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Letter: $15 minimum wage demands represent more than money

Nov. 7, 2014

We demand a $15 minimum wage for Ohio University and the city of Athens, and we are willing to fight to get it.We are willing to organize the people, to protest the employers and to disrupt the society that no longer seems to be ours.The demand for a $15 minimum wage is about more than ensuring material comfort for those who currently lack it; it is a political tactic — a desperate grab for power for control of our livelihoods.It is an attack against an undemocratic world; it is a method to construct a new world built on civil participation.It is no secret that economic and political power is extremely concentrated: a small percentage of the world holds the vast majority of wealth, and they use their wealth to create and influence public policy — most often to benefit themselves at the cost of the rest of us.If this reality was untrue, then a college education would be achievable without thousands of dollars of debt to powerful economic institutions; people would not struggle to pay their rent and feed themselves on meager wages (there would be no need for the “free lunch” programs abundant in Athens); dining hall workers at Ohio University would not be forced to buy their own shirts and hats; they would be respected as important individuals by their “superiors.”These are all examples of the disrespect of individual freedom by an unjust system, the undemocratic concentration of power and exertion of economic might, the exploitation of the powerless by the powerful.Powerless, that is, unless we come together. The fight for a $15 minimum wage, the struggle against tuition, the backlash against concentrated economic wealth — these must be understood as more than ends in themselves but as means to building a democratic society. When we demand $15 an hour, we demand the right to participate in the outcome of our economic livelihoods (both on an individual and societal basis); when we demand a tuition freeze, we demand freer and more equal access to a liberating education; when we oppose unjustified concentrated wealth, we oppose the notion that any individual should be allowed to impose their will on someone else without consent.These demands are an attempt to harmonize the idea of a better world with our reality, and this struggle does not end with these demands.A time will come when you will see fliers for, receive Facebook invitations to and hear through word of mouth about a protest with one of these goals in mind. When you do, I encourage you to come, to participate, to take control of your life.As was chanted during the recent #HandsUpWalkOut protest, “We are unstoppable; another world is possible!”I’ll see you on the streets.Ryan Powers is a sophomore at Ohio University.

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Campus Counselor: Finding encouragement from a Google search

By Olivia Hupp | Nov. 7, 2014

Things in my life have been a little crazy as of late and I’ve been seeking out comfort and encouragement in the form of Google search results.As I sat in the glow of my computer monitor on yet another late-night homework session, I typed in something to the effect of “college encouragement” and pushed my assigned readings off to the side as the results of my search poured in. One caught my eye: “40 Things Every College Girl Needs to Be Reminded Once in a While” from Thought Catalog. Due to the nature of the website, I clicked the link more out of curiosity than anything else, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.I wanted to share a couple of my favorite “reminders” from the list in the hopes that they might help others struggling as we enter the last month of fall semester:

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Letter: The repercussions on health with local fracking

Nov. 7, 2014

It is time we took hydraulic fracturing seriously. I am tired of arguing with people who misunderstand this issue. Hydraulic fracturing is another example of large coal companies taking advantage of Appalachia. The job growth and higher land value is no reason to suffer a ruined environment and the chronic problems of corrupt lobbyists.

Jim Ryan

From the Editor's Desk: Help us at 'The Post' help you

By JIM RYAN | Nov. 7, 2014

A common refrain I hear from students is that many don’t know what The Post is or where they can find one of its newspapers. That seems ludicrous to me — we drop off newspapers at 250 locations around Athens County — but it serves as a reminder that The Post staff has not done enough to promote its brand in recent years.And while we have taken steps to increase our visibility on campus this semester, we have not yet done nearly enough to show you, our readers, that we’re here every day as a resource.Our efforts begin with simple initiatives such as handing out newspapers at the top of Baker on Fridays during lunchtime. It’s a simple way for us to put newspapers in the hands of those who don’t normally pick them up themselves. They also include planning events that are helpful and fun for both our readers and staff.Earlier this year, we hosted a party at Casa Nueva to celebrate the launch of our new website. More than 100 people showed up, and we had a great time. We also hosted a reporting seminar last night for Scripps students who are interested in data reporting. More than 30 people showed up to listen to a pair of Columbus Dispatch reporters teach us some tricks of the trade. Not bad for our first try, I say. It was fun to see students get fired up about journalism, and we’re already on to planning our next event.We’re also working to outfit our newsstands with more colorful, eye-catching displays so you know where to find us on campus. Keep an eye out for those soon.Each of those separate initiatives — handing out papers, putting on events and making our newsstands more visible — serves the purpose of actively informing students of what we’re up to.What else should we be doing to spread the word about our work? I welcome your feedback, and — if you’re interested — your help. We’re always looking for students who are interested in helping our public relations and marketing operation.As always, thanks for reading.Jim Ryan is a senior studying journalism and political science and editor-in-chief of The Post. Think The Post is a relic? Having a hard time finding newspapers on campus? Contact him at jr992810@ohio.edu or on Twitter at @Jimryan015.

The Post

Same-sex marriage ban upheld statewide

By Emma Ockerman | Nov. 6, 2014

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld laws Thursday concerning same-sex marriage bans in Ohio and three other states in a 2-1 ruling, giving momentum to a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision in the future.

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Artistic Achievements: Festival experiences

By Juannie Williams | Nov. 6, 2014

Some of the most conducive environments for learning are festivals, parades and artistic performances. There is a community of shared interests that bring multitudinous and diverse crowds together for common purposes, such as experience and appreciation of the arts. Each individual could benefit from new connections and friendships, learn new things about different cultures, which expands his or her intellectual and cultural awareness, and most importantly, experience the music and dance demonstrated in that shared space. There are annual music and dance festivals all over the North America, but I’ve decided to focus in on Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, the Caribbean Carnival and the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

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