The Orientation Guide 2017

TOP 10 PEOPLE TO KNOW P16

FINDING ACADEMIC SUCCESS P22

PACKING FOR COLLEGE DO’S AND DON’TS P31

The Orientation Guide  Starting college and learning the ins and outs of

a new town can be a bit daunting, but ‘The Post’ has some tips so you can start the year off right.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elizabeth Backo

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

MANAGING EDITOR Kaitlin Coward DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Hayley Harding SENIOR EDITOR Marisa Fernandez

Enjoy time at OU, stay up to date with ‘The Post’

EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Maddie Capron, Megan Henry SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Gillis CULTURE EDITORS Georgia Davis, Mae Yen Yap OPINION EDITOR Chuck Greenlee COPY CHIEF Alex McCann

ART ART DIRECTORS Abby Gordon, Sarah Olivieri PHOTO EDITORS Meagan Hall, McKinley Law, Blake Nissen, Hannah Schroeder, Matt Starkey SPECIAL PROJECTS DESIGNER Abby Day

DIGITAL DIGITAL PRODUCTION EDITOR Taylor Johnston SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kate Ansel BLOGS EDITOR Alex Darus MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Andy Hamilton DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Jonny Palermo BUSINESS MANAGER Matthew Barnett

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W

elcome to campus, Bobcats!

Attending orientation and exploring a college campus is probably pretty new for many of you.

But the great part is that college is all about new experiences. You will meet new people, learn new material and experience life away from home. It can be a bit intimidating, but don’t worry too much because everyone will make mistakes along the way.

You will probably end up walking into the wrong classroom or turning in an assignment late. You might have an argument with a roommate or feel incredibly homesick at some point. But take a moment and relax, because it is ELIZABETH BACKO / going to turn out OK. Athens and Ohio University have a lot EDITOR-IN-CHIEF to offer, so don’t shy away from trying something new. Work hard, step out of your comfort zone and find out what college has to offer. Again, you will mess up, but there is always some room for a little failure. Learn from the mistakes you make and move on.

But if you are stressing a bit, here is some advice.

Take classes that interest you. Even try out a few of the less traditional classes, such as one about wilderness skills or the paranormal. Also, definitely go to class. You’ll meet some interesting people and hopefully learn a thing or two.

Venture outside of your freshman dorm room to explore what OU and Athens have to offer. Do the typical college thing and hammock on College Green or catch a Frisbee. Try new cuisine Uptown that you have never heard of before. Hike up Bong Hill, and attend a sporting event (even if you don’t particularly like sports). Discover your favorite spot in Athens, spend some time studying in Alden Library and check out some of the local bands playing on the weekends.

But do not be afraid to spend a night in too. Gather with some floormates and watch your favorite Disney movies. Make some popcorn and relax every once in a while.

Find your niche. If you join an organization that you care about, you are likely to meet some like-minded people. Try an intramural sport, a music group or the independent student media outlet, The Post. If you are doing what you love, you are on the right path.

No matter what you do in college, The Post will be here documenting all the exciting and crazy moments you experience. Stay up to date by following The Post and some of our reporters on social media. Also, sign up for our daily newsletter, Post Haste, to receive the latest news in your inbox every morning.

When you return to campus in the fall, stop by Baker 325 to say hello to some Posties and pick up a new issue of The Post from a newsstand every Thursday morning.

Enjoy Athens, and good luck.

Elizabeth Backo is a senior studying journalism and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Want to talk to her? Email her at eb823313@ohio.edu or send her a tweet at @liz_backo.

Cover illustration by Abby Gordon

How can the Alumni Association

help you NOW? THE OHIO UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION helps students make the most of their college experience and stay connected with OHIO after they graduate.

BB T O

BobcaThon is a dance marathon on campus to raise awareness and funds for seriously ill children and their families staying at the Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Central Ohio. BobcaThon culminates in a 12 hour Dance Marathon in February. More information can be found at www.bobcathon.com

STUDENT ALUMNI BOARD (SAB) SAB is a professional organization that strives to connect students to the University and Bobcat alumni through exciting programs and initiatives. SAB has passionate, creative, and hardworking undergraduates who make a difference on campus. Applications are available this fall. More information can be found at www.ohiosab.com

QUESTIONS? Contact Katrina Heilmeier at heilmeik@ohio.edu or 740-597-1216

Stop by Konneker Alumni Center (across from Ellis Hall) during your first week of classes for FREE BOBCAT GIVEAWAYS CONNECT WITH US: @OhioSAB @BobcaThon

OHIO

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

SENATE WELCOME

H

From your Student Senate president

Landen Lama encourages new students to get involved in organizations, such as Student Senate.

ello, and welcome to Ohio University. Your time in college isn’t only centered around the classes you take, but it’s also centered around the friends and experiences you make. I did not attend OU my freshman year, and it was one of the biggest regrets of my life. I wasn’t able to get that holistic college feel of being in a residence hall, never knowing where the Central Classroom Building was or even attending the convocation ceremony. However, even though I didn’t get to experience those typical “firsts,” I was lucky enough to still get involved in some amazing organizations. One that stood out to me the most was Student Senate.

Academics aren’t the only things that define you as a student. You must also take the time to realize the kind of person you want to be. Doing well in school is important, but what getting involved teaches you is incomparable. You learn so much about the world outside your own, you find your strengths and weaknesses and you begin to realize who you are.

Student Senate has changed my life in ways that I never thought it would. I’ve had the pleasure to testify to the Ohio Statehouse about the importance of textbook affordability and student trustee voting rights, I’ve lobbied at the statehouse with former OU President Roderick McDavis and interim President David Descutner, rewritten the Senate Constitution, added Regional Campus Senators and, of the many other things, I’ve made lifelong friends.

We have over 500 student organizations on campus, from the Peace Corps Ambassadors to College Republicans. Here at OU, we have almost every student organization you can think of, all with members who have a similar life experience to you.

What I’m really here to do is to get you all interested in a student organization that speaks for the entire campus on matters like the need to update our policies for gender neutral housing, requesting an increase in our budget for the Senate Appropriations Commission so we can give student organizations more programming money, advocating for lowering the cost of college and so much more. Student Senate is that organization that really can do it all. We are the direct line of formal communication to the university administra-

tion from the students, and we use that to make this campus the best it can be for everyone.

Senate has big goals this year, and, in order for us to get them accomplished, we need your help. The ways you can do that are endless. Vote on important campus issues, come to senate meetings and speak about what you feel needs to be heard, join the internship program and discover what senate can do for the students, etc. Whether you take an active role in the senate body or not, you and your needs matter.

Student Senate is here to listen to each student and advocate for their needs.

This year at OU is not only going to change your life, but it’s also going to change mine. I have the privilege to serve as the president of Student Senate in my final year of college. I’m faced with a time of great opportunity for change. We live in a time where the political spectrum is extremely fragmented and polarizing rhetoric is being thrown from every side, all while nothing is getting accomplished to make life better for all. I look at OU and Athens as the center point for change and influence. By utilizing our principles of shared governance, I know all that we want to achieve can be done by working with the administration. Not only am I a new president, but so is Duane Nellis, who will serve as OU’s 21st president. I look forward to great cooperation and collaboration with President Nellis, who has a true passion for taking the opinions and experiences of students into his decision making.

Regardless of whether or not you’re interested in getting involved, Student Senate will always be a resource for you during your time at OU. We take student concerns and do our best to find solutions. Our office is located in Baker 305, and our doors are always open. Every voice matters, so please stop by and share yours with us. Enjoy these next four years here, and welcome to the Bobcat family.

Landen Lama is Student Senate president at Ohio University and is a senior studying political science.

Want to reach out to Landen? Head over to Baker 305, or email him at ll086313@ohio.edu.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

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From the mayor of the City of Athens

4 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

ear new and returning Ohio University students, as the mayor of Athens, Ohio, I personally want to welcome you to our beloved community.

Although the time you spend here in Athens will seem relatively short, I truly hope that you will take the time to experience your new home. Enjoy not only what Ohio University has to offer, but also that of the city, county and region.

As I am sure that the cities and towns that you hail from are unique, I think that you will find Athens unique as well. Experience it. Take time to explore it.

Visit Sells Park and hike the trails, get out and enjoy all 21 miles of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway or experience one of the nation’s best markets right here in Athens at the Athens Farmers Market.

This is your home, and I encourage you to care for it and learn from it. While you are earning an education at Ohio University, I strongly encourage you to learn our fine city, as well, by becoming engaged via one or more of our 19 city boards and commissions.

I encourage you to immerse yourselves in Athens, and I hope that, when your time here is finished, you will come back to experience the memories that you will have created in our beloved city.

Again, welcome to Athens.

Steve Patterson is the mayor of the City of Athens. Reach out to Mayor Patterson on Twitter at @MayorPatterson.

DIGITAL DOWN LOW

How to navigate the often-confusing Blackboard Blackboard is a pain. That’s a given.

Remember all those awful websites your high school tried to use to do online homework? It’s like those, but it’s centralized for all your college classes. The struggles are something you learn within a week of experiencing university life, and it becomes integral to you as a student very quickly. Just about every assignment, online quiz or test announcement will likely be found there — ­­ unless your teacher feels exceptionally unique and decides not to use Blackboard at all.

That being said, there are certainly ways to make it work for you. Learning to adapt to Blackboard can take a while, but the site can prove to be useful if you know what to do. Here are three major ways to make things easier for yourself that may save you a lot of time and stress in the long run.

1. ENABLE YOUR BROWSER TO REMEMBER YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD FOR LOGIN. One of the most frustrating things about the site — right off the bat — is that it doesn’t have an option for saving your password. Thus, it can’t “remember” your username and password, which you’ll find yourself typing in over and over and over, even within minutes because of how often you might be using it. If you allow your browser to remember your username and password, however, it takes a click of a button to access the site.

2. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR GRADES AND HOW THEY’RE CALCULATED. Depending on how the teacher grades your class, Blackboard may show your grade as a 65 percent even if you have a

100 percent so far in the class, so long as you have only done 65 percent of the coursework. Some teachers add in those points and assignments as time goes on, and others have them all there at the beginning that have a starting grade of zero.

Make sure you figure out which style your teachers are (if they even upload the grades on Blackboard at all). Through that, you can get a better idea of how things are going in the semester.

3. GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME TO TURN AN ASSIGNMENT IN BEFORE ITS DUE DATE. Especially in large class sizes, many people will try to work on and review their submission until the last minute.

In fact, sometimes so many people do it that Blackboard can fail to upload everyone’s files in time, potentially leaving

you with a late assignment. Although some professors may be lenient on a minute or two, others may not be.

In fact, some specifically state that Blackboard issue to make sure students do not fall prey to the slow upload speed.

The website certainly is not perfect, even if you know all the tips and tricks, but having a grasp on how it works and how to solve some of its issues certainly helps. Best of luck.

Marco Omta is a junior studying music production. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post.

What helps you navigate Blackboard?

Email Marco at mo183714@ohio.edu.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

NEWS RECAP

Bill Clinton visit, ‘Bobcat 70’ protesters among biggest news of 2016-17 academic year MEGAN HENRY NEWS EDITOR Before the 2016-17 academic year came to a close at Ohio University, Roderick McDavis served his last day as OU’s president, 70 students were arrested during a protest and an investigation found that an English professor sexually harassed female students.

Here is a look back on some of the biggest news of last academic year.

ROGER AILES NEWSROOM Roger Ailes’ name was removed from a WOUB newsroom last fall after more than 20 women accused Ailes, the former Fox News chairman and CEO, of sexual harassment.

Then-OU President Roderick McDavis announced during September’s Faculty Senate meeting that Ailes’ name would be removed, and the letters of his name were taken down before the meeting ended.

Ailes, an OU alumnus who recently died in May, donated $500,000 to the university in 2007. As part of a contract with the university obtained via a public records request, Ailes agreed to pay the full amount within five years in exchange for naming a newsroom after him.

BILL CLINTON IN ATHENS Former President Bill Clinton visited OU’s campus in October while campaigning for his wife, Hillary. He spoke to about 3,500 people on the west side of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium about Hillary’s college plan, the Affordable Care Act and Donald Trump.

WAYNE NATIONAL FOREST A combined more than 1,800 acres of the Wayne National Forest were auctioned off for oil and gas purposes. The sale could lead to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public land. Fracking is a process in which pressurized liquid is used to fracture rock and release gas.

More than 700 acres were auctioned off Dec. 13. The Bureau of Land Management netted more than $1 million in their first sale of Wayne National Forest. On March 23, the bureau auctioned off 1,147 acres of Wayne, netting more than $5 million.

‘BOBCAT 70’ Seventy OU students and community members were arrested for criminal trespassing during an “occupation” of 6 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

Former President Bill Clinton shakes hands and takes selfies with students and Athens residents after speaking on College Green on Oct. 4, 2016. (LAUREN BACHO / FILE)

the fourth floor lobby of Baker Center on Feb. 1. Demonstrators demanded thenOU President Roderick McDavis make the university a sanctuary campus.

The charges against the demonstrators were dismissed at the end of March after the Ohio University Police Department Chief Andrew Powers asked Athens City Prosecutor Tracy Meek to drop the charges.

The Ohio University Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility will also not be pursuing any disciplinary actions against the students who were arrested.

MCDAVIS DEPARTURE Roderick McDavis’ last day as OU’s President was Feb. 17. He started working for AGB Search as its new managing principal on March 1.

AGB Search, based in Washington, D.C., focuses on higher education lead-

ership, conducting executive searches in partnership with colleges, universities, systems, boards and related foundations across the country.

McDavis was the second OU alumnus and first African-American to serve as OU president. He started his presidency in July 2004 and earned $500,000 for the 2016-17 academic year.

NEW UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Duane Nellis was unanimously selected as OU’s 21st president by the Board of Trustees in February at the university’s Dublin’s campus.

His initial annual salary will be $475,000, and his first day at OU will be June 12.

David Descutner has served as OU’s interim president since Feb. 18. He previously served as a special adviser of Faculty & Academic Planning in OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

ANDREW ESCOBEDO The Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance found that Andrew Escobedo, an English professor, sexually harassed female students and engaged in sexual conduct without their consent.

Escobedo, who is facing de-tenuring and dismissal, has requested a hearing before a faculty committee to respond to the allegations against him.

STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS The Green Light ticket swept the 201718 Student Senate elections in April.

Landen Lama was elected president, Nicole Schneider was elected vice president and Zach Woods was elected treasurer.

@MEGANKHENRY MH573113@OHIO.EDU

Fall Semester will be the first at OU for new president LAUREN FISHER FOR THE POST

Former Texas Tech University President Duane Nellis will take office in June Freshmen won’t be the only ones taking their first steps onto Ohio University’s campus this fall: incoming OU President Duane Nellis will be joining them.

Between a nearly year-long presidential search and political tensions both on campus and off, the past year has been a period of transition for OU. Nellis is expected to take office June 12, succeeding former OU President Roderick McDavis, who left the university in February to take an executive position with AGB Search, a search firm specializing in higher education leadership. In between presidential terms, David Descutner, former University College dean, has served as interim president. His term, although short, was not without its complications.

On Feb. 1, about two weeks before McDavis left office, 70 demonstrators were arrested in Baker Center. The arrests sparked debate over the legality and appropriateness of police action that night.

About a month later, two graduate students filed a federal complaint claiming the university failed to act on reports that an English professor sexually harassed female students for more than a decade.

In both cases, legal battles and public scrutiny ensued.

In January, Nellis made his first appearance at OU in a public forum, during which he fielded questions on a number of topics, including diversity and university transparency.

“One of the things that will define the success of a major, distinguished public university is a commitment to diversity and inclusion and how well you do that,” Nellis said at the forum.

Nellis, whose presidency was officially announced in February, was the only one left standing in the presidential search after the other three candidates withdrew from the race within the same week.

Before applying for president at OU, Nellis was one of the four finalists for the chancellor position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to a pre-

Incoming OU President Duane Nellis fields questions at the first of the presidential candidate open forums in Baker Ballroom on Jan. 19. (PATRICK CONNOLLY / FILE)

vious Post report, though none of those candidates were selected for the position. During his time as president of Texas Tech University, he also ran for president at the University of Wyoming but was not chosen.

Earlier in his career, Nellis served as the president of the University of Idaho from 2009-2013 and spent 22 years at Kansas State University in a number of administrative and teaching roles in the department of geography.

Taking the job at OU means Nellis and his wife Ruthie will be returning to Appalachia — they lived in West Virginia when Nellis served as a dean at West Virginia University from 1997-2004.

“It truly is a tremendous honor to be the 21st president of Ohio University,” Nellis told The Post earlier this year.

“Ruthie and I are so excited to be associated with the Bobcat family, to be part of Ohio University, a very distinguished university with a very rich history.”

During his first year, Nellis will receive a salary of $475,000 and will live off-campus. His wife will receive a base salary of $35,000. His contract stipulates that he will be required to live in Athens County and will receive a $5,000 per month stipend to live in a residence of his choosing.

@LAUREN__FISHER LF966614@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

BLOGS

EATSOFATHENS 50 South Court Street, Suite D www.studentlegalrights.org csls@studentlegalrights.org (740) 594-8093 “Protecting OU Students Since 1997” The Center for Student Legal Services (CSLS) is a non-profit law office created to educate and protect Ohio University students.

CSLS advises and represents over 1,100 OU students every year in criminal cases related to underage possession/consumption of alcohol, possession of marijuana/paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, and trespassing, as well as civil matters related to what to look for when seeking off-campus housing, tenant/co-tenant/sublessee/landlord rights and responsibilities, lease agreement and non-housing contract reviews, and consumer complaints. CSLS has been educating and protecting OU students for 20 years!

For only $12 a semester, you can enroll in the CSLS legal insurance program and entitle yourself to unlimited access to our criminal defense and civil litigation attorneys. If the $12 is waived from the tuition bill, our services may be offered at an increased cost, including a flat Consultation Fee and additional Representation Fees.

DON’T WAIVE THE $12 FEE! See the CSLS website for more information and limitations on CSLS services.

8 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH OLIVIERI

JESS UMBARGER FOR THE POST

If you’re feeling extra famished, add some chili as a bonus to end a great night.

new academic year beginning means new freshmen and an influx of students eating in the dining halls. Dining hall food can get old after a while, though, so here are some of the best one-of-a-kind foods throughout Athens to try if you’re looking for a change.

UPTOWN GRILL’S CHICKEN AND WAFFLES SANDWICH The line for Uptown Grill, 11 W. Union St., going all the way down to Buffalo Wild Wings on a weeknight says everything about the chicken and waffle sandwich. It may sound a little odd — and that there’s no way a chicken and waffle sandwich would sound good — but give it a try.

Many students swear by them.

A

UNION STREET DINER’S MILKSHAKES Union Street Diner, 70 W. Union St., is known for being open 24/7 and having great food and a great staff, but the diner’s milkshakes are basically unbeatable by any other place in town. No matter what milkshake you get, it’ll be a good choice.

LUCKY’S SPORTS TAVERN’S MOZZARELLA STICKS Think of mozzarella sticks, but even better. Each mozzarella stick from Lucky’s, 11 N. Court St., is handmade right before you eat it and has dough loaded with cheesy goodness.

Dipped in marinara sauce, they are a long shot from the freeze-dried sticks you find at the store, and they’re at least twice the size.

To top it off, on Fridays you can get as many cheese sticks as you want for 50 cents each.

O’BETTY’S RED HOT’S CHEESE FRIES Fries from O’Betty’s are known as one of the best foods after a late night on Court Street, and they’ve earned their title. Basically anything from O’Betty’s, 11 W. State St., is amazing, especially the cheese fries.

THE PUB’S BURGERS The Pub, 39 N. Court St., is one of the best places to go for burgers. They are super cheap, and they have a massive selection. One of their burger recipes has been around since 1974, so you know it’s a good choice.

WHIT’S FROZEN CUSTARD Whit’s, 49 S. Court St., is the place in Athens to go for a cold treat. The frozen custard is known for being made fresh daily. The shop also has weekly flavors that are different throughout the year.

Whit’s also has about 30 toppings to choose from, so you can go wild and put anything you want on your frozen custard.

Take a break from the dining halls and try out any of those signature Athens restaurants.

@JESS_UMBARGER JU992415@OHIO.EDU

Alden Library will undergo several changes to be more accessible to students MADDIE CAPRON NEWS EDITOR Alden Library is sometimes noisy, full of students who often have food and drinks, but it’s also one of the largest research libraries in North America.

With more students using the library now than in recent years, Alden Library will undergo three construction projects this summer to make it more accessible to more students and different types of learners.

“As all the students will see when they come back in the fall … we try to accommodate a lot of different learners and the types of learning spaces they want,” Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for Research and Education Services, said. “We have group rooms, open group spaces. We try to have quiet space as much as possible.”

In the first of the projects, the fourth floor will be open 24 hours five days a week starting Fall Semester. By adding overnight swipe access to the building, the library will be able to keep the second and fourth floors open 24 hours Sunday through Thursday.

That change, however, will make renovations to the bathrooms on the fourth floor necessary since they will have to accommodate students during all hours of the day.

Another project happening is that the Academic Advancement Center will move from the first floor to the second floor to be more accessible and visible to students.

“They help students with their study skills, so, whether you’re struggling in a chemistry class or you’re a junior who wants to boost their GPA up a couple of points so you’re getting into a better law school, they’re there to help,” Scott Seaman, dean of Ohio University Libraries, said.

The Academic Advancement Center move and the renovations on the fourth floor will cost a total of $2.1 million. About $1.8 million of that money will be used to relocate the Academic Advancement Center.

“The remainder of (the money) is going to electrical and plumbing work on the fourth floor so that we will have restrooms

“

We try to accommodate a lot of different learners and the types of learning spaces they want.”

- Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for Research and Education Services

available in the middle of the night for students,” Seaman said.

Additionally, the fifth floor will receive new carpeting and furniture to promote quiet study and individual work. That project will cost about $110,000, and it will be paid for by donor dollars.

“The second floor is pretty loud,” he said. “The fourth floor is medium-loud.

This space will be deep quiet. I think this space on the fifth floor is going to turn out really, really well. The views from the fifth floor are terrific.”

As the last project to be finished by Fall Semester, Alden Library will implement a chat service where students can chat or text a librarian if they need help. The librarian then will come to the student who needs help, whether they are on a laptop or desktop, wherever in the library.

“They can text us, and we’ll come to them,” Broughton said. “I think that’s the most important thing for (students) to know. It can be overwhelming and scary, but we’re here to help.”

The projects are to be completed in early August before students return to campus, Greg Robertson, associate vice president for Architecture, Design & Construction, said.

“We try to finish our construction projects before the students return to minimize disruption,” he said. “If there’s anyway we can get it in, we will. Otherwise, you might see some work going on.”

SHOOTERS GUIDE

If you’re new to shooting or simply looking for tips and tricks, you won’t want to miss this class led by a seasoned instructor who will guide you through the need-to-knows of firearms. Plus, you’ll learn about firearm safety, home safetyand storage as well as sa proper care and cleaning.

BASIC HANDGUNS

Handguns come in all sizes and shapes.

Find out which model is perfect for you based on grip, trigger action and your intended use, whether it is for personal protection or target shooting.

hilltopgunclub2@gmail.com HILLTOP GUN CLUB Firear m and Archer y Range www.hilltopgunclub.com

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PRIME LOCATIONS

NOW LEASING 1-6 Bedrooms

86 North Court Street 740-594-4441 www.BobcatRentals.net

@MADDIECAPRON MC055914@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

8 tips to save money at college ALEX MCCANN COPY CHIEF The stereotype of the “broke college student” has become fairly well-known.

A 2014 Buzzfeed article titled “25 Things Only Broke College Students Understand” features pertinent memes about various topics, while a 2016 Money article suggests that college students ought to be saving for retirement already. After all, college means buying textbooks, coffee and Chipotle burritos, sometimes with limited financial help from parents. Here are some tips to keep in mind, both as an incoming freshman and throughout college.

DOWNLOAD YOUR BANK’S PHONE APP Most banks have their own mobile applications that allow users to transfer money, deposit checks and, most importantly, check the balance of checking accounts. PNC Bank, Chase Bank and Ohio University Credit Union, among others, all have phone applications.

“You need to know what’s going on

10 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

with your account, and I’m assuming, as a young person, the mobile app would be the best way,” Eva Bloom, a member development specialist at Ohio University Credit Union, said. “It really depends on the individual.”

USE A THIRD-PARTY FINANCE TRACKER While bank apps are great for routine tasks like checking account balances, some of them tend to lack more advanced features. Third-party personal finance apps, such as Mint, Prosper Daily and Spending Tracker, allow users to further analyze their spending. Analyzing exactly where money is being spent can be a wake-up call. However, those trackers only keep track of what’s already been spent — they won’t keep you from overdrawing your account, Bloom said.

SET UP ACCOUNT ALERTS Bloom recommended that everyone, students included, set up account alerts for their checking accounts. There are two types of account alerts. The first no-

Watching where your money is going Financial apps, such as the app Mint, can help students track their budget

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tifies users when their balance falls below a certain amount; the second sends an alert every time the account’s debit card is used. The second type of notification prevents fraud — in fact, it recently allowed Bloom to catch someone who used her debit card at a record store in Colorado. Bloom said that could be especially useful for students, whose income might be lower or more sporadic.

“It can be a major headache for (students) to wait to get their money back while they’re working through the process to get it back,” she said.

PAY FOR THINGS WITH CASH INSTEAD OF CARD Over the past several years, it has become a widely established view among financial advisers that cash is a smarter way to pay. A 2008 study by the Journal of Experimental Psychology found credit card users tend to spend more money because it can be “treated as play or ‘Monopoly money.’ ” However, the study stated that paying with cash is the “most transparent payment mode,” as shoppers quite literally see the money leave their hand.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXTRA MEAL SWIPES All OU students living on campus — thus, all freshmen and sophomores — are required to have a meal plan. Meal plans are either flex or traditional, and one of the perks of the pricier flex plans is the ability to use extra meal swipes at campus markets. Items at Nelson Market, Boyd Market and the newly remodeled Jefferson Market can all be payed for with swipes. In addition, the value of swipes will be upgraded from $6.25 to $6.50 this fall, according to a previous Post report.

The downside is that swipes expire each Saturday night and do not roll over into the following weeks.

RENT, DON’T BUY One of the most major costs of college is textbooks. Textbook cost has been rising at an incredible rate. The cost of textbooks between 1978 and 2014 has risen a whopping 945 percent, according to the American Enterprise Institute. For context, the cost of a new house has risen 408 percent over the same timespan. Renting textbooks instead of buying them is often cheaper and usually a good decision, Ra-

“

Renting (textbooks) is generally better, unless you think that you’re actually going to use the textbook afterwards, which nine out of 10 times isn’t the case.”

Rachel Jones, 2017 OU graduate

chel Jones, a 2017 OU graduate who works at Little Professor Book Center, said.

“Renting is generally better, unless you think that you’re actually going to use the textbook afterwards, which nine out of 10 times isn’t the case,” Jones said.

LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PICK UP TEXTBOOKS Hard copies of textbooks are not always the best way, either. Various electronic sources, including e-books and free PDFs, can work just as well for a lower

price point. Jones said she often uses online PDFs and suggested students check if they really need to buy the newest version of the book.

“They might have older editions, and you definitely want to take advantage of that, because generally, the newer editions, they might change something very minimal that doesn’t actually matter,” Jones said.

“And you can be saving so much money.”

EAT CHEAP It’s no secret that Athens is filled with great restaurants. From chain restaurants such as Chipotle and Jimmy John’s to local staples such as Bagel Street Deli and Union Street Diner, Athens is an often hungry college student’s dream.

However, eating out is expensive. An infographic published by The Huffington Post states that college students spend an average of $745 eating off-campus each year. The infographic recommends cooking large meals and eating the leftovers, saying that could save students hundreds of dollars.

@ALEXMCCANN21 AM622914@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

HAPPENING IN ATHENS MAE YEN YAP CULTURE EDITOR In the quiet town of Athens, it may seem as if there is nothing to do each week. However, under its appearance is a thriving local arts and performing scene ready to be discovered by incoming Ohio University freshmen.

DONKEY COFFEE & ESPRESSO, 17 W. WASHINGTON ST. For students who need a creative outlet, Donkey Coffee invites all aspiring artists to perform.

The coffee shop hosts a series of events in which students and Athens community members are able to perform original music, spoken word or poetry.

“We’ve been having open mic nights for nine or 10 years now,” Levi McFarland, a barista at Donkey, said. “The owner, Chris Pyle, wanted to make Donkey not only just a coffee shop ... but he wants it to be a performance place as well.”

Although some musicians perform song covers during those open mic nights,

12 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

it’s “primarily original content and spans a lot of different genres,” McFarland said.

Individuals will also be able to share spoken word and poetry pieces during Designated Space, which is held every Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Those events bring a lot of traffic to Donkey Coffee, but the events are held specifically as a space for musicians.

“They have the outlet to be able to easily go to a place and play for their first time for audience and … help increase the (art) community,” McFarland said.

CASA NUEVA, 6 W. STATE ST. Every week, Casa Nueva features local bands and artists as part of its weekend performance series.

Bands ranging from trash metal punk to hip-hop have been featured in the Mexican-inspired cantina in past semesters.

The cover charges vary depending on the performance and the event being held.

One of Casa Nueva’s highlighted events is International Dance Night, which is held once per semester. The night features international music and is an opportunity for the local and international popula-

“

A lot of students love the fact they can come (to the event) and hang out with friends, enjoy their time and not really worry about anything.”

- Mychael

Ihnat

tions to mingle and have fun. The event is held once during Homecoming Week during Fall Semester and once during International Week in Spring Semester.

OHIO LATE NIGHTS, LIVING LEARNING CENTER, 111 S. GREEN DR. Students who may want to socialize without going far from their residence halls need not look any further. Ohio Late Nights is a series of events held in the Living Learning Center every Saturday night.

“(The event) is a place for students to come and relax on a Saturday night,” Mychael Ihnat, the coordinator of Ohio Late Nights, said.

More than 100 students attend each week, Ihnat, who is also the resident director of Gamertsfelder Hall, said. The event provides games and food for students to socialize with one other. Some events featured are craft nights and performances from organizations on campus.

Ihnat said she believes some students are occupied with studying to the point where they are unable to have “a life outside of school.” The weekly event, however, provides a space for students to socialize without having to go far from their rooms.

“A lot of students love the fact they can come and hang out with friends, enjoy their time and not really worry about anything and just have fun,” Ihnat said.

@SUMMERINMAE MY389715@OHIO.EDU

Movie Madness The Athena Cinema, Athena Grand and Fun Barn can be found not too far from OU’s campus, and each one offers different viewing experiences

GEORGIA DAVIS CULTURE EDITOR

C

ollege can be stressful, and some students may look for different ways to unwind and have fun.

One way to do so is to visit the local movie theaters that are within walking or driving distance. Athens’ three primary movie theaters offer an assortment of films and entertainment.

THE ATHENA CINEMA, 20 S. COURT ST. Within walking distance of campus and positioned among the shops and restaurants on Court Street is The Athena Cinema. The Athena is an art house theater owned by Ohio University. It primarily shows independent films and documentaries.

The theater also conducts educational series in conjunction with multiple colleges within OU. Those series include the Fall and Spring Sustainability Series and Science on Screen.

The prices at the Athena vary depending on what time and movie people wish to see. Any show before 6 p.m. is $5 and movies after 6 p.m. are $6.50.

Some of the Athena’s special events and series are free for everyone.

England Todd, a freshman studying marketing, has visited the theater a few times and likes how close the theater is to campus. One film she saw at the Athena was Cafe Society, an independent film directed by Woody Allen. Kristen Stewart, Steve Carell and Jesse Eisenberg star in the film.

“I like how they have independent movies but also movies that are going to be in the bigger theaters, too,” Todd said.

FUN BARN MOVIES 10, 14333 U.S. ROUTE 33 Those wanting to leave Athens can go to the Fun Barn about 10 miles from OU in Nelsonville. The Fun Barn is not just a movie theater. It also houses an arcade, mini bowling, bumper cars and a food court.

The Fun Barn boasts the cheapest ticket prices at $4 for general admission.

Those who have a car on campus — or can bum a ride off a friend — can travel to the Fun Barn for a fun-filled night.

ATHENA GRAND, 1008 E. STATE ST. A short car or bus ride away from campus is the Athena Grand, a theater known for its retro lobby and $5 ticket prices.

The Athena Grand shows the latest blockbuster hits but brings back old movies for special events. Most of the special events cost $12.50 per ticket.

Some movies the theater has screened include An Affair to Remember and the Halloween series.

Colleen Murnane, a sophomore studying exercise physiology, won a free ticket to the Athena Grand after running in a 5K. She and her boyfriend decided to see Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Murnane likes the ’70s vibe of the lobby and said it was similar to other theaters she has visited. She added that she would go see another film at the theater.

“It was nice that the movie tickets were only $5,” she said. “(That’s) a pretty cheap date.”

@GEORGIADEE35 GD497415@OHIO.EDU

The Athena Cinema is located at 20 S. Court St. It is one of three movie theaters near Ohio University. (LIZ MOUGHON / FILE)

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THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Great coffee, lots of Students, close to campus

visit brookfieldchurch.com 14 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

Student Senate executives want students to bring forth concerns about campus EMILY LEBER FOR THE POST When students at Ohio University see problems on campus, Student Senate wants them to approach the body with the issues to come up with solutions.

The Student Senate executive board consists of President Landen Lama, Vice President Nicole Schneider and Treasurer Zach Woods. Schneider compared the body to a student council in high school when she talked to students at the involvement fair, which takes place in the fall before classes begin.

“The first thing I’ve told students at the involvement fair is that we are like a student governing body on campus,” Schneider said. “So a lot of times for the first years, I compare it to what their high school government was, like student council, but it’s kind of upped a level.”

The three executive members stressed the importance of students getting involved on campus. With that, Woods said when freshmen go to the involvement fair there are usually so many organizations recruiting that it actually can discourage them from getting involved, rather than encourage them.

“There’s just so many options you’re just kind of overwhelmed by it but (it’s important) just to find your passion and get involved with it,” Woods said. “Yes, we’re here for academics. Yes, we’re here for our majors and our careers, but getting involved is where you find those connections, where you learn those real life lessons, where you become the person that you are supposed to be.”

One way for freshmen to get involved on campus and with Student Senate is through its internship program. The program is designed to help teach and train students who are interested in joining senate.

Former Student Senate President Hannah Clouser started out with senate through its internship program and will be working in New York City as an actuarial associate in the fall. Lama said the internship program shaped Clouser into the person she is today.

“We have an excellent intern program which is really geared towards freshmen,” Woods said. “We have them on a rotating schedule so they can see which commission they would be most likely to fit (into).”

(From left to right) Vice Presidential candidate Nicole Schneider, Treasurer candidate Zachary Woods and Presidential candidate Landen Lama embrace after their ticket, Green Light, swept the executive candidate positions during the 2017 Student Senate Elections. (CARL FONTICELLA / FILE)

I know that President Nellis is ready to hear those complaints and work out how can we make those complaints no longer a complaint.”

Landen Lama, president of Student Senate In Student Senate, there are a variety of different commissions for students to be a part of. A commission is a group of

people assigned to officially be in charge of a particular function, and each commission has different roles and responsibilities. For example, the LGBTQA Affairs Commission works with the OU LGBT Center and LGBT community to make sure that group is fairly represented. Interns assist in each commission.

Lama and Woods said they want students to know that they are approachable, and they’re just regular students, regardless of their titles.

“We’re very interesting people. We’re fun. We’re nice,” Woods said. “I’d like to say we’re approachable. Anyone can approach us to talk to us.”

Lama also said the executives want to be an “avenue” for people to come to

when they see a problem on campus.

“It’s really just, ‘see something, say something,’ ” Lama said. “If you see something in the university that’s not working, big or small, come to senate.”

Lama will be meeting with incoming OU President Duane Nellis to discuss what’s going to happen next academic year. Nellis will begin serving as OU president June 12.

“I know that President Nellis is ready to hear those complaints and work out how can we make those complaints no longer a complaint,” Lama said.

@EMEMLEBER EL790115@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

PEOPLE TO KNOW MEGAN HENRY NEWS EDITOR

As new Ohio University students settle into their residence hall rooms, it is important that they are able to identify OU administrators and Athens officials as they walk around campus and Uptown.

Here is a list of the 10 people OU students need to know.

“

You are Bobcats no matter where you are.

You are ambassadors for the Bobcat family no matter where you are.

- Jenny Hall-Jones

DUANE NELLIS @OHIOPrezOffice Cutler Hall 108

PHOTO BY: PATRICK CONNOLLY

Duane Nellis is OU’s 21st president, and his day first day as OU president will be June 12. His initial annual salary at OU will be $475,000.

Previously, he served as the university honors professor at Texas Tech University where his salary was $250,000.

He has served as the president of the University of Idaho from 2009 to 2013 and Texas Tech from June 2013 to January 2016.

His salary during his last year as Texas Tech’s president was $444,251.

Nellis worked for about 22 years at Kansas State University as an administrator and professor, and he served as a dean at West Virginia University from 1997 to 2004.

He earned his doctorate degree in geography from Oregon State University in 1980, his master’s in geography from Oregon State in 1977 and his bachelor’s in earth sciences and geography from Montana State University in 1976. Nellis was born in Spokane, Washington.

16 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

PAM BENOIT Cutler Hall 210

PHOTO PROVIDED VIA UCM

Pam Benoit is OU’s executive vice president and provost, a position she has served in since 2009.

It is her job as executive vice president and provost to report to the president and oversee academic programs, university budget planning and research. Additionally, she oversees OU’s vice presidents and provosts.

She was in the running to be OU’s 21st president and was one of four finalists before she withdrew her name from the presidential search.

She earned $306,000 during the 2016-17 academic year.

Previously, she was a faculty member at Bowling Green State University and an administrator at the University of Missouri.

JENNY HALL-JONES @JennyHallJones Baker Center 345

PHOTO BY: OLIVER HAMLIN

Jenny Hall-Jones has spent her entire career at OU and serves as the dean of students, a role she has served in since 2013. As dean of students, she oversees the administrative operation of several Student Affairs departments, including the Career and Leadership Development Center and the Campus Involvement Center.

She earned a salary of $140,021 during the 2016-17 academic year.

She received her undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees from OU.

LANDEN LAMA

@landenlama Student Senate Office Baker 305 PHOTO BY: LAILA RIAZ

Landen Lama is the Student Senate president. The Green Light ticket swept the April elections. Previously, he served as the Student Senate chief of staff. Lama is a rising senior studying political science.

JASON PINA @jbpina Cutler Hall 2128

PHOTO PROVIDED VIA STUDENT AFFAIRS

2017-18 will be Jason Pina’s second academic year at OU. He serves as the vice president for Student Affairs and earned a salary of $245,000 during the 2016-17 academic year.

In addition to leading the Division of Student Affairs, he oversees student resources and services.

Before coming to OU, Pina worked as the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.

STEVE PATTERSON

CHRIS KNISELY

Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St. PHOTO BY: LIZ MOUGHON

“

Chris Knisely has served as the president of Athens City Council since January 2015. She was first appointed to council in 2008 and has been the chair of both the Transportation and the Finance and Personnel Committees. She also previously worked as the director of grant development at OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Athens City Council, the legislative power of the city, meets every Monday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of the Athens City Building.

@MayorPatterson Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St.

PHOTO BY: OLIVER HAMLIN

Steve Patterson is the mayor of Athens.

Previously, he served as a member of Athens City Council and a psychology professor at Ohio University.

We want to reach out to the community to make sure they know that everyone has a voice with us and that we are fostering amicable relationships.

- Tom Pyle

TOM PYLE

Athens Police Department, 11 N. College St.

PHOTO BY: HANNAH SCHROEDER

Tom Pyle is the chief of police at the Athens Police Department. APD oversees the Athens Halloween Block Party, fest season and crime in the City of Athens.

ANDREW POWERS

Ohio University Police Department, 135 Scott Quadrangle PHOTO PROVIDED VIA CHIEF POWERS

Andrew Powers is the OU police chief.

Powers oversees the staff of OUPD, which monitors crime on OU’s campus. During the 2016-17 academic year, he earned $135,397.

RODNEY SMITH

Athens County Sheriff’s Office, 13 W. Washington St. PHOTO BY: BLAKE NISSEN

Rodney Smith is the Athens County sheriff. The Athens County Sheriff’s Office takes care of crimes throughout the county.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

Resources available for survivors of sexual assault and relationship violence BAILEY GALLION ASST. NEWS EDITOR A campus climate survey Ohio University released in November found that 29 percent of approximately 1,350 responding students had experienced sexual victimization and nearly 20 percent had experienced dating violence during their time at OU. For students who experience sexual violence and relationship abuse, assistance is available from several places on- and off-campus.

ADVOCACY GROUPS The Survivor Advocacy Program provides resources for both survivors of sexual assault and relationship abuse and the friends and family who support them. The office is located in Lindley Hall 038.

Advocates from the program can help survivors navigate the process for reporting sexual violence to law enforcement, undergoing sexual assault examinations and reporting sexual misconduct to the university Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance. Unlike other university employees, none of the staff members at the Survivor Advocacy Program are required to report sexual misconduct to the university. Resources are available to survivors whether or not they wish to receive medical care or report the incident.

The program also mans a 24/7 hotline for survivors at 740-597-7233.

My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter in Athens, provides resources and housing for relationship abuse survivors and their families. The shelter is a four-bedroom residence in Athens, and its location is confidential for the safety of the clients.

At least one staff member at the shelter is available around the clock. The shelter can also connect abuse survivors with counselors and court advocates. The shelter can be reached at 1-800-443-3402 at any hour.

MEDICAL CARE AND COUNSELING OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital employs nurses trained to conduct sexual assault examination kits.

Sexual assault examinations can take about three hours. The examination includes drug testing, DNA testing and administration of emergency contraceptive and STI prevention. Evidence can still be collected up to 72 hours after the attack, 18 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

A sexual assault evidence collection kit sits on a table in O’Bleness Memorial Hospital. Rape kits are sent to a branch of Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, where testing is done on the DNA collected in the kits. (OLIVIA RANEY / FILE)

whether or not the survivor has bathed.

Sexual assault examination kits can be submitted to law enforcement anonymously. That allows the survivor to undergo the exam without immediately deciding whether to report the incident to law enforcement.

Counseling and Psychological Services provides confidential mental health services to OU students. Survivors of sexual assault can receive counseling there to deal with the psychological effects.

CPS provides both individual counseling and group therapy. Psychiatric consultations are also available for students who wish to take prescription medication.

Group counseling, individual counseling and psychiatric intake are free under the OU Wellbeing Plan. Students who have waived the fee for that plan may have to pay for services.

To initiate treatment at CPS, students can show up for a drop-in consultation on the third floor of Hudson Health Center between 9:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. For emergency assistance outside regular hours, students can call the 24/7 Crisis Intervention Service at 740-593-1616.

REPORTING MISCONDUCT TO THE UNIVERSITY Violations of the university sexual misconduct can be reported to the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance.

Those reports can be done through an online form, over the phone or in person in the office in Lindley Hall 006.

After a student reports sexual misconduct, certain interim measures are available while the university conducts the investigation. The university might issue a no-contact directive to someone accused of sexual misconduct or restrict access to campus. The university also might reassign classes or move housing to prevent contact between the two parties.

A student whom the Office of Community Standards finds to have violated the university’s sexual misconduct policy would be suspended for at least one semester. A student found responsible for a violation that involved physical conduct would be suspended for at least a year, and a student found responsible for a sexual misconduct violation involving penetration could be expelled.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE Sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes can be reported to local law enforcement. The Ohio University Police Department investigates crimes on campus and can be reached at 740-593-1911. Crimes in the city can be reported to the Athens Police Department at 740-593-6606.

Crimes outside the city and campus fall under the Athens County Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 740-593-6633.

The Sheriff’s Office and APD both employ advocates for survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence.

Sexual assault survivors and victims of domestic abuse may be able to obtain civil protection orders that limit their abuser’s contact with them. Survivor advocates at law enforcement agencies, My Sister’s Place and SAP can guide survivors through the process of obtaining protection orders.

For more sexual assault resources, check out thepostathens.com.

@BAILEYGALLION BG272614@OHIO.EDU

University’s CPS offers array of mental health services

LAUREN FISHER FOR THE POST

The beginning of a new school year is, for many, a time of excitement and new beginnings. But for freshmen stepping onto a new campus for the first time, the transition into college life can be a stressful, if not anxiety-inducing, experience.

Students seeking counseling can turn to a number of services on campus, most of which are run through Ohio University Counseling and Psychological Services.

DROP-IN SERVICES For immediate mental health needs, CPS offers drop-in services at its Hudson Health Center location. During those appointments, counselors are available to help patients create a plan of action to address pressing crises.

Emergency appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

If a crisis arises while CPS is closed, students are encouraged to contact 740593-1616 to speak with a counselor via the 24/7 Crisis Intervention Service. Students can also contact the Ohio University Police Department at 740-593-1911. Those living in residence halls can receive help by contacting their resident assistant, who may contact a counselor-in-residence or a counselor-on-call.

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING With a staff including clinical counselors, psychologists and graduate students in-training, CPS offers individual counseling sessions To begin individual counseling, students must first attend drop-in hours for an initial contact appointment, during which the student will be evaluated and referred to a counselor who will answer questions the student has.

During a typical counseling session, students will speak about the issues they are facing while a counselor listens, asks questions and works to help the student address questions and provide guidance.

Under the WellBeing Plan, OU students can use up to 20 counseling sessions per academic year. The WellBeing Plan is a payment students can make that

“LET’S TALK” SESSIONS WHEN: 5 - 10 p.m., Sunday - Friday WHERE: Living Learning Center, Room 160 ADMISSION: Free No appointment necessary Call LLC 740-593-4014

helps reduce the cost of OU healthcare services. A $20 fee will be charged for missing an appointment or failing to cancel within 24 hours of the scheduled time.

GROUP COUNSELING CPS also offers group therapy sessions during which a group of six to eight individuals meets face-to-face with a therapist who specializes in group therapy. During a typical session, individuals talk about their stressors with a focus on self-disclosing or revealing one’s feelings to other members of the group.

The first sessions, which serve as an introduction to group therapy, focus on fostering trust with other group members to create an environment conducive to the discussion of personal issues.

Group therapy sessions are covered by the OU WellBeing fee and do not count toward the 20 session limit.

PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION Students looking to see a psychiatrist, who is authorized to write prescriptions for various mental health disorders, must be referred through their drop-in or assigned counselors at CPS. With only one full-time psychiatrist on staff, CPS warns wait times for care may stretch from four to six weeks during the peak demand for services, which typically occurs later in Fall Semester.

Students are also advised to partake in a physical exam before seeing a psychiatrist to rule out medical illnesses. CPS also encourages students to have another provider off-campus or at home to see during breaks, after graduation or in case the campus psychiatrist is not available.

“LET’S TALK” SESSIONS The Living Learning Center, located on South Green, offers walk-in “Let’s Talk” hours for students seeking counseling outside of CPS’ regular operating hours.

The sessions are offered Sunday through Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. in room 160 of the LLC.

@LAUREN__FISHER LF966614@OHIO.EDU

ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY GORDON THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

How to avoid sickness in college TAYLOR JOHNSTON FOR THE POST Entering a new school and a new environment can sometimes have an effect on a student’s immune system.

Dr. Jane Balbo, assistant professor of family medicine and family practice physician at Campus Care, provided some tips for incoming Ohio University freshmen on how to stay healthy in college.

“If someone is not getting enough sleep or good quality sleep, their immune system will suffer,” Balbo said.

Haylee Doran, a rising second-year graduate student in the child and family studies program, said getting adequate sleep helps her stay healthy.

“Also take a lot of Vitamin C, that has helped me so far (to stay healthy),” she said.

Balbo also said students should think about the vaccine-preventable diseases that are prevalent when students live in a more crowded situation, particularly meningitis.

“It’s not a common outbreak, but it can be deadly,” Balbo said. “Getting their meningitis vaccines before they come to college is really important.

In January, an OU student was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis. The student was discharged later that month.

In addition to vaccines, a healthy diet is important to consider when trying to not get sick, Balbo said.

“The cool thing about Ohio University is the availability of fresh foods in the dining halls has improved drastically,” she said. “It used to just be french fries, pizza, hamburgers and ice cream.”

Trying to incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables into people’s daily diets is going to provide their immune systems with the vitamins and minerals that can help them fight diseases or stay healthy, Balbo said.

“Obviously (fried foods) are delicious.

You’re living away from home for the first time, and you have access to all this stuff unlimited,” she said. “It is sometimes hard to control yourself.”

Physical activity is another way to help people stay healthy.

Balbo said Ping Recreation Center is great if someone has the time, but she often hears that students say they don’t have the time to go. “(Ping) is really involved and no wonder someone feels like they don’t have the time because it can take up to an hour and a half for the process of getting there and getting home and getting a great workout,” she said.

20 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

Hudson Health Center, which houses Campus Care, is an on-campus facility for students’ medical needs. (ALEX DRIEHAUS / FILE)

“Athens is an allergy haven. It’s important for them to come get checked out but to also recognize we have a lot more allergens here than many other college campuses.”

- Dr. Jane Balbo, physician at Campus Care She said she tells people about the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, which is located near the residence halls.

“Just thinking about movement, not just going to the gym,” Balbo said. “Just going for a half an hour walk once a day is a wonderful thing for one’s health.

While students are outside enjoying the Athens scenery, they may experience

allergies too.

A lot of students who come from places such as Cleveland, Columbus or other states where they do not have a lot of allergens, come to Campus Care thinking they are sick when they are not, Balbo said.

“Athens is an allergy haven,” she said.

“It’s important for them to come get checked out but to also recognize we

have a lot more allergens here than many other college campuses.”

She said students should work to keep their allergies at bay before they get to campus, and if they get here and recognize their allergies are out of control, they may need to come in and see a medical provider to tune up their management plan.

“Uncontrolled allergies can lead to sinus infections, ear infections, pneumonia and asthma exacerbations,” Balbo said.

Monica Davis, a rising sophomore studying communication, said she keeps hand sanitizer on her at all times and makes sure she washes her hands regularly.

“Stay away from those who are coughing and make sure you are coughing in your arm, too,” she said.

@TF_JOHNSTON TJ369915@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

How to be academically successful in college Learning to manage time and plan ahead can help students suceed in classes BENNETT LECKRONE FOR THE POST With its beautiful outdoor landscapes and upbeat culture, Ohio University can be a distracting place. As a freshman, it’s easy to forget the real reason you’re paying the big bucks to be here: school.

While it may be tempting to spend all hours of the day studying (or to spend no time studying at all), Student Success Advisor Katie Thompson said time management was the most important thing freshmen should do to get good grades.

“I think the greatest success is found in time management for students,” Thompson said. “So coming in ready to plan, using some sort of planner or calendar is really helpful.”

Planning all of your assignments across all of your classes can get tedious, but, luckily, professors will give you a syllabus outlining everything they’re planning to do that semester.

Professors are also required by OU to provide office hours, or times when you can go hang out with them and ask them questions. Thompson encouraged students to get to know their faculty members.

“I think students are highly successful when they partner with their faculty,” Thompson said. “Regularly talking with their faculty and going to office hours.”

According to an article by USA Today, the average college student spends about 17 hours a week studying, so you’ll need a place to do that. Remember that there’s a huge library and an Academic Advancement Center that exists, so be sure to take advantage of on-campus resources.

Of course, studying will be a whole lot easier if you take notes in class. Whether you’re taking notes with a pen and paper or on a laptop, well organized and dated notes help students study and succeed in classes.

In a previous Post report, Sue Fletcher, the assistant director of the Academic Advancement Center, said notes alone won’t help students succeed, instead encouraging both active note-taking and review.

“Unless you have a photographic memory, and you take really beautiful notes, staring at your notes is not going to help you learn (the material) nearly as well as if you do something active with them,” 22 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

Landen Stafford, a junior studying English, writes in cursive. He learned how to write cursive in grade school but only started consistently using it in college to take notes more quickly (EMMA HOWELLS / FILE)

“

I think the greatest success is found in time management for students, So coming in ready to plan, using some sort of planner or calendar is really helpful.”

- Student Success Advisor Katie Thompson

Fletcher said.

If you aren’t sure where to start with notes, OU’s website offers advice on note-taking.

Not all students take such a tedious approach to classes, though. Thomas Linscott, a 2017 OU alumnus who studied finance, said students should “chill” when it comes to classes.

“Just show up,” Linscott said. “As long as you show up, nobody’s going to fail you.”

Of course, showing up is half the battle. High school seniors sometimes wake up at obscene hours of the morning to attend class, but by the time they’re college freshmen, regularly attending a 9 a.m. class can seem daunting.

Whenever you’re tempted to skip class, just remember that you’re technically losing more than $20 for the class if it meets three times a week and more than $30 if it meets just twice a week.

Of course, not all students at OU think

the academics are important. Nick Stellato, a rising senior studying finance, said students shouldn’t worry about their academic success, but instead they focus on finding their interests and goals.

“Academic success is just gonna be academic success,” Stellato said. “It’s not gonna lead to success in other areas of your life.”

It’s natural for freshmen to be nervous, Thompson said. She encourages firstyear students to embrace change and remember that there are always faculty members available to help.

“A lot of change is happening in that first year,” Thompson said. “This change can be hard. I always tell them to not be afraid to ask for help, to utilize resources that are available and to connect with their faculty.”

@LECKRONEBENNETT BL646915@OHIO.EDU

Pumpkin, the cat, lives in the Athens County Board of Elections building. (SETH ARCHER / FILE)

Local traditions you won’t find anywhere else BAILEY GALLION ASST. NEWS EDITOR Some college traditions, like homecoming or all-nighters in the library, are universal, but certain Athens and Ohio University traditions are unique. Here are the experiences OU students will need to check out by the time they graduate: ATHENS BLOCK Many of the bricks in the roads and sidewalks of Athens bear the name of the local company that made them, Athens Block LLC. The bricks have become an unofficial emblem for the town and a part of the OU tradition.

Students through the years have stolen the bricks to take a physical piece of Athens with them. The tradition dates back to the 1960s, according to a previous Post report.

Stealing bricks is illegal, though, and could result in criminal charges. University officials also discourage students from removing bricks because it can make sidewalks more dangerous and less accessible to

people in wheelchairs.

For those who don’t want to acquire souvenirs illegally, there are other options. Gift shops sell replica bricks and items bearing the “Athens Block” design that won’t leave holes in the street.

ATHENS EATS Uptown Athens houses numerous local restaurants. A few big-name franchises occupy Court Street, including Wendy’s, Chipotle and Jimmy John’s, but the most memorable spots in town are local establishments.

Students seeking a daytime lunch spot can eat at Bagel Street Deli, Court Street Diner and many other locations. Coffee shops like Donkey Coffee and Court Street Coffee provide students a study space or a caffeine jolt between classes.

Local late night “drunk food” locations include O’Betty’s Red Hot, Union Street Diner and Uptown Grill, home of the infamous Chicken ‘N Waffle sandwich.

THE GRAFFITI WALL Three walls outside of Bentley Hall

function as designated spaces for student and community expression. Students usually refer to the walls collectively as “the graffiti wall.”

For OU students, the wall and the slogans that appear on it can be a fun tradition, a nuisance or a point of contention. Student organizations paint it to advertise events and celebrate achievements, and local artists decorate it with spray-painted murals.

Whether their experiences with the graffiti wall are positive or negative, many OU students graduate with memories about the paintings on the wall.

PETTING PUMPKIN Some students develop a fondness for Pumpkin, a pudgy orange cat who lives at the Athens County Board of Elections building, 15 S. Court St. Athens County Board of Elections Director Debbie Quivey and Deputy Director Penny Brooks adopted Pumpkin in 2012, according to a previous Post report.

The local celebrity often occupies a windowsill in the building and watches peo-

ple on the sidewalk.

Students can stop in to pet him or wave as they walk by. Pumpkin also has a guestbook and an Instagram account.

EXPLORING THE RIDGES On a hill overlooking campus sits The Ridges, a former mental institution.

The Athens Lunatic Asylum opened in 1874. The facility was known for its beautiful grounds and gardens. As patient population increased during the later years of its operation, treatments such as shock therapy and lobotomies increased. The state of Ohio gave The Ridges to OU in 1988.

The place is rumored to be haunted. The Ridges features old buildings and cemeteries. The gravestones in the cemeteries are labeled with numbers, not names, marking the patients buried there.

Walking tours are available for students who want to explore the grounds and learn more about the institution’s history.

@BAILEYGALLION BG27261W4@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

OHIO BASEBALL 2018

PREVIEW

ANTHONY POISAL FOR THE POST

C

oach Rob Smith entered 2017 with a plan to turn his team’s biggest weaknesses into strengths.

That plan has carried out nicely for him and the Bobcats, as the pitching staff has been one of the most consistent in the Mid-American Conference, while the fielding has been among the best in the nation.

But not everything has been smooth for Ohio, as the offense has often been at fault for its losses, which have frequently come because of the bats failing to pick up the solid work turned in from the mound.

STRENGTH IN ARMS To improve from its 23-29 record in 2016, Ohio needed any form of improvement from its pitching staff, which finished with a displeasing 4.87 ERA and lacked consistency all season.

But Smith identified his team’s problems and made some changes that saved his team from a potentially abysmal season. Senior Jake Rudnicki made a smooth transition from starter to reliever and was often used as an efficient setup man in addition to a reliable long-reliever, a pair of crucial roles for a team that was often in close games in final innings.

Filling in for Rudnicki’s starting spot, as well as the departure of other frequent starters who were graduating seniors, were redshirt juniors Michael Klein and Gerry Salisbury and junior Butch Baird.

The trio of starters showed incredible consistency throughout Ohio’s weekend games and, whenever the offense delivered, wins were often the reward.

From the bullpen, the Bobcats will miss the efforts of graduating senior Jake Roehn, who served as one of the most reliable closers in the MAC and proved capable in pitching in the clutch.

In addition to Roehn and Rudnicki, Ohio will have a tall task in replacing frequent relievers in Tom Colletti and Matt Mikolajczak, a pair that proved capable in eating innings.

In all, Ohio’s successes were largely based on the work from its pitching staff, as the question marks that filled it at the season’s start were quickly answered.

NEED FOR OFFENSIVE SUPPORT Several of Ohio’s losses came in frustrating fashion, as the offense often struggled to pick up the qual-

24 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

Jake Roehn runs to first base base during Ohio’s game against Morehead State University on March 21. Ohio lost 3-1. (BLAKE NISSEN / FILE)

ity work put in from the mound.

Though the Bobcats had no real issues in putting men on base, it was simply driving them in that caused Ohio trouble, as Smith was a frequent preacher of efficient situational hitting throughout the season.

Ohio will have to replace the efforts of graduating seniors in outfielder Spencer Ibarra, second baseman Ty Black, third baseman Connor Callery and shortstop Ty Finkler, all of whom were among the team’s leaders in at-bats.

But the Bobcats still own some potential at the plate, as first baseman Rudy Rott was often at the core of Ohio’s offensive success. The sophomore was among the team’s leaders in the long ball, including a week-long stretch in mid-April in which he hit five home runs.

Smith will need to deploy a new batch of infielders for next season, and, in addition to a boost in offense, Ohio will be lucky to reach anywhere near the level of defense from 2017.

STELLAR DEFENSE Ohio boasted a top-five defense in the nation throughout most of the season, with a fielding percentage that floated in the .980s and was always just a few ticks from the No. 1 spot.

The defense undoubtedly played a role in Ohio’s success. In 2016, the Bobcats committed 63 errors. By mid-season of 2017, the team had committed just 17 errors and were on pace to nearly cut their previous season’s error total in half.

But with three of the four infielder spots now up for grabs and the loss of one of the team’s most talented defensive gloves in Ibarra, the next wave of defenders will carry a big load in attempting to match the numbers from 2017.

@ANTHONYP_2 AP012215@OHIO.EDU

TALENT READY TO FILL VOIDS The Bobcats will have to find a way to replace Savannah Jo Dorsey, Madison Claytor and Casie Hutchinson.

Taylor Saxton celebrates after she scores a run in Ohio’s March 25 game against Toledo at the Ohio Softball Stadium.. (HANNAH RUHOFF / FILE)

JIMMY FARMER FOR THE POST

O

hio is coming off its third season of 30-plus wins in the last four years, but it will face the challenge of replacing a legend in the 2017-18 academic year.

The Bobcats have become one of the most consistent sports programs at Ohio due to the right arm of Savannah Jo Dorsey. Dorsey graduated from Ohio as the program’s leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched and complete games, among other accolades.

Losing a pro-

gram-changer in Dorsey will be a big loss for Ohio, but the Bobcats will still have a talented pitching rotation.

Taking the top spot in the rotation will be Danielle Stiene, who pitched a perfect game in the 2017 season. Stiene is often overlooked because she pitched behind Dorsey for the majority of her career, but she is entering her senior season already holding Mid-American Conference team honors in 2016 and the honor of being ranked in one of the top 50 Fastpitch pitchers in a 2017 Fastpitch News poll.

Behind Stiene, Ohio

will have sophomore Desirae Villanueva, who showed flashes of great potential in her freshman season, including a complete game victory in just her second career start.

Also entering the rotation for Ohio will be incoming freshman Madi McCrady, who signed with Ohio during the early signing period.

Those three will look to keep Ohio’s pitching staff the best in the MAC in the new year, but they will have the challenge of doing so without catcher Madison Claytor.

Claytor graduated from Ohio as one of the

most consistent players coach Jodi Hermanek had. Claytor was an extension of Hermanek on the field, often giving the advice Hermanek was going to share during a circle visit before she even reached it.

The Ohio pitching staff also raved about Claytor’s game plan behind the plate and contributed much of its success to the catcher.

Replacing Claytor will be Natalie Alvarez, who mostly played right field during the 2017 season to keep her bat in the lineup. But when Alvarez did get behind the plate, Stiene raved about Al-

varez’s ability to pick up on parts of Stiene’s mechanics and help her adjust during rough patches of her starts.

Also set to enter the fold for Ohio will be incoming freshman Brooke Rice, who signed with Ohio during the early signing period.

Offensively, the Bobcats made great strides behind the tutorship of assistant coach Jeremy Manley. Morgan Geno, Alex Day and MacKenzie Brunswick all saw major increases in their offense production last season with Manley’s help.

Those three will look to continue to improve,

while Mikayla Cooper, Taylor Saxton and Alexa Holland will look to continue their consistent hitting from the past season and keep Ohio as one of the top offenses in the MAC. The Bobcats have a talented roster, despite losing Dorsey, Claytor and infielder Casie Hutchinson to graduation, and they will look to win the MAC and take another step toward national success.

@JIMMYFARMER13 JF744915@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 25

FOOTBALL

Quinton Maxwell (7) signals to the rest of the offense against Kent State in Dix Field October 22. Ohio won 14-10. (MATT STARKEY / FILE)

Ohio quarterback battle continues CAMERON FIELDS FOR THE POST

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Two years ago, a battle occurred between Derrius Vick and JD Sprague. A year ago, Quinton Maxwell took one on with Greg Windham.

Those have been Ohio’s two quarterback battles of the past two years. And this year, Maxwell, the presumptive starting quarterback, does not have his job fully secure.

Maxwell will battle with Nathan Rourke, a rising junior quarterback who transferred from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. A Canada native, Rourke began to show why he could compete for the starting job during spring practice.

Rourke began the spring season learning the Bobcats’ offense, but as the season wore on, he started to make improvements. His reads became sharper, his throws more precise.

Though Rourke began to improve, he still showed a flaw near the end of spring practice. When throwing across the middle, Rourke seemingly would overlook a safety or other defensive back across the secondary, and the safety would often intercept his passes. It’s important to remember, he’s still new to the offense.

Rourke still has time in fall camp to

make improvements, but that means the other half of the battle, Maxwell, does too.

Last season, Maxwell took the starting job away from former quarterback Greg Windham. Windham’s production began to dip during the middle of the season, and Maxwell earned the first start of his collegiate career last October against Kent State University.

Maxwell threw for 1,247 yards and eight touchdowns during his redshirt freshman season.

Aside from those two quarterbacks both having legitimate shots at being the starter, Ohio likes to have two quarterbacks ready throughout the season.

That’s not unusual; it’s simply about being prepared.

If one quarterback goes down because of injury, then the next one can enter the starting role seamlessly.

But perhaps Ohio doesn’t mind having a minor quarterback battle for a reason other than being prepared: The Bobcats simply love the competition.

Maxwell is the favorite to win the job, and with his strong work ethic, he probably will. But Rourke will be waiting to rise, because for Ohio, a quarterback always is.

@CAMERONFIELDS_ CF710614@OHIO.EDU

HOCKEY

Ohio hockey’s 2016-17 season in review Despite losing 10 seniors, Ohio has high expectations going into next season JORDAN HORROBIN STAFF WRITER The only disappointment came at the very end.

For a team rich with seniors and budding freshmen, Ohio didn’t disappoint.

The team climbed to the finals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament before falling to Central Oklahoma.

The trip to the national championship game marked the Bobcats’ first since the 2003-04 season.

In the years since, they’ve won no fewer than 65 percent of their games each season, but they always came up short in the single-elimination ACHA tournament.

Though 10 seniors have departed, there is an expectation that another strong year lies ahead. Eight of the team’s top-12 scorers are returning, including center Gianni Evangelisti, a rising sophomore.

Evangelisti will most likely vault from a third-line center to the top line next season, as the two senior centers in front of him have graduated. He finished with 32 points in 28 games — third-best on the team — thanks in part to exceptional puck control and a combination of speed and skill.

On the defensive side, rising sophomore Jake Houston is the best bet to run Ohio’s top power play unit, as he did for most of his first season. Houston led all

Bobcat defensemen in assists and points and was named a finalist for ACHA National Rookie of the Year.

While Ohio coach Sean Hogan will probably add two goalies to his upcoming freshman class, he appears to have found his starter for the foreseeable future in Jimmy Thomas.

Despite entering last season’s practices behind seniors Aaron Alkema and Ryan Heltion — who had combined to start more than 90 percent of Ohio’s games the previous three seasons — Thomas rose to the starting role.

He finished his first year with a 13-41 record, a 2.38 goals-against average, a .890 save percentage and three shutouts in 19 games.

Ohio dominated most opponents last season, losing two games in a row just twice in 37 games. For all the players the Bobcats lost, many contributors are returning.

Not to mention that this past year’s freshman class was Hogan’s strongest in three years, which suggests that next year’s group may follow suit.

The captain leadership, a topic Hogan stresses, should be a non-issue once again. The players unanimously selected defenseman Jake Faiella as their captain, with defenseman Grant Hazel and forward Mike Palasics set to serve as assistants.

“It’s an honor to be selected as captain of the Ohio Hockey program by my teammates,” Faiella said in a statement released by the team. “I am excited about the upcoming season and feel we have a special group that has an opportunity at success.”

@JORDANHORROBIN JH950614@OHIO.EDU

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Joe Breslin works his way down the ice during Ohio’s game against The University of Oklahoma during the ACHA National Tournament (BLAKE NISSEN / FILE)

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28 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

side the main building. OU houses offices in The Ridges as well.

Nearby the mostly abandoned main building lies a cemetery with nameless graves. There are also other spooky tales, one of which involves a stain inside the hospital from a decomposed body. Because of the ambiance, many have dubbed The Ridges as haunted.

The Ridges also has several scenic hiking trails for those who are more faint of heart.

“If you go past the graveyard and up the hill, there’s a trail to this awesome meadow during springtime, which is beautiful,” Amanda Poll, a 2017 OU alumna, said. “I love to run up to Radar Hill.”

Hocking Hills State Park is located about an hour away from Ohio University and is a popular spot for students to visit for hiking and camping. (EMMA HOWELLS / FILE)

Athens Adventures ABBEY MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

During your four years on campus, you’re bound to get bored milling up and down Court Street every night, but Athens has plenty more to offer. In the surrounding area, there are an abundance of locations to explore.

THE RIDGES Students who are brave of heart can take a trek up to The Ridges, a piece of land purchased by Ohio University in the late 20th century that used to serve as a mental health center.

The Athens Lunatic Asylum, as it was named when it opened in 1874, housed patients with mental health issues. The state and federal government purchased more than 1,000 acres

of land to construct the hospital. Since the piece of land was so large, patients could roam the complex, tend to the orchards, take walks and attend plays.

As the number of patients dwindled — when practices such as shock therapy and lobotomies became more controversial — the main hospital building became abandoned. The bulk of the hospital is still uninhabited, though the Kennedy Museum of Art is housed in-

STROUDS RUN Strouds Run State Park is roughly a 15 minute drive from campus. The park is comprised of more than 2,000 acres, including a 161-acre artificial lake. In the late summer and early spring, students flock to Dow Lake to rent canoes, kayaks and pontoon boats to soak up the sun and explore the lake. There is even a small beach with sand and access to swimming. “(When I went last week), there was a nice sunset over the water,” Jillian Sosnak, a rising sophomore studying biology, said. “There wasn’t a lot of people walking around either, which was nice.”

There are also hiking paths and campgrounds.

“We went on a hike around the entire lake last week,” Lillian Cahill, a rising sophomore studying biology, said.

“We went about eight miles. … It was really secluded.”

HOCKING HILLS If you’re looking for a day trip, Hocking Hills State Park is the perfect location. The park is located in Hocking County, about an hour’s drive from Athens. The park is chock-full of scenic trails that include waterfalls, streams and more.

“I’m a photographer, so I go to a lot of places like Hocking Hills,” Evan Schmidt, an OU alumnus, said. “If you take more of the unknown trails, you can find some really cool vantage points of the lakes around here.”

The most popular trail is Old Man’s Cave, which derives its name from a hermit who lived in the large cave on the trail.

“I didn’t go to Old Man’s Cave until (my senior) year and I now regret life because it’s so awesome,” Schmidt said.

@ABBEYMARSHALL AM877915@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 29

A dog is enjoying the Playtime with Puppies event on South Green on April 21. (LAILA RIAZ / FOR THE POST)

Volunteering as a form of pet therapy Raise money for Athens County Dog Shelter while having fun with shelter dogs MAE YEN YAP CULTURE EDITOR Leaving for college can be difficult, but leaving a pet can make it even harder.

Luckily, for Ohio University students there are ways to volunteer and help animals at the same time. Paws for a Cause and Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs are among some of the organizations students can join on campus.

Both organizations work in support of the Athens County Dog Shelter to help raise awareness, money and find forever homes 30 / THE ORIENTATION GUIDE 2017

for stray dogs. Although the two organizations focus mainly on helping stray dogs, Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs helped raise money for veterinary bills and found homes for four stray kittens last year, according to a previous Post report.

While some students were hitting the books in the library a week before finals, Hannah Gagne was busy introducing students to puppies on South Green.

“Playtime with Puppies” is an event Paws for a Cause hosts near the dorms whenever a resident assistant sends a request their way.

“There’s a reason (why) we bring dogs to campus so often,” Gagne, the co-president of Paws for a Cause, said. “(It) helps calm people down and make them happy, especially before finals week.”

Jena Albers, president of Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs, said she noticed she was in a better mood every time she knew she was

going to the shelter.

“I knew I was going to be able to go see these dogs and take a break from studying,” Albers, a 2017 OU alumna, said. “As a college student, it’s such an important thing to make sure you’re doing that for yourself.”

For Albers, the main thing that changed after joining Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs was that she “went from being a lover of animals to being an advocate for them.”

“I used to be like, ‘Oh, that’s a cute puppy,’ but now I think, ‘Look at these puppies that need homes (and) love. What can I do for them?’ ” Albers said. “That’s definitely something that changed in my life.”

Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs often hold fundraisers, selling t-shirts and dog treats at Baker Center, and the proceeds go directly to the local dog shelter to help spay and neuter dogs, as well as attend to any vaccinations or medical attention that the animals may need, she said.

“It’s really cool to get to see how the money we raise (is) really saving lives,” Albers said.

Bringing the dogs to campus and helping them socialize with other dogs and people is a “huge perk” of being part of Paws for a Cause, Gagne, a junior studying early childhood education, said.

“It’s fun hanging out with friends and playing with the dogs,” she said.

After spending so much time at the shelter, Albers can see the positive effects her presence has on the dogs.

“You can just see how much happier (the dogs) are to get that time outside,” Albers said. “It really helps them remember the world is good and there are people out there that want to help them and that is really, really a cool thing to see.”

@SUMMERINMAE MY389715@OHIO.EDU

Dorm Do’s and Don’ts Leave the mop and Ohio State University apparel at home, but be sure to bring shower shoes and your bike DON’T BRING:

ANASTASIA NICHOLAS FOR THE POST Many incoming Ohio University freshmen move away from home for the first time when they get to college and might be at a complete loss of what they need to pack.

OU’s move-in guide lists more than 50 items to bring to campus, but not all of those items are needed.

3. A carpet or rug Bringing a rug wasn’t even on my radar when I was packing. Thankfully, my roommate brought a rug that covered most of the floor. I don’t know what we would have done without it. Dorm rooms have tile flooring that get cold in the winter, and I wouldn’t have wanted to walk barefoot.

BRING:

1. Plates and utensils I wrongly assumed I would be eating all meals in the dining halls. At least half the time, I ended up getting my food togo and eating in my dorm. The dining halls provide plastic utensils, but I got silverware to avoid creating unnecessary waste. Plates and bowls are useful for the same reason, plus they’re good for putting in the microwave.

2. Your bike You can get anywhere on OU’s campus in less than 15 minutes on foot, but a bike helps speed up the process. And it’s always fun to simply take a bike ride, even if you don’t have a destination in mind.

Don’t forget to bring a bike lock, too.

4. Shower shoes That being said, you will need a pair of cheap flip-flops to wear in the shower or to simply walk around your residence hall.

I was always disgusted when I noticed the girl in the bathroom stall next to me was barefoot. Don’t be that person. Your don’t want your neighbors’ first impression of you to be that you have poor foot hygiene.

5. A keychain A keychain or lanyard is the quintessential freshman identifier, so don’t wear it around your neck. Still, it was extremely useful for me to have my Ohio ID and my room key in one consolidated area, as you need both to get into your residence hall. If you lose either, it will cost $12 for a new Ohio ID and $95 for a new room key.

A keychain can help save you that trouble.

1. A television Everyone I know who brought a TV said they ended up not using it — same with the kids who brought a gaming console. The residence halls have TVs in their lobbies, which helps with making friends.

For shows that I couldn’t bear missing, I was able to stream them online.

4. Pets Several girls on my floor brought small pets with them, but that is against the Housing Student Handbook. All animals, except fish, are not allowed in residence halls, according to the handbook. That does not, however, apply to a service or an approved emotional support animal.

2. Your car Every underclassman I knew who brought a car to campus ended up rarely using it. They had to pay for a parking passes in remote locations. One of my friends had to go on a 20-minute bike ride to get to his car. If you live on campus, bringing your car with you is essentially a money hole.

O

5. A mop I went all year without using mine.

@STASIA_NICHOLAS AN631715@OHIO.EDU 3. Ohio State University apparel It should be obvious, but not everyone realizes it’s unnecessary to bring other schools’ merchandise to campus with you. By that same token, your wardrobe doesn’t need to be entirely made up of OU gear and nothing else, either.

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