Going to a new place can be daunting, especially when starting a university career. To help make this process as easy as possible, here is a quick look into the who and where of Ohio University.
Notable places on campus include Baker University Center, Nelson Court, Boyd Dining Hall, Alden Library, the College Bookstore, Ping Recreation Center, Chubb Hall and Hudson Health Center.
Baker is located at 1 Park Place. There, students will find dining options, such as West 82 and Latitude 39, as well as the new Maggie Davis Market Express. Baker is also home to numerous conference rooms, a theater, Bobcat Depot and The Post newsroom.
Across the street from the fourth floor of Baker is Alden. Alden, located at 30 Park Place, houses seven floors of books and study rooms. The library has rooms and hushpods available to reserve during busy study days. Café Bibliotech is located on the second floor of Alden, where students can use flex points and Bobcat Cash for their purchases.
OU has two major dining halls: Nelson, located on South Green, and Boyd Dining Hall on West Green, otherwise known as The District on West Green. Both dining halls have markets inside, with Nelson housing a coffee shop and Southside Espresso Bar, and Boyd with a smoothie bar known as Smooth Moves. Both dining halls serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In the mood to get a workout in? Head to Ping at 82 South Green Drive. There, one will find three floors worth of treadmills, stair steppers, fitness classes, weight rooms and more. For those who like to run or walk, there is also an indoor track on the third floor that spans the interior perimeter of the building. There is also a squash court, five basketball or volleyball courts, four racquetball courts and a 36-foot-tall, double-sided climbing wall.
For financial questions, head to Chubb Hall at 1 Ohio University Drive. There, students can get more information about scholarships, financial aid and can speak with people in the registrar’s office. When students go in-person or call, they must know their PID number.
Sickness is no rare thing during school, and sometimes, a trip to the doctor is needed. Students who have to see a doctor can go to Hudson Health Center for free or low-cost treatment. Students do not have to be enrolled in OU’s student health insurance plan to receive care at Hudson Health Center. Urgent care is on the first floor of the building, and walk-ins are available. Hudson Health offers several services to students, such as cold and flu treatment, physical exams and mental health counseling.
Want to stay ahead of your classes and ensure excellence? Make an appointment at the Academic Achievement Center on campus. There, students can receive help writing papers through in-person or virtual tutoring and peer-assisted learning. The center also offers resources, such as first-generation student success and academic coaching.
Students in need of OU merch or textbooks can go to the College Bookstore on 50 S. Court St. The store has sale sections, where t-shirts are $8.88, and crewnecks are $18.04. The bookstore also has a wide selection of textbooks for a majority of OU’s courses.
Notable people in the area include OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, OUPD Chief Andrew Powers, OU Student Senate President Donald Theisen, Athens Mayor Steve Patterson and Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith.
Gonzalez has been president of OU since 2023. She prides herself on being present for the students, hosting ice cream socials and pizza events throughout the year. Last year, students were critical of Gonzalez, following the closure of DEI-related centers on campus and slow negotiations with the United Academics of Ohio University.
Athens law enforcement is under the direction of Powers, chief of OUPD, and Smith, Athens County sheriff. OUPD headquarters is located at 118 Ridges Circle Drive. The Sheriff’s Office is located at 13 W. Washington St. Powers has been the police chief since 2009, and Smith has been serving as sheriff since 2014.
Mayor Patterson has been mayor of Athens since 2016. Before becoming mayor, he worked at OU as an associate professor of health psychology. Mayor Patterson serves as the chair of the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council. He is also a member of the Ohio Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the Ohio Mayors Alliance.
For on-campus issues and suggestions, speak with Theisen, the newly elected student senate president. Before he was elected president, Theisen served as the governmental affairs commissioner. The Student Senate ensures the needs and wants of students are properly represented and acts as a liaison between students and university administration.
More information about other people and places around OU can be found on the OU webpage.
