Welcome (back) to Athens, OU students! That may be an unusual sentiment coming from a townie, but you make Athens the wonderful town it has become - you bring the fresh perspectives and vitality that energize the whole town during the school year. You are our guests here, and we want you to feel at home - in fact, some students like Athens enough to settle here after graduation, or come back after seeing the world.
Your studies will keep you busy, and we encourage you to master your chosen field and get good grades. Just as important, please take the time to explore your new home.
Ohio University has many clubs, causes, and interest groups to get involved in, which can be found at www.storg.admsrv.ohio.edu/storg/, while Athens and the surrounding region provide a chance to interact with a broader variety of settings and people passionate about their work. The Athens County Visitor's Guide, athensohio.com, is a great place to start.
Here are some of the highlights I've found:
1) Outdoor activities: Athens parks and the Hocking Hills State Park system have hiking trails, wilderness and beautiful attractions to explore. There are also regional environmental groups dedicated to preserving and improving the health of our outdoors.
2) The arts community: There is ARTS/West, the Dairy Barn and plenty of galleries and shops, as well as a hopping music scene uptown.
3) The local food and craft community: A wonderful farmer's market at the mall parking lot on State Street sells fresh locally grown produce on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Community Food Initiatives has community gardens (get your own plot!), workshops, and works to develop a strong local food system. ACEnet (Appalachian Center for Economic Networks) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on small businesses in the food, agriculture, artisan and wood sectors. Lastly, there are some great and inexpensive restaurants and food and craft shops within walking distance.
4) Festivals: Arts, craft, food and music festivals are held throughout the year; see the local papers (The Athens Messenger, Athens News, and of course The Post) for up-to-date information.
5) Politics: You may be here for just four years, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be involved in local politics! Who among you will be the Athens Obama to get fellow students inspired and organized this upcoming school year to make your concerns and interests heard at City Hall?
Several OU students have been elected to Athens City Council, most recently Sarah Sexton in 2003 and Amy Flowers in 2005.
Barbara Harrison, the assistant director for Off-Campus Living, recently issued an invitation to Athens residents and OU students to attend two off-campus neighborhood welcome events. These Off-Campus Living-sponsored events are a way to connect students who live off campus with those who live in the neighborhoods year round, and other members of the off-campus community.
A light grilled lunch and refreshments will be provided, along with festive music from local DJs and radio stations from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Christ the King Church in the parking lot and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Bromley Hall parking lot.
Again, welcome (back) to Athens, and I hope to see you at one of these events or around town!
Mark McCutchan, an engineer and technical writer, resides in Athens.
4 Opinion
Letter to the Editor
