I, as a proud member of the Ohio University student population, am quite honestly exhausted and appalled by all of the recent demonizing of the proud enrollees of this institution by the local press.
Columnists like Janet Nester sit upon an abstract high ground and denounce the activities of her fellow students, and meanwhile we continue to read your publication. The fact is that Athens, Ohio would exist in a form easily comparable to any number of southeastern Ohio locations -in its unfortunate poverty and underfunding -were it not for its large student population created by this university.
Columnists like Nester and publications such as The Post and The Athens Messenger seem to set out to do nothing but create an image of all students as rank, despicable, destructive and maniacal individuals who fulfill an imaginary blood lust by attacking police officers and setting couches ablaze.
I suggest that those who agree with Nester's philosophy that OU students are some abominable plague upon the city, take a moment to reflect and thank the same individuals for providing this area with every advantage it has been afforded by our presence. If you don't like it, then go to work for the local media and further their propaganda campaigns to villainize every student.
-Eric Dryden is a senior creative writing major and former columnist for The Post. Send him an e-mail at ed890402@ohiou.edu.
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Letter to the Editor
