A number of people have brought to my attention that I never seem to have anything nice to say about Ohio University, so in the spirit of Thanksgiving (minus the whole genocide thing), I have decided to talk about things I am thankful for about OU.
Though it may not always appear that way, I do love Ohio University.
I am sure many Bobcats can share a similar story, but when I first came on a tour to OU, I knew that this was the university for me.
Regardless of what season it is, I think we have one of the most beautiful universities in the United States, even if the Huffington Post never seems to think so.
I am thankful for my experience in the residence halls for three years. I have met my best friends here, and will always fondly remember the hours spent in Jefferson, Read and Tiffin Halls studying, hanging out or staying up late wondering when D.P. Dough was going to arrive.
I am thankful for our faculty, who always seem willing to help if you ask them and are a wealth of knowledge. I am on track to graduate in four years and can confidently say I am far more educated than I was four years ago. Did you know the war in the Congo is the deadliest conflict since World War II? Because I didn’t three years ago.
I am thankful for The Post, which lets me write here once a week, and despite this, maintains a high standard of journalism throughout the rest of the paper.
I am even thankful for the administration, which I know work incredibly hard and is invested in making OU one of the best institutions of higher education. We may disagree on fundamentally everything, but I know it cares about students.
It is important to understand, when I criticize the administration, the culture or anything else, it is because I know OU has the potential to be one of the best public universities in the United States. If I was truly disgusted with OU and thought it was irredeemable, I would simply transfer to another university.
Students do not write letters to the editor, hold demonstrations or engage in activism out of boredom, self-interest or just to embarrass the university, but out of a desire for change.
When a Bobcat is willing to break the law for a cause they believe in, it is because they love Ohio University so much they are willing to be arrested just to start a conversation.
Criticism and activism come from a place of love, not hate.
So, the next time you see a student being hauled away by the police for protesting the university, just think of it as their way of showing their Bobcat pride.
Matt Farmer is a senior studying education and political science. What do you love about OU? Email him at mf291209@ohiou.edu.
