A flurry of activity burst through College Green and several campus buildings Tuesday as students demanded affordable education.
More than 200 students and Athens residents gathered around the Soldiers Monument on College Green at about noon with colored banners and signs reading, “Education is not a commodity” and “Raise hell, not tuition.”
Jacob Chaffin, spokesperson for Ohio University Student Union and a senior studying education, stood with a megaphone and said it was time for OU students to “take a stand” for affordable college education.
“It seems like the only thing that is not guaranteed is the future of our generation,” Chaffin said to the protestors.
In the midst of the demonstrators were Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, and Jenny Hall-Jones, interim dean of students.
“I would expect nothing less,” Lombardi said of the protest. “I’m a big advocate for students expressing their opinions.”
After students gave personal testimonies about friends dropping out of OU because of increased tuitions, cries of “Whose school? Our school!” and “Cut back, fight back!” resounded through the air, as about 100 students proceeded to march up the steps of Cutler Hall.
In response, Ohio University Police Department denied entrance to the protestors.
Those marching traveled down Jeff Hill, through East Green and up Morton Hill before stopping briefly on the fourth floor of Baker University Center.
One onlooker was Stephen Golding, vice president for Finance and Administration. Golding said he was not surprised by the active protest.
“This is not the first demonstration,” he said. “Clearly, the students have a point of view, and that’s great.”
Michael Bart, an Athens City Council candidate, manager at Avalanche Pizza and local DJ, said the impact tuition increases have on students will also affect the city.
“The university and town are not separate things,” Bart said. “If increase in tuition is so extreme, we’re going to only be able to serve four-year vocational students that can afford college.”
Despite being denied entrance before, the protestors returned to Cutler Hall, where OUPD Capt. Brian Kapple acted as a mediator between the students and administrators inside.
“We have two options for you,” Kapple said to the protestors. “Either you send one or two representatives to speak with our representative, or stay outside and protest. … We cannot have you yelling inside and cause a disturbance.”
Ohio Police Chief Andrew Powers later said OUPD’s intent was to keep the protest safe and avoid having too many people in Cutler Hall.
Protestors chose not to negotiate with Powers. Participants assembled on the steps outside of Cutler, where Lombardi said he would voice the students’ questions and concerns at the Board of Trustees meeting Friday.
“It’s not my decision,” he said. “It’s a board issue. You have questions, and I will try to give you answers.”
Chaffin said he and several of the students plan on attending the board meeting Friday.
hy135010@ohiou.edu
Editor's note: This article was updated to correctly identify OUPD Capt. Brian Kapple.
