As the faithful readers of The Post know, The Ridges tuberculosis ward was demolished during spring break. While thousands of OU students worried about getting drunk on the beaches, dealing with issues within their families or just having fun, the university acted quickly and quietly and wrecked a crucial part of Athens history. The TB Ward is no more.
But let’s look at what actually happened. From the article in Monday’s Post: “…the demolition was done without the approval from a university advisory committee… This fact has angered area advocates, but OU did not break the law mandating the creation of the committee — it just hasn’t reconvened the committee that has not met since 1991.”
So, the university technically acted legally and ignored the pleas of students. But then, what else is new?
This is exactly the kind of crap that I’ve been ranting about occasionally in my letters to The Post for the past three years: the administration DOESN’T CARE. They don’t care that I’m paying $3,000 more to come to OU today than I was four years ago, and I don’t even live in a dorm anymore. They don’t care that this semester switch cost more than it was worth. The only person that I’ve seen who gives an ounce of care about the students is our VP for Student Affairs, Ryan Lombardi. Kudos to him. Fie on President McDavis and fie on our Board of Trustees.
Students that have been activating for issues like the tuition hike and President McDavis’ ridiculous salary are doing some great stuff, and one day you’ll make excellent lobbyists and activists and whatever you’re choosing to do with your degrees. Let me make this clear: I am all for what you are doing; to be against it in any capacity would be counterproductive to everything I’ve studied for the past four years. Keep doing what you’re doing; one day, you may find a receptive regime that listens to you.
However, as long as McDavis and our university administration treat the students as if they don’t matter and neglect our opinions (see the provost’s visit to Student Senate to defend McDavis’ raise), we are going to see nothing but apathy from them. Their ignorance will be our demise.
Students, we’ve been defeated by our administration that has been apathetic at best, and completely ignorant at worst. However, we can’t stop just because we’re not being listened to. This is what should inspire us to become active in our government after we graduate. If we can persevere while talking to a wall, we sure as hell can do it while talking to a government that has to listen to us.
So keep your skills sharp, fellow activists. You are the future of America.
Tom Pinney is a senior studying political science at Ohio University.
