Yesterday marked the end of another quarter. It was the first for some, the last for others. Whether it was the marches against Issue 2 or the “blackout” Temple football game, the past 10 weeks left a lasting impression on Ohio University.
With Issue 2 on the ballot, this fall’s election meant a lot to OU students and Athens alike. For a while, it was impossible to walk in Athens without seeing signs urging constituents to vote “no” on Issue 2 and repeal the controversial Senate Bill 5, which limited public workers’ collective-bargaining rights. Given the evident relevance of the now-repealed law to this city, it was great to see the town-gown line fade for a shared cause.
On that note, we hope the university and city can continue to work together for the betterment of all Athens residents. That happened when the university pitched in to help pay for the new fire and ladder truck. We hope this relationship continues to be a two-way conversation and will take place at every level of university and city relations.
We could also see the relationship blossom with a safer Halloween. There was a major drop in arrests from 213 last year to 148 this year. That reduction could be a reflection of the joint effort between OU and the city to keep residents and students safe. However, this Halloween could be best remembered through the “We’re a culture, not a costume” campaign. STARS, the creator of the campaign, got students talking about deeper issues of Halloween besides underage and binge drinking — even if it was for only a weekend.
Campus safety also gained a lot of attention during the course of the quarter because of an increased number of reported sexual assaults last school year. Whether it’s brought up at Student Senate or City Council meetings, campus safety has became a talking point, and students are becoming aware of ways to keep themselves safe.
Success can’t be marked by only what the city and OU have done. Ohio Athletics deserves a lot of appreciation as well. Most teams had success in garnering regional and national attention. Field hockey took first place in the Mid-American Conference and went on to be in the NCAA tournament before losing to the top-ranked North Carolina this weekend. Cross-country runner Julia Accurso placed first in the MAC championships, leading the women’s cross-country team to a fourth-place finish. Volleyball took second in the MAC in regular season play and is beginning the MAC tournament.
We can’t forget the success of the football team this season. After ending last season with a loss in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the team leads the MAC East. In a few weeks, we hope to send them to Detroit with a spot in the MAC championship game.
After exam week, a lot of us will be aching for home. But while we’re home, keep in mind everything that happened Fall Quarter and bring back the enthusiasm so we can stave off the winter blues. In six weeks, most of us will be back in Athens, so let’s make Winter Quarter as remarkable as the last.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors.
