank, Boeninger said.

Boeninger also said OU is currently not requiring students to submit standardized test scores; however, some academic programs with more selective guidelines may request that students submit additional information for further review.

Last school year, OU enrolled the largest-ever freshman class at 4,441 incoming first-year students, a 21% increase from 2021. Due to the record-breaking enrollment, second-year students were given the option to live in RiverPark Apartments to create more on-campus living options for freshman students, according to a previous Post report.

Lyn Redington, vice president for student affairs, said the fall 2022 housing capacity was initially restrained due to Gamertsfelder Hall undergoing renovations. The dorm had 280 living spaces that were not available for use at the time.

“OHIO was able to mitigate that challenge through a master lease with Riverpark

Apartments,” Redington wrote in an email. “For fall 2023, Gamertsfelder will be back online and the master lease with Riverpark has been continued, which means that we do not expect to have the same challenges with housing capacity (as last year).”

To increase the university’s housing inventory over time, the OU Board of Trustees recently approved the development of a long-term housing master plan, which recognizes the needs and preferences of students in the future for their on-campus living experience, Redington said. She said the plan includes adding 600 newly constructed beds located on South Green.

The current confirmations of intent to enroll are well ahead of prior years' decisions, Boeninger said. She added this trend may conclude students have an overall increased interest in attending OU.

“We are finding that the fall 2023 entering class is full of motivated, engaged and academically talented future Bobcats,” Boeninger wrote in an email. “We are excited to welcome them to our community and look forward to the mark they will make on this institution.”

Nick Kaiser twirls a disc at the ultimate frisbee table at the Involvement fair on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2022. (JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES | FORMER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Students walk around the 2022 Involvement Fair. (RYAN GRZYBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

Out with Blackboard, in with Canvas

OIT announces Canvas as OU’s new Learning Management System

rector of the center for teaching, learning and assessment, said.

Canvas also allows for better integration of systems that Blackboard cannot, for example, Blue, which Hartman said is the new student-evaluation-of-teaching program.

Canvas was announced as Ohio University’s next learning management system, or LMS, on April 27, replacing Blackboard after more than 20 years, according to a previous Post report.

OU will start its transition from Blackboard to Canvas over the next few years, which Estzi Major-Rohrer, manager of academic technologies, said is expected to be in full use by the fall of 2026.

The need for a new LMS comes from modernizing the way students learn and is a crucial step toward teaching excellence, according to a university news release. Canvas was chosen because it has more to offer.

“It’s not going to be a huge, striking difference for students, but some of the integration of video, building some of the quizzes, the exams and the modules might appear cleaner and easier to use,” Melinda Rhodes, executive di-

Some features Canvas offers that Blackboard does not include: 24/7 support for faculty and students, the ability for instructors to create course templates, a dynamic calendar tool, user personalization, the ability to create materials for shared courses and course-level activity feed, according to a chart produced by the Office of Information Technology, or OIT.

Maintaining a high-quality student learning experience throughout the university is of primary importance to OU, Katie Hartman, vice provost for faculty development, said.

“During the evaluation process, we let faculty and students test out and play with the technology, as well as go to the public demonstrations that the vendors had,” Major-Rohrer said. “Every single activity we had that engaged students and faculty in the process came out with Canvas being the number one selection and choice.”

Blue will be integrated into Canvas and will allow for anonymous student evaluations of teaching on the system, rather than messages sent to student emails, Hartman said.

“As we’ve been working on the Go Ohio app recently, which is aiming to kind of take a lot of these different digital experiences a student has, whether it’s with something like Canvas or Blackboard or with our dining services or grades and registration, and bringing it all into one place, ” Chris Ament, chief information officer, said.

Integrating other apps with Canvas can ease stress and frustration, making learning opportunities easier. Major-Rohrer said Panopto, a lecture capture app, will be integrated more heavily into Canvas.

Rhodes said she has worked with both Blackboard and Canvas and said that faculty often find it very easy to build in Canvas once they make the transition.

“If you go into a course and you find what you need, you know where to go, the due dates are clear and all of those things are in place, it just makes your experience easier,” Rhodes said.

“You’re not having to think about things that are not particular to the course, the discipline, the content or your learning activity so we’re really working towards that.”

Major-Rohrer said they are beginning the planning process and technology start-ups this summer and, this upcoming fall, the first cohorts will go in and start developing.

However, the Spring of 2024 is when students will start seeing project classes and experimenting with the new LMS.

“We have a couple of years to get on board with Canvas,” Major-Rohrer said. “The idea right now is that we’ll have the first courses, probably volunteer faculty, using Canvas by Spring of 2024.”

OU has until 2026 to fully implement the system so it’ll take between 18 months and two years to experiment, Major-Rohrer said.

SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST

Cutler Hall sits on the edge of College Green in Athens Ohio on August 25, 2022. (ZOE CRANFILL | PHOTO EDITOR)

Culture consults

full of beautiful people as well.

Just as the weather gets warmer and school is let out, all incoming freshmen at Ohio University are hit with the quick reality that college life is on the horizon with Bobcat Student Orientation, or BSO. With the program being mandatory for all incoming undergraduate students, almost all Bobcats can relate to those pre-orientation jitters that come with pulling into the Convocation Center and checking in. After all, this is the first time it hits many Bobcats that they are actually college students.

No matter how prepared someone can be for BSO and college life as a whole, retrospect is usually beneficial when reminiscing about what could have been done differently. Luckily, some members of the Culture staff have compiled a list of advice they would give incoming freshmen.

What’s something you wish you knew before BSO?

Abby Blose: BSO leaders have been in your shoes! I was super anxious about making the move from high school to college, but BSO leaders are there to help — they went through the same thing! They might just be the best resource when it comes to answering questions.

Grace Koennecke: I wish I knew that I’d be scheduling my classes there and how that process works. It’s very overwhelming being in a room with everyone who has the same adviser, as well as not knowing how to use OU’s Student Center for the first time.

Sophia Rooksberry: The orientation leaders are there to help you, and everyone there is probably just as nervous and excited as you are. You’re not alone!

Gabrielle Cabanes: It’s okay to hang out with people from high school if they make you feel safe!

Where is your favorite spot to study?

Katie Millard: Anywhere sunny in the library! I get a little coffee and enjoy the view and quiet.

Koennecke: Alden Library! I’m literally always there on the 4th floor in particular since it’s relatively quiet and I like to sit by the windows and look outside!

What is your favorite thing about OU?

Abby Jenkins: The campus atmosphere. Not only is it a beautiful place to be, but it is

Hannah Campbell: The sense of community on campus. OU may seem like a bigger school, but everyone gets to know and support each other.

McKenna Christy: The friends you make here will truly become family!

What is your favorite tradition at OU?

Millard: How early everyone wakes up (for) Homecoming to celebrate!

Koennecke: Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Union every year is probably one of my favorites!

Maia LeClair: Halloween!

Jenkins: Pumpkin the cat!

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

Cabanes: Be yourself!

Ankita Bansode: Be different! Don’t follow the crowd, be unconventional, don’t be afraid to stand out and always leave an impression!

Millard: Join something!! Clubs and organizations are great ways to meet people on top of classes and the dorms. You can always ask someone to grab coffee or dinner—everyone’s looking for friends too.

Jenkins: This experience is what you make of it, be open to new things, be spontaneous and remember to take care of yourself before everything else.

Rooksberry: Take a deep breath and enjoy every second of your first year, it goes by fast!

@ALYSSADANCCRUZ AC974320@OHIO.EDU

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CULTURE STAFF FOR THE POST

More than a college town

ALYSSA CRUZ CULTURE EDITOR

Nestled alongside the Hocking River, Athens is home to Ohio University, charming small businesses and picturesque scenery. Although for some OU students, it might be difficult to imagine a world beyond the excitement and appeal of Court Street, the city and county have a lot to offer locals and visitors alike. Whether one was born and raised in the region or is merely a passerby, Athens possesses the unique talent of making sure it will not be forgotten.

According to Ohio History Central, members of the Ohio Company of Associates directed for settlers to reside in the area in 1797, beginning the history of Athens. The Company was a real estate enterprise founded by a group of men in Massachusetts. Their plan was to purchase land in the Northwest Territory, present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and a part of Minnesota, believing the region had great potential. The Company purchased 1,500,000 acres of land for the price of $1,000,000 paid in increments. This is equivalent to nearly $33,000,000 today.

Some of the names of the men in the Company may sound familiar to Bobcats, including General Rufus Putnam and Brigadier General Benjamin Tupper. Both men have university buildings named after them Putnam Hall and Tupper Hall respectively. Additionally, Reverend Manasseh Cutler was selected to represent the Company in the government, thus earning him recognition at OU with Cutler Hall, the oldest building on campus.

Of course, it must be noted that these men were the first white settlers, but not the first people residing in the region. Prior to these men, the region was occupied by the Adena people, followed by Fort Ancient People, Hopewell, Osage and Shawnee tribes.

Part of the federal government’s requirements for the Company in their land grant was it was obligated to establish an institution of higher education. Thus, OU was born on Feb. 18, 1804. Although the university was established five years prior, students were not enrolled until 1809.

Regarding Athens, it became a county in 1805 but grew relatively slowly, with only 710 residents in 1840. The quaint community had three churches and eleven stores, according to Ohio History Central. Forty years later in 1880, Athens had 2,457 residents with two banks, three newspapers and six churches.

Nowadays, the city of Athens is home to 20,820 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Ironically, the population of enrolled students at OU surpasses that of Athens,

with over 28,000 students enrolled.

Some could say it is common college-student fixation to live inside a sheltered bubble of campus life and forget the outside world exists. OU is unique, being so remote that the campus and city are often said to be intertwined.

Although this case could be argued, that does not mean that Athens is only the university and Court Street.

Jocelyn Schuckman, a junior studying early childhood education, subscribes to this belief.

“I feel like as college students, we’re becoming so privileged and stuff, having no idea that there’s more life than just our little bubble,” she said.

Many students at OU cite the city of Athens as one of the reasons they chose to attend OU. Isabelle Zimmer, a sophomore studying psychology, is originally from Sandusky. She said prior to attending the university, she knew little about the city or the region as a whole. However, as she enters

her second year, Zimmer said she feels she has been able to put roots down.

“I would say I just fell in love with the city of Athens and the people,” she said.

Caroline Brenneman, a junior studying early childhood education, has a different story when it comes to her ties to Athens. Both of Brenneman’s parents graduated from OU, so she grew up visiting the city and campus and attending football games.

With being exposed to the school and community so much, Brenneman said she was initially very adamant about not wanting to go to OU.

“My family went here, and it made me not want to come here, and I wanted to do my own thing,” she said. “So, I looked at every single college in Ohio, and I realized that this was just the place for me, and it led me back to here.”

Although Brenneman was familiar with the campus, she said she was not familiar with the Appalachian region, being originally from the Columbus area. Inspired by

her surroundings, she is growing her understanding of the land and culture through completing a four-year-long research study on Appalachian students and how student learning was affected in the region through the pandemic.

Whether one is searching for their forever home or merely just passing through, Athens is a hidden gem in Southeast Ohio. Known for its beautiful scenery and rich history, many say the main component for them to keep coming back is the people. As Bobcat Student Orientation begins, incoming freshmen have the first chance to understand the meaning of home spelled with “OU.”

“I have been here for two years, (so) when I think of home, I think of Athens,” Brenneman said. “I don’t think of Columbus because of the experiences that I’ve had here.”

The Hocking River on March 26, 2023, is a 102-mile-long tributary that comes from the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio. The cities it flows through include Athens, Hocking, Lancaster, Logan, Fairfield, Nelsonville and Coolville. (ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Welcome hOUme: A look at Ohio University traditions

“The Ohio University” was founded in 1804, just a year after Ohio became a state. At 219 years later, OU is known for many things including a beautiful campus, a roaring party scene and an award-winning marching band.

If the red brick paths and building walls could talk, they would tell the story of a community of Bobcats, connected by the traditions that leave them saying, “OU? Oh Yeah!”

Homecoming Week

Every year, alumni, staff, faculty and students alike gather for Homecoming week festivities. From an exciting parade to tailgates, performances and contests, Homecoming has become an important celebration of OU pride and spirit.

According to Bill Kimok, OU archivist and records manager, Homecoming at OU has been an event for over 100 years.

In 1919, the OU student newspaper, The Green and White, published a headline – “We Are Expecting to See a Large Number of Ohio Graduates at Ohio-Denison Game, Nov. 22. How About it Alumni? Will You Be Here?”

Homecoming took place nearly every year since then, becoming an important part of OU tradition.

“Homecoming is super important just so students can kind of increase their sense of school spirit,” said Andrew Pugh, a sophomore studying psychology and the Student Alumni Board’s Vice President of Student Outreach. “I think it’s really helpful for them to see how large the community at OU is.”

Yell Like Hell

The Yell Like Hell Pep Rally is OU’s annual pep rally hosted by the Student Alumni Board and OU’s Alumni Association. On the Thursday of Homecoming week, students, faculty and alumni join together, displaying an abundance of school spirit. This year Pugh will be working to plan the event.

“The main goal of the event is to bring students together and kind of foster a community that allows students to make friends, build connections and find their place at the university,” said Pugh.

According to Pugh, one of the most important parts of planning the pep rally is organizing the performances. While preparing for the upcoming football game, pep rally participants can expect to be entertained by the cheerleading team, dance teams, local bands and the Marching 110.

The Alumni Gateway

At the intersection of Court and Union streets – where Ohio University’s campus meets the city of Athens – there stands one of the most symbolic structures on campus: The Alumni Gateway.

The gateway was a gift from the graduating class of 1915 as a way to celebrate 100 years since the first students graduated from OU in 1815. Today, it represents the excellence that has come from OU alumni and the excellence that will be produced by current students.

Upon entering College Green, the gateway reads, “So enter that daily thou mayest grow in knowledge, wisdom and love.” When leaving campus it says, “So depart that daily thou mayest better serve thy fellowmen thy country and thy God.”

As tradition, new students walk toward campus for the very first time, entering the gateway, while graduates walk away from campus, moving toward the future.

Rufus

At the heart of modern OU spirit is Rufus the bobcat. The mascot makes appearances at student gatherings or sporting events, even occasionally riding into Peden Stadium on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANYA SERRAO

Compared to many OU traditions, Rufus is a fairly new addition.

“Actually the University had no official mascot until late 1925 and early 1926 when, after a $10 prize was offered for the best idea for a mascot,” said Kimok. “Until then, sports teams were known informally as the Ohio University nine, or the OU Gridiron eleven or something using the coach’s name or the Green and White of OU.”

Kimok explained that after that contest, OU adopted the name, the OHIO Bobcats. However, there was no physical representation of the Bobcats until a costume was unveiled at the 1960 Homecoming. After that, the OU mascot endured many alterations in appearance. Finally, in 2006, the name Rufus was adopted as a result of a naming contest.

Rufus, the Alumni Gateway, Yell Like Hell and Homecoming week are just a few of the countless traditions the OU community has fostered, leaving generations of Bobcats coming back to the place they call “hOUme.”

ABREANNA BLOSE CULTURE STAFF WRITER

Rising sophomores share advice for incoming freshmen

ABBY JENKINS ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Ohio University’s class of 2026 completed its first year of college and welcomes the class of 2027 into the Bobcat family. Bobcat Student Orientation, or BSO, is underway, and rising sophomores want to share their advice for incoming freshmen on what to expect, what to bring and how to make the most of orientation.

BSO takes place before each semester

and welcomes first-year students and transfer students to OU. Although the majority of incoming students attend the in-person orientation on campus, many students also opt for the virtual version.

BSO is a great opportunity for incoming students to meet new friends and others in their major. The goal of BSO is for incoming students and parents to feel welcomed and at home at OU. Together, they learn about scheduling and many of the important assets the campus has to offer in preparation for

the first semester at OU. With such an information-filled couple of days, meeting new friends is just part of the fun.

Sheridan Schauer, a sophomore studying psychology, was interested in going to OU after her mom graduated with her master’s in 2018. She was interested in OU’s psychology program and instantly fell in love with it.

“My first-year experience was overall very amazing,” she said. “I met a lot of new friends, I met my best friend and I enjoyed all of my classes, and I believe I picked the right major for me and I fell in love with psychology.”

BSO was a crucial part of her first taste of OU and being on her own. Although the day was long, packed to the brim with information and walking to every place OU’s campus has to offer, she said she met many people in her major and learned how to create the perfect schedule.

Schauer was impressed with all the activities and events Welcome Week had to offer, as there were several opportunities to meet other incoming Bobcats.

“The first week of school was actually really fun because they had a lot of events going on for freshmen so we could all get along and get to know each other and find new people,” she said. “Things like the outdoor barbeque that they did, and just having fun game nights and stuff. I think that was really fun and it helped me find out who lived in my building, who lived on South Green.”

a bit easier.

During her first year, Schauer met her best friend, Sylvia Witt, a sophomore studying musical theater, through her sorority, Delta Zeta. Witt experienced her BSO virtually and explained how she thought it was very fun and still met friends despite not being on campus.

Witt believed her experience with BSO was also very informative but still easy to take in and understand.

“The academic side of things was super clear (and) super easy to go through; it made it so I didn’t have any questions, which I love,” she said.

Witt explained she thought college would be high school 2.0, but instead was met with a year full of fun memories. Being a huge advocate for mental health, she advised on what she wished someone would have told her before her first year began.

“I would say take care of yourself,” said Witt. “It’s okay if you need to miss a class to eat or take a shower. Your health, your mental and physical health, come first before your academics.”

With so much to come for the class of 2027, Bobcats are ready to welcome them all with open arms. The first year of the rest of their lives awaits beyond Alumni Gate, and although challenges are expected, lots of fun and new friends are on the horizon.

ILLUSTRATION

BY ABBIE KINNEY

Schauer also preached about communicating with roommates about bringing separate things to all save money and to definitely purchase a Brita. She advised to bring things that would make the dorm feel like home to make the transition to school just

“College was as difficult as I expected, but also, I found a good balance where I could have fun and hang out with friends and join a sorority,” said Schauer. “It’s all about balance, and I think I’ve found a good balance.”

ABBYJENKS18

AJ205621@OHIO.EDU

A transition for parents, too

GABRIELLE CABANES FOR THE POST

Although students are the center focus when it comes to their transition from high school to college, it is important to look at the impact that this transition may have on parents.

Whether parents have gone through this before but are now becoming full empty nesters or are just beginning the process of seeing their children go to college, this transition can sometimes be very difficult.

As Bobcat Student Orientation starts, parents may start to feel the beginning of this transition and may be looking for advice as to how to deal with this very busy time of life.

Parents discussed their best advice after having kids move on to college and what they recommend other parents do during this eventful time.

Tamie Cruz, the mother of junior Alyssa Cruz, said the most important piece of advice she would give to couples seeing their children move away would be to start to date again before the children leave the house. She said this could include things like going to get dinner once a week or going on a walk but that finding one’s spouse again was very

important.

She said after both of her daughters left she started to feel sad but reminded herself that she could be happy being an empty nester.

“I was feeling sad and I thought ‘OK, so what's the opposite of an empty nester?’” she said. “The opposite of an empty nester is having another child right now and at my age that’s not really a good option for me so I need to be happy with being an empty nester.”

She said another important piece of advice would be letting children do as many things independently over the summer before college as possible in order to prepare them for being alone. Cruz said whether this meant letting them schedule their doctors appointments by themselves or even having them go alone, this was a necessary part of growing up.

“I would caution parents as far as hovering a little too much when their child goes away to college,” she said. “It really is a time when they need to try to fly.”

MJ Erickson-Hogue, the mother of freshman Tavi Hogue, said she had to learn to detach from her children with love.

She said that although she was sad to see her children leave she became happy for

them to start their own journey.

“I’ve heard a lot of parents say ‘It was so sad,’” she said. “I mean, I came to a point where I was more excited for them.”

Erickson-Hogue said having three children with different personalities made her worry about different things as each one started to leave the nest but overall that she had confidence in their abilities to succeed.

She said there were several moments throughout the transitions where she took time to reflect on how much she loved her children.

“I’m just grateful that they’ve turned out to have their own unique interests and have turned out to be kind and caring and each in their own way,” she said.

Martin Hogue, Tavi’s father, said there’s a big difference between the transition for parents and children now compared to when he left for college because of the advancement in technology.

Hogue said being able to reach out to his children whenever needed through text message was very useful and easy.

He said he would suggest to parents to realize all the work they have done for their children and to let them go out on their own while still being there for them.

“I guess my advice would be that you’ve

prepared them, you’ve taught them how to fly, so to speak, for their whole lives, and you just have to let them fly,” he said. “Just trust them to make good decisions but always say ‘Hey, I’ll be here if you ever need me. I’m a text away.’”

@GABRIELLECAB1

GC183621@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA MCADAMS

Bar Food Breakdown: Diving into the costs of Court Street

ALEX IMWALLE INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR

For the following project, data visualizations were created and compiled from an overarching data set highlighting different aspects of all Court Street bar food. The data includes the menu items of every bar on Court Street with an active kitchen: Broney’s Bar & Grill, Courtside Pizza, North End Kitchen + Bar, Stephen’s Restaurant & Bar, The Over Hang, The Pigskin Bar and Grille and The Pub. Information on each of the establishments was recorded over many months, utilizing menu information found online and in-store.

For the purpose of the project, and to ensure proper context throughout, outlier menu items were removed from consideration; that includes disproportionately inexpensive menu items or additions, such as additional sauces or small sides, as well as excessively expensive menu items, such as catered portions or meals designed to feed multiple patrons. The menus are subject to change, as they were consistent with the price listing from May, 2023. Similarly, the data does not include custom items that may warrant additional cost. All of those omissions were made with the intent to preserve the application of the project’s findings.

The bars included in the project have become staples to thousands of Ohio University students, and now, with this cheat sheet, incoming freshmen can gain four years’ worth of Court Street bar-food expertise in just one quick read.

Breakdown:

Least expensive appetizer: Chips & Salsa at North End

Least expensive burger: Quarter lb. Cheeseburger at The Pub

Average cost for a pizza: $11.89

ATHENS MENU:

BARS, BREWERIES AND WINERIES WITH FOOD

COURT STREET BARS

BRONEY’S BAR & GRILL

7 W. Carpenter St.

COURTSIDE PIZZA 85 N. Court St.

NORTH END KITCHEN + BAR 77 N. Court St.

STEPHEN’S RESTAURANT & BAR 66 N. Court St.

THE OVER HANG 63 N. Court St.

THE PIGSKIN 38 N. Court St.

THE PUB 39 N. Court St.

WINERIES

PLEASANT HILL

5015 Pleasant Hill Rd.

SHADE WINERY 401 Gilkey Ridge Rd.

RESTAURANT OPTIONS

CASA NUEVA

6 W. State St.

EL TENAMPA

21 S. Court St.

SHADE ON STATE STREET

994 E. State St.

BREWERIES

DEVIL’S KETTLE BREWING 97 Columbus Rd.

LITTLE FISH BREWING COMPANY

8675 Armitage Rd.

JACKIE O’S PUBLIC HOUSE RESTAURANT 22 W. Union St.

DISTILLERY

WEST END DISTILLERY

3 N. Shafer St.

Meet Ohio’s best head coaches

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio University is home to many great sports teams that have seen lots of recent success. From a Bowl Game victory in football to multiple MAC championship games, the 202223 sports season was thrilling for Ohio sports fans. Each of these teams is led by great head coaches who will be returning to their respective teams for the upcoming season.

Here’s the story behind some of Ohio’s best coaches:

Jeff Boals - Men’s Basketball

Jeff Boals will be entering his fifth season as basketball coach for one of Ohio’s most successful programs over the last few years. Boals was a 1995 Ohio University graduate and former team captain of the team. Boals led the team to its first and only NCAA tournament since 2011 during the 202021 season. Not only did Ohio reach the tournament for the first time in almost ten years, but it also pulled off an upset over the defending champion Virginia, which is one of the school’s most memorable sports moments.

Tim Albin - Football

Tim Albin, Ohio’s head football coach for the last two years, returns in 2023 after being named MAC coach of the year in 2022. Albin led the team to the MAC championship game and an Arizona Bowl game win last season and will look to win another bowl game in 2023. Albin was formerly Ohio’s offensive coordinator under legendary coach Frank Solich from 2005 until being named head coach in 2021.

Craig Moore - Baseball

Craig Moore just wrapped up his third full season as Ohio’s head baseball coach after taking over as interim in 2020 and being named head coach in 2021. Ohio last won the MAC in 2017, Moore was then a part of the team as the assistant to Rob Smith. In his first year of coaching, Moore led the team to a 28-25 record. 2023 was the first time in Moore’s head coaching career that the team did not have a winning record.

Jenna Hall - Softball

Jenna Hall is one of the newest coaches on campus after her first season last year. In her first year, Hall won MAC Coach of the Year and led the softball team to a 32-23 record that included an appearance in the MAC championship game.

Geoff Carlston -Volleyball

Geoff Carlston returned to Ohio in 2021 after leaving the team to coach at Ohio State in 2007. From 2003 to 2007, Carlston won 64 consecutive MAC matches. With such an impressive stretch, Carlston owns the highest winning percentage against MAC opponents in the history of the conference. In those five years, Ohio won five MAC regular-season titles and was ranked number 13 in the nation in 2007.

Aaron Rodgers - Women’s Soccer

Aaron Rodgers will be entering his tenth season as the women's soccer coach at Ohio. Rodgers won MAC coach of the year in 2021 in a year when the team finished tied for second in the MAC. In Rodgers’ first two seasons, the team has been recognized with academic awards twice, and nine

players received MAC all-academic awards during his second year.

Bob Boldon - Women’s Basketball

Bob Boldon will be entering his eleventh season as head coach of the women's basketball team, which makes him one of the longest-tenured coaches at the university. Boldon has the most wins in school history with 185 and counting. In 2015, Boldon was named the MAC coach of the year after winning the MAC Tournament.

@ROBERT_KEEGAN BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Rough Cut Collective is a short film club which provides students with the opportunity to learn how to make movies!

We host workshops geared towards teaching students all aspects of pre, post, and on-set production; whether it's writing, directing, producing, visual effects, production design, costuming, lighting, audio, and many more!

No prior experience necessary, everyone is welcome. @RoughCutCollective

For Information contact club presidents: Maggie Bennink mb723619@ohio.edu, or Ethan Shatz es059617@ohio.edu

ILLUSTRATION BY ABBIE KINNEY

Ohio takes huge step forward in successful 2023

MARC GOLDSTEIN FOR THE POST

Ohio softball saw a revitalization of its softball program in its first year under new head coach Jenna Hall. Ohio’s 32-23 record included a 20-9 Mid-American Conference record, showing marked improvement from its 2022 season by nine wins on the statsheet.

One of the main themes of the season was Ohio’s ability to come through in clutch situations. It felt as though when the pressure was the highest, Ohio was simply bound to come through. The clutch plays did not come from one individual alone as almost every member of the roster experienced a moment in the spotlight.

Jenna Hall and her staff breathed a breath of fresh air into a program that, at times, appeared to be stagnant and unable to break through the ceiling to reach the next level of conference tiers. Players raved about Hall’s positivity and how she took hold of the program. Hall was able to preach a simple message to the team: play for the team, do what is within control and don’t get outside of oneself. This message is something that seemed to resonate with the players, aiding tremendously in the turnaround.

One of the places where the team was really able to improve was in the batter’s box. Although some of the numbers do not suggest as much improvement, the intangible results were far greater. The Bobcats were able to play better situational softball, such as taking an extra base on a ball in the gap, bunting runners over with less than two outs and taking pitches early in the game are all evidence of an enhanced approach at the plate.

Offensively, the biggest contributor was Annalia Paoli. She had a slump in the middle of the season after a torrid start to the season. Paoli’s 12 home runs topped her total from her previous season, adding to her illustrious career total of 26 home runs, now standing alone in 8th place all-time for Ohio.

Paoli was far from alone in the lineup as Yasmine Logan had a breakout season on both sides, hitting for an OPS of 1.046

while clubbing 12 home runs and driving in 39 runs. Logan was a key spark plug to the lineup, setting the tone for the big bats behind her or even taking matters into her own hands. Outside of Logan, Alexis Dawe broke out after a pair of down seasons and became the marquee left-batter for Ohio. Emma Hoffner was not only incredible behind the plate but also contributed more than her fair share offensively.

The true reason for the massive improvement for Ohio was its pitching staff. Now using the duo of Skipp Miller and Kylie Coffelt, Ohio lowered its team ERA by nearly a run and a half from 2022. Ohio went from having a team ERA of 4.54 in 2022 to 3.11 ERA in 2023. Miller was particularly special, anchoring the staff with a 2.59 ERA in just over 200 innings. A true workhorse,

Miller was sidelined for her entire freshman season with an arm injury. Miller appeared to be some sort of a missing piece as she was able to consistently produce in the circle.

Not to be forgotten or overshadowed, Coffelt was also very successful in her final season donning the green and white. Coffelt had a 3.65 ERA in just under 120 innings, working a 1.49 WHIP.

Moreover, the Bobcats are not slated to be losing too many players as the team inherited by Hall was, generally speaking, a younger one. To that degree, freshmen like Miller, Belle Hummel and Shelby Westler were given prominent roles on the team and all contributed.

The future lies in the hands of the Bobcats. Hall has established a solid foundation for a winning culture in the years to come. However, the challenge is one that lies in a familiar place. Miami has become one of the Bobcat’s most trying opponents, defeating them twice in the MAC Tournament to end their season. Taking the next step and continuing to improve next season with more expectations surrounding the program will be the next challenge that Hall and company have in store as they look to end a short drought without making the NCAA Tournament.

The Ohio softball team celebrates at the game against Toledo at Ohio Softball Field April 25, 2023, in Athens. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Key additions announced for upcoming football season

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio announced five additions to its football team via Twitter Wednesday, May 17. Ohio added Kwame Sutton, Kaci Seegars, Jared Wheatley, Tristan Cox and Dane Jackson.

Here’s what to know about Ohio’s key additions:

Kwame Sutton

Sutton, a defensive lineman, will come to Ohio after five years at Austin Peay. During his tenure with the Governors, Sutton accumulated 10 sacks. Sutton had a break-out year as a sophomore with four sacks, Sutton had back-to-back games with multiple sacks to end his sophomore season. Last season, as a graduate senior, Sutton had career highs in sacks (4.5) and Tackles For Losses (7.5). Sutton is from Blacksburg, South Carolina, and wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school.

Kaci Seegars

Seegars, a defensive end, spent two years at Liberty before transferring to Ohio. Seegars didn’t play much at Liberty in his first two years, but he will have at least three years of eligibility at Ohio. Seegars was a three-star prospect out of high school and received offers from Texas A+M, NC State,

Missouri, and Kansas State among others. Seegars is from Cornelius, North Carolina, and went to high school at William Amos Hough High School.

Jared Wheatley

Wheatley was a punter at Vanderbilt for four seasons, but never gained the starting spot. In a game against Ole Miss in 2020, Wheatley had five punts for 166 yards, including his longest punt which went for 55 yards. Wheatley didn’t play in any games as a junior or senior. Wheatley is from Indian Trail, North Carolina, where he attended Porter Ridge High School. Wheatley originally committed to Charlotte before flipping his commitment to Vanderbilt.

Tristan Cox

Cox is listed as a defensive lineman who spent his first two seasons at Purdue. Cox was a three-star recruit out of high school and received offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Purdue. Cox only played in two games at Purdue during his freshman season and received minimal playing time as a sophomore. Cox is from Somerset, Kentucky, and went to high school in Pulaski County.

Dane Jackson

Jackson was an offensive lineman for North Texas. Jackson played in five games for North Texas and was a three-star re-

cruit of high school. Jackson is from Berea, Kentucky, and also received an offer from Eastern Kentucky.

Additionally, potential Ohio newcomer Miles Fleming announced via his Twitter that he committed to Ohio on Thursday.

Fleming was last a redshirt sophomore at Minnesota, where he played in four games mostly on special teams, but his main position is defensive back. Fleming went to high school at Bishop Hartley in Columbus, Ohio.

Promising season start ends in Ohio’s disappointment

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

On April 27, Ohio was part of a four-way tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference. Since that day, Ohio lost 10 of its last 12 conference games and fell from a potential No. 1 seed to not even earning a spot in the four-team playoff.

Things started to go downhill for Ohio in a series against Kent State in which it was outscored by a combined score of 26-10 over a three-game series including a 13-4 loss. Ohio lost all three games to Kent State.

All year, Ohio ranked toward the bottom of the MAC in its pitching, yet near the top of the conference in hitting and offense. Ohio finished ninth out of eleven MAC teams in team ERA with a 7.60, ahead of only Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. Ohio did, however, have fewer strikeouts at the plate than any other team in the league and ranked fifth in team batting average at .279.

Looking back at last year’s team, which had 29 wins and made it to the MAC tournament, this year’s team had a higher ERA and a lower batting average.

Despite a disappointing fifth-place result, Ohio’s season was full of both positives and

negatives.

One thing that Bobcat fans were fortunate to watch this season was senior closer Braxton Kelly, who broke into the top ten all-time for saves in a season with six. The 2023 season was also responsible for one of the more memorable moments in recent history during a comeback against Miami where Ohio hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to overcome a seven-run deficit.

Alec Patino put forth a great year offensively with a team-leading .325 batting average as well as a team-leading 48 RBI. Jacob Tate led the team with a 4.08 ERA and had 41 strikeouts which was second to only Luke Olson who had 48.

The 2023 season wrapped up head coach Craig Moore’s second year at the helm following his interim season in 2021. Moore moved to 76-79 as a head coach (including the interim year).

In 2023, the Bobcats featured a team that was relatively inexperienced at the D1 level. Next year, Ohio will have a little bit more experience as they look to improve upon a season in which it didn’t achieve all it wanted.

Sam Wiglusz (12) runs the ball past Toledo defense during the MAC Football Championships at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Dec. 3, 2022. (RYAN GRZYBOWSKI | FOR THE POST)

KYRA DAPORE Reach out to new people early on

I am a pretty shy person, so college was a huge leap for me when it came to meeting new people in a new environment. When it was time for dorm selection for my freshman year of college, I was highly anxious. My roommate and I went on the housing portal and discovered there were no options for a two-person room. At that point, I had known my future roommate for 15 years, and having to be in a quad really scared me.

I was clicking through the dorms when I eventually landed on Brown Hall. It wasn’t the best-case scenario, but I had heard the front four was pretty fun, so I went through all the available rooms. After lots of panic, my roommate and I selected room 405, where there were already two girls staying. We searched them up on Instagram and decided this seemed like a good choice. This moment, and many future moments, made me realize that I would meet so many new people in college and I needed to reach out to as many people as I

could. Even though it wasn’t our first choice to live in a quad, I learned how to be more outgoing and I met my best friends from this experience. The largest piece of advice I can give to any incoming freshman is to be inclusive and talk to everyone and anyone you meet. Don’t be afraid of a big change because it will most likely be a great way to grow.

Bobcat Student Orientation is where my original roommate and I met our new roommates. It was a bit awkward at first, but that happens with a lot of first meetings. Orientation allows you to start warming up to the idea of college, and you can make a decent amount of friends in the 24 hours you are at Ohio University. When selecting classes with your major, try to be in a learning community and try to find people to be in one with. You will meet a whole class of people with similar interests to you. One of my roommates and I joined a learning community together and we were able to pick up on each other's study habits and learning skills, and

overall we grew so much closer. Orientation is a kickstart for the real deal, so meet as many people as you can. College is a place where everyone wants to meet new people, and it’s also the best place to do it. Everyone is either in the same spot as you, or they have advice to help you. Don’t think that you are the only one that doesn’t feel ready. College is meant to be a challenge, so challenge yourself to learn about others and yourself at the same time. The people I have met have shown me how to be more responsible, how to always have a good time, and how to be more outgoing. I found my best friends from breaking out of my comfort zone, and it made my first year at OU the best year I have ever had. It all started with branching out and meeting new people. Kyra Dapore is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.

A guide to styling OU merch

HANNAH CAMPBELL

As freshmen and transfer students arrive on campus for orientation, another activity is set for students and parents alike to show their Bobcat appreciation: buying merch. It’s important for students to show their school spirit, and the easiest way to do so is through their clothing. Whether it's through online Etsy shops or one of the many clothing stores uptown, here is a guide to styling your Ohio University merch.

Heading Uptown

While students are in Athens, head uptown to check out the OU merch stores. Stores include The Bobcat Fanstore, College Book Store, Shop Athens Ohio, Ohio is Home, Uptown Dog T-Shirts and 10 West Clothing Co. and Bobcat Depot.

If students are looking for sweatshirts and other more basic items, places like College Book Store and Bobcat Depot are the best option. If students are looking for something cropped and cute, The Bobcat Fanstore is the go-to. Stu-

dents can also find lots of deals, such as $8 t-shirts from the College Book Store. No matter what store, students are sure to find trendy merch.

Supporting Etsy stores

If you want unique and rare OU clothing, rather than what stores offer uptown, Etsy stores are the best option. There, students can find customizable options to fit their fashion dos or don’ts. There are a ton of choices for sweatshirts, shirts, pants or other merchandise. The most important tips are to check the seller’s reviews online and keep in contact after purchase. That choice may be a little riskier than others, but it can certainly be worth it.

DIY your pride

For both new OU students and alum, trends for OU fashion will come and go. The easiest way to spruce up merch is DIY tricks. If you want a simple fix, cropping a shirt or sweatshirt can easily make it cuter to wear out. Other tricks

include cutting the collar of tops to create a new one, cutting the sleeves to make a muscle tee or tank or even cutting sweatpants out into new shorts or a skirt. The possibilities are endless.

Styling your pride

Once you’ve purchased your clothing items, students will need to learn how to style them. The great news is, no matter what the occasion is, OU merch is acceptable attire. OU pajama pants and a black top are perfect for rolling out of bed and running to class. A cute cropped top and blue jeans are a killer going-out fit. Students can dress it up or down to their liking.

Hannah Campbell is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Hannah by tweeting her at @hannahcmpbell.

Dorm must-haves

LAYNE REY

Moving out of my bedroom and into my dorm was easily the most laborious and stressful task I had done in a while. Leaving your comfortable bed and roomy bedroom back at home and compiling all of your things into a seemingly small space is daunting; however, there are many ways to make it easier for yourself. From space savers to cute decorations, here are some of my favorite dorm essentials that improved my freshman-year dorm.

If you are planning to loft your bed or if you are on the top bunk in a triple-style room, a bedside caddy is a necessity. The top bunks come with a base for the caddy so you’ll just need one with straps. However, for the lofted beds, I would recommend getting a bag or tray-style one that you can tuck under the mattress. Be sure to also get a 10-foot phone charger that will reach your bed. Getting out of bed is more of a hassle than you would think—having a holder for all of your essentials is worth it.

Having friends over to your dorm is so convenient and fun, but sometimes seating becomes an issue. Desk chairs and beds (so long as you’re OK with outside clothes on the bed) are always available, but I recommend investing in some extra seating. My roommates and I had an ottoman, which doubled as a storage unit, and a beanbag chair, which added some more fun to our room. Even if you have a comfortable area rug, these pieces can elevate your space.

The reason why leaving my dorm was so difficult: a mattress topper. The day before move-in I was anxiously scrolling on TikTok when I found a list similar to this one that said the number one necessity was a mattress topper. Long story short, I found a way to deliver one to my house in under 24 hours. There are different kinds that are tailored to

your sleeping style and preferences – it is worth the research to find a good one.

Your desk is where most of your stuff will be. Honestly, I spent more time at my desk than I thought I would between getting ready, doing homework and eating. Your desk—especially if you plan to do homework there—should be an organized space. Desk organizers and drawer organizers can help with that. You have plenty of space to make your desk a place at which you enjoy being.

Lighting is a big thing for me. I love the sunlight and we almost always had our blinds open, but the sun isn’t out when you’re doing that project you procrastinated. As an avid hater of the big light, I recommend getting a lamp with a twisty neck so that you can adjust how bright you want it. This is useful too if your roommate(s) are sleeping, but you need light.

I love decorations. One thing I loved having was fresh flowers on my desk, but that got out of budget pretty quickly so fake plants became a staple. Hanging up or framing pictures of people from back home is always an easy decoration and it can bring a sense of normalcy to this new life. Honestly, everyone craves something different in their decorations so I can’t tell you what to get specifically, but making a Pinterest board or looking up inspiration for whatever look you are going for is definitely a good idea.

Remember: your space is what you make it. Try not to stress about how jail-cell like the rooms look during your overnight stay. Once moved in and decorated, you won’t believe that it’s the same room.

Layne Rey is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @ laynerey12.

ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLE REESE

A look at OU’s commitment to sustainability

TAYLOR HENNINGER

One of the biggest factors I considered when looking for a college was its commitment to sustainability. As our environment continues to change, it is important to support institutions that recognize the need for anthropogenic change. Colleges and universities are responsible for housing, feeding, and the upkeep of facilities/land; they provide the necessities for students residing on campus. Because students rely on the university for their basic necessities, they can’t maintain as many personal sustainability practices. But luckily, they don’t need to worry because OU continues to implement eco-friendly choices. Here are five of my favorite ways OU tackles sustainable living:

Local dairy and produce

OU partners with local farms to keep foods local. Foods that are grown/raised and processed within 100 miles of the school have priority over non-local foods. Local and neighborhood food vendors account for 39% of its total vendors. OU also has a student farm where students can grow local produce in their classes and for fun; some of this produce is offered in the dining halls. Practicing sustainable farming is so important and it cuts down carbon emissions from travel. Partnering with local food providers is also great for local economies and supports smaller, local farms.

Athens Beautification Month

Every spring the Ohio Center for Campus and Community

Engagement and the Office of Sustainability partner to organize Athens Beautification Month. It takes place in April, for Earth Day of course. During Athens Beautification Month, there is a wide range of volunteer projects geared toward cleaning up Athens. Activities include Hocking river sweeps, recycling sorting, landscape projects, gardening and so much more. It is a great way for students and residents to actively maintain a clean and gorgeous community.

Habitat restoration areas

Across campus, there are areas marked with tiny white signs that read, “Naturalized area.” These plots of land are untouched by groundskeepers on purpose to protect local plant species and pollinators. Naturalized areas include wildflowers and plants that attract pollinators, a group desperately in need of human help. Pollinators are suffering from population drops due to a lack of pollinating plants. Habitat restoration areas allow wildflowers to thrive and thus pollinators too.

OHIO Sustainability and Climate Action Plan

In 2021, OU adopted the OHIO Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, a roadmap to carbon neutrality and sustainability goals. It documents specific and nonspecific ways the university will implement greener technologies and systems to reach carbon neutrality. The plan also includes actions to expand research in carbon neutrality. The plan includes three important categories of focus: living, infrastructure and administration. Living encompasses food, transportation, student life and grounds; infrastructure includes water,

waste, buildings and energy; and administration includes investments and procurement. The plan guides OU’s sustainability in all categories.

Athens Public Transportation

Stuck without a car on campus and need a ride to Walmart or Kroger? The APT has you covered. All OU students have free access to the APT with their student ID card. Not only is this great for students who don’t have cars or other means of transportation, but it’s a great way to reduce carbon emissions. Even students with cars should consider the APT for short trips uptown. These buses have scheduled routes that run once every hour and they will already be out burning gas, so you might as well take advantage of it and not burn any of your own.

Overall, Ohio University is a leading school for sustainable practices and implementation. The Washington Post named OU as a “standout school” in climate-friendly universities. OU holds the largest in-vessel composting system of any college or university, and it received a Platinum Ohio EPA Encouraging Environmental Excellence recognition. This is to list only a few of OU’s many environmental recognitions. If environmental consciousness is important in your college decision, feel confident becoming a bobcat.

Taylor Henninger is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Taylor by emailing her at th873120@ohio.edu.

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Navigating New Quarters

ANKITA BANSODE

Welcome to Ohio University, where the residence halls brim with energy, friendship and unforgettable moments. As you prepare to embark on your journey in your new homeaway-from-home, we want to equip you with some valuable insights to make the most of your residence hall experience. From late-night escapades to impromptu karaoke sessions, let’s dive into the informative and entertaining world of residence hall living at OU.

Roommate Roulette:

Before you arrive, take a moment to connect with your future roommates. Exchange messages, share interests and discuss room essentials. It’s like a mini blind date but with bunk beds. Remember, living in close quarters requires open communication, compromise and the occasional negotiation. Keep in mind that things may not go as planned and you will encounter people with different perspectives.

Move-in day is a great opportunity to connect. As you unpack your belongings, bond with your roommates by turning the mundane task into a fun sleepover. Share embarrassing stories, order pizza and get to know each

other beyond the surface level. These shared memories will become the foundation of your residence hall friendships.

Hallway Hijinks:

OU residence halls are notorious for their vibrant hallway culture. From spontaneous Nerf gun battles to impromptu Wii tournaments, expect the unexpected. Embrace the spirit of the hallway and join in the fun without being disruptive. Just be sure to respect quiet hours when your neighbours need some R&R.

The Quest for the Perfect Shower Schedule: Navigating shared bathrooms can be an adventure in itself, especially in traditional dorms that have communal structures. Prepare for the “shower schedule shuffle” as everyone tries to find the optimal time for their daily rituals. Pro tip: early birds and night owls often have the bathroom all to themselves, offering a serene moment to belt out your favorite shower ballads.

RAs and Hall Staff: Resident Advisers, or RAs, and hall staff are the unsung

heroes of the residence halls. They organize events, offer support and ensure a safe living environment. Attend their programs, seek their advice and appreciate their dedication. They’re there to help you navigate the highs and lows of college life.

Hall Traditions and Secrets:

Ohio University’s residence halls are rich with traditions and hidden gems. From secret spots for late-night insomniacs to quirky hall-specific rituals, these traditions create a sense of community and foster a shared connection among residents. Be on the lookout for these hidden treasures and embrace the hall spirit (and maybe some of the actual infamous spirits as well).

Ankita Bansode is a junior studying economics and mathematical statistics at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Ankita by emailing her at ab890621@ohio.edu.

Freshmen, it’s fine to still be figuring it out

KIRSTEN ABBEY

Making any sort of monumental change in life is always daunting. Whether we want to admit it or not, change is scary regardless of how adaptive you are. For incoming freshmen, making the transition to independence can be difficult. There’s a lot about going away to school that is challenging. I think that many freshmen have the belief that they should have their life plan figured out by the time they start classes. I certainly did, even though I hadn’t even declared a major yet. But here’s a gentle reminder that half of the graduating seniors don’t know what they’re doing either.

First-year students are usually freshly 18 years old. You’ve just become adults so it’s natural that you’re still going to need to rely on your parents or guardians for help. I bet some of you have no idea how taxes work. I wouldn’t expect you to, but it’s certainly something to ask your parents to explain. If you have the ability, it’s perfectly acceptable to call your parents for the little things as well, like proofreading a paper, or listening to your day or getting advice. Of course, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to, and maybe you do know how to do your taxes. But try to remember that you’ve got that support system.

Don’t be ashamed to be homesick: settling into a new home

can take time. If you cry when your family moves you in and drops you off, don’t be embarrassed, I promise at least three other people in your hall did the same. You’re independent now and should be able to exercise that freedom, but being independent isn’t synonymous with being alone.

For those secure in their majors and future career paths, I applaud you for your decisiveness. It took me a full year to determine what I wanted to study. On average, university students change their major three times, so if the job you thought you wanted turns out to be the wrong choice for you, there’s hundreds of other options. It’s not a crime to change your mind. The things you want right now probably won’t be the same as what you want three months from now. The person you are right now won’t be the same as the person you will be by the end of your first semester. Being on your own also means you have the space to grow.

Because you are in the process of learning and adapting to a new environment, no one will patronize you for asking for help. You have every reason to be confident in your own competency, and it doesn’t undermine that competency to need help with something. Ask for help with scheduling— upperclassmen are wonderful resources—ask for help from

your classmates if you’re struggling in class and ask someone for directions if you get lost on campus the first few days.

Overall, this is about recognizing the instability and insecurity that coincides with starting something new. I’m not trying to be cliche, I know everyone I spoke to before starting college had some kind of “life-altering” advice to give me about my university journey. I just want to acknowledge that it’s easy to get swept up in the overwhelming expectations of becoming an adult and starting higher education. But really, hardly anyone ever knows what they’re doing, and freshmen certainly shouldn’t be expected to.

Kirsten Abbey is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kirsten know by emailing her ka239920@ohio. edu.

7 organizations to join as a freshman

GRACE BREZINE BEAT EDITOR

Beginning college can be a scary and intimidating thing. It is a new chapter of your life that is in your hands, from start to finish. Besides doing well in your classes and possibly finding a job, joining a student-led organization on campus is a great way to meet new people and find new interests. You may feel overwhelmed at first, but going to a few introductory meetings for the organizations that jump out at you will only benefit you.

Although these are only a few of the many organization that are offered at Ohio University, here are seven that may spark your interest:

Greek life

Yes, this is an obvious one, but joining Greek life at Ohio University will open yourself up to all kinds of new opportunities. You will meet new friends, develop new relationships and make new connections. Sororities and fraternities aren’t for everyone, but they can be life-changing for some.

The link to sign up for recruitment, which is Sept. 1-4, can be found in the Women’s Panhellenic Assocation’s Instagram bio.

Business fraternities

There are only a few business fraternities on the Athens campus, but they all help to foster leadership, professional and business skills among its members. In addition, you don’t have to specifically be a business major to rush all of these fraternities, only a few of them require its members to be part of the business school. This is also a great way to meet new people both socially and professionally.

OHIO Women in Business

This organization attracts young women in business to instill all of the tools necessary for a successful career. They do this through philanthropy, workshops, networking and more to create dedicated and motivated individuals. Those in this organization will have the confidence when they enter the workforce post graduation.

Alden Book Club

If you are a book lover and would like to continue reading and discussing different novels in college, this is the perfect club for you. Each month, the Alden Book Club meets to discuss the book assigned for that month.

This can help you to not only gain new perspectives on a novel, but you might also meet a new friend or two.

American Medical Student Association PreMed Club

If you are on the Pre-Med track entering college, this club is a great head-start into thinking about medical school. This organization develops its members into impressive applicants for medical school through its many workshops and events. You will also be able to meet new people that share similar classes to you and similar career interests.

hOUme

This organization is for students from a foreign country or having direct relations to anyone who has declared permanent residency in the U.S. from a foreign country. It promotes diversity and inclusion for these students and serves as a comfortable place for them to go.

Through organizational dinners, philanthropic activities, speakers that provide information on immigration and citizenship, plus ways to connect families with medical, monetary and other kinds of help, this organization is a great way for international stu-

dents to become acclimated in a new place.

Ohio University Society of Professional Journalists (OUSPJ)

While there are many student-run newspapers and magazines in Athens to become a part of, this organization is also a great way for aspiring journalists to network with professionals in and outside of OU, learn and practice the highest ethical standards and meet many high-profile visiting speakers. There are also opportunities for leadership roles, which can help you to learn endless life skills and is great for your resume. Overall, OUSPJ is a wonderful way to become involved on campus and will open many doors for your journalism career.

These are just a few organizations that are offered here at Ohio University. There are so many that you can find on Bobcat Connect that meet the needs and interests of nearly every student. If none of these are appealing to you, keep researching and putting yourself out there until you find where you belong. @GRACEBREZINE

Navigating relationships in college

ALICIA SZCZESNIAK FOR THE POST

You’ve heard it a million times. One of the best parts of college is the opportunities for new relationships. But, it’s overwhelming. With loved ones back home and a minimal amount of people you know at school, the thought of trying to form new relationships is terrifying, and there’s another fear of losing your relationships from home.

Friends from home

It’s easier now more than ever to keep old friends and make new ones. With the advent of technology, it’s incredibly easy to stay in contact with old friends from home. With group chats, FaceTime, Zoom calls and texts, communicating with friends is almost effortless.

Bear in mind though, it’s almost effortless. Staying in contact with old friends will still obviously require some effort on your part to maintain the relationship. One thing that I did to maintain friendships with those I knew I wanted to keep around after high school was to send life updates via text. After

doing that for two years of college, I am now closer than ever to my best friend of seventeen years.

Another thing that I did was make group Zoom calls fun by adding gimmicks. For example, I would call up some old friends from home for a Zoom meeting and have a PowerPoint party, where we would all create a goofy PowerPoint and present them to each other (mine was about which of our friends would win in “The Hunger Games”). It was a fun, easy way for us to stay in contact and just one of many that we did.

Long distance relationships

However, staying in contact with a long-distance lover from home is a different story. It’s tempting to go home as much as possible to see them or to have them come to you often, but that may prevent you from forming other relationships with people at school.

One thing you can do instead is make sure to call or FaceTime them consistently. A friend of mine has a long-distance partner and regularly calls them. They also did a great job of making sure to make time spent

at home with them count, by regularly hanging out with them and seeing them when they can. Furthermore, you can also have them come down to visit you at school at some point, just not so often that you spend all of your weekends with them and no one else.

New relationships

That brings us to the most intimidating part of college: forming new relationships. That was something I had some trouble with in the beginning, so I can guarantee some sound advice here.

First, if you’re single, don’t immediately start looking for a potential partner. By doing that, you disadvantage yourself in the process by only forming friendships with people you might want to date. And if you do end up getting into a romantic relationship with someone rather quickly, odds are you may not have many friends outside of them.

Second, make sure to get involved. Great friendships can be formed through clubs, both official and unofficial (I’ve met some of my best friends through an unofficial skateboarding club and the rock climbing club). If

a particular club piques your interest, sign up. Not only will you get more experience in something you’re interested in or a fun activity to do on the side, but you will also find a community full of people with similar interests.

Finally, make sure to go out of your way to talk to people and go to functions. It can seem daunting to talk to someone you don’t know in an unfamiliar place, but who knows? Maybe that person in front of you in the dining hall thinks you’re cool, too.

Striking up a conversation with the person in your public speaking class could lead to a study buddy. Maybe complimenting your dorm neighbor on their earrings will lead to a conversation and a friendship (that one worked for me). On top of that, if someone asks if you’d like to join them somewhere, do it. With something as small as going to the dining hall after class or as big as a party with their sorority, just go for it and always remember to be safe.

@ALICIA_SZCZ

A ranking of all the dorms at Ohio University

GRACE KOENNECKE BEAT EDITOR

When going off to college, most students pray that they end up in a decent dorm, especially when attending Ohio’s oldest college. Although Ohio University has a lot of options when it comes to on-campus living, there are definitely dorms that stick out for their modernness and accessibility when compared to others.

There are three sections, known as greens, that students can live on during their freshman and sophomore years. The greens in question: East, West and South. If you’re curious to see which green you may be placed on, below is a ranking of all the top three dorms on each green at OU:

East Green:

3. Gamertsfelder Hall

Gamertsfelder Hall has undergone numerous renovations, making it one of the best new spots to live on campus. Since it’s newly renovated, students will have access to air conditioning, study rooms, electronics and wireless internet. Because of its makeover, this dorm will probably be the most in-demand hall.

2. Shively Hall

Don’t worry, Shively Hall is no longer known as the COVID-19 testing center, but instead will be adding in the reimagined dining hall that was once there years ago. Along with laundry services inside, students will be able to just walk downstairs to enjoy any meal of the day, as well as see their friends instantly.

1. Jefferson Hall

Lastly, it’s well-known that everyone wants to live in Jefferson Hall during their freshman year, mostly because of how new it is. It also has the beloved Jefferson Market on the first floor, as well as laundry services, making it a game-changer for students with busy schedules. It’s also not far from Court Street, which is ideal for students who are always out of their dorm.

West Green:

3. Boyd Hall

Boyd Hall is ideal for people who like convenience. Holding both a dining hall and a market inside, this dorm will help you avoid long lines during breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as stocking up on food with ease during the year.

2. Ryors Hall

Renovated in 2019, Ryors Hall is another most-wanted dorm on campus for its new features. Garage parking is also available for this dorm for students with cars. Additionally, if you’re looking for a nicer place on West Green, this dorm will ensure you’re staying in cleaner, more up-to-date rooms.

1. Bromley Hall

Many new students may not realize that Bromley Hall was once a hotel, close to Court Street and College Green.

With nine floors, this dorm has a lot of space for singles, doubles and triples, but usually sophomores stay there. This hall is ranked so high because of its easy walking distance, allowing one to walk to any building on campus efficiently.

South Green:

3. Luchs Hall

Luchs Hall is right next to Tanaka Hall, also built in 2015. It also has suite-style rooms, easy accessibility to Ping Recreation Center and isn’t a far walk to get to the chemistry buildings and Baker Center nearby.

2.

Sowle Hall also has the same format as Luchs and Tanaka Hall, including other amenities such as kitchens, elevators, study areas and electronic access. It’s a bit closer to the gym and STEM-related buildings, as well as Emeriti Park.

Carr Hall is ranked number one for its overall placement on South Green, being the quickest walk to East and South Green. While it also usually contains more sophomores, it’s always filled up the fastest for having the same luxuries as

@GRACE_KOE GK011320@OHIO.EDU

Is your dorm not on the list? Read the rest of the article online by scanning the QR code:

Sowle Hall

1. Carr Hall

Sowle, Luchs and Tanaka Hall. It’s also less than a five-minute walk to go to Nelson Court.

Job Search:Where to find campus jobs at OU

ANASTASIA CARTER DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Juggling classwork, friendships and a job while going to college can be an armful. However, some students thrive on being kept busy all day. If you’re one of these people, you may be interested in looking at available places of work in the area.

Whether you end up working for the university or at a business on State Street, there are plenty of places to look for jobs at Ohio University and in Athens.

Campus Jobs

While living on campus, having a job that is within walking distance is one of the more convenient options. The plus of working for the university is that it is always mindful of class schedules. During the school year, students can work up to 25 hours a week but no more than that.

One of the more well-known student jobs is with Culinary Services. There are numerous dining halls, campus markets and cafes that offer a variety of job opportunities. With Culinary Services, all pay is based on different levels with base pay starting at $11 and going up to $16.50 per hour.

With numerous campus buildings functioning as offices, office assistants are another high-demand job. The Campus Involvement Center, the Innovation Center, Transportation

and Parking Services and Baker Center all utilize student office assistants. For those who have experience in customer service, this may be a place to start.

If you’re trying to get experience working in the field that you study, consider asking professors if they need a research assistant. Some will appreciate the offer and the extra helping hand with the research. Plus, if it’s within your field of study, you gain first-hand experience researching in your field.

The university also has need-based opportunities such as Federal Work Study and the Program to Aid Career Exploration (PACE). Any other campus jobs that may be available currently are listed at www.ohiouniversityjobs.com along with application requirements.

Off Campus Jobs

If working for OU isn’t up your alley, there are numerous opportunities for part-time work in Athens. Athens hosts a plethora of businesses including restaurants, cafes, retail spaces and more. It never hurts to call a place of business or walk in and ask, “Are you hiring?” The worst answer you’ll get is a “no.”

Athens loves its coffee, and it shows with multiple cafes in the area. Try reaching out to Court Street Coffee, Brenen’s Coffee Café, Donkey Coffee and Espresso or Towns End Coffee Bar to see if they’re hiring a barista. Big chain grocery stores are also a common place to look for work

with Kroger, Aldi and Wal-Mart all being on State Street. If you don’t have a car to get there, Athens Public Transit has stops on State Street and students ride free with their OU IDs.

If you want to work local retail, check out Republic of Athens Records, Athens Underground, Import House or Random House. All of these, and others not listed, make up Athens local retail and foster that small-town job environment. Athens also has other chain retail businesses like Marshalls, CATO and Maurices among others that may be hiring come fall.

Although college is a time to be studying and making memories, making a living wage is also important to the process of entering adulthood. If you’re hoping to work during your time at OU, the places mentioned are a great start to the job search.

6 must-try Athens eateries

Food is a facet of every college student’s life, and what comes with food is great restaurants. However, incoming firstyear students may not be aware of what’s available around campus when it comes to food outside of a dining hall, especially when Athens has must-try places for new students.

Bobcats, look no further, this guide will give first-comers insight into six must-try restaurants in Athens when the dining halls are too busy, what to get when wanting to try something new or if you want to take someone out.

Keystone’s Mac Shack

I am asked to keep chains out of this list, but it’s too good to pass up, can’t ignore one of Court Street’s most recent additions. Initially based in Cincinnati, Mac Shack’s

Athens location serves the same classics as its predecessor, mac n’ cheese and pies. I recommend a Pink Floyd, a Loving Spoonful with bbq and brisket or an Oreo Pie. This place is perfect for a quick dinner or eating after a night out on the town.

Union Street Diner

Every town has its local diner, and in Athens, we’re spoiled with the Union Street Diner, or USD, as some people call it. This restaurant has the best comfort food, similar to a diner you may be used to, and the staff is great. If you’re lucky enough, the milkshake machine will work and you can get yourself a delicious breakfast milkshake. If not, don’t fret, the French toast is always a classic and available at the diner, which is not too far of a walk down Union Street.

Bagel Street Deli

Do you like sandwiches? Do you like bagels? If you answered yes to both questions,

this place is for you. Bagel Street Deli, also known as BSD, serves up sandwiches on, you guessed it, bagels. You’ll have your favorite order by the end of your time at OU, but I suggest the Abe Froman for starters. Also, if you’re into pickles, don’t miss out on Pickle Fest, which is held there during the spring semester.

Brenen’s Coffee Cafe

Most people on campus know this place as an excellent coffee shop, but it’s so much more than that. You can also get an excellent Reuben or just sandwiches in general, cookies and turnovers while you sip on your coffee. Coffee-wise, you can never go wrong with a Nutty Irishman or a Highlander Grogg. Brenen’s Coffee Cafe is a great spot for a meal before class or a place to take your parents when they come to visit.

Mr. Hibachi

Another recent addition to Court Street is Mr. Hibachi. If you’re really into Japanese food or are just looking for something simple like vegetable stir fry, this is a great place to go. It’s usually not too packed and has pretty quick service. You can never go wrong here.

Jackie O’s

Primarily known as the town’s local brewery with a great selection of beer and ciders, Jackie O’s also has a kitchen location on Union Street, with a diverse menu ranging from burgers to various styles of pizza. Furthermore, all meals and drinks use ingredients supplied locally. There’s nothing better than getting a bite to eat and supporting local businesses and farms at the same time.

ILLUSTRATION BY ABBIE KINNEY

WILLIAM TROYER FOR THE POST

Ohio University Student Health Insurance

WAIVER INFORMATION: ACTION REQUIRED

The University requires ALL ATHENS CAMPUS STUDENTS to have active health insurance. Domestic Students registered for 5 or more Athens credit hours includes Athens online and Dublin and Cleveland locations are AUTOMATICALLY CHARGED for the Student Health Insurance.

Students with active health insurance may complete the Wavier prior to the posted deadline to remove the charge for the Student Insurance for the 2023/24 academic year.

THE STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE ONLINE WAIVER APPLICATION IS ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE JULY 10, 2023 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

If a waiver is not approved, the University will consider the student to be uninsured, and the charge for the Student Health Insurance will remain on the Student’s University Account.

Student Health Insurance Policy Information

• The University offers a comprehensive commercial medical policy provided by United HealthCare Student Resources

• The policy meets the requirements for J and F visa holders in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, US Department of State, and the State of Ohio

• Students taking reduced credit hours, Regional Campus students and dependents may enroll on a voluntary basis during Open Enrollment periods at the beginning of each semester

Additional information, enrollment forms, and policy brochures, are available on our website: https://www.ohio.edu/student- insurance/forms-brochures

CONTACT US

Phone: 740-593-1931

Email: studentinsurance@ohio.edu

www.ohio.edu/student-insurance.com

www.UHCSR.com/Ohio