Welcome, summer! Get ready for the Athens population to drop dramatically and vacant parking spaces to rise exponentially.
As freshmen depart their first years to retreat back to Mom's house for the summer and internship season kicks in full swing, it is only predictable that good old Ohio University will be going through some summer facelifts, so to speak. With all that's happened here this school year, from suicide threats to million dollar losses, there are some obvious and interesting predictions that can be made for what our great university's future holds.
Number one: Baker University Center food court ' or lack thereof. With the second year of million dollar losses sinking into the old riverbed, students may not have the option of employment as a grease scrubber anymore. Marketing research and basic common sense have led to the realization that something's gotta change. There's a good chance we'll all come back to a smaller food court and a lot fewer Jade Bowls.
Number two: Hudson Un-Health-y Center. How many reports need to be published about this black mark at OU for an immediate change to be made? This is our student health center, the place we go when we need medical assistance, not a long wait and unhelpful information. We all have our horror stories (or our friend's stories, or our roommates' stories). With a malpractice lawsuit on the horizon, let's just hope this place will stop throwing Vicodin at us students and maybe get a few more doctors.
Number three: Campus Area Transit System. No CatCab over the summer? Budget cuts and job losses? This isn't even mentioning rising gas prices. Campus transit for students is running on fumes, and all these factors add up to one thing ' South Green residents might have to wake up an extra 20 minutes earlier to make up for that long walk to the Central Classroom building.
Number four: Scripps College of Communication. For those who are worried about their educations, don't fret. The college received $15 million in donations in the past few years, plus another $7.5 million last month, giving the hook-up straight to those in communications. That means more traveling speakers, better computers and resources, and enough telecommunications equipment to broadcast Bobcat waves all the way to the Russian space station. Not to mention the starting process of gutting the old Baker for use by the college and a solid representation of why parents should choose OU for their kids.
Number five: upperclassmen's least favorite addition to the OU population ' incoming freshmen. Of course these students will eventually fit in, love and grow into the Athens community. But that transition time is a reminder not only of how the general student body is getting younger, but how we upperclassmen are getting older. Be happy you have an over-21 ID, and use it wisely.
So students, have your summer vacations, do your internships, go back to Mom's house to mow the lawn or simply stay in Athens and take classes. Hopefully this summer break won't be too devastating, shocking or just plain humiliating to Ohio University, its population or its image. But from what we've learned during our college careers, you never know. Emily Glauser is a junior journalism major. Tell her your predictions at eg293805@ohiou.edu.
17 Archives
Emily Glauser
200806068364midsize.jpeg
Emily Glauser
