Child survivors of sexual assault have safe haven in Athens
By Emma Ockerman | Oct. 15, 2014A child survivor of sexual assault only has to recite his or her incident once, reducing trauma. In other areas, that’s not the case.
NEWS BLOGS
Glouster man indicted on assault and gun charges involving police
By Suhyeon Park | Oct. 14, 2014A Glouster man was indicted on assault and gun charges Tuesday by the Athens County Grand Jury for allegedly fleeing and firing a gun at police.
Ohio University student motorcyclist charged after police chase
By Joshua Lim | Oct. 14, 2014An Ohio University student was charged Tuesday with “fleeing and eluding a felony” after a lengthy police chase that went in and out of the City of Athens Tuesday afternoon.
Appalachian survivors unlikely to report sexual assault
By Emma Ockerman | Oct. 13, 2014It’s not easy to report a sexual assault when the county sheriff is your neighbor, the emergency room nurses know you by name and the offender is the sole breadwinner for your family.
Athens ranked near top in USA Today "College Town Weekend" poll
By Julia Fair | Oct. 13, 2014A recent ranking tabbed Athens as the second best place to spend a college town weekend.
Police Blotter: Dead squirrel left in dorm, Ohio University club car stolen
By Joshua Lim | Oct. 13, 2014Students in Scott Quad might've noticed their hall smelled like dead squirrel Sunday.
Athens City Council members consider a tobacco ban in city parks
By EMILY BOHATCH | Oct. 13, 2014Following Ohio University's tobacco ban, Athens City Council members are considering writing an ordinance to ban smoking in city parks.
Guide to Ohio University Board of Trustees meeting
By Seth Archer | Oct. 13, 2014A comprehensive — yet readable — guide to Thursday, Oct. 16-17 meeting for the curious or concerned university reader.
Athens' code officers are writing 100 trash warnings daily
By EMILY BOHATCH | Oct. 13, 2014Controversy surrounding Athens City Council’s proposed revision to the Garbage and Rubbish Ordinance has spilled out of council chambers, into city neighborhoods and even online.
Need for student-athlete academic center at Ohio University questioned by faculty
By Dina Berliner | Oct. 13, 2014While the proposal of an academic center for student-athletes was recently celebrated by Ohio University’s Athletics Department, some faculty members feel it’s “inappropriate,” “discrimination” and akin to creating a “segregated” facility.
Students in Sober Bobcats and substance-free halls create ‘social movement’
By Emma Jenkins | Oct. 13, 2014Nearly 2,300 OU students don’t drink and Sober Bobcats is trying to unite them.
Parody greek life twitter attracts thousands of followers despite fake status
By Luke Furman | Oct. 13, 2014Attracting thousands of followers, a new Ohio University related Twitter account — @OUGreek — has proclaimed itself the “voice of greek life at OU.”
The movement to recall Ohio University Student Senate could take months
By Alisa Warren | Oct. 13, 2014Petition demanding the recall of last spring’s Student Senate election reveals a division among senate members.
Multiple Ohio University alums receive awards
By Olivia Hithcock | Oct. 13, 2014This Homecoming Weekend, several new alumni joined the ranks of Ohio University’s honored graduates.
Athens’ arsenal: Law enforcement protects with plethora of weapons
By Emma Ockerman | Oct. 13, 2014The Athens County Sheriff’s Office is the only local law enforcement agency that has military equipment through the department of defense, which approves anything from flashlights to MRAPS for officer use
Proposed Sook building among topics for faculty senate meeting
By Dina Berliner | Oct. 13, 2014At Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, Ohio University faculty members will get the chance to speak to members of the Board of Trustees ahead of Friday’s meeting and weigh in on the creation of a building for student-athletes.Board Chair David Brightbill and Vice Chair David Wolfort will attend the beginning of Faculty Senate’s second meeting of the semester Monday night, where faculty members will get some of their concerns and questions addressed.Questions were collected, narrowed down and sent to Brightbill and Wolfort in advance of Monday’s meeting, said Beth Quitslund, chair of Faculty Senate.Although the content of the questions vary, Quitslund said many of the ones to be discussed will help foster better relations between the faculty and Board members.The Executive Committee, along with the Educational Policy and Student Affairs Committee, will present a resolution to solicit faculty opinions on the proposed Sook Academic Center, a building for intercollegiate student-athletes to study at the north-end zone Peden Stadium.The facility, which was spearheaded by a $2.25 million donation from alumni Perry and Sandy Sook, was announced by OU in September.The final fundraising goal for the project is $5.5 million.The Professional Relations Committee will present four new resolutions for first reading:Second Resolution to Provide Consistent Language in Sections II. C and II. D of the Faculty Handbook Pertaining to Faculty Rank and Status and AppointmentsResolution to Clarify Procedure for Group II Annual EvaluationsResolution to Revise the Workload Necessary to Move a Faculty Position from Group III to Group IISense of the Senate Resolution on the Need to Need to Establish a University-Wide Group II Teaching AwardSeveral resolutions from senate’s meeting in September will also be up for second reading, the majority of which deal with language updates to the Faculty Handbook.
Police, students hope for change after F--kRapeCulture march
By Emma Ockerman | Oct. 13, 2014It might have seemed unorthodox for two local police chiefs to be milling about a crowd of F--kRapeCulture protesters Friday afternoon, some wielding signs themselves denouncing how some police handle sexual assaults.But Athens Police Department Chief Tom Pyle and Ohio University Police Chief Andrew Powers were there to support the protesters’ requests for OU administrators to:Absorb the Ohio University Survivor Advocacy Program before its federal grant expires next OctoberOffer sensitivity training for survivors of sexual assault for both APD and OUPD officers Have every OU student be required to annually take “Not Anymore,” an online module teaching bystander intervention tactics.More than 100 protesters gathered at 4 p.m. at the bottom of Jeff Hill to take to Mill and Court streets, ending at College Green.F--kRapeCulture didn’t apply for a parade permit to march in the middle of Court and Mill streets, but Pyle gave them permission after meeting with the students on Tuesday.“We’re here to show support,” Pyle said. “We fully support the issues they’re advocating for.”Protesters meandered along their route, chanting: “F--k rape culture,” and “1, 2, 3, 4: I am not your f--king whore,” to College Green where students gave speeches at the Civil War monument.“We started right in this very spot last year,” Claire Chadwick, an organizer with F--kRapeCulture said. “In just a year we’ve accomplished all of our goals. We should be proud.”Chadwick went on to mention that she had met with OUPD and APD throughout the week after hearing “too many horror stories of APD’s handling of sexual assault.”“The chiefs were really enthusiastic about working with us which is really f--king awesome,” Chadwick said.Jesper Beckholt, a senior studying English, spoke about how survivors of sexual assault in the LGBTQ community feel alone and isolated, because many advocacy programs mainly offer their services to women.“There’s a limited image of who a survivor is,” Beckholt said. “People like myself feel alienated. Being a queer and trans survivor is not easy.”Organizers said they were encouraged by the turnout and that Athens’ rape culture is changing.“Conversations will only benefit victims’ perceptions that law enforcement is insensitive,” Powers said. “It makes it challenging for law enforcement because people won’t file complaints. But there’s a good two-way conversation happening, and we understand that we have an obligation to explain how we handle the questions we ask in investigations.”@eockerman eo300813@ohio.edu
Officials urge sexual assault survivors to come forward
By Emma Ockerman | Oct. 12, 2014Prosecuting a sexual assault can be tricky, so it’s important to pay attention to each of the 12 steps listed.
Petition to allow for recall of Megan Marzec
By Alisa Warren | Oct. 12, 2014As of Sunday night, more than 1,500 signatures have been gathered calling for the right to hold a recall election of last spring’s Ohio University Student Senate.
Jeff Risner: he paints, he plants, he legislates
By William T. Perkins | Oct. 12, 2014When he's not discussing city affairs, Athens City Councilman Jeff Risner grows carnivorous plants and is an avid painter, inspired by Bob Ross.
