A movement that began in New York City and spread throughout the world will land at Ohio University tonight as OU students and faculty begin their own version of the Occupy Wall Street protests.
The participants of “Occupy OhioU” will camp out at the site of the old Oasis dining facility, next to the top of Morton Hill, beginning at 5 p.m. today.
Students will set up tents and attempt to “occupy” the area 24/7 for the upcoming week in an echo of the nationwide protests that began last month in New York City. The mostly college-age protestors in New York spoke out against economic difficulties facing much of America and what they saw as a lack of dialogue between the government and American citizens.
OU students will add their own spin to the protests, said Tyler Barton, a senior studying chemistry who is helping organize the Occupy OhioU events.
Barton said he doesn’t think Student Senate is properly representative of students. He added that students’ rights are limited because they cannot vote for student trustees, and student trustees’ rights are limited because they don’t have a vote on the Board of Trustees.
“Generally, I’d like to see more students become political,” Barton said. “There’s a very strong understanding among most students that something is not quite right in the world.”
The group originally planned to protest on the grassy strip in front of the second-floor entrance to Alden Library but will instead be meeting at the old Oasis space.
OU President Roderick McDavis said the demonstration plans didn’t bother him.
“I think it’s great to have students and faculty who express thoughts and feelings on the issues of our time,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll be able to find a space where students and faculty can do their events and activities.”
—Rebecca McKinsey
rm279109@ohiou.edu
