Ohio University enrolled over 17,000 students in the fall of 2025. That means a lot of new students got to navigate their new world. From campus resources to extracurriculars and party culture, Bobcats have so much to learn.
Campus resources
It is important to know OU prioritizes safety on campus. CATCAB is an accessible transit service on campus that supports students and faculty with mobility limitations. Through proper registration, students are able to use CATCAB to safely arrive at their destination.
Otherwise, the OU Police Department is the university’s full-service agency that is responsible for all cases on campus and enforcement of criminal laws. Students are encouraged to call 740-593-1911 if they need to report to OUPD.
To further report on campus, students are encouraged to issue a CARE report to express concerns about a student. Through OU’s Office of the Dean of Students, support is given to any student in need to navigate resources.
On a student level, OU provides compliance training each year to ensure students follow laws and regulations to meet expectations. Striving to create a safer campus and community, compliance training is a great resource for understanding how to be a proactive student.
Student organizations
OU offers over 400 student-led organizations that allow students to express interests and dive deeper into their major by connecting with peers. These are a great way to socialize and find a place at OU. Bobcat Connect is a hub to search and join organizations that students can speak to at the Involvement Fair on August 23.
Some organizations are available for all students without being involved in them. The Post and other student-led media outlets are great ways to hear student perspectives and the buzz around campus.
Culture
If you want unfiltered student honesty, the best place to go is social media. YikYak is an anonymous forum where students can share relatable and relevant posts about what’s going on on campus. Though anonymity encourages distasteful or inappropriate posts, it is still a good resource for students to understand the culture. YikYak should still be used with caution.
In addition to YikYak, social media pages have been created to uplift students with inside jokes and references to student life. The student-run account, Ohiouchicks, is a direct affiliate of Barstool Sports and IT GIRL. Without being affiliated with OU, there is a freedom to host events for students based on popular shows like Love Island or make inside jokes about college dating and local bars.
Having outlets like this that humorously show college life allows students to not feel isolated. The Northerner shared how Northern Kentucky University has an account boosting student morale. “The NKU Barstool account allows students to know they are not alone in their feelings about college and that everyone is struggling in their own way,” said freshman Mallory Bane.
Discovery
Each of these resources is just a beginning to a student’s time at OU. Learning new things about campus and Athens never ends — it is best to do some self-exploration to know what resources and hacks best fit one’s lifestyle at OU.
