The property on which students once gathered for a late-night snack is now occupied by activists during the day and tents at night.
Students, faculty and Athens residents will “Occupy OhioU” this week in an effort to bring the larger-based New York City protests to Ohio University’s campus.
Last night, the group began a weeklong demonstration to localize national and international complaints that the government is not listening to the people.
Last night, participants set up tents at the area next to Morton Hill that used to house the Oasis dining facility. They set demonstration goals and ground rules for how to use the space, said Tyler Barton, a senior studying chemistry who is helping organize Occupy OhioU events.
“Ultimately what will come out of this (occupation) is what we all decide and what the shared concerns are,” Barton said. “Significant demands have not yet been determined.”
About 10 people have actively led the organization of the Occupy OhioU events, but more than 30 have been involved in the planning in some way, Barton said.
In addition to students and Athens residents, Assistant Professor Louis-Georges Schwartz, director of the MA program in film studies, and Professor Judith Grant, director of women’s and gender studies, have played a big help, Barton added.
The group originally planned to “occupy” the grassy area in front of the second-floor entrance of Alden Library but decided to use the old Oasis space instead.
“We know some people are not going to like that we will be there, and it is too easy for someone to drive by (the library spot) and throw stuff,” Barton said. “(The former Oasis space is) still a very high-traffic area, and I don’t think anything is lost by sleeping there — just safer and less loud.”
Although both spaces were considered, university officials expressed concerns for the safety of participants in front of Alden.
“Everyone has to be safe; that has to be the top priority,” said Becky Watts, chief of staff to OU President Roderick McDavis.
Barton said he believes the weather will play a large factor in the amount of people who decide to sleep overnight.
Students who are participating in the Occupy OhioU demonstrations said they think the sentiments being expressed in New York City are relevant in Athens as well.
“To think what happens on Wall Street doesn’t affect us here would be foolish,” said Scott Eardley, a senior studying chemical engineering who helped Barton organize the occupation. “We want to try to get people to talk about this and grow towards a common vision.”
Event organizers spoke with Ohio University Police Department Chief Andrew Powers and Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi, who agreed to allow the occupation to take place until at least Friday.
“If we stay longer than Friday, their willingness to let us stay there is most likely not going to continue,” Barton said.
McDavis said he has no problem with the occupation and believes it will end without violence or need for police action.
“I think it’s great to have students and faculty who express thoughts and feelings on the issues of our time,” he said.
Barton said he is interested in seeing how university policymakers respond to the occupation.
He added that he would like students to have a say in who serves as student trustees, that there should be more student trustees and that the student members of the OU Board of Trustees should have a vote in the group. He also wants to see changes in the way the general fee is allocated.
“In general, I would like to see more students become activists and think more in-depth on these issues,” Barton said.
Tyler Norris, a senior studying political science, had planned a similar protest for this Friday near Chase Bank on Court Street before hearing of the Occupy OhioU demonstration.
“It’s not about being conservative or liberal but about a way to voice our opinion in the only way we can — collectively,” said Norris, who plans to sleep on the Oasis property all week.
Barton said he expects results from the occupation.
“Protesting is a part of it, but an occupation is more than a protest. … A lot will likely come out of this that hasn’t surfaced yet, he said.”
af234909@ohiou.edu
