Almost two years ago, I wrote an article titled, “Why OU isn’t fun.” For some reason, many of you, the readers, took offense to my statement. I mean, I seriously can’t understand why a bunch of Ohio University students and alumni would be offended by such a title. Very rarely do writers receive letters to the editor, but I did.
In “Letter to the Editor: Dear 'Darn it, Daniel,'” the writer addressed things from the outdoors to the outdoors, and a lot more of the outdoors. Let’s just say this cat is an inside cat. Just kidding.
The letter is lovely, and I suggest everyone read it. I agree with the writer Autumn Warren on a fundamental level. I love the people here, I love the things I’ve done and created here, but I fear the point I made in my column was missed.
“But, I urge you to cast your gaze wider than the Ohio University campus and the ruins that are Court Street,” the letter said. That’s exactly what my issue is, my friend.
My point of writing that column was never to belittle the community of Athens, but more so to empathize with the underclassmen who are cooped up in dorms and don’t find the joy in committing a federal offense to go to a bar.
I’m sorry, but as a freshman entering college, you don’t have the same opportunities as a junior or senior, or even a sophomore. It’s hard here; it's hard to connect to people, no matter how social you are. It’s even hard to get groceries. Things begin to change for a student when they can make a meal for themselves in their own kitchen.
Seriously, though, I’ve been to around 75 band shows at The Union Bar, where you can enter at 18 years old, 30 OU-run events, 10 different organizations and clubs and every bar up and down Court Street (legally, by the way).
Here’s what I have to say: I wish it were easier for students to connect with clubs or organizations. I wish it were easier for them to access a home-cooked meal. But truly, I wish it were easier for students to access easy, innocent fun.
I will never be one to deny the fact there’s nothing quite like sitting in a booth with friends sipping on an Angry Orchard, as that is some of the most fun I’ve ever had, but you don’t have to drink to have fun.
Now, since I wrote that column, I have found things that are entirely local to OU, no car needed and pure fun.
Take your friends to The Star Chamber Arcade. Drop $20 or so, go for an hour or two to play arcade games and have a good time with friends.
No matter what kind of an athlete you are, I urge every single person on campus to go to Penn Ultimate Frisbert Phun Thyme. Frisbert is a non-competitive Frisbee club for people who are looking for easy exercise without the fear of gym bros whose biceps are bigger than my head. Ultimate Frisbee is every Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at Walter Field House. It’s beautiful. You should go for the name alone.
If you don’t know how to throw a Frisbee, don’t worry. You will learn, and no one will judge you. If you want to, you can walk up and down the field just talking and not even touch a Frisbee, but go for the community alone.
Sure, some of the people there are way too competitive for a club that is entirely about non-competitive, no-score Frisbee. But I promise you, Dave Deibi, the coordinator, or at least someone on your team will be nice enough to talk to and you will at least have some sort of fun.
Go to a Union Bar event that caters to you, or even better, one that completely doesn’t. If I had a nickel for every Variant magazine event I’ve been to and made a complete fool of myself dancing with my girlfriend, I would have quite a few.
So, dance your butt off. As my dad once told me when I first came to OU, “You gotta dance.” Dance with the girl you like, dance with your best friend, it doesn’t matter, just dance. If you are scared of embarrassing yourself or looking like a fool, you probably will, so do it anyway. You’re not the only one out there who is embarrassed. I hate dancing, and I still do it.
Finally, if you don’t care about anything else, I say get on Bobcat Connect. I promise you will find a club or organization you feel comfortable in, even if it takes a couple of tries. Don’t be afraid to do something and fail, don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself doing it, and certainly don’t be afraid to laugh hard while doing so.
I’m sorry for my absence. Throughout my time writing for The Post, there has been one thing that I’ve tried my best to do and that’s to provide an authentic representation of the Ohio University experience and one that people can connect with or even heavily disagree with. That’s why I was extremely honored for Autumn Warren to write to me. It’s great to be back!
Daniel Gorbett is a junior at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Daniel know by emailing him at dg371822@ohio.edu.
